Indian Cafe

I have rediscovered the Indian Cafe after having gone there once with a friend a few years back. I wanted to find a new place to eat on the UWS. The first time I went back, a few weeks ago, the food was wonderful. The chicken tikka masala was simply to die for. The whole menu is reasonable priced, so I went back the following week. This time I had the chicken korma, which was good but not great and, like one poster here mentioned, seemed to be lacking some vital ingredients. On my third trip this week, I went back to the chicken tikka masala since I had such a good experience the first time and it was a let down- tasted like a totally different dish. The tandoori taste of the chicken was missing and there was hardly any spice to the sauce. (And I like my food spiced rather mild, so if I say if was lacking, then it really was!) It tasted like basic browned chicken in tomato sauce. Yet, I understand that dishes can have up days and down days. What I don't forgive is poor service. The first two visits I was served by a nice gentleman, but even he was not that attentive. The last time, the server was a young woman who never checked to see how my meal was or if I needed/wanted anything. I had to ask the bus boy to bring me my check. If I never planned on going back, I would have left zero tip but since there are a few more things I'd like to try on the menu and due to the fond memories of my first visit, before I write this place off, I gave her a minimal, undeserved tip. Another con is the cleanliness of the bathroom- those need to be a little nicer and cleaner. Hopefully my next experience will be improved, but it's still worth a try!

Pros: atmosphere, food can be great

Cons: service, cleanliness

Posted 08/23/09

First off this is not East 6th Street in the Village where you have a pricey block of door-to-door Indian restaurants to choose from. And you won't find the variety of Little India on Lex in the E. 20s, with its good, modestly-priced restaurants and their distracting Bollywood-style music videos playing on screens in the background. This is the Upper West Side where non-exotic neighborhood people and frazzled workers too tired to cook dinner every night stop for a drink, some chat and a pretty decent plate of Indian food. And guess what? The staff and patrons actually talk to you here. So you don?t feel like a loner or a tourist getting milked for his euros. Is it the best Indian food in NY? No. But some of the dishes, affordable prices and decor at this sidewalk cafe might surprise you. Don?t over-order: those low-cost appetizers add up. My personal favorites include a Hyderabadi-style biryani (rice cooked with chicken and more) and the saag paneer (spinach sauteed with mustard leaves, lemon juice and whole milk farmer's cheese). Total disclosure: was recently introduced to one of the owners, after years of chowing down there, and, against my objections, he threw in a free, six buck appetizer. But neither he nor the appetizer was impressive enough to alter this review. Have at it. Miki Matos Vega.

Pros: Good food for a neighborhood restaurant

Posted 05/30/09

Well, coming from London, I'm used to good Indian food as there's a great, long-established Asian culture here. I hoped Manhattan might have had this too and provide an alternative to all the poor TexMex, grease ridden offal that passes as food. Now, the service was prompt in Indian Cafe, but I had to remind the disinterested waitress about fundamental restaurant service manners on several occasions (e.g. I haven't received my drink yet, I'm still waiting for my nan, etc.). Now the food: where's the spice, the flavour? I had to resort to salt, which I would never do with any meal. The curry my wife ordered was medium instead of mild and upset her stomach, the extra poppadoms I ordered arrived with my main meal which was delivered too soon and nearly removed in the same manner had I not told the waitress that I hadn't finished eating. To top it all, the bill was quickly presented as if we were been hurried out of an emergency evacuation (perhaps the restaurant owner - a charming fellow, by the way - had realised what unprofessional staff he had hired). I thought I'd leave the change as a 'tip' (about $1.50) as what was there to applaud? Upon noticing this, the waitress pointed out that it was obligatory to leave a 15% tip in New York restaurants. Not only did this enrage us, but it also made us feel uncomfortable. In no mood for a row, we calmly reacted by just walking out without leaving a tip, much to the displeasure of the staff - I only regret not taking the change as well. I do hope this place sinks soon as a favour to all customers expecting a positive experience.

Pros: Leaving without tipping!

Cons: Everything!

Posted 05/29/09

I really like their food. Good service. Recommended. Try Bhaigan Bhartha, Malai Kofta, spinach with ginger.

Pros: Good service, good food.

Cons: Not south Indian food & Pakoras are bad.

Posted 10/10/08

I was tromping all over the UWS with some friends and we needed to eat. We came across the Indian Cafe and decided Indian for dinner!! I let my friends order as i am an Indian Food Novice so i cant tell you exactly what dishes we had...but they were all very good. The food was tasty and the staff was really friendly. It is the type of place that can definitely become a regular staple in your neighborhood eating out adventures.

Pros: Food & Staff are great

Cons: Really far away from where i currently live

Posted 06/25/08

Indian Cafe was really good. I never used to enjoy Indian food, but after my leg got pulled by my room mates to come here, I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Chicken Pakora as an appetizer which was delicious, and the Chicken Tikka Masala was great too! After my visit to Indian Cafe, I changed my views on Indian Food, great restaurant.

Pros: Food, Service, Restaurant

Cons: none

Posted 06/15/08

I was excited to try this place, but boy was it a let down. I went with 3 hungry friends and we all left very disappointed. The curries were thin and watery. Some were even lacking ingredients - the chicken korma didn't have nuts of veggies in the sauce (soup)! It was really shocking. We ordered a wide range of entrees and they were all way below par - definitely bland. The service was also aggressive - I understand they were trying to be professional, but it was really annoying to have to constantly tell all of our waiters (?) that we weren't finished eating and that we wanted to keep our plates. It was so bad that we considered complaining. Though it's more expensive, I would go to Indus Valley down the street.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Everything

Posted 01/04/07

The food I had was great. I tasted my friends' entrees and they were all good as well. The price here is very decent. The waiters are very nice, funny, and service was prompt!
I highly recommend this place!

Pros: Good food, good service

Posted 09/28/06

Hey it's really cheap and taste pretty darn good. That's it.

Posted 06/02/06

Always a fast, tasty meal. The Service is always prompt and they keep tabs onyour needs.

Pros: Fast Service, Tasty Meal

Cons: average ambience

Posted 05/23/06

The food here was definitely no better and no worse than average. The pricing was also moderate. I'm not sure if I'd go here again.

Pros: fast service

Cons: average food

Posted 09/07/05

I recently moved out of the neighborhood, and one of the places I miss most is Indian Cafe - I can't wait to go back for a visit! The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the food is really good, especially the daily specials and vegetable dishes (but skip the chicken dishes if you like your chicken on the bone and flavorful, since they cater to the American preference for white meat cubes). The cardamom tea with dessert is a wonderful way to finish off a meal.

Pros: good prices, comfortable

Posted 03/29/04

Indian Cafe generally provides a tasty (if unexperimental) Indian bite but can be uneven. The food can be great but I have encountered some cold, tasteless offerings. The last time I ate there, the rice had the distinct taste of having sat out from some time. Eww. In any case, it is worth a visit.

Pros: Inexpensive, Great dining for One

Cons: Uneven, Not much ambiance

Posted 06/13/02