Naresh’s Essequibo Cuisine — Restaurant in New York

It was late 2024 when we discovered this food gem. Actually, it was the 7-curry that caught our attention and so with the first opportunity, we had to visit this place and have done so several times since.

On our first visit, we encountered the owner, Naresh, who was pleasant, professional, and welcoming. We appreciated his candor about what dish was not available or is still being prepared. This helped us to manage our time and expectations as to what we could order. He also answered our direct questions about food cost and freshness without hesitation, which we deeply appreciate. This made us confident that we made the right decision to patronize this establishment.

As for the vibes, from our experiences, it was welcoming, clean, bright and all things Guyanese. As soon as you step inside the aroma takes you straight to a cozy family kitchen. It gives a feeling of going to a neighborhood place where folks (Naresh and the Aunties) behind the counter know and appreciate you and your business.

As for the food, “Naresh’s Essequibo Cuisine” serves authentic Guyanese cuisine. We have tried several types of food and even ordered some for-family events including trays of fried rice, chow mein, baked chicken, fried chicken, duck curry with potatoes, roti, and dhal-puri. They were all a hit! We found the food flavors to be tasty with a good balance of spices and spiciness, a reminder of home-cooked foods. Every time we visit Naresh’s, we order the 7-curry and hassa curry when available, which never disappoints. We also had the opportunity to try their pachownie which was delicious. The katahar curry also rocks! In addition, we are fans of the fudge, pera, and crunchy mithais and pick them up whenever we visit.

Bottom-line, (March 2025) our experience is that the food here is a true representation of Guyanese cuisine and to our taste. The friendly atmosphere and genuine hospitality make every visit a memorable experience. Highly recommended!

Updated June 2025 We placed a large order (June 2025) which included a large tray of veggie fried rice, a small tray veggie chowmein, a large tray fried chicken, a small tray duck curry with potatos, dhal puris, and dhal with this restaurant for a family event. Our order was placed a few days before the event due to quantity. All items of the order were included and available for pick-up on time. The dishes were fresh, and the taste did not dissapoint. The dishes were prepared to our liking. As for presentation, it was impressive with the various colorful veggies for fried rice and chowmenin. The duck was meaty and well done and paired well with the scattering of tender pieces of potatos as part of the overall curry dish. Everything was a hit with our family! As a result of our positive experiences with this restaurant and the personable interaction with the owner and staff, we will continue to order from and support this establishment...

I've visited this restaurant briefly several times over the past year, having ordered roti 2-3 times to go. I once went there for breakfast, and it felt a bit pricey. A few parents from my daughter's dance school mentioned that the food was average and overpriced, suggesting I try D Roti Hut, which is just a few blocks away. Since then, I've primarily been going to D Roti Hut when in the area.

The atmosphere of the restaurant features awkward table arrangements and outdated decor, giving it a traditional vibe. The staff is usually decent, although I noticed that there were times when teenagers worked there who were unfamiliar with some menu items.

However, my recent visit was quite disappointing. I decided to try their katahar curry for Diwali because my pandit recommended it, as I had never had it before. I called ahead to ask about preordering, but the response I received from the man on the phone was rude; he said I couldn't preorder. When I asked if I should just come in, he responded, You come and wait in a long line, with a discouraging tone. When I arrived to find no line at all, I requested katahar and mango curry to go, but the staff member, identified later as Naresh, refused several times, insisting I order the full seven curry set instead. I was confused, as most restaurants allow for individual dish orders.

Fortunately, a nice auntie intervened and helped me by providing extra portions of the mango and katahar curry. However, the overall service felt unwelcoming, and Naresh's attitude was off-putting.

When I was finally rung up, I was shocked to find that the seven curry set cost $26 for what amounted to just a small sample of each curry in a small black disposable container. I also asked for roti instead of rice, which added to the price. I completely agree with other reviewers who have mentioned how pricey the vegetarian options are.

The biggest letdown came when I served the curry at home for our Diwali dinner. As noted by other reviewers, the katahar curry was spoiled!!!

The combination of poor service, high prices, and food quality was annoying. I would have loved to discuss my experience with the owner; however, when faced with such a rude attitude, I prefer to be in peace — especially on Diwali. It’s clear now why so many people recommended I go to D Roti...

Naresh catered for my wedding Memorial Day weekend 2024 for Jericho palace. He catered Guyanese style 7 curry and the food was to die for. All our guests could not stop raving about how great the food tasted. I have never had such tasty food in all the years I’ve been eating 7 curry. I even ate things that I would normally not eat and absolutely loved it. My husband’s favorite dish is chunks and he was eating it weeks after our wedding and still loved it. Everything had the right amount of salt and amazing seasoning and was truly tasty. Not to mention his price was absolutely affordable and reasonable. The service was efficient and naresh is the most humble person I’ve ever met he was so understanding and caring and went over and beyond for us. Also if you are catering for religious functions and are worried about mixing cook-wear. He has all separate pots for his vegetarian food so no worries. He truly made our wedding so much less stressful especially catering for 300 plus people is not an easy task. I am so extremely happy and grateful we found him and decided to have him cater for us. I would recommend him to absolutely any event big or small you...