Sushi

My biggest complaint about sushi in Israel is that some places skimp on the fish, which is of course the most expensive ingredient. Here the sushi had plenty of fish.

Several years ago, the owner decided to open a sushi bar carved out of a section of the restaurant. He named it Sefora after his late wife.

I have no doubt that in time, River in Herzliya Pituah will be as popular as all the other branches in the chain.

The sushi from Uran’s is the closest I have found to that experience in Japan.

The first was for food critics, bloggers, friends of the owner and general hangers-on, and the place was so crowded one could barely wield a set of chopsticks without taking someone’s eye out.

River, a kosher Asian-fusion restaurant owned by chef Ariel Ben Zichri, is part of a chain of 14 restaurants. The Jerusalem branch opened almost two years ago, and offers excellent value for money.

You don’t go to Sushiya for the atmosphere. It’s a small place with just 26 seats on hard wooden benches.

Tatami, the name the owners chose for this restaurant, is actually a traditional Japanese mat. But it also evokes in Hebrew “taim,” tasty.

The helmeted motorcyclist working for Panko is perpetually on the move, delivering takeaway to the far-flung corners of Ra’anana and beyond.