1. Spice Things Up at Bengal Tiger
Tucked away in an unassuming second-floor locale on 56th Street, Bengal Tiger is a casual eatery that serves a regional menu of Indian favorites for lunch and dinner.
Meat-lovers and vegetarians alike have an array of delicious choices, including chicken and lamb vindaloo, chicken tikka masala and korma, and creamy homemade curries.
Vegetarians can tuck into mouth-watering saag paneers, baigan bhartha (roasted mashed eggplant), and curried chickpeas known as chana masala.
Bengal Tiger offers a selection of dining options from an á la carte and three-course prix fixe menu to catering trays with a variety of small plates.
Tandoori bread adds an extra bite, and a range of sweet Indian desserts such as kheer (cashew nut rice pudding) and rasmalai (farmer's cheese discs thickened with milk) add the final touch to an unforgettable meal.
58W 56th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019, Phone: 212-265-2703, Map
2. Conquer the Heat at Brick Lane Curry House
Newly located on 2nd Avenue, Brick Lane Curry House specializes in phal, a hot habanero curry that is popular along London's famous Brick Lane restaurant row.
The coolly elegant interior is the perfect setting for the nine super-hot curries on the menu, which are ranked by burn level, the hottest of which comes with a description of being "more pain and sweat than flavor".
The restaurant became famous overnight for its "how-hot-can-you-go challenge," which was featured on television, while the rest of the menu is modeled after the curry houses of Brick Lane in London and features kebabs, khurmas, and light tandooris.
79 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, Phone: 212-979-8787, 212-979-2900, Map
3. Savor Coastal Elegance at Chola
Chola offers an eclectic mix of traditional Indian cuisine and new-age, off-beat, more regional types of food in a casual, inviting atmosphere.
Boasting a vast menu of delectable choices this restaurant offers everything from baskets of varied kebabs, including cardamom-perfumed lamb sausages, chicken kali mirch, and buttery langar wali dal to saffron-coated chunks of tender lamb chunks with a delicate cashew sauce and the southern Indian specialty of Savitri Amma's idli (steamed rice cakes) served with fresh coconut chutney.
Don't miss Martha Stewart's onion naan, although everything ordered on the menu promises to tantalize the taste buds and leave a marked memory.
232 E 58th Street, NY 10022, Phone: 212-688-4619, Map
4. If You’re Craving Rich Curries and Regal Vibes, Book a Table at Darbar Grill
Darbar Grill is a popular NYC restaurant in Midtown that offers exceptional Indian food and unparalleled service in an elegant, relaxed atmosphere. I liked it for a special celebration with friends.
The restaurant serves an array of delicious fine Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner as well as delicious dessert options and includes a prix fixe menu with an "All-You-Can-Eat-Lunch-Buffet."
The evolving menu also features house specialties that include appetizers such as samosas, bhel puri, and paneer tikka, while entrées feature eggplant bhartha, beetroot malai kofta, lamb tikka masala, and shrimp biryani, accompanied by naan, rice, tandoori bread, mixed pickles, and a range of other sides.
157 E 55th St, Penthouse, New York, NY 10022, Phone: 212-751-4600, Map
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