Popular Israeli Grill Chain Opens Highly Praised Branch in Tel Aviv's Hadar Yosef
Oved, a well-established family-run grill restaurant originally from Or Yehuda, known for its high-quality meat and extensive salad bar, has recently opened a new branch in Tel Aviv's Hadar Yosef neighborhood. The original location is famed for having some of the best grills per capita in Israel, and the new branch, called Oved Ba'Ir, began operating a few weeks ago with limited lunch hours from 12:00 to 17:00.
Located behind a modern sports hall near tennis courts on Shitrit Street, the Tel Aviv branch is somewhat hard to find but draws crowds who follow the aroma of charcoal grills. The spacious venue can seat several hundred diners simultaneously and features a large, shaded waiting area. Despite the size, the restaurant maintains efficient service with a large staff including waiters, grill chefs, and managers.
The dining experience starts with a 36-shekel "opening the table" ritual, offering ten types of salads with unlimited refills alongside fresh warm pita bread. Highlights include an excellent egg salad, a flavorful sabich salad, beetroot, and cauliflower with tahini and mint. Some items like fries and rice with beans were less impressive, and certain prices, such as 25 shekels for six falafel balls, were considered high.
The main attraction is the grilled meats, with four types of skewers sampled: the kebab skewer (43 shekels) was excellent, the chicken skewer (43 shekels) was delicately seasoned, the spicy merguez (48 shekels) was flavorful, and the entrecote skewer (65 shekels) was juicy and tender. The only less successful dish was the kebab patties, which were overly salty. All meat dishes come with properly grilled vegetables.
For dessert, the classic Bavarian cream (27 shekels) was praised for its balanced sweetness and generous portion. The restaurant’s staff underwent rigorous training at the original Or Yehuda branch to ensure high standards of service and efficiency. While it is still early to fully assess the new location, it is already regarded as one of the best recent restaurant openings in Tel Aviv, combining tasty food, meticulous management, and attentive service.
In summary, Oved Ba'Ir is likely the best grill restaurant currently operating in Tel Aviv and a notable addition to the city's culinary scene, continuing the legacy of its Or Yehuda predecessor.
