October 2010 Revisited September 2021
Regina is a spacious restaurant at the entrance of Hatachana, far from the hub-hub of this commercial center. There is indoor seating, but if you want the full experience sit outdoors in either their courtyard or one of the other outdoor areas. We loved the charming (non-smoking) courtyard made comfortable in the summer by large fans and shaded from the daytime sun by large umbrellas.
It does not get more romantic that this.
In the evening, on the courtyard, with candles and a pretty bouquet of flowers on the table, my husband of 40 years almost proposed to me again.
eLuna Revisits Regina Restaurant
eLuna visited Regina Restaurant for an early dinner in late summer mid-week. The air-conditioned indoor area was tempting but we decided to try the outdoor courtyard seating. That was the right decision, as the courtyard is charming, romantic and comfortable with several large strong fans.
Regina was conceived as a period restaurant with dishes from a variety of Jewish cultures including Eastern European, North African, and more. While many of the ethnic dishes remain, he menu has expanded to include many other favorites. The menu is available in both Hebrew and English.
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We were tempted to start our meal with Regina's traditional Ashkenazi chopped chicken liver with onions. But on this visit we opted for some of the new dishes. For our starter, we shared one dish from the restaurant's new vegan offerings, and chose one meat dish and one fish dish for our main courses.
Maklube is an Egyptian dish popular throughout the Arab world. Regina offers a vegan version and a chicken Maklube. The vegan dish is based on yellow rice, with eggplant, potatoes, carrots, onion and peas, served in a personal pot that the waiter dramatically flips over on to a plate at your table. This dish was recommended for its mild seasonings. The hearty flavor made this dish very pleasant as either a main course or a substantial side dish. More adventuresome diners might prefer some of the interesting but spicier vegan dishes such as Okra stew with cooked orange lentils with roots served with kinoa and herbs.
My companion was leaning toward the Corned Beef with green salad and mustard silan sauce. But when the Asado was suggested, his decision was made. This is a new dish not yet on the menu. Thin slices of beef are slow-cooked for 3 hours or more in vegetables, giving it a sweet taste. The meat was soft, with a bit of fat and a brown gravy that may have been based on silan, or date honey. The dish was served in a pan, with a mound of white rice on the side. The rice was perfect for absorbing the gravy with the meat.
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For our fish dish we chose the salmon steak whic is 300 grams of fresh Norwegian salmon steak on the grill, served with nicely flavored crispy potatoes.This is what I call real food without too much patchkarai.
A glass of Teperberg Chardonnay complemented the main courses. This is a light, naturally sweet wine that was pleasant to drink.
Strudel is the signature dessert at Regina, and so strudel it was, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a pretty white plate. This is classic strudel with nuts, apples and raisins in a flaky pastry. My companion was feeling experimental, and accompanied the strudel with a decaf café hafuch (Israeli latte) with foamed soy milk. To his surprise, he enjoyed it.
I must mention the charming and well trained staff at Regina. The waiters/waitresses were personable, helpful and added a great amount to the dining experience. We left a generous tip that was well earned.
Parties: Regina is a perfect venue for parties in different parts of the property from 12 guests to 130 guests. Regina even hosts weddings. Why didn't I think of that. Gorgeous, romantic, excellent food and service.
From the Menu:
Chopped chicken liver and onion 46, Maklube (vegan) with rice and vegetables 56 (with chiken NIS 74). Okra stew with orange lentils and kinoa 56. Non-meat salads NIS 42. Norwegian salmon steak with baked potatoes 96, Asado NIS 96. Corned Beef (300 gr.) with salad 81. Rib eye steak (300 gr.) served with oven baked potato wedges 145.
Hatachana. The Historic Templer Train Station
The new/old Tel Aviv train station is a popular Tel Aviv attraction with lovely restaurants, stylish shops, and a generous helping of Israeli history. Regina meat restaurant was a pioneer in this location. It is a toss up as to whether Hatachana brings the visitors to Regina or if Regina restaurant brings the visitors to Hatachana.
Hats off to the city of Tel Aviv for the wonderful renovation of this city landmark. Originally one of Montifiores projects, the train station developed over a period that includes the Templers and the British. Original buildings, some 100 years old, are renovated and beautified. It is very exciting architecturally and I am sure that each building comes with a good story.
Regina restaurant is housed in the former home of the train station guard (Nice perk for this job).
Getting There: Hatachana is at the southern end of Neve Tzedek, just north of Jaffa, on the eastern side of the coastal road. There is a convenient pay parking lot at the entrance to Hatachana. Waze will get you there.
The restaurant is in building 10, just a few steps from the entrance to Hatachana.
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