Dawat
Categories:
Catering Companies, Restaurants, Indian Restaurants
Details:
$$$, Food Delivery, Lunch Spot, Private Rooms, Prix Fixe Menu, Romantic Dining
Insiders:
Message from Dawat
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 by Citysearch
The SceneDawat 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.
Key Points
- Accepts all Major Credit Cards
- Prices are Moderate
- Dress is Smart and Casual
The Inside Scoop
- Save Money - Dawat's multicourse lunch specials, including celebrated tandoor-roasted meats, begin at $14, and are a favorite of midtown officer workers and shoppers.
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
My parents were visiting from India, so I took them to New York's best rated Indian restaurant. Amongst others, we ordered two completely different dishes, one chicken and one shrimp, from different parts of India, and they arrived with the exact same sauce. There are so many better Indian restaurants than Dawat!
Pros: Ambience
Cons: Price, Lack of variety
Posted 12/09/03
The food and service at Dawat is great.I have had a brief tenure in India and in the short period I was there I fell in love with Indian Cuisine.The food at Dawat is amongst the best I have had.The service staff is polite, gracious and well informed.Over all a great place to savour Indian cuisine.
Pros: Jaffreys special, knowledgeable staff
Posted 10/31/03
The food is good, but the service is cloying and pushy. The waiters try their hardest to sell you the most expensive option on the menu. In light of the price, you will absolutely be happier somewhere else. Even Chola next door is better. If you are looking for an elegant atmosphere try Tamarind and if you are looking for just really good food in a fun/hip atmosphere, try Mirchi. Don't go here - so overrated!
Posted 10/28/03
Food was nothing I expected it to be.
Taking a clue from Tamarind and Amma, I thought Dawat would be similar.
Nada!
Old school and old food and service that would have been tolerable if the food was good.
Posted 10/22/03
I have been going to Dawat for the past four years. In a city where Indian food is polarized betweeen dives in Littel India and upper price disappointments, Dawat is the consistent and tasteful frontrunner. The waiters are attentive, and will accomodate diet requierements and taste preferences. The food is consistently high quality. I strenuously disagree with the reviewer KASSIM. Dawat is worthy of an initial visit as well as repeated ones.
Pros: consistency, quality, accomodation
Posted 08/06/03
Returning to New York after 2 years, I once again went to Dawat at midtown. This bustling Indian restaurant is still pleasing. The food was marvelous, service was outstanding. Before I leave town, I will not leave without dining at Dawat.
Pros: food, service
Cons: I can't think of any!
Posted 07/24/03
Though the food was reasonably good, the decore decent and the ambiance inviting, I would have to state very strongly that this place is over-rated. The value isn't that good for the money, and one of the waiters not only aggressively pushed a wine that I didn't want but also insisted I change my choice to a more expensive wine. This sort of behaviour is not only embarrasing but also insulting. I for one do not plan to go back, there are many other places in Manhattan that have just as good food if not better, at the same prices with much better service.
Pros: food, decor
Cons: service, price, food too buttery
Posted 07/21/03
The food was delicious at Dawat. I feel it's one of the better Indian places in Manhattan. However, the prices for these dishes are INSANE, relative to other Indian places! Even though I enjoyed my experience, I don't think I would go back.
Pros: food
Cons: price
Posted 07/01/03
Last night, I treated my mother to a dinner at Dawat for her birthday. My mother, who loves Indian cusine, said that the dishes at Dawat were probably the best she had tasted. We both agreed that the lamb chops cooked in the tandoor were best we had ever tasted. As for the service, the waiter was very informative about some of the exoctic dishes. Friendly ambiance and ample wine list. Overall, amazing dining experience.
Posted 06/01/03
My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day and were pretty disappointed. The food was really nice, but not good enough to justify the price or the crummy service. In their defense, they were definitely very busy, but not only did we have to wait an absurdly long time for each course, but they left out two of the items which were supposed to be included with the second course. The final blow was when the waiter brought us the check before we had even finished dessert--never mind that the only reason we were taking a long time to finish the meal was because of the extreme delay in the service of our food. I would have expected much better from a restaurant with Dawat's reputation, even on a busy night.
Posted 02/19/03
Although dinner for 4 (4 beers, 2 drinks, 3 apps, 4 entrees, 3 coffees and one dessert) hit $220, Id still go back. Real estate in this neck of the woods is no doubt expensive. The food was all excellent save the dessert, Kheer, was very weak. Steamed in banana leaves with coriander and other spices salmon was excellent and a huge piece. Chicken saag was also very good and a nice portion. Shrimp in a coconut sauce was delicious and a good sized potion. Cornish hen was said to be very good too. Apps were veg pakora, aloo tikyas and shrimp (I forget the prep) were all excellent and arrived at the table within 10 minutes of ordering. Onion kulcha and tandoori roti were both amongst the best Ive ever had.
But as I said, at $220 for 4, I feel it was a bit overpriced.
Pros: not loud, not pushy
Cons: expensive
Posted 02/09/03
Dawat is one of the finer dining experiences I have had in a long time. The food and service are both top-notch. I don't think there's much more to say than that.
Pros: Top-notch food, Top-notch service, Comfortable atmospher
Cons: A tad pricey
Posted 12/03/02
Everytime I have been to Dawat the food has been superb. The chef's specialties are just that and I recommend ordering them. The Chicken Tikka Masala is delicious and so are the scallops. The service is also outstanding! I have been to a lot of Indian restaurants and this one ranks in my top three. The combination of the service and the food and the courteous waiters make this whole experience a must for Indian food lovers.
Pros: service, food
Posted 11/19/02
I dined at Dawat a couple of weeks ago, and I thought the wait staff was very professional. It is an over-priced restaurant, but you pay for the excellent service and food. I felt like I was in Bombay's highend restaurant again.
Pros: Excellent Service
Cons: Expensive
Posted 10/01/02
The food is exceptional and very tasty and even though they do take-out, it is quite an experience to dine-in! A must-do and very reasonable.
Posted 09/30/02
Eating at Dawat has is always a treat to the senses . It is an elegant restaurant and never disappoints in serving up flavorful indian specialties that you will not find anywhere else. The portions are huge for a restaurant in this price range. For the meat eaters out there, try the lambchops or the Raan. Just writing this makes me hungry!
Posted 07/03/02