The Upper East Side has welcomed a new addition to its dining scene: ZOI Mediterranean UES , a restaurant that prioritizes warmth, connection, and everyday elegance over flash. Newly opened at 1480 2nd Avenue, ZOI UES arrives with a clear intention: to become a true neighborhood fixture, one that locals return to again and again, whether for brunch, a casual lunch, or a lingering dinner.

That IE Group’s Jeff Krauss and ZOI owner Onur Safak hosted Angela Basset and her husband Courtney B. Vance at the Mediterranean restaurant. The couple then danced the night away at ZOI’s Ten11 speakeasy downstairs.

In a city where restaurants open and close at dizzying speed, few concepts manage to rise above the noise. Yet Onur Safak, entrepreneur, operator, and the creative mind behind ZOI  and Ten11 , has built more than a restaurant. He has created a soulful Mediterranean ecosystem in New York, one rooted in cultural depth, disciplined leadership, and a long-term vision that continues to evolve. From its celebrated NoMad flagship to its newly opened Upper East Side location , ZOI reflects a...