Masalawala & Sons

- 365 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

For New Yorkers seeking a culinary adventure that moves beyond the familiar Indian restaurant staples, Masalawala & Sons in Park Slope, Brooklyn, presents a truly compelling destination. This isn't just another spot for curry; it's a deep, personal exploration of Bengali cuisine, rooted in the family history of restaurateur Roni Mazumdar and realized through the masterful touch of James Beard Award-winning Chef Chintan Pandya. As part of the powerhouse hospitality group Unapologetic Foods, known for hits like Dhamaka, Semma, and Adda, Masalawala & Sons has quickly cemented its place as a must-visit dining experience in the city.

The restaurant itself is a revival and re-imagining of the original Masalawala that Roni Mazumdar opened with his father, Satyen Mazumdar, on the Lower East Side in 2011. The current Park Slope iteration, which opened in September 2022, serves as a heartfelt homage to Roni's father, Satyen, an immigrant from Kolkata. The concept focuses on recreating Satyen's cherished food memories from Bengali homes, guesthouses, and streets, bringing forth an authentic and regional style of cooking rarely seen in the New York market. The ethos is clear: to deliver uncompromised and traditional Indian flavors, using age-old techniques, authentic cookware like clay vessels, and ingredients like signature mustard oil. Customers who have tried the food often speak of its deeply flavored and well-prepared nature, a testament to the kitchen's dedication.

The atmosphere at Masalawala & Sons is described as casual, cozy, and trendy, making it a comfortable and engaging spot for various crowds, from intimate solo diners to lively groups. It’s the kind of spot where every dish tells a story, offering an authentic taste of East India. The interior is often noted for its colorful decor and bright murals, with a lovely outdoor patio in the back, adding to the overall dining pleasure. This combination of stellar food, a welcoming ambiance, and a compelling backstory makes it a standout choice for local Brooklynites and visitors alike.

Location and Accessibility

Masalawala & Sons is conveniently located in the heart of the desirable Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.

The full address is: 365 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA.

Positioned on Fifth Avenue, the restaurant is situated in a vibrant part of Brooklyn known for its eclectic mix of businesses and residential charm. For those traveling by car, there are both free street parking options and paid street parking available in the vicinity. New Yorkers relying on public transit will find the location accessible via nearby subway lines, though it's always recommended to check real-time travel information. The establishment welcomes all guests, offering numerous accessibility features that contribute to a welcoming experience for a diverse crowd. The welcoming vibe extends to its outdoor seating options, a highly desirable feature for many New York diners, as well as a cozy indoor seating arrangement designed for comfort and table service.

Services Offered

Masalawala & Sons provides a comprehensive array of dining and hospitality options for the local community and visitors to New York:

• Dining Services: Offers full table service for brunch, lunch, and dinner, as well as a dessert menu.
• Reservation Policy: The restaurant accepts reservations, with dinner reservations being highly recommended due to the venue's popularity.
• Takeout and Delivery: Convenient options are available for no-contact delivery, standard delivery, and in-person takeout.
• Catering to Families: High chairs are provided for families dining with young children.
• Beverage Program: Features a full bar onsite offering alcohol, beer, hard liquor, wine, and great cocktails, in addition to coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks.
• Atmosphere and Amenities: Provides comfortable seating, a restroom, and a gender-neutral restroom option.
• Retail Component: The restaurant also acts as a market, selling curated spices, condiments, chocolates, and coffee from exciting brands.
• Payment Options: Accepts all major payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.

Features / Highlights

This Park Slope gem is celebrated for several distinguishing features that set it apart in the competitive NYC dining scene:

• Authentic Bengali Cuisine Focus: The menu is a unique exploration of Bengali and other East Indian dishes, which is a specific regional cuisine often underrepresented in American Indian restaurants. Dishes are directly inspired by the owner's father's food memories from Kolkata.
• Unapologetic Foods Pedigree: Founded by celebrated restaurateur Roni Mazumdar and James Beard Award-winning Chef Chintan Pandya, the restaurant benefits from the expertise of the team behind highly successful and critically acclaimed NYC establishments.
• Great Cocktails: The beverage program is a highlight, featuring creative cocktails that often incorporate Indian-inspired ingredients like turmeric, saffron, and coconut-washed gin, perfectly complementing the food.
• Fast Service: Noted by patrons for its efficient and swift service, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable dining experience.
• Unique Dishes and Techniques: The kitchen employs traditional cooking methods, such as cooking in clay vessels and the pervasive use of mustard oil, which imparts distinctive, authentic flavors. Standout dishes like Daab Chingri (prawns cooked in a young coconut) and Ripon Street Majja (bone marrow) showcase this commitment to regional authenticity.
• Versatile Dining Popularity: Highly popular for dinner, lunch, and solo dining, making it a flexible option for many schedules and group sizes.
• Cozy and Trendy Atmosphere: The restaurant offers a warm, inviting environment, often adorned with colorful decor, and includes a popular outdoor seating area.
• Commitment to Regional Food: The founders actively chose to champion regional Indian cuisine—specifically Bengali—rather than catering to more common, non-authentic dishes, a philosophy that has won them critical acclaim from publications like The New York Times.

Contact Information

For New Yorkers planning their visit or wishing to inquire about reservations, here is the contact information for Masalawala & Sons:

Address: 365 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA

Phone: The phone number is publicly listed as +1 (212) 358-9300.

What is Worth Choosing

Choosing Masalawala & Sons means choosing an authentic, uncompromised, and personal dining experience that stands out in New York City’s vast culinary landscape. The restaurant’s specialty in Bengali cuisine offers New Yorkers a chance to taste dishes that are steeped in history and regional tradition, often based on the personal, cherished memories of the owner’s father. This dedication to integrity is what truly elevates the food.

For diners new to Bengali food, the experience can be a medley of exciting, well-balanced flavors and textures. The thali experience, sometimes offered as a prix fixe option, is highly recommended as a comprehensive introduction, allowing guests to sample several dishes, including fish fry and a rich lamb or goat curry like Kosha Mangsho. Whether you are a South Asian looking for authentic home-style flavors or a local food enthusiast eager to explore regional Indian cooking, Masalawala & Sons offers a rewarding meal.

The menu itself is a curated journey. For starters, the SAMOSA (2 PC) for $7.00 and the crisp, flavorful ALOO CHAAT for $11.00 are excellent choices. Diners also praise the Indo-Chinese inspired CHILI GOBI (cauliflower fritters for $15.00) and CHILI CHICKEN (chicken fritters for $15.00).

In the Main course section, while they serve a high-quality BUTTER CHICKEN ($23.00), the RAILWAY LAMB CURRY ($23.00)—a dish with a distinct backstory and rich gravy—is a must-try for meat-eaters, and the slow-cooked chickpea CHANA MASALA ($19.00) is a satisfying vegetarian option. Don't overlook the popular BIRYANI options, including VEGETABLE BIRYANI ($25.00) and CHICKEN BIRYANI ($23.00), which are prepared with aged basmati rice and saffron.

To complete the meal, the sides like DAL MAKHANI ($7.00) and the Indian flatbread PARATHA (1pc) ($4.00) are perfect for scooping up the flavorful curries. For dessert, the MANGO RASMALAI ($7.00) offers a light, sweet, and cool finish.

Beyond the food, the bar program is a major draw. Their thoughtful, spiced cocktails and mocktails are noted for their high quality and creative flavor pairings. Coupled with the fast, professional service and the warm, inviting ambiance of their Park Slope location—including the colorful outdoor patio—Masalawala & Sons delivers a cohesive, memorable, and critically-acclaimed dining event. It's a place where one can truly experience a specific, beautiful piece of India’s vast culinary identity right here in Brooklyn. Whether you are coming in for a celebratory group dinner or a quick, high-quality lunch, Masalawala & Sons offers one of New York City’s most compelling Indian dining narratives.

Masalawala & Sons

365 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA