A Cultural Phenomenon for Innies
The Apple TV+ series Severance has captivated audiences with its portrayal of Lumon Industries, a company where employees undergo a procedure to separate their work and personal memories. The show’s distinctive setting, characterized by its minimalist and corporate aesthetic, plays a crucial role in establishing its unsettling atmosphere. This unique environment is not a mere set but a real location: the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex in Holmdel, New Jersey.
Bell Labs Holmdel Complex: A Historical Overview
Designed by the renowned architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962, the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex served as a hub for technological innovation for over four decades. Often referred to as “The Biggest Mirror Ever” due to its striking mirrored facade, the building was the birthplace of numerous groundbreaking technologies, including developments in laser cooling that led to a Nobel Prize. After ceasing operations in 2006, the complex faced an uncertain future until it was revitalized as Bell Works, a mixed-use development encompassing offices, retail spaces, and restaurants.
“Severance” Filming at Bell Works
The creators of Severance sought a location that embodied the show’s themes of corporate control and isolation. Bell Works, with its vast interiors and iconic design, provided the perfect backdrop. The building’s expansive atrium, long corridors, and reflective surfaces contribute to the series’ eerie and detached ambiance. Both exterior and interior scenes of Lumon Industries were filmed here, allowing the production to utilize the building’s authentic corporate architecture to enhance the narrative’s authenticity.
Your Innies and Outies Will Thank You: Miznon Kosher at Bell Works
Beyond its architectural significance and role in Severance, Bell Works offers visitors a variety of amenities, including dining options. One notable establishment is Miznon Kosher, a Mediterranean street food restaurant that brings the vibrant flavors of Israeli cuisine to New Jersey.
Founded by acclaimed Israeli chef Eyal Shani, Miznon is renowned for its innovative approach to traditional dishes. The restaurant is known for using fresh, high-quality ingredients to transform simple produce into flavorful creations.
Enjoy Each Bite Equally
The Bell Works location of Miznon Kosher marks the brand’s first venture in New Jersey, offering a Glatt kosher menu certified by the Orthodox Union (OU). Signature dishes include the whole roasted cauliflower, the “run over potato”—a baked potato mixed with garlic, green onions, and sour cream served paper-thin—and a variety of pita-based sandwiches filled with bold, Mediterranean flavors.
Visitors to Bell Works can enjoy Miznon’s offerings in a setting that seamlessly blends the building’s historical essence with modern design. The restaurant’s lively atmosphere reflects Shani’s vision of bringing the energy of Tel Aviv street food culture to new destinations.
Visiting Bell Works and Miznon Kosher
For fans of Severance and architecture enthusiasts, a visit to Bell Works provides a tangible connection to the show’s setting and a chance to explore a landmark of modernist design. After touring the expansive halls that once buzzed with scientific discovery and now echo the fictional world of Lumon Industries, guests can indulge in a flavorful meal at Miznon Kosher. The fusion of cultural heritage and culinary innovation offers a memorable experience that complements the exploration of this historic site.
Miznon’s Pita is the Real Waffle Party
Miznon’s expansion includes its first kosher-certified U.S. location in Times Square, offering its signature bold Israeli flavors in the heart of New York City. The Times Square branch also serves a fully Glatt kosher menu, certified by the Orthodox Union (OU), ensuring that kosher diners can enjoy Chef Eyal Shani’s renowned pita creations and vibrant Mediterranean dishes, although there are multiple non-kosher Miznon locations in NYC and in other cities. Additionally, Miznon is preparing to launch a kosher location in Panama, set to open soon in the Panama Clinic food court, andanother kosher location in New Jersey’s American Dream Mall.
Beyond Miznon, Chef Eyal Shani has developed a reputation for elevating Israeli cuisine through multiple kosher restaurant ventures. His Tel Aviv-based Malka is a fine dining restaurant offering inventive, upscale takes on classic dishes, with kosher locations on the Upper West Side of NYC, Brooklyn, and in West Palm Beach, FL. With a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and playful yet refined flavors, Shani has redefined how Israeli street food and gourmet cuisine are experienced across the world.
No Break Room Visit Required
- Address: 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
- Kosher Certification: Glatt kosher certified by the Orthodox Union (OU)
Whether you’re a Severance aficionado, a lover of modern architecture, or a culinary explorer seeking authentic Mediterranean flavors, Bell Works and Miznon Kosher offer a unique destination that intertwines history, culture, and gastronomy. If you’re driving through Central New Jersey, you won’t need any overtime contingencies for this kosher ORTBO.
Add Comment