The Russian Compound may be only steps from the always-crowded Zion Square and the bustling pedestrian malls of Ben Yehuda and Yoel Salomon Streets, but this one-time ground zero of Jerusalem nightlife is pretty sparsely populated these days. Gone are the raucous crowds spilling out into the streets from the clubs and bars – but that may be to your advantage if you're looking for a quiet meal within easy distance of downtown without the downtown crowd.

Unassumingly tucked away on Horkanos Street near the fortress-like headquarters of the Society for the Protection of Nature is Angelo, a cozy and attractively designed kosher dairy Italian restaurant owned and operated by, wonder of wonders, an actual Italian (for whom the restaurant is named). Angelo turns out traditional hearty north Italian fare (pastas, pizzas, focaccia, risotto) and, in a wise move to distinguish his restaurant from the legion of similar establishments, selections from the cuisine of the Roman Jewish community from which he hails, making Angelo probably the only restaurant in Jerusalem for specifically Jewish Italian food.