Campania
July 2024
Those of us who vacationed in Istanbul during the golden age of Israel/Turkey relations, will recall the exotic aromas of the markets with trays of steaming food winding their way through the narrow alleyways. You may also remember hoping for some kosher version of the Turkish food that we too could enjoy. But even in those days there was little interest on the part of this Moslem country, in accommodating observant Jews.
And so we were delighted to learn that Campania, the once quality meat restaurant with a menu that leaned toward Italian cuisine, is now offering a Turkish menu. Campania continues as a quality meat restaurant with classic meat dishes from the grill. In addition the restaurant has added a menu of dishes from Istanbul and other parts of Turkey.
While we miss the many exotic sites in Istanbul at least we can enjoy the foods in Rishon Letzion.
About the new Campania Restaurant
The story of the new Campania Restaurant begins with a total overhaul of the design of the restaurant under the guidance of architect Yuval Elijah. To get the most authentic atmosphere he suggested that the the principals of the restaurant travel to Turkey to experience Turkish restaurant culture and atmosphere up close. This was the first of many trips to Turkey both for the owners and managers of the restaurant and many members of the staff.
They walked the streets of Istanbul, experienced the local restaurants, met with suppliers and purchased the items needed for an authentic Turkish restaurant. "We fell in love with Turkish food and the hospitality and we knew that this was the experience that we wanted to give our guests."
In 2019, just three months before the onset of Corona, the decision was taken to turn Campania into a Turkish restaurant. Owners Itzik and Yuval decided not to compromise its long tradition of kashrut and to date, Campania is the only kosher mehadrin Turkish restaurant on the planet.
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"Istanbul has thousands of restaurants" says Yuval, "so we had to choose the exact features that we wanted to bring to Campania." They made over 20 trips to Istanbul to explore and bring the Turkish style and atmosphere to Israel.
 Campania is not just about the food. This is a Turkish live show restaurant. On Sunday you will meet Yalmaz, the famous Turkish violinist from Istanbul (he was the musician of Ibrahim Tatlis). The festive atmosphere continues the rest of the week with special food and "Lechayim" Turkish style.
The beef is free range cattle, fresh from the Golan Heights. Meat is aged for a minimum of 45 days. The selected high quality cuts are under the hashgacha of Rav Machpud and can only be enjoyed at Campania.
The Menu
The Campania menu is a mix of traditional meat dishes and Turkish dishes. Starters include Salasti (salads), an asado burger, and a meat carpaccio dish. The Boregi Sigara, one of the highlights of the starter menu is cigars filled with chicken liver, flavored with nana, pistachios, and touches of curry.
Traditional meat main courses include cuts of grilled Asado Beef on the bone, Tomahawk, and Black Angus steaks cut in 100 gram units. These are served on platters with side dishes. The top of the line main course is the 300 grams Dana Filleto Beef Fillet. Or your tastes may go for the more economical Turkish Kebab. The highlight of the Campania menu is the list of exotic and unpronounceable Turkish dishes. A visit to Campania is an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and try these surprisingly reasonably priced dishes.
Location and Parking: Campania is the companion restaurant to Sorento, the popular kosher mehadrin dairy restaurant on the other side of the building. Campania and Sorento stand alone in a single building in the heart of Rishon's recreational industrial park filled with restaurants, pubs, and a lively night life. There is free public parking in a lot adjacent to the restaurant. It could not be easier.
From the menu:
Did you enjoy your dinner at Campania? Submit a write up of this restaurant and if we publish it on eLuna you will receive a NIS 100 voucher for dinner at this restaurant. See the rules for submitting write ups. | 
