Israeli Celebrity Chef Behind Miznon Brings His Tel Aviv Hot Spot to NYC Next Week

Israeli celebrity chef and popular pita shop Miznon owner Eyal Shani is gearing up to open his flagship restaurant HaSalon — known as an upscale party hot spot in Tel Aviv — in Hell’s Kitchen next week.

In Israel, HaSalon is open a couple of nights out of the week with a constantly changing menu, hugely centered on Israeli cuisine with dishes like tomato pasta and a rack of lamb frequently appearing. Here in New York, the idea is similar, with plans to operate three nights per week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Preview photos show a lot of vegetables; a spokesperson says the menu will be centered on local ingredients and that sustainability will be a focus.

HaSalon, which translates to the living room in English, is poised to open Friday, April 12, at at 735 10th Ave., between 49th and 50th streets. There will be two seatings per night, one at 6 p.m. and one at 8 p.m., the latter of which is meant to be rowdier. “The first seating is more tranquil. In the second seating the music gets louder and the party begins,” the website states.

Walk-ins won’t be a thing here, but eventually, the space will be available for private events. It’s a pricey affair, with online reservation platform Resy estimating $150 per person.

Shani has been on the ground in New York for the past two months, finally achieving what he describes as a “30-year-old dream” to live and work in the city, he says on Instagram. With the new restaurant comes a relocation for the chef, too, who will now be primarily based in NYC, a spokesperson says.

The chef first came to NYC in 2018, opening his pita counter Miznon in Chelsea Market. He was welcomed with long lines and rave reviews, and he recently opened a second location on the Upper West Side.