Inspired from famed Tel Aviv outdoor marketplace Shuk HaCarmel, Carmel Restaurant on Melrose in LA opened a few months ago in the former Village Idiot space. A place for all, this buzzy restaurant was packed on a weekday night bringing the same vibes from the past as it is a continued hotspot for dates, small groups, and good looking people. The place can get very loud so for a quieter date night or more intimate vibe, come on the early side.

Sidle up to the bar to sip a pre-dinner cocktail, unique beers, or one of their natural wines on draft. We suggest the TURKISH VILLAGE made with tequila, italicus, mastiha, preserved lemons, and cardamom bitters.

Using some of the oldest techniques in the world— a wood-burning oven, an open flame grill— Chef Asaf Maoz adapts ancient Levantine cooking traditions for the modern era. Dishes are prepared with the global influence of the Tel Aviv shuk with farmer’s market produce and sustainably-sourced meats and seafood. Breads are baked in-house, including a 72-hour fermented Moroccan frena, baked to order in the wood-fire oven. This is a must-try starter that can be pulled apart piping hot. It is accompanied with sour cream, matbucha and Syrian olives.

The Carmel menu works well for sharing numerous dishes, at least four to five. Share the elegant cupped Tuna Tartar bites doused with flowers and grapes or MY GRANDMA’S MUSHROOMS CIGAR stuffed with baharat (Middle Eastern spices), pine nuts and chuma pepper. Break it into pieces and dip! SMOKED EGGPLANT MASABAHA, KAMPACHI CRUDO, and the BONFIRE JAPANESE SWEET POTATOES with labneh came highly rated from our nearby seated neighbors as tables are super close.

New flavors abound and continue throughout the evening on elegant vintage-looking plates like the unique combination of BLACK FIG CARPACCIO paired with Honeycomb, Stracciatella cheese, serrano chili, chives, and almonds. While most dishes seem to contain a lot of salt, the cocktails help calm the salt levels.

The handmade creamy rich and sweet CORN TORTELLINI with sugar snap peas, sage butter, and parmiagiano reggiano may be our favorite menu item. Our waitress raved about the SWEETBREAD TAGLIATELLE in a chicken jus that I regret not ordering.

The HANGER STEAK KEBAB is slid off the skewer at our table onto a hefty pita bread accompanied with fresh lafa, meshwaya, sumac onion, and herbs. I devour it quickly but after the first course of bread, we concentrate more on the meat. A nice companion to the meat is the RED SNAPPER SCHNITZEL reminding me of pounded pork schnitzel in Austria. This flat breaded version is delicious with the tartar like sauce.

Reminiscent of the flavors I experienced in Israel, sweets include Knafeh, Halva Semifreddo, Chocolate and Tahini Tart, and more.

While dinner is 5:30 – 11:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday at Carmel Melrose, brunch is also uber popular on Sundays from 11 – 3 PM. Valet is $15 or metered street parking is available. Now Angelenos and tourists can get a taste of Israel and the Middle East right here in LALALand.