1868
Menu
****
$$$
An upscale, fantastic place on the 5-star hotel strip that will not disappoint!
The year is 1868, a year known for nothing more to me than the name of a fantastic restaurant in the heart of downtown Jerusalem. Tucked into a corner across the street from the David Citadel, a block form the King David and 20 yards from the Waldorf, this restaurant will wow you in every way, including the bill.
After walking thorough the small portal and down a narrow hall, you will enter an upscale and pristine establishment with white linens and clean corners. The food matches the décor.
The chef is all self taught. His name is Yankele Turgeman, which could not be more befitting of the mixture of Ashkenazic and Sephardic blends he takes from his name to the grill-top.
Turgeman is a perfectionist who insists that we eat with our eyes and our mouths. Each presentation is a masterpiece. Somewhat of minimalists portions, each bite syncs up special flavors and tastes.
The tasting menus are the best choice, since making up your mind on the menu will not be easy. The steak is grilled to perfection with the perfect amount of sauce and side. The slow cooked lamb is close to an osso buco and is mouth watering. Nothing leaves the kitchen unless it is perfect and ready for presentation.
Unlike many other places, 1868 takes every section of the meal and kicks it up a notch. Appetizers are good, mains are better but dessert is worth the price of admission. The four-textured chocolate along with the hand CRAFTED (notice did not say made – it is really crafted) sorbet and pareve ice cream is fantastic as well.
The meal is not cheap, in fact it might even total, $1868! Most of the people eating here are spending serious dollars for an old-city view room at a five-star hotel strip, so dropping shekels over steak will not cause tremors on the savings account. Still, the price is worth it. No tourist or native could eat here and not be proud of the cuisine of the country and the service and ambience that accompanies it.
