For years after we settled in Karmiel, Galilee, my husband, Brian and I moaned about the absence of local Italian restaurants.
To be fair, we once dined at a short-lived ‘ristorante’ near the BIG downtown shopping centre.
But that soon morphed into a franchised burger joint, so we were left bereft, two forlorn mid-Mediterranean vegetarian food junkies, desperate for menus that offered more than mountains of falafel, pitta and hummus.
Then two-three years ago things began to change.
The ugly, crumbling industrial plant towards the bottom of Ha-Kharoshet Street was razed and slowly but surely, the ‘Gan Ha’ir’ (‘Garden City’) entertainment and restaurant complex rose in its place.
Now visitors enjoy an embarrassment of riches with several Italian-style eateries jostling for business and today we visited Guesta, a spanking new kosher dairy restaurant that, according to Trip Advisor, is owned by the management of nearby Tagalos.
Guesta offers some al fresco seating but we sat indoors and found the premises spacious, light, airy with an extra balconied dining area and so well ventilated against the continuing abnormal heat, that we heard fellow diners request a door be shut against the breeze.
Furnishings, decor and napery are basic but the waiting staff are kind, attentive, and most anxious to please, even asking for a phone number in order to make a follow-up call.
But you want to know about the food!
Israeli restaurant portions are famously generous and Guesta did not disappoint, serving us respectively handsome bowls loaded with spaghetti and fettuccini that we somehow followed with artfully decorated and wickedly decadent cakes chosen, not from the main menu, but the restaurant’s patisserie and coffee shop.
But Guesta’s real triumph came when we settled up.
We left a tip. Of course.
But so did the gracious cashier/manager, who gave Brian what may only be described as a ‘party loot bag’, containing four dainty flaky chocolate pastries that I am ashamed to write did not survive the night.
Guesta recommends pre-booking.
Tel: 04-840-3444
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MILK SHORTAGE IN ISRAEL?
Anglo Israel social media pages are currently besieged by users worried about a perceived countrywide milk shortage during the Sukkot holiday. This is of especial concern to parents with large families.
I can confirm there has been little choice this past week but that a supply of own brand one-litre cartons was available today at Supersol.
NATALIE WOOD
23 SEPTEMBER 2021