Kedma is the first meat-centric restaurant to open up shop in Jerusalem's chic Mamilla outdoor mall. The brasserie’s modern sensibilities and culinary innovations are a perfect fit with Jerusalem’s eons of history, and the restaurant’s huge terrace overlooks the walls and turrets of the Old City, Jaffa Gate, and the gorgeous Dormition Abbey.
Kedma resides in a 110-year-old historic and architectural gem in the old Mamilla neighborhood, which was recently thoroughly renovated in a manner that preserves its quaint feel and authenticity. This fascinating juxtaposition of new and old, secular and traditional figures in the walls of the restaurant, in the arched doorways and windows, in the eclectic design choices, and of course, in the menu. The restaurant's choice of name, the Hebrew word for "eastward," represents both the geographical direction Kedma faces and the aspiration to fuse the ancient city with the new through food.
When it comes to the menu, Kedma serves up a variety of culinary treats starting with such dishes as carpaccio of beef fillet, chicken salad, and a surprising eggplant salad, all leading up to a superb lineup of main courses – try the steaming cauldron of soft beef or the juicy entrecote steak – and the glorious finale: desserts ranging from halva mousse, to hot chocolate cake, to nut pie. When the weather gets nippy, diners can come in out of the windy boulevard and snuggle up in the heated balcony tent. There, basking in the soft rays of Jerusalem's winter sun, they can enjoy some great food and a glass of good draft beer. And when evening rolls around, Kedma dons romantic colors, the lights are dimmed, soft music is played, and beer mugs are replaced by thin-stemmed wine glasses.
Small groups can opt to dine in Kedma's private room, which can seat up to 15, while larger parties (up to 200) can be held inside the restaurant or, when the weather is right, outside, on the terrace. Those out for a quicker bite can always pop into Kedma's bar in the large hall facing the restaurant, where fresh corned beef sandwiches are prepared and served. The meat is first aged and cut in the Kedma's kitchen, in order to ensure its quality and flavor. Bon appetit!
