Chef Hillel Tavakali’s Animar restaurant is closing following six years of operation in which it established itself as one of the best chef restaurants in Israel. The restaurant, which opened in 2019 in a space that in its previous incarnations belonged to the “Raphael” restaurant and then to Victor Gloger’s Hula restaurant, presented a modern Mediterranean cuisine that led it to be ranked 26th in the prestigious 50 BEST list, in the ranking of the best restaurants in North Africa and the East High school for 2024.
The owners of the place shared the announcement of the closure in a post published on Animar’s Instagram page. According to them, the decision was made due to the political situation that leads to instability in the restaurant sector.
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“After several years of success, recognition and catering for tens of thousands of Israelis and tourists, unfortunately, due to the instability and situation in the country, we have decided not to renew the lease and to close the doors of the Animar restaurant for the time being,” the post reads. It also hints that the restaurant may continue to operate in the future in a different constellation: “For us, this is not the end of the story, the name Animar means the soul of the Mediterranean and the soul, forever remains,” it says. “We hope and believe that better days will come and we will return to host, feed and celebrate with you. You know us, we don’t just go like this.”
Hillel Tavkoli, photo: Ohad Kev
Animar will be closed for good at the end of July. “In the coming month, we will allow the restaurant’s loved ones, and of course our friends and families, to come and enjoy one last time the best cuisine, drinks and atmosphere reserved for Animar,” the owners wrote and added: “On this occasion, we want to thank Chef Hillel Tawakuli for the great soul he brought with him, the diligence, creativity and originality, for the success And the global recognition that established Animar as part of the 50Best and, of course, for the unforgettable and most delicious food that was always served with a generous hand and wholeheartedly. We wish Hillel success and believe that we will meet once more in the future.”
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