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Agra Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
807 Lexington Ave2nd Fl
(between 62nd St & 63rd St)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
(212) 308-8281
- Nearest Transit:
-
Lexington Av/63 St (F)
Lexington Av/59 St (N, Q, R)
59 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am
Sun 4:30 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
35 reviews for Agra Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"the Keema Paratha and had the mango ice cream for dessert." In 3 reviews -
"...of appetizers were a veg pakora, "samosas", and shami kebab." In 3 reviews -
"The curry (i ordered medium) was perfectly hot and..." In 13 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Cookie N.
New York, NY
5/5/2012
I order delivery from Agra all the time!! The food always comes fast, hot and yummy! I've tried a few dishes here but my favorite is the chicken tikka masala (my usual go-to dish to compare indian restaurants) and their paratha bread is the best around.
Definitely a must try! -
Review from Valerie V.
Queens, NY
Simply just wonderful!
I've always wanted to try this and finally convinced my boyfriend to go. It is located upstairs of the Korean express, and at first the very steep stairs was kinda scary lol but at the top of it was the restaurant with the bathroom in the hallway. We were looking at the menu before entering when two women that were leaving and highly recommended the place, so with no hesitation when in. The place is surprising very inviting and cute! very pink and it had several Indian touches to it without it being overwhelming. We had the option of sitting anywhere we wanted and so we chose the seat next to the open window. We were then given a "bread" basket with a spicy green sauce, it was thin and crispy but very good. We then ordered our food from which was
= the Indian style calamari which tasted different but good, it was battered then fried with a very distinct Indian spices.
= the potato samosas were delicious but a bit disappointed that they only gave us two.
=I don't remember the exact name but it was under the vegetarian dishes and it was chick peas with a creamy sauce, and rice.......so GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!! I took a picture of it here, so take a look the picture doesn't do it justice. I finished the whole thing.
=My boyfriend got a lamb dish and it was just as good!
=Garlic Naan was a large size and was the perfect match to our meal.
Overall wonderful experience and the waiters were so very friendly.
Highly recommend! -
Review from Sajid Z.
Bronx, NY
3/9/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Even though my sister's close friend owns it- Agra has been around since the beginning. I have had Indian food at a lot of places in the city from the famous Haandi and Curry in a Hurry and all the LES Indian food spots. This place is hands down the best place to get Indian food. Not too hot- not too unhot. Just the right flavor and the right temperature. The service is top-notch (even though I get a bit more personalized service) I can tell that just about everyone here is a regular. Everyone is on first-name basis with Jason (the owner's son and person who runs the restaurant) and the same staff has been here for a while. The fact that it is intimate also helps. The beer selection is good. I absolutely love the vibe. The food is made with love. There are many great qualities about this place.
5/5 for food
5/5 for service
5/5 for atmosphere
5/5 for experience.
P.S. Brought my lady-friend here on a date- she loved it.
P.P.S. Brought my chef-friend here on business dinner- he loved it.
P.P.P.S I love their food. -
Review from Tricia K.
7/28/2011 11 Check-ins Here
Don't let the sketchy entrance procedure scare you. You have to ring a buzzer to get in to the (apartment!) building, and then walk up some old timey stairs and turn right to enter this small little restaurant. Once you are seated, you forget about all that though, as there is a nice view of the street and tasteful decorations deviating from the standard 6th street Christmas lights on a string. The bathroom is located outside of the restaurant, in the apartment building, but thats ok. I was always a sucker for eccentricities.
The food at Agra is the best I have had at an Indian restaurant in the City - even at much pricier places. They are one of the very places that serve beef curry - tender chunks of beef in curry sauce with mealy potatoes. We shared the Royal Agra special - for $24 dollars you get enough food for 2 people. You get Mulligatawny soup, an appetizer assortment, condiments and a choice of any two curries (served with rice) and a choice of desert. The curries were beef and chicken - also served with potatoes in the curry and you can choose your level of spiciness (from mild to hot to 'I can see through time' (to quote Lisa Simpson)). For desert we had a Mango Mala - mango ice cream with mango puree.
The wait staff here is great. They are very friendly, helpful and attentive. Water refills are frequent and they do their best to accomodate you with whatever you need - seating preferences, food prep, takeout, menu suggestions, etc.
Hopefully one day they can get a storefront!Listed in: Best Food So Far
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Review from Aisha B.
Manhattan, NY
8/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my first Indian restaurant in the city and it continues to be my favorite. I think about it every time I find myself on the East Side. I was introduced to Agra by a friend who'd been going there half her life. The staff have always been so friendly, welcoming, and attentive. I've brought my family and my roommates there and everyone has enjoyed wonderful meals. It's in an apartment building and it makes me feel like someone is cooking my dinner for me in their home. I adore the atmosphere and I always sit by the window so that I can look down at Lexington Avenue.
The food is fantastic! I've had several different types of naan that have all been great. They put a good balance of potatoes and meat in their samosas (which is important in terms of texture) and the mango chutney is delicious. Though I do occasionally venture out and try something new, my go-to is the lamb curry. So, so good! I dive into it every time. All this, and the prices are pretty awesome. Go there for lunch!! You will get tons of incredible food for an amazing price. -
Review from Ashley B.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nice little spot. My boyfriend and I found it after leaving a performance at the Park Avenue Armory and this place hit the spot. Was it anything outstanding? No. But for a solid dinner and really polite service, totally right on.
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Review from Clemens W.
New York, NY
The off-whitish yellow colored walls of the complex's interior really threw me off. I walked up those stairs wondering if we were going to visit someone's place. It's the typical walk-up apartment building feel with hard tiles and some well worn out stairs. The door even looks like an apartment's regular door with a little sign.
The transformation is an experience in itself. It reminds me of those secret clubs in the back rooms. The living room and master bed rooms were just filled with candle-lit romantic table seating. The open windows facing outward were just a nice view of the street in our little fortress above. I was pleasantly surprised.
I would say this place is a hidden jewel. The waiters make great suggestions and really help with the best dining experience. We ordered too much food and he made reasonable taste suggestions of what we should keep and which menu items were really repeated. I appreciate the honesty.
The food is tasty and the selection is vast. He even made my own order of chicken-paneer shag. Good stuff. Family style sharing and loud laughter about one thing or another - it just made me feel like we were at someone's apartment enjoying the evening with fine catering. It felt homely.
The little apartment building converted into a restaurant. Classic. I wonder if rent is lower? -
Review from Ben R.
Oradell, NJ
3/7/2011
A hidden jewel - A romantic evening for aficionados of Indian food
As others have noted, this is one of those New York City secrets - you just have to know about it. If you know how to find it and know the key to the passage, you will be allowed entry to order your supper. I divulge it here, only to a select few: Locate the corner of Lexington and 62nd. Go precisely 4 doors north. Seek an inconspicuous white door with a row of doorbells. There, although you'd walk right past if you weren't paying attention, is plainly and cryptically marked, "Agra." Press the button.
Now that you've gotten past the first step, don't turn back. You'll be puzzled at first, but press forward! It's a difficult but brief climb, then a little farther, and if you don't take a wrong turn you find the next portal. Enter.
You are in a curry house. It has a seasoned look. Maybe a little worn and a little tightly seated. It's been here many years and probably the menu doesn't change much. Many tandoor, vindaloo and masala standards. As you sit by the window, looking down and taking in Lexington Ave and its many travelers, you'll also notice quite a few customers entering that must be locals that know the place.* It's that kind of a restaurant.
Prices seemed about right - maybe a somewhat better value than some similar Indian establishments. Entrees are $13 to $20, and appetizers, soups, salad, Indian breads or desserts are $3 to $7 each. I suggest their dinners - multicourse affairs that give you more and cost you less ($20 to $25) than ordering dishes separately. Wine is $7 or $8 for a small wineglass. (Short list of beers and wines.) The service we found more than adequate. As with any India bistro, you will need to know what you like, but we enjoyed all that the cook turned out and especially recommend the tandoori chicken, porri bread, shami kebab, mulligatawny soup and the table papadum - all were made to our liking. Desserts are rather generous. We would have loved to try some other dishes, but we were pretty stuffed so we'll have to go again. A fun NYC micro-adventure for the Indian gourmet!
* They know the secret. -
Review from Marie L.
6/7/2011
I decided to give this place a try based on the favorable reviews thus far.
I agree with the other Yelpers; I was ready to turn around when I saw the sketchy stairway.
The service was wonderful. The servers were very helpful with suggesting items to fellow diners (we overheard them; maybe we would have liked our meal if we had engaged them more).
The meal was good, but definitely not what we expected. The samosas tasted like they were frozen. We ordered Shag Paneer, spicy. It came with absolutely no spice whatsoever. When asked about it, the server said, "we don't do it like that here." Do it like what, I wondered! I wanted spicy food! The Shag Paneer was listed as cheese cubes in creamy spinach. The spinach was sauteed and slightly wilted. The flavor was good, lots of garlic, but it was definitely not "creamy" by any means. Again, when this was brought to the staff's attention, his response was "we only put a teaspoon of cream; other restaurants put lots of heavy cream." Again, the flavor was good, but not as described on the menu; therefore, not what we were expecting, or in the mood for. -
Review from Rachel A.
Jackson Heights, Queens, NY
12/17/2010
Agra is one of those secret spots in New York. You even have to ring a doorbell to get into the building. It's one of those restaurants up above on the second floor. With that said, Agra is not handicap accessible. There is no elevator.
But there are beads and lights, curtains, and all the typical Indian décor. Agra feels cozy and it's quite nice to have a window table. You get to peer out into the street but you don't hear any of the city sounds. It's a great place for a date, family dinner, and friends. Too bad the food is just mediocre and the candles on the sconces still have their plastic wrapper on. I guess it's just for show.
Don't get me wrong, you can get all your curry, veg, and biryani cravings filled here along with a food coma, but you won't be running back anytime soon. Instead you'll be plotting your next Indian excursion to be in Jersey City, Jackson Heights, Curry Lane, or Curry Hill. Anything else has got to be better than what you find in Midtown East/UES.
We started with the Bombay Calamari and Assorted Appetizers. What made the calamari Bombay? It was flavored with mustard seeds, curry leaves, fried in a chicpea batter and drenched in a sweet sauce. The assortment of appetizers were a veg pakora, "samosas", and shami kebab. I did not see any samosas in the dish. Maybe I did not recognize them, as I am not an Indian cuisine expert, but I did not see them. What I did see were battered pieces of zucchini or eggplant. The appetizers were all deep fried and oily. I actually liked the complimentary pappadum which preceded them the best in terms of the appetizers.
For our main dishes we ordered the Beef Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Shag, Chicken Tandoori, and two orders of Nan. My friend actually wanted Chicken Vindaloo but specified it mild. The waiter then told her that if she wanted mild then she actually wanted curry. So curry it was for her and when it was served it turned into a beef dish. She still ate it and liked it. All the food looked good and we had no complaints. It just wasn't the best, IMO. I wondered if my tandoori was really authentic. I'm sure it was. As I mentioned before, I'm not an expert on Indian food, but as someone who does a great deal of eating out, for me to question the method of cooking, says something. I did really like the Nan as it was brushed with butter and tasted really good. I also took a liking to the side of cabbage which came with the meal.
Agra is just a few blocks from my office and that is probably why I would return for a late dinner. Sometimes you just need a little more variety than Subway, Mariella's Pizza, and Brio.Listed in: Midtown East/UES Lunch / Late…
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Review from mike l.
Brooklyn, NY
6/16/2011
We had an awesome lunch at Agra. The lunch special was perfect - great flavors, a bunch of different dishes on one plate and perfect service. Plus, we got to sit at the open window, overlooking Lex.
So, why am I giving them one measly angry star? The wife & I don't eat a lot in one sitting, so we tend to have a fridge full of leftovers. When we got home after a day in the city and tore into the leftovers from Agra, we saw the morons drained all the delicious curry sauce from all the meat dishes & crammed the veggies, cabbage & rice into the same container. All of the dishes that had such great robust flavor are now worthless.
I've reviewed almost 30 Indian places - I LOVE INDIAN FOOD! I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY LEFTOVERS but you tools ruined a great lunch & 2nd lunch.
it's not fair, I want my lamb curry back.
/pout -
Review from Ashley S.
1/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
First and foremost I would probably not come here for dinner or come across town for it. However for something near my office its a fun little "forget its a workday" sit down lunch. Good quiet place to catch up with a friend.
Go for the $7.95 Business Lunch: Choice of meat and curry, basmati rice, cabbage side dish, dal, and papadam, coffee or tea. (Naan is 2.oo extra, what the what!) Yeah :( thats the kicker, the add ons.
[-1] for each and everything being pretty oily
[-1] for not bringing, nor asking me about, my included coffee or tea and for saying your choice of meat with ANY curry and then telling me that I dont get to choose, its just whatever the curry of the day is, contradicting what their current Yelp banner ad states.
I like how I feel very sneaky and 'in the know' when pressing a button to an apt and getting buzzed in, going up a steep staircase and hanging a right into UES domestic dwelling land to find Agra nestled in there.
The ambiance is relaxed, natural lighting, magenta walls and low budget opulence. The staff are friendly in a matter of fact sort of way and the place is always a healthy level of halfway full, with options to sit in either of their two rooms in a cozy corner near an exotic arched doorway or next to the sun filled floor length windows.
Say goodbye to eating in the cubicle with the flourescent lights and the odors wafting out from your coworkers microwave left overs ( ...that... smells .....terrible! )
Take a journey to cheesy Bollywood on lex, yes its cheap, yes its excessively oily, but somehow its still good and hits that much needed food coma spot! My tummy was dancing to this as I walked back to work... http://www.youtube.com...Listed in: Indian Food NYC
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Review from Krystal L.
Brooklyn, NY
9/21/2010
My favorite Indian place ever. The food is tasty and delicious (both the meats and the vegetarian dishes), the naan is fantastic, and the staff is professional and friendly. And it's cozy. I liked the way it was when It had all of the cloth draped everywhere, but I'm sure that was a huge fire hazard, so whatever (hey, ambiance versus safety? ...okay, that's a tough one).
Seriously, so good. The spices are just divine here. -
Review from Tom K.
8/15/2010 10 Check-ins Here
I've rarely been to restaurants that require ringing a doorbell for entry. Don't let that discourage anyone from visiting Agra, however-- I'd gladly walk up to the top of the Taj Mahal to access the culinary delights of the subcontinent as presented by Agra.
The stairway lighting is bright and hospital like. Walking through the doorway to Agra casts aside the industrial bulbs for dimmer lighting, paintings of Krisha and a comfortable dining room.
Presented with complimentary papadums, we studied the menu and my wife struck curry gold: behold the Royal Agra dinner.
Assorted appetizers( We chose1 samosa, 4 bhujias (veggie fritters), choice of any soup (mulligatawny) and condiment (mango chutney) choice of any two curries (chicken, lamb, beef, keema, shrimp or vegetable) and then any choice of dessert.
For 24.95!
24.95!
A feast indeed but I was hungry too so decided to order a chicken tikka and naan.
Realistically, the Royal Agra dinner could be shared between two people if the parties involved are lighter eaters. Considering it's priced for one person, it's still an incredible deal.
Dipping my naan into the chicken curry revealed a flavorful bite of mixed spices, none of which had me declaring a five alarm fire. This was curry that was pleasant, not an orgy of fire and brimstone. (Those are probably available on the menu though).
All too often curry can be greasy and oily, a tepid patch of excess floating about that seems to resemble BP's recent accident.
Not so at Agra, where the curry was pure, mild and a delight on the tongue.
My chicken tikka was likewise a melange of yogurt, chicken cubes and spices that wasn't in any way excessive. No pools of orange goo here.
Since my wife's feast came with dessert, I decided to freeload and share her firni, a custard made with coconut milk.
I think it was a race between us to the clear part of the bowl.
One minor problem was that the restaurant was a bit cooler, temperature-wise, than expected. Exiting into 75 degree weather was a relief!
The staff was prompt with water refills and friendly at every check-in. We said we'd return and that is no lie.
Additionally, the Agra Royal Dinner isn't the only unbelievably priced option for copious amounts of curry. The Shah Jahen dinner starts with fried shrimp and poori , the Bombay Dinner gives you shami kebab, etc.
We were so happy at dinner's end we could have danced our way out like Krishna and Radha. -
Review from Malka A.
Brooklyn, NY
5/21/2011
I went here with my coworkers after a long day at work and it was pleasantly delicious! At first, we were kind of creeped out by the fact that we had to enter a residential building to get to the restaurant, but it turned it was part of the charm.
The service was very on point and professional and one of the waiters even told us they the restaurant had been running for 31 years. They must be doing something right..
Downside: there was a one credit card maximum per table but we were able to coerce the waiter into splitting the check 3 ways with our cards. -
Review from Chip S.
11/27/2007
I really wanted to like this place, I really did. I walked by, and it looked interesting so I did a quick yelp search on my BlackBerry and saw promising reviews so I tried it. Rang the bell and walked up the stairs to eat?!
I walked up the stairs to what seemed more like a friends apartment rather than a restaurant, but oh well, it adds to the experience. I got there right at noon, so I was the first person, I was seated rather quickly, I chose to look over Lexington. I was quickly brought some papadum along with some sauces, the green was rather good, the onion one I did not care for. My order was quickly taken, there is a choice of Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Keema or Vegetable Curry; or anything off the menu. I had the Lamb curry, it cam out quickly along with rice and some sort of lentil soup. The lamb was nice a tender, the rice was great, the soup was very good, and unexpected, but the curry was rather plain. I was rather disappointed with that, because the rest was good. All that for $8.25. Not bad all things considered.
I think I might try again and order something else, I hope it was just the lunch special curry that was a clunker.
The single private restroom is in the stair way, rather cramped, and it didn't look like it was well stocked, I looked around but could only find paper towels. Nothing spectacular 3 Flushes. -
Review from Faithy L.
San Francisco, CA
6/24/2006
Agra is literally a hidden gem that you rarely just stumble into. It's a business that is buried within the miles and miles of tall skinny buildings in Manhattan.
The first time I went was on a Thursday, around 8:30 and there was no problem getting a table even though we had a party of 8. Between all of us, we ordered 7 entrees, and that was moooree thank enough to feed everyone. Chopped cabbage, bread, and a bean soup/sauce to neutralize the flavor (incase it's too spicy) were served to the table.
Last night I went there again with two friends who were vegetarian. Since Agra's menu is has a bunch of variations, there was no problem with having vegetarian selections. They also have a good variety of nan bread, so we tried their garlic nan. Yum. I ordered a Lamb Dan Shag (11.95), with was a stew like mix of lamb, spinach, lentils and pineapples. The dish was delightfully sweet, which was a good surprise because I never had much Indian food that's sweet. My order came with basmati rice which was also tasty.
Their service is always great too so it's definitely worth a visit.
Their entrance is next to a grocer/deli and it's on the 2nd floor. There's a small sign on the door and that's it. Word of mouth will most likely bring you here, so I am here so spread it because I think they definitely deserves more business.Listed in: Pig Out Party!
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Review from Perla C.
Newark, NJ
4/8/2011
This place is great! The beef curry with peas is awesome and the vege samosas are awesome, too! Its a little weird walking in, at first, but now that I discovered it, I'm going to go there all the time. Its a shame they dont deliver through SeamlessWeb or else i'd have it for lunch quite often. The decor inside is actually cute and cozy. The prices are not crazy midtown prices. Definitely a hidden gem.
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Review from Justin B.
New York, NY
3/29/2009
Agra is of those places that you have to know about to go to. As other said, the entrance to the restaurant is not at street level, you have to ring the doorbell on an outside door and go up into an 'apartment'. What you will find inside is a clean, quiet, and authentic Indian restuarant.
Not only are the setting and atmosphere on point, but the waitstaff is extremely welcoming and attentive. You'll see that the menu is complete with all of the staple traditional Indian favorites.
Most of the dishes are strong, and the prices are reasonable enough that you will be able to fill yourself up with spending too much. My personal favorite is the naan (which is available in several varieties). The curry isn't the best that I have had, but it is traditional and shouldn't dissappoint.
Next time you are in the UES with a craving for Indian, stop by Agra. -
Review from Veronica N.
New York, NY
7/16/2010
Me & my friends were scheduled to meet here at around 7:30pm, the waitstaff set up our table & were so understanding even when the rest of the party was slowly arriving up until 8:30pm! Agra is on the second floor of the building which may be easy to miss but it's definitely a little gem. Once inside I was surprised to see how clean & authentically decorated it was.
We started off with the Assorted Appetizers ($6.25) which was as you can imagine, assorted goodies; all very delicious & done well. Then we ordered a bottle of red wine which they have a variety of which are also well priced ($25).
I had the Lamb Vindaloo ($14.95) which they warned me was extremely spicy but I was able to manage; I really thought it would be worse. Overall, with the naan & rice it was really tasty while the meat was perfectly tender.
I'd watch out for the desserts. We ordered the mango ice cream ($4.95) & they gave us pistachio ice cream on the house. The pistachio was good but the mango was super freezer burnt. This was the reason I gave it 4 stars, I actually wanted to give them 4 1/2 but that isn't allowed. -
Review from Michael Z.
Menlo Park, CA
9/6/2010
This is probably my favorite Indian restaurant in Manhattan and I never expected it to be somewhere I had to climb stairs to on Lexington Avenue! I wish I could remember how I found this place. I remember I was with my best friend in the area and we were both very surprised at the restaurant's decor when we walked in.
It has a really great ambiance because it's so beautifully decorated and the dim lights give it a mysterious allure. I also love to sit by the window and spy on people downstairs on Lexington haha.
It's a little pricier than most of the Indian food in the city, but I find it is worth every extra penny. The lamb and lentils are all so savory and rich in spices and the menu is full of something for all lovers of Indian food whether you're looking for something vegetarian or a hearty dish of lamb or chicken.
The only thing I can't speak for is the dessert menu since I'm always so full by the time I think about it! Agra is definitely the Koh-i-Noor of Indian restaurants in Manhattan. :) -
Review from DEE S.
New York, NY
9/6/2010
This is the worst place to try Indian food. First of all, the food they serve are mild and not at all authentic. I order chicken vindaloo which is suppose to be very spicy with thick gravy instead they served it mild with different"masala"..It seems they use the same spices for all the menus..so whether u order chicken korma or chicken masala it will make no difference...
If you really wnat to try authentic India food try Dawat and Baluchi (kew Garden).. -
Review from Janina K.
Brooklyn, NY
7/24/2010
This really is truly a gem in the city. The food was flavorful and the service was just as everyone said: attentive and wonderful. How often do you get that? I don't know why everyone's afraid to give five stars, ahem.
We learned - as we were stuffing our faces with malai kofta and some chicken dish Jason recommended that made my fiance feel the need to eat the whole dish even though there was so much food - that Bernie Madoff used to be one of their customers and he used to bring his clients there all the time. They've lost a lot of business as a result. I highly recommenf this place to anyone.
It was bangin, pure and simple. -
Review from Mandy L.
9/26/2010
This is our go-to spot for Indian in the neighborhood. It's kind of funny that you have to ring a doorbell to get let in and then you have to walk up a rickety set of stairs, but once you open the doors to the restaurant, you are greeted with some very friendly workers ready to serve you some great food. The decor is a bit old and outdated, but I find it a very comfortable and homey place to dine. They actually serve beef dishes unlike a lot of other Indian restaurants. They don't mention this on the menu, but entrees also come with a bowl of lentils and a side of vegetables (mainly cabbage). They also give you some papadum upon sitting down.
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Review from Mark N.
The Woodlands, TX
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Found this little gem on yelp, and glad I did. Its cool because it seems hidden, gotta buzz downstairs to gain entry. Excellent service. Great lunch special, tons of food. I like it really spicy, and they didn't let me down. Get the naan bread!
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Review from Li C.
New York, NY
9/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
First time I went for dinner. Second time I got the Special Business Lunch. Beef curry served with basmati rice, dhal and cabbage FOR ONLY 7.95. The food is delicious and the portions are perfect.
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Review from alistair w.
New York, NY
7/12/2009
the UES has bullocks for Indian but not anymore. Don't be but off by and odd residential entrance, Arga's cuisine is as solid as they come. Not ritzy but full of quality standards; chicken tikka masala, kormas, sag panner, the works and every plate comes with attentive service.
great for when you have a jones for a curry and you find yourself a stones throw from Bloomies and the lot. Pop in, you won't regret it. -
Review from Meg M.
10/12/2009
Definitely a fan. My big sister told me about this place she wanted to try when I was visiting NYC this weekend. I attempted an easy walk there and instantly got lost (I'm from Boston I have no idea what I'm doing and there were so many distractions haha). After grabbing a 5 dollar cab from WHEREVER I was... I arrived at the front of this restaurant. As the other reviewers said, the entrance is a bit off putting but it is by no means a reason to not push that buzzer and head upstairs for some really great food.
The inside was warm and cozy and we were seated right by the window overlooking the street. The place was quiet and the service was pretty perfect. He let us catch up like we had to, and he wasnt buzzing around us all night. He was a little slow bringing the check once we were finished but at that point the place was filling up.. and I'm pretty sure he was the only server.
I ordered the curry chicken and a standard but yummy glass of sauvignon blanc. The food came out quickly and with daal, cabbage and we had some really great naan. The curry (i ordered medium) was perfectly hot and wonderfully seasoned. My Big said her Tika Masala was great too. Was it the best Indian food I have ever had? No. Was it great quality, tasty and affordable? Yes. If you like little cozy, warm restaurants and want to park it at a table and chat for a couple of hours.. this is a great place to do it.
If I lived in NYC, I would definitely be back. -
Review from Melissa W.
Belmont, CA
5/22/2006
We were in the mood for Indian food but we were just tourists wandering around the Upper East Side. We saw the sign and were intrigued by the upstairs setting that reminded us very much of our trip to India. Many regulars came in while we were there, I thought it was cute because they all talked about where the "usually sit" so I guess they have a good following. We had a sampler of appetizers and two entrees (one vegetarian) and I left stuffed silly. I only wish I had room for more than a sip of the chai my husband ordered, it was very well made.
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Review from Shannon L.
New York, NY
5/21/2009
Agra is a great little spot to hit up for a Friday lunch. The food is tasty and plentiful. The staff is very welcoming and attentive.
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Review from Naomi S.
Brooklyn, NY
7/19/2011
The menu is typical for Indian restaurants, but the dishes are better than in many places. Flavors are fresher, more complex, and don't suffer from the overly oily and salty problem that is too common in Indian restaurants. Warm, attentive service. Steps are steep and could be prohibitive for some people, but the environment inside the restaurant is lovely.
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Review from Phillip K.
New York, NY
6/25/2009
Did you say your Indian friend was craving for homestyle cooking like if he was India with his family? Well, this is the place. The restuarant is a second level restaurant, and not easily found. You have to buzz to get in and at first, you may wonder, am I going into an apartment? Ah, but behind the door is a homey, low-level restaurant. The service I had was good, the waiter seemed to be sincerely happy to see us and to serve our food. I had dinner in this restuarant, I tried the Assorted Vegetable Bhujia, the Chicken Rajela. the Keema Paratha and had the mango ice cream for dessert. I have to say that each dish is spiced the way I want it, which is to say, balanced and non-overpowering. The chicken bites down easily and it feels like it melts your mouth. The creamy sauce is not too creamy, and is just right. I'm definitely a fan of this place and will return to it.
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Review from Katie K.
Manhattan, NY
4/9/2011
I think I have a new go-to Indian spot! Ordered delivery last night and the vindaloo made me sweat (which is the point in my opinion!) and the tandori was melt in your mouth, fall off the bone delicious! Portions were pretty big so even more exciting are the leftovers in my fridge!
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Review from Noe C.
New York, NY
1/26/2010
My girlfriend always wanted to stop by this restaurant. Finally today we visited the place. The biggest disappointment ever... The place is OK, but the food was horrible: chicken pakoda was no different than chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce. Chicken Tikka came out on a plate (instead of a steaming pan) cold and not spicy at all (even though we ordered it spicy). The naan was too thick and not cooked inside. Not to mention staff that was too pushy, wanting us to buy more food every time they came to the table. What really threw me off was the stained and greasy menu that I was provided. I thought it was only the outside of it, but every single page was very stained and greasy (I said, hey it happens). I respect other people's reviews, but I guess it was not our day. The only thing that was fine was Kingfisher , but even having my glass full of beer didn't stopped us from getting out of there ASAP. We didn't finish our beer, we got the check and ran out. We laughed about it after because it was meant to be a great time together! I guess the entrance to the place should have given us a hint ...I hope you all have a better experience. I'm never going back. There is a place called Delhi Heights in Queens (right off the Roosevelt station), best Indian Food I've had and affordable with live music every day. This is just a suggestion. I hope this review was useful.
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Review from Me T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2010
This place was my first ever exposure to Indian food. Whenever I'm visiting NJ and pop into "the city," I make sure I go to Agra for a dinner. The food is great and the ambiance is really understated. It's one of those places you won't find unless someone tells you about it, because it's upstairs. Yum.
