Opened in 2004, this luxury kosher restaurant, seemingly aimed at tourists from the deluxe King David and David Citadel hotels across the street, has gone through a number of staff and chef changes. It’s getting a lot of PR and strives to be known as the best gourmet kosher restaurant in the world (with commensurate prices). I, however, find 1868 to be somewhat uneven, as do friends and Frommer’s readers.
There’s an ambitious French menu dotted with elegant starters, and main courses of fish, poultry, and hefty steaks (the steaks tend to get cooked more well done than many customers request). The food is good, but not more exceptional than at other top-class kosher restaurants elsewhere in the city that are less pricey. There’s an impression of ambience and dignity in the 19th-century Jerusalem stone dining rooms, which is an important component of a special dinner, but on closer look, many elements of the decor are rather tacky and faux elegant. The wine list, too, is good, but overpriced.