Port Sa’id: Soho, Manhattan
I’m writing this as I was supposed to be in Tel Aviv right now — of course, as I’m sure (and I hope) you’re aware of, the circumstances of the world didn’t allow for that kind of travel right now. I’m thinking of all of my friends across the world experiencing the war in Israel right now and wishing so badly that I could be there soaking up the magic of Tel Aviv. In the spirit of our trip, Molly and I decided to dine at Port Sa’id for Shabbat and it definitely did not disappoint — 4.1/5 flowers from The Flour Child. Let’s get into it:
We started off with the creme fraiche dip — normally I’d opt for the hummus or the spicy instruments dip but this was a complete hit, maybe even our favorite dish of the night. The creme fraiche was whipped to perfection and topped with spicy peppers and tomato, then drizzled with good olive oil and flakey sea salt. It was super light and a perfect accompaniment to the fluffy challah they serve you rather than pita. We will definitely be getting this one again!
Next we have the bread salad, which is kind of like an Israeli take on a classic panzanella. I’ve gotten this dish before and loved it — for some reason this time having it the tomatoes didn’t taste very flavorful which kind of dulled down the dish, but the fresh herbs, carrots, radishes, and rustic croutons made for a lovely vessel for the acidic, tangy vinaigrette. I think this may have been an off day for the dish — next time I think I’ll try their take on the classic caesar and report back.
Loved this minute steak — super thin and tender, and dressed with olive oil, tahini, and fresh tomatoes and spicy peppers. If you don’t love lamb, this is a really great option for a main dish at the restaurant. Also not pictured, we ordered the baked eggplant with tomato sauce which we both really enjoyed. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, topped with the most delicious sweet tomato sauce.
While my body is in New York, my heart is in Tel Aviv. I’m grateful to have restaurants that transport your soul back to a place, even if it’s just for the duration of dinner. As they say, next year in Jerusalem. Yalla!
