Iconic Israeli Restaurants Rafael, Pink Trowel, and Erez Return for Three Nights Only

Three legendary Israeli restaurants, Rafael, Pink Trowel, and Erez, are making a limited comeback for just three nights from July 26 at the urban event space Bat Avigdor in Tel Aviv. This special revival is part of the San Pellegrino Chef Table series, offering diners a nostalgic culinary journey with the original chefs behind these influential establishments.

Chef Rafi Cohen will revive his acclaimed Rafael restaurant, which operated from 2001 to 2017 and was known for elevating traditional home dishes to international haute cuisine. Cohen will serve signature dishes such as Moroccan cigars stuffed with veal liver, white grouper with colorful tomatoes and basil flowers, and his famous couscous with young lamb ribs.

Chef Tzachi Bukshester will bring back the Pink Trowel, an iconic fusion restaurant on Balfour Street active from 1984 to 1994. It pioneered Israeli fusion cuisine by combining local ingredients with advanced techniques. Bukshester’s menu will include nostalgic dishes like coffee-spiced lamb spare ribs, fried goat cheese with nuts and orange butter, and hot-smoked grouper on wheat salad with bananas.

Chef Erez Komarovsky will close the trio with his legendary Erez restaurant from Herzliya Pituah, which ran from 1996 to 2001 and was a pioneer of the farm-to-table approach in Israel. Komarovsky will return to his wood-fired oven to serve dishes such as eggplant with yogurt and pistachios, shrimp lasagna in browned butter, and mango-glazed lamb spare ribs.

Each evening will feature two seatings at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, with a fixed price of 490 shekels per person. The price includes unlimited San Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, and selected wines from Feldstein and Lehat wineries, specially paired with the meals. Reservations are available on the Chef Table website. This event offers a rare chance to revisit some of Israel’s most beloved culinary memories in a relaxed, nostalgic setting.