I had lunch during a non-busy, lazy weekday with my parents and sister. Ambiance: was sorely lacking. Tacky wood veneer plastic tables, oversized million inch flat-screen TV broadcasting some Indian variety show or music video, speakers blasting crappy Bollywood music...old-school Jackson Heights. It appeals to the majority demographic: middle-aged Desi families out for a cheap dinner or taxi drivers on their coffee break. Service: was pretty much terrible. We were served a stack of paper plates, napkins and silverware to distribute. Seriously, you expect your patrons to set their own tables? I guess business was slow for a reason... we were given cheap picnic cups and a pitcher of cool (but not ice-cold) water. Not to beat a point to death, but when it's 90-plus degrees out in the dead heat of summer noon, you'd like some evidence of effort, no? Maybe some transpiration action going? Lastly, we were not given separate serving spoons. If we weren't family, having to share would be highly inappropriate and unhygienic, much less blameworthy. Food: was surprisingly good (redeems the second star, honestly). We got some tandoori roti (very gluten-y, also slightly charred) and chicken makhni (butter sauce chicken) and kaali daal (lentils). All were excellent, considering it was split by four people decently. My only complaint here is the restaurant does not offer plain white rice, instead you are forced to buy your choice of seasoned palao/biryani or rice with peas for $5.00. For a plate of rice with peas. Gimme a break. All in all, you're better off going to Kabab King (if you don't mind the lack of hygiene, haphazard ordering area and crowds) or Sammy's Halal (famous gyro stand), winner of the coveted Vendy Award. Update: They took down my honest review. Minus one star. read more

I have eaten there before.. The food is excellent when they have time for you. A friend and I went there last night. The waitress seated us. They really weren't that busy. But we waited about 20 minutes and she never came back. We eventually just walked out. Dera is like that sometimes you wait forever for a waitress or in this case they never return. read more

5 stars for their parking space. It's big and FREE! Hats off to the owners for this parking lot which saves a lot of stress and time of parking hunt. Now coming to food, unfortunately the story is nowhere close to 5 stars. I only wish their food tastes atleast as good as it looks. We were 7 people and ordered variety of rice and other dishes. The only thing worthy of some praise was chicken steam roast. The rest was not bad but had no taste. It was just food that's good to fill your tummy. I would advise the owners to consider a new chef and do some extensive tasting before perhaps a relaunch of Dera read more

I went there yesterday with a high expectation to grab some authentic Pakistani cuisine but I was let down big down. I got falooda which is supposed to be a dessert drink but it was in a bowl like a soup..? I wouldn't mind how it was presented but I do mind about the taste. It wasn't cold like it was supposed to be and it was just a mess. I also ordered goat curry the taste wasn't bad but there was hair in my plate! I was disgusted and upset but they gave me another bowl with bigger portion which didn't even matter to me at that point. My boyfriend got chicken tiki and it was decent so I'll give this place 2 stars for that. Overall, the service was terrible, atmosphere was dirty and I will not be going back to this place. read more

The biryani, nihari and haleem are sooo good! As are the mithai. The atmosphere at Dera is really nice, there's always a bunch of people having a good meal. read more

I love this place I tried almost all of the foods and most of them tasted great but I have one request please do something about the bathrooms they are really bad it smells in the bathroom and it looks bad for the restaurant read more

I have been to this place a lot of times.I have tried almost everything on the menu.I have there chicken makhni,goat curry and Chana masala.The service and the staff is really nice.I have always ordered take out.So my only problem is the portion size.As compare to the price,the quantity of food they give is very little.Rest everything is good.But u won't really get the full value for ur money. read more

This place in Jackson heights is crowded. Just feels like Indian streets.Haleem tastes worst just like dal and meat together. We find good kababs and mutton curry tastes good. This place Is recommended for people with midnight cravings.This is open till 3am. We can find wide variety of sweets. Not too clean. But service is good. read more

Great food. They have a parking place also. Service is good too. I have been going here for years and still love it. read more

Dera Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Place is little weird and crowdy, but the food was awesome. I went with my friends. We ordered 2garlic naan, 2 normal naan, chicken curry(spicy) & 2 chicken biryani. Chicken biryani was not that good but quantity was good. Serving was good. Don't want to talk about washrooms as I said it's crowdy. read more

No other Pakistani restaurant can ever come close. If it's not Dera, I will not eat it. The channa masala is my favorite. It's like a little bit of heaven, it has the ultimate effect of comfort food. Everything I've ever tried from here is good! The customer service is pretty okay. They seem to be a little disorganized and can easily forget you. The way the place is designed, it's pretty easy to flag someone down if you need something. read more

Food is excellent! Fast service and love their desserts. I would've given it 5-stars if their bathrooms were clean. They really need to work on that. Location is good and they even had their own parking lot. However, last time I went that parking lot was closed up so we had to find parking elsewhere further out. read more

This place is great for meat and kebabs - and probably has the best chai in Jackson Heights. It's horrible for vegetarian food, which leads me to the next statement. Although it says Indian-Pakistani, this place is far more Pakistani than Indian. The poor quality of the vegetarian food and the family/female section of the resto point to it being overwhelmingly of Pakistani influence. The resto has a diner feel and caters basically to local desi people in Jackson Heights. The desserts are hit or miss. Again, great chai - it's worth a trip there just for that. read more

Stay away from this place. It's not even close to average. The food is bad. I ordered reshmi chicken with rice. The reshmi chicken is overcooked, stale, and hard like a rock. When I ordered the food, I don't see the price for rice but I didn't bother to ask. When I got the bill, they charge me $6 for plain rice. This is definitely a trap. I regret coming to this place. Totally waste of money. read more

Mediocre food which wasn't warmed up properly. The mithai (sweets) weren't fresh either. Not a good experience was expecting much better.

One of the most reasonably priced and authentic Pakistani places south of Toronto. Try the kebabs, biryani and Paranthas. The dessert delicacies are good too. Beware that this is not fine dining, but you don't go to Jackson heights for fine dining. Let this be your Asian immersion experience. An res assured, you will leave with your stomach full and taste buds satiated. read more

Dera Restaurant - Parantha, naan and chicken - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Food was delicious...specially behari kabab and chicken kababs were very good.....their service was excellent and the staff was very nice .

There food is very delicious, they have there own parking , but they have no space to sit inside lol. So I always take the food to go. But when you eat the food nice and hot is when it's the best to discover its flavor. read more

Food wasn't all that, it was ehh.. Service sucks and the waitresses are very slow hopefully they get their game up..smh

I been here couple of times and I think the manager should work on everything . First able during the service time the waiters shouldn't eat while they do service . I saw two of them were eating and servicing the Same time . And their restroom , that should be kept neat and clean . read more

We bought chicken tikka and seek kabab and naria and keera. The keera smelled like onion The seek babab tasted like rubber .Nerra was good. read more

The service is so bad here. The waiters are always watching tv while the person who is warming the food is on his phone texting. They literally charged is $6.00 for plain white rice. The butter chicken we ordered was horrible. It tasted like regular chicken. I would never eat here or recommend anyone to eat here. Bad service bad food. read more

Everyone knows to find parking in Jackson Heights is a misson, But not here !!! they have parking lot next day with ample amount of space, very convenient for anyone with family. My first time here I ordered Mithai ( Sweets) for my Nikkah( Wedding). I was a bit nervous not knowing how it would come out, I must say the ladoos were fresh and arrangements & presentations still till this day everyone remembers my sweets for my Nikkah compliments of Dera. The Owner he himself personally called to ask how my Nikkah went and how were the Mithai arrangements, asked me for any suggestions. I said keep up the good work I'm coming back very soon!!! Then about a week after I had came for dinner with my family. The food was great and I must say the Chana Daal and Chapli kebab and Chicken Makhni is a must when you go there, for Dessert you gotta have Falooda!! read more

Love South Asian food always as I'm one. I come to this place every Sunday with my family. Good space here. Traditional dining experience. Nothing exceptional. Bunch young severs on the floor. But only few of them carry experience. But anyway I will be always coming here. read more

Bugs in food. Serving manager have so much attitude, instead of accepting it he was arguing

Went with a group of about 8 coworkers. We ordered "family style" and I think we were served just about half the items on the menu. The staff was very pleasant and friendly. Our waitress was patient and gave us a detailed explaination of what a lot of the dishes were, because most of us don't have a lot of experience with Pakistani food. For me, a few of the standouts were : spicy "red chicken" (which was unbelievably juicy), a spicy "white" chicken and rice dish, sesame naan (wow......that was awesome all by itself) and a really spicy spinich side dish. I'd love to tell you the actual names of these dishes, but I'm really not sure..........but I am certain that they were all very tasty and packed with flavor. For dessert we tried a rice pudding that had a bit of a weird slimy texture but it tasted o.k. as well as what looked like munchkins that were bathed in a super sugary syrup.......they were really good but I would suggest diabetics steer clear because it felt as if I was going to slip into a sugar induced coma. And finally, to wash it all down, we ordered hot tea. It tasted nothing like any tea I've ever tried before.......a bit too strange for me, but hey.......a bunch of my friends seemed to enjoy it. Be forewarned.......a nap may be necessary afterwards but a very pleasant meal was enjoyed by all. I'll definitely be back. read more

Easily the best food I've had outside of Pakistan. Yes you lose a few factors like restaurant quality but food is great. Service was great too honestly. Love it! read more

The food was excellent. The lamb chops were delicious. I am from San Francisco and was taken here by my brother in law and have to say, it is as close to London Pakistani food as you are going to get in the U.S. I thought we had some good restaurants h ere in SF, but after eating here I realize nothing in San Francisco compares. read more

I found the food at this place exceptionally good and excellent taste. Its been a while when I had true Pakistani food tasted. They certainly need to improve on the neatliness and service. Environment is friendly and very good for kids. The chinese waitress stood for as long as it took to give my 5 year old an answer to his question in Urdu. The family enjoyed the dinner. read more

Their customer service is terrible. Their owner is very rude and treats customers and his own staff very badly. Their food items are generally hit-or-a-miss. Behari kebabs are good but lamb chops were horrible. read more

Best tea ever and best kabobs and basmati rice. Somewhat oily but well-worth the extra workout to burn it off the next day. drooling as I write this.... haha read more

I am obsessed with this place. It's a very modern authentic desi restaurant who stays open until 4am for a great price in the heart of the heights. read more

Visited Dera for the first time today and was utterly underwhelmed. The place was full of people so we thought must be good but food was sub par. The steamed chicken was extremely dry and chewy, and goat in the curry was hard. We left very disappointed. The one star is for the service which was decent. read more

My name is john maceina and I'm one of the take out guys! I have been eating all the dishes for over 2 years at least once a week. My wife and daughter crave and beg me to bring home the butter chicken on Fridays, I have had west Indian food all over the boroughs, but dera is the best I have ever tasted and if I don't come home with it on Fridays, god help me! read more

Food is ok. Regular tea was bad. Chicken karahi is actually chicken curry with way too much methi. Kheer tasted like the one from box.

I come here for breakfast. Chick peas are amazing, the different types of bread for breakfast are amazing too. They also have an egg omlette with spicy peppers if you like too. read more

Okay, so I grew up on Kabab King- I'd like to think I'm a pretty loyal person; but after moving to the city, I've gone to Dera more often. Everyone I know prefers it and I'm usually left tagging along, but this last trip to Dera might have made me a believer after all. Six of us went on a Saturday night to get our desi fix and boy did we leave satisfied! We ordered two niharis, a goat curry, an order of mixed vegetable and bhindi, chicken biryani, malai boti, 6 naan, and two kheer + one rasmalai + drinks for everyone. Not only is this place CHEAP! (around $13 per person) but it was delicious. The malai boti was succulent and tender, the biryani was average but delicious and fresh, the bhindi was TERRIBLE (don't order it) but the mixed vegetable was suprisingly flavorful- a mix of zucchini, cauliflower, potatoes, and other veggies. The nihari is always good but the goat curry was nothing too special- it was difficult for me to differentiate the flavor from the nihari (except for the consistency of the dish/ meat). I left feeling satiated. Keep in mind this is a typical Jackson Heights/ desi restaurant. Packed to the brim with people, waiters buzzing here and there, Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils, nothing fancy. But if you want an authentic shot at Pakistani food this is simply one of the best places you can stumble upon (or drive 45 minutes+). read more

Good Pakistani food. My mom and I got the behari chicken and some beef thing that was perfectly cooked - a hint of smoke and blend of seasonings. The naan is also legit but is extra. This is served family style - one dish may be enough for two. Prices are decent for a casual lunch. read more

This used to be our favorite go to restaurant in Jackson Heights but not after today. The butter chicken was watered down, the water was floating on top and when I asked to return it they wouldn't take it back--the guy behind the counter said they are trying to return it after they ate--actually, we were all putting it in our plates. It was only until the table behind us complained about the same thing that they took it back. We did not get charged for it. I think the chef must have changed the biryani had no taste or salt and the chicken tasted a day or two old. (The Bihari kebab were on point delicious and soft but my family will not be returning). I forgot the best part, HAIR in my FOOD. read more

Love the curry here. It's flavorful, spicy,,, absolutely delicious and addictive. Their naan is huge and fluffy. So yammy. I love the garilc one. Plus it's reasonable. The service is not the best and it's like cafeteria, but I just love their food. read more