Jackson Diner

They don?t deserve a star at all. They deserve to be shut down. Wasted money. I should have gone to McDonalds for dinner.

I went there Saturday evening hoping for some good Indian food with family. I was wrong, and embarrassed, to bring my family there. It was so bad I don?t know where to begin in this post. The service was horrible. The food was horrible. Everything was a big disappointment. Let?s just say this was the worst service ever. Even worse than Chinatown service if you people know what I mean. (i.e. pushy in ordering, no recommendations on dishes when requested by us (trust me, nothing there was good), not friendly, never smiled until we paid the bill, took forever to get more napkins, charged us extra for roti we never ordered, dishes were not made to order, and much more).

As for the food, a few of my family members (elders and toddlers) can not eat spicy food. I specifically requested the waiter to have those dishes be mild. The waiter just nodded his head, so I assumed he understood and made a mental note. When the food came, everything was spicy. My nephew couldn?t eat anything but white rice the whole night. Poor kid!!!

What really got me upset was when we requested a booster seat for my three year nephew. The waiter said they do not have any. Right there, I was already skeptical about this restaurant. What restaurant doesn?t have booster seats!!!!! I was right about it. When we were about to pay the bill, I see 5 booster seats against the wall. We didn?t see it from the beginning because the restaurant lighting was dim.

Pros: None at all

Cons: Everything was horrible from service to food

Posted 03/28/09

The food was great and came quick. No real gripes about the food. The ambience is above average for the area that the restaurant is located in. Service was friendly and helpful. If you are not familiar with Indian cuisine just ask the waiter. The restaurant seems oddly empty most of the time though.

Pros: Spicy food. Helpful and friendly staff.

Cons: Parking.

Posted 11/06/08

I ordered takeout a couple of days ago, and pointed out to the host taking my order that the price he quoted per dish was not what was shown on the website. He replied that the website hasn't been updated in 8 years because the person in charge of it left. As a matter of principle, I asked him if he could honor the price on the website anyway, and he refused. The different was only $10, so it wasn't a big deal, but just the whole take it or leave it attitude left a bad taste in my mouth. I was already on my way, so I couldn't change my plans, but I would rather give my business to someone who is honest, even if it's more expensive. No wonder there were only 4 people in the restaurant.

Pros: Accessibility to train service

Cons: Service

Posted 09/25/08

After reading all the rave reviews a friend and I ventured into Jackson Heights in search for "The best Indian Restaurant outside of India". Weell, to make a long story short, it's not bad, but it's really over-hyped. We didn't have cockr oaches hanging around as other reviewers had, we didn't see waiters handing out secondhand food, and the bathroom - although it sucked, wasn't as horrid as others have made it. But I can say this: this is certainly NOT an authentic joint. It's Indian Food for Yuppies. If you ever go there, you will be surrounded by yuppies searching for culture, just as you are. You won't find Indian/Pakis/Bangalis eating there. In a word: it's not the real deal. If you want authentic Indian/Paki food, go to Roti Boti which is not far from Jackson Dinner (Broadway/72nd - there are two, right across from each other, I think the Shaheen Roti Boti is the better one). Or go to Bukhari on Coney Island Ave, bet Glenwood Rd and Avenue H (not on Citysearch either). Both are places that Indians and Pakistanis swear by, and for good reasons.

Posted 09/11/08

Wow, I had no idea that such a place existed until yesterday when my friends surprised me for my birthday. I loved the food. I never had Indian food before and always wanted to try it so my boyfriend and me friends surprised me with this restaurant. I had the masala dosa and the chicken makhani. I was not sure if it was going to be spicy, but to my surprise the waiter asked us how we wanted our food and their medium level was good. It wasn't spicy. Also, there are so many ethnic places to shop around on the block. I highly recommend this place to anyone who has never tried Indian food before.

Pros: Thumbs up

Posted 06/26/08

This is one of my favorite restaurants. They only accept cash which is cleary stated on a sign when you walk in. Even though it's usually busy you are seated quickly. The service is not extremely fast but we weren't totally neglected. I highly recomend the murg korma. I get it all the time. The only negative thing i can say is that it doesn't seem totally clean. I brought my family there and my plate and all our utensils were dirty which i had them change.

Pros: decent prices, good food

Cons: a little dirty

Posted 05/04/08

At that price (ok maybe a couple of bucks extra), you could get MUCH better food in Manhattan. I didn't try the ala carte options but I don't expect much from this place. Seriously, you could find much much better places. Stay away ...

Pros: None

Cons: Bad ambience, no service, strictly average food

Posted 04/03/08

You can't beat it for the food and the price. The decor may be a bit too "cafeteria," but the buffet is so nice that you won't care much.

Pros: Great food, great price

Cons: Cafeteria style seating

Posted 12/12/07

Seating is usually prompt at Jackson Diner, but the waiter service isn't always as prompt, especially when trying to request the check. Cocktails & food usually comes in a timely manner once you order. I've never left this restaurant w/o being completely, gluttinously stuffed. We've tried different appetizers & entrees each visit, never finding one that we didn't love. My current suggestions to diners is to try the samosa chat & vindaloo (if you can stand the heat). The dosa is an amazing site--it overhung our table from side to side it was so HUGE! My true test of any Indian restaurant is naan dipped in my entree's sauce. The garlic naan @ Jackson Diner will definitely keep the vampires away, but is a garlic lover's delight! Dipping the naan in their sauce, I find their sauces so thick, creamy & rich w/o being overpowering or overwhelming. I've tried a few E. Village Indian restaurants, but the brightly lit, modern design & clean appearance of the JD will definitely make me choose it over one of those. JD's weekend brunch is a great way to try several different things & expose your friends to Indian cuisine, but I also highly suggest you visit there in the evening sometime so you can try the wide array of dishes their menu offers. DELICIOUS!

Pros: Affordable, tasty cocktails. Amazing Indian sauces. Killer garlic naan.

Cons: Cash only. Service can be slow.

Posted 08/20/07

Living here in JH for over 20 years, I was an early and happy customer of the Jackson Diner. When it was small and in it's original location, it was great. I brought everyone there and had wonderful experiences. I would often go thereby myself. The atmosphere has declined drastically since the move to the larger space. It's noisy, uncomfortable and feels like a factory, even feels unclean. I always get take out if I go there, as the the food is good. Better than the EVillage Indian fare. I prefer the other Indian restaurant just a couple of doors down for eating in.

Pros: Plenty of space

Cons: Not so comfortable. Maybe a little dirty.

Posted 08/10/07

I took my girlfriend out for her birthday on aug 2, 2007 and in the middle of the meal, i noticed that the restaurant only accepts cash. We ate, and that was quickly, because the waiter was rushing us, because it was closing. The bill came up to $40.50 and i gave the host $41.00 and he asked where is the tip, yelling and shouting. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was in shock, but i proceeded to explain to him that i thought the restaurant accepts credit card, but honestly i didn't have enough cash for a tip, but told him i will come back the next day to give tip, because at that point i felt afraid for our lives. I was assaulted by the host, man with a poney tail, who threw my fifty cents change at me and my girlfriend, and uttered very nasty things under his breath, and i couldnt believe it. We were so much in shock to see that we are decent tax paying american citizens that were treated like we were animals or that we came in for a free meal at the jackson diner in jackson heights, just because we didn't have a tip to give. I spend hundreds of dollars every month tipping people, as i do dine out alot, but never had such a horrific experience. If you want to dine out to an indian joint, please dont go there. This is with all honesty. I called to speak to a manager the next day, but wasn't able. If someone in management sees this review, please respond/

Pros: none

Cons: worst service and we were assaulted with two quarters

Posted 08/02/07

My wife and I had been looking forward to the opportunity to try the much-ballyhooed Jackson Diner for some time. While the food was good and service was typical for a crowded restaurant, I can't help but acknowledge there wasn't anything unique about the whole experience that would entice us to return there over any other Indian restaurant. Word-of-mouth alone appears to have been key to their success.

The majority of patrons appeared to be from outside Jackson Heights; in other words, plan on being surrounded by yuppie culture vultures if you're dead set on going. On the other hand, if you want great Indian food that's reasonably priced, don't scrap coming to Jackson Heights altogether. Just be sure to give equal consideration to some of the other great Indian restaurants in the area.

Pros: Variety of dishes; air conditioning.

Cons: Crowded; no credit cards.

Posted 07/07/07

I like the way the place is decorated it is very modern and not dark like the old style indian restuarants that my parents use to go to when I was young. This is a very clean place too. I also enjoy that they can make my food very very very spicy hot for me and not picy for my American friends. They make awsome cocktails too. It is a very good place to bring your non-Indian friends to introduce them to Indian Cusine.

Pros: Wonderful Decor and Great modern Indian Food

Cons: parking is a little hard

Posted 01/26/07

JD rocks. i have been there only like million times and will keep going there. I feel at home whenever i go to jackson diner.

Posted 12/19/06

I have been here for lunch buffet and thought it should be a good treat on diwali, so here we go but my utterest disappointment the service and the food were nightmareous....the idly is the fastest you can get but it seem to be prepared ages ago....very sour. the only good thing is baghia...next to the main course, next the service time is around 20-25 minutes which you have to wait. the people sitting next to us have left before their order arrived. also the main course is nothing special or great, just average and very expensive. The mood of the restarunt itself in the night transforms into to an old filmi type restarunt...my advice avoid it in the night and specially on holidays

Pros: nothing in particular

Cons: Too many to list

Posted 10/22/06

I saw lot of people complaining about food, service, bathroom etc etc. Let me put it this way, any place you go its not perfect all the time. There are some days where things are not going to be right but then again we all are humans. Just cauz you been there once and you had bad experience doesnt mean place is bad. I have been going there for almost 10 years now and every time I go there its same as last time. Yeah maybe I might have had bad experiences here and there but this place serves best frickin Indian food then any other Indian restaurant around there. I do recommend this place to everyone, please dont listen to someone who has no idea on what Indian food is all about. People eat food to live, I live to eat food which puts me ahead of others when it comes to judging food.

Posted 08/16/06

The food was okay, service was non-existent, and bathrooms were silly, with anti-Bush grafiti. It was a nice, gigantic diner. I wouldn't go there again...Too expensive. You could get the same stuff for a lot cheaper on Curry row in Manhattan.

Pros: spacious, close to subway, funny bathrooms

Cons: too expensive, average food

Posted 12/28/05

I've been going to the JD since it used to be a diner. I've had tastes there that I've never had anywhere else. Since it became "discovered" I think the quality has suffered a bit but it is still among the best Indian restaurants I've ever eaten at.

Posted 12/23/05

This is one of the few places I'll venture out of Manhattan just to eat their Sunday buffet. While the prices have just recently risen to $9.95, it remains a reasonable price for all that you get. Always a treat, the butter chicken, palak paneer, and goat curries are sensational, while the tandoori, samosas, and chana aloo are a bit dry. You'd expect one to have more dessert options, other than rice pudding. One thing that is great is there is a pitcher of water at each table, great for people who can't handle the spices. The decor is among the funkiest if not some of the most peculiar ambiance I've seen in an Indian establishment. The service is so-so at best and the most inconvenient is the inability to use credit cards or check, as Jackson Diner is strictly cash only.

Pros: Buffet, Prices, Variety

Cons: Cash Only, Service

Posted 11/05/05

I heard about this place via friends, magazines, etc. and finally made the trek out to JH for "the best" Indian food in the city. Other reviews rave about the lunch buffet, but while it looks fantastic, it was surprisingly VERY average. Not great, not bad. Basically, the food was not memorable. I remember my buddy (who is Indian) and I eating our food in bewildered silence. Maybe it was just the buffet. An Indian couple next to us were eating dosas that seemed decent. Super disappointed...

Pros: Hype, Weird decor

Cons: average food, hype

Posted 05/16/05

A really nice buffet spread. Indian lunch buffets are a dime a dozen but I found the quality of all the dishes here to be a cut above the usual. Chicken makhani, vegetable pakora and saag paneer were all delicious. They also had a much wider variety of things than many buffet places do. The restaurant itself is sort of odd-looking, and the clientele runs heavily to families with screaming brats (make sure you're seated at a free standing table and not one of the tables that shares a communal long bench), but the food makes it well worth the visit to Jackson Heights. Beat the rush by arriving around 11:45am-12pm. The strip of sari shops out there makes for a fun afternoon of window shopping, too!

Pros: Food

Posted 03/15/05

After reading reviews here, I had to check this place out. I went there for dinner yesterday, and was very disappointed. I am Indian, and the food was nothing compared to the actual taste. In fact, I have had much better food in Jersey City and New York. I was very disappointed, since I had heard good things about this place from Indians! The malai kofta was not that tasty, chicken makhni was improperly cooked, samosa chaat and masala dosa were okay. The only thing I liked was bread and mango lassi. I loved the lassi! The bread was very good, fresh, and soft. In fact, we even got a bread on the house! But I was still disappointed.

Pros: Service

Cons: Food

Posted 03/08/05

well what can i say i have eaten indian food all over the world and i have never ever had indian food this good!!!!My husband and i are not much of a buffet lover, but that all changes the second you walk into this place, their variety,consistency, and quality are mind blowing....their buffet has the best variety, something for everyone, i love the kadhi, the chaat, and the chole those are my favorites...my husband loves the chicken makhani and chole....and we savor their kheer and gulab jamun........they have a perfect mix of spice and flavor...and once you are there you will be suprised how many plates of food you can actually consume-excluding dessert of course...so if you want some authentic delicious tasting indian food check this place out no matter how far the commute may be....its well worth it........

Pros: delicious, consistent, good variety

Cons: none, far from where i live

Posted 02/17/05

OUT OF INDIA EXCELLENT CHOICE VERY TEASTY INDIAN FLAVOURED FOOD EXCELLENT MALAICOFTA.EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY LOVES TO GO THERE.

Pros: INEXPENSIVE, ONE CAN TALK LOUD!, FRIENDLY STAFF

Cons: , SAME OLD MANUE, PEOPLE NEEDS VARIETY!

Posted 05/24/04

For the price ($8), the quality of the buffet is great! They have samosas, chicken tikka masala, and a lot of other dishes you can think of. I recommend coming here if you have some time for lunch!

Pros: price, food

Cons: location

Posted 08/29/03

Some Advice: Staff is very rude if you enter the restaurant between 9:55 PM - 10:05 PM. So if thats the time you are hitting Jackson Dinner ~ Think again & make another choice. Food is OK! Pretty hyped but nothing spectacular. Limited choices on the menu. Try the sampler platter and some variations if you are going in a large group. Whatever you do DO NOT ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS. Service is effecient but misses the personal touch, it's all about the order and once you have placed an order, Boy it can take you ages to catch staff's attention for something else (They are all glued to the big Screen Indian TV on the ceiling). Make sure you are wearing Not the best of your wardrobe or the food smell will embrace your clothes and all you know you will end up giving your clothes for Dry Cleaning.

Posted 05/17/03

Jackson Dinerm compared to its surrounding restaruants, is a fairly modern looking Indian restaurnant in the heart of Little India/Pakistan. The lunch buffet is a great deal but you get better deals in many of the surrounding restaurants. I highly recommend this place for people who want to go to Jackson Heights for its very South Asian bazaar like feel (the sights, the smells, the people - its all there!) but who are a little afraid to go into the other establishments where the locals flock and which don't look as 'nice'. My favorite dish at their buffet is the karhi (or kardhi) which is basically made from yogurt & graham flour and is eaten with white rice.
However, if you'd like to be a little adventerous, Kebab King Palace around the corner is a great deal for really authentic South Asian (specifically Pakistani) food.

Posted 08/26/02

Jackson Diner was my first intro to true Indian food and its been 10yrs since and I cannot go one month without some of this unbelievable food. My faves are the mixed grill, lamb korma and the chiken tikka makhanwalla is divine. The friendly and courteous staff is a wonderful compliment to the food.

Pros: food, food, service

Cons: tough parking

Posted 07/01/02