Cafrit batabun - IL
By Tehila at The Zion ListI'm always searching for a place that feels like "old Israel." Somewhere that resembles what might have been if we'd arrived here 50 or 60 years ago. It's a longing for something I can't quite describe, and occasionally, I find it.
Cafrit Batabun is such a place.
Tucked away in Berekhya, a small moshav near Ashkelon, this kosher dairy restaurant serves exceptional Italian food. But before we get to the menu, let me set the stage.
You've arrived at a tiny moshav just off the highway, surrounded by farms and horse stables. After parking and asking a local how to find the restaurant (because like much in Israel, it won't be obvious), you'll come across an old iron gate and a wooden footbridge leading to a rustic, unassuming structure.
And by rustic, I mean "real" rustic. This is a moshav in Israel. Nothing here is staged.
Inside, wide archways, tea lights, and a palm-thatched roof transport you somewhere else. For some, it may feel like an escape from the noise of everyday life. For me, it felt like stepping back into an Israel from before there were ten million of us here.
Now, for that menu.
From fried cauliflower, risotto balls, and colorful salads to gourmet sourdough pizzas and ravioli, the menu demands self-restraint. And the dishes more than live up to the atmosphere. Cafrit Batabun is a reminder that some of the best experiences in Israel happen off the beaten path.
At a Glance
Website: Reservations website
Location: Berekhya, Israel
Category: Places
Why It’s On The List: Decadant Italian food in a place as memorable as the meal.
Find Them: Instagram
THE kind of place that transports you to another time.
Arancini and a salad that doesn’t skimp on haloumi.
THIS IS WHERE THE REPEAT VISITS START.
Instagram @cafrit_batabun
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