Chef Salil Mehta is a real natural in the kitchen. He's been in the industry for more than a decade. 

Last August, he opened Laut Singapura in Gramercy to bring the Singaporean cuisine to New Yorkers. He said it was a huge success, until the pandemic changed everything.

"You have to change with the times and grow and evolve," Mehta said.

What You Need To Know

  • Chef/Owner Salil Mehta says NYC was craving a Singaporean street food spot

  • He opened the Gramcery location in August 2019 and it was a huge success, along with his other restaurants

  • The coronavirus has upended all plans, including a work trip to Singapore

Now, Mehta is focused on staying open while keeping his employees and customers safe. 

The restaurant's main source of income is outdoor dining, which can be difficult with an often unpredictable forecast. 

He is allowed to operate at 25% capacity indoors, but Mehta said his customers are not ready for it.

"See, the weather just changed everything we were going to do tonight," he said during NY1's visit to the restaurant when rain started to pour down. 

The constant changes are exhausting, but he knows he is not alone. 

All of the other restaurant owners on the block are dealing with the same thing. 

Mehta said while every day is an emotional rollercoaster, he does it because of his passion for cooking. 

He hopes to continue serving Singaporean street food to the New York City area.