Revised Sept 04
La Guta is one
of the most popular restaurants on eLuna. We revisited La Guta to find
out what makes it such an eLuna success. It wasn't hard to understand
what attracts our Anglo community, with a taste for the finer things
in life, to this outstanding restaurant. From start to finish, a visit
to La Guta is a marvelous experience. La Guta is certainly one of the
most elegant restaurants in Jerusalem, and a lunch or dinner is a memorable
event.
La Guta is located on Rivlin Street, very close to the municipal parking
lot. The restaurant is in a quiet corner of Nachalat Shiva, just a short
walk from the action on Yoel Salomon Street. The restaurant is close
enough for a pleasant walk down the entertaining pedestrian mall (midrachov),
and close to the parking but away from the hub-hub.
La Guta is located in an enchanting Nachalat Shiva house, complete with
Jerusalem stone, a lovely courtyard entrance, and arched doorways and
windows. The house is beautifully maintained with whitewashed walls,
classic wood furniture and Jerusalem greenery. As you enter the restaurant
you know that you have arrived someplace special.
 The
main seating area is an elegant room, awash in white with dark wood
contrast. The dark wood tables are covered in white linen tablecloths.
Mahogany and glass cabinets throughout the restaurant are filled with
wines and wine glasses. It is a rich atmosphere and a delightful place
to sit.
La Guta is a family operation. Mama Guta runs the kitchen, son Yossi
is the restaurant manager and other family members chime in. The service
staff has been with the restaurant for years, and they have become part
of the family. This is apparent in the attention that you receive from
the time you are seated till your dessert. When you dine at La Guta
you won't feel like a paying customer. You are made to feel like a family
guest.
The cuisine at La Guta is French with Middle Eastern influences. All
the foods are beautifully presented, special and delicious. I can't
remember the last time that we simply wiped the plates clean.
All the dishes at La Guta
are unique, starting with the basket or rolls, which the waiter thoughtfully
told us were mezonot. The antipasti appetizer is a platter of marvelously
spiced and beautifully presented vegetables. Each one is special. Try
the eggplant, for example, which is scooped out of the skin and served
seasoned, but not mashed. While I was marveling at the delightful vegetables
my companion enjoyed an appetizer of chicken liver on toast with wine
sauce. We enjoyed fish and meat main courses, both of them outstanding
in both presentation and taste. The main courses were cooked in marvelous
sauces, and we noted that the fish and the meat are just the background
for the wonderful sauces.
The service at La Guta is one of the finest. The courses are all beautifully
presented on stylized white porcelain dishes. I loved the white on white
with the dark wood contrast. Cleansing sorbet is served and the table
is cleaned between courses, as you would expect in a fine restaurant.
 A
meal of this caliber begs for wine, and don't miss the opportunity.
The excellent wine selection offers you a chance to try a wine that
you may not know. The experienced staff at the restaurant can recommend
one of the many fine wines available. We recommend that you take in
the atmosphere of this lovely restaurant and dally over a glass of dessert
wine after your main course. This will prepare you for one of the magnificent
La Guta desserts.
La Guta is a very definite 5-star experience. You can enjoy this restaurant
for dinner or for their lunch specials. The restaurant also offers a
fixed price post-Shabbat Saturday night menu.
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