Manhattan Digest’s venture into the foodie world of Harlem continues with a fantastic new spot called Mumbai Masala Indian Grill. The new location, which is wedged between Sugar Hill and Hamilton Heights in Harlem, is the brainchild of Salim Rahman, who owned Tajmahal, Bay Leaf, and currently is the co-owner of Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg and Kew Gardens, and Amin Ruhel, who owned Tripti and Dipali. The spot is brand spanking new, only being opened for less than a month now, and I was happy to take my friend and find out why you should take the C, B or D train uptown and experience it in all its glory.
Mumbai Masala Indian Grill is a standout spot in the area of Harlem where it resides, as it is also very close to the very popular Citi College where this can easily be a great place for the students to go before class or after class. It is moderately sized with spacious seating throughout and a very attentive waitstaff that is there to help at your beckoned call.
Chef Fatema Khatum, who originally resided in Bangladesh, expertly crafts each dish to resonate with the lush and wonderful flavors of India that you can taste with each bite. I have already heard rumblings from friends of mine who live in the area that this is their new favorite place to go, and after trying some of Chef Fatema’s food, I can see why. Here are some of the dishes we highly recommend you trying the next time you are at Mumbai Masala Indian Grill.
For their starters, you have some wonderful options yet there are two I want to highlight as they come from different food arenas. Their Smoky Chicken Wings are spicy and finger licking good. They have just enough flavor and heat in them that does just enough to not overpower your palate, and is a great starter dish. On the flip side, you should try their Chili Gobi which is tossed cauliflower with onions and bell peppers. I have been on a huge cauliflower kick lately, and the purple texture to these is already visually inviting with the peppers and onions adding on a rich flavor to them that makes this a super tasty dish.
Their main menu options range in several different categories, including Seafood, Rice, Tandoor, Chicken, Lamb & Goat, Vegetarian and Vegan. For me, I stuck to the classics with two options that were simply wonderful. This is their Chicken Tikka Masala which was tandoor-fried and came with a creamy tomato sauce, and their Garlic Naan Bread, which was perfectly utilized as a great dipping sauce. I have had both dishes so many times, however this is probably the best I have ever had as the sauce with the Tikka Masala was thick and had such a great depth of flavor to it that paired really well with the chicken and the Naan bread, which was warm and aromatic with its garlicky smell.
I also want to highlight to other items on the menu that were quite delicious. Instead of water or a soda, try their Mango Lassi, which essentially is like a smoothie or shake and is sweet and refreshing to boot. Also, for dessert, their Kheer (otherwise known as rice pudding) is a lovely way to end a fantastic meal. Overall, Mumbai Masala Indian Grill hits it out of the park and we hope you all get to experience it yourself.
For more information on Mumbai Masala Indian Grill, check out their official website.