My husband and I have been getting takeout so I can't give you a review about the ambiance. The food however is wonderful! There are the usual suspects like chicken tikka masala but then they have other dishes that I haven't seen anywhere else and are amazing! The chicken tikka masala was a little sweet for me but there are so many other options it's not an issue. I love spicy! I mean I LOVE spicy! Jalapeños are not at all spicy to me and habaneros I find to be stackable as well. So when I saw they have phaal I HAD to try it! There's only one other restaurant I know that has it on the menu. The phaal is nicely flavored and not overly spicy. It's more of how I would expect a vindaloo to be. You really can't go wrong ordering from Chola! I'll miss them when we move back to the West Side. read more

On our first trip to NYC, a coworker of my fiancé recommended that we try this place as I love Indian. This was a great choice. I had lamb which was savory and tender with lots of sauce. One thing to note is, the meals do not come with rice, and an order of rice is about $6, so not cheap, but, it is a HUGE portion of rice. Myself, my fiancé, and my two friends each ordered rice, but we really could've shared two orders with how big they were. Just keep that in mind. If you are an Indian fan and are in the area, you should definitely give this restaurant a try! read more

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The experience at Chola was really fun. The restaurant is located in a little alcove in the middle of the avenue, and is pretty dim and intimate walking in. We made a reservation for a Friday but we could have most likely walked in as well. The waitstaff was friendly, but unfortunately they did take a bit of time to get to us to take our drink order, and we eventually had to call them over for our order. However, after a bit of a wait, we both ordered one cocktail each (which was the classic nyc price of $15) and they were honestly pretty good for the price. We then ordered 2 apps and entrees which were delicious, especially the cauliflower appetizer. All in all, it was a cute experience, and would recommend! read more

Awesome Indian buffet in Midtown East. For $19 (lunch), they give you one appetizer, limitless naan (plain and garlic), and have a great spread of dishes to choose from. Their buffet is in a traditional format where the dishes are lined up on a table and you go down the line, getting as much of whatever you want. Their service is amazing and the place is very clean. I have been here several times for lunch and have enjoyed it every time! Am definitely looking forward to the next time I go there. read more

Great find in a great location! Found myself craving Indian cuisine and had my pick of about 5 restaurants all located on the same street. Glad I went with my gut because Chola did not disappoint! The food was fantastic - nicely presented with balanced flavored. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well as all the classic meat and fish dishes in various preparations... tandoori, vindaloo, you name it and Chola has it! The menu is extensive and I found myself confused and ordering more than what was necessary. The waiter graciously guided us through the menu and was very honest about the quantity we were ordering. Service was warm and hospitable! Definitely recommend Chola for an authentic Indian meal if you're in the area. read more

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Had dinner here on Friday night and overall I'd say it was a good experience. We did get something messed up within the order, but the manager came by and fixed it up for us. We ordered a chicken appetizer but somehow we were given a cauliflower appetizer. The nice part was that they just let us have it for free and it was a pretty good dish. Came with 4 others so we ended up ordering about 5 different entrees with rice and naan and it was more than enough for all of us. Food came out relatively fast, was fresh and had a lot of flavor. Not too busy surprisingly on a Friday night though. Overall, good service and good food. read more

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Been a while since we have been here. Still really good food, definitely recommend this place. See pics for food of the dishes we ordered and comments read more

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Buffet is from noon to 3pm. Come early! Food goes fast. Staff is so sweet always checking up on you. One guy specifically refilled the rice pudding for me to try, even though me and my friend were the last customers. Service like that leaves a lasting impression. I had the salty lassi and I gotta say it was pleasantly weird. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. Tasted like pure thick yogurt. Food was plentiful, with a vegetable only section. Lots of sauces. For a flat rate of under $20, me and my friend had a hearty meal. I'll be back at an earlier time for sure! read more

Chola - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I have been wanting to go to an Indian buffet, and there are many restaurant that offers just that. The exterior is surprisingly modern, and it looked kind of small.The inside was much bigger than it looked from the outside, but it was rather dark... They only have windows on the front wall against the street, and with dimmed lights, it felt like it was a late evening/night time even though it was a lunch time. They had the all-you-can-eat Lunch Buffet table set up near the entrance, and it looked like a good amount of food and varieties of it. It is more affordable during weekdays than weekend, as most places. They had all the "basic" Indian dishes and some dishes that I was not familiar with. Regardless, they all looked pretty good. Two of the items I really enjoyed were Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Birayan. The least favorite one was the Goa Fish Curry. It was sweet and did not have a good flavor to me. They of course had several vegetarian dishes as well. Throughout the lunch, they brought complimentary side dishes to the table, which was fun. Tandoori Chicken was the best, it was so juicy and tasty. The service was good, they had several staffs constantly walking around the floor, pouring water, picking up empty/finished plates, bringing complimentary side dishes. We never had to ask for anything. On the weekend, the buffet price goes up by $3 per person, so it is best to go there during weekday. It seems like most people who work nearby knew of the value, it got pretty packed while we were there, with mainly people taking lunch break from work. read more

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Excellent food and service! So glad to have this restaurant in my neighborhood. It has a solid following as it is filled with diners on weeknights. read more

This is our go-to dine-in Indian spot. It's very nice inside and the service is excellent, I don't think my glass of water was ever empty! The bature (fluffy thick fried bread) was so unique and delicious, and the garlic naan cannot be missed! The only drawback is that rice doesn't come with the entrees, which was disappointing for the prices. But I do love this spot for a nice date night out! read more

The food was good and the price was reasonable. We all enjoy the curries that we ordered and definitely will go back. read more

Chola - Butter Naan, Saag Paneer, Lobster Malai Tikka,Dilliwali Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Midtown can be tough place to find a solid lunch that's affordale and tasty. Traditionally, I would usually question a buffet-style dining experience. With those reservations, I think that Chola really has a solid all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. It's $14.95 for Midtown Manhattan is pretty decent price. Upon entering Chola, it is a little dimly because it is a long narrow shape without any windows outside of the front windows. As you enter the buffet line is immediately in front of you, the seat goes farther in the back. Chola obviously accommodates a lot of groups of work lunches. There was also quite a few of solo diners who were Indians themselves.. In Manhattan, there are two epicenters of Indian food fare. There is 6th Street Curry Row between 2nd and 1st Avenue and Curry Hill otherwise known as Murray Hill around East 28th Street and Lexington Avenue. I was really happy to know that you can find some solid Indian food in this location.. For the food, I went up three times for different bits and bobs. I like Saaj Paneer but I tried Tikka Masala and multiple other items which you can see in my photos. During the meal, the staff brings you fresh naan and other items freshly cooked items. The tandoori chicken was particularly tasty. If I have a meeting nearby, I would like to stop by again. Overall the service and food were very good. read more

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The food here was great! Ingredients tasted so fresh. We ordered food from here and were not disappointed. Let me start off by saying there were so many vegan options!!! I find this rare for an Indian restaurant. There's usually several vegetarian options and only a couple vegan options, but Chola had so many!! It was hard for me to decide, but I got the lasoni gobi and Rajma. The lasoni gobi wasn't overly breaded and fried, so you really got the taste of the cauliflower with the spices. The rajma was a mixture of kidney beans in a tomato base curry (loved it). I also got the Kerala parotta as my bread to eat with the rajma. This is where I had to deduct a star because it was very tough to chew/bite. However, my husband got the garlic naan and that was soft and fluffy. Maybe next time I'll stick to the naan. Portions are huge and could only finish half my dish, which I don't mind! On another note, I really liked the organization of their menu. It's very visually appealing and easy to read. They had different categories for veg/meats/fish/etc and didn't overly crowd it with too much information. read more

Great Indian food . One of the best in the city . They consistently use fresh ingredients and don't exaggerate with oils . I never had a bad meal from this place . read more

Came here for a lunch buffet. Very reasonable price and good food. It wasn't too spicy, actually I would have liked a little more spice in a couple of dishes. The nice thing is they bring naan as well as a few other items to your table. Other buffets put the naan out and it disappears faster than good taste at a Kardashian family reunion. So bringing it to the table is nice. read more

Chola - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I haven't had Indian food in a decade and Chola was the right place to relive the experience. Come early because the place fills up after 6PM on a weekday. We were so hungry, and it didn't help with the delicious aroma floating through the restaurant, so we ordered several dishes, including some that had the thumbs up symbol which were recommended. We got a few complimentary dishes including something similar to a hard tortilla shell but thinner and crispier. It came with three unique dipping sauces. One reminded me of chimichurri sauce, another curry-inspired, and a third that looked like tomatoes but a thicker consistency and texture. Thin chips accompanied a vegetable spread which was interesting; I couldn't taste the veggies much because it was mushy. Imli Eggplant - It was a recommended appetizer on the menu. Described as eggplant layered with tamarind chutney and chaat masala, there's lots of flavor but felt the sauce overpowered the eggplant. I liked it but wish it wasn't heavily coated. It came out a bit cold. Not sure if it was supposed to be that temperature. Nirmala's Avial - Another menu-recommended item. A mixed vegetable dish cooked with coconut, yogurt and curry leaves. At first bite, it was good but then you get that heavy, cheesy-like after taste. I'm glad I ordered it but don't think I would do it again. Chicken Tikka Masala - My only association with this is from Wholefoods food bar so I really enjoyed this dish. It goes well with everything. If I could, I would have slurped this dish dry. The chicken was super tender and infused well with the sauce and flavor. Highly recommended. Coconut Rice - Can't have all this good sauce go to waste without pairing it with rice. This was Basmati rice cooked with fresh coconut and dry red chilies per the menu. SO GOOD. I think I could just eat that with Chicken Tikka Masala sauce and garlic naan and call it a night. It was very moist and packed with flavor. Garlic Naan - wow, this is good stuff. I wish they gave more! One order comes with four pieces. It comes out warm so take advantage while it's hot! I dipped mine in Chicken Tikka Masala sauce like there was no tomorrow. But beware, that garlic is strong so expect to feel like you have garlic breath for days. Really good service. Friendly and attentive. I only wish it wasn't that pricey. For $15-20 on average per dish, I expected to see larger plates. Portions are a bit smaller, which isn't bad, but not for the price we paid. I like this restaurant but would only treat myself here and there, otherwise I'll go broke. read more

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Came here with 6 of my coworkers for the buffet lunch and there was no wait at all. They were able to accommodate our group and quickly pushed together tables and seated us within a minute. We sat in the very back where there's a wallpaper of books. It was pretty cute. It's $14.95 per person which is a little bit pricier than other Indian places I've been to. There's a huge selection of food, the chicken tikka masala being my favorite. The chicken was so tender and tasted delicious. The waiter also comes around to each table with freshly cooked chicken drumsticks and asks if you want any. Yes, you want it because the meat on that chicken just falls off the bone! There was this really good dish with cauliflower that I kept getting as well. We didn't like the deep fried donut-looking thing though. It didn't taste like anything. They also divide the dishes into vegetarian and non-vegetarian which is nice for individuals who don't eat meat. We stayed there for an hour and I was able to finish 4 plates of food (: We were all quite satisfied and they clear your dirty plates very quickly so the service is very good. Oh and the naan was made hot and fresh right out of the oven! Such good naan. My coworker just ate them without dipping it in anything. Definitely try this place! read more

Chola - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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New favorite Indian restaurant? I think so. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW CHOLA YOU HAVE BLOWN ME AWAY. Seriously though, this place is LEGIT. I ordered my usual Indian favorites, chili and onion naan and Navratan korma and both blew me away. Not to mention how many extra goodies they threw in there...rice (obviously), cracker bread and three dips for it, lentils, and some sweet couscous-looking concoction that was absolute crack. So basically enough food to feed a small country. Foodwise, it's like one thing was better than the next. Order anything and everything, you can't go wrong. I may be in a terrible food coma as I type this review, but no regrets whatsoever. read more

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Went on Mother's Day. Had a table of 8 people. Service was great - super attentive and flexible. Regularly checked in with us since we had so many people, and food came out all together. Had to wait around 20-25 minutes, but it was worth it. Food was amazing; I had the lamb madras and papri chaat and it was great. Very robust food and nice staff. Will definitely come again. PS im only 13 so my review might sound weird read more

Their signature biryani is fragrant with lamb flavor, chilis, ginger, allspice, salt and curry powder; it's airily floral and earthy. Drizzled with their spiced yogurt sauce and topped with succulent, thick chunks of stewed lamb, it's the perfect soul food, especially if you have a penchant for spicy. I do. Oh, boy, do I. The special cheese naan is even better heated for 30 seconds and doused in yogurt. Their cinnamon pudding is made with broken rice and super light and sweet. Aside from the amazing meal, Chola's beside manners are second to none. They treat you like family and your requests as though you are royalty. It's rare to find an establishment that still gives a dam when they are lined up and down the avenues like Christmas lights. Chola more than gives a dam- the guys at C are out to wow you and be on a first name basis. If that's not a reason to return then It doesn't exist! read more

Chola - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I LOVE this place. I love the yummy saag paneer, rotis, daal, vada, sambar, dessert menu for lunch for just 12 bucks (takeout). Everything always tastes good. They even have vegan options! I sometimes steal a bit of the chicken tikka masala gravy (it is heavenly) As I follow a zero-waste lifestyle (trying to produce as less trash as possible) and won't do takeout unless a restaurant accepts my own container, I thought chola might shooo me away. However, I walked into the restaurant today and they not only accepted the container, they even filled it for me. * Love * Kudos to Chola! The planet thanks you. The food was ofcourse spectacular. Takeout trash is the No.1 disposable trash we produce in major cities. Wouldn't it be awesome if more restaurants did this? read more

Chola - Takeout in my own container! #no-plastic #ze Rice, daal, saag paneer, red gravy & garlic naan. YUMMY! SAGG is da BEST! - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Good consistent Indian food and take it from a semi indian food lover! Must try Samosas and ragra for appetizers

We've gotten Chola takeout twice during COV19, and both times we absolutely loved it. We've been mostly boring with Chicken Vindaloo and Butter Chicken, but also got a south indian coconut curry that we really loved. Food is fresh and flavorful, Vindaloo is as spicy as promised. Will definitely keep coming back. read more

Had dinner at Chola with friends last night and found it totally amazing! Absolutely the best Indian food in the mid-town east area, perhaps the entire city. We used to love Tamarind when it was located on 22nd in the flatiron district, and the highest compliment I can pay Chola is that their food is on a par with Tamarind. Tamarind remains my first choice, but the TriBeCa area is a hike from our mid-town location. Chola's food was perfect, however the decor and service are not quite up to Tamarinds exceptionally high standards. Nonetheless, the table gave CHOLA five stars and rated it an outstanding restaurant. If you're seeking authentic Indian food at a fair price in the mid-town area you have to try CHOLA! read more

The $14.95+Tax all you can eat buffet and unlimited free appetizers is so worth it. Had a fulfilling lunch with my friends today. I do like the spacious layout of the layout and the decor. I wish there were Chicken or Beef Vindaloo because I like a little heat in my food since I wasn't a huge fan of lamb. Definitely come here on an empty stomach because I got full just eating two plates and the free appetizers especially the way that the chef made those yummy drumsticks. Mango Lassi was so delicious but it makes you full faster. Next time I will just drink water. I recommend this spot to anyone because the food was superbly delicious. read more

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Delicious and filling, with a pleasant interior and attentive service. I tried the Dak Bungalow House Curry and it was very flavorful and plenty. There was also a very patient waiter answering the questions of an older fellow sitting near me who sounded a lot like Rodney Dangerfield asking "what's this?" for each plate that came to his group's table, and he gave clear and informative answers each time. read more

Chola is a amazing restaurant that serves authentic Indian food. Been ordering from Chola for quite a while now. I have never been disappointed. They take your instructions very carefully and make appropriate adjustment as well. I am a vegetarian and can vouche for the mouth watering taste and mesmersing flavours. Whenever in doubt and looking for some traditional Indian food Chola is your spot. This place provides a soulful gateway to Indian food. read more

Just wandered in looking for a place to eat. Had fish in a spicy curry. Just delicious.

Located between midtown and the Upper East Side, Chola lies on a nondescript block lined with other Indian restaurants and one store called Just Bulbs, which is -you guessed it- dedicated entirely to the purveying of light bulbs. (Because New York.) We came to Chola because we had a $50 Open Table gift certificate, which is redeemable at surprisingly few NYC restaurants. Otherwise, I doubt I ever would've heard of this place, which seems to fly under the radar. The restaurant was relatively quiet on a fall Friday night, although later in the evening a large group arrived to liven things up. We started off with a whiskey on the rocks (him) and a glass of Malbec, which was not further descried on the menu. I wasn't a huge fan of the wine, which I thought was overly sweet. We enjoyed the complimentary papadum, which was served with the typical green and sweet dark red (tamarind) sauces along with a sweet and spicy chutney. I liked the chutney and the tamarind the best, but that's typical for me. I was in the mood for a shrimp-something. Of the four available dishes in that category, our server recommended the Chingri Sorse Narkol (Kolkata style coconut shrimp, mustard seeds). This was delicious: The shrimp were fresh and flavorful, and the curry creamy, sweet, and a bit spicy, with an underlying earthiness. Along with the coconut and mustard, I think I may have detected some cilantro, turmeric, and cardamom in there. I also sampled my boyfriend's lamb madras (coconut lamb curry). This was good and quite spicy, and the lamb was tender, but it was almost a bit salty for my taste. Along with our main dishes, we ordered a plain rice and a garlic naan. The garlic naan was excellent: pillowy soft and smothered in plenty of garlic. We had to order both of these separately, which I thought was a little ridiculous. Shouldn't the rice at least be complimentary? I debated giving Chola 3 stars as I'm not quite sure that the food - though delicious - is worth the high price tag. But I enjoyed the experience enough that I feel comfortable giving it 3.5 stars and rounding up. read more

We called ahead and let them know we were going to be there to celebrate our engagement. They served a wonderful complimentary dessert that went above and beyond our expectations. This service along with the generous portion sizes and delicious food made the experience superb. 100% recommend to all! read more

Often, friendly and unobtrusive service in a classy establishment is not associated with the Indian food dining experience in the US. I'm happy to say Chola brings all three of these attributes to the table. In addition, the menu is massive with specialties from across India. We've never had a bad meal. Plus, they are happy to explain the subtleties of the dishes, sides, and sauces to the uninitiated. We've enjoyed delicious Biryani, garlic naan, tandoori specialties, vindaloo, all kinds of sauces and chutneys, dosa, and many other tasty meals. I will say that the flavor is great but they have definitely toned down the heat when compared to similar meals in India. Hyderabad Biryani can knock your socks off but the equivalent dishes here pack the flavor but not the punch. read more

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This review is on april 10 2018. Absolutely one of the best indian dishes in nyc. It.s really deep indian flavor which can be spicy if you are not indian food lover. I was the first one at 12Pm. Half hour later,at 12h30PM the place was jammed , beside the peoples that are choosing take out . So been really early is very recommended. Every was really good, but the star dish for me was the potatoes and green peas, it.s just magic on that dish. The rice pudding desert was really tasty. read more

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I went for a Diwali lunch with a party of 12. We were immediately seated as we had a reservation. Chola has great lunch buffet with very nominal price. Staff is very kind but food vise I think its very okay. It is good but not extraordinary. Not something that I will return to. $22 for unlimited buffet is not a bad deal especially in the city. If you are looking for cheap but with variety of food, cholla is definitely the place for you. Sweets: kheer, fruit salad Appetizers: pani puri South india: dosa, idli and sambhar North Indian: veg and non-veg vegetables Salads. read more

I came here on a weeknight by myself and spent $56. I definitely splurged a little, being a small 115lb girl. I had plenty of food at the restaurant, and still took plenty home (I had it for another 2 meals after). I ordered Samosas, some coconut curry, garlic naan, and a side of rice. I was a little upset that the rice did not come with the entree. Rice cost a whopping $6, but hey-- I get it, we are in the heart of Manhattan after all. All the food was amazing, no complaints. Every bite was exactly what I was looking for and it really hit the spot. Service was good, the workers were attentive and filled my water cup constantly. The restaurant is great for a weeknight dinner date, quiet ambiance and great place to recharge after a rough day. I would definitely come back again, maybe for lunch buffet next time! read more

Amazing food, great service and the place is very cozy. Had the saag and vindaloo veggie pot.

I heard this place was a neighborhood favorite and by the looks of the take out and delivery traffic, it sure seemed to be. I came here with my sister as we were craving Indian food and we were glad we came. The décor is mod and simple. The tables were nicely spaced and neat. The lunch buffet spread was really good. After we sat for a bit, we were given a plate of complimentary Paratha, warm and delicious. They also gave us a sampling of latkes (potato ones with onion). Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside...very appetizing. From the lamb madras to the Tikka Masala (chicken) and the Saag Paneer, I satisfied every craving I had when I walked in. All of the sauces were on point and flavorful. I tried the mint chutney (think it was), normally I love mint but this didn't work for me. I was not a fan of but it was available as part of the lunch buffet so it was worth getting a chance to taste it. I even got my Raita fix satisfied...I am a fan of Raita, just love that condiment. There was one other item I was only so-so on, the Gulab Jamun. It is a traditional dessert, supposed to be spongy and milky but I thought it was too dense and I didn't care for the syrup. No matter, between ordering a glass of Mango Lassi and eating all of these fragrant and delectable dishes, I was totally full and happy. I would recommend this place. Just note, given I am still quite the novice with Indian cuisine, sometimes the sauces are not what they appear to be. So if you can, sample a taste before you scoop and add it to your dish. I tried a few that were hit or miss. There were also tons of vegetarian options but I just couldn't resist the lamb. Note to the restaurant, I know you're busy with your lunch rush and to go orders but you should manage those orders better. The staff seemed a bit overwhelmed with the pick-up's - either timing or the items. Some staff were talking to one another in a not so polite sounding manner. All of your dine-in customers can see and hear this. read more

Starter-very good. Cumin crisps with three different sauces. Very exotic and interesting taste. Kori gassi-delicious. Very thick and creamy coconut curry. Chicken in squares. Could have been more tender. Garlic naan-delicious. A lot of diced garlic. Moist and chewy naan. Basmati rice-very good. Pretty moist and soft. Chips-delicious. Almost taste like potato chips but have a fish cake-like aftertaste. A little salty. Absolutely five-star service. read more

Chola - Complementary Starter - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Place is very nice and pleasant. We came for Friday night dinner and was great. Service was outstanding. Food was really good. We had some shrimp for appetizer and lamb and sea food entree. Everything was great. Also dessert was tasty. There are gluten free options and vegetarian options. read more

The food was exceptional and the service was very impressive. This was my first time eating coastal Indian food. I had the Branzino in Curry and it was amazing! read more