Samesa, the first Manhattan outpost of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, crowd favorite, has opened 30 Rockefeller Plaza, serving chicken shawarma, chickpea seitan, kale fattoush, Detroit-style Greek salad and other pita wrap, salad and platter options during lunch hours for delivery and to-go orders.
Authors of four cookbooks, brothers Eli and Max Sussman’s newest Middle Eastern restaurant joins a growing roster of new food and beverage arrivals at the center. The Sussmans have received critical accolades for their culinary work, with both brothers being named to Zagat’s 30 under 30 and being nominees for the James Beard Award for Rising Chef. Samesa, which is derived from the names of Sussman family members, is the Sussman brothers’ first restaurant in Manhattan, and follows the Williamsburg location, which currently is closed due to COVID-19, as well as previous ventures in the region.
“It’s a dream come true as a chef and business owner to be a part of the amazing line up of chefs and restaurants inside the historic 30 Rock,” said Eli Sussman. “I am thrilled to be opening a Samesa location in the heart of Manhattan and provide a healthy, delicious Middle Eastern lunch option just as more and more people are coming back to Rockefeller Center.”
“The Sussman brothers are rising culinary superstars and we are so excited to bring Samesa to Rockefeller Center and add such a dynamic New York brand with a devoted following to our campus,” said E.B. Kelly, Tishman Speyer managing director overseeing Rockefeller Center. “We have been big fans of their food for years, from Montauk to Williamsburg, and know that our customers and all who pass through the center each day will enjoy their incredible meals and return time and again.”
Other food and beverage openings and lease signings at Rockefeller Center include Ignacio Mattos’ Caffe Lodi, as well as Fieldtrip and Hombre Taco, which opened in late 2020.
