Batshon Fish Restaurant Reinvents as Self-Service Street Food Spot in Tel Aviv

Batshon Fish, a well-known fish restaurant and brand in central Tel Aviv, has revamped its concept into a self-service street food eatery. Originally starting as a fish shop with an adjacent casual dining spot during the COVID-19 pandemic, Batshon offered simple, affordable fish dishes alongside fresh fish sales. Facing industry challenges, the restaurant replaced waitstaff with two ordering kiosks and switched to stainless steel trays and disposable utensils, aiming for a faster, more casual experience.

The new menu, crafted by chef Uri Zarad, features a variety of fish-based street food items priced between 62 and 89 shekels, including ceviche, sea bass salad, pickled fish sandwiches, fried shrimp and calamari, and notably a crispy fish sandwich with Italian black caviar and cheddar served on a brioche bun. The reviewer praised the crispy fish sandwich as large and tasty but found the caviar flavor undetectable. The tuna cheeseburger was juicy and flavorful but somewhat messy, with mixed opinions on its value. An octopus salad brioche sandwich was disappointing due to a tough bun and minimal octopus.

The fried shrimp and calamari dish was well-prepared with tasty sauces but felt stingy in portion size. Despite the street food concept promising quick service, the reviewer experienced a 43-minute wait for their order, highlighting operational challenges during the launch phase. Batshon’s team, including Toto Batshon managing orders and chef Zarad behind the bar, showed patience and good service during the transition.

Located at 29 Karlibach Street, Tel Aviv, Batshon operates Monday through Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m. The restaurant is not kosher. The reviewer intends to revisit after the initial launch period to reassess the concept once service issues are resolved, noting the desire for enjoyable fish street food options in Tel Aviv.