City Bites: East meets West

Kedma location and decor offers up a mix of past and present while its eclectic menu fuses Israeli, American and European flavors.

By ITRAVELJERUSALEM TEAM
Kedma food (photo credit: ITRAVELJERUSALEM TEAM )
Kedma food
(photo credit: ITRAVELJERUSALEM TEAM )
Although Kedma, the first meat-centric restaurant to open up shop in the Mamilla Mall, boasts of modern sensibilities and culinary innovativeness, it still manages to fit right in with Jerusalem’s rich history, thanks to the awesome view from the restaurant’s huge terrace, which looks out towards the turrets of the Old City walls, Jaffa Gate, and the Dormition Abbey.
Kedma’s mix of old and new is further driven home by its location, a 110-year-old historic and architectural gem in the heart of Mamilla, which was recently thoroughly renovated in a manner that preserves its quaint feel and authenticity while bringing it into the 21st century. The juxtaposition of past and present, secular and traditional, also figures in the walls of the restaurant, in its arched windows and doorways, and in its eclectic design choices.
But most of all, it figures in the menu. When it comes to food, Kedma stands out among other similarly priced Jerusalem restaurants in terms of the range of treats it serves up. Start your meal with such dishes as the chicken salad (NIS 19/46), the beef fillet carpaccio (NIS 46), and the burnt baladi eggplant over tehina (NIS 39), which all lead up to the superb lineup of main courses. Try the steaming cauldron of soft beef in root vegetables, port and sweet herbs (NIS 69), or the juicy 300-gr. entrecote steak (NIS 109). And for a glorious finale, you can select from among a array of desserts ranging from halva mousse to hot chocolate cake to nut pie.
When the weather takes a turn for the nippy, diners can come in out of the windy boulevard and snuggle up in the heated balcony tent with a glass of draft beer. Small groups can opt to dine in Kedma’s private room, which seats up to 15, while larger events with of up to 200 guests can be held either inside the restaurant’s main room, or, when the weather permits, outside, on the terrace. Finally, if you want to sample Kedma’s tasty delights but don’t have time to sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal, you can always pop into the restaurant’s bar in the large hall across the way and order a corned beef sandwich.
For more information on restaurants and other tourist destinations in Jerusalem, visit iTravelJerusalem.com.