HaMotzi Restaurant: Algerian Cuisine in Jerusalem
The HaMotzi Restaurant in Jerusalem offers a fresh spin on North African cuisine in an intimate setting. A blend of tastes, aromas, and colors, the kosher food is inspired by chef Avi Levy’s travels and early upbringing in Israel. Located in a historic building, the restaurant was once used by the Etz Haim (Tree of Life) seminary for over 150 years.
The Algerian cuisine at HaMotzi is infused with bold flavors and seasonings. Chef Avi’s mother and grandmother brought their traditions and love of food from Algeria to Israel, teaching Avi to appreciate food at a young age. He grew up eating home-cooked meals every day with his family, a huge influence on his approach to the cuisine in his restaurant today. A few favorites on the menu include the veal asado cooked with chickpeas and the mixed grilled hamotzi, made with chicken spleen, beef heart, onion, pepper, and pickled cucumber, served with Moroccan bread. Miriam Levy, Avi’s mother, prepares many of her own famous dishes and desserts for patrons of HaMotzi.
Vegetarian options are available at HaMotzi, such as couscous soup and charcoal-roasted cabbage. The ambiance of the restaurant is upscale, modern, but filled with warm, dim lighting that creates a feeling of comfort and ease at every table. Perfect for anyone with an appreciation for unique flavors and food from around the world, HaMotzi is a journey into another world just outside of Israel, yet born from the fabric of what makes the country what it is today.
