Who owns Mehran's steakhouse? How an AI startup founder, 21, and his pals tricked foodies with milk, Drake fans, and a fake marriage proposal
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a bizarre and elaborate prank that left about 140 unsuspecting diners bewildered, Mehran Jalali, a tech startup founder, and his friends transformed a fictional steakhouse into a reality for one night in New York.
The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, took place at Mehran's Steakhouse, a place that had gained notoriety through a fake waitlist and fabricated online reviews.
The makings of a culinary hoax
According to the New York Post, the story of Mehran's Steakhouse begins in 2021 when Jalali, living with 16 housemates, decided to immortalize the biweekly steak dinners he cooked for them. To achieve this, they whimsically designated their house as a traditional steakhouse online.
They went a step further by flooding online review sites with glowing praises, attracting unsuspecting steak enthusiasts to their doorstep. What started as a casual joke soon snowballed into something much larger.
Strangers began to arrive at their door, believing they were about to indulge in a high-end steakhouse experience. Jalali seized this opportunity and created a basic website, offering a waitlist that appeared to be booked solid for the next six months.
By the end of 2022, the fake steakhouse had amassed a staggering waitlist of 2,600 eager diners.
Determined to take the prank to the next level, Jalali recruited his friends to pose as staff, secured a venue, obtained a one-day liquor license, and acquired the necessary food handling permits. He even flew across the country from his current home in San Francisco to New York City to host the event.
A surreal dining experience
Guests who entered Mehran's Steakhouse found themselves in a former public bathhouse transformed into a studio space. The ambiance was surreal, with photographs of Jalali posing alongside celebrities like Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, Barack Obama, and John F Kennedy adorning the walls.
In the background, violin covers of popular songs, including the theme from 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', played softly as servers guided patrons to their seats. Once seated, diners were presented with a 15-inch laser-etched wood cut detailing their meal, priced at a surprising $114.
One poetic line from the menu read, "The bright blissful days, the frigid unforgiving nights, heat, snow, drought, storm, all earthly experiences felt in tandem. Is this not community?"
The theme of the evening was "The Bovine Circle of Life," which involved waiters pouring glasses of whole milk as though it were fine wine. Server Erika explained, "The milk is intended to represent the bovine life cycle. We felt it would be remiss to not include the cow's byproducts."
As the evening progressed, a large crowd briefly gathered outside, screaming for popstar Drake as if he were dining at the restaurant, attempting to entice passersby. Shortly after, a marriage proposal was staged by two of Jalali's friends as part of the ongoing prank.
Mixed reactions to the culinary shenanigans
According to The New York Times, reactions to the food were mixed, with some diners praising the steak prepared by Jalali, while others sent theirs back. Google reviews for the restaurant also became increasingly over-the-top, with one patron proclaiming Chef Mehran as a "god among men."
Alex Lamper, a self-proclaimed convert, wrote, "Mehran's Steakhouse is not just a restaurant, it's a life-changing experience. I used to be a devout vegan, believing that a plant-based diet was the only way to live a moral and healthy life. The moment I took my first bite of the steak at 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's a visionary, a genius, a god among men. The steak that he served us was a work of art, a symphony of flavors, a masterpiece of culinary excellence," Lamper added.
In response to one diner's claim of ordering "Surf n Turf," Mehran quipped, "This review is not about Mehran's Steak House. We provide a white glove dining experience and do not serve 'surf n turf.'"
Despite the absurdity of the situation, it wasn't all fun and games. One couple reportedly threatened Jalali with legal action after discovering they had dined at a fake restaurant.