Safta’s Table by Chef Alon Shaya is a casual Mediterranean restaurant that opened recently in Lakeview. This spot mixes the Mediterranean style that other Shaya locations are known for with Southern influence and quicker options, like pita sandwiches and grab-and-go snacks. Open at 7 a.m. each morning, Safta’s Table also serves coffee and bakery items. With a name that translates to grandmother’s table from Hebrew, I visited hoping to leave full and happy.
Shaya is a James Beard Award–winning chef and founder of Saba, a modern Israeli restaurant in Uptown New Orleans. He also operates Miss River and Safta in Denver through his hospitality group, Pomegranate Hospitality.
Located in a shopping center and next to Robert’s Fresh Market, Safta’s Table has a prime set up for grabbing and going. The exterior is painted with flowers, giving a homey vibe with bike parking and outdoor tables available. Inside, you must order at the counter and take your number to your table. There is more focus on breakfast and lunch options than at Saba, so I decided to go for brunch.
I ordered a small iced chai for $4.50, a small iced cold brew for $4 and a tahini chocolate chip cookie for $3. The iced chai wasn’t great, with a rather mild chai flavor that tasted watered down, even on my first sip…