Israeli virtual dinner -- where is it?

September 5, 2006 3:19 PM

Does anyone know of a restaurant (in Israel, I believe), where people act as if they are eating, the waiters as if they are serving, the ambience is set up as if it were a real restaurant, and there is a real tab -- but there is neither real food nor beverage to be found anywhere?
posted by shivohum to Food & Drink (6 answers total)

I know it exists, or at least existed, because I read about it in, I believe, the New York Times several years ago. Try searching their archives. It is indeed in Israel, if memory serves.
posted by catesbie at 5:39 PM on September 5, 2006

Best answer: "Cafe Ke'ilu ("Cafe Make Believe") opened in a trendy section of Tel Aviv, Israel, in April, with tables, chairs, plates, silverware, menus, and servers, but no food or drink. Explained manager Nir Caspi (who calls the experience "conceptual dining"), people come to be seen and to meet people but not for the actual food. The menu, designed by top-rated chef (and owner) Phillipe Kaufman,
lets diners order some of the world's most exquisite dishes (eel mousse, salad of pomegranates, if in season), "served" on elegant (but empty) platters."
posted by wannalol at 6:01 PM on September 5, 2006

Quote in my previous comment above was circa 1998. Here is an article on the BBC News website about the "restaurant".
posted by wannalol at 6:08 PM on September 5, 2006

Explained manager Nir Caspi (who calls the experience "conceptual dining"), people come to be seen and to meet people but not for the actual food.

Well, at least they're honest about it. And they're probably saving a shitload of money by non-purchasing their non-food and non-beverages.
posted by jason's_planet at 7:47 PM on September 5, 2006

Cafe Like is now said to be considering a take-away and delivery service.

Ha! a delivery service! Now that is too rich. Does anyone know if this place is still in business?
posted by mmascolino at 8:07 PM on September 5, 2006

Wonder if they "deliver" internationally? Wonder Woman can't need her plane all the time.
posted by rob511 at 8:24 PM on September 5, 2006