For reasons I won’t bore you with, we ate at the Indian restaurant, “Tandoori”:https://tandoori.co.il/en/ two nights on the trot. It was next door to our Tel Aviv Hotel, so ideally located.
On our first visit at 8.30pm, the place was buzzing, and we secured one of the last tables. Although a thali was advertised, we chose from the extensive a la carte menu. Being boring, we settled for our regular ‘Indian’: poppadoms and chutneys, chicken vindaloo for me, lamb rogan josh, shared rice and garlic naan.
We also asked for a bottle of Israeli Sauvignon Blanc but as they’d run out an alternative was suggested and accepted. However, when it arrived, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon but they then discovered they did have the Israeli SB after all.
The main courses arrived in metal individual dishes perched on a burner to keep them warm. The huge plate of rice was so large we queried whether it was for one, and there were two naan hanging over a rectangular plate. When we pointed out we’d only ordered one, the waiter blamed the new computer system and said we could keep it.
The meat was melting and the vindaloo very spicy, just as I like it, and the jug of water, essential! When the bill arrived, we discovered we’d been charged for the more expensive Cabernet Sauvignon but fortunately spotted it before paying. Our credit card was rejected for some reason and we paid the £60 bill by debit card.
We returned the following night and were told they had no Sauvignon Blanc, so we’d obviously had the last one the previous night. Instead we settled for a very good house wine which at 60 New Israeli Shekels, was half the price of most other restaurants we used.
As we’d had a reasonable lunch, we decided to share fish tikka and a vegetable dish of potatoes and cauliflower along with a repeat mountain of rice and naan. The fish came out on a sizzling plate and the five large pieces of fish were plump and with a hint of spice. Unfortunately, there was no cauliflower in the dish of lukewarm potatoes which was sent back.
The bill came minus the cauliflower/potatoes and we were offered a complimentary pudding which we declined on the basis we never have puddings in Indians, and so 10% was taken of the bill.
Despite rather erratic service and foibles, if you’re yearning for a curry in Tel Aviv, you could do worse.
Unfortunately the outdoor tables as the restaurant are slightly affected by the building work on Dizengoff Square which have been ongoing for some time.
