We have found two fantastic new Indian restaurants, one in the Upper East Side and one in Hell’s Kitchen, that you must try this summer! Both offer an array of classic and modern Indian dishes with a delicious twist, as well as a beautiful setting and surroundings to make your dining experience that much better!
Take a look at the two new Indian restaurants we think should be on your RSVP list in the upcoming weeks. Make sure you have some water available as your mouth will be dripping with food excitement!
Badshah- 788 9th Avenue
9th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen has become such a culinary wonderland of sorts when it comes to the types of cuisines you can enjoy up and down this road. Badshah, which recently opened a couple of months back, is a stellar introduction to Hell’s Kitchen and is one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever tried.
The moderately sized location (which is par for the course, given how Hell’s Kitchen restaurants operates), boasts sophisticated Indian cuisine in a comfortable setting. With a 4.5 star rating on both TripAdvisor and Yelp, it is clear that I am not the only one who thinks this place is simply fabulous.
Executive Chef Charles Mani provided a wonderful tasting menu (which is also available to the general public, not just press), that highlights the array of Indian cuisine that he expertly crafts and creates. Highlights that showcase his talents include Badshah Cauliflower (Indo-Chinese style Cauliflower with sesame and onion seed tomato chili), Butter Chicken (Contemporary style chicken tikka, ‘makhani’ gravy and touch of fenugreek), Chargrilled Atlantic Salmon (Classic Coconut Curry Sauce), and finally their Mango Lassi as a refreshing drink. The dishes are visually very appealing as the colors pop in each of them, and you get some strong spices in each of them that don’t overpower your palette yet leave you wanting more. More information on Badshah here.
Imli- 1136 1st Avenue
Across the way from Hell’s Kitchen all the way into the Upper East Side you will find Imli, a brand new Indian restaurant by owners Mervyn Winston, Ram Reddy, and Albin Vincent, who seek to offer a different Indian culinary experience with unique preparations of dishes—some rarely seen on an Indian menu—and shareable small plates like those found at the bustling all-day cafés of Mumbai.
Essentially how things are broken down at Imli is that they want you to start small and finish on a big and high note, all while enjoying a sampling of their amazing dipping sauces which I have never experienced before at any of the Indian restaurants I have been to. Fear not for anyone who can’t handle spicy flavors, as the sauces themselves go from mild to spicy, all of which you can decorate with the variety of dishes they provide (and the Garlic Naan too of course, my personal favorite).
Highlights at Imli include their Chicken Tikka Masala (classic, but they get it right in every way possible), Scotch Egg Burger (I never thought of putting a Scotch Egg in my burger, but this is messy and drippy and awesome), and their Cauliflower Tikki (fabulous way to start the meal as the Cauliflower is prepared with just the right amount of spice). If you live or love to be in the Upper East Side, then I would definitely recommend Imli for your next culinary adventure.