Israeli Chef Eyal Shani Is Opening Two New Restaurants in New York

Would you wait on an hour-long line for pita bread? If it’s from Israeli chef Eyal Shani, the answer is probably yes.

Shani, a ninth generation Jerusalemite, is adding to his popular pita-centric chain Miznon — Hebrew for “cafeteria” — with a second location in New York, the New York Post reported (the first one is in Chelsea Market, which is basically “Little Tel Aviv“). He’s also opening another branch of HaSalon — “the living room” in Hebrew — an upscale Israeli restaurant. In Tel Aviv, the high-end Mediterranean restaurant is only open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the menu changes every day to keep dishes fresh. But you can always count on HaSalon classics like rack of lamb and tomato pasta.

An international sensation with locations in Melbourne, Paris, and Israel, Shani’s upcoming establishments will mark his 15th and 16th restaurants worldwide.

View this post on Instagram

“About the cauliflower, I'm saying to people: it's like eating the head of an animal, or the brain of a cow—it has the same dress. I need to use the terms of the meat and adapt then into the vegetables because I have to promise a pleasure. People are used to getting pleasure from meat, and they cannot believe they will get any pleasure from vegetables. I'm trying to promise that they will get the same pleasure as they get from eating meat—therefore I'm confusing the terms.” — @eyaltomato on the the terminology of the cauliflower heads 🌿 #miznon #miznonnyc Photo by @chromatic.caroline

A post shared by Miznon NYC (@miznon_nyc) on Oct 17, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

The Israeli chef is famous for popularizing whole roasted cauliflower, but pita bread filled with everything from corned beef, fish, and cheeseburgers is his signature dish. Will another Miznon location in New York cut the weekend hour-long wait for gourmet, fluffy pita in half? Probably not, but only time will tell.

Shani’s second Miznon, with counter service seating, is opening on the Upper West Side at 161 W. 72nd St., and the New York version of his Tel Aviv restaurant HaSalon will open in Hell’s Kitchen. 

View this post on Instagram

Every pita is a different animal—each combination of flavor is the marking of a different soul, a different vibration, a different wish, a different passion, and a different will. Every filling—the vegetables, the meats, the sauces and the spices—has its own fingerprint and it’s own mind. Together, they make a being. #miznonnyc #miznon Photo by @being_delicious

A post shared by Miznon NYC (@miznon_nyc) on Oct 21, 2018 at 2:38pm PDT

Over the next few months Shani will be busy in the Big Apple prepping for his grand openings, so if you’re a die-hard fan you might spot him. He was last seen over the weekend at the Japanese restaurant Zuma with fellow Israelis Lior Suchard, a famous mentalist, and Rotem Rosen, a real estate mogul. Ah, to be a fly on that wall.  And according to Haaretz, the long-term plan of Shani and his investment group is to open more branches of Miznon in other cities in the U.S. including Los Angeles. So get excited.