Masti Indian Grill and Chaat Bar, which opened in late January in Williamsburg, stands out for its savory street food, or chaat selection, Bengali dishes, British inspired curries, and warm hospitality. It is the only New York restaurant that serves tanjy (which means “little sour”) chaat. Many curry dishes are on offer in addition to the house special black pepper curry. Vegan dishes are featured too.
Upon arrival, you enter a dark and intimate square room and hear relaxing Indian music playing in the background. Chandeliers adorn the ceiling. Spice jars are lined up on a shelf above the bar. The large bright picture of an Indian woman holding spices located on the rear wall enlivened the interior. 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.
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. After the pair met, they dove into the culinary world to try to make this dream a reality. Masti values quality in food just as much as it does atmosphere.
The kitchen, helmed by Executive Chef Abdul Jabber has a strict policy for freshness in all of its meals. His culinary roots span from his home in Bangladesh to his tenure in England where he worked at Nabab Tandoori, Tamarind on the Isle of Wright, honing his craft before working at the aforementioned Famous Curry Bazaar.
2 
The bar, instead of serving drinks, serves Chaat, the popular south Asian savory street foods that absolutely burst with crunch, sweetness, and sourness. There’s airy bhel puri, pao bhaji (like vegetable sliders), and pani puri and they all go perfectly with a drink. Start your meal with one of these, before moving on to curries and other dishes.
Masti’s menu includes teas and drinks like the excellent mango lassi, creamy and not too sweet. There’s a bring your own beer (BYOB) policy — Stranger Wines is just a few blocks away.
Further reading:
