This review probably shouldn't be a solid 5 stars but you have to grade on a curve, because who would expect Indian food this good in a place like Cooperstown? So much Indian food outside major metropolitan centers in the US is either terribly underflavored, in a sad attempt to level down to provincial palates, or by contrast overspiced, in the equally ridiculous assumption that you convey authenticity via sheer capsicum, that one approaches a place like this warily. And yet what you have here is delicately-calibrated sauces, food in which you can actually taste individual seasonings and savor their interactions, the way it's supposed to be! Samosas are fresh, crunchy crispy crust rather than the doughy glop for which we so frequently settle, and rice is perfectly fluffy. Lunch servings are just the right size - not the gargantuan american portions that let you know how dubious is the quality of the meat (margins can only be maintained on those stupid portion sizes by sacrificing quality). I won't say this place would get 5 stars in London or Chicago but it's well worth your time if you're in Cooperstown instead. read more

Was not expecting a great Indian meal in a small restaurant in Cooperstown, but it was the best meal we had during our stay. Everything was delicious and the service was terrific. Lots of vegetarian options and mix of lots of curries, tandoori, and other things. Price point was very reasonable for the quality and portion size. Make a reservation-it was packed in the off season. read more

Norbu - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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Food was amazing. When you walk in the aroma of the spices were intoxicating Very small space inside but decor is very cozy. Highly recommend this little jewel read more

The ambiance is very special - very romantic if that is your goal. When you enter, it looks quite small, but there is more seating behind the area where you enter. I expected the food to have much more flavor- more spice. It was tasty, but tasty from any ethnic cuisine. For the cost, I expected to be wowed and I was satisfied, but not wowed. I always order mango juice vs lassi when I go to an Indian restaurant - even in other countries, and this was not an option here. The service was pretty good. read more

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Welcomed warmly to this cozy space which got increasingly filled with patrons. Hubby had shrimp saag, I had the Kerala fish curry. Rice came with. Really delicious! Server was helpful and attentive. A nice variety of dishes to choose from. read more

Norbu - Kerala fish curry - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Yesss authentic delicious Nepalese & Indian Flavors! We got Kerala Fish curry-well seasoned spices herbs, shrimp clay oven grilled -good marinade, scallops nice-sear with umami flavors, and yay my fave rasmalai for dessert well made! So happy this place is here in one of our fave NY towns. Service is wonderful, attentive & friendly. Be back soon! read more

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This was such an oasis while visiting the Hall of Fame. Walking distance from the Hall is some of the best Indian food Ive ever had. Im from NYC and this place would be making waves here easily as one of the best in the city! We had left over Biryani, and the chef was concerned, but it was because we ate and loved so much of the rest of our order. We ate the Biryani as soon as we got to our next hotel in Niagra on this road trip. My wife asked for it be mild and it was PERFECTLY seasoned. Still flavorful but not too hot for her. This was the best meal of our vacation. Id almost make the trip back from nyc just for Norbu. If im ever in the area again, itll be my first stop! Seating outside was perfect and service was very attentive and kind. Highly highly suggested in Cooperstown! read more

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The food is amazing. Servers and owners are very welcoming. The ambiance is the best part. The restaurant and bar are each quite intimate, great for date night or drinks with friends. read more

The food was Amazing!! We went to the National Baseball Museum and enjoyed having a delightful dinner here after. read more

Norbu - The chicken chili is great!!! - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

We ordered the Executive Lunch Menu which comes with appetizer, entree and rice. We both had the Garlic Ki Gobi which is an amazing crispy battered cauliflower fried in a garlic, ginger, tomato, pepper and coriander sauce. Excellent. I had the Malabar lamb in curry leaves, coconut, pepper and tamarind a South Indian Specialty and my guy ordered Chicken Tikka Masala. Everything we had was gluten free. The exception was I ordered garlic naan for myself as I don't have to eat gluten free. Both dishes were on the sweeter side rather than savory and we ordered medium spice. When we asked our server if the dishes were prepared mild when we ordered medium, he brought out chili paste we mixed into our dish for desired spice level. The garlic naan was excellent - lots of garlic you can see, smell and taste. It came out hot and was really good. We ate in the back which had a washroom otherwise you have to walk around. We are visiting from Massachusetts so we won't be back but this was a wonderful instead of pub food. And, not a lot of families so very quiet. We liked that. read more

Amazing food and service. As a local, we are fortunate to have Norbu on Main Street. Always excellent. read more

This is hands down the best Indian food I can remember eating. Each dish had a rich, full flavor that tasted like what I expected only more so. The portions are generous, with three dishes being more than two people could finish. The service was great, and very prompt. We dined outside on the street, which was a great experience because the environment is the Main Street USA feel of downtown Cooperstown. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

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Very calming interior with nice decor. The food was excellent but so plentiful you really need to share. For example the tandoori chicken was 4 chicken breasts. read more

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Excellent place to have a romantic dinner in Cooperstown. Set on Main St, right down the street from the HOF. Apps were delicious but the dinner.....SO GOOD. Shared rice that was replenished. Staff was knowledgeable and sweet. Get the garlic naan! We will be back. read more

really big Indian restaurant that you would NOT expect in such a small town. Coming from Los Angeles, we were pleasantly surprised at discovering this place. Food was amazing, and my husband kept lamenting that this place would be a "once in a life" experience for us. Really pretty interior and LOTS of tables. Upstairs, out and around to the bathroom... It looked like it had taken over a number of different places. So glad we got to try this place during out week there. read more

I enjoyed my food and drink, parking was close to the building, they were able to accommodate a large group, service was fast, and we all had a great time. read more

Norbu - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

What an amazing surprise in sweet little Cooperstown! The space was clean and cozy. The food was AMAZING!! Perfectly prepared and seasoning balanced and beautiful. I would make the hour plus drive to Cooperstown just to eat here. We started with the papri chaat, delicious, well seasoned and not spicy. It was basically Indian spiced nachos...tasty. My table had lamb chops, chicken tikka and paneer makhani and everyone loved their meals. I ate the paneer dish and sang my way through dinner. If you're in Cooperstown or anywhere nearby, this is worth a stop! We will be back. read more

This place was so good. My son had been interested in trying it so while we were in town we went. They were busy even though we got a reservation for as soon as they opened. The service was good and we really enjoyed the variety of things there were to choose from. We loved the soup and the appetizers were really good. It's beautifully decorated. It's great for a date or special occasion. read more

My partner and I absolutely loved our experience at Norbu! The food was absolutely delicious- We started with samosas, of course, and then I had the chana masala and they had the vegetable jalfrezi. Their drink menu was also really tasty. The service was great, the environment is beautiful, and I loved sitting by the window and looking out at main street! A definite must for vegans or vegetarians traveling through Cooperstown. read more

Best Indian food I have ever had great server great food I would come again first time eating Indian food and I do not regret it, it was very good read more

We had hard time to find Asian food near Cooperstown during baseball tournament. This is the one we have to recommend to everyone. Good environment and tasty food, of course with fantastic service! read more

Norbu - We love the food! - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Our family had a wonderful time here for dinner! There is a takeout service in the front and a dining in the back (entrance in alley). The service was impeccable. The owners are so friendly and helpful--filling waters, giving suggestions, answering questions, etc. We tried a lot of items on the menu (group of 8) and there wasn't one thing that we didn't enjoy. We tried: Appetizers (we ate them before taking pictures): Papri Chaat (no spice) Vegetable Samosa (low/medium spice) Onions&spinach pakora (no spice) *Each served with a sauce* Entrees: Aloo Gobi (No spice) Chicken Tiki Masala (Low spice) Chicken Malabar (Low spice) Shrimp Malabar (Low spice) Saag Chicken (Low spice) Chicken Curry (Low/Medium spice) Lamb Vindaloo (VERY spicy--husband was sweating) *All served with basmati rice* Sides: Garlic Naan Mixed Pickle There was quiet piano music playing for a nice ambiance and we had a cozy little corner area to sit. This was my first time having Indian cuisine and it was top notch. So happy to have such a great restaurant in Cooperstown! read more

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Extraordinary culinary experience drawn from the freshest of ingredients delivered with exceptional service. With family farms across the region supplying produce, the Cooperstown area restaurants are a foodie's paradise. Norbu is one of the best. The menu is extensive and moderately priced. Meticulous attention is given to the taste and the presentation of every dish - salmon wraps, vegetable samosas, steaming and fluffy garlic and rosemary naans, pure and light pea soup, dumplings, lamb, and curries. The atmosphere is calming with the cast iron wood burning stove at the center of the room and soft lighting. Perfect for family, friends and date night. read more

Baseball Fans, get in here for your 7th Inning stretch!! Fabulous service, outstanding food, fair prices, stylish and cozy ambiance make Norbu a home run! Lunch was $16 with choice of appetizer and entree and rice. We had Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Malabar as our mains and both were superb. Excellent value and top-notch in all categories. If you're looking for a break from burgers, pubs, pies, and dogs, this is the place! read more

Norbu - Chicken Tikka Masala and rice - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

Whether you choose the front counter for the momo dumplings & beverages or the restaurant through the alley for the most amazing Indian cuisine, you will leave happy. The staff are very attentive to every detail and you know you are receiving high end service. Not the front counter and the restaurant keep you enamored with the environment while you're there. This is a place for wonderful food, great conversation, and a memorable experience. read more

Needed gluten free options and we were so excited to find delicious Indian food in downtown Cooperstown. We sat outside on the cozy patio for lunch and enjoyed the weather and people watching while we ate. Their lunch menu offered choice of appetizer and entree. While the appetizer list only had one gf option (Lasuni ki gobi) it was very flavorful with a little bit of heat and the perfect amount for two. The entree list had more gf variety and we got Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Malabar. All of it was so so good! Had leftovers that we definitely boxed up, including the Malabar sauce even though the lamb got all ate up. This was such a great option to find after a beautiful morning walking around downtown. read more

This is amazing Indian food. Highly recommend! The ambiance is very calm and relaxing. Location near the only traffic light in town is easy to access. read more

Food was fantastic! Ambiance was cozy and comfortable. Staff were extremely attentive and courteous. Will revisit when back in town! We did family style and ordered 5 different entrees and shared. They were all tasty so you can't go wrong with what you order. Even the side salad from one of the main dishes was super refreshing and flavorful. I wasn't expecting them to have such a good chocolate cake for dessert but one of the best that I've had in a restaurant in a while. You can never go wrong with gulab jamun either or the rice pudding. Wine selection is also nice! read more

Food was delicious and the ambiance was great. Had veggie samosas lentil curry and naan. All were very good!!! Service was good. Fast and courteous read more

Norbu - Samosas naan and lentil curry - Indian Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

I came in tonight with family as it is my first time in Cooperstown and I've been itching to try momos! When you walk in, you can tell it's going to be good just based on the smell. We got the chicken tikka masala, beets veg kofta, saag, samosas, chaat, and garlic naan. They seated us upstairs as The downstairs area was packed and it was very nicely decorated. This has been some of the best service that I've ever had, they were very attentive, and even asked us if the temperature was OK upstairs (it was perfect). Furthermore, even though the front store was closed, they were still able to get me two orders of Momos and they even made it on the house. read more

Arrived at 6:45pm on a Friday night, surprised to see the place was almost full. Nonetheless, seated right away, service was prompt, attentive, and the food came out in a timely manner. Was nice to see the simple remodeling of Alex's former location with Himalayan themed photos/drawings. Everything was spotless. The menu selection seemed to be dominated by Indian dishes. Opted for Papri Chat and Vegetable Samosas for apps - tasty. Mains of Shrimp Malabar, Aloo Gobi, and Konkon Fish were delicious, with deep, flavorful spices. Seemed very authentic. Presentation was impressive. Garlic Naan on the side. Nice selection of draft beers to accompany the meal. As we were preparing to leave, one of the staff came over to help us with our coats.... icing on the cake! Highly recommended! read more

5 stars, would recommend! This place is a great addition to the area. The food was delicious and the service was very professional. The server was great at highlighting vegan options for my brother in law. We had veg momos (vegan), spinach onion pakora (vegan), Kerala fish curry, eggplant dish (vegan), chicken curry, and a lamb dish, plus some garlic naan (vegetarian). Recommendation - if you have spice sensitivity/aversion and aren't familiar with some of the dishes, ask the server for a recommendation. They will make sure you get something you'll love. I wish my FIL had done this. My FIL always says "I'm not picky, I'll eat anything" and then won't touch anything on his plate. He ordered the chicken curry (mild), but it was still too spicy for him... wouldn't touch it. So the server brought out some yogurt to cut the heat but at that point he had already made up his mind (stubborn). The server brought out an all-new chicken dish which had zero spice but my FIL still wouldn't touch it (had convinced himself it wasn't going to be any better... again, stubborn). The server insisted that we bring home the comp'd 2nd meal and was really thoughtful and patient throughout the whole experience. read more

The food was good taste wise. However, it was COLD. The cauliflower appetizer was on our table before our cocktails; no way it was cooked prior to serving. The Malabar chicken was good, not much chicken though, and both it and the rice were cold. the garlic naan was good, and the raita was very good, but we were disappointed. read more

Long story short, this spot is great! Service with a smile and delish grub. Ambience is welcoming as well. I am from Queens and spoiled rotten when it comes to food with authentic flair. These guys are from my neighborhood in Queens and know what they are doing! That being said, we are weekend warriors up in this area, having a go to spot is a blessing. The restaurants in this area are less than mediocre in flavor. Sorry, but truth hurts sometimes. This place is a solid example of what to do right! Just wish they made Momos read more

Dumplings for take-out at counter on Main Street. Full dining with excellent Indian cuisine entrance in alley. Reasonably priced. The food is as good as any Nepalese or Indian restaurant in Manhattan or Queens. Lovely service. And delightful, quiet ambiance. read more

Momo! Yummy Tibetan dumplings. Great service. Very good bubble tea, lassi and great beer selection.

What a gem of a place. The food is exceptional and, as should be expected, authentic. The lamb vindaloo was tender and spicy, with the ragu thick and velvety. My daughter loved the curry chicken, it was a very smooth and rounded curry flavor and the chicken was tender and moist, not dried out at all. My wife enjoyed the Saag, too, even though the spice was more than she expected. The tikka masala was devoured by my 12 year old son, and if that's not an endorsement for a delicious dish, I dont know what is. Finally, the portions were generous - though they could bring more basmati with the stews. I would recommend one serving bowl of basmati for every two dishes ordered, instead we only got 1, but in all honesty, I think they would have brought out another if we asked. Notably, without asking, they brought out a fried cauliflower dish for us to try, and it was delicious! The owner was so enthusiastic about his new restaurant, and he shared his amazing story of adventure from Nepal to Cooperstown; if you get the chance, ask him to share, it is just an amazing and inspirational story of luck and pluck. Overall, if this was in a major metropolitan area, it would be well received as high end authentic cuisine. In Cooperstown, it is a must go! Ambience - B+; Food - A; Service - A; Value - A. Five stars here. Try it out before it gets too busy. read more

Great food served in a delightful quiet restaurant with excellent service and atmosphere.

Excellent food. It was nice to have something healthier than pub or diner food. Service and ambiance was superb as well. read more

The people are extremely nice and friendly. The food is high quality and homemade. The inside is a nice dark space.