The Friedmans team is collaborating with pan-Asian restaurant, Wei West, to open a new concept called East Meets West by Friedmans in Tribeca.
“It was intended to be bagels by day, dumplings by night,” Jonah Phillips, managing partner of Friedmans, told Tribeca Citizen. “Inadvertently it became a fusion of both menus.”
He added: “As we viewed the installation of Beans and Greens and Wei West, we had the opportunity to embark on an exciting new installation — the collaboration with our chefs and our new expanded dining room has proven to be everything we’d hoped for.”
This isn’t the first time the leading free gluten empire of the city has merged concepts with other establishments. Four years ago, they did the same thing and opened a spot called Wu + Nussbaum near Columbia University. Similarly, their concept on West End Avenue is a fusion with La Salle Dumpling Room, which Phillips says has received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The new concept – which will be housed in the space formerly occupied by Beans & Greens – will offer an “expansive” menu with “something for everyone,” Phillips said. Loyal customers can expect Friedman’s signature gluten free pot stickers and other Asian appetizers to be offered.
Asian food is notoriously not gluten-free friendly, making fans flock to Friedmans’ concepts to satisfy their cravings. When developing the Friedmans brand, family member Vanessa – founder of frozen gluten free brand Feel Good Foods – encouraged her family to be a pioneer and leader in the gluten free space because, as someone with celiac disease, she knows all too well how difficult it can be to find accommodations.
