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Opening tomorrow, Market 57 is welcoming Shawarma & Co., a new Middle Eastern street food stall built around one of Damascus' most beloved street foods. Eat Offbeat, a New York culinary collective that partners with refugee and immigrant chefs, is behind the concept, which puts Syrian-born chef Diaa Alhanoune front and center.
Unlike your typical food hall opening, this one comes with a deeply personal story: Alhanoune's take on shawarma is rooted in the flavors and traditions of his hometown of Damascus, where the slow-roasted, spice-marinated meat has long been a staple of everyday life. At Shawarma & Co., the meat is carved to order and served in wraps or plated meals, accompanied by recipes from fellow chefs across Eat Offbeat's community.
Afghan-inspired sides, Sri Lankan spices and Venezuelan desserts also make an appearance on the menu, reflecting the backgrounds of the chefs who helped create them. (In a thoughtful touch, each contributing chef's name appears alongside their dish.)
The opening is a new direction for Eat Offbeat itself. Since launching in 2017, the company has built its reputation by creating employment opportunities for refugee and immigrant chefs through catering, meal delivery and events, but Shawarma & Co. expands that mission by giving chefs the opportunity to lead their own restaurant concepts.
"At Shawarma & Co., we're opening more than a new location: we're opening a new chapter in Eat Offbeat's mission," co-founder Manal Kahi said in a statement. "We started by creating jobs for refugee and immigrant chefs. Now, we're beginning to create more visible entrepreneurial pathways, starting with Syrian-born Chef Diaa, whose shawarma has been at the heart of our kitchen for years."
The new stall joins the growing lineup at Market 57, Pier 57's food hall overlooking the Hudson River. Curated by Jamestown with input from the James Beard Foundation, the market has become something of a launchpad for emerging food businesses, particularly women- and BIPOC-owned concepts, while offering everything from Filipino pastries to Indian street food under one roof.
The restaurant officially opens Friday, June 26, at Market 57, located at Pier 57 on West 15th Street and the West Side Highway. The food hall is open daily from 11am to 8pm.