Much like Americans, Israelis have a passionate love for Italian food. Unlike America, however, Israel doesn't have a great number of Italian immigrants – perhaps the love for all things Italian is a geographical thing, a sharing of Mediterranean sensibilities, or perhaps it's another way Israelis try to emulate America. Whatever the reason, Jerusalem may have more restaurants offering Italian food than Israeli food.

One of the landmarks of the Italian scene is Spaghettim, a large and modern glass-fronted restaurant at the beginning of Hillel Street downtown, part of a national chain of pasta restaurants.

The pasta menu is divided along sauce lines – pastas come with olive oil, cream or tomato sauce – and additional offerings range from oven-fired pizzas to meat and fish dishes.

Spaghettim will deliver to anywhere in the city, and Hebrew readers can take advantage of its informative website (http://www.spaghettim.co.il) to place delivery or take-out orders online.