Kahani Indian restaurant-bar opens in Huntington
Samosa chaat at Kahani in Huntington. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
The three Singh brothers behind one of Long Island's top burger joints have opened a buzzy new concept in Huntington: Kahani, an Indian cocktail bar with Punjabi food.
Raja and Bobby Singh helped open the smashburger joint BRGRS in 2024 as a way to give back to their brother Rana Singh, who had spent years recovering from a serious car accident. The trio run a tight ship with a small menu of beautifully crisped burgers that their restaurant is currently on Newsday's standout burgers list.
But the brothers wanted to have a restaurant that honored their Punjabi culture. In October, they opened Kahani down the street, in the former Italian spot Lasagna Ristorante. The redesign gives it a look that's a cross between a swank New York City speakeasy and a tapestry-laden Indian restaurant. Forest green art deco booths line the walls, which are loaded with vintage wallpaper and a collage of classical Indian paintings. The intimate space looks like it could have been decorated by a rich Indian aunt who lives on the Upper East Side.
Kahani feels like an updated version of a classic Indian restaurant space. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
"We wanted to give it a nice, moody, chic-modern vibe but stay true to core values of India and Punjab," Raja said.
The new restaurant bills itself as a Punjabi cocktail bar, inspired by the brothers' heritage from northwestern India. But this description doesn't tell the full story.
Yes there's a beautiful vintage bar up front, where Rana oversees an interesting cocktail menu full of Indian flavors and spices. But the food menu is also substantial. On a recent visit, most customers at the tables were having full dinners.
Skip the Taj Mahal lager in favor of a cocktail — there are 13 on offer, most featuring cardamom, jaggery cane sugar, masala powder or coconut water. (Yes, there is a spiked mango lassi, $14.) This menu is less about heritage Indian spirits, and more about merging classic Indian flavors with popular drinks. There is a Mumbai mule with vodka and candied ginger ($16); a mirchi margarita with tequila and green chile ($16). The nimbu pani ($16) is a tequila-based take on a classic Indian lemonade that's tart but refreshing, tinged with masala spices that give the sipper a deeper flavor.
The two-sided menu is a greatest hits of Punjabi and Northern Indian fare, with buzzy dishes you'll see on hip Indian restaurant menus these days. (There is even steak on the menu, as Raja says, because beef is more commonly consumed within the Sikh community in Punjab.)
Punjabi bharta, an eggplant dish, with a side of garlic naan bread at Kahani in Huntington. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
The popular South Indian dish, 1965 chicken ($18) is a hit with crispy nuggets of fried chicken tossed with a spicy mix of peppers and curry leaves. The Punjabi bharta features eggplant roasted in a tandoor before being hand-crushed to a paste and sautéed with peppers and spices. Make sure to order some garlic naan to soak that (and any alcoholic beverages) up.
Kahani, 400 New York Ave., Huntington, kahaninewyork.com. Open 5-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with the bar staying open, often until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.
