Next time you are in the mood for internationally acclaimed cuisine there is no need to fly to Paris, London or Rome; according to Newsweek magazine's latest issue, not one but two of the world's 101 best restaurants are located closer to home – in Tel Aviv.
Some 53 internationally renowned chefs compiled a list of their favorite restaurants, 101 in total, from fast food eateries to gourmet hotspots around the globe.
Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi who has been enjoying a great deal of success in London chose two Tel Aviv restaurants, Abraxas North and Habasta. Ottolenghi calls Habasta a "simple and utilitarian" market restaurant and recommends the pizza with white truffles which is a bit pricey at NIS 100 ($25) per dish.
For readers it is an opportunity to get recommendations for some relatively unknown restaurants alongside famous culinary destinations.
The restaurants on the list include Tokyo's Sukiyabashi Jiro, Le Chateaubriand and Guy Savoy in Paris and Spain's Mugaritz which famous chef Wolfgang Puck described as “not about one dish—it’s about the total experience."
"Being chosen by Newsweek fills us with pride and happiness," said Habasta owner Itay Hargil. "It's thrilling that such a prominent publication recognizes our quality."