New Indian eatery in Wantagh

Posted

There’s a new, authentic Indian and Pakistani restaurant in Wantagh and the family-run eatery is open seven days a week.

While Lazzat’s simplistic décor provides a pleasant atmosphere for its dine-in customers, the food can also be picked up to go, or delivered to the surrounding area.

Owner and Chef Sudesh Nawaz said Lazzat was located in Bellmore for the past 15 years, but had to move locations because the Bellmore building was going to be broken down into medical offices.

The new restaurant opened up on Sunrise Highway in Wantagh May 2.

Nawaz said it was not an easy transition as she was given only a three-month notice. She said she began posting flyers and notifying Google of the new location. Despite the quick move, the first week at the new location held a lot of business for the restaurant.

“We are very happy we are here,” Nawaz said. “This location is doing better then that other location.” She said the Wantagh location has been attracting more business, because it’s more visible then the Bellmore location.

Nawaz decorated part of the restaurant’s entrance with Indian statues passed down through her family. One wall is decorated with art made by Nawaz’s granddaughter. Nawaz’s two daughters and one son also help out around the restaurant.

Nawaz has four to five people working on staff at the restaurant, which opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m.

She said she really appreciates the bigger kitchen in this location as she’s been cooking for 13 years and makes all the dishes by hand.

“I love to cook in a big place,” Nawaz said.

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the more popular meals at Lazzat, according to Nawaz, who also enjoys making Chicken Shahee Korma.

According to the restaurant’s website, Lazzat provides other dishes such as the Vegetable or Meat Samosa, Chicken Corn Soup and the Seekh Kabab. Naan (bread) is provided as an option to accompany any meal.

A few authentic desserts offered by Lazzat include Gulab Jamun, which is golden milk pastry fried dumplings soaked in honey; Ras Malai, a garnish of pistachios around flat cottage cheese dumplings poached in milk; and Gajar Ka Halwa, “shredded baby carrots cooked in a sugar and butter syrup and mixed with khoya, almonds, pistachios, and golden raisins.”