The Best Pizza in Israel
Ha’ Aretz published in November 2008 their Top 10 Favorite pizza places in Israel, Tel-Aviv to be exact. Tel-Aviv is the food capital of Israel, so it’s usually assumed.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1040500.html
Here is the summary of the results:
1. The Pizza -Bograshov 15
2. Tony Verspa-Rothchild 140, Dizzengoff 267
3. Big Mama-delivery only
4. Beta Pizza- Allenby 60; Lilienblum 21; Ha’Tarucha 3, Tel Aviv Port
5. Il Pizzaiol0- Ben Yehuda 122
6.Agvania ( Tomato in Hebrew) - Sheinkin 19; Dizengoff Center 2nd floor; Ibn Gvirol 31; Azrieli, Menachem Begin 132
7. Pappa’s Pizza Location- Hillel Ha’Zaken 13
8.Gusto Location- Ha’Nadiv 36.
9.Basilicum ( Basil in Hebrew)- Florentin 2;Sderot Chen 52
10. Pizza Paza- Ibn Gvirol 102.
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Philadelphia- Sandwhiches to go
http://www.philadelphia.co.il/

Location:
Totseret Ha-arets 1 Tel-Aviv
Specializing in “Philly” sanwhiches. Philly style beef sandwhiches, Beef and chicken fajitas,
Chicken Teriyaki salad, Greek Salad, Ceaser salad, Hot wings, Dixie home fries, hamburgers,
They carry desserts such as banana splits, chocolate mousse, and cheesecake
You can get an idea of the menu by going to philadelphia.co.il and using google translate, some of the words however don’t translate correclty such as chocolate mousse with infection.
They also are one of the few places to carry American beer, Samuel Adams to be exact.
Dixie Grill Restaurant- Tel-Aviv
http://www.dixie.co.il/English/englishmenus_dinner.html

A high class version of American Diner Style food
One of the few placces in Israel serving American style breakst with ” American style coffee” in a bottomless cup. An unheard of concept in Israel. One of the specialties of the house is their ” home fries”
Dinner emphasizes beef. Ranging from burgers, steaks to carpacio.
Note this place is not kosher and does serve shrimp.
They have a late night menu that caters to the ” club kids” who have the munchies after partying late at night. Breakfast is also served late at night as well as other comfort foods.
click here to read their menus in English
Kassel- candles and soaps

Locations:
Abu Gosh 02-579-6587
Rehovot 08-935-3354
Mahana-eam 04-693-4804 050-540-8105
Natsrat Elite 04-656-1062
Ein Hamifrats 04-981-0016
Shfa-eam 09-955-2355
Tal’s Bagels- American style bagels and restaurant
Located in Jerusalem
KFC goes Kosher – Fast food

This is an add for a KFC special in Israel. 30 Nis for 3 chicken wings, fries and a soft drink. Very expensive compared to the price in the US!
The menu offers chicken sandwhiches, the original fried chicken, fries, coleslaw, corn, chicken salad, and desserts.
KFC is also in the transition phase of going Kosher since March 2009. There are already 3 kosher branches but the other branches are now in the transition phases. The KFC secret recipe had to be altered in order to make it kosher. It turns out that the batter or breading on the chicken contains milk powder and therefore the KFC food laboratory had to modify the recipe and use Soy powder to re-create the same taste.
Hertseliyah 057-938-1610, 057-937-6701
Yakum 057-938-2275
Ramat Gan 057-937-9993
Karmiel 057-938-4494
Jerusalem 057-937-9629
Tel Aviv 057-937-5892, 057-937-7974
Natsrat 057-937-5205
Hulon 057-938-0987
Eilat 057-938-4187
Rishon Letsi-yon 057-938-2217
Mavseret Zion 057-938-1346
Rehovot 057-938-3262
Victoria Secret and Bath and Body Works perfumes, lotions now in Israel
One of the only places that I know of in Israel where you can get
Victoria Secret and Bath and Body works is via bathandbeauty.co.il.

Meatland Supermarket- Hard to find Items
http://www.eluna.com/TakeAway/Meatland.asp

Meatland is an exclusively Kosher supermarket located in the anglo hub of Raanana and caters to the anglo community. They carry hard to find Americna items such as Snyders pretzels, frozen Aunt Jemima waffles, frozen English muffins, chow mein noodles in the can, ortega taco kit, corned beef, brisket, Milk Duds, After Eight chocolate mints, Bosco, canned cranberry sauce and pie filling., pre-made pie crusts, Dr. Brown’s sodas, Dr. Pepper soda, Ovaltine, iced tea mix, piergoies, Betty Crocker and Duncan HInes cake mixes., V-8 , Wise potato chips.
Overall a lot of kosher junk food! If that is what you are looking for this is the place to go. Personally I am not really missing the junk food. My favorite items that I am homesick for come from Whole Foods such as Cafe Fanny granola, Chicago style cornmeal pizza crusts, good quality meats and fish, so many fresh vegetables and fruits such as blueberries. I feel sorry for Israelis for being deprived fresh blueberries for breakfast and so many wonderful fruits that I once took for granted.
Addendum: Meatland is one of the few places in Israel you can order a whole turkey for Thanksgiving. Supermarkets usually only sell turkey legs or turkey breasts ( not the whole turkey).
The best Ice Cream parlors in Israel
According to Tiki Golan from Haaretz.co.il the best ice cream parlors in 2008 in Tel-Aviv were:
Sicilian Ice Cream Parlor

Location: 63 Ibn Gvirol Street
Tel: 03-696 2458
Opening hours: Every day from 11:00-01:30
Behind the counter: Keren and Raphael Arviv
Papa Aldo www.papaldo.co.il/

Location: 107 Ibn Gvirol Street
Also at: Hangar 9, Tel Aviv Port
Tel: 03-529 5555
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 09:00-02:00; Friday and Saturday 09:00-03:00
Behind the counter: Rami Arviv and his partner, Tal Suissa
Dolcia Melody

Location: 122 Ben Yehuda (this is the original Papa Aldo branch)
Tel: 03-527 4008
Opening hours: Everyday from 09:00-01:00
Behind the counter: Meir Gor
Almond
Location: At the entrance to Tel Aviv Port on Caf-Gimmel Yordei HaSira Street
Tel: 03-676 0438
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 07:00-24:00; Friday and Saturday 24 hours, (during July and August, the store will be open all week, 24 hours a day)
Behind the counter: Meni Sheked and Oren Nissim
Aldo Florentin
Location: 3 Florentin Street
Also at: Tartofu in Neve Tzedek belongs to the same owners
Tel: 03-683 8730
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 09:30-02:00; Friday and Saturday 09:30-03:00
Behind the counter: Brother and sister Nir and Adi Avital
Italian Park

Location: 67 Yehuda Maccabi Street
Tel: 03-544 9970
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 10:00-23:00; Friday and Saturday 10:00-00:00
Behind the counter: Marina Weinstein
Vaniglia

Location: 22A Ishtori Haparchi Street (off Basel Street)
Also at: 98 Ibn Gvirol Street
Tel: 03-602 0185
Opening hours: Every day 11:00-00:00
Behind the counter: Nitzan and Itai Rogozinski
Iceberg

Location: 108 Ben Yehuda Street
Also at: Iceberg Volcano in Tel Aviv Port and new branch at 24 Ibn Gvirol Street
Tel: 03-522 5025
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday and Saturday 10:00-01:00; Friday 10:00-02:00
Behind the counter: Ilan and Dalit Bar
Tartufo

Location: 4 Yehuda Hamaccabi Street
Also at: 25 Shabazi Street, Neve Tzedek (the original branch)
Tel: 03-544 2919
Opening hours: Every day from 09:00-00:00
Behind the counter: Milly French and Danny Amira
Arlekino

Location: 39 Ben-Gurion Boulevard, (corner of Gretz Street)
Also at: Dizengoff Street, corner of Yeremiyahu Street
Tel: 03-522 4212
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday, and Saturday 09:30-00:00
Behind the counter: Ronen Shachori and Ran Fishman
