Frena (noun): The community oven where Mediterranean flavors come to life
An Oven With a Story
Before Frena, the space was home to Taboon, a beloved restaurant that closed following a fire during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant remained closed for nearly four years, but one important piece of its history survived: the oven.
Carefully restored, the oven continues to play a central role in the restaurant’s identity. Frena takes its name from the traditional Moroccan communal oven, reflecting a culinary heritage in which bread, fire, and the act of gathering are deeply connected.
Today, that history lives on through Frena’s freshly baked bread and fire-driven cooking. The restaurant honors the past while creating something new, bringing people together around a table in a space that has quite literally risen from the ashes.
Frena’s menu draws on Middle Eastern and North African culinary traditions, with a contemporary approach to ingredients, presentation, and flavor. Freshly baked bread, flavorful dips, and dishes shaped by the oven are at the heart of the experience.
Frena’s signature dish, the lamb terracotta, features a memorable tableside presentation that turns dinner into an experience. The dish arrives encased in Frena’s signature bread and is opened at the table, releasing a cloud of steam as the terracotta is revealed. The moment brings together the aromas of the dish, the warmth of freshly baked bread, and the anticipation of sharing something special.
From distinctive signature dishes to the simple pleasure of breaking bread together, Frena is designed for guests who appreciate both the food on the table and the experience surrounding it.
Middle Eastern Flavors, Made to Be Shared
Located in Midtown Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Frena is well suited to neighborhood dinners, date nights, special occasions, and meals before or after a Broadway and MCC shows. Its location on Tenth Avenue places it within reach of the Theater District, making it a natural destination for visitors and New Yorkers looking for a memorable meal.
Whether joining for brunch, gathering over freshly baked bread and shared plates, or experiencing the tableside reveal of the lamb terracotta, guests will find a restaurant where food, heritage, and hospitality come together.
Frena brings the spirit of the communal table to New York City, honoring the traditions that inspired it while creating new memories around the table every day.
A Place to Gather in Hell’s Kitchen
Brunch at Frena celebrates one of the defining dishes of Middle Eastern and North African cuisine: shakshuka.
Frena offers seven variations of shakshuka on its dedicated brunch menu, making it the only restaurant in New York City with a dedicated shakshuka menu. Each variation offers a different interpretation of this beloved dish, giving guests the opportunity to explore a range of flavors while enjoying a brunch rooted in regional culinary traditions.
For shakshuka lovers and anyone looking for a distinctive brunch in NYC, Frena offers a reason to return and discover a new favorite.
A Different Take on Brunch
Visit Frena
773 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Explore our menus or make a reservation to experience Frena for yourself.
Dinner 5 pm - 10 pm
Happy Hour Sunday - Thursday, 4 pm - 6 pm
Brunch Saturday & Sunday, 11 am - 3 pm