Open for lunch, Sunday - Friday from 12:00 noon till 4:00pm.
Open for dinner Sunday - Thursday 6pm till 11:30pm, and Saturday night after Shabbat. Closed Shabbat.

revised August 03
Location
The Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel is that very tall building behind Binyanei Ha'uma at the entrance to the city. Most busses pass right by (across from the old Central Bus Station), and there is plenty of parking as well.

Seating and Atmoshpere
Step onto the magic carpet and be carried away to an Indian palace. You truly feel as if you have gone away for a few hours - from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Here at Kohinoor, time stands still. You enter into an authentic Indian world with a filigree ceiling, a warm, elegant decor, and beautifully costumed waiters and waitresses. It is truly a feast for your eyes.

The Kohinoor staff is very attentive - they pay close attention to detail. The main course is served on pre-warmed dinner plates; there is always someone nearby to refill your water glass; the wine is served appropriately chilled; etc.

The restaurant (as well as the entire hotel) is wheelchair accessible.

Menu
The food at Kohinoor will seduce your palette. Though Kohinoor is a meat restaurant, no vegetarian will be disappointed. Please note - if you are not familiar with Indian food, the staff will gladly guide you through the breadth and depth of the menu. In addition, if you do not know the difference between a samosa and a pakora, the menu clearly explains in English (and in Hebrew) the main nuances of Indian food.

If you can, I would suggest that you come in a group The advantage of coming in a group is that you get a chance to taste-test more of the menu! But Kohinoor is also ideal for the very special night out.

I would also suggest trying a few different types of dishes. And, while I am at it, let me suggest that you order items you might not normally make at home.

The appetizers (about 20NIS) are scrumptious: Various Indian specialties - Samosa (triangle-shaped pastries filled with vegetables), Pakora (deep fried veggies coated in a chick-pea batter,), Bhajias (deep-fried onion shavings covered in a spicy batter), Goolar Kebab and more.

There are three incredible sauces that accompany your meal: spicy mango chutney, mint-cilantro, and a sweet tamarind sauce. You must dip your breads and appetizers into each of them. And there are soups (Mulligatawny-Indian Tomato, Lentil and others) and several types of breads.

Now, even if it means taking them home in a doggie-bag, do not pass up the appetizers, which like the main courses (about 60NIS), all are bursting with flavor. And speaking of the main courses, there are so many choices - three full pages of an oversized menu. You can choose from fish, chicken, lamb or vegetarian dishes, most served in a variety of ways: barbecued; marinated overnight in special Indian sauces; in a mint sauce; curried; spicy; in a wonderful gravy (like cashew nut!); roasted skewers, and more. Speaking from experience, the Tandoori chicken simply melts in your mouth.

There are other Tandoori delights as well. There is also the new Thali menu (vegie for 49NIS or the meat/chicken options for 69NIS). Most of the myriad of items are served to you in special individual dishes and bowls.

I also suggest that you add rice to your main course selection. The basmati rice comes in four varieties: plain, with vegetables, with chicken or with lamb, mint and saffron.

Dessert: Excellent as well! They have a nice variety of choices including sweet-spiced carrot pudding, rice pudding, sorbets and a parve pistachio ice cream. When the waiter came over and asked, "Is everything alright?", he already knew the answer!

Try this...
Kohinoor offers a great Business Lunch - 62 NIS and the 'all you can eat' buffet! (the eLuna discount does not apply) This lunch includes soup, bread, and a drink (even wine!) and a visit to the buffet for a nice selection from the regular menu.

Each day Kohinoor offers something different, so no need to worry that you've 'already been there'. The lunch buffet always has at least one vegetarian dish, a chicken dish, a fish dish and more. And, if that was not enough, there is also a dessert item or two at the buffet as well.

Every evening, Kohinoor presents traditional Indian folk dancing. It is a little taste of the culture and folklore of India. Authentic garb, dimmed lights, appropriate music and skilled dancers all combine for a fantastic moment during your meal. Don't miss it.

From Our Readers:
Submitted by: PerryEstherZ., Date: Feb 2005, Description: What do we like about the restaurant? The service, that's the thing we like. The service and the food, that's the two things we like. The service, the food and the atmosphere, that's the three things we like (sounds a little like Monty Python ;-). Last night we played it safe: the appetizers for two (five types, at least, with that wonderful tamarind sauce on the side) and the meat platter for two (five types, again. Let's see: there was Chicken Tandoori, Chicken Tikka, the red one and the white one, two kebab made with lamb and herbs, and a lamb chop). Oh, yes, and the rice - Basmati rice with vegetables, and oh! what a lovely aroma from the spices they use. And to finish off, a cup of chai, with pareve milk, and, oh! the spices that make the chai so special. (And all that for 170 shekels after our eLuna coupon.) And the memories of romantic dates, at Kohinoor, from years gone by...

Submitted by: rachael Date: Nov 11, 04., Description: I dined at Kohinoor with my children, and the food was amazing. Even the special Indian bread was a delicacy in itself. There was a wonderful pistachio ice cream (white, not green) that kept me going back for seconds and licking my spoon again and again.. I had chicken in mango sauce and also broiled chicken with some Indian herb that turns it green, it was exquisite! The owner, a beautiful Indian woman, was there to answer all of our questions. I recommend this restaurant!

"To walk into our restaurant is to enter
a world of excellence where you are
greeted by the traditional charm,
coutesy and hospitality of the Indian
people, that has been perfected to an
art over the years." "This is the only
Indian restaurant in Israel, where price
shakes hands with quality and
quantity smiles."