Post-Passover Pizzas Prepared With Panache At A Local Hallandale Restaurant

The restaurant opened in 2024 in a location long known for ice cream. The space once drew loyal customers for frozen treats popularized by New York entrepreneur Tom Carvel, whose soft-serve “custard” became a well-known rival to Dairy Queen.

Now, in the present day, Imaleh Grill has taken on a different identity.

It is just after midnight on a Thursday turning into Friday. An unusual hour, perhaps, to find a restaurant bustling with activity and a “clamoring clientele.” But following the conclusion of the eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover—during which observant tradition prohibits leavened bread—the demand for freshly made pizza returns almost immediately.

Inside the back section of Imaleh Grill, a crowd of roughly 50 customers waits eagerly as pizzas are prepared five at a time and placed into a steel oven. The pace is relentless. Dough is continuously shaped, portioned, and placed on the counter, then quickly transformed into round bases ready for sauce and cheese.

Next to him, the owner, Eric Huziza, moves with equal speed, spreading tomato sauce and cheese across each uncooked base as they arrive. These pizzas are prepared in accordance with dietary observance for the holiday transition, emphasizing simple, meatless preparations.

Only two staff members handle the pizza station that night, yet their speed keeps the line moving without pause. Some customers order four or five pizzas at once, along with garlic rolls and other items.

Despite the intensity of the rush, neither worker appears to stop for breaks or even a sip of water. At one point, Eric calls out, “Grab a water for me, please,” as the nonstop rhythm of preparation continues.

By estimating the pace—about five pizzas every few minutes—it becomes clear how quickly the output adds up. Over the course of several hours, hundreds of pizzas are produced and served. If service begins around 9:00 p.m. and continues past midnight, it is reasonable to estimate that several hundred pizzas are prepared during the night, alongside additional dishes such as shawarma wraps made in the front section of the restaurant.

In total, more than 200 customers—families, groups, and late-night diners—are served and satisfied as the post-holiday rush winds down.

Imaleh Grill

300 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard

Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

(305) 735-4565