Ridwan the Wantagh Clay Oven

Friendly staff, very welcoming food was ok not the best Indian food just ok. Owner said they were going to start serving Indian pizza soon. Maybe worth taking a trip back.

Fantastic food, fantastic service, fantastic experience. The owner, Ridwan, was friendly, polite, and humble. He offered for us to taste different sauces before we chose our dinner, and gave some good advice on ordering (and how much to order… I was ordering far too much at first without knowing, but he was kind enough to let me know that ahead of time and even told me that my satisfaction with the meal is worth more than the few extra dollars he would have made off my additional orders).
The food is awesome– very rich and flavorful. Plus, you get a LOT of food woth your order, and it’s very inexpensive. We got the coconut curry chicken and chicken korma, both of which were great. As an appetizer we got the samosa chaat with chickpeas in a great yogurt sauce. It was awesome– and big.
I highly recommend Ridwan– you won’t be let down!

Excellent Indian food in a Wantagh! Finally! Just came back from dinner. My wife and I had the chicken curry coconut and the lamb rogan josh. Both dishes where authentically excellent. Ridwan the owner was pleasant and helpful and knows a few things about cooking. as does his wife. This is a sparsely decorated restaurant that was a former pizzeria. Don’t let the décor keep you away. the food is great! And the prices are more then fair. The couple that own Ridwan deserve your business. don’t hesitate!

What this restaurant lacks in atmosphere they make up for in the quality and taste of the food. They cooked the chicken tiki in the tandoori oven in front of us. Chicken curry was delicious. I’ve only ever eat frozen samosa, but the homemade samosa was amazing and will never eat frozen again. The basmati rice is made in such a way (which the owner explained) that made the rice so light and fluffy, truly the best I’ve ever tasted. I highly recommend this restaurant for people who like Indian and for those who have never tried it but want to. It’s a small mom and pop business who take pride it what they serve to people.

If you have eaten Indian food you will know that this is awful. Do not bother.
There are great Indian restaurants not far away in Hicksville.

Walked by this place on my way to the train one day, then checked it out on Unilocal to get a feel for what to expect. It was rated 5 stars, but I did have some concerns as almost half the Unilocalers at the time had only reviewed this place, or this an another place — and I’ve been burned by that before. My concerns proved to be meaningless here, as this place is as advertised — 5 stars.
One of my mentors at my former job was from India, so I’ve had my share of Indian meals across the city — this was the best Indian food I’ve ever had. I find myself at Tamarind down in Tribeca every so often, and obviously the fit-​out is superior, but as far as chef vs. chef — I preferred Ridwan.
I sent Ridwan a Unilocal message inquiring if there were any plans to add alcohol to the menu, he let me know I was more than welcome to bring my own, with no corkage fee. A couple a days later we found ourselves there on a late Friday afternoon, with a couple of bottles of wine. We were the only couple there for the hour and half or so we were there, but he did have his share of take-​out orders.
We started with the samosa chaat for two, which was spectacular. And definitely enough for two. The flavors he was able to develop in this little Wantagh kitchen were absolutely spectacular — this would be the theme throughout the meal. Another theme throughout the meal would be how fresh everything was. Everything was prepared to order — and so what if it took some time? Some things are worth waiting for. As far as entrees go, my wife had the shrimp coconut curry, and I had the chicken tikka masala. Best chicken tikka I’ve ever had, and I have to be in the mood for curry to like it, and generally prefer the Thai curries — Ridwan’s was something I could enjoy at anytime.
The service, who I am assuming is Ridwan, was great. A lot of orders were coming in, but he made sure to look after us and came off as one of the more sincere people in what at times can be a not so nice business. We also enjoyed a complimentary chick pea dish, and for dessert we had this amazing rice pudding that Ridwan added his own beautiful personal touch to. This dessert would be phenomenal in any upscale restaurant at triple the cost. Speaking of cost, the check was $ 25. Ridwan knows the business better than I do, and I guess he has to keep costs down based on the atmosphere and that take-​out is a big part of his business — but we honestly felt like we were stealing.
As far as that atmosphere, it used to be a pizzeria and it still has that same feel. But the food Ridwan produces is completely disproportionate to the atmosphere. Please don’t let that stop you, as you will be missing out. I get caught up on atmosphere too much of the time, I like my window table, and the setting really makes a difference. But if you’re dumb like me you will miss out on a great dining experience.
So if it’s not clear by now, this place is a slam dunk. We cannot wait to come back. The only possible negative is that I hope Ridwan does not forget the little town of Wantagh when he inevitably moves on to fine dining in NYC or Paris. This corner place in Wantagh will not be his end game, he will move on to the brighter lights and he will shine.

Totally agree with all the positive reviews of this place. We ate here this evening and walked out full. We tried the pakoras, samosas, chicken tikka masala and coconut curry chicken. All were as good as Indian food we’ve eaten anywhere in this country as well as in London, England (where Indian restaurants are as common as Chinese places are here).
One word of caution: if this place isn’t patronized more and soon, it will be gone. And then this culinary desert called Wantagh will be back to Chinese take-​out, red sauce Italian and chain restaurants. Get to this place and start eating already.

After reading all the positive reviews, my husband and I had to try this place. Definitely worth trying if you live in the area or are heading home from the train… If we lived closer we would be ordering from here quite often.
We ordered the Samosa Chaat 4.50
Combination of vegetable samosa, chickpeas, chopped onions and potatoes tossed with mild spices and yogurt.
It was very tasty. The only negative was the chick peas were not hot. But very tasty…
We also got Full Meal Chicken Tikka 11.95
Roasted boneless chicken marinated in aromatic spices.
This was the best chicken tikka we ever had. Moist, juicy and tons of flavor.
and Palak Paneer Dinner 11.95
Cubes of cottage cheese cooked with a spinach gravy.
I have had this many times at other places… This version was slightly different, a little watery, and not as flavorful as I have had in the past, but the Paneer (cheese cubes) was heavenly, fresh and delicious. When we come back I know to ask for it spicy to give it some more flavor.
We packed half of it to go home and I enjoyed it for my lunch the next day.
The owner is super nice. Spent the end of the night telling us his history and about his family.
he also gave us the ricotta milk balls in honey for dessert. It was tasty!!!
Can’t wait to come back next time I am in the area!

Just came back from Ridwan and loved it! We had the «tasting menu» and everything was delicious. The owner was very kind and made sure we were enjoying everything. It was an unbeatable price for so much great tasting food. We will definitely be going back.

Authentic Indian cuisine comes to Wantagh! I’m writing as I enjoy every bite, and local residents need to come out and support a great family restaurant. The food is fresh and delicious. You don’t need to know what to order. The owners are very personable and will help you decide; or simply go with the home cooked special of the day, you can’t go wrong. You will have a unique lunch or dinner for an affordable price and find yourself coming back for more.

On the recommendation of Tom C., Bonnie G. and I braved the cold and ice to have Saturday dinner at Ridwan. I called ahead and spoke to Ridwan and asked if 9pm rezzy was ok as his listing says he closes at 10. His response. please come and I will take good care of you. We arrived around 8:45 and tip toed across the snow and Ice at the curb and sidewalk to enter his establishment.
There was only one other couple there and they were just finishing their dinner.
As the only patrons in the place Ridwan gave us a large table in the rear and took the time to introduce himself and give us his history and that of the restaurant. He is from Nigeria and has restaurant experience from there and other locales and is more than worthy of The Clay Oven. Unfortunatly for me, I forgot to bring our wine as this is a BYOB! was in a rush and just my bad… Had to drink alcohol free beer… was cold and did the job! bonnie G. had a wonderful freshly made Mango Lasse… was so smooth!
Ridwan offered to serve us a Tasting Menu, so we could try several dishes and we took him up on it. We started with a Samosa Chaat for 2 which tantalized our taste buds and got us ready for what came next. We next had Veggy Pakura with a very tasty coating that was served with a sweet sauce and white sauce and a wonderful Cottage Cheese with Spinach dish.
Getting to the small plate entres, we first had Chicken Tikka with Grilled sweet onion. I found the Lamb to be the best and tastiest of the mains… We had Lamb prepared 2 ways and they were tender and delicioius… We were stuffed by now and Ridwan brought out dessert for us… Galub Jamun… milk soaked balls in honey syrup… made us warm and fuzzy after finishing that…
Ridwan is a standup guy with lots of history in the restaurant business and the fact that he has brought it to us on Long Island is marvelous. He has lots of plans for the business and we will be visiting him every step of the way. Thanks Ridwan for a great evening!

HOLYYYYY CHAT. This place was so friggin good and the reviews actually held true, spot on…
I’m no indian food pro and I brought my friend that has never had it before … We opted for the lunch special that The owner, Ridwan, had gone over with us. Coconut curry chicken! Juicy, tender cubes of chicken swimming in curry sauce, it was piping hot just the way I love my food to be and extreme flavors. Came with rice and veggies… All delicious… I was stuck on the samosa chat, so we ordered it and oh my god I’m obsessed. It was a samosas chopped up in a bowl and some veggies with this yogurt sauce which was amazing… We wanted to drink it! So good! The flavors in all of these dishes really are like a spice party in your mouth and the cooling of the yogurt sauce really amplified it all for me as I had a bite of the samosa chat between my other bites of everything!
This place is amazing and used to be an old pizza place? I’m not from around this area but also not too far, I will definitely return here and I highly recommend that you pop on in here!
Honestly, if you want a freshly prepared, piping hot meal while chatting it up with the most stand up, kind owner then def come in here. My friend and I spoke with him and he explained on how he only prepares some things bc it’s better to have this food more fresh especially for these hearty chicken dishes. There is no way if this were prepared in advance would it maintain its juiciness factor … Yes, it took a bit of time but honestly not that long, no longer than I usually wait for dining out and it really was an experience …
I see amazing things ahead for this place. With food like that using minimal amounts of oil and maintaining its freshness… You’re going to draw a crowd… Only good things to come, especially since the owner also seemed like a super humble dude that puts his heart and tradition into his dishes. We loved this place.

We went the very first week the restaurant opened. The family is just lovely, very welcoming and friendly. The food was delicious. As with many other reviewers, it did take a while, but the portions were so generous and the gentleman owner so friendly, we did not mind at all. We had a lovely time, with fun conversation, waiting for our food! Plus, they gave us free sample appetizers while we were waiting, so how can anyone complain?!
They FINALLY got their Tandoori oven (!) so now all choices have delicious white meat chicken. Tandoori white meat is much more tender and moist than standard white meat chicken. So for a while, they were using dark meat only. They always had a tandoori oven, but could not use it before because the Town of Hempstead was dragging their feet to approve the license for it. No fresh naan yet, but their papadum is very delicious. All-​in-​all, enjoy the delicious food, the warm, friendly hosts, and the generous portions! You will not be disappointed!

The food is fresh, delicious and worth the wait. Here with my Brother and Sister from Texas who love Indian food and they enjoyed it immensely. The owner/​chef is extremely friendly, nice and engaging in conversation. I would highly recommend eating in or take out.

The owner/​waiter (and chef?) seemed to be an incredibly nice guy, so I hope he does well, and the food was good, but look elsewhere unless you’ve got lots of time or the place is empty when you’re passing by. My friend and I stopped for a quick dinner and were there for well over two hours, during which time the food came out in fits and starts (samosas after about thirty minutes, rice maybe 45 minutes later, the main dishes to go with the rice 10 minutes after that, and the vegetables to go with the main dish 10 more minutes thereafter. Something like that, anyway.). Maybe they’ll eventually be able to hire more staff, but for now they’re just not equipped to handle more than a very few people at a time. Stick with take-​out.

People in Wantagh and beyond need to get in this place. Food is great. Fresh and delicious. Better than any Indian food I’ve ever had. It’s in the space that used to be a pizza place. Perfect for low key dinner, lunch or take away.

Stopped here for a late lunch on recommendation of a friend and fellow Vegan. My first impression on entering were the Pre Fixe (sp?) signs that showed immediately that the veg. options were a dollar or more cheaper than meat options. While most won’t appreciate this, there is a quickly growing segment of our LI population which is weary of asking for meat products to be removed from a preparation but still having to pay full price!
Ridwan himself greeted me warmly with a smile and introduction of himself and his wife. I asked if the Vegetarian options could be made w’out dairy or egg, totally plant based and Vegan, and he spoke with much understanding, then asked a number of questions about other preferences including gluten sensitivity and white versus whole grain products, among others. In short order I had a 3 course lunch that was just about the best «Indian» meal I’ve had for any price, let alone $ 8! Ridwan is very careful to explain that they only use fresh produce, nothing canned or frozen, with a judicious use of spices, catering to an individual’s preferences.
Past 2 on a weekday meant nobody else in this smallish restaurant so I can’t comment much on service, noise, etc. but while not «fancy» everything I saw was very clean and neat and a BIG plus for this environmentalist, no plastic used in service. Ceramic dishes, used here, keep food warm, as one eats, much better than the traditional metal dishes used in many Indian restaurants.
If Ridwan creates such an enjoyable experience when they are a bit more busy this place will be a big hit on the South Shore of LI. Indian food enthusiasts down here are pretty much forced to travel North to Hicksville and beyond for such ethnic fare, so I believe this place will be a hit!

While I must give this place credit for being one of the few Indian restaurants in the area I am slightly disappointed in the food I received
When I placed my order over the phone I was really pleased since the person was very nice. They couldn’t process a credit card over the phone but luckily I had cash at home.
I ordered two chicken tikka masala and it came in what seemed like the size of one slightly large order. I know Indian food isn’t known for its portion size but still. I also know from growing up eating Indian food that it is not known for being low in calories. With that being said, while the food was good it seemed to lack the decadence that I usually expect. There was not a real richness or depth of flavor.
The sauce was thin and I missed being able to mop it up with naan.
The samosas were good and the sauce that came with it was very tasty.
The side desert was one piece each of the balls dipped in honey. Again a nicely done morsel but at least two each would have been nice.
I will probably order again from here or at least drop in for a pick up order.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
It was my privilege to spend an hour and a half this afternoon with the owner Ridwan, chatting endlessly and enjoying his hot, fresh and well seasoned delightful Indian cooking. Ridwan is an veteran international restaurateur with another restaurant in Nigeria. Based upon my experience with his food, I can state unequivocally that Long Islanders, and particularly those in the vicinity of Wantagh, should be glad he crossed several continents and oceans to get here.
This restaurant is in a very small rectangular space, a perfect setup for its expertly prepared cook to order food. Speaking of which… I started with a Coconut and Mango Smoothie ($ 3.00). Thick, delicious and not overly sweet. The Appetizers, included in the Chicken Tikka Masala Meal ($ 11.95!!!) were Aloo Bonda, a savory and perfectly seasoned fritter containing potatoes and chick pea flour and Vegetable Samosas. Both were superb. The Chicken Tikka Masala, accompanied by Indian-​seasoned vegetables and perfectly cooked Basmati Rice, was moderately spiced with very fresh, hot and well seasoned white chicken. The accompanying tomato-​based gravy was a great tasting blanket and moisturizer for the rice. Delicious! The best version of this dish that I’ve ever tasted… and I work one block from Curry Hill in Manhattan so I should know. Lunch included Naan and Roti, both exceptional. The meal concluded with excellent rice pudding. To reiterate… all this for $ 11.95!!!
FINAL TAKE: While I enjoy Indian buffets, there is a big difference between perfect cooked to order food and buffet food, especially since Ridwan cooks the former at buffet prices.
RUN…DO NOT WALK… TO WANTAGH… TO ENJOY IT!!!

A brand new restaurant that’s barely open a week. The menu is still limited, but the owner/​chef is very friendly and accommodating. He was able to make many suggestions on his food as well as handle special requests easily and deliciously.
The food is freshly made and quite delicious. I had the lamb vindaloo, which was succulent, savory and very delicious! It was not quite as hot as I’ve had it other places, but the owner explained that, this is the usual level of spiciness he prepares it, but next time, I can ask for it either more or less highly spiced. He stated that he wants to cater to his clientele as much as possible.
My lady requested eggplant, which was not on the menu and he easily obliged with a kind of eggplant stew that was completely enjoyable and delicious.
Every meal for dinner includes a side vegetable (we had cauliflower), rice, papadam, roti, and a vegetable samosa. All of which were fresh and delectable. The mint chutney provided as a condiment was also delicious!
At the end of the meal, we were each given a small plate with a gulab jamun for dessert. This was also very well made, fresh and delicious!
Overall, a great experience, and I hope this business takes off and becomes very successful! I highly recommend it!