July, 2022
José Andrés Expands New York Presence with Opening of Restaurant, Lobby Bar and Hotel In-Room Dining
New York, NY (July 26, 2022) – Today, José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup debuts Zaytinya at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, developed by Flag Luxury Group. Zaytinya, a play on the Turkish word for olive oil, offers an innovative mezze menu inspired by Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines, built on José’s deep knowledge of Mediterranean cooking and years of research and travel. The 140-seat street level restaurant designed by David Rockwell and his award-winning architecture and design firm Rockwell Group offers an array of shareable small plates of authentic and innovative fare, creative cocktails, and unique Mediterranean wines.
“I have a deep love for the city of New York, and it has long been a dream of mine to bring Zaytinya here,” says Chef José Andrés. “For the last two decades Zaytinya has been a place for shared meals between friends and families, celebrations, and countless momentous events, and we cannot wait to continue its story here in New York.” “Zaytinya’s cuisine, energy, and environment is a celebration of diversity and different culinary traditions that perfectly complement the dynamic neighborhood where we have found a beautiful home within The Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad,” added Sam Bakhshandehpour, President of José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup.
It will be the second location of Zaytinya, which originally opened in 2002 in Washington, DC, and consistently ranks as a top dining destination in the nation’s capital. This summer, a stunning new rooftop bar, Nubeluz, will open atop The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad and later this year will bring the debut of The Bazaar restaurant. These openings mark the significant expansion of José Andrés restaurants and bars in New York City, following the 2019 launch of Mercado Little Spain.
“Having a Greek Armenian Mother-in-Law, I appreciated the authenticity of the cuisine from the very first night we ate at Zaytinya in Washington DC. We knew immediately having Chef José Andrés and his restaurants here at our hotel would be an essential part of The Ritz Carlton New York Nomad,” said Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, President of Flag Luxury Group.
The menu created by Zaytinya’s Chef Partner Michael Costa and Head Chef Jose Ayala includes sharable spreads, flatbreads, cures and cheeses, soups and salads, and mezze. Highlights include Seared Halloumi (dates, pomegranate, citrus, mint, pistachio); Octopus Santorini (grilled Mediterranean octopus, marinated onions, capers, yellow split pea purée); and Hunkar Begendi (traditional Turkish braised lamb shank, eggplant kefalograviera cheese purée). Breakfast service will be exclusive to the Zaytinya New York outpost, featuring dishes such as Eggs José’s Way (Spanish fried eggs, caramelized onions and Jamón Ibérico) and Cilbir (poached eggs with whipped yogurt, Marash chili crisp).
Led by ThinkFoodGroup Cocktail Innovator Miguel Lancha, the cocktail offerings are diverse and exciting, from the light and refreshing Za’atar Margarita (Milagro tequila, lime, orange liqueur, za’atar air) to the unique and adventurous Caleidoscope (Batavia Arrack, lemon, roasted sweet pepper, smokey urfa pepper and wild Greek chamomile). Jordi Paronella, Wine Director at ThinkFoodGroup, has curated an extensive list highlighting a unique selection of Mediterranean wines to reflect the regionality and flavors of the menu.
Saturated with a light and clean palette of bronze metals and white oak wood, Rockwell Group’s design features distinctive pops of blue, soft curves and a variety of textures are injected throughout to channel the coast, vibrant waters and natural beauty of the Mediterranean. Exposed wood beams, chevron patterned wood floors inset with blue tiles, tambour detailing and clusters of woven textile pendants create a warm energy in the space. The pendants’ linen shades feature hand-painted drawings by The Alpha Workshops, designed in collaboration with Rockwell Group, that celebrate Mediterranean culture, its harvests and ancient arts. At the bar, a striking blue lava stone top and abstract backlit screen made of hand-blown glass discs inspired by the “evil eye” contrast the neutral hues. A custom Gio Ponti-inspired tiled floor surrounds the bar.
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast
Monday – Friday 6:30 am – 10:30 am / Saturday & Sunday 7 am – 11 am
Lunch
Monday – Friday 11 am – 4 pm
Brunch
Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 4 pm
Dinner
Monday – Wednesday 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm / Thursday – Sunday 4:30 – 11 pm
José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup was represented by Cultivate Hospitality Group. For more information or to make reservations visit: zaytinya.com.
About José Andrés | ThinkFoodGroup
Founded by Chef José Andrés and his partner Rob Wilder, ThinkFoodGroup is the creative team responsible for renowned dining concepts in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Miami, the Bahamas, Orlando, New York City, and Chicago. The nearly three dozen restaurants share a variety of culinary experiences that span from food trucks to world-class tasting menus, including the two Michelin starred minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C. Twice named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People,” and awarded “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation as well as the inaugural “American Express Icon Award” by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, José Andrés is an internationally recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, television personality, humanitarian, and chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup. For more information, visit www.joseandres.com.
About Flag Luxury Group
Flag Luxury Group is a privately held real estate development company headquartered in New York City with a primary focus on luxury hotels and residences as well as land-based entertainment and retail projects. Flag Luxury was formed in 1997 by Dayssi and Paul Kanavos, who were driven by their passion for luxury hospitality and their desire to bring a forward-thinking perspective to the industry. Flag Luxury Group’s ability to identify, acquire and build world-class projects in premier gateway city locations has established it as a leading development company in the industry.
About Rockwell Group
Based in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Madrid, Rockwell Group is an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm that emphasizes innovation and thought leadership in every project. Founded by David Rockwell, FAIA, and led by David and partners Shawn Sullivan and Greg Keffer, the 250-person firm merges performance and architecture to create extraordinary experiences and built environments across the globe.
For additional information please contact:
Chloe Mata Crane, Baltz & Company, (212) 300-7102 / cmcrane@baltzco.com
Sarah Hermalyn, Baltz & Company (773) 682-5159 / shermalyn@baltzco.com
