Katy's

On December 25th, I went to celebrate at Katy's, a French cuisine-influenced restaurant.

The restaurant is located in Jerusalem near the center. As soon as you walk in, you’re surrounded by beautiful antique pictures. You’re also greeted by a charming old bar, and the space itself is small and cozy.

The restaurant transfers you back to Europe, it looked like a place where writers in the early nineteen hundreds would hang out.

My first impression was that I immediately fell in love with the ambiance and the overall look of the place. There were only two other couples seated at separate tables, so the intimate size of the restaurant added to the cozy atmosphere.

The owner, Katy, is 80 years old and has owned the restaurant for 50 years. Initially, we considered ordering the crepes from the appetizer menu, but she recommended we opt for the artichoke veal dish instead. She said it has the same elements as the crepe but was even better. We took her advice. She also suggested we try the filet mignon with pepper sauce. When we asked about the duck, she recommended it with black currant sauce. She also recommended we pair our meal with a glass of red wine.

After ordering, we were brought a complimentary dish with feta cheese, olives, olive oil, and roasted red bell pepper. We were also served freshly baked bread and butter. The bread was heavenly, with a flavor and texture that reminded me of a cross between biscuits and brioche. The butter was a bit hard, but the piping-hot bread made it easy to spread.

The artichoke veal dish was unique, something I’d never had before. While it wasn’t my favorite of the evening, it was special and definitely the best artichoke dish I’ve had, considering I’ve never been a huge fan of artichokes. The sauce was fatty and cheesy and went perfectly with the bread we were served earlier.

We ordered the filet mignon medium rare, and it was divine. It melted in my mouth like butter, and we licked the pepper sauce clean. The duck was less impressive in comparison, but still spectacular, and the black currant sauce was delectable.

One of the things I love about places that serve complimentary bread is that they know their sauces should be appreciated and want you to use the bread to soak it up, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Our plates were wiped clean.

For dessert, we ordered the chocolate mousse. It was decadent and, although it probably needed to chill at room temperature for about 10 minutes, it was still very good.

At the end of the meal, Katy sat with us. We chatted, and she gave us invaluable life advice. She even told us we were like her children. It was truly a memorable experience and one of my favorites. I can't recommend this place enough.

It is worth noting that this was not a cheap experience, but it is definitely worth the money if you're celebrating a special event.