Café Diem - Tel Aviv

Ducks - Dizengoff and Gordon

2008-09-19T12:33:00.006+03:00

On a sunny friday afternoon, I'm sure to enjoy in Ducks.

LOCATION 10

One of my favourite streets on fridays is Dizengoff. It's alive, more than it is during the weekdays. Another good street is Gordon, in which a lot of galleries are located. In Ducks you get the fast life of Dizengoff, and the romantic green air from Gordon. Ducks is situated at the foot of Dizengoff Suites - a boutique hotel. Perfecto Locationo!

MENU 8
I see a new menu: green, with white ducks and food illustrations. About a week ago, Ducks launched a Gluten-free menu. The menu is very Italian - interesting Pasta dishses are recommanded! There are beautiful salads with tasty toppings. Great desserts served with ice-cream. Their bread is baked on pebbles - sounds interesting! There's a separate menu for breakfasts - in Herbrew and English.

SIT 9
The sitting area inside is pretty loud, for all the action with the coffee and dishes. However, the whole area feels like a painting of a 50's italian cafe. Ceiling is high - making it a large space. A section of the wall is a blackboard, anouncing today's specials maybe? The floor paving is amazing. The tables and chairs are very comfortable.
Outside, the sitting area is almost integral to the sidewalk - this is a sidewalk cafe. There's a red and white striped sunshade, ceiling-ventilators, and wooden boxes with flowers. Wide quadrangle wooden tables, without stupid gaps, chairs are on the right height. The problem is that outside everybody somkes - there's no consideration of non-smokers who want to sit outside.

SERVICE 7
My preference is nice, and not frequent service. I like to decide myself - and not being annoyed repeatedly by waitresses. The serivce in Ducks is the way i like it. You may find it hard to catch your waitress' attention, but at least you won't be annoyed. Some people don't like that kind of service, and sometimes I'm in a horry, too.

VISITORS 8
A lot of tourists are around. Groups of poeple who want to talk. Friends that meet eachother...

THE COFFEE 7
Saquella beans. Strong shot, short foam, little aroma, a bit too balance - not punchy enough! But enjoyable.

OVERALL 8.1
Wow. I love Ducks. It's in a nice place, with good food, and service the way i like, with comfortable sitting, and good looks!

Mitahat la Etz - Ben Yuhuda 200

2008-09-17T14:04:00.006+03:00

On my way to work, one corner-cafe always cought my eye: green, small, and cute.

LOCATION 7

On the noisy Ben-Yehuda street, 'Mitahat la Etz' (=under the tree) makes a green quiet street corner. The first 'Mitahat la Etz' is under a tree on Rotschild.

MENU 7
Cheap and gooood sandwiches. We just had to order the recommanded Roastbeef sandwich. Indeed it was very good, and in a good price in Tel Aviv standards - 13 shekels for each tasty half. With the sandwich we got 3 pickles and 2 olives. Salads look amazing, with the sandwich toppings!! The menu is limited, but assures the good stuff is good. The Pastry doesn't look very attractive. We got water in a plastic cup..

SIT 5
mmmmmmm not very comfortable, but nice. You can sit on the bar - but you won't see anything. You can sit on Ben Yehuda street - but you'll get it in your face. We chose to sit in the corner area - on the quiet street. Square wooden tables are small, and unstable - they actually dance! They're small enough to make one person uncomfortable.. The chairs cause discomfort, too. It limits your stay to sereval minutes. It's very hot - only 1 fan cools 6 tables. On the other hand, the tree and the plants make the area green and pleasant. The area in which we sat, is hidden from the traffic.

SERVICE 7
Self service, but with a great smile!! We didn't even sit, and were asked what is out order. Your order is written on a funny little note - that describes what you want in your sandwich. The sandwich was made fast and delicious.

VISITORS 4
Two women screeched sweedish and bothered eveyone. One guy stole our fan. We hate him. Frequently seen are delivery people that take a break with their motorcycle.

THE COFFEE 2
Unfortunately, it tasted like turkish coffee with milk.. It was strong, but not tasty.. The cup was nice - decorated with their logo.

OVERALL 5.3

If you want a majorly good sandwich, and a nice short sit - you better choose Mitahat la Etz. Good prices for good sandwiches.

Goodies - Heh Be Iyar and Akiva Arye

2008-09-16T15:12:00.005+03:00

I'm want a coffeeshop with big tables and comfortable chairs, to spend the next hour or two.

LOCATION 5
In the "exclusive" (=expensive) area of Kikar Ha Medina, on the corner of a small street that ends with Alrov towers. I love the square and it's legacy..

MENU 7
The menu is based on Diner foods. Goodies server dishes that other places stopped serving back in the early 80's: malabi, made-overseas soda, and instant coffee with milk. Simple, and nostalgic. And indeed - this cafe is as old as me : 19 years.

SIT 8
Wide quadra tables! woo hoo!! Comfortable chairs with good arm rests!! woo hoo!!
Too much sun though, and little air.. View to the Kikar is a bonus! The whole place feels a little like an israelized American-diner.

SERVICE 6
Instantly after i sat down, a smiling waitress welcomed me and gave me the menu. Wifi signal is great! The staff walks around too much, and they don't look like staff.

VISITORS 7
People who spend their money in Kikar Hamedina, or those who want to look like they do. With their big watches and orange/pink shirts..
Nobody bothers you - because everybody is above your league.. So that turns out to be good!
Just one stupid lady turns her cellphone-loudspeaker on..
And a group of men repeating the word "million" loudly..

THE COFFEE 6
Lavazza coffee - has good smell, but weak taste. Taste is too balanced.. I didn't get much frothed milk - but it was well-foamed. The cup and plate is decorated in gold.. ha ha...

OVERALL 6.5
It was too hot, and the people around made a million noise. But Goodies is a place with old-school foods, and nostalgic ambience.

Shaked - Namal Tel-Aviv

2008-09-15T18:00:00.004+03:00

Ma mama said that Shaked is a good place, with good ice cream. so I went to check it out!

LOCATION 5
The Namal went through some major development in the last few years. It became nice and friendly. The problem is that the Namal attracts the bad guys.. Shaked is situated on one of the main-bad-guys' lanes.

MENU 6
No menu - look in the cabinet! Big collection of Ice-Cream. Good ice cream! Some of the flavours are special (like Seaseme and Tahina, and Chocolate-Mint which is not abundant in Israel.)

Nice sandwiches, but they seem moist. Nice salads - ready to go! I'd take a salad from Shaked..

SIT 5
Harbor air, ice-cream loving flies, and airplanes in the sky landing in my old airforce-base. A lot of things happen around - but distant enough that you don't get dizzy. Chairs fit their destination : sit and enjoy the sky. The cafe is all branded with the Shaked logo and graphics.

SERVICE 2

It's self-service, and it seems like the system here works with diminishing hirarchy: one waiter cleans the tables, one makes coffee, and one serves ice-cream. The owner (the one with the angry face) is always walking around, telling the waiter to clean here and there.. Harsh atmosphere.. But the one who serves ice-cream gave me a lot to try, and recommanded. Way too much stress coming from the team...

VISITORS 3

It is mostly populated with families with children - for the Ice Cream. The bad part is people who think they are important mobsters (for they are holding a woman+car keys+cigarettes+lighter+wallet all in one hand. baa.)

THE COFFEE 2
Since i was in Germany, i haven't tasted such horrible coffee. I don't wanna talk about it......

1 point for the Cookie. 1 point for the Cup.

OVERALL 3.8

Show me your customers, and i will tell you who you are...

Take a salad or ice cream, and deal with the sky, the air and the water..

Masarik - Masarik blvd. 12

2008-09-14T13:42:00.005+03:00

hmm... where should i go today?..
A place not too far from home, and not too special to waste on a normal day like this.

LOCATION 7
Masarik, as it's name implies, is stuck on Masarik street. The view from the cafe from one side and one side only is beautiful: the whole Masarik square!! And the water fountain! the rest is horrible.
The high grade is just for Masarik square.

MENU 3
Quiches sound good, but are not made here. Sandwiches sound good, too - but are reduced in ingredients.
When they microwave-heat all their frozen bought quiches, they get a new stock - and write it in a special column "Today's Offer". (But we know the truth, right?)
But there's a nice picture in the menu. (the reason for the non-null grade)

SIT 0 (minus 10 if i could)
Horrible. The cafe leans on the side, so the dishes travel on the table. Tables are round, and too high for the sits. All the heat from the asphalt roasts the face. Buses from backside-left to right, cars from right to left, noise, hot air, dirty air, too much light is reflected from everywhere. I am sitting outside on a wooden sofa with a pillow that keeps slipping. Inside there are tall tables that say "Go Away". I had to steal an electircal outlet for my laptop, because they don't give a damn about customers with laptops.
I need a chyropract after this horrible sit.

SERVICE 2
Waited too long. But my questions were answered with a smile. Something about the system here doesn't work: the waitress has 3 large areas to cover, and just 4 limbs.

VISITORS 0
Pregnant women, Yoga-masters who smoke and drink, unemployed lawyers, and people who dress-up like lawyers.. To sum up, people who don't use their hands.

THE COFFEE 3
strong Danesi-juice, short cow-juice weak foam, in a small cup. Way too hot for me, and for Israel.
Nothing with the coffee, but a dirty dish - yuccck.

OVERALL 2.5
I wouldn't sit, nor drink, nor look at Masarik cafe.
yuccck.

Henrietta - Arlozorov 186

2008-09-11T02:18:00.000+03:00

In my point of view, cats symbolize the good life in the city, and hedonism.
I wish i were a cat. (next reincarnation, maybe?)
I love cats. =^.^=

caffe henrietta chose a cheeki blue cat as their logo.

LOCATION 7
Where once was cafe Engel, now lays henrietta - on arlozorov street that connects the former-communist Ramat-Gan and the declared capitalist Tel-Aviv. It's a quiet section on a busy street.

MENU 8
Eclectic eclectic eclectic!! Most cafes tend to specialization, when henrietta chose everything. Surprising to see that it doesn't indicate low quality. Few breakfasts to choose from, named like the big chains' (norwegian breakfast for a salmon and cream cheese variation and such..). They serve salads, also named convenientally like the big guys'. Simple sandwiches sound tasty with informative names. An interesting highlight is the little specials menu stand - that they change every few days. There really are specials in it! Spinach Falafel is new to me, and a good selection of vegetables in their Antipasti.. There's another menu for drinks - one side of coffee and cold drinks, and the other side for alcohol. They highlight their happy hour on friday evenings. There's even Jahnun on saturday.. A bonus point for the lovely blue cats on the menu

SIT 7
This time i chose to sit outside, because the music inside is loud. There are a lot of tables with laptops. oh, and people. 2-sit sofa on a ramp attracts the big-brothers who like to see everybody and be seen.
Outside there is a smokers' area on a nice wooden deck - with matching wooden chairs and tables that are missfortunately round.. There's a lot of green on Arlozorov street - and you get it all in Henrietta.
Henrietta is fenced with a green hedge.. The deck is built with a tree in the middle. Henrietta respects the urban nature, and doesn't change the environment.. Air is pressed 300 meters from the cafe in a street tunnel - and cools the place. They play nice soft jazz.. nmmm... just sit......

SERVICE 8
My theory about this time of year, is that owners have to train a new generation of waiters - because the former went to school or the university.
However, my (only) waiter was a pleasent and cool dude. He even asked me if he could clean off the (very) empty dishes from the table!! That's good service in my opinion.. I don't like being followed, and targeted as a 'mission', like massive-franchize waiters are ordered to do. Even when my mug was spotless after milk-scavenging, he still asked! I like seing a living proof of what i did: i ate, therefore i have an empty plate. ande crumbs. I drank, therefore i have a dripping spoon and an empty cup! Long live monuments! When i finished eating (i had to try that Falafel...) i was given a little moistered towellette. With my bill, i got a little survey they give to hear how to improve.
Good service, personal, quiet, aqurate, and cool... somewhat like a cat.

VISITORS 7
A lot of laptops are around - although wifi signal is a little low.. People walk on the sidewalk, look at the fun in Henrietta, and jump in! That's an urban-cafe experience.. Simply quiet people, getting more quiet and relaxed.. somewhat like a cat.

THE COFFEE 9
Mauro.. hmm.... The cappuccino was strong!!! strong i tell you!!!! That makes me happy. Mentally and physically. I want a little more frothed milk, but maybe the barista got mixed up. i'm happy with that coffee.

Overall 7.6
Henrietta is a nice place to sit, relax, and think green thuoghts.. Coffee is good, eclectic variety of interesting food among established dishes. A place for urban - cat - people.. nam nam....

Cafe Diem is slowing down.. BUT BACK SOON

2008-09-01T23:06:00.000+03:00

I guess you noticed that Cafe Diem is not updated as promised..

well... It wasn't planned, but for 2.5 weeks - i have a little job i was called to on short notice..

So please don't lose hope - by the 10th of september (next wednesday) - i'm back! full speed!

For now, i'm putting the month-long copyright promise on hold, and writing about occassional cafe-diems.

please wait for me to come back :]

Mazzarine - Gordon 17

2008-09-01T21:50:00.000+03:00

Between my girlfriend's home and work, there is only one cafe i want to go to, and that is Mazzarine.

LOCATION 8
Mazzarine is located on Gordon street, the art-galleries street of Tel Aviv. The cafe is hidden, since it's not as outspoken as other cafes and gelateries around. It's really close to the beach!

MENU 6
A big L-shaped aquarioum is in the middle of the cafe' containing all cakes, cookies and legendary macaroons.
The menu is composed of interesting well-known breakfast recipes - variations on eggs and toast. It has a nice goodies-salads section, and 4 eclectic lunch dishes - that sound light and tasty. It is promised that there will be a benefits CityCard.

SIT 5
Wooden round tables inside are cosy-sitting-poopers, and chairs lack arm-rests.
The wall rebounces the noise, causing a headache. However, the wall is colored in a chocolate shade. The beautiful floor tiles - look like white chocolate swirls on chocolate cake frosting... (don't eat from the floor, though...)
Metal frame chairs are for sitting outside, in the shining sun that reflects from the white Bauhaus around.
I sat inside, but i'd sit outside if it wasn't for the horrible heat.

SERVICE 3
One customer caught my attention, when she complained about the long waiting for her coffee. Service is slow: i waited 9:30 minutes to get my coffee, when it was the only order in queue. In addition, the waiters are confused - i found myself reminding the waiter about my order and saw others do it, too. There are always screams between the kitchen and the waiters.
However, the waiters are helping and understanding, and they smile when you arrive and when you leave. In conclusion, I think the serving system needs to be re-organized.

VISITORS 7
Morning customers seem socialized with the waiters: they say hello, and even hug!! I wouldn't say cultural-leaders come here, but people who run away from the north Tel Aviv cafes come to Mazzarine - just plain Tel Avivians in their day, who want coffee and a macaroon.. and another macaroon..

THE COFFEE 8
Saquella supplies the beans. I got a glass-cup of heavy, densly frothed, milk clouds, over not so strong pop-flavour coffee. The espresso did not punch, so i guess i won't wake up from this one..
but...No candy with the coffee?? in Mazzarine?! They should share, they have so much!!!... I actually twisted the plate twice to see if i missed the cookie.. but it wasn't there!!

OVERALL 6.2
Mazzarine is a little far from what's going on, and it doesn't pour to the street like other coffeehouses do - but that's its magic. After a walk on Gordon street, and art galleries tour, you'd wanna sit in Mazzarine for a king-size Macaroon and coffee. (and another macaroon..) Make sure you order early, and scream at your companion loud enough to overcome the noise, and to remind the waitress about your order.

Take Away from Idelsohn 10 - Ben Yehuda 252

2008-08-31T18:45:00.000+03:00

There you have a challenge for the top-class cafe:

cappuccino.. 20 seconds... to go!

LOCATION 6

I never visited this particular Idelsohn. I use to go to Idelsohn on Dizengoff street. Ben-Yehuda Idelsohn is on the corner of Irmiyauh. It's a very not special location.. But on the other side there is the Namal (harbour).

MENU 10

My history with Idelsohn 10 is long: I ate all their cakes, read a Paul Oster's book, tasted all the cookies, celebrated my 18th birthday with 4 cakes, got a food poisoning from bad caviar, and lived to eat a dinner as consolation for my suffering..

Idelsohn offers a variety of classic and unusual cakes and cookies. Most are with chocolate or fruits. What i like most about Idelsohn's pastry are the creams...they know how to make them taste good...

I suggest you leave all the rest : Idelsohn is for eating magnificant cakes, not secular eggs!!! When i was offered a pastry with my cappuccino-to-go, the waiter sang a long list of crunchy goods...

SIT

I won't refer to the sitting, because i didn't sit in this Idelsohn..

SERVICE 3

I showed up with a morning-face, and got a welcoming Ahalan. The coffee was made fast. The waitress to whom i payed seemed not proffesional indeed, and actually interfered with the making of my coffee!!

VISITORS 2

I didn't know Taxi drivers buy their turkish coffee in coffeehouses.. Aside from them, a lot of half-naked people come from the beach, to eat something and have a small-talk.

THE COFFEE 0

I'd expect Idelsohn 10 to at least have a paper-cup with its logo on it - but they don't. Instead, they use coffee-machine cups, with a horrible color and a horrible "coffee" written on it - so you won't get confused with what you have in it.. The coffee was salty, and not tasty at all. I did not enjoy it. It was weak, the milk was like soap bubbles, and the ugly cup made it all worse. Idelsohn! Regain your Senses!!! last chance!!

OVERALL 4.2

My brief take-away experience in Idelsohn was stained by a non-professional waitress, bad coffee, and even worse take away cup.. Don't start your day there.

They serve bread, but you Eat cakes in Idelsohn 10. That's the reason why Idelsohn exists..

Jeremiah - Irmiahu and Dizengof

2008-08-27T04:32:00.000+03:00

Sorry for not having my Cafe Diem Yesterdiem!! it was my birthday, and i was tired..

This time I'm meeting my father after work, and this is where he usually goes..

LOCATION 6

On the end of the northern Humus street (Irmiahu), lies 2 street corners of coffeesshops from specific kind. They are 5 minutes from the beach and the Tel Aviv harbour (the Namal), and on the border of the center of the city. These facts affects the audience and the air around greatly. The air is so good outside - even on August.

MENU 6

Some people may call what they offer "home cooking", but I call it Tapas. Some kinds of little dishes that go well with alcohol and a diet. On the other hand, one surprising dessert is a chocolate volcano - full speed sweet souffle. It's pretty expensive, and not top quality. But it's fun food, served in nice plates that look hand-made and custom-designed for Jeremiah.

SIT 4

Outside, there's area for smokers and for non-smokers. There's place inside, too, but squeezed and on a ramp. I'd recommend sitting outside. The air coming from the sea is passed through the streets in high pressure, straight to your face, and I love it! The chairs look like transistors with heatsinks, hehe... but they're not as comfortable as you'd expect from transistors.

SERVICE 7

The waitresses seem to know everybody who comes to Jeremiah.. The service is very friendly, and if you really can't find something to order - i know they can help!

VISITORS 0

In Jeremiah you find models, their nouveau riche boyfriends, or people who think that they are models or nouveau riche boyfriends... Everybody is talking on the phone, smiling, doing business that is also their plessure.. Everybody's young, skirts are short and faces are not shaved (you see, that's becuase they are tough). IQ is below zero, ladies and genltemen!

THE COFFEE 7

Mauro coffee beans are among my favourite.. The espresso shot is strong enough to make it a decent cappuccino. They give a nice little cookie with the coffee - a dates and bisquit mix rolled in coconut shavings. nummi numm!

OVERALL 5

Whether you are a plumber's son, who learned economics in college ; or the daughter of an obese housewife, who knows how to keep a diet - if you have high self esteem, you'd find your place in Jeremiah. Don't forget to smile and to talk in your cellphone. Look important and high-society, and everything will be ok.

Jeremiah is a place to sit, sip cappuccino, laugh at micro-skirted girls and ego-puffed boys, while talking about the important things. No one will understand you in Jeremiah - so you can speak out loud when you get that plessureable business call. Smile when the air from the beach hits you.

Bakery - Ibn Gvirol

2008-08-24T10:17:00.000+03:00

I feel like getting a strong City scent and feeling - so to the Bakery Im heading!!

LOCATION 4
The location is similar to Landwer. But in addition (that extra point), the Bakery is 3 steps from the well-known Brasserie! (Landwer is on the other side of the Brasserie).

no MENU 8
Actually, I didn't see a menu. But the smell and look of pastry inside the shop should help you decide. As its name implies, the Bakery is LOADED with pastry. High-End pastry. Some cakes are big enough to be taken home (humm... big cakes..).

SIT 7
There are 2 small tables squeezed inside - where the kitchen and ordering happens. The rest are to be sitted outside: both the smokers and anti-smokers. Chairs are supposed to cradle, but are by a french-woman's size (and i'm not a french woman). Tables are round, high-legged, maybe one pizza in diameter - just enough for the coffee and the croissant you took. If you want to read the newspaper - use your lap! It makes the people lean back and maybe even look at the sky (the sky!.. we forgot about the sky!..). The sitting area is like a sitters' group in the sun - everybody must deal with his neighbour. And that's nice - because everybody is so OK when everybody is eating the Bakery's goods... yumm..

SERVICE 3
I sat for 5 minutes, with an empty table, and then realized i'm meant to be lurred inside the Bakery to order - otherwise i can't know what's on the menu! I took the usual cafe diem, but just HAD to throw in a big fat almond croissant... [that's the part that is up to the coffeeshop... it's part of the adventure.] I got my order in 1 minute!
But a second before i finished collecting all the almonds that fell from the back of the huge croissant - the waitress took my empty cup of coffee and the croissant's plate!!! a little scream was heard "iiiikkkkkkkkk" - and then an explaination : " I didn't finish!! the plate is still full!!! ". Her response was "are you seriuos?...".
Yes. I am serious.

VISITORS 8
The Brasserie only lets the top layers of society know about it (the first rule of the brasserie is that you don't talk about it)..
The Bakery is the same : only people who know what they want.. only people who are not drawn into the well-known embrace of the Aroma coffeeshop-chain nextdoor, or to Landwer's calls for normalism..
The people who come to the brasserie know that they are special, and that they are in for a special treat in a unique place!
only the bugging flies are annoying.. but they are HIGHLY-UNCALLED GUESTS!!

THE COFFEE 8

good.

beans are bristolt

good.

i got a little butter cookie with it.

good.

OVERALL 6.3

The Bakery is an experience i recommend everyone to try.. Prices are high, but for a good reason. The product you get is Spitz-Qualitat.. Sitting in the Bakery feels like sitting in France (I think that what it feels like in France hehe): the soft 40's jazz from the Brasserie, the scents, the sky, the air, the tourists who spit out fast french phrases..
The Bakery loves you. Shouldn't you love it back? :]

Landwer - Ibn Gvirol 70

2008-08-21T13:54:00.000+03:00

After visiting a warm and personal cafe, i decided to go to a colder cafe.

LOCATION 3

Landwer is a BIG coffeehouse, located on the central-vein of Tel Aviv : Ibn Gvirol street. The chairs outside annoy pedestrians, and when something is going on in Kikar Rabbin - the cafe is filled with people. Feet are walking hither and thither, and cars are coming from all directions. From this point of view - it's Tel Avivian. A bit too much traffic in the eyes, though..

It feels like the designer didn't use the big-city that's going on right next to Landwer cafe.

MENU 3

Although graphically-attractive, the menu is average. Nothing special. They have some kinds of coffee, breakfasts deals, generic sandwiches and wraps (the recipes that all big cafes use..).. They offer a series of healthy-meals, written in green. I'm afraid the helthiest thing about these meals is the green font (that big-cafe syndrom, again..) - but at least they're trying!

SIT 4

In Landwer there is Up-town and Down-town, for it is so big. There are 2 areas for sitting outside ; chairs for the bar ; round tables area and quadrangle tables area inside. It's very crowded inside - but the high ceiling is dimming the noise. it's open 24/7 - which is a big plus - just don't pay attention to the homeless who use the chairs at night...

SERVICE 4
The waiters have electronic PDAs that send the order. kinda cool!

I had 3 waitresses helping me - one for each part of being here. It's not personal and a little stressing-out. Some waitresses are dressed up with Landwer uniform, and others just have a supervising look on their faces. This makes you question who to turn for help. There are teams for each event - and the manpower is on-call and alert. maybe too alert..

VISITORS 2

People who don't want to look too much for a special coffeehouse - come here. It's central, next to bus stations, on the street of streets - you cannot miss it. And so does the people who come from outside the city. This fact gives Landwer it's special visitors' infrastructure : people from out of city, without specific taste, who look for the simplest things they know, but still want to feel like they're in Tel-Aviv. Landwer is a False Display of Tel-Aviv for village-people.

THE COFFEE 3

Landwer is a coffeehouse that started almost 90 years ago in Berlin, and then moved to Tel-Aviv in the 1930's. For years, it is the Turkish-Coffee brand.

The cappuccino tasted like turkish coffee with a spoon of soaply-frothed milk. The beans were roasted too much, and had unsophisticated taste. But I guess that's what most people look for, especially those who drive to Tel Aviv and bump into Landwer.

OVERALL 3.2

Landwer feels like an Israeli McCoffeeHouse - everything is procedurised, according to plan, and following the clear hierarchy between the waitresses. Some people may find it good for them. I can't stand it. For a 90 years old coffee company, the coffee is awkward. Landwer is not for those who seek a sophisticated Tel-Aviv cafe experience. If you want a plain and universally-familiar cafe - it's the place for you.

Segafredo Dizengof 106

2008-08-20T12:41:00.000+03:00

I decided to begin the project with one of my favourite cafes : segafredo.

LOCATION 6
It's located in the middle of the middle of the city : Deizengof street , 200 meters from Dizengof Square. but inside noise is dampened.

MENU 8
The menu has it all : coffee, pastry, chocolate pralins, ice cream, big cakes, small pies, sandwiches... tasty, simple and inexpensive.
WYSIWYG -everything in the menu is displayed in glass cabients.
Take Away is wonderful - everything can be wrapped up in 30 seconds to go..
BUT having a wide veriaty requires a simple interface for choosing, that Segafredo lacks.

SIT 8
there's plenty of place to sit - inside and outside ; every 2 tables inside have an electrical outlet (great for leptops) ; the ceiling is filled with fans (great for air). The tables inside are quadrangle, which is very comfortable!
The design is kinda 80's-pop. red, black and white govern the ambiance ; funny coffee-cup lamps decorate the wall along image-bank prints of "coffee house" ; and very big italian coffee-related words are fixed nicely in corners.
On top of all : it's open 24\7 , a fact that marks this cafe as real Tel-Avivian.

SERVICE 3
The service is pretty lame : the coffee took few minutes to arrive, and i was given a menu twice. Most people sit down and shout after too much minutes to order or even to pay..
But the lame service in Segafredo has it's advantage : nobody bothers you. you can read the newpaper for as long as you like, use a laptop for a whole day (good WLAN connectivity!!!), and just sit and talk - enjoying the whole city passing by without being asked "how was your coffee?"...

VISITORS 5
The people who come here are mostly looking for a caffeine shot (long bar and tables for standing-up proves it) , or for a living but private sitting area!
People who come in with a wish and a smile - leave with a wider smile. Those who are looking for recommendations and guidance - leave without paying.

THE COFFEE 3
coffee beans are from Segafredo, of course.
The coffee has mild strength. milk is frothed unprofessionaly.
I didn't get anything with the coffee - which is pretty wierd, since they have small cookies that could be given alongside the coffee. no "regular water" was given, also.

OVERALL 5.5
Segafredo is a Coffeehouse to sit , 24\7. Work, talk or drink your wake-up coffee. Come with a vision of what you want - so you don't get confused, and bring something or someone to pass the time with. Ask for strong coffee - otherwise you'll get it dull. Sit inside, but stay away from people who talk too much or too loud. Despite the average tip (=grade) It is still one of my favourite coffeehouses :]

What is Cafe Diem?

2008-08-20T12:35:00.000+03:00

Cafe Diem is a month long project, in which i go to a different coffeehouse in Tel Aviv every day - examining the coffee and the surroundings.

I sit down, wait for service, and ask for a small cappuccino. that's it.
The rest is up to the coffeehouse owner or the waiter/waitress.

The tip they get is the grade : from 0 to 10.

Carpe diem ! Coffee diem !