Shah's Introduces Halal Food To Vernon With A Party

VERNON, CT — There was a party going on Friday afternoon at Vernon's Tri-City Plaza, a celebration to introduce the town to a new cuisine.

Shah's Halal Food actually opened a couple of weeks ago, but Friday marked its grand opening celebration with owners Marlon and Pauline Ganesh and Chris and Marissa Hing offering up free meals.

Shah’s Halal started as a food cart in 2005 at 121st Street and Liberty Avenue in the Richmond Hill section of Queens in New York City. The founding family came to America from Afghanistan during the Soviet war and worked at a pizza place before taking the bold initiative of serving up family recipes.

In 2016, the family opened its first Long Island branch with the goal in mind of becoming, "the best Halal food restaurant in Long Island, NY," and has been growing ever since.

Marlon Ganesh said he has an electrical background, but became interested in the cuisine after discovering Shah's while visiting family members in New York.

"We were hooked on it," he said, while adding the family regularly stocked up for the trip back to Wethersfield. "We have a lot of family in New York and we would pick up Shah's every time."

The love of Shah's led the family to purchase a franchise territory (a 5-mile radius) and settle in Vernon.

The platters and gyros are the mainstays. The platters feature a seasoned chicken (just enough spice to render a mild kick) and lamb, combined with rice, lettuce, a variety of veggies and sauces that range from the popular white (mild) to green (a slight kick) to the red (might leave one mumbling).

The lamb is cooked in a unique way. It comes in large circular patties and is grilled that way first, then chopped for use on the platters and in gyros.

For the more conservative tastes, Shaws offers fries and nuggets, burgers and chicken and steak sandwiches.

Marlon is so into promoting his new endeavor that he has a catchy social media handle — @eatswithymarlon.

He also said he believes in "community." Shah's is keeping late hours — 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and Sunday; and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday — and said the staff plans to drop off late night meals to the police, nurses at the hospital and the homeless shelter regularly.

There already seems to be a following. For example, about 20 people came in after a late house party, followed by 10 more texted by the party guests last week. On Friday, the line snaked from Shah's, located next to ShopRite, way past Harbor Freight for the grand opening.

One group that has been to every location in Connecticut waited an hour for Friday's promotion.

"We're exited be be here and be part of the community," Marlon said. "Vernon has been outstanding."