Shaya

"Chef Alon Shaya was in the kitchen in 2016 when the restaurant that still carries his name won the award for Best New Restaurant. After parting ways with the restaurant, chef Shaya and his wife Emily founded Pomegranate Hospitality, which includes his Israeli and Mediterranean restaurants Saba and Miss River in New Orleans; Safta in Denver; Silan in the Bahamas; and SAFTA 1964, a pop-up in Las Vegas. Chef Zachary Engel won the 2017 Rising Star Chef of the Year award during his tenure as chef de cuisine at Shaya — these days, the restaurant is under the stewardship of Lebanese-born chef Fariz Choumali, who serves a considered menu of falafel in silky green tahini, gulf shrimp kebabs with Moroccan couscous, and date cinnamon babka king cake." - Beth D'Addono

"Zach Engel, who won the James Beard Rising Chef award last year, previously worked at Shaya, an acclaimed New Orleans restaurant. Engel left Shaya and joined Pomegranate Hospitality Group, a company formed by Alon Shaya after separating from Besh Restaurant Group." - Ashok Selvam

"Shaya is a modern Israeli restaurant opened by Alon Shaya with John Besh, where Zach Engel won the James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef while serving as chef de cuisine. Engel later became the executive chef after Alon Shaya was fired." - Stephanie Carter

"The Dabney was a semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category in 2016; Shaya in New Orleans won that year." - Warren Rojas

"Shahrazed Cafe has opened its doors on Magazine Street just a stone’s throw from Tal’s Hummus, bringing more Lebanese and Mediterranean food Uptown. The new spot has been in the works from owner Jamal Ismail since 2015, but was delayed because of permitting." - Stephanie Carter