Little Jerusalem Restaurant at Ticho House
Abraham Ticho St., off Ha Rav Kook St
Cuisines: Vegetarian
About
You'll be amazed when you come upon this large hidden oasis, its gardens and terrace cafe set right in the center of downtown West Jerusalem -- it's especially wonderful for outdoor dining in summer. Built in 1880 as a private villa, Ticho House, around 1912, became the home of artist Anna Ticho and her husband, Dr. Abraham Ticho, a legendary ophthalmologist dedicated to wiping out endemic eye disease. At the in-house kosher restaurant you can dine indoors or on the garden terrace. The menu features crepes; soups (onion soup served in a loaf of bread is a favorite); sandwiches (melted cheese and herbs is a specialty); hefty, fresh salads filled with quality ingredients; vegetable pies, pastas, and casseroles; and a variety of more pricey fish dishes (go for denise or bream rather than the imported salmon). Many people come just for the desserts, which are excellent. Saturday evenings, Ticho House offers a "Viennese Night," with a wonderful string quartet playing waltzes, and an all-you-can-eat buffet of blintzes and Viennese pastries; on Tuesday evenings, there's live jazz, and in addition to the regular menu, you can choose a wine-and-cheese buffet that includes soup and salad. Ticho House is sometimes closed for private parties, so always call ahead. Service is friendly and presided over by Nava Bibi, the very attentive director who keeps Ticho House's traditions alive.
