Zaytinya

What Zaytinya does

Zaytinya is a Mediterranean mezze-style restaurant brand created by Chef José Andrés, offering a menu inspired by the cuisines of Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon. The concept was launched in Washington, DC and has expanded to approximately seven locations across the United States, including sites in New York City, South Beach, Nashville, Palo Alto, Culver City, and Las Vegas. The brand is positioned in the premium casual-to-upscale segment, with each location embedded inside a luxury hotel or high-traffic retail property (Ritz-Carlton, W Nashville, The Shay/Hyatt, Forum Shops at Caesars Palace).

The restaurant's core product is an à la carte mezze menu built around small plates, complemented by an all-Greek wine list, curated beer selections, and signature cocktails. Beyond dine-in service, the brand generates revenue from private and special events, delivery and pickup, gift cards, and premium experiences such as the Tour de José offering in New York City priced at $395 per person. Brand extensions include a HarperCollins-published cookbook, collaborations with Greek food authority Aglaia Kremezi, and co-branded cookware partnerships with All-Clad, Le Creuset, Williams Sonoma, and Vermicular. Reservations are managed through OpenTable, point-of-sale through ToastTab, and event bookings through Tripleseat.

The business model combines direct consumer revenue (dine-in, off-premise, gift cards) with B2B revenue streams (private events, hotel partnership economics, premium experiences). The GTM strategy relies on real-estate partnerships with premium hospitality operators rather than freestanding locations, which both constrains growth velocity and creates differentiated access to affluent and traveler segments. The brand has earned James Beard and Michelin recognition, and operates within José Andrés's broader restaurant group, which also runs the affiliated World Central Kitchen nonprofit.

Name

Zaytinya

Legal name

THINKFOODGROUP, LLC

Website

https://zaytinya.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zaytinya is a José Andrés-founded Mediterranean mezze restaurant brand operating approximately seven premium US locations inside luxury hotels and high-traffic retail properties, serving affluent diners and travelers across DC, NYC, South Beach, Nashville, Palo Alto, Culver City, and Las Vegas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mediterranean Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

Keywords

• Mediterranean restaurant dining
• Mezze style cuisine
• Eastern Mediterranean wines
• Mediterranean tasting menu
• Private dining events

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-In Restaurant Service: Core revenue from restaurant dining featuring mezze-style Mediterranean cuisine across 7 US locations. Guests order from menus featuring shared small plates, cocktails, and Mediterranean wines.
2. Delivery & Pickup: Online ordering for pickup and delivery through ToastTab, Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash, Caviar, and Tock platforms. Available in Washington DC and South Beach locations.
3. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold online, redeemable at all José Andrés Group-managed restaurants including Zaytinya locations.
4. Private Events & Catering: Dedicated events teams at each location handle private dining, corporate events, and buyouts. Venues offer various spaces from intimate rooms (12 guests) to full restaurant buyouts (250+ guests).
5. Special Dining Experiences: Premium tasting menus and cookbook experiences including Chef's Tasting Menu ($85/person with optional $38 wine pairing), Cookbook Tasting Experience, and Tour de José ($395/person).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zaytinya operates Mediterranean restaurants offering mezze-style shared-plate dining inspired by Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines. The brand runs 7 US locations in Washington DC, New York City, South Beach Miami, Culver City Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Palo Alto. Offerings include traditional and innovative small plates, an exclusive Eastern Mediterranean wine program, creative cocktails, chef's tasting menus, private events, pickup and delivery service, and branded cookbooks and gift cards.

Product overview

Zaytinya is a Mediterranean restaurant brand by Chef José Andrés offering mezze-style dining experiences inspired by Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines. The core product is the in-restaurant dining experience featuring shared small plates, creative cocktails, and an exclusive Eastern Mediterranean wine program. The portfolio includes seven operating locations (Washington DC, New York, South Beach, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Palo Alto) plus various dining formats: Chef's Tasting Menus ($85/person in NYC, varietal in Las Vegas), Mezze Tasting Dinners ($70/person in LA), Cookbook Tasting Experiences, and the premium Tour de José experience ($395/person in NYC). Additional offerings include Zaytinya at Home pickup/delivery, gift cards, the ZAYTINYA cookbook (HarperCollins, 150+ recipes), and private event services for groups of 12-300 guests. The brand operates within the José Andrés Group portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zaytinya Restaurant Dining
• Chef's Tasting Menu (New York)
• Chef's Tasting Menu (Las Vegas)
• Mezze Tasting Dinner (Los Angeles)
• Cookbook Tasting Experience
• Tour de José
• Zaytinya at Home (Pickup & Delivery)
• Digital Gift Cards
• ZAYTINYA Cookbook
• Private Events & Group Dining
• Mezze Óra (Happy Hour)
• Breakfast Service
• Weekend Lunch (Las Vegas)

Quantifiable outcome

• Two three-star reviews from Washington Post for Washington DC flagship
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• The Forum Shops at Caesars PalaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025Prime retail destination partnership on Las Vegas Strip. Zaytinya occupies 8,604-square-foot space with bar, lounge, and dining areas. Part of Forum Shops' diverse dining category.
• Hyatt (The Shay)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024First José Andrés Group partnership with Hyatt. Features Zaytinya and Butterfly rooftop restaurant at The Shay property in Culver City. José Andrés Group oversees food and beverage operations throughout property including in-room dining and lobby bar.
• ThinkFoodGroup (José Andrés Group)coreOthersParent company and operator of all Zaytinya locations. Led by Global CEO Sam Bakhshandehpour, formerly ThinkFoodGroup. Operates over 30 restaurants across multiple cities including the flagship Zaytinya opened in Washington DC in 2002.
• The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMadflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partnership housing Zaytinya at ground floor. Enables Tour de José experience combining Zaytinya, Bazaar Bar, The Bazaar, and Nubeluz rooftop bar. Premium location in Manhattan's NoMad district.
• The Ritz-Carlton South BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partnership at 1 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach. Zaytinya open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Features private event spaces including covered terrace, tech lounge, and private dining room.
• W NashvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partnership at W Nashville in the Gulch neighborhood. Features private dining spaces and buyout options for 100-200 guests. Note: José Andrés Group gift cards and inKind not accepted at this location.
• OpenTablecoreTechnology or IntegrationReservation platform integrated across all Zaytinya locations for table bookings, group dining reservations, and experience bookings like Tour de José.
• Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash, CaviarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partners enabling food delivery to customers in Washington DC and South Beach locations. Pickup orders handled via ToastTab.
• Rockwell GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture and design firm partnered for Las Vegas location design. Led by David Rockwell, created dynamic Mediterranean warmth and modern elegance design with dramatic bar, dining areas, and Mediterranean-inspired aesthetics.
• HarperCollinsminorOthersPublisher of 'ZAYTINYA: Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon' cookbook. Also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• CAVA: Public Mediterranean fast-casual chain with hundreds of U.S. locations. Adjacent to Zaytinya in Mediterranean cuisine and brand association but operates in a much lower price point and counter-service format, making it an indirect exposure to the broader Mediterranean dining category rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Il Buco / Il Buco Alimentari: Long-standing upscale Italian/Mediterranean restaurant and adjacent market-cafe in NYC's NoMad. Comparable to Zaytinya in neighborhood-anchor premium Mediterranean dining, strong private-event business, and hotel-partner adjacency (near the same Ritz-Carlton NoMad as Zaytinya NYC).
• Sant Ambroeus: Upscale Italian restaurant and cafe group with multiple Manhattan locations and outposts in East Hampton, Palm Beach, and Miami. Comparable to Zaytinya as a premium, design-forward Mediterranean-adjacent concept serving affluent hotel and local clientele.

Direct peers

• Estiatorio Milos: Greek/Mediterranean fine-dining group with locations in NYC, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Montreal. Closely comparable to Zaytinya in cuisine, premium pricing, multi-city expansion into hotel/retail destinations, and Mediterranean-leaning beverage program.
• Kyma: Greek/Mediterranean restaurant in NYC's Flatiron district with later Hudson Yards expansion. Comparable to Zaytinya in regional Greek cuisine, mezze/whole-fish menu, premium-casual price point, and Manhattan real-estate strategy.
• Molyvos: Greek/Mediterranean restaurant in midtown Manhattan from the Livanos Restaurant Group. Directly comparable to Zaytinya on regional Greek cuisine, upscale-casual service model, midtown/hotel-adjacent location, and Mediterranean wine focus.
• Taverna (Greek Restaurant Group): Greek/Mediterranean restaurant group with locations in NYC, Atlanta, and other U.S. cities. Closely comparable to Zaytinya in mezze-style Greek/Mediterranean menu, multi-city expansion, and upscale neighborhood format.
• Avra Estiatorio: Greek/Mediterranean premium restaurant in NYC with locations in Manhattan and a recently opened Beverly Hills outpost. Comparable to Zaytinya in cuisine focus, upscale pricing, hotel-anchored expansion strategy, and Mediterranean wine/cocktail program.

Others

• The Bazaar by José Andrés: Flagship concepts from José Andrés Group / ThinkFoodGroup in Miami, DC, Beverly Hills, and the Ritz-Carlton NoMad (NYC). A sister brand inside the same parent operating company as Zaytinya, sharing chefs, corporate overhead, and the Tour de José multi-venue experience at NoMad.
• Jaleo by José Andrés: Spanish tapas concept from José Andrés Group with locations in DC, Bethesda, Arlington, and other cities. A sibling brand within ThinkFoodGroup that overlaps with Zaytinya on small-plates Mediterranean dining, shared gift card platform, and corporate event infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZaytinyabyJose
• Instagraminstagram.com/zaytinya
• Xx.com/zaytinya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zaytinya