Some restaurants leave you feeling full, while others send you home smiling. Cicchetti belongs to the second group. It sits on busy Yehuda Halevi Street, but once you step inside – assuming you managed to get a table – the warm, easygoing atmosphere makes it feel like an evening abroad.
The service is part of the restaurant’s charm. The waiters are friendly and attentive, and know exactly which wine to recommend for the season or the dish. The atmosphere is lively, the diners are smiling, and the close quarters add to the energy, creating the sense that you are exactly where you should be.
The menu is built around small plates for sharing, each offering a taste of the good life. There is an endive salad with Bûche cheese and fresh beets, cloud-soft asparagus gnocchi, perfectly made carbonara and some of the best shrimp in the city. The kitchen balances Italian precision with Tel Aviv creativity, and the desserts maintain the same high standard.
Cicchetti works equally well for a romantic date or a relaxed evening with friends. During happy hour, it is also particularly good value, with 30% off the food and wine menu. Regular prices are not low, but the overall experience feels well worth the cost.
Not everything is perfect: the outdoor tables are a little too close to the road, and the restaurant can become completely packed. Still, once you are inside enjoying the food, warm service and lively atmosphere, it is hard to complain. Reservations are recommended.
