“For the mains we shared an excellent dish of fried filet of bass served with an amazing sauce (I learned a long time ago that butter, white wine, garlic and lemon cannot come together to produce anything less than excellence)…” Advah Gan Stav and friend share all at Batzal Yarok in Netanya…
Netanya. What a strange love-hate relationship I have with you. Why is it that even though I’ve already eaten more than enough good meals in your jurisdiction I still enter your restaurants with the sort of suspicion one would normally reserve for a roadside diner in the middle of nowhere? Perhaps the time has come to finally accept the fact that you are a great location for spending a lovely and tasty evening? Yes. I think the time has come.
X and I got closer to Batzal Yarok (Scallion, in English), located at the edge of Netanya’s main square where we are surprised to discover that an invisible projector was shining colourful lights on the walls of the buildings surrounding the square. We laughed to ourselves imagining local residents rising to drink a glass of water in the middle of the night and all of a sudden are attacked by suspicious shadows on the walls…
We debated whether to sit on the comfy armchairs with a view of the square or the more classic chairs and tables deeper inside the restaurant. We chose the latter. The debate and indecision had only just begun of course, because the long and confusing menu had arrived (what can I say – I wanted everything). The lot rested on the Adam Bread – a relatively flat bread with olive oil, garlic, rosemary and sundried tomatoes. The bread was baked on the premises and, based on the circular depressions, according to Moroccan traditions on a hot river stone. It was delicious. Along with the bread (that’s how it is with us – the bread is the star and everything else a supporting actor) we ordered the Halumi Salad, which was nice and refreshing and filled with excellent little surprises like cubes of eggplant, pieces of olives in wine, roasted peppers and homemade croutons.
For the mains we shared an excellent dish of sauteed filet of bass served with an amazing sauce (I learned a long time ago that butter, white wine, garlic and lemon cannot come together to produce anything less than excellence) and cubes of soft browned potatoes, as well as the fettuccine in cream sauce with cubes of tender salmon.
Red strawberry margaritas accompanied our meal along with lightly sparkling San Pellegrino which made our already lovely time even lovelier.
For dessert we chose a hot chocolate and nutella pie (yes – just like it sounds) and tea with mint. Every Netanya joke that threatened to pass through our lips on the way home was immediately caught and stored in the former opinions box.
Batzal Yarok Café
12 Kikar Ha’atmaut, Netanya
Tel: 09-8628883
