A true trattoria treat

Pronto is well recommended to anyone who loves food – Italian or not.

By JASON MESKIN
Pronto (photo credit: Courtesy)
Pronto
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Aculinary jewel, offering delightful Italian cuisine in a charming setting, Pronto has become the favorite among Italian food aficionados. But you don’t need to take my word for it. In 1997, Pronto won the prestigious prize for the best Ristorante Italiano outside of Italy, issued by the Italian government. Owned by Israeli filmmaker Rafi Adar, Pronto is a truly authentic Italian trattoria/restaurant modeled after the most famous eateries in Rome.
Its chef, David Frenkel, is just 29 years old, incredibly ambitious and, well, his food is good. Really good.
The interior is much like the restaurant itself – classy, warm and Italian-style, yet modern. A bar functions as the centerpiece of a restaurant, and customers can either sit there for a quick drink or at one of the surrounding tables.
Every Monday night, Pronto is featuring a special vegan menu that’s chock-full of appetizing treats.
My dining partner and I decided to try a few things from both this menu and the regular dinner menu.
As no Italian meal is complete without a good bottle of wine, Pronto boasts an impressive wine list that includes some of the best reds and whites that Israel and Italy have to offer.
We began our meal with a succulent red tuna tartare in a gazpacho sauce. The mixture of fresh onions, tuna and a hint of lemon got my taste buds dancing.
Alongside it, we also ripped away at the tasty house bread.
We then shared grilled bruschetta topped with anchovies, mozzarella and tomato salsa. This proved a refreshing mix of flavors and was delicious.
Next up was veal sweetbreads in a sweet potato cream. The dish incorporated interesting ingredients and innovative taste combinations, and both worked really well.
After a bit of a breather, a series of main dishes were served: yellowtail on a bed of homemade tagliatella; cappeletti filled with oxtail; and a drumfish fillet. These dishes were prepared with much attention to detail and with a goal to surprise and please. The mission was soundly accomplished, as each dish was unique and fresh and had character.
When dessert was brought out, I wanted to politely decline. It looked fabulous, but I didn’t want anything to interfere with the myriad of flavors that I had just experienced. Thankfully, my dining partner was game, so we had a delicious chocolate sorbet and panacotta with cherries.
Topping off the meal with a shot of espresso, my dining companion and I agreed that the service was fantastic – the staff are incredibly fast, helpful and patient. I was highly impressed with Pronto and recommend it to anyone who loves food – Italian or not. It also serves as a destination for a thoroughly good night out in Tel Aviv. I’m already planning my next trip.
The writer was a guest of the restaurant.
Pronto (Not kosher) 4 Herzl Street, Tel Aviv (03) 566-0915.