The Italian chain of restaurants Raffaello was opened in 1993, and a new branch has just reached Netanya.
We checked out this addition to our hometown’s culinary scene and can report that the restaurant does a great lunch, providing authentic Italian food that would satisfy the most demanding of palates. The menu is innovative, the service excellent, and we enjoyed a memorable meal.
There are several interesting starters. We let our charming waiter, Idan, decide for us what we would sample.
The first dish was salmon arancini (NIS 43), consisting of a ball of fresh salmon dipped in crumbs, sitting on a dollop of fresh cream, with chives and Parmesan. It was as good as it sounds.
This was the only starter that wasn’t a bruschetta, as the others all come on toast.
French goat cheese and a caramelized onion
We tried bruschetta fresca, which was quite a picture with sun-dried tomatoes and a salad topped with anchovies and cress. Yet another bruschetta had French goat cheese and a caramelized onion topping (NIS 38).
The soup course came next. The soup of the day was onion and leek, which came piping hot and smothered in fresh cream, which turned it into a pungent but gourmet dish.
As a main course, my dining companion chose the gnocchi (NIS 79). They were a purply-pink shade due to the addition of beetroot, and were bathed in a rich chestnut cream sauce flavored with nutmeg. On the side were spinach and assorted root vegetables. Since not a vestige of food remained on his plate, one assumed the dish was of the highest quality.
I chose a gravlax salad, which contained lightly cured salmon (somewhere between fresh and smoked), with radishes on fresh cream, chili pepper, and almond garnish (NIS 69). It was a very original dish which made a pleasant change.
Our host insisted we try two desserts: Financier tapuhim and tiramisu. The first was a classic almond biscuit with apple puree added (NIS 55); the second had the tuiles standing up around a huge amount of fresh cream (NIS 54). Both were mind-bogglingly delicious.
We ended this incredible meal with two good cappuccinos and departed Raffaello happy in the knowledge that Netanya now has an additional kosher dairy restaurant that is well worth a visit.
Raffaello
23 Ha’orzim St.
Netanya
Tel: 077-303-4051
Open: Sun.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. until one hour before Shabbat; Sat. night – from one hour after the end of Shabbat.
Kashrut: Netanya Rabbinate
The writer was a guest of the restaurant.