Little Tel Aviv

Horrible service & horrible food. Enough said.

My sandwich was decent, but wimpy and overpriced. Accompanying it were 10 (I counted) crappy corn chips. I was left hungry and unsatisfied after this not-​so-​cheap meal. On top of this, the environment did not feel welcoming. It was as if the employees were surprised I was coming in. I was then treated to a front row seat to an argument between them that lasted my entire meal.
I’m fairly easy to please when it comes to restaurants, but this was just BAD.

Mediocre Israeli fare — pescatarians and vegetarians have an option and kosher-​keepers have an option.
Having grown up around this kind of thing in NYC, the parsley, olive, garlic, and intensity has been dialed down completely. Not sure what happened. Is it that we’re in the Midwest?
Ingredients are fresh, but uninspiring.
Could be much worse. Could be much better. It’s here if you need it. Since this isn’t an exact overlap with anything up on Central, sometimes I feel like I need it.
Ownership is warm. Food is lukewarm. I come here for those insanely rare «missing my roots» moments.

I am giving Little Tel Aviv a two only because the service was good and nobody in the group got food poisoning.
We started our meal out with Hummus and Baba Ghanoush. The hummus was very bland and dry. The Baba Ghanoush tastes like no other Baba Ghanoush that we have ever had. Almost tasted pre-​made. Our meals were extremely disappointing. I ordered a Yarden which is described as a warm pita with an omelet, tomato and cheese. It was a store bought pita with a fried egg, two slices of tomato and a little cheese. This might be the most uninspired piece of food I have ever seen in my entire life. It came with tortilla chips shaken out of the bag.
The rest of the group had falafels and again they were very dry and bland. One had the avocado sandwich on stale bread with very few veggies and a chopped up egg. The one thing that wasn’t dry was of course the french fries. They were delivered half cooked and soggy.
On top of all that our bill for 4 people was over $ 60. That I believe was the hardest thing of all to stomach. I really don’t understand all the amazing reviews but save your money trust me!

The BEST Baba ghanoush I have ever had. Tabouli is really good and don’t forget the falafel! My only complaint is how often they are out of the deli to go dishes I want when I am rarely in Minneapolis! Oh well, just a sign of how good their food is!

Yummy! Yummy!Yummy!
I highly recommend the following:
–Israeli Blintzes
–Golan– the sandwich
–Jerusalem Pasta
–Israeli Couscous
–Shakshuka!!!
I have tried all of them, and they are delish. Ive never been dissapointed here.
The owners really go care about your experience and it really shows. Great experience every time. Ive been here with just a few friends and in a big group, and we all had a great time.
They also do catering.
Its kosher, vegetarian friendly and closed on Shabos.

I’ve been here about ½ dozen times over the past 5 years. I’ve had the couscous Dinners, Falafal, baklava, and fries. Everything’s been consistently great. The owner obviously puts a lot of care into ingredients, presentation, and connecting w/​his customers, most of whom appear to be repeat local business. Convenient location w/​ample parking, just west of Uptown/​Lake Calhoun.

A friend and I enjoyed lunch at Little Tel Aviv today (open till 2:30 PM Fridays, closed Sat.) Great owner — really cares about the customers. Took the time make sure we were comfortable with the menu, had no problem recommending the Felafel sandwich as the most popular. We both ordered the Felafel and it was enjoyable with what appeared to be home cut fries. One tiny issue was that the Felafel was a little dry, perhaps ask for extra Tahini sauce.
Our beverages (coffee, iced tea) were kept filled and we weren’t rushed out.
Definitely recommend Little Tel Aviv for those that like Israeli/​Mediterranean food or those that have not tried it yet. Ask the owner to help you.

pretty good fries.
Great little desert thing.
that is all I know.
give me a break, I am new to the neighborhood!

I love the food at Little Tel Aviv. But more importantly, the owner who serves you really makes it. He is SO passionate about his product and it just kills me.
The hummus plate to start is a nice way to get going, but really I come here for the Falafel, which is ample and delicious. Surprisingly enough, they have pretty incredible french fries too.
Its got a café-​set up and a glass case inside, apparently they serve breakfast too, beginning at 8 am.
It is closed on shabbat.

Good food. Great pancakes.

This is an okay place if you are looking for middle-​eastern food in the St. Louis Park/​Lake Calhoun area.
The falafel plate is generous and tasty. I also like their walleye fish cakes — believe they are baked. The lentil soup is so-​so. As is the mint tea. There are sandwiches and pastas on the menu too.
The baklava is better than average (but Crescent Moon’s still reigns supreme).
One frustration I have had with Tel Aviv is forgetting that they are closed on Friday evenings and Saturdays. It is common to see at least a few clients wearing kippahs… which either means the food is authentic or the owners have the support of the local community.

This place is decent. My falafel sandwich was a bit dry and the tahini was too liquid for my likes, but the overall taste was good. The fries were okay, but nothing special. Prices are on the higher side considering the quantity of food they give you.
I wasn’t impressed with their tea which was just a Lipton bag. The service was also kind of curt and rough. I had to explain what «vegan» means which is never a good sign.
Ambience and décor are lacking. I’m sure this place looked great when they first overhauled it, but today it seems on the edge of decay and neglect, with somewhat sticky floors and faded paint on the walls.
I think this place might be a good spot for a quick snack like baba ganush or fries or a cup of coffee. But the food was nothing special and the more interesting sounding dishes seemed too expensive.

So there is this fish that exists in the mid-​west. It’s called a Walleye. Never heard of it until I moved to MN. In general, I like my fish raw with a side of wasabi.
My rule of NOT eating cooked fish ended with a random visit to Little Tel Aviv. The owner is quite amicable and we probably talked for 15 minutes before I even ordered my food. He recommended the walleye sandwich and that is what I had.
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it’s got me hooked (pun intended) like that one SF crackhead guy who is hooked on rummaging his black filthy hands through cigarette ashtrays on Mission and 2^nd street.
The sandwich is a lightly battered and deep fried fish on a nice bun with lettuce and tarter sauce. Includes a side freshly cut french fries. I’m sure the owner is probably pretty irritated with me by now as I have never ordered anything other than the walleye sandwich.
For those who want to bring their Yamaka’s (kippa), Little Tel Aviv is OU Kosher. Speaking kosherly, I find this place to be the best Kosher food on the street.
One Caveat: Most everything else on the menu is a bit pricey. I think the place is suffering from Brand confusion. The food appears excellent, elegant and pricy, but the interior looks more like a coffee shop.