Notre Dame Rooftop Restaurant — Restaurant in Jerusalem

One star for the cheese. Excellent. Service = NONEXISTENT. Arrived. Happened to be manager at entry. We waited and waited and waited, then my husband spoke to the manager, he said sit anywhere along the right side rail. We did. 20 minutes later, I stood, walked back out where a waiter and manager were STILL on their phones and gathered my own menus. Another 10 min, NO SERVICE. Finally we flagged an unhappy server down who my husband asked if they were open. His response? "OF COURSE, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN MENUS IF WE WERE NOT OPEN" HMMMMM....I think I got the menus myself. So we inquired about a couple things on the menu...Mr personality was NOT happy he had to answer questions. Took our order for 2 glasses of wine and a custom cheese board. About 8 min later another waiter brings stale bread sets and walks off. Keep in mind the visits allow NO communication as they have yet to LOOK at us. Hmmm. Is this the bread that comes with the cheese or is this bread for the table and we get different bread with the cheese....we don't know. So the same waiter I flag down and ask if we could have some fresh bread as this was stale. He actually looked at me like I was the devil himself and pointed at the basket and said "THATS FRESH" Okkaaayyy stupidly, I was shocked and let it go. Well it may have been fresh an hr ago when it was heated, then it was allowed to cool. BEFORE it was served to us as it was not warm AT ALL. Hence..HARD. More like untoasted toast, if you get what I mean, hard. So we eat a slice and decide it's not good so we will wait for the cheese display....oh at LEAST 15 min pass before the cheese is dropped on the table. There is ZERO explanation of what is what..just dropped. LITERALLY....And the waiter walks away..... "BOY ARE THESE CUSTOMERS A PAIN IN THE A**. Interrupting me playing on the computer in the lobby and my phone calls...gosh, get rid of them. If I ignore them, they will leave" YUP, THAT'S THE GIST OF IT Between our few visits by the waiter....they..the two waiters AND whom we learned later was the MANAGER....ALL THEY DID WAS TALK ON THEIR PHONES. (Manager playing on lobby computer more than phone but certainly NOT WORKING). The two other tables near us both said the service S*CKED and we agreed. I had to walk to the chef in the kitchen to ask for more bread to finish our cheese. Now, the KICKER?? The cheese was our appetizer! We never were allowed to order meals or dessert, which we had planned to do. OVER an hour and a half for a glass of wine and cheese platter. Then we gave up. We waited forever for the waiter to come back. NEVER DID. The waiter walked by the kitchen ON THE PHONE a couple times, never once lifting his eyes to ANYONE. At one point I thought he left. So I saw him and the manager chatting up near the kitchen and I went to them and asked how I would be able to pay as I needed a check and the service was NON-EXISTENT. Ohhhh that did it. The manager walked into the kitchen, COMPLETELY ignoring me. The waiter was FURIOUS... Printed the bill.. said "$54 dollars". I said sorry, Israeli shekels please. That tee'd him off. (But I was paying in shekels..he didn't ask..he assumed) so 196 (may have been 194..I dont have the receipt in front of me..I packed it away with the General Managers name, number and address to discuss with later. I slapped 200 on counter and walked away. NEVER EVER IN 55 YEARS HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN THIS BAD.

Now you would think the Chef would complain about this manager and wait staff, as I would think his income depends on their service as well. We are generally very good tippers (nothing less than 20% with good service. Excellent service higher). I ALMOST insisted on 100% of my change back, as he, the other larger waiter and the manager deserve NOTHING. SO THIS IS NOTRE DAME. I believe this complex houses a hotel as well. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES I WOULD EVER STAY HERE? What are the chances I would EVER recommend this place? NIL NADA NEVER!! What are the chances I tell friends and the local guides about my...

Notre Dame Rooftop Restaurant – Jerusalem | 4.4/5

Perched atop one of the most iconic locations in Jerusalem, the Notre Dame Rooftop Restaurant delivers an experience that’s truly memorable. The service here is solidly above average — professional, attentive, but not overbearing, allowing you to fully soak in the atmosphere.

And what an atmosphere it is. The view alone is worth the visit: an incredible, unique angle over the Temple Mount and the Old City that you simply won’t get anywhere else. For an even more breathtaking perspective, definitely spring for the overlook on the opposite side of the building. It’s worth the extra cost for the photo op and the panoramic view you’ll remember long after your trip.

The wine list is nicely curated, featuring a good mix of Italian, French, and local Israeli wines. It’s not overwhelming, but there are real gems if you know what you’re looking for — you can easily find a Jubilee among the French selections or a robust Italian pairing.

The highlight of the menu, though, is undoubtedly the cheese boards. They offer specialized boards featuring cheeses from different regions, paired thoughtfully with appropriate wines. Whether you opt for an Italian or a French cheese board (or sample the local Israeli offering), you’re in for a true tasting experience. If you appreciate good wine and cheese, this is your spot.

While the broader menu is better than average, it’s clear the main draw is the combination of the view, the wine, and the cheese boards. And a bonus for some: the restaurant is not kosher and remains open on Shabbat, which is helpful to know depending on your plans.

Bottom line: Come for the view, stay for the wine and cheese, and leave with some of the best memories — and photos — Jerusalem...

We just finished a delicious and memorable dinner at the Notre Dame Rooftop Cheese & Wine restaurant. I definitely recommend arriving at around sunset to enjoy the amazing views. The restaurant's interior and semi-outdoor porch area is modern, beautifully decorated and looks brand new. You can tell they really put a lot of thought and effort into making sure the restaurant provided a true, well-rounded culinary experience.

For my meal, I had the Garden Salad, which was extremely fresh and was plated beautifully with fresh fruits, candied walnuts, and a homemade white wine vinaigrette dressing. We enjoyed several equally-delicious appetizers and for my main course I had the spinach and ricotta ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. For dessert, I highly recommend the Rooftop Knafe. It was probably the best knafe I've had in Jerusalem! The service was also perfect and professional throughout the dinner and our waiter was extremely attentive.

I can't say enough amazing things about this place. It's easily become my favorite restaurant in Jerusalem! 10/10 recommend if you're looking for a top-notch dining experience in addition to...