New Italian Bistro Ouna Revives Culinary Scene in Tel Aviv's Ramat Aviv Neighborhood

Ramat Aviv, a northern Tel Aviv neighborhood not traditionally known for its culinary scene, is experiencing a gastronomic revival with several new and notable eateries opening recently. Among the established favorites like Pizza Groniman, M25, Beta Cafe, and Bar Shel Yayin, the neighborhood has welcomed Bistro Oppenheimer and a revamped food court at Ramat Aviv Mall featuring the Italian restaurant Berta by chef Yossi Shitrit and a branch of the meat-focused Jagger from Kiryat Ono.

Most recently, the Italian neighborhood restaurant Trattoria Ouna opened after a long wait. Located next to the smash burger hotspot Local, which shares ownership, Ouna is a charming offshoot of AKA, a restaurant by serial food entrepreneur David Tour and talented chef Itay Kushmaro. Unlike the sophisticated dishes at AKA’s main location, Ouna focuses on expertly crafted pastas and soon pizzas, offering a more straightforward yet delightful menu.

Dishes sampled included baked green asparagus with roasted red pepper cream, roasted corn kernels with peperoncino and arisa-spiced crème fraîche, mozzarella-filled suppli with parmesan and tomato sauce, and excellent potato flour focaccia with whipped butter and olive oil. Main courses featured a classic meat ragù with rigatoni, airy gnocchi in tomato sauce with ricotta and parmesan, and cheese anellotti in sage butter. Desserts of tiramisu and pistachio cream were also praised.

Since opening, Trattoria Ouna has become extremely popular, with long queues and difficulty securing tables from early afternoon through late night. The owners plan to add pizzas and extend opening hours to midday. The restaurant’s quality and atmosphere make it worth traveling from central Tel Aviv across the Yarkon Bridge to Ramat Aviv. As one noted food critic said, "I will definitely return." Trattoria Ouna is located at 69 Einstein Street, Tel Aviv.