While few Palestinians can be seen dining out these days, there is no reason why visitors should not enjoy Palestinian cuisine and support local restaurateurs.
In Bethlehem, for example, the Dolphin sits empty, despite its formidable culinary reputation. Simple in its green and white décor, square tables and café set-up, the Dolphin's sumptuous menu offers some of Palestine's best seafood. First come the round of mezza (appetizers)-cold fried cauliflower and vegetables, garlic eggplant and lemon, tahini with parsley and a fiery pepper salad among many others to warm a taster on any cold night. Hot garlic bread grilled to a crisp adds a special zest to the food. Guests can then order a side or entrée of shrimp. The fat prawns are traditionally batter-fried, smothered in a mustard cream sauce or drowned in a garlic lemon sauce. For the next act, the Dolphin offers main dishes of local fresh catch. The campari broiled with barbecue sauce simply melts in one's mouth. And if the kitchen has prepared, deserts include the local favorite of crème caramel. The staff of the Dolphin is friendly and prompt, only saddened by the slump in business. While the restaurant is known as highbrow in Bethlehem, you will agree that the homemade appetizers at about a dollar each and a delicious fish entrée for no more than $13 is little to complain about. Eating at an only mediocre place in Israel would cost even more.
Open afternoons and evenings.
Location: Manger Street before Manger Square,
Bethlehem
Menu:Rich seafood.Alcohol served.
Phantom Diner Rating:+++1/2
Rating Scale:
++++next to heaven
+++a place to come back to
++if you're hungry you'll eat anywhere
+not a ghost of a chance