Buffalo Rising Online

Jul 22nd 2007, 8:28am By Christa Glennie Seychew

Moving to a new city isn’t an easy thing. Opening a new business, particularly a restaurant, isn’t simple either. For Khondoker Karim and wife Selina Afroj, the undertaking of both ventures has proven to be worth the stress and aggravation.

The move to Buffalo from their former home on Long Island has provided them with opportunities they might not have otherwise had. Karim credits Buffalo’s economic climate with his ability to own three rental properties as well as the building within which their new restaurant is housed. “To open this place on Long Island would have cost us millions of dollars,” he told me.

Street Café and Halal Foods offers a unique menu and what Karim believes to be the only halal restaurant in the city. (Halal means “permissible” in Arabic, and pertains to foods that fall within Islamic dietary restrictions). The family’s commitment to their beliefs is evident in the posted prayer schedule, informing customers of the times throughout the day when the counter is unattended while the family prays.

Street Café has been designed to meet the needs of the Vernon Triangle neighborhood. In addition to providing fairly traditional Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani foods, residents in the surrounding area can stop in for the typical American breakfast foods, including danish and muffins, eggs, home fries and pancakes. After 11 a.m., they can choose from a rather extensive menu featuring specials (like cheeseburgers and fish fry) or Street Café’s interpretation of Middle Eastern cuisine.

Chicken tandoori, shish kabob, goat curry, and biriyani are a few of the dishes present, as is an interesting variation on the taco, consisting of ground chicken curry, American cheese, tomato and lettuce all wrapped up in a nun (soft pita bread which is homemade on site). Almost everything is served with two sauces, one a Tabasco style sauce, the other creamy and made from yogurt. Items can be purchased a la carte, or in a combination platter which includes nun, fries and a salad of tomatoes and shredded lettuce. Afroj does the cooking in the morning, and during the day assists Jahangir Alam, Karim’s uncle, a cook previously employed in NYC.

The neighborhood has received Street Café well, and Karim and his wife enjoy exposing the locals to new foods. The taco, an astoundingly huge portion running only $3.35 has quickly become a favorite. And with good reason according to my husband, who, despite his rather formidable appetite was only able to finish half. Another favorite was the shish kabob ($1.50 each), ground chicken cooked on a skewer. It was super spicy without heat, making it very flavorful- especially with the addition of hot sauce.

Desserts can be found in the cooler, cakes and custards are most prevalent, each running less than $2 a serving.

The vibe here is very casual, food is served in styrofoam containers, seating is limited and the coffee is self-serve.

Street Café is a little rough around the edges, but the folks that run it are extremely friendly, and are certainly contributing to the growth and stabilization of their little neighborhood.

The Karim family is looking forward to their next project- turning the upstairs apartment into a banquet facility.

Street Café & Halal Foods
2614 Main St, 14214
716.832.5340, call for hours