Luigi's - I Love Italian Food!

by Sybil Kaplan

Photographs by Barry A. Kaplan

Luigi's

35 Shai Agnon

Phone - 02 563-3338

Kashrut - Mehedrin, Rabbanut Yerushalayim

Hours - Sunday through Thursday - 8 a.m.to midnight; Friday -

8 a.m. to 2 hours before Shabbat begins, depending on season

Dror Omer has been in the restaurant business since 1983. When we came to Jerusalem, in 2008, we frequently ate in Nachlat Shiva Solomon Street, especially at Luigi's. The cook, who has since passed away, was an Italian named Luigi. It had opened in January 1991, the first day missiles were sent to Israel, so they made an opening for all reporters, says Omer.

In June 2008, Omer opened a branch of Luigi's in San Simon and in 2114, the Nachlat Shiva restaurant closed. Although Omer has a diploma from Italy as a chef, now he spends his time supervising the kitchen in this location with a lovely garden which can seat 50; a glassed-in patio which seats 50; and the inside which seats 45.

With this kind of seating, he says, "we make all kinds of events for 10-20 or 200, such as birthdays, sheva brachot, Bar Mitzvot, Bat Mitzvot."

The main room has simple decor; wall papered walls, wall sconces  and a chandelier;  a bar with dessert case is in the back, next to the kitchen.

The menu is very full: 4 appetizers, NIS29-36; 4 salads, NIS53 NIS each; and 3 soups, 34 NIS each.

Our first tasting was the bruschetta (NIS36) with head lettuce, red onion, gorgonzola cheese, dried figs and a great dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The contrast between the cheese and the figs was special.

Not on the menu was a special appetizer Omer had created which will go on the up-and-coming summer menu. It was a baked beet (NIS39). My companion has a few distinct dislikes, and beets is one of them, but when we do our stories, and we are served a dish with beets, he is very polite and always takes a taste. With this beet, he went back for more! The beet had been softened in water than baked. Afterward, a lid was cut then the heart was scooped out and a filling of sour cream and gorgonzola cheese was put inside. ver it was the subtle dressing of grated basil, parsley and olive oil. I loved it because beets are one of my favorite vegetables!

Of the  soups being offered, Omer suggested we try the orange soup (34 NIS). Orange soups are often sweet, but this one was savory with carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, garnished with basil oil and in the center a drop of milk foam. This is a particularly nice tasting soup because of the healthy ingredients, it's good for vegetarians, and the presentation was especially attractive.

Omer says Luigi's is a very child-friendly restaurant with a children's menu for NIS35 and a big garden for them to run and play before they eat, while they eat and after. We decided to try the 8-sliced children's pizza, about 30 cm in diameter. It was a good choice and perfect even for adults.

"Fresh out of the oven" features focaccia, NIS32-39; pizza, NIS51; and calzones, NIS59.

For NIS249, you can have "a meal for 2" with appetizer, foccacia, 2 main courses, 1/2 bottle wine, dessert and 2 coffee.     

Main courses include 3 pastas from the oven, NIS62-65; or 3 risotto at NIS 59 each.

Other main courses include two kinds of pastas (NIS 6 and NIS 7) with your choice of 9 sauces (NIS51-NIS62); or 3 kinds of fish (NIS85-89) with choice of 3 sauces.

"A meal for two" is available at NIS249 and includes appetizer, foccacia, 2 main courses, 1/2 bottle wine, dessert and 2 coffees.

We did not have room for desserts, but they are available and on display in the glassed-in showcase by the bar.

Although we did not try these, there are three breakfasts on the breakfast menu, available for NIS49 from 8 a.m. until 12 noon--Israeli, Italian and Shakshuka--accompanied by bread and butter, home-made jam, olives, condiments, hot drink and natural juice.

A business lunch is available for NIS49 from 12 noon until 5 p.m. with appetizer and main course from the menu, or for NIS69 for appetizer and a fish main course.

Soon Luigi's will have a summer menu introducing cold soups and lighter foods to fit the weather.

Italian cuisine is still my favorite and even though I didn't get to sample my first choice, eggplant parmigiana, and my companion did not get to try his favorite, ravioli, now I know we have something new to try when we visit Luigi's again.