Did you know that Miami is referred to as the sixth borough of New York? I didn't, but with the number of people who trade our cold winter prism for beach bumming down south, I suppose I can understand the reference. It is a saying that restaurateur Charlie Levy likely told himself when he moved down to Florida after 20 years in New York and opened a kosher-style restaurant, Motek. Its falafel, schnitzel, and pitas caused such a frenzy that traveling New Yorkers soon asked Levy when he was thinking about bringing it up north. As of September 2025, he finally did, and now a piece of the Sunshine State exists in New York.
While incredibly Miami-coded, Motek does glow like a seaside Mediterranean home, with sunny yellow furniture and a twist of faux green vines peppered with yellow flowers that make it feel like you are on the cusp of summer at all times. The optics alone make it a shoo-in for influencers and those in the "see and be seen" crowds, and it would be easy to rest on this laurel alone. Despite this, the food at Motek is comforting and easy, particularly geared toward brunch catch-ups or dinners with out-of-towners who need to ease into the flurry of the city.
It is customary to get a few spreads for the table—the labneh sprinkled with hefty amounts of za'atar and hummus with translucent onions make for a nice starter, as does the football-sized loaf of pita that comes with it, hot and glistening with a fresh coat of butter. Plates of charred kebabs and skewers can easily follow, as can the Arayes, a meat-stuffed pita that cooks right inside the bread. Brunch is also an easy sell, particularly if you and your crew don't mind ripping off flaky, buttery bits of malawich and splitting slightly healthier latkes that sprout with zucchini shavings.