The décor is lovely, but the food was not up to par. It was simply drowned oil. The residential street out back was littered with restaurant garbage and reeked of oil. I felt bad for whoever lives there...
- Price $$$$
In an ancient Jerusalem stone house near Mahane Yehuda market is the much loved Hamotzi restaurant that serves authentic and comforting homemade food at affordable prices. Chef Avi Levy combines a North African cooking style with a Jerusalem flare to create a rich kaleidoscopic of flavors. Levy uses local ingredients from the nearby market.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 188 traveler reviews“Dinner”
Me and my wife found this restaurant by chance, average food but very poor service. We found our own seats ( nobody to seat us) We were waiting a while before anyone took our order. Once our meals arrived they were ok, once finished we asked for the bill (had a bus to catch), we...
MoreMe and my wife found this restaurant by chance, average food but very poor service. We found our own seats ( nobody to seat us) We were waiting a while before anyone took our order. Once our meals arrived they were ok, once finished we asked for the bill (had a bus to catch), we waited 10 minutes for the bill, so I asked again, waited another 8 minutes, the restaurant wasn't even busy!
Less“For drowning in oil”
“Nice place, too expensive, not too friendly, good food”
Personnel here is not as friendly as one would welcome, but the place is clean, has its own personality and the food is good. Too expensive though if considering the overall experience.
“Good, but not as awesome as we'd hoped”
We'd heard great things about HaMotzi, but frankly we like a lot of other places better. Granted, we were there on a busy Thursday evening. But the staff is working way too hard and the service is very slowwwww. There are people clamoring for their tables and reservations and the whole place is a...
MoreWe'd heard great things about HaMotzi, but frankly we like a lot of other places better. Granted, we were there on a busy Thursday evening. But the staff is working way too hard and the service is very slowwwww. There are people clamoring for their tables and reservations and the whole place is a little unorganized. The restaurant is also very loud. It is hard to hear someone speaking across the table. They do bring "salatim" to start, but most are spicy and not anything unique. The main courses were delicious (roasted chicken, and mixed grill). The portions are not large. The price is fair for the quality and quantity, but we were not very impressed. I think they need more help or a better system for waiting tables.
Less“Maroccan fire in your throught with love”
To be honest, we did not know its an chef restaurant, nor did we know its avi levi's, who won the 2 episode of masterchef.We just entered a small restaurant close to machaneh jehudas market to eat homy oriental food and the plates of the guests looked appealing. As we sat there and saw...
MoreTo be honest, we did not know its an chef restaurant, nor did we know its avi levi's, who won the 2 episode of masterchef.We just entered a small restaurant close to machaneh jehudas market to eat homy oriental food and the plates of the guests looked appealing. As we sat there and saw his cooking book and the menu we understood. After getting advice from one of the waitress we went for two main meals:slow cooked beef head meat with rice and noodles pilaf and for stuffed meatballs with dates and nuts,which is a family recipie of his mother,-Miri. The meals were very very hot but great, especially the genorous plate of stuffed meatballs: the filling not to sweet with the right type of dates and the combination with lots of cilantro in the meat gravy with peas,aside along the couscous. For desert we went for cigar dough filled with pistacho in syrup. When I stated that it was not crispy I got a new one,freshly baked and perfect.The only con was the parve cream served with it, its better just by itself. This is what I call professional service.No need to return money but just cook the quality I expect. If you love homecooked ethnic food and dont mind long waiting lines,-go for it. Enjoy avi's natural and modest smile in the back , who endures being photographed by numerous guests.
Less