Malaysian Food has been seeing a serious resurgence in New York lately, and it seems like more and more people are catching on to the cuisine’s wonderful flavor profiles. Now, one of the city’s best Malaysian chefs is plotting an exciting new concept.
Chef Salil Mehta has been one of the foremost pioneers of the introduction of Malaysian cuisine to New York. The chef/owner of NY icons like Laut and Wau, Mehta has spent over a decade honing his craft to become one of the most recognizable chefs working in the city today.
Chef Mehta made his indelible mark on the city when he launched Laut in 2011. Introducing a new take on Malaysian food to a neighborhood that appeared to be sorely lacking in authentic Malaysian options, Laut launched to immediate success thanks to Chef Mehta’s dedication to quality. In fact, Laut soon became one of the first ever Malaysian restaurants to earn a coveted Michelin star. Laut, which translates to “Sea” in the Malay language, pays tribute to the role that international maritime trade played in influencing Malaysian cuisine, which borrows inspiration from the many different nations of traders who did business along the routes in the Malacca Strait.
Now, Chef Mehta is planning on debuting a brand new concept at 17 E 13th Street. The concept, which is called Char’d, is described as a family restaurant that will focus on Asian cuisine. Chef Mehta is also applying for a liquor license for his new restaurant, and is expected to serve specialty cocktails inspired by the many different Asian culinary traditions.
Char’d will be moving into the space that was formerly occupied by La Maison du Croque Monsieur, a popular French restaurant that closed two years ago. The location is appropriately intimate, offering about 760 square feet of space between the 1st and second floor, which will both be accessible to guests. Char’d is expected to operate daily from 11AM – 2AM. While the restaurant is still too early into development to have an online presence, you can always visit Laut to get a taste of what everyone has been talking about.
