Caesarea Golf Club’s Mariposa: Kosher dining hits above par - review

Mariposa, the restaurant at the exclusive Caesarea Golf Club – the sole golf venue in Israel – is proving to be a culinary destination in its own right. Under the guidance of new chef Raz Sela, who took over the kitchen just four months ago, the restaurant is serving up high-quality kosher cuisine with creative flair.

Sela, who previously spent a decade at Tel Aviv's non-kosher Turkiz restaurant, has adapted seamlessly to kosher culinary standards. The reviewer noted that this transition has not presented any challenges, highlighting the chef's versatility and the resulting dishes' high standard, original presentation, and the eatery's pleasant, friendly ambiance.

During a recent lunch visit, the reviewer sampled a variety of dishes. Standouts included two salads, the "Shmulik" (arugula, grapes, peanuts, cranberries with spicy dressing) and the "Herb" salad (rocket leaves with various herbs), both enhanced by a convincing vegan feta. The ceviche, a vibrant mix of white fish, tomatoes, cucumbers, and purple onion with a lemony, slightly spicy dressing, was particularly praised for its deliciousness.

Main courses also impressed. The Togarashi crusted salmon was perfectly cooked, though noted as rather sweet, while the grilled sea bass with a white wine and herb sauce was declared superb by a dining companion. While the dessert, a pistachio ice cream, fell slightly short with a margarine-like tuile, the overall experience at Mariposa was highly positive, offering a refined kosher dining option.