Chef Dotan Shalom’s Elegant Tel Aviv Restaurant Attracts Celebrities Like Madonna and Kim Kardashian

Dotan Shalom, a talented 37-year-old chef, runs the elegant restaurant Dot in Tel Aviv’s Neve Tzedek neighborhood, reviving classic European dining with a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. Opened in August 2024 amid the Iran conflict, Dot offers a calm space with white tablecloths, soft music, and refined Mediterranean-European cuisine, distinct from the city’s trendier venues. Shalom’s culinary journey began in a renowned Jerusalem kitchen, followed by stints in Tel Aviv’s top restaurants and private event catering, where he served high-profile clients including Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Bill Clinton, and Nikos Vertis.

The restaurant’s menu features dishes like sashimi, veal sweetbreads, lamb kebabs, and ricotta-filled dumplings, blending European precision with Jerusalem soul. Dotan and his wife Victoria also host intimate nine-course tasting dinners on Mondays, when the restaurant is normally closed. Despite challenges like partner disagreements and economic pressures, Shalom has maintained his vision of a dining experience focused on quality food and conversation rather than nightlife or partying.

Looking ahead, Shalom plans to open a kosher dairy-fish restaurant in central Tel Aviv to meet growing demand, while keeping Dot as it is. Dot is located at 9 Ein Ganim Street, Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv.