Top Israeli Restaurants of the Year Named, With Notable Disappointments

Food critic Avi Efrati has released his year-end review of Israel's culinary scene, highlighting exceptional dining experiences and significant letdowns. Among the year's triumphs, Efrati lauded a hamburger from Kiryat Ono, served at the Ramat Aviv mall's food court in Tel Aviv, as a "total victory" due to its outstanding meat quality, precise grilling, and surprisingly affordable price. He described the experience as a "jaw-dropping culinary experience."

Another standout was "Lento," a new farm-to-table Italian restaurant in Shefayim, praised for its quiet culinary approach, rare high-quality ingredients, and fair pricing. Efrati noted dishes like veal tartare and Spanish-style razor clams, calling it a significant addition to a region lacking in culinary options.

Efrati also celebrated "Bar Pronto," the new venture by Chef Moshe Gamlieli in Tel Aviv, located at the site of the former "Pronto." Despite a seemingly generic bar menu, Efrati found a polished experience with exceptional precision, fine ingredients, and a fish soup he deemed a "clear peak." He suggested booking in advance due to its burgeoning popularity.

However, the year also brought major disappointments. Efrati revisited Eyal Shani's "Tzfon Abraxas" after a 13-year absence, only to find it averaged, with dishes like an "almost invisible" calamari costing 112 shekels, leading to an "expensive disappointment."

Similarly, Chef Yonatan Roshfeld's "Marie," a high-end kosher restaurant in Netanya, failed to meet expectations. Efrati described a "terrible" dim sum dish and an "embarrassing" sashimi, deeming the pricing "outrageous" and the overall experience "painful, expensive, and surprisingly bad."