February 06
I admit it - I have been in love with Masaryk since its birth. I am
considered an old-timer on the Emek Refaim corridor, having lived there
since 1984. Masaryk was always a cut above the others that opened along the
strip. And, not resting on its laurels, Masaryk continues to change, to
improve and just stay a cut above the others.
What was once a real good coffee shop, is now a full fledged fantastic
restaurant. Sure, they still serve coffee (and very good coffee, I might
add), but Masaryk has become the only true dairy restaurant along the strip.
And they have plenty of non-dairy dishes as well. But here's the best part:
they still charge coffee shop prices!
The decor has been upgraded and it feels nice and comfortable to sit in
Masaryk and watch "the Emek" go by. The appetizers are as
good, if not better, than the main courses. My absolute new favorite is the
Mushrooms In a Chili and Citrus Sauce. If you do nothing else for the rest
of your life, sit down and taste this dish. It is real good. The taste
lingers like the scent of jasmine on a nice spring day. It is not spicy. It
is delicious.
Of course, they have other amazing appetizers. Rolled Eggplant in a Cream
and Parmesan Sauce. (To die for), Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Lebane, Salmon
wrapped in Filo Dough, or Bruschetto and Crustini. And they have succulent
soups too: Minestrone, Sweet Potato, Tomato and the day we were
there, they had a perfectly seasoned Cauliflower Soup. All are made fresh,
from scratch.
If you are in the 'salad mood', Masaryk will do just right by you. They
offer six or seven choices of full-meal salads. And
sandwiches, too. Eggplant, Yellow Cheese, Feta, Roasted
Veggies, Roquefort, Salmon - all are served on fresh baked bread, soft, and
warm.
Masaryk offers a wide variety of main dishes. The fish is dishes are excellent. The restaurant staff goes to the shuk every morning
and chooses the best and freshest fish. They offer Salmon (baked or grilled
in an almond and wine sauce), Trout ("Forel" in a butter, wine and sage
sauce), Mullet ("Buri" with Syrian Olives and Capers or in a Lemon Sauce)
and a Sea Bream ("Labrack" either wrapped in filo dough with a Mushroom
Wine sauce or baked with Capers and Lemon).
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Even the side dishes that came with the fish were exquisite. A very nice
selection of slightly grilled, but nicely done Sweet Potatoes, String Beans
and Potatoes.
Pasta is an art form at Masaryk. The pasta is homemade fresh, daily. The
flour for the pasta is imported from Italy. And when you eat the pasta, you
can definitely taste the difference. Ricotta is use in the ravioli. You can
get different types of filled ravioli: Pine Nuts, Eggplant or Roquefort.
And they make their own Lasagna, Eggplant Parmesan and Pastagio.
The other pasta items include your choice of spaghetti or
fettuccini (green or regular) with a very nice variety of very tasty
sauces: Alio-Olio (ok, this is my other absolute favorite - a garlic and
oil sauce, with chili peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and leeks), Zucchini and
Vodka, Mushrooms, Pesto, Sweet Potato, a flavorful Three Cheese sauce, or
Salmon.
And now for dessert: various kinds of chocolate cake, ice
cream, pie, and under the dessert section of the menu they have listed
"Milkshakes". My 13 year old daughter can treat the milkshake like a whole
meal, made fresh from real ice cream and milk. Thick and refreshing.
Can you imagine that you can get much of the above as part of the
discounted business lunch??? Pasta dishes are 50NIS and fish dishes are
60NIS and it includes an appetizer and drink (cold, hot or beer!).
Masaryk Street, Jerusalem, 1958
Masaryk opens early for breakfast and serves breakfast until noon. The
shakshouka is perfect - not too runny, not overdone, seasoned and spiced.
Masaryk: Consistently good food every time. It's that simple.
Appetizers (39NIS - 41NIS), soups (27NIS), salads (49NIS), sandwiches (37NIS), fish is dishes (85NIS), pasta (46NIS - 57NIS), dessert (23NIS - 28NIS) |