Indian food is a pretty intimidating cuisine.
The smells are incredibly pungent, invoking the mouthwatering sense of spice and overwhelming flavor. Many people steer away from Indian cuisine out of fear of trying something new.
But we're here to tell you that your fear of the unknown is causing you to miss out on some absolutely incredible cuisine. Indian food is a whole lot more than just naan and tandoori chicken.
It's a delicate balance of unique, sometimes contradictory spices that blend together to create a symphony of mind-blowing flavors.
If you're still hesitant to dive head first into the unknown, start with a mild Tikka Masala with some plain naan and some basmati rice. From there, you can discover vindaloo, saag, rasmalai, and other incredible Indian dishes.
Here are our favorite Indian restaurants (in no particular order).
1. Darbar Grill (157 East 55th Street)
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This fine dining Indian establishment is an excellent way to break your senses in to Indian cuisine. If you've never had it, you should head on over to Darbar Grill during their lunch hour, which is served buffet style. This way, you can taste their most popular dishes, and discover your favorite.
We'd recommend trying the "Chef's Special Lamb Chops Masala" with ginger, mint, tomato & onion with "Cheese & Garlic Naan."
2. Indikitch (25 West 23rd Street)
what_did_jp_eat Finally tried #IndiKitch, basically an Indian version of #Chipotle. Got a bowl of basmati rice, creamy and rich dal (bean and lentil stew), pickled beets, chicken tikka masala and a side of garlic naan bread. Also tried the Pork Dosa (not pictured) 3 Indian crepe tacos with slow roasted pork. It was delicious. Milder in spices than your traditional Indian food. Looking forward to going back again. 🐔🍛
Once you're hooked on Indian food, you're going to wish that there was an acceptable fast food Indian restaurant to get your fix. Have no fear, just check out Indikitch, which is a similar concept to our favorite Mexican fast food joint, Chipotle.
At Indikitch, you decide on which meal you would like to have, your main component, whether you want it to be spicy, and any extras you would like to have. We recommend trying the "Feast" with a choice of rice, dal (a thick stew), kachumbar (raw vegetables), and naan (Indian flatbread).
3. Gandhi Fine Indian Cuisine (2032 Bedford Avenue- Brooklyn)
Brooklyn has a lot of really incredible foodie joints, and Gandhi Fine Indian Cuisine fits that description. Their knowledgable and friendly staff serves up excellent, authentic dishes that will impress even the pickiest of eaters.
Make sure you try the Samosas as an appetizer and the "Vegetable or Chicken Biryani" as your entree. The "Samosas" are a fried pastry filled with vegetables and potatoes, where as the "Biryani" is a rice dish steam cooked with vegetables and/or chicken and fresh herbs.
4. TheLeWala (112 Macdougal Street)
This spot has been a favorite for late night Indian street food for NYU students, and when you see the prices and taste the food, you'll understand why. This spot truly encapsulates the meaning of Indian street food, delivering tasty food that (for the most part) can be eaten on the run.
We recommend trying one of their "Famous Calcuttta Nizami Rolls," including "Chapli Roll," which is minced lamb patties, fried eggs, and red onions, or the "Chicken Malai Roll," which has a creamy marinade, red onions, and lime.
5. Mirch Masala (95 Macdougal Street)
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With a name that translates to "chillies," you know you're in for a spicy treat. It's also an excellent place to learn more about Indian cuisine if you're not too familiar with it. Each menu item has an excellent description of what you will receive in your meal.
For example, we'd try the "Lamb Vindaloo," which is described as a Portuguese influence that's a heady spice concoction of garlic, vinegar, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, Cochin peppercorns, Andhra chillies, and turmeric. Yeah, we're drooling.
,6. Tamarind Tribeca (99 Hudson Street)
This spot is an excellent place for a celebration. The two-story restaurant is stunningly beautiful, and the food is just as incredible. Though the prices are a little steep, the experience and food are worth it.
We'd recommend trying the "Lamb Pasanda," which is pounded lamb in an apricot and cashew nut dish in a saffron sauce. Also, be sure to try the "Bataki Kosha," or duck that is hand rolled in a rice crepe with onions, garlic, ginger, and garam masala.
7. Bengal Tiger Indian Food (58 West 56th Street, 2nd Floor)
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Are you looking for a new date night spot with different cuisine? Check out Bengal Tiger Indian Food. You can order a three course prix fixe meal for $17.95 with your choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert. We'd say that's a pretty good deal, especially with the amount of choices you have for your entree.
You can also order "The Lunch Pack," that includes brown or basmati rice, naan bread, and a choice of two main dishes (smaller), for only $8.95. You know what we're getting for lunch.
8. The MasalaWala (179 Essex Street)
At MasalaWala, you won't be served the traditional Indian food, but a concept of South-Asian street food with a modern, creative twist. For one, their service style has embraced technology, using an iPad ordering system to save time.
We have so far ignored a pretty popular Indian beverage that is incredibly tasty. "Mango Lassi" is a yogurt and mango smoothie like drink that is the perfect accompaniment to your meal. Try it with the "Saffron Chicken Tikka," which is chicken that has been marinated in saffron and ground spices.
9. Yaar Indian Resaurant (22-55 31st - Queens)
Are you still afraid to try Indian cuisine? Fine, we'll convince you with this crowd pleaser. At Yaar Indian Restaurant, you should try their "Butter Chicken" (a rich, creamy tomato sauce based dish) with "Naan."
If you're a little sick of naan at this point, switch it up with "Paratha," a flaky, whole wheat naan that is served with butter.
10. Pippali (129 East 27th Street)
This chic little Italian spot focuses on high-end, authentic Indian cuisine based on seasonality. This Indian spot has one of our favorite ambiances for the reasonable price. It's a great spot for a date or dinner with friends.
Try the "Batak Utthapam," which is duck breast that has been hand rubbed with cracked peppers and grilled with Portobello mushroom utthapam (a thick, pancake).
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[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]