Spicy Mina

10/25/06

Cool and fiery flavors intertwine at this Queens favorite for Bangladeshi cuisine.

by Justin Hartung at Citysearch

The Scene
The look of this Woodside restaurant matches the drab, purely functional aesthetic of its immediate surroundings. Gauzy curtains and snowflake lights, visible through the front corner windows, add a touch of warmth, however, and the sincerely sweet service adds much character. At the end of diners' meals, Mina herself sometimes tours the room to bid farewell to the local regulars and far-traveling foodies.

The Food
Though Bangladeshi restaurants are rare in this city, many dishes on the menu will be familiar to Indian food fans, but with a twist: Samosa chat resembles a potpie loaded with tangy yogurt, caramelized onions and encased in a buttery crust; shrimp biriyani overflows with robust crustaceans and ample egg bits to keep it moist; and giant chunks of ginger spice up tender cubes of beef. Yogurt comes into play again for dessert, this time in a sunflower-colored, sweet and creamy rendition.