Spice Corner - 135 Lexington Avenue (Indian)
This place is TERRIFIC! 3.9 stars! The guy is the sweetest, nicest person you'd ever want to meet and talk to, and it's a great little shoppe for various sweets like Mysore Pak, and Burfi, sold by weight.
Shaheen - 130 East 29th Street (Indian/Pakistani)
A very nice little Indian type of Turo-Turo (Philipino for point point). They've got a decent sized case of sweets off to the right, a very nice, casual staff, and good food. Out there in the middle of curry hill. I've only been there once, and I like it already.
Foods of India - 121 Lexington Avenue (Indian)
Don't ever go here. This deli store now has the distinct of only being the second place I've ever given a negative review to. Nothing whatsoever wrong with the food (and the only place I've seen Balushahi). But the service is beyond surly and nasty - and no-one deserves that type of treatment.
Dosa Hut - 102 Lexington Avenue (Indian)
A million different types of Dosas, and it's where I got Uppma. Although, the price is rather steep for my liking ($9.50 for the Uppma, which is basically mashed rice....!) I will say that they had one really neat touch - a fennel and mint mixture that you eat a little of after dinner, like an apparatif, in order to aid digestion.
Chennai Garden - 129 E. 27th Street (Indian)
It's here that I got my Masala Gunpowder Dosa, which was very good (albeit slightly expensive) at $7.95.
Kabir's Bakery - 1425 Foster Avenue, Brooklyn and 29-05 36th Avenue, LIC (Indian/Pakistani)
Haven't been to a physical location, but have had their products at my local Bronx deli. They seem to have a good variety, so they deserve at least preliminary mention.
Sukhadia - 17 W. 45th Street (5th and 6th Avenue) (Indian) (Vegetarian)
Reading the menu at Sukhadia can be positively exciting, filled with items ranging far beyond americanized curry...or even the somewhat popularized southern staples of dosas and iddly. A treasure trove of the exotic, Sukhadia offers unfamiliar Indian snacks such as dhokla cakes, patra...and the many varieties of street food known as Chaat.
Though I've focused so far on appetizers, the entrees look enticing too...with lots of vegetarian options like Pav Bhaji (bread served with spicy veggie curry, lemon and onions.) Fortunately for me, I'm taking a class in the area. So further sampling of Sukhadia's wares is inevitable - at least for the next few weeks. And that's a good thing - because there's lots on the menu to try.
A word of caution regarding the service: Though the counter service has been good, a recent experience has led me to question the management over at Sukhadia. While waiting for an order, a superviser came over...and proceeded to argue with the server for a full five minutes. While it wasn't in English, the intention was clear. Right in front of the customer. Delayed my meal - and (more importantly) was embarrassing for the poor server. Not good for customer relations...which is a shame, 'cause I think Sukhadia has alot to offer.
Masala Bollywood - 108 Lexington Avenue (Indian)
This is one restaurant which I might make a favorite - especially for the service.
Stylish and clean, the atmosphere of MB exudes comfort - from the chairs to the white walls (lined with large, decorative photos of popular Bollywood stars.) There's a buffet set up in the corner...and I've heard (though not seen) that the bathroom is pretty neat, as well.
I 'd only stopped for takeout (a combo order of Bhel Puri and Sev Puri), yet the staff gave me the full guest treatment. While waiting, I was offered a taste of the buffet...and served a complementary Mango Lassi! Now, that's service...and not bad for the price of two dishes of Chaat!
Ten minutes later I left with bags in hand. But what a wonderful first impression. Good name, and good service... How can it possibly go wrong?
Katie Rolls & Chaat House - 101 Lexington Avenue (27th/28th Street)
I'd seen KR&C from outside, while driving down Lexington Avenue. It was a brief glimpse but the name just stuck, leading me to an unexpected obsession with Katie Rolls - a phenomenon which I had not heard of previously.
For those not in the know, Katie Rolls are the equivalent of an Indian burrito - paratha bread wrapped around traditional Indian ingredients such as curried chicken, or veggie potatoes. They're pretty popular these days with the office crowd, offering Indian flavor in a convenient grab n' go package.
Well, I just had to try it, and insisted on having one delivered today for lunch (sometimes it is good to work in midtown.) I have to give KR&C credit - they were gracious enough to deliver outside of their regular area, and the meal was worth it. Though somewhat greasy, the Katie Roll was satisfying...filled with spicy, stomach warming chickpea - and washed down with mango juice that also hit the spot. (KR&C sells quite a few juices and fruit flavored smoothies.)
But the best was the Papri Chaat--another item which I had never had before. Somewhat indescribable, the dish was a mixture of potato, chili, yogurt and tamarind. An unexpected kaleidoscope of flavors...all of 'em good. Was the Katie Roll worth it? Yes...at least as a one time try. But the Chaat? Now, that's a dish that's going to warrant seconds, and probably thirds.
Looks like I've found my new home - at least for a little while.
The neighborhood is known as Little India - a short stretch of property running along the Lexington Avenue route....roughly between the blocks of 30th and 26th street. Not much of a distance, but what's packed into those 4-5 blocks makes it well worth the trip to Manhattan.
If you're an Indian food fanatic, you probably already know the area...or at least the names of the residential restaurants. There are alot of chowhound favorites in the area - only some of which I've tried. But they're worthy of note, even if they haven't made the list (yet.) So if you're in the area (or just came up from nearby Union Square), be sure to check out a few of the following sites:
- Chennai Garden (129 E. 27th Street) (Park and Lex)
- Curry in a Hurry (119 Lexington Avenue/28th Street) - An old standby, which I haven't tried yet.
- Katie Rolls and Chaat House - 101 Lexington Avenue (27th/28th) - Amazing Chaat which you simply must try. At least the Papri Chaat, which is heavenly. The Katie Rolls? Well, they're okay...
- Pongal (110 Lexington Avenue) (27th/28th) (Not yet tried)
- Roomali (97 Lexington Avenue) (27th Street) - On my list of to-dos.
- Saravanaas (81 Lexington Avenue) (26th Street) - A well known Southern Indian establishment, much loved among the vegetarian/vegan set
Then there are the food stores, offering a vast array of exotic spices, goodies and sweet ghee flavored confectionaries:
- Foods of India (121 Lexington) - Sweets galore, from Jaleebi to Mysore
- Kalustyan's (123 Lexington Avenue) - Has everything under the sun, from dried fruits, to sweets. Looks expensive...but what a great treasure trove...
- Little India Grocery, Inc (128 East 28th Street, between Park and Lex) - More stuff....lots of it.
- Spice Corner (135 Lexington Avenue/29th Street) - And more stuff...it just keeps coming.
And so should you, if you're an Indian food fanatic - or just interested in trying something new. Cause this place is great. Finally, something to get me excited, beyond plain old Samosas and curry! Below, you'll find a few more thorough reviews (some from earlier, older initial visits...)
