Gola Party @dhamakanyc…read more Squinty smiles reserved for fun cocktails and delicious dishes at my all time favorite spot. If you don't like Indian food, you're not hitting up the right ones. Also, I meant to photograph the Paneer Tikka before biting into it but I was just too excited and forgot. - Dhungar Gosht - Short Rib Pulao - Butter Pepper Garlic Crab - Kashmiri Gosht Chaamp - Paneer Tikka - Rabdi NYC

Dhamaka is a modern yet upscale Indian restaraunt tucked away in the back of Essex market on the…read moreLower East Side. Because of its location, it may appear unassuming and underrated, but the food is bold, spicy, flavorful, and packed full of rich cultural elegance. On my first visit, I was able to try a few different dishes, both veg and non-veg, as well as one of their signature cocktails. We ordered to start the Kale Pakora Chaat (fried kale, tamarind chutney, with a sweet yogurt) and it was perfectly crispy, flaky, and delicious. Next, for main dish we ordered the Paneer Methi (fried paneer in a fenugreek and tomato blend) and I honestly can never complain when it comes to any paneer dish and I have to say this one was absolutely no exception. The paneer was so soft and tasty with the sauce and other spices that I couldn't help but feel like I was eating a home cooked meal. Lastly, I ordered the Shami kebab because I wanted to try a non veg dish. This item consists of lamb, minced and blackened, paired with a green chili sauce with mint. I have to say this was a complete miss for me; the lamb was so dry and mealy I couldn't finish it at all, on top of that it had too many spices and was a bit salty in my opinion so I needed a lot of water. I would seriously consider altering this dish before keeping it on the menu in its current state or removing it completely. If you're thinking of ordering this, I wouldn't recommend it as I'm sure they have other protein dishes on their menu that are far better. I'm looking forward to trying some of the others the next time I go. Lastly for cocktails, we ordered the Monsoon wedding (Indian gin, lychee, curry leaf, and lime). I thought the cocktail was alright, it didn't stand out too much to me as it was a fairly decent lychee drink that had a slightly muted flavor. I've noticed that Indian restaraunts often struggle to make good cocktails because too often they rely on mixing things that shouldn't really be mixed and adding unnecessary ingredients. Overall though, the time spent there was worth it and I appreciate that it's relatively easier to get a reservation here than at some of the other Indian spots in New York currently. Based on my experience, Dhamaka should be considered highly rated on that list.

Went here for our anniversary and we loved our meal here and that is saying something because my…read morehusband's family is from Kerala. Everything we had here was delicious - from the Iracchi Pathiri (beef pepper fry), Kozhi cutlets (shredded chicken cutlets) and the Ularthiyathu (baby goat roast). I am so happy that my husband absolutely enjoyed everything especially the chicken cutlets which he craves for quite a bit. Each dish was not only presented beautifully but also a total flavor bomb bursting with aromatic spices. I was particularly impressed that the meat in every one of the dishes was perfectly cooked and not chewy at all. The portions were also perfect - not too small, not too large but just right! For dessert, we got their popular Ilaneer Payasam which was so delightful - it is a creamy toasted coconut ice cream topped with a light, airy coconut foam! The ambiance is elevated fine-dining and the service is prompt. The highlight of the meal was not only the delicious food or the drinks but the friendly vibe of the staff and our interaction with them. Our server, the bartender and the busser - everyone was so friendly yet professional and they genuinely showed interest in talking to us. I would keep them in my fine-dining rotation for sure and would like to sit at the bar next time.

We had a really good meal at Kidilum. Our server was personable, friendly, and made us feel…read morewelcome. The atmosphere was definitely on the loud and dim side, so it wasn't the most relaxed setting, but the food made up for it. The crab curry, lamb chops, and drinks were definitely the stars of the meal. The crab was probably my favorite.It had lots of flavor and something I'd order again without hesitation. The lamb chops were also excellent, and the drinks were really well done. Overall, a fun place to try if you're looking for something different. I'd definitely go back for the crab and lamb chops!

Indienne was the most expensive Indian meal I've ever paid for. It was also one of the least…read morememorable. As someone who grew up with Indian food and who genuinely wanted to love what this restaurant is trying to accomplish, I kept waiting for a course that justified both the ambition and the price. Sadly for us, it never arrived. Dinner for four exceeded $1,000 before drinks. At that price, you're competing with Atomix, Jungsik, Per Se, Le Bernardin, restaurants that asks diners to trust that extraordinary prices will be rewarded with an extraordinary experience. Unfortunately, Indienne never earns that trust. Located on the second floor of an apartment building just outside the main Hudson Yards corridor, the restaurant feels oddly hidden. Walking upstairs feels less like entering a destination restaurant and more like arriving at someone's condominium. Once inside, the room doesn't elevate the experience. The lighting is flat, the decor subdued, and the space lacks any visual identity. Nothing draws your eye. Nothing tells a story. On to the actual tasting menu... The chickpea dhokla dissolved in your mouth almost instantly, leaving behind little of the nutty depth or airy fermentation that defines a good dhokla. The oyster pani puri was creative, but once you strip away the novelty of putting an oyster inside a shell, very little about it actually evoked pani puri. It wasn't offensive. It simply wasn't memorable. The avocado bhel looked more like an Oreo than bhel. Clever presentation, perhaps, but the bright acidity, crunch, spice and chaos that make bhel irresistible was a distant memory. The yogurt chaat? I honestly struggle to remember it only hours later. That became the recurring theme of the evening. Almost none of the dishes left an impression, none. Tiny portions aren't inherently an issue in tasting menus. But if you're serving two bites of something, those two bites have to explode with flavor. The lamb was restrained, the accompaniments sparse, and the entire course ended before it had a chance to become interesting. By the time the Chicken Makhani arrived, the richness of the meal finally appeared but not its soul. Left behind perhaps in the cold Chicago winter where Indienne has its roots. The accompanying dal was heavy. Garlic naan appeared almost as an afterthought. Rather than feeling satisfied, I simply felt weighed down. Indian food is one of the world's great cuisines because it balances contradiction, heat and sweetness. smoke and freshness, acidity and cream. Indienne removes many of those contrasts in pursuit of refinement, rarely replaces them with anything else. The petits fours were probably my favorite part of the evening, which says something when they're literally the last thing you're served. Perhaps there are diners who appreciate this restrained interpretation (to the point of delusion) of Indian cuisine. I wasn't one of them. At a time when Indian cuisine is experiencing a reinvention in NYC, I looked to Indienne to deliver on this conviction. If you're going to reinterpret pani puri, dhokla, egg curry, shammi kebab, and makhani, each reinterpretation should teach the diner something new about those classics. The meal felt less like an evolution of Indian cuisine than its echo. Familiar names but by the time they reached the table they had become pale reflections of the original, as though someone were describing India from memory rather than from experience.

This was a really unique experience, and I'm really glad it has made its way over to New York from…read moreChicago. I had the vegetarian tasting menu ($179) and spirit-free beverage pairing ($85). Each dish was very creative and well balanced, and I also felt that the beverage pairing was incredibly special and well tuned to the menu. After included 20% tip, the bill came to around $335 - expensive, but worth it for a special occasion. --- Chickpea - Dhokla Aerated white chocolate, puree over top with flavor. Looks like a typical dhokla but surprising tempered chocolate consistency instead of the soft bite, but still captured the airiness. Very creative. Passionfruit - Pani puri Strong passion fruit flavor, notes of roasted cumin and red onion. The gel in the center is great at giving the effect of biting into the real thing. The dish leans into the sweet passionfruit compared to standard pani puri. Avocado - Bhel Totally insane, like a savory ice cream. Creamy and a bit sour, subtle sweetness from the black rice crackers. Pairing - Funkelwurtz A dealcoholized wine that was light, slightly tart, and effervescent palate cleanser. --- Yogurt - Chaat Sweet potato crispy shell with a base of yogurt, topped with sev and chutneys, and dehydrated yogurt on top. Rhubarb broth was poured table side. I loved the tartness and the brightly colored top. Pairing - Strawberry Fresh, tart, fruity, and slightly sparkling. --- Butternut - Sambar Super creamy sambar with spices and herb oil, fluffy vada, and tomato chutney gel. Pairing - Apple Bright, tart, a bit earthy and savory from the mushroom hojicha base. --- Morel - Yakhni The mushrooms was juicy and stuffed with spicy cheese mixture. Creamy yakhni sauce, salty and soft green peas, and shaved truffle on the side. Pairing - Alphonso mango and calamansi Sweet mango flavor and citrus notes with a perfumed finish of saffron and almond. Complex and probably my favorite of the beverages. --- Celeriac - Shammi Spicy, soft, and rich kebab made of celeriac. Came with tamarind and mint chutneys, and some pickled jicama as a palate cleanser between bites. Pairing - Blackberry With some tannins from over brewed Darjeeling tea and nice aroma from cocoa nibs, clove, cardamom, and some subtle heat. --- Paneer - Kofta Soft fried kofta with some veg and stuffed courgette in red pepper makhani. Super creamy black dal. Fluffy and soft garlic naan that didn't go dry by the end of the course. Pairing - Pomegranate Notes of green pepper and sour cherry. Slight heat and vegetal. --- Strawberry - Malai Subtle sweetness and freshness from lemon granita. Delicious strawberry jam in the center. The strawberry look is pretty convincing. --- Mango - Ghewar Light meringue, coconut cream, thick aam ras, some more diced mango, and mango cream on top with pistachio ice cream on the bottom. Nice and fresh. Pairing - Hazelnut Clove cream soda with jasmine. Sweet and creamy, sparkling, and floral. --- Besan barfi - two choices, one like a layered chocolate cake and one like a cream filled tart. Filter coffee - chocolate bonbon filled with coffee. Light and not too sweet. Blackberry - Turkish delight type texture with some salt and chaat masala over top.

Came here for NYC restaurant week with friends, for Sunday lunch. They offered the event menu at…read more$45, and also the normal lunch menu at $85. The waitress explained that the event menu is smaller portions but the price difference decided for us. The restaurant looked very classy and definitely felt like a more upscale place. We entered at noon and it was almost completely empty. We were there for about 3 hours chatting it up and a good number of tables cycled through. There were a few tables of south Asians which was good sign that the place is good. We were not pushed out but we decided to get going because didn't want to hold up a table. The options for restaurant week was pretty good. I got the seasonal fish with spices for appetizers and was pretty good. For entree you can choose 2 options from the list. My choice for entree was lamb curry and tandoori lobster. The lamb was good. The bite of lobster was buttery, tasted good overall, but it was a little overcooked and chewy-ish. The entrees came with salad, rice, and naan(forgot to take picture of). The meat portions were smaller but enough. The dessert was rice vermicelli with condensed milk which was only ok. The dessert portions were like one-third sized and mine didn't taste particularly good. Should've gotten the tees leche that everyone said was good. Despite the small/smaller portions, the meal was filling enough. Everyone enjoyed their meal, felt impressed with the decor, and complained about the tiny dessert portion. The location is not the best for me but definitely willing to go to try other food and for the classy vibes.

Extremely impressed and happy with my experience at Tamarind! I had heard many great things about…read morethe restaurant, including the fact that it's been referenced on many Michelin guides and even had a Michelin star at one point in time. Came here with a large group of people and we shared a few things family style, which I highly recommend. Service was friendly and attentive, and they were able to recommend items on the menu based on what we were looking for. Note, some entrees don't automatically come with rice so make sure you ask and order accordingly. The lasoon gobi appetizer was incredible, and the paneer biryani and hara bara kebab, avocado kebab and paneer curry were phenomenal. I got the tamarind margarita which was also tasty. I will most definitely be back, you can't go wrong!

Loved. Loved. Loved. This one earns the caps lock…read more Last-minute reservation meant we landed at the bar with the smaller menu instead of the main dining room, which honestly worked out fine because five dishes in, we were not complaining! My partner did the ordering (drinks included) and had impeccable instincts. I couldn't tell you a single dish name if you paid me, I was too busy eating, but every single selection landed. Not one miss. The decor alone is worth the visit. Gorgeous space, the kind that makes you want to dress a little better than you planned to. I've already sent half my group chat here with instructions to book. Coming back for the real reservation and the full dining room experience next time, because if the bar menu was this good, I need to know what I'm missing.

I'll start with a proper desi reaction: "interiors pe kharcha kiyela hai bhai" - something I'd say…read moreto my bros as we walk-in to this place! Amazing setup, good for date nights, friends gathering, and if they relax their ridiculous kids policy, for family gatherings too! Very very spacious. Our server, Sumit (from Bombay!) was our host for the evening. He knew the menu well and his recommendations were exactly what we wanted to order - which is what we stuck to! Our order: Tuna Papad ($48 - 4 PCS), Coriander Shrimp ($28), Lychee Ceviche ($26) - which was the best dish in appetizers, and Black Onion (modern take on Kanda bhajji). The coriander oil was ultra flavorful. Teekha Peru ($21) was the best cocktail on our table! Butter Chicken Experience ($42) is a no-brainer for mains; they recently added a 3rd flavor with smoked cashew which also gives the three varieties, the colors of the Indian flag! Keema Pao ($48), the Bombay classic gets a special mention and hits the spot well! Sumit mixed all the seasonings and accoutrements at the table! Jackfruit Kolkata Biryani ($35) is a decent portion with generous amounts of potato, and difficult to find jackfruit - flavorful though! Mishti Doi's presentation is absolute banger, the taste didn't live up to those expectations though. The faux yogurt 'shrooms look deceptively inviting, the pistachio cremeux was absolutely brilliant though. Noise levels slightly above average, good lighting, and fantastic ambiance. Food arrives within 20 mins of placing the order. Menu on the expensive end, but the delicious food & excellent service compensates for that!

Gazab NYC brings a modern twist to classic Indian flavors, and you can taste the difference in…read moreevery bite. Everything is made fresh from scratch with the best ingredients and real flavor. The menu hits that perfect balance between comfort and creativity. From rich, spice-forward curries to elevated street-style bites, every dish feels thoughtfully crafted . The chicken skewers were so tender and packed with flavor, the gongura shrimp had that bold, tangy kick, and the bok choy chaat is unexpected but so good--crispy, vibrant, and addictive. And the chicken biryani brought the heat just right with layers of flavor in every bite.

Definitely reserve if you can! The place was packed on a Saturday evening. The space is intimate…read moreand the food is sooo flavorful! So sad I lacked stomach space that night. Lamb chops, (4/5): $27 for 4 pieces- delicious! Packed with so many delicious spices. I would order this again. I did find it to be on the slightly pricier side, but for what we got it was p good Ty for reading, that's it from me :^)

We went to Bungalow this past Friday. We know there have some bad reviews about their service. We…read morecan say for sure that we absolutely did NOT have any such issues. From the time we got there till the time we left, the service was truly exceptional. Vikas is such a humble and nice person. He looked a little tired but spoke in length with everyone. Not only that but he served everyone himself not leaving anyone out in our 10-person group - he does this for all of his guests and takes time to talk to them and thank them - who does that - for sure never experienced that level of hospitality in any restaurants and we have been to a few high-end restaurants. Truly was a joy. His staff also was so nice and did not try to hurry us. They gave us pointers on the food and the drinks (try the Ananas Picante cocktail, was just great). Talking about the food, it was another level good. The Anarkali Chicken, lamb, dal(to die for), spice roasted pineapple and of course the Rose Kulfi were all beyond amazing. We have been to a few Indian restaurants including in other countries and by far (excluding India), the best Indian food we have had. Though the restaurant was crowded, we did not feel as if it was. Truly what an awesome experience. Would highly recommend it.

This place is truly so special and close to my heart. I've been following Vikas Khanna for the past…read morefive years through MasterChef India, so visiting Bungalow was one of the highlights of my New York trip. Reservations fill up quickly, so make sure you have your credit card ready and a Resy account set up in advance. Meeting Chef Vikas Khanna was an unforgettable moment. He is genuinely a kind, humble, and down-to-earth soul. A true inspiration -- salute to him. And the food? Absolutely next level. The starter portions are on the smaller side, but that's part of the experience. The Dal Bungalow is incredibly delicious, and as a big fan of Baingan ka Bharta, I can say theirs is one of the best I've had -- truly unforgettable. From the entrées to the desserts, everything was beautifully executed and full of flavor. The ambience is warm, comforting, and inviting, making the entire experience even more memorable. Bungalow is not just a restaurant; it's an experience.

Okay this place deserves all the hype. It is actually that good…read more We tried a few dishes - I've been here twice so the food is over a course of 2 reservations so yes, it is a lot of food but you're welcome!! My favorites - The Dahi Sev Puri and Mutton Sukha is to die for. Butter Chicken Wings were worth it too. I've had better Butter Chicken so can maybe pass on that but get the damn Mutton Sukha. Beware, it is unapologetically spicy. It is meant to be so no modifications! Indian food is not for the weak over here! Wash all that down with some Cha and go to bed in your food coma. Go go go go go.

As a vegan, who was paying for the table with two non-vegans, I was pleased they had two items on…read morethe menu listed specifically as being vegan; the Thatte Idli and their Curried Chick Peas ($20 for a bowl of stewed beans). I ordered both, informed the server I am vegan, and ordered the Lacha Paratha for my bread as the server said it was the one bread they could make vegan. When the appetizers came -- I was surprised the Thatte Idli had coconut chutney -- and I asked if it was vegan. The server said, "oh no -- the chutney is not vegan, and there is ghee on it as well. I asked why it was listed vegan on the menu and they said they had changed the recipe -- but had not yet changed the menu. I said, but I also informed the server I am vegan. They apologized, left the new recipe item for the table and left us waiting to move on from appetizers until after my newly made appetizer also came out and was eaten (almost making us late for our tickets to Hadestown). When the bill came -- I was charged for two orders of the Thatte Idli -- until I said something and they removed one of them -- not removed both as they should have. DO NOT CHANGE THE RECIPE OF SOMETHING LISTED ON YOUR MENU AS FULFILLING RESTRICTIVE DIETARY NEEDS, IF IT NO LONGER MEETS THOSE NEEDS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!