Bestia's Ori Menashe Opening Middle Eastern Restaurant

Chef Ori Menashe's Bestia, the destination Arts District Italian restaurant, is a white hot hit that has packed a crowd since its inception last November. And now Daily Dish reports that Menashe is hunting for more Arts District turf to open a Middle Eastern restaurant, although thus far he hasn't yet found the right space.

It sounds likely that restaurateur Bill Chait (Bestia, Short Order, Picca) will again partner with Menashe on the concept, with intent to open before the end of 2014. Menashe says he has been playing around with a pita bread recipe made from semolina, bread flour, and olive oil, and he also plans to serve tagines, larger format family-style dishes cooked in a wood-burning oven, and Middle Eastern spiced charcuterie. As is the setup at Bestia, Menashe's wife, Genevieve Gergis, will again handle dessert duties.
·Ori Menashe of Bestia plans to open Middle Eastern restaurant downtown [DD]