Angelica — Restaurant in Jerusalem

Ah, what a unique experience! Stepping through the doors of this restaurant, hailed as a hidden gem on the web, we expected a true feast. But, to our astonishment, instead of a gastronomic delight, we were treated to a culinary comedy.

Accompanied by our dear child, a tender 10 years old, whose taste buds are not yet accustomed to culinary extravagances, we hoped for a simple dish. Perhaps a nod to "Mom's" cooking, like some good pasta or crispy fries. But no! It seemed our request was as intricate as asking for truffles in the summer. We took note: for a family adventure, it's best to seek elsewhere.

But the highlight of the evening? The absence of the most humble of table companions: bread. And when we dared to ask for it, the waiter, in a burst of humor reminiscent of the Marx Brothers, quoted us a price fit for an uncut diamond: 16 Shekels. Upon checking, it appears the online menu conveniently omitted this crunchy detail. A touch of digital magic, perhaps!

And for wine lovers, brace yourselves for a real symphony... of prices! Israeli wines, especially those which are said to age with as much grace as a Music Hall actor, are listed at prices that would make a theater treasurer green with envy. A Castel 2003, for instance, is priced at 3250 Shekels. Having not tried it, I wonder if it's a divine nectar or a bottle of tart humor.

In conclusion, an evening rich in emotions......

How an evening at Angelica is different from any other evening in other restaurant? Well, when one enters the restaurant, one can notice immediatly that there is a special athmosphere, it is alive and vibrant in a settled way, exactly what one expects from a restaurant. One can also feel the up market restaurant, it is classy, modern with a touch of modesty inside. Then, one can notice that the staff is trained (student or not). They know the art of welcoming people, they remember if one has already visited the restaurant before. Then the food is good, visual and tasty. It is a real restaurant in terms of creativity and in terms of quality. I am a cook and I can't match it. For whom it is important, it is 100% kosher, it gives even more credit to the place, it is more difficult to create good kosher food and parve desserts that can fill one's soul. Then the manager is a modest and cool guy. He walks through the tables, bond with his clients withou invading, makes sure that nothing has been forgotten, sometimes he offers a small glass of a precious wine to celebrate an happy client. God bless angelica. I go there with my family for special occasions, because everything comes at a price, but honestly compared to the provided experience, it...

We made a reservation for 7 at 8pm and they had no record of it anywhere. Luckily they were able to find us a table. So if you do end up going there, make sure to make a reservation and get the name of the person you spoke to. The place looks very nice. Location is great. Very clean. Wonderful atmosphere. The food on the other hand is different story. Starters are about 80 NIS and mains are about 140 NIS on average, which is expensive and would be OK if the food was excellent but unfortunately we found that even though the food was presented beautifully, it was average at best. For 1st course I got the seared tuna. The serving size was tiny! I was expecting a few pieces of tuna but instead it was more like one small cube cut into five tiny slices. While it did taste good it definitely was not enough to justify the 70 NIS it cost. For main course I got the lamb shoulder (140 NIS). It was pretty average. It came with what can only be described as a "mashed potato pastry". Both the meat and the side dish were practically at room temperature. Everyone else I was with had similar experiences with their dishes. We didn't get dessert. Cant say I would recommend...