May 2025
Dolphin was the flagship non-kosher restaurant in the heart of the Holy City. Then came the war and the desire to open the restaurant to all Am Yisrael, kosher and non-kosher diners alike, and so kashrut.

"We are now closed on Shabbat and we are never going back!" Said owner Yonatan and restaurant manager Omer, telling us the history of the restaurant. "Once we closed the restaurant on Shabbat, I found my family. We had weeks-ends together. We had a life." The folks at Sea Dolphin Restaurant have tasted the fruit of both the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. The tree of knowledge because they learned about the wonders of Shabbat, and the tree of life because Shabbat has given us all a better life.

Sea Dolphin Restaurant defies the statistics. Whereas most restaurants don't make it through one decade, Sea Dolphin is open for almost 60 years. This is because it wins on all counts. There is seating on the breezy patio facing the street which is just off the main traffic of downtown Jerusalem. You must go inside to appreciate the atmosphere and the decor. The room is awash with white cloth-covered tables, wine glasses and beautiful settings: Soft colored walls, arches, and vintage Jerusalem-style elements. Two beautiful flower arrangements decorate the shiny bar. Israeli background music tops it off. For us, it was love at first sight.

Sounds expensive?
Sea Dolphin offers real value for money. The menu is varied, with the fish dishes pricier than the meat. There are both restaurant discounts and eLuna discounts at certain hours.

The restaurant offers fish, meat, and vegetable dishes in a one page out sized menu in Hebrew and English. Hachnasat Orchim (welcoming guests) is key at Sea Dolphin.The restaurant did not expect us, but when we arrived we were greeted as valued guests. Though the restaurant was full, there was no rushing. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. Winding our way to our seats we glanced at the tables laden with beautiful dishes.

We started with a selection of appetizing dips delivered on a large round platter together with warm focaccia. Each of the dips had just a touch of something extra. The techina was dotted with Tznober - pine nuts. Humus was topped with roasted garlic sections. A beet salad was especially tasty, as was a tomato salsa with oregano and garlic in olive oil.

My companion and I then shared a generous bowl of green salad with lettuce, purple endives, and radishes, accented with slices of apple in a citrus vinaigrette dressing. The little exra was a generous amount of candied Chinese pecans that topped the salad. It was a treat. I would suggest sharing the salad with your dining companion, as your main courses are on the way. Fresh cutlury was laid and both our main courses were delivered simultaneously.

I am sure that the meat dishes at Sea Dolphin are excellent. But the test of a kitchen, for me, is the way they prepare fish. From the layout of the menu it is apparent that fish is the focus, as is the namesake of the restaurant.

The menu section entitled "Our Specialty Fish" lists an impressive number of fish dishes. The restaurant offers grilled Sea Bass fillets and the more meaty whole Sea Bream. I prefer the delicate texture of Sea Bass and i like my fish filleted, rather than whole. The fish was served with sliced green beans and squash, for a colorful and healthy meal. Not every chef masters the mysteries of fish preparation. These fillets were perfectly prepared, with crusty skin and soft meat. I could not resist sharing one fillet with my companion, as I wanted him to experience the delicious fillet himself. We shared a second main course of Sea Fish Kabobs. Three Sea Fish Kabobs were served over a tahini base with tomato salsa. They had visible grill marks and a sprinkle of green herbs.

There are many other choices of fish on the Sea Dolphin menu, including Ceviche, Carpaccio, and sashimi. The menu also offers fish Bouillabaisse, a fish soup, that you won't see at most restaurants. It has been many years since we enjoyed Tilapia fish (Musht), that we used to enjoy fresh from the Kinneret at Ein Gev. If there is one restaurant that can compete with this, it will be Sea Dolphin, and I will put them to the test on our next visit.

Meat dishes are not overlooked at Sea Dolphin and the menu is also rich in meat options. The menu section entitled "For Meat Lovers" offers a 300 gram premium Entrecote steak as well as the more reasonably priced 300 gr Nebrask beef burger. It is a win-win whichever way you go.

An anecdote for students of Restaurant history:
Raise your hand if you remember Shlonsky restaurant in Raanana. And who could forget one of the most successful dairy restaurants in the city?
Eyal and Anat, the owners of Shlonsky Restaurant, learned the business from their father who was one of the founders of Dolphin Restaurant.

From the Menu:

Opening Appetizers NIS 48
Ceviche, Carpaccio, and sashimi NIS NIS 68 - 78
Green garden Salads NIS 62
Sea Bass fillets NIS 142
Sea Fish Kebob NIS 76
Premium Entrecote steak 300 gram NIS 168
Nebrask beef burger 300 gr NIS 94

Sea Dolphin invites you to visit the restaurant with a 10% discount from 12 noon to 5pm.

Extend this 10% discount with your eLuna coupon valid after the restaurant discount.