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A fierce new flavor has arrived in Lindenhurst.
Lionz Den, a Caribbean-American fusion restaurant, officially opened last Thursday at 609 W. Montauk Highway, serving up a mix of Guyanese-inspired dishes, American comfort food, and a deeply personal story.
It’s the creation of Nicole Baijnauth, who’s the director of operations at a CPA firm by day, and her husband Kevin — their first foray into the culinary world.
Nicole describes the restaurant as “where culture meets class,” a blend of bold flavors, a touch of elegance, and plenty of personality.
“It’s been our family dream to have a restaurant and bar for 15 years,” Nicole told Greater Long Island. “It’s what I’m most passionate about. It’s my baby.”
How it happened
Food and cocktail photos by Adrian Feliciano/courtesy.
Lionz Den was born out of Nicole’s Guyanese roots and her love for American food.
“I grew up loving American food, not Guyanese food all the time,” she said. “So I wanted to come up with something where I could combine the two.”
That combination shines through across the menu.
Take The King of the Jungle Burger — a classic hamburger with lettuce, tomato, and cheese, elevated by a homemade Caribbean-style sauce for “a little kick.” The pasta blends two sauces. The nachos swap out tortilla chips for plantains.
“It’s a fun twist on so many American favorites,” Nicole said.
But she’s quick to note that island flavor doesn’t always mean heat.
“We don’t want to overpower the food with spice,” she said. “We want you to be able to taste our flavors.”
That balance shows up in signature items like jerk wings, pepper shrimp, salmon, and Nicole’s go-to — lamb chops, cooked the Lionz Den way.
“Lamb chops are one of my favorite foods,” she said with a smile. “But I like mine a certain way, so that’s why it’s on there. We don’t ask customers how they want it cooked — we do it our style. No one has complained yet!”
Even classics like chow mein and fried rice come with a twist.
“It’s not like what you’d get in a traditional Chinese restaurant,” Nicole said. “It’s how our parents used to make it for us growing up.”
Just about everything at Lionz Den is made from scratch.
“It’s all made fresh here. Nothing prepared in advance,” she said. “If you order skewers, the meat is being placed on the sticks as soon as the order is placed.”
“Guyanese food is so underrated,” she added. “The American world has yet to know what that is — but that’s what we want to share with everyone.”
Inside ‘the den‘
The attention to detail is evident as soon as you walk through the front door.
Once a bar, the newly designed space is bold, modern, and chic — “Manhattan vibes without leaving the neighborhood,” as Nicole puts it.
“We put so much effort into the décor,” she said. “We wanted to create a city-type feeling, but without the city-type prices. I picked out everything with the help of my husband.”
Even the name Lionz Den carries meaning. Nicole and Kevin are both Leos — represented by a lion — and their three daughters complete the “den.”
If you go
- Lionz Den is located at 609 W. Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst.
- The restaurant is currently open Thursday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. for dinner.
- Reservations are recommended.
Top: Inside the Lionz Den, which opened this month at 609 W. Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst. (Credit: Andrew Rappaport) Inset: The Baijnauth family that’s behind the restaurant. (Credit: Adrian Feliciano/courtesy)
