Looking for a glatt kosher meat restaurant in Essex County? The newest kid on the block, Avalon Glatt Kosher Restaurant in Livingston, has opened to rave reviews.
“I highly recommend the restaurant. The appetizers were fantastic, especially the spicy and sweet chicken wings. The steaks were excellent. The steak fries were to die for. The staff was friendly, approachable and engaging. And the prices were reasonable. I will go back again,” said Dr. Bruce Friedman of Livingston.
Owned and operated by Chaim Malik Shalmiyev, a long-time restaurant manager with a warm and friendly smile, Avalon has a menu to please every palate and budget. The beef selections range from the buffalo-wings appetizer, to its signature steaks, to the child-friendly burger and fries. Main courses also include veal, chicken, fish and pasta dishes; there is an array of sides. The restaurant is under the supervision of the Vaad Harabonim of MetroWest.
A native of Azerbaijan, Chaim owned a restaurant in Moscow in the mid 90s before immigrating to the United States in 1997, where his family settled in Brooklyn. Chaim worked at a variety of jobs before becoming an EMT and later a medical technician at Maimonides Medical Center. He also spent seven years as office manager of the NY Hyperbaric Unit at Maimonides.
In 2008, Chaim, his wife and four children (Chaim himself is the youngest of eight), moved to the Twin Rivers community of East Windsor, a community in which they were warmly welcomed and feel very much at home. After a stint at St. Francis, he worked at the Kosher Experience at ShopRite in South Jersey, and then started a limo business. It was at that point he decided it was time to look into opening his own kosher family-friendly restaurant (his two older brothers and nephew own their own kosher restaurants, Skazka and Falada, in Brooklyn).
After scouting out a number of locations, he decided on Livingston, where local rabbis enthusiastically endorsed the opening of a glatt kosher meat restaurant.
After planning a “soft” opening with a partial menu in mid-May, Avalon quickly went into full operational mode due to the overwhelming response of the community. Ever mindful of his patrons’ comfort, he is still making tweaks to the restaurant’s interior design, layout and menu.
“The food was very tasty and the presentation was beautiful. The chef made sure to accommodate my gluten and soy sensitivity,” said Dorri Witkes of West Orange, who enjoyed dinner with her husband, Sam.
Chaim credits Avalon’s success to its use of only the freshest ingredients, with everything made to order. “We are not a fast-food restaurant,” he said. “There is nothing frozen. We don’t even have a freezer. I’m in the market every single day.” He takes pride in working with his son, Savi, who is the mashiach and assistant manager, and his master chef Gino Didonato.
“Everyone is welcome at Avalon. I look forward to meeting you,” said Chaim.
Avalon Glatt is located at 34 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston. The restaurant seats 20–24 patrons indoors and 14–16 outdoors. Reservations are suggested for large parties. For a full menu and hours of operation, visit www.avalonglatt.com or email [email protected]. Reservations can be made on Avalon’s website or by calling 973-577-7700.
By Sherry S. Kirschenbaum
