José Andrés Debuts A Vibrant Mediterranean Eatery At The New Ritz-Carlton, NoMad

Nearly a century after the opening of the original, a new Ritz-Carlton hotel has officially landed in New York City. And while there's much to admire about the 50-story, 219-room luxury outpost, we're here to talk about its buzzy in-house restaurant helmed by celebrity chef (and legendary food world do-gooder) José Andrés.

Marking an exciting expansion of Andrés's restaurant empire here in New York is Zaytinya, the chef's celebrated Mediterranean eatery that first debuted in Washington, D.C. in 2002.

Named for the Turkish word for olive oil, Zaytinya is serving up an innovative selection of mezze and shareable plates spotlighting Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine inside a bright, airy space on the hotel's ground floor. 

Designed by none other than high-end hospitality vet David Rockwell, the 140-seat destination offers a vibrant escape in the heart of NoMad, with limewashed walls, white oak wood, and pops of ocean blue. The scene-stealing bar boasts a blue lava stone top and a hand-blown glass installation inspired by the "evil eye" motif.

Menu highlights include seared halloumi, grilled octopus, and traditional Turkish braised lamb shank, while the beverage program, developed by ThinkFoodGroup's Cocktail Innovator Miguel Lancha, puts a unique and boozy spin on Mediterranean flavors with sips like the Za’atar Margarita (Milagro tequila, lime, orange liqueur, za’atar air) and the Caleidoscope (Batavia Arrack, lemon, roasted sweet pepper, smokey urfa pepper and wild Greek chamomile).

"I have a deep love for the city of New York, and it has long been a dream of mine to bring Zaytinya here," Chef Andrés said in a statement. "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."

Click through for your first look inside!

[Photos by Jason Varney courtesy Zaytinya]