New Indian restaurant with traditional recipes from Calcutta opens in LIC

Photo via Instagram @oh___calcutta

20 August 2024 By Shane O’Brien

An Indian restaurant has opened near Long Island City’s waterfront, combining a mix of regional Calcutta specialties and classic Indian dishes.

Oh! Calcutta opened its doors at 10-57 Jackson Ave. in late July and will hold an official grand opening on Monday, August 26th.

The restaurant is a new venture from owner Ruhel Amin, who also runs Mumbai Masala in Harlem and Masti Indian Grill and Chaat Bar in Williamsburg.

Oh! Calcutta draws on the traditional home cooking and spice blending techniques of ‘old Calcutta’ and uses Paanch Poran, a distinctive, house-ground ‘five spice’ blend that is common in Bengal and Eastern India. The spice blend includes cumin, brown mustard, fenugreek, black seed and fennel, while all other spices used in the restaurant are roasted and house-ground.

Ruhel has hired chefs Sharmeen Rahman and Lisha Khondokar for Oh! Calcutta. Both chefs share a passion for home cooking.

Rahman and Khondokar have been with Ruhel since the opening of Masti Indian Grill in 2020 and now bring a range of traditional Indian recipes to Oh! Calcutta.

Interior view of Oh! Calcutta. Photo via Instagram @oh___calcutta

Rahman has spent years developing her chutneys, relishes and curries, while Khondokar, who learnt to cook from her mother and aunts, brings to Oh! Calcutta a number of tried and tested recipes passed down from generation to generation.

Khondokar also captures the essence of Kolkata street food with her Jhal Muri – a popular street snack in the Bengal region – and offers lighter vegan and vegetarian options with her Vegetable Cutlet – a traditional Kolkata dish consisting of a mash of turnips and potatoes with breadcrumbs and peanuts.

She also showcases the unique flavours of Kolkata with her Lake Market Fish Fry and dessert Misti Dhoi – a yoghurt treat commonly found in West Bengal.

The restaurant offers dozens of other dishes specific to the Kolkata region, including Singhara, a Kolkata-style samosa with spiced potatoes and cauliflower, Kosha Mangsho, a slow-cooked goat curry on the bone, Fish Paturi, fried fish in a banana leaf, and Lamb Saag, a dish of spiced lamb, pureed spinach and ginger.

Oh! Kolkata also offers dozens of traditional Indian dishes, including butter chicken, chicken vindaloo and dal saag – a vegetarian dish made with lentils, spinach and ginger.

The restaurant features a relaxed design with vintage photographs of old Kolkata and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer excellent views of the neighborhood.

Oh! Calcutta also has a covered outdoor dining area, while the storefront features a white marble countertop for takeaway orders.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but is closed from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

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