Punjabi Restaurant Sher-e-Punjab Opens in Downtown Middletown on King Street

A Punjabi restaurant named after a 19th-century Sikh conqueror has planted its flag on King Street, bringing goat curry, malai kofta, and nearly a decade of culinary ambition to downtown Middletown.

Sher-e-Punjab, which translates to "Lion of Punjab" and takes its name from Maharaja Ranjit Singh, held its ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 King St. on March 11. Mayor Joe DeStefano and Alderman Ward 1 Joseph Masi were among the officials who attended alongside downtown business organizers.

"I am thrilled to welcome this new addition to our downtown culinary scene," DeStefano said in an email. "The opening of this Indian restaurant not only brings delicious, authentic flavors to our city but also strengthens our reputation as a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community. Owners are great people and the choices in the city are unmatched so please give them a try!"

The restaurant has three owners, all originally from the state of Punjab in India. Malkit Singh, an entrepreneur who runs other businesses in the area, said the group saw an opportunity to acquire a restaurant and decided to use it to bring Punjabi culture and food to the city. The second named owner, Harjinder Singh, serves as part-owner and chef. He spent seven years working in restaurant kitchens, including a stint at Namaste restaurant, before opening a place of his own.

The menu spans vegetarian and meat dishes rooted in Punjabi cooking. Paneer tikka, described as a homemade cottage cheese kabob, is priced at $13.99. Malai kofta, made from cottage cheese and potato dumplings finished in a cashew cream gravy, runs $14.50. Matar paneer, cubed cottage cheese with green peas in a creamy tomato sauce, is $15.50. Butter chicken, built on turmeric, garam masala, cumin, and cinnamon, is $17.99. Fish curry with coconut milk is $18.99, and bone-in goat curry, simmered in a ginger-garlic tomato sauce, tops the list at $19.99. Soups include a Tomato Basil Shorba, and the dessert menu features Gulab Jamun, Gajar Ka Halwa, Badami Kheer, and Shakori Rasmalai.

Sher-e-Punjab is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reach the restaurant at (845) 407-8925 or visit sherepunjabindianrestaurant.com for the full menu.