Chef/Owner Rafael “Rafi” Hasid has opened his second location of Miriam, a sister restaurant to Miriam Park Slope, according to a press release Monday. The new location is on the Upper West Side, at 300 Amsterdam Avenue.
Miriam UWS is the sixth restaurant in Chef Rafi’s portfolio and features the same menu as its Park Slope predecessor, including its daily Israeli brunch and a full dinner menu. The dinner menu highlights the range of influences in the nation’s cuisine beginning with Mezzes, such as Goat Cheese Crostini, pistachio-crusted goat cheese, roasted peppers, and truffle oil, Kadaif Wrapped Shrimp served in harissa aioli; and Pomegranate Meatballs served with labneh and topped with pistachios.
Main courses include Braised Short Ribs, tamarind braised beef short rib, sweet potato latke over labneh and string beans; Grilled Branzino served with celery root puree and grapefruit fennel salad; Lamb Shawarma, under-baked dough in a Terra Cotta bowl, with herbed rice, roasted tomatoes, and a tahini yogurt amba sauce. The classic vegetarian option; Seasonal Vegetable Stew, made with fresh herbs, winter vegetables, dried cherries, and cured lemon.
In the past 17 years of Miriam Park Slope’s existence, the restaurant has served over 2.5 million eggs. The signature brunch includes Jerusalem Breakfast, served with two eggs any style, avocado salad, fresh tomatoes, pickles and tahini; Challah French Toast, made with vanilla and topped with halva and berries; and Chicken Schnitzel, served with Israeli salad, a lemon compote, and olive oil mashed potatoes as an alternative to the typical cream and butter recipe. They’re known for their Falafel Platter, vegan falafel balls made of a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans served with hummus, an Israeli salad, green tahini, mango chutney, and pita bread.
Miriam UWS will feature a full bar program and craft cocktails with recipes that level up to those of Wolf and Deer and 1803, recognized throughout New York — date to be determined.
Miriam’s second location was a collaborative design between Chef Rafi and Barak Pliskin of Pliskin Architecture with a design that is anchored in its New York and Mediterranean roots. The Upper West Side location echoes design elements of the first restaurant, including the Mediterranean arches and original tiles from the Park Slope location.
The open dining room features a large brass and terrazzo bar and lush aquamarine banquettes. Custom lighting designed by Krista Ninivaggi complements the matching rose gold bar mirrors in the form of ovular brass sconces to softly illuminate the space. Walnut tables and chairs fill the dining area, and plantings scattered throughout complete the setting to create a warm interpretation of an all-day Mediterranean bistro
Chef Rafi started working in the industry at the age of 14, first washing dishes at a family friend’s restaurant where he worked his way through each station, acquainting himself with every aspect of the restaurant industry. At 18 he was drafted to Israel’s Navy and stationed on a ship with 50 sailors. “When the cooks on board suffered from seasickness, Rafi took the initiative to cook for his shipmates finding great joy in the ability to feed his peers,” according to the release.
Upon completion of his military service, Chef Rafi moved to New York and attended the French Culinary Institute — now known as ICC — graduating in 2000. Soon after graduation, he was hired at Yamato in Brooklyn, where he learned the delicate art of Japanese food. He opened his first restaurant, Hill Diner in 2002, a breakfast spot in Cobble Hill where he experimented with menus that would eventually become Miriam.
In 2005, Rafi landed a Park Slope corner property and named this restaurant after his mother, Miriam, who served as great inspiration to his hospitable nature. five other restaurants including: an upscale cocktail bar Wolf and Deer (2010), the New Orleans-inspired Cajun restaurant 1803 with a hidden speakeasy Bon Courage in (2017), and during the height of the pandemic he opened two locations of the fast-casual Home Made by Miriam (2020, 2021).
