A new traditional Mediterranean Kosher restaurant serving Israeli dishes called Paprika is opening in Great Neck in the old La Rotonda Ristorante space.
Owner David Zaken says the restaurant will open February 1. His wife, Roni Zaken, is the chef.
The couple already have a Paprika Kosher catering restaurant in New York City and they plan to bring their food service out to Long Island.
The space at 8 Bond Street has a new decor and will seat 60. The restaurant will be split into two types of places, according to Zaken. One room will be for fine dining and the other half will be a quick deli with typical displays so customers can see what they’re ordering and serving sandwiches.
“It meets both kinds of customers,” he said.
Zaken told LongIsland.com that the restaurant will have a pizza oven to create Moroccan dishes
Like Tajeen, cooked directly in the oven.
“It’s the traditional way they cooked in the past,” he said. “Lamb over couscous, comfort food you would eat on a Friday night with your family.”
They will also have a special Sunday brunch with different offerings from Yemini, like Shakshuka with hard boiled egg, Yemeni Malawah Bread served with salad and dips, a warm, buttery, flaky bread. They will also have a Mediterranean calzone called Sambusak, filled with beef and veggies and topped with lots of sesame. The style is Mediterranean with other influences.
“It’s Moroccan food in general but it’s an Israeli kitchen with different flavors all thrown in,” Zaken said.
They plan to be open 11am-10pm Monday through Thursday and Sundays. On Friday evenings when they will close early. Zaken says that he expects to market the deli on Fridays for takeout for families to bring home for Shabbat – the Jewish sabbath – with 20 different salads to choose from, entrees and side dishes.
