Alachi Masala

3.5 star rating
45 reviews Rating Details

Category: Indian  [Edit]

488 Amsterdam Ave
(between 83rd St & 84th St)
New York, NY 10024
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 874-7420
Make a Reservation
choose a date
Nearest Transit:

86 St (1, 2)

79 St (1, 2)

86 St (A, B, C)

Hours:

Mon-Sun 12 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
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
No
Noise Level:
Quiet
Has TV:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   

  • user photo
    "My chicken curry was spot-on and the garilc naan was yummy." In 23 reviews
  • user photo
    "Great authentic Indian Food and BYOB." In 15 reviews
  • user photo
    "Random but good find on the UWS." In 7 reviews
  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends'

45 reviews in English

  • Review from Satya B.

    • 2 friends
    • 2 reviews

    Manhattan, NY

    4.0 star rating
    3/27/2012

    The food was very good, the butter chicken and the Biryani were spot on. The Bhel Puri was great as well.

    The real plus was some really nice staff who gave us great service. Never did we once have to ask them to refill our glasses with water, it was always done for us.

    If you are in the neighbourhood, would definitely recommend this place for Indian food.

  • Review from Leonor W.

    • 45 friends
    • 105 reviews

    Manhattan, NY

    4.0 star rating
    4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here

    I have only had a few really good Indian meals at a decent price in Manhattan. Came here with a group, and did not have any issues getting a table, but it was rather late. We decided to share all our dishes so we could get a flavour of everything. We shared some meat and vegetable samosas, I would definitely recommend the latter over the meat ones, we also had  the Dahi Battata Poori which were great. The first two are hot appetizers and the latter are cold. We had a fair amount of papadums and chutneys brought to our table with the appetizers, and that was great. As a main course we had the chicken tikka massala, the lamb saag and the chicken korma. I've always been a really big fan of Korma and Alachi Masala didn't disappoint. We also had a taste of the various naan breads. For desert we just settled for mango ice-cream, we were far too full at that stage to have anymore. Furthermore, before coming we were not aware that the restaurant does not serve alcohol, it's a BYOB restaurant, so make sure to bring along some wine or beer with you. All in all the food was outstanding, the service were extremely attentive and checked in with us throughout the meal. Having come here on a late night I can't say whether or not this restaurant gets packed during the day, so reservations are recommended just in case.

  • Review from Anne L.

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    6/23/2011

    Solid place for Indian food in the UWS. I've been for lunch and dinner---both have been great! For lunch I picked up some Chicken Tikka Masala and naan, all of which travelled all the way to Sunnyside and made it in perfect conditions! Still as delicious as if I would've had it fresh. For dinner we had the Tikka and the Butter Chicken. All very good.

    As for the service, I was a bit wary of coming here. Since they didn't have anyone else at the restaurant, I thought they would be hovering over us at every second, but that was not the case. My Indian boyfriend tells me that's how it usually is in India, and I'm happy that's not the case here.

    Overall, I left very satisfied.

  • Review from K M.

    • 3 friends
    • 19 reviews

    New York, NY

    2.0 star rating
    Updated - 3/11/2012

    as promised..  just ordered again and same story - the chicken tika masala still has good flavor but was low on chicken..particularly for the price.

    Listed in: My Neighborhood

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 3.0 star rating
      11/29/2010

      I wish there was a button between A-OK & Yay! I'm a fan..  because I am right smack in the middle… Read more »

  • Review from Scott L.

    New York, NY

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 2/26/2011

    AMAZING FLAVORS! NAAN SO FLUFFY AND SMOOSHY!

    Chick tikka masala was great - lamb dishes are great. I love the Lamb Rojan Josh. My GF literally licked the Spinach Paneer off the plate, it was so good.

    Thank you Alachi Masala! You are the Upper West Side savior of take out indian food!

    But DO NOT use the online ordering service. There's been a mistake every time I've used it. Last night, I ordered "pick-up" and was shocked to find a delivery guy at my door.

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      12/15/2010

      For now....it's my favorite indian on the Upper West Side. But only for now!
      Their portions on meat… Read more »

  • Review from Kirsten S.

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    11/7/2010

    Delicious!  I got take-out, and the vegetable korma was fantastic!  It has golden raisins in it, but not so many that it's overwhelming.  Good texture.  Creamy, rich sauce and just enough rice to mop it all up.

    My only complaint is the same one I have at all Indian restaurants-- the serving size for an order of naan is really small.

    I'm excited to try eating in here, too, because it's BYOB.

  • Review from Justin K.

    • 128 friends
    • 429 reviews

    Elk Grove, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/15/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I love the aromatic spices and slow creeping heat used in Indian food. The samosas made me feel like I was eating abroad and the lamb vindaloo was in the top three all time Indian dishes for me!

    The only place Alachi Masala loses points for me was with their naan. I feel like good naan is essential to a good Indian meal. The naan here is plain and flavorless.

    Expect good mom and pop service and delicious meals but if you want alcohol, remember to bring your own.

  • Review from Sumit D.

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    6/24/2011

    There was nobody in the restaurant when I went in for dinner a couple days ago.  Decided to give it a try.  It was pretty decent, chicken tikka and butter chicken along with the naan and onion kulcha.  The price was what you would expect for an Indian restaurant in the city.  I would def come back, and was surprised to see it so empty.

  • Review from Vania R.

    ASTORIA, NY

    2.0 star rating
    6/2/2009

    I really wanted to like Alachi Masala. The reviews here on Yelp seemed so promising, but to be honest, I thought it was overpriced and not that good. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing?

    We ordered the hyderabadi baigan (baby eggplant in a sesame coconut sauce), chicken saagwala (creamy spinach sauce) some naan and roti. My boyfriend said the naan was "okay." I liked the roti - it was soft and light, delicious with the chicken saagwala. The chicken could have used a lot more flavor; it was pretty bland. The pieces of meat were tender and well-cooked, but I was expecting a lot more oomph from an Indian dish. We had never had the eggplant dish before, and were expecting some great revelation. It was bitter and didn't make me think I'd been missing something this whole time.

    They offer a 10% discount for dining in when you mention Yelp. I suggest taking the discount because it's otherwise not really worth it. Overall, I would say what we ordered was not so horrible that I couldn't eat the leftovers, but it was bad enough that I'm really not sure I can convince my boyfriend to give this place another shot.

  • Review from deb y.

    Baltimore, MD

    4.0 star rating
    6/17/2009

    Came here randomly after a trip to the AMNH upon a quick iPhone generated Yelp search of nearby vegetarian places to accomodate my vegan sister.

    The server was very helpful in picking a dish that did not contain eggs or dairy.  I'm not sure if the saag aloo normally contains either one, but she said she would make sure that those were omitted from our order.  The saag aloo was really flavorful with many herbs and spices and the potatoes were thick cut but soft.

    We also had an order of the vegetable samosas which were fried to a crisp.  Also, the naan was actually one of the best I've tried.  It came piping hot straight from the oven and you could really taste that it had been just fired up.

    Random but good find on the UWS!

  • Review from Chris C.

    New York, NY

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 7/27/2009

    Alachi has become a very special restaurant for me. The owner is always there and is a very sweet man and that sets the tone for a wonderful experience. The staff is attentive and courteous. The prices are very reasonable (especially when you consider the neighborhood).

    My new favorite items on the menu include:
    Saag (with Mushrooms)
    Baighan Bartha (a kind of Indian Sultan's delight)
    Iced Chai tea that has personality but is a touch delicate
    Carrot pudding that was to die for.

    You can have a delicious, healthy and affordable meal in a nice quiet setting with a very friendly and accommodating. I suggest you give them try.

    Listed in: Plotzworthy, Upper West Side

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      10/4/2008

      I usually stay away from Indian restaurants lately for two main reasons: 1) white basmati rice and… Read more »

  • Review from Tristan R.

    • 1 friend
    • 4 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    11/2/2008

    Ok - Let me start by saying that I used to live in London and Brick Lane was famous for Indian restuarants and I have to say this place I went too last night rocks!! I live on the UWS and whenever I want to have an Indian meal it normally means heading down to (India Row).

    The main intial reason I went to this place is because my Fiancee and I wanted to share our favourite bottle of Prosecco but fancied Indian and this had the option of BYOB. This place was amazing - the food was by far the best Indian on the UWS - trust me when I say if you are walking on Amsterdam (do yourself a favor) and skip the other inferior Indian Restaurants (i have tried them all) and get to this place. When you take away the price of what you would pay for alcohol (you get to bring as much as you want!!) this place can't be beaten for price or the brilliant food you will be served with.

    I will be back there soon to try out some of their other dishes. 5 stars just doesn't seem to be enough.

    I have adjusted this down to a 4 as the last few times I have been there and ordered chicken I find that you very rarely get white meat (only the cheaper dark meat) which puts me off slightly - still very good though!

  • Review from Zofia K.

    • 0 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Manhattan, NY

    1.0 star rating
    2/2/2012

    Two words.... food poisoning

  • Review from Melinda R.

    • 18 friends
    • 26 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    11/2/2008

    Say you are walking up Amsterdam from the 72nd Street or 79th Street Subway stop and you think: "I would really like some wonderful Indian food... where should I go?"

    The answer is that you should walk north past most of the Indian restaurants and not stop until you get to 83rd Street and see Alachi Masala.

    Correction.  You SHOULD stop -- into a liquor store to purchase your favorite beer or wine to bring with you.  As if having wonderful Indian fare was not enough reason to go out for a meal at Alachi Masala, they also have a BYOB (bring your own beer -- no corkage fee!) policy which, as another patron I met there said, "makes an elegant meal very affordable".

    Now onto the food.  The wonderful food...  My fiance and I had dinner at Alachi Masala last night.  He ordered the "Chicken Madras" which is for a person that enjoys heat in his/her Indian food.  Although a bit hot for me, I admired the flavor underneath and it was the perfect balance of taste, spiciness, and "burn factor" for my fiance.

    I ordered the "Chicken Curry" and was presented with a delicious, robust, and wonderfully spiced dish.  The sauce was so wonderful that both my fiance and I kept scooping out the last of it (long after the chicken was finished) eating it with the remaining rice and naan.  Speaking of the naan... we tried the garlic naan and found it to be one of the best we'd had.

    The decor was pleasant, the restaurant was clean, the service was friendly & attentive, and the food was so good we talked about it all night.  We will be going there again very soon and hope that you will too.

    For upper-west-siders (and upper west side visitors) looking for a wonderful Indian meal without the commute down to 6th Street and 2nd Ave, this is the place for you!

    Yum!!

    ** Update - I have removed one star for a little bit of inconsistency - the last time we ate there, the chicken wasn't as high quality as it was during our previous dining experiences.

    P.S. They have free delivery for takeout orders as well :)

  • Review from Daniel B.

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    12/7/2008

    A good, small, quiet, in many ways typical Indian place, and better than a few of the other Indian places I've tried on the UWS.  

    I came with a group of six for dinner, we ordered two appetizers and six entrees, a naan basket, plus three lassis, and it turned out to be $25 each, not bad at all.  

    Service was friendly and attentive.

    The chicken mahkni and chicken vindaloo were especially good.  The lamb bhuna was not quite as good as I've had it at other places, though it was still just fine.  Everything else (daal mahkni, saag panner, aloo gobi) was as good as Indian usually is at typical good Indian places.

    In summary, if you're craving Indian, this place is not exciting, but hits the spot.

  • Review from Lauren C.

    • 95 friends
    • 487 reviews

    Montclair, NJ

    4.0 star rating
    4/8/2009

    I got delivery from Alachi Masala the other night, and loved it so much that when I was craving more after depleting my leftovers (2 huge meals out of one - so the pricetag which seemed a bit steep actually makes sense), I ordered again.  Quick delivery and they're on seamless web!

    Amazing naan and aloo paratha.  Awesomely spicy tikka masala sauce.  I requested it that way, because a meal isn't successful unless it ends with my lips, tongue or esophagus burning.  Ah, masochism...

    I was so underwhelmed with Earthen Oven, so I am really glad to have this place in my roster and have a delicious Indian standby.  Holler.

  • Review from Jill D.

    • 19 friends
    • 27 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    3/25/2010

    Tiny, out of the way place in the UWS.  I went here this past Sunday on a friend's recommendation and was actually a bit nervous due to some not-so-great Yelp reviews.  But my date and I were rather ravenous (he having come back from a bike ride, me having just finished a swim), so we were ready to chow down, negative reviews be darned.

    The basics:

    FOOD - Fresh, hot, and rich. We had the Lamb Pasanda, which was marinated lamb cooked in curry, cream, and almonds and the Chicken Shislic (sp? I may have butchered it).  Amazing.  Full-bodied in flavor, with great texture.    We ordered two extra servings of their hot, moist, naan (I could have eaten that naan forever) and cleaned our dishes with the bread.  The sauce was ridiculously delicious.  Rice pudding dessert was only OK, though---it wasn't as thick and the rice wasn't as soft as it should be for pudding.  Kinda watery.  Decent flavor.  Place is BYOB, so be sure to pick something up beforehand.

    SERVICE - Attentive in the beginning...our water glasses were filled every 5-10 minutes.  By the end of the meal, it had dropped off considerably, which was weird because aside from the two of us, there was only one other occupied table in the place.  We had to wait for about 30 minutes for the check (from asking for it to actually receiving it).  They did give us rice pudding for dessert, but I don't know if that was to make up for the lagging service or if it's standard.

    ATMOSPHERE - Scattershot and strange, but somehow just cozy enough.  There were garlands decorated with Christmas balls adorning the ceilings (did they forget to take them down?), and the color palate was an odd mix of pinks, peaches, and forest greens.  One can see that they put effort into making the place look nice, but effort doesn't always mean tasteful execution.

    OVERALL - The entrees were delicious, rich, and bold (and quick to be served), so if you're willing to ignore the weird-ish decor and the spotty service, it'll be just fine.  And your tummy will be happy anyway.

  • Review from Le Joost D.

    • 0 friends
    • 81 reviews

    New York, NY

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 6/23/2009

    Ive been back a couple of times since my first review, specifically I went on Sat night and it was tremendous.  I had the Chicken Makhani - and boom goes the dynamite, new favorite dish.  
    Two people, two entrees, two entrees and our bill was $35.  I have paid more for lower quality and I would pay more for Alachi Masala.  
    Eleventeen thumbs up

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      4/21/2009

      After prior gastrointestinal episodes with Indian food, I recently got back on the bus. My wife and… Read more »

  • Review from Dan B.

    New York, NY

    2.0 star rating
    2/2/2011

    Alachi Masala has it's upsides: the servings are big, the nan is hot and fluffy, the service is decent, and the curries can be tasty, but at it's core,  the food being served here doesn't hit the mark of satisfaction that you can taste at other Indian restaurants.  It's not complete, well balanced Indian food, and that's what Indians strive to make.  The food is very Americanized- the curries are excessively rich and tomatoey and the entrees just don't have that perfect balance that you can find in other restaurants like Swagat.  Swagat is rated lower than Alachi Masala here on yelp, but Swagat tastes much better in my opinion and factually is just the more authentic choice. They're doing amazing things at Swagat and only generic things at Alachi Masala.  

    If you go to Alachi Masala, expect very thick, rich, Americanized curries that may taste good upon first try, but you get sick of it and even a little sick to the stomach once you've finished because they go heavy on everything here from spices to liquids.  Even if you try generic Indian dishes you can find at any restaurant like paneer masala, the cheese cubes at Alachi Masala don't taste like much of anything and are oversized chunks covered in creamy sauce whereas the paneer masala in Swagat is carefully balanced in every way to achieve nirvana-like perfection.  The cheese cubes taste better and they don't feel the need to overdress the meal with creamy, thick, sauces to appeal to the American clientele.  I would much rather have the authentic thing. If people knew how often the authentic thing is so much better than the Americanized thing, then they would demand only authentic.  Indians making their true dishes from back home are God sends to people like me who just enjoy eating them and don't need everything to be Americanized to enjoy it.

  • Review from Vineet K.

    • 11 friends
    • 3 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    12/5/2008

    I made the mistake of ordering from their web site. They took over an hour to deliver my food. I'm pretty sure they just forgot about my order, and then when I called to inquire about the hold-up they said 5-10 more minutes. I think they just started making it then, since it took another 30 before the food arrived.

    Also, a big WARNING: do NOT order online. You have to go through a really annoying signup process, I don't think the order actually reaches the kitchen automatically (see above), and worst of all, the order confirmation email contained all my credit card information in plain text. Quite lame.

    When the food finally did arrive, everything tasted good. But still, I'd avoid them for delivery.

  • Review from Danielle L.

    • 9 friends
    • 24 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    5/23/2011

    Pleasantly surprised! I've walked by this place 100 times and finally went in yesterday. The food was delicious, and I LOVED that they put Pappadoms on the table to start. The Chicken Tikka was the best I've ever had and the Saag paneer was amazing. Definitely going back and bringing my own bottle of wine since it's BYOB! Yum!

  • Review from Jimmy G.

    • 4 friends
    • 8 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    1.0 star rating
    11/29/2008

    Went out of our way to go here based on great Yelp reviews, but got there a little later than we planned. 10:33 PM on a Saturday. Dude could not see fit to seat us despite his 11pm closing time. He was also pretty rude about things.

    Bailed and got a great shwarma nearby at Alibaba, with some of the warmest service we've ever encountered.

  • Review from Owen B.

    • 3 friends
    • 8 reviews

    Irvington, NY

    3.0 star rating
    7/18/2009

    I wanted to enjoy this place, and I did. Unfortunately, not as much as I expected to.

    First off, I'd like to say that the manager is a really sweet man. He was very helpful and seemed to genuinely want to make our meal pleasant, which it was. I picked Alachi Masala because it is more affordable than most other Indian places on the west side and the food reviews were quite good.

    One likely reason for the relative cheapness of this place is the setting: the restaurant is squished between two other stores and is very cramped. The décor is cheap. But that's fine, as long as they wow me with the food, which they did not.

    The vegetable samosa my friend and I shared as an appetizer was quite good, but I was impressed with neither my chicken tikka nor my friend's chicken vindaloo. The naan was quite good--crisp, with a little butter or ghee, I'm not sure. On our way out, we also were brought some complementary rice pudding, which was a very kind gesture.

    The chicken tikka came out sizzling, which was quite appetizing. Unfortunately, the chicken came out quite dry, though both my entrée and my friend's were more than large enough, and so of good value.

    In the end, though, I've had better Indian. The people at Alachi Masala are generous, kind people, but unfortunately the food didn't make up for the crummy décor.

    They run a good takeout and delivery business through SeamlessWeb, though.

  • Review from Jasper S.

    • 45 friends
    • 141 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    1/9/2011

    I went because of all the reviews but found it really bland. Probably won't be back.  I also felt like they were up selling us on appetizers and drinks the whole time.

  • Review from J B.

    • 1 friend
    • 28 reviews

    Weehawken, NJ

    5.0 star rating
    7/3/2008

    This is my first 5 star restaurant review. I am a big fan of BYOB restaurants and this is one of my favorites. The decor is a bit cheesy but I am going for the food and BYOB policy. If you go try the Chicken Morengo (its a nice sweet mango/citrus sauce) very good. Also you must try the Garlic Naan it is the best Naan I have had in the city. All of the other dishes that I have had have been good as well. Take your wine or beer and give this place a try.

  • Review from Hannah C.

    Astoria, NY

    4.0 star rating
    3/13/2009

    i don't ever venture up to the upper west side unless there is a good reason to, but my boyfriend and i decided to be adventurous tonight. since we were craving indian, we checked out another place (tamarind, down couple blocks) before deciding to sit down at this place. the prices were the same, and this place looked nicer inside...not that the interior really mattered at that point - we hadn't eaten all day and our stomachs were literally being eaten away with stomach acid.

    anyway the food was good - it wasn't like mind blowing, omg thats the best indian i've ever had good, but still pretty good. however, one thing i did notice (even in my ravenous state), the tiki masala was just way too tomatoey tasting. i know it's a tomato base curry, but it just didn't taste like an indian dish to me. just tasted like some random tomato and chicken dish. even my boyfriend, who doesn't know the difference from peanut to almond, noticed.

    all in all, i really wouldn't have given this place 4 stars if i weren't so hungry. it's more like 3.25-3.5 stars. it's really just a-ok indian food. the service was quick and attentive though. i'm such a sucker for places with good service. oh and i almost forgot, their samosas are unusually big and so, so good.

  • Review from Melissa B.

    • 28 friends
    • 30 reviews

    Phoenix, AZ

    4.0 star rating
    11/15/2007

    Opened up across the street from where I lived last year, so went in on a whim.  Definitely not the cheapest Indian in the neighborhood, but quality, authentic and flavorful food.  I think it is still BYOB, and the maitre d' was very friendly and knowledgeable.  I also was nitpicky one time and asked for something off the menu --- veggies with tikka masala sauce.  Needless to say,  they happily complied and it was marvelous.  Also, it was peacefully eerily quiet both times that I went - a pleasure.

  • Review from nayoung j.

    • 35 friends
    • 127 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    9/6/2010

    Quaint place - love that it's byob! service was punctual. liked that you could enjoy your meal without the hustle and bustle of other indian joints downtown.

  • Review from Yelp T.

    • 11 friends
    • 108 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    11/7/2010

    Definitely above average Indian take-out. ($15ish per dish)

    Pros: Tandoori chicken was good.  Gave us nice chunteys and plenty of rice.

    Pro w/ a slight negative: Quail was a little tough to eat, but the tomato-based sauce it was in was delicious.

    They only gave one naan and 2 pieces of papardum...but I guess the extra carbs arn't nessassary.

    We will be ordering from them again.

  • Review from Anna M.

    • 9 friends
    • 67 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    4/14/2008

    Ordered for delivery and the food came hot and fresh in less than half an hour (on a sunday night).  The chicken tikka was moist and flavorful with an appetizing red color from the tandoor oven.  The aloo matar gobi was good, but slathered in a very buttery sauce.  No wonder I finished it up.  The lamb vindaloo was tasty with the signature vinegary kick and this place does not hold back on the heat aspect.  At first bite, the heat from the spices overwhelmed the palate.  

    One and a half stars deduction:
    The curries had visible pools of butter/fat in them.  I prefer not seeing these greasy globules in my food even if they are there and make the food taste better. But I've had better indian food that isn't so heavy on the ghee.
    The paratha was also too heavy / dense.

    Plus is that it is cheaper than other Indian restaurants that deliver on the Upper West Side.  And the meat/veggie quality is on par with the others.

  • Review from Mr D.

    • 4 friends
    • 24 reviews

    Brooklyn, NY

    4.0 star rating
    12/17/2007

    after reading a couple of reviews and being in the area decided to give it a try. we didn't walk out disappointed , food was very good, fresh and well served. had chicken korma, chicken tikka and srhimp with curry, some naan and raita. it was a lot of food for 2 but we couldn't stop eating it. the place is very small and we felt a bit awkward when going in, but once the food started coming out of the kitchen everything changed. its BYOB and the waiters are very friendly with that some make sure you buy some booze before coming in
    will be back

  • Review from Mitchell J.

    • 6 friends
    • 2 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    11/20/2010

    Very nice food. Huge pieces of tasty Chicken Tikka, succulent Lamb Rogan Josh, and extremely good sweet and sour chicken. Only problem was the garlic naan -- a little too doughy and not garlicky enough. Skip the naan and enjoy the rest..

  • Review from Sanjay C.

    • 0 friends
    • 18 reviews

    Bellevue, WA

    1.0 star rating
    8/25/2009

    I have to think really hard for anything that went well.
    They have BYOB and I asked the waitress whether there was a liquor store close by she gave a very vague answer and directed me to a place close by. There was a convenience store a couple of blocks away but all the beer they had was not too cold (no fault of the restaurant).
    Wanted to substitute an item and offered to pay a higher price but they could not accommodate the request.
    Extremely slow service. They said 10 minutes but by the time the food came it was over 25 minutes. Even then they brought stuff out piecemeal. The naan was brought almost 5 minutes after the chicken. All this despite the fact that just 1 other table in the restaurant was occupied. (Should have trusted my gut rather than some of the other reviews when I saw the place so empty!)

    Now let's talk about the food. The chicken tikka masala was sweetish. When I asked why, the response was that you didn't ask for it to be spicy. Really odd coz I was never given any option and it implied that the standard option was for it to be sweet!?
    The naan was really thick around the edges and undercooked. So ended up leaving half of it.
    The other stuff like the saag lamb and daal was very average.
    At the end of the meal they brought out a complimentary rice pudding type dessert. It had an overpowering taste of rose water / flavor - really yucky!!
    Overall, by far the worst experience I have had at any NYC restaurant. Save yourself and stay away from this place!!

  • Review from Paul J.

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    2/24/2009

    In a neighborhood where basically all of the Indian restaurants are horrible... or should I say suck... thankfully we finally have a good one.     Like another reviewer, I've also lived in London and also spend a lot of my formative years on E.6th street.
    We usually order it, but have also eaten there and the food is very good.  It's the only Indian on the UWS that I've liked in about 10 years.

  • Review from Nicole L.

    • 59 friends
    • 288 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    10/15/2009

    Alachi Masala is a great, reasonably priced restaurant on the UWS.  The food is delicious (especially the eggplant bharta, naan and samosas), and the service is attentive.  Also, we were able to have a quiet dinner here because it wasn't crowded when we went.  A plus, it's BYOB!

  • Review from Ashley P.

    • 0 friends
    • 10 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    7/15/2010

    This is the only BYOB Indian joint I've ever encountered.  As such, it serves as a hangout for boisterous college students who look like they're not old enough to drink.  My chicken curry was spot-on and the garilc naan was yummy.  My Indian friend also enjoyed the food and the service was excellent.  My only complaint is that the restaurant could benefit from some AC- it's quite stuffy.

  • Review from Lukas B.

    • 9 friends
    • 16 reviews

    New York, NY

    4.0 star rating
    5/6/2010

    Great authentic Indian Food and BYOB.  I would love if they had outdoor seating but I think their street frontage is too small.  My girlfriend and I have been here three times and it's consistantly good!

  • Review from Marlene D.

    • 10 friends
    • 33 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    3/15/2011

    I don't know if all the other people that reviewed Alachi Masala are that easy to please, or if I am that spoiled. What I DO know, is what a decent Chicken Tikka Masala tastes like. Trust me, I have had many, related to a serious Chicken Tikka Masala addiction. The one I had over here was.... good enough to eat, but that's really just about it. Like somebody else already mentioned: The Masala sauce is way too much in the direction of thickened tomato soup. The servings are not even that big in my opinion. The rice that comes for free on the side is somewhat decent. The naan was definitely tasty. Fresh, nice and fluffy with a hint of butter. Then again: They did charge me $3.25 for it, while I was having a lunch special. Chicken Tikka Masala with rice was $9.25, then with the naan and tax it still came out to be a little over $15,- including tip. For mediocre food, I still think it is relatively expensive then. I might go here again, but I quite likely will try a different Indian restaurant, in the hope that the chef is actually able to create a real, Indian style, chicken tikka Masala. Just to finish things on a nice note: Service is quick. Personnel is friendly. Place looks plain, but clean and neat.

  • Review from b s.

    • 0 friends
    • 9 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    3/11/2010

    BYOB and Decent food and delivery.  The atmosphere is awkward and sometimes they don't check to see if people came in to the restaurant which adds to the experience.

  • Review from Pooja M.

    • 0 friends
    • 2 reviews

    Manhattan, NY

    1.0 star rating
    5/22/2011

    Disappointed! After reading all the great reviews, i had my hopes raised. Service was slow-combination of weekend and being understaffed. And I have eaten much better Indian food on the UWS. Would not go here again!

1 to 40 of 45 (37 Filtered) |  
Page: 1 2
Write a Review

Deals Nearby

More »

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...

People Viewed This After Searching For...