On January 22nd, Masti, an Indian Grill and Chaat Bar opened in Williamsburg. The concept at Masti hails from across the pond and channels The Famous Curry Bazaar, a local London, England restaurant making masterful Indian cuisine with a specifically British spin.
The restaurant is owned by the husband and wife duo Linda Mahkovec and Ruhel Amin who have cut their teeth in the culinary world for the last three decades. They met at the Symphony Café in Manhattan where Ruhel quickly became a top waiter, hosting the likes of Bob Dylan, Liza Minelli and David Letterman. After the pair met, they dove into the culinary world to try to make this dream a reality. Ruhel worked at the Symphony and Sheraton Hotel for an eight-year tenure. After he finished his degree at Hunter, he opened his first restaurant on the East Side, Tripti Indian Restaurant. In 2017, after working in the corporate world he opened two restaurants in Harlem with partners Ajmal Hussain and Salim Rahman known as Mumbai Masala and River Thai. Now Ruhel and his wife Linda have brought the dream of opening their own restaurant to life with Masti Indian Grill & Chaat Bar.
Chef Jabber’sculinary roots span from his home in Bangladesh to his tenure in England where he worked at Nabab Tadoori, Tamarind on the Isle of Wright, honing his craft before working at the aforementioned Famous Curry Bazaar.
Menu highlights include:
- Starters like Achari Guchi Tikka, a very traditional dish of pickled mushrooms; Chapli, expertly spiced minced lamb patties with green chilies; and Kurkuri Bhindi, crispy okra with lemon and chaat masala.
- Elevated forms of Indian street food include Chaatwali Galli offerings like Bhel Puri that is beautifully presented in a cylindrical tower with puffed rice, onions, potatoes, chutneys, tamarin and savory crunchies on top for a surprisingly textured bite. The Pao Bhaji, a popular street food in Bombay, is highlighted as well and made with mashed tomatoes, cauliflower and potatoes, served with fluffy Pao bread hot from the oven. All Chaats are prepared atop the restaurant’s Chaat bar for diners to view.
- Curries takes cues from The Famous Curry Bazar with a myriad of options ranging from chicken, lamb, bone-in goat, to shrimp, vegetables, and paneer. These options can be paired withthe favorite Brick Lane Curry, an onion tomato curry; Phall, an intensely spicy British curry with a blend of chilies; Bhuna, a thick and hearty curry with onions, garlic and fresh coriander; Madras, a hot coconut curry with dry red chilies and curry leaves; Karahi, a wok tossed curry with onions, bell pepper and fenugreek; and Balti, a wok tossed curry with tomatoes, mushrooms, fennel, and garam masala.
- Oh! Calcutta Chef’s Specials include Jhinga Luchi, creamy shrimp with tomatoes and curry leaves; Tangra Chili Chicken with green chilies, onions, bell peppers and a dark soy sauce; Ghugni with curried yellow peas, turmeric, cumin and fresh coriander; and Kosha Mangsho, bone-in goat curry with potatoes and fresh coriander.
The restaurant also features a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as skewers from an on-site tandoor oven and naan breads like Chili Onion; Habanero Cheese; and Butter Paneer.
The drink menu includes a variety of teas like traditional chai and a specialty mocktail menu, launching soon.
Masti’s interior was designed by Mahkovec. Inviting and warm, Masti Indian Grill & Chaat Bar features a quaint dining room with a small bar anchored in front with jars of different Indian spices showcased above. A beautiful image of a woman picking red chili peppers is spotlighted on the back wall. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the space and specialty floral upholstered chairs can be found at the center of the restaurant for a more lounge style aesthetic. Brown leather banquettes line the perimeter, gorgeous chandeliers are hung above for a golden glow and famous Indian film posters adorn the other walls.
Visit Masti online at: http://mastinyc.com
Their address is: 184 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Their phone number is: 718-599-1516
Follow them on Instagram @mastinyc
They are open for lunch Monday through Sunday 12pm-3pm.
They serve diner from 4:30 – 10 pm Monday through Thursday and are open until 10:30 on Friday and Saturday.
Their total seating capacity is 36 and their bar seating is 4.
