Friends living in Tiberias invited me to visit Lake Kinneret (In the Bible it is called Tiberias, Tiberias). We rented a car, set up a GPS, set the address and drove off.
We drive for an hour, drive for two - no advertising, no roadside cafes, nothing at all. But suddenly the black Mazda that was driving in front of us turned to the right. We saw a plate the size of an A3 sheet with a mustachioed face and one word written: "Aladdin".
Having parked, we realized that in front of us was an Arab restaurant not burdened with hordes of visitors. If you want - sit on the grass, if you want - on the terrace, or you can go inside.
It was +38 on the street, we went to cool off under the air conditioner. And at the same time to look at the prices, because a hairy pari from another poster was broadcasting: "Payment - only in cash."
Before we had time to finish the calculations, a cheerful man with a huge tray jumped up to the table. "I am Aladdin, Russians!" He smiled. And he began to quickly load many small plates, cups, bowls from the tray onto the table.
"This is a treat from me, the owner!" - he made a broad gesture. And he put four hot pits in the middle of the table.
For those who do not know what pita is, we sympathize. This is something like a small cake, empty inside. If you want, make a hole in the crust, put everything you like inside: meat, cucumbers, pickled beets, herbs, eat it down little by little and rejoice. Or you can simply tear off a quarter from the pita, dip it in candy green olive oil and consume it for food.
We ordered fish and tea to the fabulous Aladdin, we decided not to take ice cream yet, it will melt. He said: "Five minutes of drill!" - and ran away somewhere behind a plush curtain. He leaned out: "Have a snack bye!" - and disappeared again.
They were not supposed to be chewed: he bit, chewed the pulp and swallowed, together with the bone, good for the kidneys, tasty too. Then we tasted cunningly cooked eggplants, which are soft, spicy and sweet at the same time. Hummus was the freshest, the color resembled a cake, the taste was the Garden of Eden, they ate and wiped the plate dry. And big black olives were chopped on sticks with slices of cheese or smoked tuna.
We try, we rest, we try again... Half an hour has passed, but there is no order. “It looks like the owner hit the lake to catch fish,” her husband grunted. “Or drove 15 kilometers to a nearby restaurant to borrow a couple of musts,” I expressed my version.
At the fortieth minute, the owner materialized. Oh, how fragrant the large plates were in his hands! Fish, fried potatoes with straws, watercress and some other incomprehensible greens, lemon and a little pepper...
It seems that this Aladdin was still from a fairy tale: he put the dishes, a kettle, cups, wished him bon appetite, collected empty saucers for one or two and disappeared again. The fish was quite up to par. Actually, we already ate, while trying everything, but do not waste the good! They ate, smeared with something, washed down with tea. Uff! Fall off.
A piece of paper materialized on a plate. The score is quite long.
Oh, we underestimated the Arab cunning! Fish and tea cost 52 shekels, another 41 - all sorts of small things. We had 80 shekels for sure. But other? I reached into my bag to collect coins, my husband ransacked all his pockets, climbed into the car to look for something in his jacket pockets. They counted in a whisper - and hurray, we had a hundred rubles, 93 for a meal and, with a smart gesture, as much as 7 shekels in tip. We put it all on a plate, crushed the bills with small change and to the exit. And the omnipresent Aladdin was already waiting for us outside the door. With a modest smile on his face and basil sprigs in his hands. He handed them to us, as a keepsake, and said: "Call all your friends to us, we are very honest, the product is just fresh!"
... When we returned, money was prepared in our pockets to encourage the owner of the restaurant. But we did not find the way to it. You will have to somehow prosper without us, "very honestly" magician Aladdin.
Story author: Maria Mantseva
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