One of Israel’s Most Popular Pita Restaurants Hits Chelsea Soon

Miznon, a hit pita restaurant from Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani, will soon bring a pita war to Chelsea Market. New details in the Times pins the opening of the fast-casual global chain to within “a couple of weeks.”

Whole roasted cauliflower, a dish Shani is known for, will be on the menu here, along what’s called a “Run Over Potato” (a baked potato flattened with a meat pounder and served with sour cream and herbs). The outpost will also offer plenty of pitas with unusual fillings such as lobster with crème fraîche, ratatouille and egg, Reuben ingredients, and moussaka. Miznons around the world are known for stuffing housemade pita with foods popular in each place. For example, a Paris pita has beef bourguignon, while Melbourne’s uses local ingredients.

Shani got his start in Tel Aviv with now-closed higher-end restaurant Ocean. He opened Miznon as a way to attract a younger audience. “I decided to give them street food, pita, with a difference, not with the usual shawarma and falafel but with fillings like shrimp in cream sauce and seared rib-eye,” he told the Times. He is oft-credited with popularizing the whole roasted cauliflower, and he’s also now claiming credit for fish carpaccio and tomato sashimi, too.

Here, the restaurant — which also has locations in Tel Aviv and Vienna — will be counter service, with wood and tile finishings on a long counter in front of an open kitchen. Seating is at tables and on stadium-style benches.

The addition in Chelsea Market in the old Buon’Italia store space will be interesting considering the food hall already has a prominent pita restaurant in Dizengoff. Stay tuned for more.

• Eyal Shani, an Israeli Celebrity Chef, Makes His New York Debut [NYT]
• All Coverage of Miznon [ENY]