Dawat

Message from Dawat

  • Accepts all Major Credit Cards
  • Prices are Moderate
  • Dress is Smart and Casual

Dawat, meaning "invitation to a feast" sets the standard by which other Indian Restaurants are measured. Ms Madhur Jaffrey, an internationally renowned Cook Book Author, Actress and Teacher is the driving force behind Dawat. Her genius for creating innovative Indian dishes and adapting classic Indian cooking to contemporary taste has earned her widespread acclaim and positioned "Dawat" amongst the finest restaurants in New York. Many of the specialty items in the menu are from Ms. Madhur Jaffrey's personal recipes, and are unique to Dawat. There are a number of wonderful choices and a cornucopia of Jaffrey's dessert rounds out the feast. The service is refined but friendly, ensuring a smooth and pleasurable dining experience!

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

Marker Dawat

(646) 755-9366

210 E 58th St New York, NY 10022
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Editorial Description by Citysearch
The Scene
Dawat is a relentlessly friendly place, and servers are good about navigating novices through the exotic array of dishes inspired by Madhur Jaffrey, the Indian actress and cookbook author. Little here suggests the typical New York Indian restaurant, including the spare and attractive dining room.

The Food
The eclectic menu surprises and exhilarates. To start, try the bhel poori, an explosive melange of puffed rice, wheat chips, fresh coriander and assorted hot and sweet chutneys--a roller derby for the palate. Main courses are as generous as they are varied--a signature dish is the Parsi-style salmon, in which the fish is rubbed with a tart coriander chutney, wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed. Another option is the heady shrimp cooked with garlic, ginger and assorted spices. Traditional dishes are also available, like a pungent lamb vindaloo, moist tandoori chicken and aromatic tandoori shrimp.
Rated 8.0 out of 10 by Citysearch.

65 Reviews of Dawat in New York

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Good Food  4 Star Rating - Very good

By Ravi S. | insider_guru Insider Guru | Rank: 1,161

Dawat is known for its good food as is reflected by its City Search Best Indian Cuisine in NYC Awards for 2004. Indian restaurants are very common in New York City but Dawat is sure to provide a tasty Indian meal.

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Latest reviews by Citysearch: (read all 64 reviews on Citysearch)

one of the best 4 Star Rating - Very good

By AshishM84

In NYC there are many many Indian places.... Dawat is on my top 5.

I live very close to Dawat and even though it has Chola and Yuva on the same block.. Dawat stands out by itself. The food is amazing and the service is great. My GF and i always switch up between Dawat and Bukhara Grill on 49th as she lives by it. Dawat is deff worth the money

Pros: food
Posted 02/16/09

delicious indian food 5 Star Rating - World class

By siroliveoil

Everything about this place was great.... the location near to the 4/5/6 train line, as well as N/R/W.
I shared a few indian dishes with my friend... we tried a few rice curries, coconut pakori, chicken tikka massala...
all in all great food and service!

Pros: great indian
Posted 10/28/08

Bad Service!! 3 Star Rating - Satisfactory

By member005

I went here for restauarnt week 2008. I didn't even order from the prix fix menu, BUT my order was the same size as the prix fixed menu's. I know bc my friends order the same dish as me, but i ordered the entree, but all came in a small bowl. I was VERY disappointed. The food was pricey, i had one entree my friends had the prix fixed, each of us paid $45 each. It was crazy!! I didn't even have dessert. By the way, we ate at this restaurant for almost 3 hours. The service was terrible, it took forever to get the dessert & the check. If you have a lot of time and like small portions, this place is great for you. By the way, the food wasn't bad.

Pros: average indian food
Cons: bad service, small portions
Posted 02/15/08

Amazing atmosphere and customer service, food and price are average. 4 Star Rating - Very good

By wisebrain

I went here for restaurant week, the portions were really small and pretty average to me, though the atmosphere and service is what you pay for. I would recommend for a romantic dinner.

Pros: Atmosphere
Cons: Price slightly high
Posted 01/30/08

RUDE RUDE RUDE 3 Star Rating - Satisfactory

By bc929

I went here on a date the other night and the staff was nothing but rude to me! They were outwardly friendly to my date, but were extremely rude to me! They took to ignoring me, asking how HIS food was but not mine, snatching the menu from my hands, and giving me absolutely distasteful stares! It ruined the whole experience!
The food, however, was great, and it would be the ONLY reason why I would reccommend this restaurant.
They do, however, need to update their decor. It is severely lacking, and there is little to no ambience.

Pros: GREAT food
Cons: Lacking ambience, and rude staff
Posted 09/07/07