We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tal Baum a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tal, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Resilience. This is the first word that pops in my mind. You have to be resilient on so many levels. You have to be able to handle stress. You have to be able to handle rejection. You have to be able to accept that no matter how hard you try, some people may not like what you do. You have to accept that things may not go the way you want them to go. You have to adapt, change, be creative and go out of the way to make things work. If you’re not resilient, you won’t have the mental capacity to handle what it takes to be successful.

Tal, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m the founder and proprietor of Oliva Restaurant Group. In 2015, I opened Bellina Alimentari at Ponce City Market, launching what would become a collection of restaurants exploring my cross-cultural upbringing. Today, the group encompasses Aziza and Falafel Nation in the city’s West Midtown neighborhood and Rina, located along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. Atrium, our latest concept, opened January 2022 and serves a Modern American menu with European influence at Ponce City Market. Carmel will open at Buckhead Village later this year and give diners a taste of coastal life.

I was born and raised in Haifa, Israel, and moved to Florence, Italy when I was 21 to study architecture at Florence University. I remained in Italy for seven years, where I learned the language and developed an intimate knowledge and love of Italian cuisine. My culinary journey and architecture background inspired me to become a restaurateur.

Each of our restaurants represent chapters of my life and the various places I’ve lived. Bellina Alimentari is an ode to my years living in Italy and is inspired by cafes and alimentari shops in the northern part of the country. Guests can enjoy a seasonal meal, sip unique wines, shop the market or learn how to make pasta in a cooking class.

Aziza, Falafel Nation and Rina symbolize my early life and growing up in Israel. Aziza offers modern Israeli cuisine and pays homage to my childhood with fresh, modern takes on traditional dishes. Next door, Falafel Nation serves up delicious Israeli street food to go for lunch and dinner, including falafels made with my grandmother’s recipe. Rina is an Israeli diner, offering Middle Eastern dishes in a casual, vibrant and colorful setting for lunch and dinner.

Atrium and Carmel are manifestations of my current chapter, showcasing the evolution of dining in America. Atrium provides a destination where guests can settle in for a quiet and relaxing evening sipping finely crafted cocktails and enjoying a Modern American meal with European influence. The refreshing menu features seasonally driven, vegetable-forward appetizers, crudo, light pasta and larger entrees for sharing. Inspired by the culture and cuisine of the coast, Carmel will present fresh, bright flavors that allow the simplicity of the ingredients to shine through in a space, reminiscent of a light and airy living room.

We prioritizes working with small businesses, providing opportunities to local talents and expanding culinary perspectives. While each restaurant presents its own unique experience and showcases work by local artisans, I hope guests immediately feel my sense of style, creativity and attention to detail.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

By not compromising on the quality of product that we serve. Even during the pandemic when operating costs were challenging, maintaining quality and a quality brand was always at the top of my mind. When you serve a good product and if you’re committed to excellence and providing something you’re proud of, success will come.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Listen to your team and do not be afraid to show vulnerability. Even though you’re a manager, it doesn’t mean you know everything. Leading by example and striving for excellence while still showing your team you’re human and vulnerable – people appreciate that a lot. They want to become part of your organization because you are trying to create something that’s meaningful and genuine that they can relate to and build a connection with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.olivarestaurants.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-postelnik-6191422b/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/bellinaalimentari/ https://www.instagram.com/azizarestaurant/ https://www.instagram.com/falafelnation/ https://www.instagram.com/rina.atl/ https://www.instagram.com/atriumatl/

Image Credits
Photos Courtesy of Oliva Restaurant Group