HaYekev, Netanya, Food OK, Service Deficient

As I had blogged yesterday, a few friends and I met in Netanya for a late lunch. One of the group lives in Netanya and she made us reservations in Hayekev, which is right near the boardwalk.

It's a kosher dairy and fish restaurant. There was a nice varied menu. The choice looked good, but although it was a very hot day, we were served plain warm tap water without any ice. A few times some of the women got up to look for someone to bring ice, and even then, they'd just bring for one person. The pitchers should have been full of ice cubes. Another problem was that the lovely picturesque wooden tables were sticky. I had to keep pulling down my sleeves, because it was uncomfortable on my skin.

But they did get one thing right. A friend and I had ordered their Tuna Salad with a few changes, and they got that right, though they never brought me the olive oil I had asked for in lieu of the dressing. So I decided to have some bread instead.

As you can see in the photos, the food was gorgeous, and the portions were large. Most of us found the food perfectly tasty, except for those who had ordered the salmon. They found it tasteless. The breads were good, too.

As we drove up I had no idea we'd be so close to the Mediterranean Sea. Even though we sat inside The view was mesmerizing, but that couldn't make up for bad service. The staff wasn't alert. Too many times, my friends were forced to get up and look for a staff member. And then after we had paid, each of us carefully gave money to cover what we had ordered and a minimal tip. Then the waitress insisted that we still owed money. Finally it was discovered that they had billed us for something we hadn't received.

Since I'm not familiar with the Netanya restaurant scene, I can't compare Hayekev with others. Here's more information:

• Address: 6 Gad Makhnes, Netanya, Israel
• Location: Middle East  >  Israel  >  Central District  >  Netanya
• Phone Number: +972 9-862-2220

A Bissel Traveling- Netanya!

Some friends and I met for a late lunch in Netanya. Review of restaurant will be in a different post. It's hard to remember the last time, if there was one, when I walked around that seaside city. I had forgotten completely how pleasant and compact the city is.

waiting for ride in Jerusalem

I checked out travel logistics via Ariel, which is very doable. But since I had a direct ride with a friend straight from Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem at a time, davka, two buses would arrive from Jerusalem, that's how I got there. This is not the season to be standing outside wondering when buses would come and then having to find one's way in an unfamiliar city. The added bonus was being able to spend time with a friend I don't see much.

We could sea the Mediterranean Sea, the gorgeous blue ocean, from our table in the restaurant. I had packed one of my bathingsuits hoping there would be time to go into the water, but that didn't happen... next time, Gd willing.

One of our small group lives in Netanya and another had been nearby for Shabbat. That's why we decided to go there.

After eating, we wandered around the Netanya boardwalk. I was saved from buying ice cream, since there was no mint.

Then the Jerusalemites left, and my friend took me to my neighbor's store. It was a short walk. Yes, I had a ride home straight to Shiloh. It's a good thing, since it was an exhausting day. Remember that I had spent a full morning exercising in the pool before my travel adventure. Netanya is really pretty close to Shiloh. I must go there again and soon.

"fill in seven syllables" Suggestions Please

Today, unlike most, I only woke with the alarm, and I didn't spring out of bed. I guess yesterday was more tiring than I had thought. Truth is that the night before I hadn't slept enough. I barely got half a night's sleep.

And yesterday was a very busy day. First of all I exercised an hour in the pool. I don't swim laps but I do my "dance exercises" in the water. Then traveled to Jerusalem where I caught a ride with a friend to Netanya. It is a bit crazy to go to Jerusalem to get to Netanya, since Netanya is closer to Shiloh. But the logistics of going  to Netanya by tremps and buses from Shiloh to where we were meeting friends for a late lunch made the decision easy for  me. In the summer midday heat comfortable and airconditioned win hands down.

I had a lovely lunch with friends in Netanya; Gd willing I will review the restaurant. Then we walked a bit in view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Netanya by the Sea

Netanya by the Sea

After everyone else who had to travel went on their way, my Netanya friend walked me to my neighbor's store, because I had a ride home with him. It was still a bit too early, so I then walked around a bit and, no surprise, bought some gorgeous new scarves in his store. The ride home was pleasant, and then I had a late light dinner and got to bed at a reasonable time and slept well, B"H.

As many of you know, I write a #morningcoffeehaiku every morning illustrated by photos of my morning coffee and the sun or a view taken the same morning. Well, this morning I got stuck:

Bright sunshine today
fill in seven syllables 
Very strong coffee
#morningcoffeehaiku

As you can see, I had no problem finding a five syllable opening line and a closing of  another five syllables. But I haven't a clue as what sort of seven liner to put in the middle. I need your help to fill it in. You can also "pad" the ending with another two syllables, so then you just need a five syllable closing.

Awaiting your ideas, thanks. Please put them in the comments. I really do appreciate it, thanks, again.

Trip to Netanya via Ariel

Here are some photos from a mitzvah, not for pleasure trip to Netanya via Ariel. A neighbor was sitting shiva, that's the week of mourning, at his parents' apartment in Netanya. I went with a couple of neighbors.

One of the things I've learned is how G-d controls everything, all the timing, etc. Earlier than morning, I had been at the demonstration at the regional offices in Psagot, against our buses being banished from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. When a neighbor overheard that I had a ride, she asked if she could join us. I arranged it. Then a few days or so later, after I had sent an email to the Shiloh group that I needed a ride to a wedding, she called saying she was "paying me back." And I went to that wedding with her and her husband.

Even though the ride to Netanya is only just over an hour, the climate is different. And in the winter, the sky is amazing.

Too bad I didn't got there for pleasure... another time, G-d willing.

Speaking to ESRA, Netanya

A few months ago I was invited to speak to a lovely group of people about blogging. It was the ESRA group in Netanya.

I was joined by Paula, A Soldier's Mother, Brian of London, Israeallycool, and Stephen Levitt of the Jewish Press. The evening was MC'ed by Yori Yanover of The Jewish Independent.

To tell you the truth, I love to talk to people probably more than I love to write, so I did have a great time there. I don't know if it brought my blogs more readers or encouraged anyone to blog. I'd love to know.