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By Jill Nagy
Nafeesa Koslik grew up in India, the oldest of five children. So, “by means of necessity” she started cooking when she was eight years old, she said.
While living in Milton with her husband and three children, a restaurant building became available at about the time she was laid off from her job in hotel management. As a result, Nani’s Indian Kitchen opened at 256 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa.
The business is “going like wildfire, very busy,” she said.
After a soft opening, the restaurant officially opened the day after Thanksgiving. That Friday and the following Saturday, Koslik served meals in the restaurant. However, with COVID-19 restrictions, the establishment can only seat eight to 10 people at a time, instead of the normal 33. Consequently, Koslik switched to a take-out only format for the time being.
The building, which she is renting, needed some renovations, including new grease traps in the kitchen, a new floor and removal of the bar in the dining room, and some general painting and sprucing up. Her husband and children pitched in to get the work done. The family also helps out, as needed, with the restaurant business. In addition, there are two employees.
She was born in Hyderabad, in southern India, and lived in Mumbai, Kolkotta, and Chennai. She described the menu as “multi-regional,” reflecting the fact that she and her family moved often in India due to her father’s changing work assignments. She became familiar with many of India’s varied cuisines.
Koslik came to the U.S. when she was 19 and lived in Schenectady until moving to Milton five and a half years ago.
Nani’s Indian Kitchen is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4- 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. It its closed on Monday. People can order online at www.nanisindian.com or at 518 490-2019.