Revised June 09
Steps away from the crème-de-la-crème of Jerusalem hotels and the beautiful new Mamilla shopping center, just a short walk from the old city, on the busy King David street, lies an innocent ally, a quant old-fashioned refuge from the noise and the crowds of this part of the city. Go through that ally to the magnificent 1868 Restaurant.
The year 1868 is a significant year in the history of Jerusalem. In that year the first stones were laid outside of the Old City walls marking the establishment of the new Jerusalem. The building that houses the restaurant was one of the first to be built outside the Old City walls. 1868 restaurant retains the charm of the old world structure while the dining experience is up to date and modern.
This year for my birthday I asked my husband to take me somewhere romantic. Somewhere that would really make me feel loved. He took me out for dinner at 1868 and believe me, it was a restaurant experience like no other. As we were lead through the restaurant to our seats I noticed that the restaurant is designed with a number of small intimate rooms. I admired the architecture of the dome like ceilings and the arched doorway. The romantic ambience was completed by the cool soft 50’s jazz music which buzzed gently through the air. The lighting, candles and chandeliers, the painting and artwork, created a feeling of refined hominess, as though we had been invited to a royal household for dinner.
My husband and I were seated in a comfortable room with one other table of diners. I could heard small fragments of comments from the three diners at the other table. Random words filtered over to me, such as, ‘fantastic,’ ‘classy,’ and ‘impeccable.’ And finally I heard one diner say “I’ve never eaten like this before; I have to meet the chef.” My expectations where high.
Our waiter who was extremely friendly and attentive helped guide us through our choice of appetizers. My husband decided on the beef tartar topped with a poached Quail egg and in an attempt to open up my limited palate to some tasty new foods I ordered the endive salad.
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We were then served fresh homemade bread with two dips: Olive oil with balsamic vinegar and an aioli spread with dark olives. Tasting that fresh bread transported me right back to my childhood dinners at home, which always began with my grandmother’s homemade bread. The restaurant’s sommelier suggested Tavor’s Cabernet-Sauvignon from the huge selection of wines on display throughout the restaurant from all over the world.
Both Appetizers were absolute masterpieces. In addition to delicious they were also works of art. My husband professed that the beef tartar was unlike anything he’s ever tasted. My Endive salad had some sweet fruits mixed in with vinaigrette which was a perfect balance to the slight tartness of the endive.
Quite satiated from the first half of our meal I was concerned that I would not have appetite for our main courses. But when I saw my fillet of beef and my husband’s entrecote steak I found a ravenous space remaining in my belly. My fillet lay proudly in the center of a plate covered in a divine mushroom sauce. Eating slowly to fully enjoy the experience, I noticed that across the table, in front of my husband, was a landscape of a meal. A mountain of pureed potatoes sat next to a forest of salad through which a small stream of gravy overflowed from a volcanic bone spilling over with sauce. I reached across the table and scooped up a fork full of the potatoes. “Oh wow,” I said, “this is seriously incomparable to any other pureed potatoes I ever had.” We continued to pick off each others plates unable to resist a single thing on the table. Our waiter seemed to know instinctively the moment we needed anything and was constantly tending to our every need while still giving us privacy to enjoy our romantic dinner.
The next thing I knew my birthday desert was on the way. My husband and I shared the chocolate fudge cake. I tapped the crispy outer layer with my spoon cracking it open, releasing a steamy burst of hot fudge. That together with the coffee flavored Sorbet melted so smoothly in my mouth I thought I would melt along with it.
 As we wrapped up our evening I praised my husband for his romantic gesture. Any husband can take his wife to a nice restaurant for her birthday but my husband happened to choose a place that was about much more than having a meal. It was the tending to our every need, the charming ambience and food which was stimulating in every sense. I can say without hesitation it was the most romantic enjoyable way to spend my birthday with my husband. More than just dinner, it was the ultimate dining experience.
The Restaurant is only open in the Evenings, but is available for smachot of up to 65 guests during the early afternoon. With its close proximity to the Kotel (the Western Wall) and all the 5 star hotels it has become the “in” place host a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party or Brit after prayer service at the Kotel. The restaurant has various party menus for different size groups and parties with children. 1868 will be also introducing a new summer menu this July 09.
Gourmet Chef Tomer Reuveni, a Jerusalemite, draws inspiration from the Historic location, and retains an authentic Jerusalem style cuisine.
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