BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Decode
      • Joke To Reality: How Internet...
      Decode

      Joke To Reality: How Internet Brought A Phantom Steakhouse To Life

      A group of friends in New York City transformed an inside joke into one of the most sought-after dining experiences in the metropolis.

      By - Hera Rizwan | 27 Sept 2023 6:22 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Joke To Reality: How Internet Brought A Phantom Steakhouse To Life

      Mehran’s Steakhouse in Manhattan’s East Village has a series of glowing online reviews and a long waiting list of customers to its name. The food enthusiasts who gathered at the steakhouse to devour their meal last weekend were under the impression that they had finally secured a table at a highly exclusive, century-old chop house after waiting for years.

      This Manhattan Steakhouse seems like an out-of-reach restaurant with its all-time booked waiting list, except it isn't, because the restaurant does not exist. This one-night-only dining experience started as an inside joke which later turned into a transient reality, thanks to the internet-generated hype. Both The New York Times and the New York Post covered this incident of 'culinary mirage'. Here's how it went by.

      Last Saturday, 65 of us made a five-star steak dinner for 100+ guests at New York's highest-rated steakhouse: Mehran's Steak House

      The full story: pic.twitter.com/iNlPKOxWtn

      — Mehran Jalali (@mehran__jalali) September 26, 2023


      Also Read:Meet The Woman Who Is Fighting An 'Unfair' Battle Against Amazon

      Started as a joke

      The idea of the one-night-only dining experience was orchestrated by Mehran Jalali, a 21-year-old founder of an AI startup, along with approximately 65 of his companions. This practical joke involving a renowned, formal dining establishment came to life in 2021 during the pandemic.

      Jalali and his 16 housemates, in celebration of the biweekly steak dinners he prepared for them, decided to humorously label their Upper East Side residence as a chop house on Google Maps.

      Creating a Google listing is a very simple process, which includes selecting a name, business category and adding a few additional details. There is no compulsion of verifying the listing to proceed, as one can opt for 'Verify later'.

      The teenage tech professionals posted enthusiastic reviews online about the newly discovered establishment, attracting curious strangers to their doorstep in search of the all-hyped steak. Despite being purely fictional, the restaurant started to attract attention. In 2022, a couple arrived at the apartment, inquiring about a table. The couple was politely declined, but this incident inspired the roommates to toy with the idea of opening a real restaurant.

      They went ahead and set up a website for their solidly booked, “revolutionary steak experience” and, by the end of 2022, managed to accrue a 2,600-person waitlist. Their website stated, "The steakhouse is fully booked for the next six months. Leave your telephone number below, and we will be in touch when tables are available."

      Also Read:Why Is Moody's Concerned About Aadhaar In 'Humid' India?

      Joke turned into a reality

      Giving into the internet hype, the group decided to give their joke a form of tangible reality. For this, they booked an event space in the East Village, contacted people from the online waiting list, and did some market research. They developed a four-course menu worth $114. Jalali along with his “staff” which comprised of mostly college students and tech dropouts who had never worked in a restaurant before, prepared for dinner service.

      The group also went to extraordinary measures to execute the plan, such as acquiring a one-day liquor license and permits for food handling.

      Located in a discreetly transformed public bathhouse on East 11th Street, Manhattan, Mehran’s Steakhouse didn't appear to be a one-night-only thing. The guests savored their meal, relishing a delightful outing, unaware that they were actually participating in a made-up reality. The steak prepared by the amateur chefs received mixed reactions. Some diners praised it, while others sent theirs back.

      Not the first instance of culinary deception

      Nonetheless, this isn't a one-of-a-kind instance of a fictitious restaurant leveraging the internet hype into duping the public to think that it's real. A similar prank was pulled off by British author Oobah Butler back in 2017. He registered his non-existent establishment, "The Shed at Dulwich," on TripAdvisor and persuaded acquaintances to post favourable reviews. Within six months, it soared to become London's top-rated restaurant.

      Butler ultimately organized a meal in his backyard, offering pre-packaged meals and canned soup to unsuspecting patrons. His prank achieved widespread notoriety, resulting in his many media appearances and a best-selling book.

      Also Read:'Kidfluencers' Are Internet Stars But Do They Have A Safety Net?


      Tags

      New YorkRestaurants
      Read Full Article

      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!