Elilta Brhane was born in Eritrea (then part of Ethiopia) and immigrated to Israel in 1998 at the age of 18. She worked as a nursing assistant at Barzilai Hospital before finally fulfilling her childhood dream in 2024: opening an Ethiopian restaurant inspired by the recipes of her mother, Sigerga, and her grandmother, Memit. In her modest restaurant, Elilta’s Mesob, Brhane celebrates the rich culture of Ethiopian hospitality she grew up with. The name comes from the traditional handwoven basket table, the mesob, where guests gather to share a meal — a gesture of warmth and respect.

“Elilta is deeply connected to her Ethiopian heritage and takes great pride in it,” says culinary tour guide Adi Rosen. “That is why it’s so important to her to introduce people to Ethiopian cuisine and the community’s culture of hospitality. The restaurant has a warm, home-like atmosphere, and the food is refined and approachable. Elilta ensures that guests feel comfortable, always offering detailed explanations of the dishes. From time to time, she hosts a buna ceremony, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ritual, using beans she brings from Ethiopia, roasts, and grinds on-site. Elilta’s Mesob is more than just a restaurant  —it’s a cultural space that represents an entire community.”