Joel Black, the former GM at Doheny and bartender at Caña and Comme Ca, is unleashing a new selection of cocktails with Indian flavor profiles at Silver Lake’s Naya tonight, intended to complement a new menu of Indian street eats by chef Imran Mookhi. Drinks include a vodka sour infused with tamarind, plus a mix of gin, thyme, lime, agave nectar, and Persian cucumbers known as a “Spa in Goa,” and a “Rocky Patel” of Chivas 12-year and Laphroig ten-year mixed with espresso-infused Zaya rum. Unlike at home, drinking is far from a major past-time in India, save for a few regions and big cities. However, street food is a different story and still dominates the country’s urban hubs. To that end, chef Imran is introducing a “Chai Pani” menu in a take on the street cart eating of the Subcontinent.
The chef plays his first pawn right, offering Mumbai’s worker staple sandwich pav bhaji, with a vegetarian or lamb curry on sweet rolls, here served in a DIY thali. At eight dollars, the dish is priced astronomically by that city’s own standards but Silver Lakers will have to make their own calls. In addition, more authentic influences include spicy peanuts (moom phali), a Deli-style kabob parantha for fourteen bucks, and a fish and chips credited to Punjab’s Lahore.
On the more Yank-dified side, you get tandoori hot wings and masala fries, no doubt on hand for the less adventurous that might want to question why they’re in an Indian restaurant to start (oh yeah, that’s right, there are bands and DJs). That path appears to reach its zenith with an offering of something they are calling “naanza,” or pizza on naan topped with paneer, all for eight bucks. Let’s just hope the chef is as passionate about pav bhaji as he is about naanza.
Check out both the street food and drink menus below.
Streets of India Menu
MOOM PHALI $5
spicy peanuts roasted and wok-fried
in Naya’s Hot Sauce
BHAJI RINGS $7
gram flour batter
PAV BHAJI
veggie $8 / lamb $11
our Masala Slider - buttered bread and thick
vegetable- based curry or hand-minced lamb
BATATA VADA $7
crisp potato fritters in a gram flour batter
BIHARI KABOB ROLL $14
beef kabob with marinated onions
cucumbers and tomato
KABOB PARATHA
veggie $11/ chicken $14/ lamb $15
kabob with layered bread
LAHORI FISH & CHIPS $14
gram flour batter
SWEET & SOUR POTATO SALAD $8
GOAT CHESSE SALAD $9
curried goat cheese with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes,
shallots and mixed greens
TANDOORI HOT WINGS $11
Naya’s hot sauce with curry ranch-dipping sauce
TANDOORI DRUM STICKS $11
NAANZA $8
buttery tomato-eggplant base with cottage -paneer chesse
choose three toppings
onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, jalapenos pineapple,
goat chesse, feta, chicken
MASALA FRIES $5
french fries with Makahni ketchup
NAAN SNACKER $6
choose two
cheese, potato, olive , garlic
choose two
cucumber raita, white bean stew, butter masala sauce
choose more $3
Cocktails
THE DANCING LOTUS
Luksusowa vodka, fresh lemon juice, lychee juice, pomegranate,
orange infused agave nectar, soda water $12
SPA IN GOA
Aviation gin, fresh lime juice, Persian cucumber, thyme,
agave nectar $12
KARMA’S NERVE
Karma tequila, lemon juice, ginger syrup, elderflower liqueur,
Angostura orange bitters, burnt orange peel $12
NARAHARI’S VIRTUE
Don Q rum, fresh lime juice, mango puree, coconut water,
raspberry green tea syrup $11
MIDNIGHT LUSH
ORO pisco Torontel, fresh lemon juice, blackberries, lavender,
grapes, agave nectar $12
NAYA DAISY
Landy vs cognac, fresh lemon juice, house made coriander curacao,
crème de violette $10
ROCKY PATEL
Chivas 12 year blended Scotch whisky, Laphroig 10 year Islay Scotch whisky,
espresso bean infuse Zaya 12 year old rum $14
THE BURNING ROSE
Real silver tequila, fresh lime juice, rosemary, jalapeno, agave nectar $12
Ales/Lagers
Taj Mahal Lager *India
350ml…$6…650ml…$10
Flying Horse Royal Lager *India
650ml…$11
Schneider Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse *Germany 500ml…$10
Mission Shipwrecked Double IPA *San Diego, CA
12oz…$7
Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgium IPA *Frederick, MD 12oz…$7
North Coast Pranqster Belgian Golden Ale *Ft Bragg, CA 12oz…$7
North Coast Schrimshaw Pilsner *Ft Bragg, CA
12oz…$6
Acme Pale Ale*Ft Bragg, CA
12oz…$6
Allagash White*Portland, ME
12oz…$6
Murphy’s Stout Draft Can*Ireland
440ml…$7
Bitburger Drive non-alcoholic*Germany
330ml…$6
