Menza — Restaurant in Jerusalem

I would have given it a 1, but I decided I eventually give it a 2.

The food at this place is good, and I’ve got the impression that the chef has a very clear vision of what he wants to craft for the visitors.

The waiters were sweet and knew the menu pretty well. There was plenty of waters even on Saturday morning

The coffee I received was in a beautiful cup and I was offered oatmeal milk instead of the almond milk, which I prefer. My request to exchange bacon to salmon was accommodated, reluctantly.

What I disliked and it made my first visit to this place to probably become the last one:

The welcome at the entrance. I understand it is Saturday. I don’t want to feel the stress of the staff. It is my day off. And yet, the receptionist and by coincidence the owner Uri looked nothing like a chilled guy. His vibes were contagiously stressful and heavy. Everyone in the restaurant could feel it

This restaurant clearly has trust issues and problems with both politeness and etiquette. It’s impolite to say to a client anything that comments on his or her character qualities as negative, and it is even more impolite to threaten the client for a request.

Service needs to be improved. The chef is doing a great job handling the food part 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I would definitely remove pork from all dishes - this is not kosher, disgusting meat that I don’t want to see or taste neither in the menus nor on my plate🤮

You can as well serve goose or duck bacon if you want to keep the recipes. Or vegan bacon that is now offered by progressive food industry. Eating pigs is like eating dogs or cats. You got my point :)

Pigs need to be loved and taken care of, not killed and served as...

So Menza’s got this low-key, modern vibe - kind of the cool kid on the block that doesn’t need flashy signs to stand out. The name might sound humble, but don’t let that fool you: they’ve got a sleek menu that works whether you’re up for a late-night dinner or just want to grab a few drinks and some snacks. Seatings cover all bases: tall tables, a proper bar, indoor spots, and outdoor seats to people-watch as the city hums around you.

Location is easy. There’s a bus stop practically a hop away, and it’s just as simple on foot or by car. While it might not be the Saturday night hotspot like some nearby cocktail joints - fewer crowds, more chill - it’s perfect if you’re after a shared meal with friends or a quick bite before calling it a night. The bill might run higher than your averaged shawarma stand, but, you’re paying for a taste of something more contemporary.

If there’s a letdown, it’s the beer list - slim pickings. That’s a shame, especially when their burger’s so good it’s practically begging for a proper craft beer. The steak might be a bit overrated, but who cares when the home-style fries and fresh veggie sides hit the mark every time? Menza’s not about showing off; it’s about stepping away from the standard street fare and tasting a more modern side of Jerusalem. Just be ready to drop a few extra shekels and enjoy the...

I know you’ve been through pain. Your country has faced rockets, bombs, terror, and grief. You may have lost people you love. You may fear for your family every time a siren goes off. I don’t pretend to understand that fully. But I ask you this — not as an outsider, not as an enemy — but as a fellow human being.

Killing civilians, including Palestinian children, women, and men who are not part of any armed group, is wrong.

Not because they are Palestinians. But because they are people.

Because every time an innocent life is taken, something dies in all of us. Every time we justify it, we step a little further away from the values we say we’re protecting.

You don’t have to give up your love for your people to see the humanity in another.

You don’t have to agree with Hamas to believe that a Palestinian mother weeping over her child is just as real, just as sacred, as any mother in Tel Aviv.

You don’t have to give up your safety to call for restraint and justice.

But if we lose our ability to care about the lives of others — even those on the other side of the wall — then the cycle continues forever.

And maybe, just maybe, it stops when one person decides that killing innocents is not strength, and not defense, but a line we don’t cross.

Maybe that...