It’s not easy running a restaurant in Westport.
Ask Carlos Pia, who closed De Tapas on Sunday, just 2 years after opening the Post Road gastrobar.
Or 190 Main, which departed a few months ago.
Both were downtown, in the center of Westport’s dining world.
It’s even more difficult when you’re off the beaten path.
The Post Road on the Norwalk line is not exactly Podunk. Yet it’s also not front and center on diners’ mental maps.
Just ask Raman Bindra and his sister Simi.
They own The Naan. Every day — except Tuesday, but including Thanksgiving, Christmas and all other holidays — they drive to Westport from Queens and Long Island.
Simi and Raman Bindra, at The Naan.
Their Indian restaurant has drawn raves, and a steady stream of regular customers.
But the lunch crowd has dwindled since COVID, as nearby offices are partially or fully closed. Dinners are sometimes slow.
Raman and Simi do all they can. They cater for schools and other organizations. They open their space for parties — birthdays, baby showers, prayer meetings — of up to 110 people (with or without Indian food; guests can even bring in their own). They curtained off the back, so the space feels more intimate.
And they continue to serve their excellent meals. Chicken tikka marsala, butter chicken, kebabs and sizzlers are special favorites. There is a full bar.
The large kitchen and location — formerly Kibberia, and before that John’s Best Pizza — appealed to Raman when he first saw it. He designed the space himself, and opened in 2018.
Mixed grill at The Naan.
COVID was of course difficult. The Naan closed for 2 months, then reopened with an emphasis on takeout.
Business picked up in 2021 and ’22. Last year, however, was much slower.
The Bindras are trying to get the word out. Simi is visiting businesses throughout Westport, Norwalk, Wilton and Fairfield, touting their full-meal $13 lunch platters (appetizer, entrée, naan bread, vegetable, rice).
They’re pushing delivery. But — as with many restaurants — the economics are daunting.
Uber, DoorDash and Grubhub take 30 to 35% of each order. Direct delivery — up to a 10-mile radius — is more profitable, but can take 60 to 70 minutes.
Raman hails his customers. “Westport people love Indian food,” he says. “We have regular guests from Shelton. A group of 20 people from New Haven stop in on their way to and from New York.”
They find their way to The Naan, on well-traveled-but-not-a-dining-destination Post Road West.
Raman and Simi are working hard, in hopes many others do too.
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