The name is both quixotic and intriguing, especially for a kosher eatery: Ismi Knaffeh, Arabic for "My name is Knaffeh." This brainchild of several young men from Haifa is a dessert restaurant cleverly and compactly designed to fit into a handsome kiosk in the center of the food court in the Renanim Mall, where the idea is to turn out individual-sized Knaffehs that are fresh, hot and made-to-order.
The signature Ismi Knaffeh (NIS 30, or NIS 75 for family-sized) really hits the spot: crispy, golden-brown kadaif laced with ground pistachio crown a base of excellent cheese that is the perfect consistency, with strands of melted cheese behaving like those in the best pizzas. I found the delicacy to have the ideal level of sweetness, but a side of syrup is served separately for those who like their knaffeh sweeter and/or stickier. There is also a vegan version with traditional orange-colored kadaif.
Another good option is to order a "side" of homemade ice cream as a foil to the warm knaffeh. There are four flavors, but the owners are proudest of the malabi ice cream, which has the added plus of being sugar-free. I needed some convincing, as I am not a fan of ordinary malabi, but this innovation was much better: distinctive, delicious and refreshing.
For those with a real sweet tooth, there are extra toppings, like threads of halvah, drizzles of white chocolate or dark chocolate-covered pretzel bits. The ultimate extravaganza, the Ismi Carnival (NIS 45/125), as a mind-blowing assortment of decadent extras.
Finally, there is a tempting array of familiar Oriental desserts, such as baklava, bird's nests, basbosa, and more (NIS 90 per kilo). Additional branches of the chain are slated for Haifa and Rehovot.