Astoria's Namaste Indian Opening Second Location in Fifth Avenue Zito's Space
Thursday, July 23, 2025 at 9:09AM ;){kind=link}
When Zito's Sandwich Shoppe closed its only remaining Park Slope location last month, owner Marcello Bucca assured me that a "fantastic Indian" restaurant would be opening in its place. Well that indeed seems to be the case: Many thanks to a tipster for sending the above photo, of signage that's gone up for Namaste Indian.
This will be the second location of the popular Astoria, Queens restaurant of the same name. Upscale yet still reasonably priced, the Halal Indian restaurant has four stars on Yelp with 300 reviews. It's known for its $10.99 lunch buffet as well as popular menu items like tandoori chicken (made in a real tandoor oven), goat curry, biryani, tikka masala, and homamade naan. The restaurant also regularly offers solid Groupon deals.
Solid Indian has been difficult to come by in these parts; Aarpan was on to something good but its replacement isn't as popular, and many other Indian spots have come and gone. This part of Fifth Avenue is also decidedly lacking in the Indian department, so this is an opening that all signs point to being most welcome.
Along with Williamsburg's popular Ramen Yebisu opening a second location up on Seventh, this could be the beginning of a trend. Hopefully Xi'An Famous Foods decides to pay us a visit next.
Coming Soon in Food, Scoops, Storefronts
Reader Comments (9)
Namaste is a terrific Indian restaurant. Certainly a huge improvement over Zito's which was great the first year and then pretty awful beyond that. Namaste is one of the better Indian restaurants I've eaten at.
Joy Indian on Flatbush isn't mentioned here much, but it's also very very good.
And yes, if Xian Famous Foods opens in Park Slope I never need to leave.
I feel that we will be about set on food options, (my other wish was for Vietnamese sit down which Bricolage has filled in spades!) although I would like something like a Court Street Grocers or something like that on 7th Avenue in the North Slope.
Yes to Xi'An Famous Foods! Somebody convince them to open up in the Slope.
Andrew,
Just write to them. They have an email on their website. I have done so and actually got a response back that they are considering it. If more people write to them, they may finally realize that it would be a good place to open!
Make sure you mention all the places like Luke's Lobster, Blue Bottle, Parm, Shake Shake, Doughnut Plant and all the rest that are opening in Park Slope recently to convince them that the time is right....
The new(ish) Indian restaurant on 7th Ave between 10th and 11th Sts, Indian Spice, is really good. I've been there now several times, and it is consistent.
It'd be nice to get a Southern Indian restaurant in the neighborhood too.
Wish someone could convince Zito's owner to do something with the vacant Zito's on 7th Avenue. Since they closed up shop it's remained exactly as they left it. Anyone know if there are plans for the space?
Park Slop:
Why would Zito's have anything to do with that space? They leased it and then they left. It's the landlord keeping the space empty, not Zito's.
Very happy about Namaste, I know it well from their location in Astoria. Great food.
Now that City Sub/s is reopening in Park Slope, no need for Zito's. That place went downhill fast after the first year.
The 7th avenue Zito's location is owned by Smiling Pizza