A fake steakhouse in New York City, founded by the founder of a tech startup and 65 of his friends, fooled diners this weekend by serving them milk and proposing marriage.
Mehran’s Steakhouse opened its doors this weekend for one night only, bringing in diners who thought they had finally gotten off the years-long wait list for a very exclusive meal.
The restaurant, which was reportedly on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, was finally available at its East Village location.
The New York Post reported that 140 guests showed up Saturday evening to discover that Mehran’s Steakhouse was in fact a prank pulled by the founder of a tech startup and 65 of his friends.
The prank started in 2021 when Mehran Jalali’s 16 housemates decided to commemorate the fortnightly steak dinner he would cook for them by branding their house as a traditional steakhouse.
After review sites were flooded with praise for the fake restaurant, strangers started showing up at their doors looking for steak.
Mehran Jalali, pictured here, and his close friends had started the restaurant as a way to commemorate their steak dinners that he would prepare for them during the pandemic
Mehran Jalali and a large group of his friends set up a fake steakhouse restaurant this weekend in a former public bathhouse, pictured here
By the end of 2022, the fake steakhouse had managed to have a waiting list with 2,600 people on it
Jalali decided to create a rudimentary website through which people could join the waiting list, which was reportedly fully booked for the next six months.
By the end of 2022, the fake steakhouse had managed to have a waiting list with 2,600 people on it.
Jalali then decided to turn the prank into reality and recruited friends to act as staff, rented a location and acquired a one-day liquor license and food handling permits.
The AI startup founder now lives in San Francisco and had to fly back across the country to organize the event.
As guests entered the steakhouse, which was located in a former public bathhouse converted into a studio space, they were met with a selection of photos of Mehran posing with celebrities.
These include Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy.
Violin covers of pop hits, including the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song, played in the background as servers showed customers to their seats.
Once seated, they were presented with an 18-inch laser-etched woodcut that gave them the details of their upcoming meal, priced at $114.
One line reads: ‘The bright, blissful days, the icy brutal nights, heat, snow, drought, storm, all earthly experiences were felt at the same time. Isn’t this a community?’
The theme of the restaurant was ‘The Bovine Circle of Life’, with waiters at one point pouring glasses of whole milk as if it were wine.
Once seated, they were presented with an 18-inch laser-etched woodblock print on which they could read the details of their upcoming meal.
Instead of fine wine, servers poured glasses of milk for guests as part of the ‘Bovine Circle of Life’
About 140 guests showed up Saturday night to discover that Mehran’s Steakhouse was in fact a ruse
Server Erika said, “The milk is meant to represent the life cycle of cattle. We felt it was remiss not to include cow by-products.’
Just after 8 p.m., a large crowd briefly appeared outside, shouting for pop star Drake as if he were eating in the restaurant to attract the interest of passersby.
Shortly afterwards, before a marriage proposal was made as a joke by two of Jalali’s friends.
According to the New York TimesReactions to the food were evenly divided: guests praised the steak, the Jalali cooked, but others sent theirs back.
Google reviews left about the restaurant have also become increasingly exaggerated, with one person claiming that Chef Mehran was ‘god among men’.
Alex Lamper wrote: ‘Mehran’s Steakhouse is not just a restaurant, it is a life-changing experience.
One couple reportedly threatened Jalali with legal action after discovering they had eaten at a fake restaurant
A large crowd also briefly appeared outside, shouting for pop star Drake
‘I was a devout vegan and believed that a plant-based diet was the only way to live a moral and healthy life.
“The moment I took my first bite of steak in this heavenly establishment, my eyes were opened to the truth. The tender, juicy meat was like a revelation, a taste of divinity.
“And then there was Chef Mehran. He is not just a chef, he is a visionary, a genius, a god among men.
‘The steak he served us was a work of art, a symphony of flavors, a masterpiece of culinary excellence.
One diner even claimed they ordered the surf n turf, prompting Mehran to reply, ‘This review is not about Mehran’s Steak House. We offer a white dining experience and do not serve “surf n turf”.’
One couple even threatened Jalali with legal action after discovering they had eaten at a fake restaurant.