Amigo Cohen Israeli-Mexican Fusion

Shalom, Amigo! This is the welcoming slogan in the new restaurant of the Amano Hotel group near the central station. The tongue-in-cheek collaboration of Mexico and Israel in the name spreads good humour, although the kitchen naturally takes the concept very seriously in a light-hearted way.

The open kitchen offers guests the opportunity to watch the kitchen crew put together the varied dishes and thus discover how well the two countries' products, spices and cooking traditions can be married together.

Taco chips meet labneh, a Levantine fresh cheese, in the dish "Israréli Aguachile". A stimulating starter of hamachi carpaccio with coriander and sour pickled labneh. Melon and nuts add freshness and variety to the texture. The shrimp al guajillo with dried mango, subtle chilli notes and a lime-jalapeño dressing is also delicious. Such starters are priced at around 12 euros.

The dishes are particularly good for sharing. Be it the various tartar variations or the guacamole freshly prepared at the table with the guests' choice of ingredients. Tacos are also a big thing. Four variations with different ingredients and varied seasonings are available for eight euros or as a sharing plate for three to four people (32 euros). The pulpo and pork versions can also be converted into a vegan alternative.

1 | 4

In the main courses, the dishes with ingredients from the sea show that chef Shimon Perez cultivates an excellent product cuisine, so the seasonings of eagle fish, gilthead or prawns are ideally balanced in a way that the quality of the main ingredient is wonderfully shown to advantage.

The marinated and grilled octopus with labneh, popcorn, and olive cream (23 euros) is wonderful. Things get a bit heartier with dishes like Mole Verde with chicken, green mole, grilled corn and spiced bulgur at 27 euros.

The chef also has a good hand for desserts. The churros with coconut, mango and guacamole sorbet are simply fun. But another reason to visit Amigo Cohen is the enchanting atmosphere.

Colourful and cheerful, with relaxed elegance, a visit takes you far away from the grey everyday life and the annoying, eternal construction sites of the surrounding area. The lamps resemble soap bubbles floating overhead, and the muted colours of the furniture experience a charming counterpoint with colourful, cheerful murals.

In addition to the 80 seats in the restaurant, there is a private dining room with 16 chairs, and a remarkable cocktail bar can accommodate another 40 people. The bar is worth talking about and has an outstanding tequila selection. In addition, the in-house Amigo's Margarita is one of the best in town.

Otherwise, the bar menu includes classics like Michelada or Paloma but also numerous own creations like the El Zapata with mezcal, passion fruit, lime, chilli and almond. The cocktails are priced between 12 and 15 euros. You can also explore the world of Mexican spirits - of course, the selection of mezcals is also impressive.

Recently, there have been several new openings dedicated to Middle Eastern cuisine. So it's time to bring a fun twist to the game. Our new amigo is very welcome.