The Messa Experience

Last week I dined at one of the most extravagant restaurants in Tel Aviv- Messa. Not only was the food at this lavish gourmet chef restaurant divine, but the entire experience was really what left an impression. I was treated to this meal by parents of a good friend of mine who took Ariel and me out to dinner hours after they landed at Ben Gurion airport as a thank you for helping their son get acclimated to Israel. Our friend told us to choose the fanciest place we knew, one that we would never go to on our own…and so we found ourselves stepping into this stark white dining room at ten o'clock last Sunday evening.

Despite the late hour (not to worry, I took a nap) and the sparsely populated tables, we were still made to wait in the entranceway as there was a hold up with our seating. To help assuage our discomfort a smiling waitress approached us with shots of melon schnapps to help start off the evening.

Without going into detail of each dish we ordered or course we ate I will say that every bite was tasty and the service impeccable. Where many restaurants can have good food and a friendly staff, there were little extras that turned this evening into an experience. These unexpected treats included a taste of soup they brought before the first course, a fruity cocktail of uzo and mint lemonade served between the first and second course to cleanse the palate and a glass of plum wine they brought with dessert that add just a little extra to the evening…and to our stomachs.

Before I went to sleep, the last thought that crossed my mind was "I am so full" and when I woke up the first words out of my mouth were also "I am so full."

People I have spoken to who have been to restaurants in Manhattan have put Messa on par with them. For those of you who live in the area, have a few hours and a few hundred shekels to spare, I would highly recommend this gastronomic delight.