Swadist is a Must Try
Swadist is a restaurant on Newark Ave. in India Square. At first glance it is pretty unremarkable – a cheerful but very basic interior and storefront. That impression changes immediately when the first plate of food arrives in front of you. It’s been a haven for in-the-know foodies since opening in 2019. It is a family-run business – the Rawat family, to be specific. Chef Rawat started cooking 25 years ago in New Delhi, working his way up from kitchen helper to accomplished cook at Oberoi Hotel before being sponsored to come to the U.S. to hone and share his cooking expertise as a Chef.
Chef Rawat specializes in not only North Indian cuisine but Indo-Chinese and Thai dishes as well. Meaning yes, along with all of the incredible Indian delicacies at Swadist, you can also get an incredible plate of Pad Thai as well as Chinese favorites like Chicken Kang Pao and Vegetable Manchurian.
But back to the Indian specialties. One of the most popular dishes is the Baby Goat Masala–bone-in-goat smothered in an onion and tomato gravy and Indian spices. There are many, many lamb, goat, chicken and seafood specialties here and the expert preparation of these definitelyput Swadist on the foodie map. There are also many vegetarian delights that are equally full of flavor. The best introduction to Chef Rawat’s many meals is likely the Weekend Lunch Buffet – only 19.99 per person. Be it lunch or dinner, Swadist is halal and BYOB. This place is a real Jersey City gem.
715 Newark Ave. www.swadistmeal.com