This Manhattan restaurant is not your typical reservation to secure. In fact, it’s a reservation you can’t make at all. What appeared to be a highly exclusive, 100-year-old chop house called Mehran’s Steakhouse turned out to be an elaborate prank orchestrated by a 21-year-old AI startup founder and his group of friends. The idea for this practical joke stemmed from the pandemic, when Mehran Jalali and his 16 housemates decided to play a trick on Google Maps by labeling their Upper East Side home as a chop house. Intrigued strangers started showing up at their doorstep, which led to the creation of a website and a waitlist of 2,600 people by the end of 2021.
To turn the hoax into a reality, Mehran and his co-conspirators went all out. They recruited friends to serve as volunteer staff, found a venue, obtained necessary permits and licenses, and even flew to New York from San Francisco to make it all happen. On the day of the event, select waitlisters received invitations to the one-night-only steakhouse, which was set up in an unmarked public bathhouse-turned-event space on East 11th Street.
The pop-up steakhouse managed to confuse and entertain its guests throughout the evening. The dining room featured framed photographs of Mehran posing with famous figures like Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe, as well as promotional posters from Mehran’s Steakhouse over the decades. Violin covers of pop hits played in the background, while a comedic amount of text on a laser-etched wood cut described the prix-fixe meal.
One of the most peculiar moments of the night was the “Agrarian Synergies” course, which included a parade of waiters showcasing a gallon of whole milk as if it were a fine wine. The milk was meant to represent the bovine life cycle, according to Mehran’s servers. Throughout the evening, Mehran played the role of a solemn chef, interacting with guests while donning a black double-breasted jacket.
The night had its share of unexpected surprises, such as a marriage proposal and rumors of Drake making an appearance. Some guests began to suspect that the steakhouse might be more than it seemed, but for the most part, everyone enjoyed the experience without realizing they were part of an intricate performance piece.
There were mixed reactions from attendees. While some Upper East Side locals were disappointed to have finally secured a reservation at this location instead of their desired neighborhood, others found the whole prank to be a delightful and unique form of entertainment. Despite a couple threatening legal action after learning the truth about the restaurant, many considered the experience to be worth it for the sheer absurdity and enjoyment it brought to their evening in New York City.
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