Veggie goes to Shaked, or Veggie watches other people eat fish

For vegetarians, Shaked has a variety of salads but not much more. For all the pescetarians out there, Shaked is a great place to visit.

By ASI GAL
veggie (photo credit: Courtesy)
veggie
(photo credit: Courtesy)
One of my best friends is marrying a Russian. Call me prejudiced, but those Russians love fish. So, to celebrate their upcoming wedding, I took them to the fish and seafood restaurant Shaked. To clarify, I'm an actual vegetarian. As such, I do not eat fish. For those such as myself, Shaked has a variety of salads but not much more. By that rationale, it should get two stars at best. On the other hand, I know that there are numerous pescetarians out there, masquerading as vegetarians, who view some animals as inferior to others and therefore have no problem ignoring their suffering. For these heartless folks, Shaked is a great place to visit. Around for 40 years, an eternity by Tel Aviv's standards, its look is simple - simple chairs around a regular looking table. Our great waitress has worked here for the last 18 years. The emphasis at Shaked is on tasty food and friendly hospitality. To get my veggie notes out of the way, all of the salads - served free with every main course - were great. The freshly chopped vegetable salad, crispy falafel balls, terrific fried cauliflower and the best eggplant in tehina I've had in a long time were all subject to the house policy that every time a dish emptied, it was quickly replaced anew. The vegetable rice and baked potato side dishes were very tasty, as well. Now for the raison d'être. Both the Russian and the future wife loved the herring. Also, they adored the grouper stuffed with spices, an off-menu offering. All fish arrive fresh each morning meaning that the menu is more of an ideal as opposed to a reality. So always best to ask about the catch of the day. My friend thought the grouper would've been better without the onions but her future hubby disagreed. He also preferred the fried calamari, which she disliked. Ah, but it's those little differences that keeps the fire burning. Well, that and a great, four Pisces star meal. Located at 90 Hashmonaim St., (03) 561-0546. Open Sunday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.; not kosher. The writer was a guest of the restaurant.