Machneyuda is an authentic Mediterranean market restaurant owned and managed by three Jerusalem chefs with impressive resumes: Asaf Granit, Yossi Elad and Uri Navon.
Machneyuda is an unusual collaboration between three chefs, gathering the styles of each one and bringing to bear a culinary creation belonging to each side of the triangle – a simultaneously complex and simple Jerusalem kitchen – pedantic, exact, straightforward and not unnecessarily sophisticated. During each service, one of the chefs takes the lead in the kitchen, with the others falling behind as cooks on the line.
The menu at Machneyuda is written on a huge board daily, and is based on select ingredients that were plucked by the three chefs from the nearby market stands. Everyday diners will find a different selection of dishes in four price categories (NIS 20-30, NIS 30-60, NIS 60-80 and NIS 80-100 and up), with two fish dishes, two meat dishes and a selection of vegetarian dishes in each category.
The restaurant interior, another non-conventional element, is divided into two levels; the kitchen, the pantry and the dining areas meld together seamlessly, providing a theatrical and dynamic view and a joyous dining experience. The open kitchen testifies that ‘we have nothing to hide.' With a cheerful and colourful porcelain tile canopy, the kitchen is located on the first floor taking up a large area without taking up serving space – the food here is the very site of the happening, and all that is left to do is sit back and enjoy the show. Diners are invited to sit at the small bar looking out at the kitchen staff (and also have chat with them, of course), to find a spot at one of the wood tables or take a load off at the low bar. On the second floor are additional spots – low and high, including a small bar overlooking all the happenings below.