Family ties and healthy living fuel Mineola's new Oak & Orange store

Meet the new owner, Smitty Uppal Malhotra Oak and Orange In Mineola.

Malhotra, 33, of Dix Hills, is driven by a passion for living a healthy lifestyle that starts with what you put into your body.

And she is equally passionate about sharing her knowledge with others.

So after months of searching, planning, shopping and tasting, she Oak and Orange It's opening this fall at 91 Mineola Boulevard, where you can find food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients on the go without having to go through a fast food drive-thru.

This includes bowls, salads, sandwiches, prepared meals, beverages, and even pantry items.

“We wanted to open a restaurant with an emphasis on innovative, fresh food; a place where people could enjoy both indulgent dining and satisfying, healthy meals,” Marhorta told Greater Long Island.

“We felt there was a need in the area for fresh food options served in a nice atmosphere.”

Marhorta saw a need for more fresh ingredient culinary options and a place to sit down and dine in a beautiful, modern setting, so Mineola was the obvious choice for the restaurant's location.

The breakfast sandwich was also inspired by her honeymoon in Japan.

Patrons will find that family and personal life experiences are the inspiration for most of the items on the menu. You can see from here.

Take the Oak & Orange Iced Tea, for example, which was inspired by her father's own recipe.

Or Bombay Sandy.

“[It’s] “It's a combination of a sandwich my mother used to make for me when I was growing up and one that my mother-in-law used to make for me many times,” Malhotra explained.

“It's really a tribute to my family and the experiences I had with them.”

— Photo courtesy of Oak & Orange