In a quiet, well-lit space on East 8th Street, there is a small eatery that three guys who went to the University of Michigan together opened on a whim. Scott Schubiner moved to New York and became a real estate developer, Jared Marcus entered the world of real estate finance, and Krish Jayaram started out in the city but ultimately moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in the tech industry. Over the years, they contemplated starting a side project, never really believing it might come to fruition. However, as Scott said to me one day when we were chatting in his shop, "Here we are." All three have not quit their day jobs but instead take turns running their venture, Raw MKT, which opened in the spring of 2017.
As Scott reflected on his childhood in Los Angeles, he shared, "We were always traveling to Hawaii, and I ate this food all the time." He liked the Hawaiian cuisine because it was healthy, good for a quick snack, and not expensive. After moving to the east coast after college in 2012, he began to contemplate how he could translate the themes of Hawaiian cuisine into a small market place for New Yorkers. Eventually, he was able to bring his friends on board with him.
The menu consists of a variety of poke choices, but as Scott explained, "Our recipes stay true to the Hawaiian roots of poke." They marinade the fish for several hours, allowing it to pick up more flavor throughout the day. Scott prides himself on the authenticity of each of their products. He describes the side dishes as "unique options" that include zucchini noodles and Hawaiian slaw, composed of bok choy, carrots, cabbage, and pineapple. He is particularly fond of the miso beets and the edamame in a chili garlic sauce. "We have a great selection of vegetarian dishes, along with the fish. We are gluten free - we serve no dairy products or soy," he proudly stated.
In addition to the food, Scott is pleased with the environment that he and his partners created. There are a few stools perched in front of the window, the white walls are decorated with posters reminiscent of Hawaii, and the floors are concrete. "It is very similar to market stores that I would visit on the side streets when I was a kid, and we even have industrial lighting like what one would find in a fish market." He describes it as a "mini oasis where people can stop in for a quick lunch, have a nice experience, great food, and then get back out there in the real world."