Kinor BaKikar

Well, I cannot say that Kinor BaKikar disappointed. But I can't really say that it excited me either. And this is disappointing; as due to reviews from others, I had high expectations. In short, I found the service and decor amazing (for Israel), but the food and prices left a bit to be desired.

So let me start with the positives... The staff was attentive, helpful, knowledgeable and pleasant. The greeter was competent and welcoming (as well he should be). The live background music (a woman and a man, acoustic guitars) was pleasant and not distracting - not too loud - and even managed to break into Happy Birthday when the staff brought out a sparkler-topped dessert for the birthday celebration. I was also happily surprised to see that the table layout in the dining room both maximized the seating options and still provided privacy. This was especially true for the smaller two-cover tables.

And now for the "less" positives - the food. To summarize - I found the food a bit pretentious and quite over-priced for the value.

Before our appetizers, we were served a very thin "flatbread" with techina, whole-roasted garlic cloves and olives. Nothing really special here. The garlics were, in our opinion, under-roasted. So they were still a bit strong.

I also ordered a drink - called the Mexican Violin, a tequila and fruit based drink. It was nice. My wife thought it a bit strong; but I enjoyed it.

For starters, we shared a beef carpaccio. This was probably the most impressive of the dishes. It was topped with very thinly sliced radishes, whole roasted garlic cloves, a hard-boiled quail egg, apple slices and a crispy cracker. I found the garlic cloves a bit under-done; so it over-powered the rest a bit. But the beef itself was well cut and paired nicely with the balsamic vinegar and other "toppers".

For the main course, I ordered the sous-vide duck breast with apricots, anise and chestnuts; served over a bed of red lentils. I found the dish a bit too sweet in general, the lentils a bit under-done and grainy, and the duck skin itself could have been crispier if finished longer in a hot pan.

My wife had the roasted chicken breast over a bed of quinoa and beets. There was nothing wrong with this dish - but it certainly didn't impress. It was certainly not worth the 92NIS price!

For dessert, we shared a chocolate souffle. It was - well - meh. Nothing special.

So, expectations dashed, I can't honestly say that this was an unforgettable meal or experience. And, at these prices, I can't see myself returning in the near future. Chaval...

Final price tag - 388NIS (not including gratuity)

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