After creating unprecedented media buzz and becoming one of the most talked-about food experiences in Israel, the PITMASTER chain is going beyond the country's borders for the first time, opening new branches overseas. The first branch will open this coming April in Miami, followed by another branch in New York, both fully kosher.
This is a strategic move that marks the brand’s growth from the local culinary scene to the international stage, exporting a unique Israeli meat concept: No longer just a restaurant, but an evening that is a complete experience.
PITMASTER operates in an unusual format of a “meat feast,” a culinary evening conducted like a live show. There is no menu and no choice: Each night, seven different meat dishes are served in waves to the table, using meticulous Low & Slow smoking and roasting techniques, over coals and smoke. Each cut is accompanied by explanation, story, and humor, led by the evening’s pitmaster. The experience takes place around communal knight-style tables, with music setting the pace, changing sides, unlimited wine and beer, and a sense of community connecting the diners. It is an evening not just for eating, but for remembering - a carnivorous show full of energy.
Since its founding six years ago, PITMASTER has received extensive coverage in the Israeli media, ongoing attention from food critics, and high demand from meat lovers and the kosher audience. The chain, currently operating four active branches across Israel (Petah Tikva, Jerusalem, Alonim, and Beersheba), has established itself as a brand offering a different experience in the culinary landscape, combining food, entertainment, and hospitality.
The success in Israel, together with the growing global demand for experiential and kosher culinary formats, paved the way for international expansion. “The idea of PITMASTER was born out of a great love for meat and for people,” says Dorian Kopit, CEO of the chain and one of the founders. “We wanted to create an evening that nobody could remain indifferent to, an evening connecting flavors, smoke, music, and people. After seeing the strength of the experience in Israel, we understood it was time to see if it could work overseas as well.”
According to him, “The international PITMASTER project began about two years ago, with in-depth research on the global market and evaluation of strategic locations. Initially, a first branch was planned to open in London and a location was even selected, but due to rising antisemitism during the war, the decision was made to focus at this stage on the United States. The new branches are planned with great care, high investment, and attention to every detail, aiming to preserve the brand’s unique experience abroad. The chain intends to continue developing and open additional branches around the world.”
The choice of Miami and New York was natural: “These are cities with audiences who understand food, seek experiences, and are open to new concepts. At the same time, they have large Jewish communities seeking high-quality kosher without compromising on a contemporary, unapologetic experience,” says Dorian Kopit. Both new branches will operate fully kosher, in partnership with recognized local kosher authorities in the U.S. The Miami branch is expected to open in April 2026, while the New York branch is in advanced construction stages, with an opening planned later this year.
The Miami branch will open in the Aventura area at the Waterways Shoppes complex, a location considered strategically important due to the large Jewish and Israeli community in South Florida. The move involves significant logistical challenges, from sourcing high-quality kosher ingredients, training local teams for the unique show format, to preserving the Israeli DNA of the brand in a competitive American market. PITMASTER is confident that the combination of professionalism, experience, and clear identity is the key to success.
The group was founded by Ido Levi, Dorian Kopit, Matan Tzafrir, Ofer Wolffheim, Kfir Goldahmer, and Aviad Yitzhaki, and from the very beginning, it was clear that this was not just another meat restaurant. PITMASTER created a new genre in Israel: a “meat show,” a culinary feast attended like an event, with long waiting lists, reservations months in advance, and ongoing hype on social media. The combination of experience, content, and food turned PITMASTER into a pilgrimage site for meat lovers from all over the country - and a brand now ready to take the international stage. Thus, a meat show born in Israel becomes an international expansion story, proving that even a kosher concept can be bold, experiential, and relevant on the world’s biggest stages.