Roberg - Great family and great restaurant!

This is our longest visit to Israel; we are staying for 6 weeks. We have therefore had numerous opportunities to try out some new restaurants and to visit some that we have already tried. Last year, we spent a few days in the Upper Gallilee and had a fabulous dinner at Roberg's in the village of Livnim. So this year, after a day of touring the Golan with our good friends Chaim and Sara from Raanana, we decided to pay a return visit.

Livnim is located off Route 90 overlooking the Kinneret. Going north from Tiberias, once you pass Migdal and Ginosar, you make the next left on Route 8077 and journey a few kilometers up in the hills till you enter the village; follow the clearly marked signs to Robergs. This is a chef restaurant run by Ilan Roberg who was trained in Israel and in Switzerland and who spent more than 30 years as head chef in various hotels in Israel. He also represented Israel in various gourmet "chef olympics" around the world and has been the chef of note for kings and heads of state.

In addition to all of the above, what makes this a most unique chef restaurant is the supporting cast at the restaurant. Ilan's children have all graduated from various culinary schools and so he and his wife Sonia, together with their children opened Roberg above their home in Livnim. If the weather is warm, you can opt for outdoor dining on the mirpeset (balcony) with a magnificent view of the Kinneret. What makes the indoor experience unique is the presence of three large flat screen monitors which allow the diner to watch the Roberg kitchen and family in action.

Now to the food: there are two choices on the menu. There is a regular menu as well as a tasting menu, each with a fixed price. The food was outstanding and artistically plated. The service was excellent. We enjoyed meeting Sonia, who told us some of the history of Roberg and who beamed with pride at the accomplishments of her entire family. At the end of the meal, Sonia and Ilan gave us a tour of the area of the restaurant that is reserved for cooking classes which are conducted in a similar style as the TV show Top Chef.

There are many "zimmers" (vacation cottages) in Livnim and therefore the Robergs decided to open for prepaid Shabbat meals for those who visit the area. There is a shul right across from the restaurant.

The restaurant is under the hashgacha of the Rabbinate of Marom Hagalil and the price range is 125 shekels for the regular menu and 160 shekels for the tasting menu.

This restaurant is well worth the drive and we consider Roberg one of the best that we have tried in the country.

Visit their website at www.roberg.co.il