Shila doesn’t say “Shila” upfront. It’s just a nameless door in Ben Yehuda, filled every night with crowd that just know it’s there. Fortunately, we know Shila is there and that Shila has always been one of the top restaurants in the city. Inside – loud music and a chic bar atmosphere. Outside, on the street, wobbly high bar-chairs around few tables fit to a calmer crowd, and in addition, a private room outside for events. I chose Shila that night because I felt like having a nice dinner without taking risks. The focus on the menu is seafood and if you’re not in the mood – than really it’s not for you.
Seven years ago, around the time the restaurant just opened we went there and were moved by the octopus salad, we liked it so much that we called the next day asking how they cooked the octopus, and in return, they sent us the recipe by email. They keep this dish till this day but only makes it when there’s fresh octopus and sadly there wasn’t any this evening. Bummed a bit but not defeated we checked the rest of the menu. It was hard to select. Not because there was nothing I felt like having, on the contrary, I wanted to try too many of the dishes! Looking at the menu now makes me want to come back and explore the rest of the menu. This is the best result of a menu.
The plates are beautiful and the tablecloth is clean and white.
Rincon Del Sol 2011 Chardonnay Chenin, Argentina (98 NIS). We shared a bottle of the house wine, even though the waitress didn’t recommend it, we tried it and it was light and refreshing and just what we needed.
Bread Basket (19 NIS). Once again, against our waitress recommendation we ordered the bread basket instead of the Focaccia and we were really pleased. It’s a mix of four different breads, a dip and pickled vegetables.
Tuna carpaccio with lemon grass Campari sorbet and pickled algae (62 NIS)
I defiantly liked this dish, delicate dish with an attention to the details, a play with texture and temperature, quality products and beautiful plating.
Steak tartare with tomato vinegar, quail’s egg yolk, capers and grape-mustard (58 NIS). I love steak tartare and whenever I see it in a menu I order it. I think it’s not bad, but not the best I had, but the competition in my head is tough.
Special: Carpaccio of sea fish topped with fresh roll filled with shrimp, seaweed, green tobico (74 NIS). I was a bit reluctant to order a special dish after the temptation was painful several times but this time it paid off – a really lovely dish, tasty and interesting.
Calamari with white butter sauce, crab meat and pasta leaf (76 NIS). I saw this dish arriving at our neighbors table and had to take it too. It was the best dish of the meal in my opinion even though we could not find the crab meat. The sauce was well made, the fresh pasta and seasonal green vegetables still a bit crispy. Inspiring.
Artichoke and lemon zest risotto with calamari and crystal shrimp (69 NIS). My least favorite dish of the meal. I basically felt the risotto wasn’t cooked right. I love rice and I know this feeling one get when eating good rice. I just didn’t get this urge to take another bit. Liked Adora’s risotto a lot better.
100g of King oyster Mushrooms a la plancha (22 NIS). A real cool side dish. Flavorful, fun and tasty.
200g Blue swimmer crab with chimichuri (36 NIS). I like eating with my hands, I like working for my bite and I love crab. Simple yet exactly what we needed to finish this meal. The chimichuri was redundant and overpowering the delicate flavor of the crab.
Tahini Panna Cotta with Black cherry sorbet and sesame nougat (43 NIS). Very nice dessert, reminds me a bit of Mizlala’s desserts – beautiful and pleasureful but fit to at least two people. I liked the fact the panna cotta was covered in a white chocolate crust and the crumble was good. Didn’t like the yogurt on the side – what’s it doing there?
Carribean Creme Brulee scented with Tonka, topped with pineapple and coconut sorbet (43 NIS). Really good version of the everyday creme brulee. The sorbet was amazing. The crumble added here as well but not as fitting and feels a bit like an afterthought.
I always like to take another picture of the table with all the desserts because it’s beautiful and holds everyone from attacking the dishes and demolishing them in two seconds.
The bill came up to 600 NIS for four people, 150 NIS per person. Not that expensive as people tend to treat this place. On the other hand, we only had the cheapest bottle of wine, 5 small dishes, two medium dishes and two desserts. We were very much satisfied and filled. I think it’s a good value for the money. We’ll come back again for sure.
182 Ben yehuda st Tel-Aviv
03-5221224
תאריך ביקור: מרץ 2014
