New Herzliya Beach Cafe Offers Simple, Well-Executed Food
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Cafe Keshet, a new establishment on Herzliya beach, offers a simple yet well-executed menu with dishes like smashburgers and pizzas, aiming to improve the local beach dining scene. Despite some service challenges due to understaffing, the cafe provides a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere with sea views. The food, including a praised smashburger and focaccia, is generally well-received, making it a notable addition to the area's coastal entertainment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Cafe Keshet opened on Herzliya beach, aiming to enhance the local dining scene.
- The cafe offers a minimalist menu with eight to ten dishes, focusing on simple, well-executed food.
- Despite understaffing, the smashburger, focaccia, and Bianca pizza received positive reviews.
- The establishment provides a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere with sea views.
- The reviewer suggests improved service could make it a significant upgrade for the beach.
A new establishment called "Cafe Keshet" has opened on the Herzliya beach, built on the site of the former "Aryeh Ice Cream" attraction. The cafe aims to elevate the local beach dining scene, which has seen significant improvement across Israel's coastlines, from Eilat to Haifa, in recent years. Moving away from the traditional "tourist trap" image of beachside venues, Cafe Keshet offers a curated experience with a minimalist evening menu featuring eight to ten dishes, including salads, pizzas, a smashburger, and a cheese platter.
The cafe boasts a thoughtfully designed interior with about fifteen tables, creating a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere that complements the seaside setting. Despite its simple menu, the establishment is not a traditional restaurant; it's described as a casual spot for enjoying quality snacks and drinks with a sea view. While a hungry diner can find a satisfying meal, the primary focus is on a laid-back experience.
During a visit on a weekday evening, the cafe was bustling with activity, even two hours after sunset. However, the service, while friendly and knowledgeable from the sole waitress, and the kitchen, managed by a single cook, showed signs of strain due to understaffing. This resulted in a somewhat disjointed pace of dish delivery, with the burger arriving before the salad and bread. Additionally, serving beer in a disposable plastic cup was noted as inconsistent with the otherwise meticulous presentation.
Despite these service challenges, the food received positive remarks. The smashburger (84 NIS) was praised for its juicy patties, flavorful aioli, and sweet bun, served with crispy potatoes and cornichons. The tomato salad (67 NIS) was described as a refreshing, standard summer salad with fresh mozzarella. The focaccia bread (31 NIS), served with grated tomatoes, was highlighted as particularly successful. The pizzas, a Margherita (79 NIS) and a Bianca (82 NIS) featuring a cheese blend, black pepper, and baked potatoes, were deemed good, with the Bianca showing more creativity.
Overall, Cafe Keshet is recognized for its unpretentious approach, offering a well-designed beach ambiance, sea views, and generally well-executed simple food. The reviewer suggests that with improved consistency and service, it could be a significant upgrade for Herzliya's beach offerings and is already a worthy addition to the growing beach entertainment scene.