The Story of Tzvi
"Flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful (tzvi) of all lands."
Ezekiel 20:6
Tzvi is named after our grandfather, Tzvi Livni. Tzvi was a man of the land and of education, and his life was a story of love. Love of the land and love of people, diligence and wisdom, curiosity and laughter, and the ability to see the big things in small moments. The warmth he left behind still wraps around all of us, and that warmth is what we want to bring to you too.
After 20 years in the kitchens of leading restaurants in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Amsterdam, chef Elad Hayot and his wife Mireia opened Café Papa on Azza Street in Jerusalem. The kosher café, inspired by Barcelona, the city Mireia came to Israel from, became a home for their shared love of food and hospitality.
Papa's success allowed Elad to fulfill another dream: a kosher smoked-meat restaurant. When a space opened up on Rabbi Chaim Berlin Street 1, about 50 meters from the café, he knew the moment had come. That's how Tzvi was born.
Our cuts of meat are chosen with great care and smoked patiently, out of respect for the ingredients and for the generation that taught us that quality takes time, curiosity, and passion.
Tzvi brings to the table Elad's experience, his love of meat and smoke, and the family spirit that has accompanied us along the way. A Jerusalem restaurant with food made patiently, hospitality at eye level, and the warmth of home.