Cafe Lahooti — Restaurant in Town of Smithtown

I was sooo excited to see Cafe Lahooti open again. If you loved it before, give the new owner a chance because WOW!

First of all, the service is great, the lady behind the counter was super friendly and explained all the items I was interested in and gave recommendations for stuff to try as well. Everything is very fresh which I really appreciated.

First visit was yesterday, They still have my old favorite ~ Rose Milk Tea, somehow it is even better now?! Yesterday I tried that & the Malai Kulfi ice cream which was sooo delicious. Definitely a traditional recipe just be aware Kulfi will not have the same texture as American/European ice cream though I actually prefer the super rich creaminess and complexity of flavor of Kulfi ice cream! Kulfi is made basically by simmering down whole milk until it is very thick and gets browned so it develops a creamy nutty and very slightly carmelized flavor (think brown butter, done right). Then most recipes add pistachios and perhaps some traditional spices like saffron or cardamom, some might add rose syrup or other tradition eastern spices. And Kulfi has a much thicker denser texture because unlike American ice cream it is NOT air whipped. As a bonus Kulfi usually contains less fat & less sugar than American ice cream though it does not taste that way.

Then I had to go again to try more flavors today 😅 I tried the strawberry cheesecake ice cream which knocked my socks off 😻 if they still have the strawberry cheesecake flavor do not pass it up because the base somehow tastes exactly like the best cheesecake- down to the tiniest hint of that tanginess you get with cream cheese based products, add the perfect proportion of strawberry chunks and you get bliss. I also tried the Kulfi milk and again, it has that super indulgent richness in texture and complex flavor.

The only negatives- I showed up right after they opened and the boba was not ready yet, I forgot to ask what time it is usually ready by unfortunately 🫤

Also, the rose ice cream had a texture that was a little bit off, like it might have melted a tiny bit and then refrozen. That was disappointing because the flavor was fantastic but the texture made it unpalatable.

Next time I'm planning to try their version of Dubai chocolate- but keep in mind it takes time because it has to be made to order so the filling doesn't get mushy which is why the original is not available here.

Also the hours are from 12pm-12am so it is a great late night hangout & the lighting is super bright, definitely enough to read books or play games.

Overall really liked the new Lahooti, there are not any places in the area which do such a wide variety of Indian/middle eastern drinks & desserts

Also hint hint, would love to see a rose or mango lassi on the menu 😍

Go check it out, this is definitely my new...

I am happy to have a halal cafe option in Suffolk. I came here 4 times so far, 3 of those times recently under the new owners. While I understand staff is in training, it’s also been open under new management since December and that’s ample time for consistency and time management. Once there’s a grand opening, staff should have already gone through training prior. Every time I came, the wait was very long for 2 items. We tried the paratha roll, shawarma roll, ice cream, mango milk tea, Kashmiri chai over the last 3 visits. The first time we got the paratha roll, it took over 25 mins but it was busy and the young man apologized and it tasted great. The green sauce was great and had some kick which is what I expect from Pakistani style food. The Kashmiri chai was lacking in flavor and mainly tasted like milk and lacked the nuts to call it Kashmiri chai. Also tried the shawarma roll and I wouldn’t call it that - there was no shawarma flavor and spices or sauce (mainly tasted like mayo) and it was too stuffed with fries than anything else. The ice cream flavors are good but are always so hard, I can barely scoop it up with a spoon. Since the paratha roll was made great the first time, I decided to go again. This time someone else made the order. I was the only one waiting and it still took longer than I expected. This time there was a tiny amount of green sauce and it lacked the spice and flavor I was looking forward to. The third time, I gave the paratha roll another shot - this time asking for green sauce on the side. This time it was the same man as the first time so the sauce was ample but either the paratha was different or it was not cooked well. It was very soggy and couldn’t hold the contents of the roll. Again ice cream was very hard. Iced drinks were good. Everything is a little pricey which is totally fine but consistency and quality is expected with these prices. I really would like this establishment to succeed and continue to serve the community. There is an immense amount of potential here - especially for lunch and brunch - I hope my comments are helpful and I hope there is continued effort for...

If you’re looking for a place that delivers both flavor and charm, this spot is an absolute winner! From the second we stepped inside, we were met with warm hospitality and a cozy, welcoming vibe. It’s a smaller space, but it has such a comforting, intimate feel—perfect for enjoying a relaxed meal with good company.

We kicked things off with the paratha roll, and honestly, it was mind-blowing. The rotti was buttery, flaky, and perfectly crisp on the outside while still being soft on the inside. The filling was seasoned to perfection—every bite packed a punch of bold, savory flavors. It’s the kind of dish you try once and instantly crave again.

Then came the Dubai Love crepe, and let me tell you… it completely stole the show. Rich, indulgent, and full of character—it felt like dessert and art had a baby. The flavors were layered beautifully, and it was clear a lot of thought went into every detail. It’s one of those dishes that lives up to the hype and then some!

To drink, we tried the strawberry tea, which was light, aromatic, and just the right amount of sweet—super refreshing and the perfect palate cleanser. And then came the pistachio coffee latte, which was smooth, creamy, and had that delicious hint of nuttiness that made it feel so luxurious.

Every single thing we tried was a hit, and the combination of amazing food, kind service, and a relaxed vibe makes this place stand out. I’m already counting down the days...