2017 America's Classic: Sahadi's

Sahadi’s

187 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Owners: Christine Sahadi Whelan and Ron Sahadi

Atlantic Avenue, between the waterfront and the terminal, is Brooklyn’s fertile crescent, a cluster of Middle Eastern restaurants, groceries, bakeries and sundry shops. Sahadi’s, at the heart of this micro-neighborhood, has a New York root system that dates to the late 19th century, when Abrahim Sahadi first set up shop in downtown Manhattan. Charlie Sahadi and his brother Bob Sahadi, direct descendants of Abrahim, ran the business for more than 50 years with help from Charlie’s wife, Audrey, before handing the reins to Charlie’s daughter Christine Whelan and son Ron Sahadi in 2016. Today, Sahadi’s is a bulk-bin wonderland, packed with locals making by-the-pound purchases from glass jars of amaranth, pistachios, dried figs, spices, and roasted coffee, or loading their baskets with pantry goods like pomegranate molasses and Middle Eastern cheeses. It all comes together in the deli section, where the family stocks multiple varieties of rich, tangy labneh, vats of creamy hummus, and delicious seasonal salads as well as bakery specialties like flaky borekas and baklava, harissa-drenched lavash, and Middle Eastern breads.

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The America's Classic award is given to restaurants with timeless appeal, each beloved in its region for quality food that reflects the character of its community. Establishments must have been in existence for at least ten years and be locally owned.

Learn more about the 2017 James Beard Awards.