As you might imagine, Zahav looks like a war zone, as it's entering the second week of demolition. While the old furnishings, including a most hideous mural (see it in this video clip), are stripped down, work has begun to move the bar. Water and sewer pipes have to be rerouted. The one-story restaurant is constructed on a pad, and there's no basement. This means digging about 50 feet of trenches along the floor for the new pipes. And that's where the work crews hit a snag.
Rather, they hit concrete a full foot deep -- not the few inches they had expected to find. So Zahav sounds like a war zone. "I think we've used up our goodwill with our neighbor," an audio studio, says Steven Cook, one of the partners.
They're hauling out foot-square cubes of concrete (shown below). The extra work will not delay the opening. "It's not time," Cook said. "It's only money." In the main photo, the worker is standing in front of what was the hideous mural. The bar will line up in front of the trench at his feet.
They'll get their plumber in to lay the pipes and close up the floor.
Meanwhile, Cook and partner Michael Solomonov are debating the restaurant's floor plan: Should they offer a large community table near the open kitchen -- where people can sit with strangers while the cooks do their thing nearby -- in addition to the usual tables for smaller parties? "Here's what I'm thinking," Cook said. "This kind of food is normally eaten together -- it's a social way of eating. But at the same time, we can't afford to waste seats if people don't want to eat with other people." (Zahav will not be like Benihana, Cook says, explaining that the staff will not be tossing bits of food at patrons.)
If it's like the communal table at Buddakan, I'd argue in favor of it.
Cook is seeking reader input: Your thoughts? Send them in and I'll post them in the comments section.
The partners also are trying (so far in vain) to contact importers of Israeli ingredients. (If you've ever tried to get a painter, plumber or electrician to return your call, you will understand their frustration.) "It's amazing how many people don't want to call you back even when you're giving them money," Cook says.
Comments (4)
I think a communal table would be fun. Make new friends.
Posted by Josey | December 13, 2007 5:43 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 17:43
Waste of space, in my opinion. You also get loud parties at those tables that disrupt the rest of the dining room.
Posted by Jim M | December 13, 2007 5:45 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 17:45
The main problem with both previous restaurants was the size of the room (number of seats) with the bar crammed in a dark back corner and no vistas or people-watching areas that took maximum advantage of the windows on two sides and the street activities. That was the problem at Positano until their renovation broke up the space into several different areas, putting large parties separately from smaller tables for two to six, putting the bar so you could see out and feel the air, and putting seating out on two terraces created by setting the windows back from the facade. 70 seats in one room is like a cafeteria dining room. The 10 seat bar and 10 seat counter could be combined, rather like Osteria, as long as you could either clearly watch the kitchen action (at Osteria the counter is too high to see anything) or not. Is there any way the windows could be replaced with those that swing open so the outside comes in. Ideally, move them back into the interior to open up outside seating along the north and east sides of the room. Outside seating out the back door into the grimy plaza between the dry cleaner and sound studio and across from the filthy market is NOT appealing. Never mind the much belabored "architectural integrity" of the Pei buildings; the shopping center was a later addition, not done by Pei, and has no integrity or life to it. Cut down the bushes in front of the windows and open it all up to the unique scenery across Dock to the park behind Old City Tavern, the beautiful stock exchange rear facade on Walnut, and the grassy planted hill sloping down to Dock from the north tower. Excitement is what is needed in this very dead spot that is not the least inviting, but has the potential to be.
Posted by Anne Meyers | December 19, 2007 4:26 PM
Posted on December 19, 2007 16:26
Although many people may be reticent at first to sit at a communal table, if the staff is trained at making it a comfortable and "happening" area for casual dining AND it is optional, it is great fun. A simple, "pass me the pita and zatar" or "what IS that" can turn into fun conversation with interesting strangers.
PS- What is going on with the logo? Any decision, yet?
And, while I'm at it (finally writing, that is), I must say that the mix of the traditional with the modern is part of what I find so attractive about this whole venture!
Posted by Marj | December 20, 2007 7:23 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 07:23