Salta, the dairy restaurant in the heart of Ra’anana, is celebrating 20 years of catering to the very discriminating kosher eaters of the area and beyond. This in itself is a recommendation.
However, Salta is known for more than its longevity. The food is innovative, beautifully presented, and good in every sense.
Situated on a busy Ra’anana street, there are several eating areas – outside on the pavement, and two inner rooms.
We were lucky to be shown into the back dining room, which is also a kind of museum of early Israel, with many old artifacts on display, such as the obsolete soda siphons that were once ubiquitous; a mortar and pestlel an ancient meat grinder, and several examples of the incredible Wonder Pot. These were latrge round baking pans with a hole in the middle, which one put over the gas, and they were used as an oven. It was a very economical way of cooking and baking. I still have my Wonder Pot from the ’70s, and on Passover I use it to make roast potatoes.
Now to the food. The menu is in English – always a good start. And good English. I could not find one example of “Pinglish” (Palestinian English) as bloopers used to be called.
Starting the meal
My dining companion and I each chose a starter. Mine was roasted Brie slices on truffle bruschetta (NIS 45). My companion chose Boro Burrata (NIS 65), which consisted of a perfect ball of mozzarella and fresh cream over a very pretty salad.
My dish was made up of three slices of buttered toast with a good slice of Brie on each and the incomparable truffle flavor overall. Great starter! My companion also loved his dish, which was dressed with an original mint/mango sauce.
For the main course, he chose sea bass fillet in lemon butter sauce and especially loved the garnish of fried onions. He was also thrilled to find a roast potato or two in the dish (NIS 122).
I chose lasagna, which arrived very hot – always a positive sign. It had a rich cream sauce and loads of melted cheese, my favorite food. The side salad was fresh and well-flavored (NIS 78).
For dessert, we shared a piece of cheesecake, which was, as expected, delicious, with minimal sponge cake and masses of fresh cream.
For the liquid accompaniment to this exceptional meal, I drank a glass of Gewürztraminer, very dry and sophisticated, from the Telem Winery (NIS 41). My companion had his usual beer (NIS 28).
Continues to impress
We left Salta very satisfied and confident in saying that, in its 20 years, it has continued to cater to diners with the same flair with which it started so many years ago.
Salta
10 Rambam St.
Ra’anana
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kashrut: Ra’anana Rabbinate
The writer was a guest of the restaurant.