Mezban House Is a Destination For Bangladeshi Food in Queens
"A new Bangladeshi restaurant in Elmhurst that centers on authentic, home-style cooking led by chef-founder Sharmin Akther and partner Mehraz Ahmed. It has drawn attention for its beef jhura (jhura mangsho), a spunky curry cooked for hours until tender, then dry-fried until crispy and caramelized; the dish is commonly eaten with torn pieces of chaler roti. The menu emphasizes classic mezbani preparations—like the tongue-lashing mezbani beef and long-fried, inky kalabhuna—alongside nola dal gosht enriched with bone marrow, lively vorta/bhurta in mustard oil, seafood such as loitta shutki bhuna, and sorisha sauces for pomfret and hilsa. Akther makes many components herself, from gulab jamun served on clotted cream and red rice for the malai jarda to hand-made vermicelli for laccha semai, and the dining room’s warm, family-friendly vibe (pumpkin-orange walls, modest decor) has prompted diners to travel outside established Bangladeshi hubs to seek out this high-quality, true-to-home cuisine." - Chris Crowley
