Came to Ananda for dinner recently with my vegan child, having had a good lunch in the past when it was in its prior incarnation. Adding a star because the food was more consistent this go round, although the gobi Manchurian was a bit over fried (we suspect someone forgot it was in the deep fryer). The dosa was crispy and light, the veg cutlets were not greasy, and the baigan bartha was excellent. I wasn't crazy about the onion bahji- too much breading. Ananda is a great choice when you want a meat-free meal. read more

A little gem! They have a spacious outdoor patio on the curbside and brought over a personal space heater once we were seated. The service was excellent too! For dinner, we started with an order of the Aloo Papdi Chaat which was refreshing, well spiced, with a nice crunch. For the main meal, the two of us split the masala dosa, an order of the palak paneer, and garlic naan. The palak paneer was incredible! Rich, creamy and spiced to perfection. Between that and the complimentary rice, it was plenty of food too. During the pandemic, they are also offering BYOB/BYOW which made the whole meal incredibly well priced for such great food. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Ananda - Palak Paneer with (complimentary) rice and Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Been looking for a good dosa place in the neighborhood. Loved the dosa here every time I've tried - crispy dosa that is not oily, excellent chutneys and yummy saambhar (lentil soup). The excellent, personal service is certainly in line with their new name - 'Ananda' (JOY)!!! The owner / manager Rafiq is constantly on his feet playing close attn to all tables. Relaxing ambience and music as well :) read more

This restaurant has been my go-to for South Indian food for years now. Best rava dosa in the city. The rasam is really good too. The food is always great and never disappoints. Good value for money as well, you can walk out of here full without spending a bomb. The owner is a very kind gentleman and is always pleasant. Pre covid, they used to have an amazing lunch buffet spread, waiting for this to return. Thanks for all the great meals! read more

Had lunch at Ahimsa this past Sunday and overall it was very good. The restaurant is really nice and very clean, and since the weather was warm they had all the windows open, which was great. Service is friendly but food took a while. Ironically, our dosa came out 10 minutes before everything else, despite the menu stating we should allow 20 minutes for dosa preparation. In any case be prepared to wait. Food was overall pretty good: -- Masala dosa was delicious. My daughter and I fought over it, and she doesn't usually like dosa. -- Bhindi Masala was good. -- Chana Masala was NOT good. Frankly, it had a weird taste and none of us really ate it. Avoid this. -- Pulav was excellent. -- Naan wasn't great...I've had better naan from the frozen section at Trader Joe's. Ahimsa doesn't have the best Indian food I've ever had but it was an overall good experience. We'd return if we're in the area. read more

A nice Indian veg place - tried their chat dosa as well as North Indian curry - all three items were fresh and well made. We are generally picky types when it comes to Indian food but this place passes our test. One thing though the price is bit on higher side for Indian veg place but the location it's in probably plays a part I suppose. We would definitely be back read more

This place is 5 stars when it comes to taste of the food. The food is amazing. It is authentic Indian food. The flavors are amazing. It reminded me of authentic Pakistani meals I had while I was living in a Pakistani community years ago. The food tastes awesome. It is also 5 stars when it comes to service. The waiters here are very kind and helpful. And it is 5 stars when it comes to atmosphere. It is a beautiful restaurant. The atmosphere is amazing. I would definitely suggest it if you want to take a date some place nice. It isn't loud there. It is calm, spacious and has a beautiful decor. But it gets 3 stars for these reasons. First of all being closed between 3-5 is really problematic. So many times I wanted to go to this restaurant and I couldn't because I was in Manhattan and I had an appointment that ended at 2 and I wouldn't make it to the restaurant till 2:15 and I didn't want to have to rush through a meal there and be kicked out by 3. Today, I was lucky my children and I got out of the museum that we went to at 1 and made it to the restaurant by 1:30 pm. Originally we planned to go somewhere else because we thought we would leave the museum later. It's really an inconvenience this "break" that they take between 3-5. Also the price of the food is really outrageous. I understand that that's the going rate for Kosher Vegetarian Indian food cause I ordered the same thing at another Kosher Vegetarian Indian place in Manhattan and paid the same prices a few months ago. But the food is really overpriced. This isn't Kosher meat we talking about. This is like vegetables and dairy,not even Cholov Yisroel dairy. And they are charging 3 times more than what a trief restaurant would charge for the same dishes. It's just ridiculous. It feels like highway robbery. read more

This is a quick review that I'm writing whilst still eating here. To begin with, Sharmila is a pleasant host. Nepali girl with great serving skills, not usually found these days in Indian restaurants. We ordered Rasam, idli and vada for appetizers. My kids love it all. Rasam WAS authentic. Ravi, from Pondicherry even treated us to an extra vada that was eaten by yours truly still. Now we await the main course ..... We will keep coming back. There's more to try. Do come. read more

The food here is fantastic, some of my favorite in the NoHo area. True comfort food. My favorite is the Yellow Dal. Overall, the menu is really expensive and there are a lot of vegetarian/vegan options. The portions are perfectly sized, and I always leave feeling full and happy. The owner is also very nice, and always creates a great dining experience for me and my party. I'm not sure why this place isn't more popular. read more

This is an amazing place. Food reminds me of India. Thank you for the great food! Highly recommend the dosa, Chana masala, and batata vada. read more

The food here is amazing. The tofu they use to replace paneer (upon request) is great--the texture is pretty close to that of paneer. The vegan naan is also incredible. read more

Great options for veggies ! Definitely try the south indian rice dish. Loved it. Great ambience and good Service read more

Delicious. Healthy. Affordable. Came on a weeknight for dinner and were greeted by a gracious host. Ordered an array of dishes for our table of 4 to share and not a single item disappointed. There was even a nice 2-for-1 beer deal going on. Will definitely return. read more

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Ananda was great!!! Went with a group of 4 and asked what the owner recommends. he chose a couple of appetizers and a few mains and breads for us and they were all delicious!!! I am a picky eater but enjoyed every single thing we got. customer service was also fantastic- very quick, and the owner checked in on us. prices were also very reasonable. looking forward to going back! read more

This is an incredible establishment. The food is always so delicious and they give you a hearty portion of basmati rice. I ordered the Gobi Masala, Dal Palak and Sambar. My partner ordered the Palek Paneer and enjoyed it. It is pricey but you can tell they use top-notch ingredients. Additionally, they are very welcoming to food sensitivities and allergies and that is always so appreciated! read more

Ahimsa is a cozy place around West Village, and I imagine it's probably one of the better options to accommodate people that are Kosher or Jain. That being said, I was looking forward to this place especially, since it was Thrillist's pick for Best Indian for Kosher restaurants in NYC, and the Yelp reviews I glanced at looked good. My friends and I split the Gobi Manchurian, Assorted Appetizer Platter, Palak Paneer, and Malai Kofta. I will say that the Gobi Manchurian was probably the highlight of the meal for me. It was very crispy and had a sweet sauce glazed onto it that produced an interesting fusion of Chinese and Indian flavors, as generally purported for the dish. The platter was a good assortment and portion for the price, but nothing particularly stood out to me there (though I enjoyed the chutneys). For the curries, the portions were pretty reasonable, and there were many cubes of paneer in the Palak Paneer, but I found the flavors to be a bit underwhelming. The Palak Paneer was kind of bland, and though the Malai Kofta had potential, it ultimately fell a bit flat, as the body just wasn't really there. For a restaurant specializing in vegetarian dishes, I admittedly expected more, but perhaps I should have opted for dosas instead of curries. In any case, they do give a generous amount of rice to accompany the dishes, and I did like the rice. However, I really wasn't a fan of the naan... the bread was thick and neither soft nor crispy. The amount they give was also kind of meh for the price, but I suppose that's a greater NYC issue. Service was on the slower side, even during a rather uncrowded dinnertime. It's a good pace for catching up, but I found the time in between the appetizers and entrees noticeable, and there were a couple of times I felt like we were waiting on water. Small things, but I can definitely validate some of the other reviews that mentioned this. However, service was friendly, and I did really enjoy the overall space and feel of the restaurant. read more

I went to Ahimsa recently for dinner with my friend who is a vegan and my friend who is Jain. I'm generally a meat eater when it comes to dining out so I was a little skeptical at first as to whether it would be any good. My friends ordered a bunch of dishes that we all shared. The were all pretty tasty and made me almost forget about the lack of meat and other restrictions to the dishes. It came out to be $25 per person which was not bad for the area. I would probably go back again. read more

The food is pretty good, and the price somewhat reasonable ($14/person). The service, however, is exceptionally bad. Every time I have gone, evening and afternoon, it is the same server. He is always particular about where we sit, regardless of how crowded the restaurant; I came a week ago with my grandmother, who asked specifically to sit near a wall so as to hear better. This server initially refused, and only after we pointed out an empty table near the wall did he begrudgingly allow it. Today, at the lunch buffet, he was there again. We left a 10% tip, as it being a buffet, the host did literally nothing but seat us and bring us the bill, which is fine. He returned with the bill, however, demanding an 18% tip. For a buffet. Which we served ourselves. We were a bit incredulous, at which point he stormed off muttering to himself. I will not be returning to this restaurant, at least not with rude service like that. read more

Really great option for gluten free/vegetarian friends. Food was delicious and service was on point. There's currently outdoor seating with space heaters. Definitely recommend!!! read more

This wonderful new Indian/Vegetarian is sure to make you feel wonderful with its food that makes taste buds dance -- and will make you want to return the very next day! Their Lunch Buffet served Monday-Friday until 3PM is a must-try. All of it flavorful, plentiful and gluten-free. A superb value at just under $12pp. The food here tastes Divine! Beautiful airy space, a relaxing retreat. My new fave and extra points because it's Kosher too. Nice. read more

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Excellent vegetarian Indian food! One of the nicest Indian restaurants I've been to. Firstly, I LOVE the name. The moment you walk in you are greeted by a huge AHIMSA visual, reminding you to live compassionately. The ambience is classy yet casual. The ventilation is good which is my favorite. No smoky smells from the kitchen. The service is really nice and attentive. I loved the Papadum served at the beginning- lightly flavored and crispy. I got a masala dosa with spinach- completely vegan and gluten free. This thing was HUGE! Definitely a full meal. The coconut chutney was delicious and went very well with the potato filling. My friend and I also got a side of Chhole chickpeas-- one of the best I've had! The dish was light, yet flavorful. At some other Indian restaurants, the cooked dishes are extremely oily and greasy, but this was not. If you are vegan just let your waiter know and they will tell you everything that has dairy. Everything with dairy is also marked. I really enjoyed the food here and there is just a nice sense of peace at this restaurant. The service is great, prices are reasonable for the area (West Village NoHo ish area?). I will definitely return to try other dishes and I would love to try the lunch buffet. read more

Starting off with my hunt for excellent food around Manhattan, I always walked past this place in West Village. Finally, on a Lazy Friday afternoon when your boss is working from home, my colleagues and I decided to splurge and have a great meal outside. The ambience was lovely; it reminded you of a modern Indian kitchen. The staff provided us with excellent service, well set up tables and the firm focus on theming the restaurant based on the kind of food it serves. I still remember looking at the jar of water placed in front of me with the text 'Jal Hai Toh Kal Hai' [Written in Hindi] which when translated into English means 'If you have water today, you'll live for tomorrow.' When it comes to the food, I had no problems at all. We had the lunch buffet, and it consisted of various options which connected food cultures from the Northern and the Southern parts of India. You should try out 'Gulab Jamun.' (A milk based dessert, popular in south-east Asia). No regrets at all I would definitely visit this place more often in the future. read more

Ananda - Lunch Buffet at Ahimsa, West Village, NY - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I came here yesterday for the second time in two days. Both times got a masala dosa and a masala chai. The dosa was crispy and delicious. The sambar reminded me of what I get when I go home. It was spicy and had that body to it that many sambars I've had out lack. Be sure to try the medu vada as an appetizer as well! I ate these before I could get a picture. Nice to know I can get a taste of home in the neighborhood. read more

Ananda - Masala dosa with sambar, coconut sambol, and tomato chutney. Fantastic - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

This place has absolutely delicious Indian food. It is definitely one of the best Indian places to order from in the city (and this is coming from someone who has tried a dozen or two Indian restaurants in the city). You can tell they put a lot of care into the food and everything tasted really flavorful and fresh. I would highly recommend the masala dosa (that sambar is perfect) and any of the appetizers. They also have a wide selection of desserts and they included a complimentary small sample of one their desserts (sooji halwa) which was the best Indian dessert I have ever had. I will likely order it the next time. It was not too sweet but the dairy in it helped cut through the spice and made for a satisfying end to the meal. read more

Ananda has delicious food. I was here on a Friday night a little after 8:30 pm and the service was a little slow despite the place being moderately occupied. The staff was polite and very friendly. The wall art and decor and the ambience in general reminded me of back home. I had malai kofta, dal makhani, raita and naan and everything was made to perfection. You know the food is good when you conclude that you over-ate. Going by that, the food was great. I was here in last week of September and they required proof of vaccination then, to dine inside the restaurant. They do have outside seating as well. read more

Just dropped by after a movie, the food didn't make me disappointed. It is a rare chance for me to try a vegetarian restaurant. The food I ordered consists of two parts, one is like a pizza and the other is like a sandwich, but I think this might have a longer history. One thing that K like about Indian food is that they provide you with a lot of sauce to dip, which make the flavor extremely rich and tasty. The only point that I am not used to is that the flavor is a little bit too strong, the "sandwich" and the soup is salty. Maybe it is just because I am not used to it. I am so glad that the waiter forgot to take one of my order, cause only this $10 dish has already made me full and satisfied. Definitely will come here again to try the curry. BTW, the waiter gave me some Indian ice cream, which has pistachio, and tastes good! read more

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Solid veg indian joint. We had a rava onion masala dosa, pav bhaji, and this rice lentil mixture thing whose name escapes me. The dosa was a bit too dry in parts but was still pretty good. The pav bhaji was excellent, and the chana curry that comes with it is really solid. The rice lentil thing was probably the highlight. Think dal with a bunch of rice in it and some crispy bits. But like not quite normal dal. This is a terrible description but you should just go try it. Oh, I looked it up, it's called Bisi Bele Bath. read more

Ahima---how do I love thee? Let me count the ways!!! My friend introduced me to this restaurant and we dined here last night. They recently opened and she not only ate here a couple times but raved about how good it was. She was so right! In a city where there are so many restaurants (and some that open and close just as quickly), the food of this gem of a restaurant is not only delicious but the atmosphere is so welcoming. Entirely vegetarian, it is also offers Kosher, vegan and gluten free options. Drink specials include beer or house wine----two for $10. I ordered the Pinot Grigio and it was quite nice with a soft finish. Now on to the food---where do I even begin? With everything on the menu looking so inviting, we decided to share---one Thali (we went for the Northern Indian style) and a dosa (with onions and potatoes). If you are familiar with Thali--it includes a medley of different traditional dishes from the region. The North Thali included Papadam, Palak Paneer, Chana Masala, Yellow dal, Raita, Chapati, Basmati Rice and Golub Jamun (wait, I just realized that our Thali didn't include this dessert--in fact, we ordered it separately after dinner---oops, Ahimsa). The Dosa was delicious and very filling. My first time experience here was very positive and I walked out feeling full, satisfied and with such a nice energy as the entire staff was warm and welcoming. Ahimsa means to "do no harm, cause no injury" and this restaurant does everything just right (yes, I forgive you for not including the Golub Jamun in our Thali). I would highly recommend and cannot wait to return again as it is one of the best Indian vegetarian restaurants I have tried. read more

This is my favorite Indian restaurant in New York City. All of my favorite dishes are prepared vegan and therefore do not afflict harm on anyone. :-) This restaurant truly lives up to its name! At various timepoints, I have ordered the idli and sambhar, masala dosa, pondicherry dosa, gobi manchurian, vegetable uttapam and the vegetable biryani. Everything was mouthwatering, flavorful and delicious. The owner was very health conscious and accommodating. The ambiance was peaceful and had good energy. I highly recommend this reataurant if you want to have a socially conscious meal. read more

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Got delivery, some of it was excellent, but not all and they got an item wrong. The cauliflower (gobi masala) was the best. The paper masala dosa was the worst, a sad fold of crepe that lacked potato filling and lacked any heat of temperature or spice read more

Tried this place for the first time and loved it. The food here is wholesome and delicious. Loved chole saag and chaat here. The food was made fresh, wasn't oily and had the perfect amount of spice. A paradise for vegetarians read more

Ananda - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing South Indian food and the best filter coffee everrrrr. We stayed till late and they were super adjusting with our schedule . .... cozy comfy soul food :) read more

Ananda - Vegan Indian food - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

The dosas are decent , crispy and nicely browned, but not enough spice! Decent portions, space outside feels safe as it's very open. Katchumber salad had too many chick peas for my taste. Plastic placemat seems less sanitary than disposable paper. read more

Ananda has a great atmosphere, and the food is good, but they need to work on time management. We came in around 7:20, ordered a Taj Mahal to split between us and an appetizer that I was unfamiliar with, but was listed as very popular street food in India. We also ordered the North Indian Thali. We got the appetizer in a timely manner, and it was very good. However, by 8:40, we had not gotten our Thali yet. I asked the waitress for another beer and asked where our food was, but I couldn't understand her response, and I'm not sure she understood my question. Meanwhile, people that came in after us got dosas and were basically finished by the time our food arrived. So, I would order the dosa if I went there again. Oh, and they weren't busy. So I have no idea why the took so long to bring our food. It was pretty ridiculous. read more

Great location, great food and great service! I'd highly recommend the onion rava masala dosa. My new place in the city for South Indian food. read more

Ananda - Outdoor eating area - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

We had a wonderful meal here this evening. At first, I was wondering if I'd miss my standard chicken dishes. Not so! The food here was so flavorful and delicious. The nan came right out of the oven and was perfect. We will surely be back again. read more

Came with a few friends. Service on Point. Food - fresh and delicious. Price - Fully worth it, actually, they have huge portions, so be ready to eat. Favorites: Samosas Assorted Appetizer Platter Tomato Soup Batata Vada Pakoras Masala Dosa S. Indian Thalli read more

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The masala dosa and the gobi manchurian will have me coming back here every time I visit NYC. Truly a treat, a symphony of flavors, delicate yet finger-licking. There is no pretension here, but the quality of the food is so good that I'd expect there to be. The owner was a downright gentleman and made our outdoor dining experience both comfortable and memorable in terms of its easy-going simplicity. The quality of the ingredients really shine but I think the sharpness of technique (the dosa was honestly prepared perfectly as was the chole bhaturra) is why this place is stands out. Don't sleep on this gem. read more

Was craving a dosa so I decided to pop in, the best decision I have ever made! Their gunpowder dosa was sooooo goood! The music is nice and the place has nice vibes and the owner is so nice too read more

The food was really delicious and the staff were really great. Will absolutely be coming again!