The bare cement arcs of the Ganei Tamra Restaurant, or the Tamra Recreation Village as it is officially called, have accompanied us on our way to and from the North of Israel for over thirty years now. Ganei Tamra is not just another Galilean site; it is the actual gate to the Galilee; the place where visitors know that they have arrived in the Western Galilee. It is a brand name.
The restaurant owners and managers, Nizar and Her Diab, say: “Ganei Tamra was founded by our uncle and his sons in 1977, 78 as a social events hall. Over the years the restaurant and outdoor reception area were added on. In 1992 the name Ganei Tamra was changed to Tamra Recreation Village, due to the scope of the compound.”
The Ganei Tamra Restaurant, probably the largest of its kind in Israel, offers an abundance of excellent Eastern dishes, made on location, served in generous quantity at unrivaled prices. Salads, for example, are chosen by diners one by one, so that they only pay for what they ordered and ate. Food is fresh and renewed daily due to the quantities: the restaurant hall on its own offers about 500 sitting places, and fills up entirely with weekend travelers. Nizar: “You have to see it to understand.”
Adjacent to the main hall there is an accessorized (projector, amplification system) lecture hall that enables combining a lecture or a seminar day with an indulgent meal. In the nearby building guests can find a magnificent social events hall, and next to it an outdoor reception area. Three large parking lots are located around the compound. But that is not all. There is more. A spacious cafeteria is located adjacent to the restaurant, for people who wish to sit peacefully and enjoy a slice of cake, a cup of coffee, some ice-cream, a sandwich or a Hookah while watching the sports events on screen. On their way out of the cafeteria, visitors will find the playground compound (Carting, inflatables and game facilities) where the younger generation may be occupied while adults digest the temporary sense of freedom that has befallen them.
Disabled persons will be glad to find their needs addressed here in respect of parking, accessibility and rest rooms: “It is an integral part. They have rights as well.”
To prevent diners from waiting a long time, the staff in this empire of hospitality counts up to 50 people, when necessary, with the most senior of them employed in the place for more than 20 years.
The great Ficus trees that stood here before the restaurant was built are safe and sound: the tables are placed around their trunks; the ceiling is built around them and their tops breakthrough in all their glory. This is not surprising; all guests seem to be given this kind of treatment here. Have you found a place?
