Ocean Beach gets New Restaurant Fira’s Falafel and Frites

Fire Island residents and weekenders will have a new place to dine this summer. Fira’s Falafel and Frites opened in Ocean Beach on May 21, bringing unique flavors to Fire Island.

Fira’s Falafel and Frites, a vegetarian restaurant with vegan options, is inspired by owner Ira Zahler’s travels. It can be described as homemade Mediterranean street food.

Zahler is a DJ who has worked at the Fire Island restaurant Alabatross for the past two decades. When his catering business in New York City stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he spent the winter in Fire Island with his family and got the idea to open Fira’s Falafel and Frites.

“I just thought about what can I do here that’s totally different,” Zahler said. “All the food here replicates itself in a certain way because it’s classic, Long Island and Fire Island, so what could I do that would be good for everybody?”

There are a few outdoor and indoor tables to dine in, but it’s also a grab-and-go takeout market. The new restaurant is located at 311 Bay Walk and it shares a space with the Bay Walk Café in Ocean Beach.

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