Kreuzberg · Mediterranean
YAFO
Israeli sharing kitchen in the former Shishi rooms — Shani's Tel Aviv idea of bar, wine and mezze, with the falafel as the star of the evening.
YAFO is a Mediterranean restaurant in Kreuzberg, priced 20–60 €. Open Mon-Fri 11:30-15:00,18:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 18:00-22:00.
Yafo borrows its name from the Tel Aviv neighbourhood and its idea along with it: bar, wine, service, sharing plates and ambience in one room.
Owner Shani has moved the concept into Ritterstraße, into the former Shishi rooms, and runs it a touch more grown-up here. Israeli cooking, in CG's words, rough and almost insolent, always a statement. You share across the long table, order across the mezze spectrum, and at the centre sits the falafel: crisp outside, fluffy inside, with a tart mango sauce. Shani calls it the best in town, CG writes it up as the star of the evening. To finish, chocolate mousse with olive oil and pine-nut caramel.
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