TAVA gets a big welcome from G.C. community

Glen Cove Business Improvement District and community leaders welcomed family-owned restaurant, TAVA: Fine Indian Cuisine at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 31. Over the past eight months, the once known Andros Grill at 61 Glen Street, has been converted into a modern Indian restaurant serving traditional family recipes and specialty cocktails. 

Sukhdev Singh, TAVA owner and chef, collaborated with his son Kam Singh and nephew Supy Singh -Tava co-owners- to open the establishment last November. The restaurant’s name comes from the Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu word, “tava” also spelled as “tawa,” meaning cooking pan. In a large circular pan, traditional dishes such as chapati, paratha,  dosas, and a variety of other Indian flatbreads are cooked to crispy perfection. 

The menu at TAVA uses the same ingredients and spices found at the Singh’s other two locations. “Our menu is extremely traditional,” Supy said. “These are recipes that have been in our family for over thirty years. They were passed down.”

The Singh family business started when Sukhdev and Supy’s father, Harpal Bhola, were saving money as taxi drivers to open their first restaurant, House of India in Huntington, in 2001 and later Mango in Bellmore. After 20 years of witnessing their father’s successes, Kam and Supy decided it was their turn to take over and further enhance the business by opening in Glen Cove. 

“Kam and I decided it was time for expansion and we looked at a lot of different neighborhoods and realized in Glen Cove, there was really no sit-down, high-end Indian restaurant,” Supy said. “We thought this was the perfect spot for that.”

 In recognition of the family’s new chapter in the city, Glen Cove Downtown B.I.D., the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Pamela D. Panzenbeck, Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, and the offices of Assemblyman Charles Lavine and Senator James Gaughran presented the restaurant with citations.

“I’m happy to see another new restaurant in downtown Glen Cove,” Patricia Holman, executive director of the Business Improvement District said. “I thank them for investing in our community and hope more people support them – the food is incredible.”

Since their opening around Thanksgiving, the restaurant has received positive feedback from the community. On Facebook, customers have been raving about their unique flavors and are happy about their opening in Glen Cove. Christa Gonzales, a Glen Cove resident, said she looked forward to returning to the restaurant and enjoys ordering their takeout. 

“TAVA was such a delight! My husband and I came when they first opened and were greeted with open arms by the staff and management,” Gonzales said. “The food was delicious, and you could tell how much effort they invested in transforming the inside from the previous establishment.” 

Like many other businesses, the coronavirus pandemic, especially with the rise of the Omnicorn variant, slowed the demand for indoor dining. However, TAVA has persevered and continues to draw in customers. 

“In the beginning people were scared to dine in, but slowly they’re coming in. They love the décor – it’s comfortable, it’s cozy, the drinks are amazing,” Kam said, noting that the popularity is also spreading by word of mouth. “As more people try the food, more customers come in.”

TAVA serves distinctive cocktails with quirky names like Saari, Not Saari, a word play on the South Asian women garment. The menu is accommodating to all dietary needs. The restaurant serves dishes such as chicken karahi, lamb madras, tandoori shrimp; and vegetarian options like gobi manchurian, panir tikka, and aloo chole curry. 

“Being a vegan, I loved the Aloo Gobi,” Gonzales said. “The staff was happy to customize the dish for me by removing the potatoes and making it extra spicy.” 

Closed on Mondays, TAVA is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is available for takeout and catering events. To make a reservation or explore their menu visit www.tavacuisine.com or call (516)-277-1684.