he was a little hesitant, as he thought a nice restaurant like this would force us both to take second mortgages on our respective houses
On a Thursday night I dropped by Jaffa's Fleamarket with my friend Gal. As excited as I was about having a nice meal in one of my favorite parts of the city, he was a little hesitant, as he thought a nice restaurant like this would force us both to take second mortgages on our respective houses.
I just love how I can feel the special flea market atmosphere from the moment I step out of my car: smiling people, picturesque allies, sounds of music. As I entered the restaurant, I realized this would be a unique experience. The Fleamarket's main dining area is decorated with vintage items that work really well with the streets around the restaurant. The sounds of people eating is in harmony with the open kitchen located at the center of the restaurant, and if you sit at the gallery floor, you get a good view of the huge wine closet and vintage arm chairs that were probably preserved from the day of the Israeli Declaration of Independence.
The Fleamarket owner Shy, restaurateur and entrepreneur, is a former Kibutz member who now resides in Tel Aviv. His idea of a good restaurant is not one that tries to create something completely new, rather than a place where anyone can have what they are looking for– be it a simple market restaurant or a chef restaurant – Fleamarket's menu has something for everyone. You can enjoy a meal for NIS80 or NIS300, and both will be special, tasteful and filling.
It was time to eat. Our meal included a seafood stew with Asian sauce; a butcher's cut served over a soft polenta with touches Port reduction; and veal chops that were served over a chestnuts cream with scorched beets and some Port. Although all dishes were obviously the result of a great deal of thought and although they were made of high quality produce, they were simple and inexpensive. Fleamarket also offers a wide variety of smells and tastes of fresh salads, fish, seafood and fine cuts of meat.
Let me treat this restaurant with the same decency and tell you to just treat yourselves and pay it a visit.
