By Esther Animalu
Located on the bustling strip of Bell Boulevard, Krave It has revolutionized the restaurant row offerings with a creative twist.
Touting unique menu creations and holiday-themed pizzas, this local eatery aims to appeal to the Bayside community and beyond.
For more than three years, Krave It — located at 40-15 Bell Blvd. — has been a stand-out in the neighborhood pizza industry, serving the community and incorporating weekly specials, all while zesty music radiates in the background.
Restaurant owner Vishee Mandahar, along with his staff members, have developed the Krave It brand through the creation of artistically inventive hot sandwiches and pizza.
“Krave It has a different approach to creating dishes, which distinguishes us from surrounding eateries,” Mandahar said. “Our toppings, visionary pizzas, and spontaneous ideas add to our trademark, which keeps customers coming back for more.”
The Mac-Tastic Pizza is the most popular among his customers, according to Mandahar. Made with a four-cheese mac ‘n cheese, the pizza is also topped with chipotle sauce, fresh cilantro and additional toppings, which can be added upon request.
“Our No. 1 selling pizza is definitely the Mac-Tastic. The creation of this dish is unconventional and out-of-the-box, which further adds to the innovative brand of our company and helps us stand out,” Mandahar said.
But the Mac-Tastic Pizza is not the only unique item on the menu. A typical creations such as: Love At First Sight, a buffalo chicken mac ‘n cheese served with cool ranch Doritos; Sweet Thang, a sweet sausage, cherry peppers, broccoli rabe and fresh mozzarella; and the Skinny Girl, consisting of grilled chicken, Swiss cheese, baby arugula, tomato and balsamic vinaigrette further adds to the diversity and zeal of the menu.
Old school hip-hop music playing in the background and bright-colored walls further shapes the appeal of the restaurant. When asked about creating a Krave It food chain beyond Bell Boulevard, Mandahar said there may be a chance of expansion in the future.
“I do aspire to eventually branch out outside of New York and set up more Krave It restaurants across the nation,” he said. “However, I am very fortunate to be featured on a historic and bustling boulevard that adds to the locality of the eatery.”
A Queens native and a 2004 graduate of Holy Cross High School, Mandahar is no stranger to the Bayside community. That’s celebrated with a dish known as the HC (Holy Cross) Knights, a grilled chicken dish with homemade pesto, roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella, which pays homage to Mandahar’s former high school. And the Dozo sub — consisting of a chicken cutlet, homemade vodka sauce, smoked mozzarella, pecorino and fresh basil — is named after Benjamin Cardozo High School.
Mandahar is proud of how the Krave It brand relates to the local community and is always looking for ways to improve his venue.
“Krave It is always searching for ways to elevate the pizza-making industry,” he said.
Krave It is open seven days a week to offer its creative dishes to all. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. every day and closes at midnight Sunday through Wednesday. The eatery is open until 2 a.m. on Thursdays and 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Reach reporter Esther Animalu by e-mail at eanim
