HIBA Restaurant — Restaurant in Tel-Aviv

I had the pleasure of embarking on a remarkable dining journey at HIBA, where the chef's creativity truly shines. The dishes were carefully crafted and displayed a level of finesse that rivals Michelin-starred establishments.

At HIBA, they offer a tasting menu featuring 12 to 14 dishes that will surprise and delight your taste buds. While you don't get to choose specific dishes, the restaurant takes special care to accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have. I was impressed by their extensive wine selection and the sommelier's offer to pair wines with each course. Although my companions and I aren't big wine enthusiasts, the gesture was appreciated.

However, a small disappointment was when I asked for a Negroni. Apparently they don't mix the drinks themselves, but rather get them pre-mixed, so you can't order any cocktail that is not on the menu. It would have been even better if they had a dedicated bar with a skilled mixologist to whip up custom cocktails, given the restaurant's stature.

The dishes themselves were nothing short of excellent—each one was intriguing, beautifully presented, and prepared with meticulous attention to detail. The timing and pace of the meal were just right, allowing us to savor each course without feeling rushed. Don't let the smaller portion sizes fool you; the cumulative quantity was more than enough, leaving us thoroughly satisfied.

The service was truly outstanding. The waitstaff were friendly, knowledgeable, and adept at describing the dishes. However, there were moments when their formality felt a bit distant, but maybe that's a matter of personal preference. The restaurant's minimalist design, characterized by earthy tones of stone and clay, contributed to the distant atmosphere. The absence of live flowers or greenery felt a bit stark, creating an unexpected contrast between luxury and a barren landscape. Lind of like eating dinner in the middle of Death Valley.

In terms of pricing, it's worth noting that HIBA leans towards the higher end, with a cost of NIS 450 per diner (excluding alcoholic beverages but including mineral and carbonated water). Please bear in mind that prices may have changed since my visit. To sum it up, HIBA offers an extraordinary culinary experience curated by a talented chef, complemented by exceptional service. While the atmosphere and formality may feel slightly reserved, it remains the closest you can get to experiencing a Michelin-starred...

Ladies and gentlemen: wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic experience at our dear friend's Yossi Shitrit's HIBA. When we walked in, right after we saw our dear friend Ronnie Koban, the door opened and a servant welcomed us right to a Yossi Shitrit interview for the national television. Then, we were walked to our table, bot before we received a cracker. The cracker was nice, nothing special. However: at our table, we met our waitress who was an expert in our preferences. She made only one small mistake (critical for some people) who actually made our experience even better. She thought one of us doesn't eat lamb, while this person doesn't eat any kind of beef. However: this person ate the beef and it was even better than the lamb (he tasted the lamb as well, from the other person's dishes). Food: 12 dishes, all very special. Favorite: onion, cucumber sorbet (the other person disagrees about the sorbet), chicken filled with tonsils, and pumpkin dessert. Least favorite: the hot cookie we recieved at the end of our evening, the meat. Yossi Shitrit is a very talented cheff, but he isn't the very best meat specialist, seemingly (but still a great specialist). Favorite experience: Our dear friend Yossi Shitrit welcomed us to his kitchen and made us his special onion dish. Least favorite experience: cracker. Thank you Hiba team for an unforgettable night! P.s - the establishment runs impeccably (like in America). Bye. Good night...

By far, without contest, the best restaurant in Israel. It has been more than half a year since I've been there, and I still think about that evening constantly.

Design: The venue is beautiful and fits the mood perfectly. It is very clear that a lot of thought went into the decoration and arrangement of the space.

Service: The staff is lively and sweet, yet did make some mistakes, like giving my girlfriend at the time a dish with meat when we said she is pascaterian, and forgeting to put caviar on my dishes.

Alcohol: We ordered the extended wine pairing, and to be honest - it was one of the best decisions I've made in a restaurant. We had literally the best wines I've ever had, and they were carefully picked to match each dish. It was expensive, but we both tought it was worth it.

Food! Wow. WOW. Oh my god. Wow. Yossi knows what he is doing. Top 3 restaurants I've been to EVER. Better than some 2 michelin starred restaurants I dinned at. We almost cried of joy. Every bite was stellar. Every dish was beautiful. The taste. The texture. The colors. The plating. Bravo.

Price: Well. It's a lot. But worth it! Truly a legendary night. We spent about 1100₪ each (including alcohol and tip)

I recommend this restaurant to any foodie visiting Israel. To anyone looking for a fancy place for celebration. Or if you're just rich enough to casually go there. But do yourself a favour and visit HIBA...