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Brick Lane Curry House
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
306-308 E 6th StNew York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 979-2900
- Nearest Transit:
-
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
2 Av (F)
8 St - Nyu (N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 1 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 1 pm - 1 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
387 reviews for Brick Lane Curry House
Review Highlights
"Their signature challenge is the Phaal dish."
(in 116 reviews)
"It was perfectly complemented with garlic naan."
(in 37 reviews)
"I do highly recommend their lunch buffet."
(in 39 reviews)
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387 reviews in English
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Review from Yanny S.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Two things I knew and therefore was wary of before eating here:
1. They have a food challenge: spicy phaal. Food challenges are a marketing ploys and thus I expect an inverse relationship between the fame of a restaurant's challenge and how good its food is.
2. Brick Lane is a street in London that's packed with curry houses, many of which are sub-par (or so I hear). So how good can a place be that's named after a touristy area in another city? Answer: great. I also loved how the decor theme is London Underground (signs, maps etc).
Get anything. I liked my goat bhuna and the bite I tried of someone else's fish/chickpea curry. Biryani was good but the curries do come with plain rice. So plan your stomach accordingly. Not a cheap dinner as it cost me about $35.
For sheer entertainment, come with a friend or talk one into trying the phaal challenge. Although not noted on the menu, there is a 30 minute limit. My friend downed 2 mango lassi, probably threw in a quart of rice but couldn't get an inch into the curry within the time limit. Normally spicy foods are bearable as long as you keep eating it. Nope, not with this curry. I dipped a tine of my fork into it to try and it gets spicier the longer it's in your mouth. What amazed me was my friend ended up eating 90% of it in the end.
Writing this review has made me realize I do like places that happen to have food challenges. Exhibit A: Broken Yolk in San Diego. Exhibit B: Ike's Place in San Francisco. And now exhibit C: Brick Lane Curry house. Food + entertainment, who can resist a package deal like that?
Enjoy! -
Review from Vince V.
Burbank, CA
2/9/2012
Excellent Naan, and good fish curry. The servers are excellent and really take care of you however the rest of the food and desserts are average.
That Phaal stuff has no flavor and is unbearable to eat not cus its hot, which it is, but because it is like trying to suck down dry chilli pod juice. It simply does not taste good and I can handle hot food. Oh well have a good time here and drink some Indian beer with a group of no more than 6 and then walk around and take in the city night. -
Review from Anna M.
New Haven, CT
2/6/2012
Food is okay but nothing special. It tastes like generic Indian food.
Service is not good. I had to wait 30 minutes for my table (I had a reservation). After I had paid for my dinner and was chatting with my friends for a few minutes before getting up, the waiter came by and told us to leave because the people who were waiting for our table were "pissed off."
I wouldn't come here again. I'm sure NY has a better Indian restaurant that treats customers better and charges the same (or even less). -
Review from Dave H.
1/25/2012 9 photos
Brick Lane is best known for their phaal - that's weapons grade Indian curry, for the uninitiated - and their "phaal challenge", where one can gain fame and fortune[1] by downing a whole bowl faster than an episode of "Friends".
Of course I went for it. Wouldn't you?[2]
If you decide to do this, be prepared to enter a WORLD OF EVERLASTING PAIN. Scarily, I found the phaal's taste fairly agreeable, and it grew on me even as it literally burnt my lips and ate away at my stomach. After 45 minutes of trembling hands and hallucinations, I made it through 80% of my bowl before throwing in the towel. Even with my heat tolerance, I had to mix in rice and globs of yogurt, and chug two mango lassis. It was a humbling, hard phaal[3] of an experience, but I'd do it again.
[1] Well, a beer and your name on a wall.
[2] If you're not clinically insane, just get the vindaloo and the biryani. Them's good eating.
[3] Don't you love bad puns? Oh? Phaal whale?Listed in: NYC Favorites, Insanely Spicy Food, NYC Indian
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Review from Angela C.
New York, NY
1/30/2012
Mumbai martini is sooo good.
Other curry is well served, but somehow not as hot as I expected. The yellow curry is more like a Japanese curry. -
Review from Craig G.
Jersey City, NJ
1/21/2012
Brick Lane Curry House is somewhat of an oddity on 6th Street's Curry Row. Surrounded by hole-in-the wall joints which get by on employees hitting the street boasting "best curry", Brick Lane is an upscale, spacious establishment with soft lighting and an expansive menu covering most regions of the subcontinent. They feature a list of curries and your meal starts with a complimentary basket of papadum, with three chutnies (cilantro, tamarind, mixed pickle).
The food is well prepared and the creamy malai kofta is rich and satisfying, but the restaurant's true claim to fame is the phaal curry. Known on the web and to viewers of Man v. Food, it's described as the hottest curry in the country. Made from ten different chilis (including thai birdseye and habanero), the dish is roughly the colour of blood. It's served with your choice of protein (i went with paneer) and rice. Raita is extra, but all but required. The dish builds to a slow, searing burn that worsens with every minute and every spoonful. Aside from the sheer napalm-like inferno, the curry itself is flavoured with ginger and fennel. Those who best the phaal in under half an hour get to put their photo up on the restaurant's website, a free drink (mmm, Kingfisher), and a certificate proclaiming you as a Curry Monster.
It has it's gimmicks and it's certainly pricier than others on Curry Row, but you won't regret a trip to Brick Lane -
Review from Andrew F.
Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY
1/29/2012
Definitely my current favourite place for Indian food in the village. The service is good, the food even better. While I'm sure there are more up-market Indian places around, for the price point, I don't think you can do much better.
We've tried a number of different dishes in our many visits, and all have been great. -
Review from Emily R.
Union City, NJ
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ahh Curry Row!
The Pakoras were good to start out but the star of the show was the curry.
I ordered the Shammie Kebabs (lamb) and Sean got the Vindaloo with goat. The Kebabs were good but a little dry. I prefer my lamb cooked med-rare. The Vindaloo was really good and we finished every last drop. I must say, it was spicier on the way out than on the way in if you catch my drift. Sean also ordered a dessert that consisted of ride and coconut milk, though for the life of me I can't remember the name of it.
On my next visit I am determined to make the BF try the Phaal curry. It contains ghost chilies. Mwah hah hah! -
Review from Leo L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a freezing Saturday night and luckily we didn't have to wait. Nothing like some good curry to warm the soul.
We ordered the Samosa for appetizer ( crispy pastry stuffed with spiced potatoes & peas) which was very mild in taste but none the less filling. I also ordered a pineapple mojito which in all fairness was tasty but man, if you're going to give it to me in a rock glass filled with mint leaves about 45 percent of the way and 35 percent ice.. how much alcohol am i really drinking? Roughly around 12 bucks a pop for 4 sips of mojito?
For entrees, we had the Tikka Marsala which is always a fan fav as well as the Vindaloo. Both pretty common dishes if you've been to any type of Indian restaurant. No complaints about the food just the wait time in-between the apps and the entree that took a good 30 mins and the place wasn't even packed.
Pros
- Cozy atmosphere
- Decent food
- pleasant staff
Cons
- the mojito
- wait time inbtwn courses
I can't accurately say that the wait time is always like that but i would def come back when i have the curry itchy again. -
Review from Steve P.
East Norwich, NY
12/28/2011
Saw BLCH on Man vs Food just about one year ago. Ever since I watched his Phaal challenge, I've been jonesing to get into the city and try the food. I would have loved to do the challenge but being sick and in the city to celebrate my birthday steered me away for something a bit more tame.
The girl friend and I arrived right at our reservation time and were greeted by the hostess. We were told it would be a few minutes and took a seat at the bar for some drinks. We were seated at our table about 10 minutes later.
Our waiter was courteous and attentive.
We shared the Aloo Samosa for an app and I had the Goat Tikka Masala and my girlfriend had the Shrimp Biryani. The Tikka had just enough spice to clear my sinuses and allow me to taste the dish. It was very good and I picked up the spices. The goat was cooked well, but I wasn't a fan of the bones still being attached to the meat. Some were sharp! My girlfriend enjoyed the Biryani but couldn't eat it all on her own (not sure it's meant as a single person meal). We shared an order of garlic naan as well. Nice texture but a little light on the garlic.
The dining area is pretty tight and you can expect at least one bump during your meal. It's not too loud but it is cozy, so expect to hear your neighbors conversations.
It was a good experience and I would love to visit again during another trip into the city. I would love to one day try the Phaal challenge but on the next trip I might just go for something like Vindaloo. -
Review from Chris M.
1/6/2012
I have tried a lot of dishes here. Everything tastes good but the curries are the best. The spicier the better. I usually get the curry that's one spice below the phaal curry. The phaal curry made with the ghost peppers is not good. It is a part of the challenge that this place has (finish the phaal curry and you get a certificate and a free beer).
Now, whenever I go back, I just order two different curries and feast on that. Nothing else.
On most nights, there are one or two open tables but reservations are recommended, especially if you're going Thurs-Sat.
Happy eating, suckers. -
Review from olivia s.
1/4/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great food. The tikki masala chicken was delicious. Sauce was creamy but not too rich. Chicken was tender & soft. The naan was so warm, soft & chewy... Nom, nom, nom... You have to just let it melt in your mouth. Stuffed calamari is delish - calamari stuffed with more calamari? What's not to like?! The samosas are also awesome - nice crunchy texture packed with potatoes or lamb on in inside. Yummy!
Brick Lane Curry House is a decent spot to chat with friends. But you've been warned - this place isn't the best for big groups. It's a bit narrow on the inside.
Service was okay. Restaurant has a bar if you want a drink or 2.
Will definitely come back for the Phaal challenge. -
Review from Liana L.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here at 3:30pm on a weekday, so it serves me right for not getting the full range of buffet foods. That said, I don't know if they had any other dessert out ... but oops, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Service was absolutely solid; the waiters were very polite, even with us arriving so late. And they were extremely courteous about letting us know at around 3:55pm that the buffet would be closing soon (at 4pm), so we should pick up food if we still wanted any. I actually left a bag of macarons there and the hostess was great about going to check and leaving it for me.
The buffet items were still hot at 3:30pm, and I don't think the quality was lacking in any way, but quantity was definitely missing to some extent. I was confused by the food because I thought they were soups instead of the promised chicken, but then I realized that they were sauces with very, very sparse chicken (because it was, understandably, very late). They were really good about giving us plentiful naan (and more naan when we wanted it). I kept thinking that they would fill up on the food, but well, it makes sense that they didn't. I didn't get any samosas, and I took the only tandoori chicken that was left. (It was good). Overall, the food was solid; I don't think I have discerning taste buds for Indian food. :x
The fruit looked a bit soggy (but then again, when does fruit salad ever not look soggy?) so I avoided it. I took some of the ginger-coconut vermicelli (?) dessert thing, which was very interesting. I liked the texture, but I'm very specific about how much ginger I want in my desserts. One of my friends loved it though. I was disappointed that there weren't more dessert options - no rice pudding? Sad.
Overall, BLCH was good (and in a good, easily accessible area). However, you should probably not come at 3:30pm. You probably didn't need that warning, though. -
Review from Madhu R.
1/21/2012
The location of 53rd is smaller, but the food and service is alot better. The EV location was super bland, and my friend and I felt really rushed by the staff, so prob not going back. If you want the best Indian food in the area (and you're not afraid of spice), then try Banjara instead.
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Review from Kelly H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2012
It's the more expensive of the Indian places on 6th Street, but it's definitely the best.
When I went to New York for a visit in December, I hit the lunch buffet with some friends and we stuffed our faces. Love the chicken tikka and the garlic naan. There was tons of stuff on the buffet, not even sure what all of it was, but it was all delicious. The service is solid. The space is a little tight - but where is it not in NYC, especially in The Village.
Totally worth the extra few bucks. Still way cheaper than any Indian place in LA. -
Review from B. T.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012
I tried this place late on a holiday Monday afternoon--about 4:30 PM. Several tables were occupied but it wasn't full nor was it an hour and 15 minutes later when I left.
I came in just ahead of a large group who were allowed to monopolize the attention of the wait staff--points off. To be fair, I was alone and the waitress later indicated she had thought I was waiting for someone to join me.
I eventually ordered aloo somosas (they also offer lamb), plain naan, raita, chicken vindaloo, rice and a Taj Mahal beer which went very nicely with the food.
Let's start with the low and high points. I was unimpressed by the samosas. The filling tasted like little more than mashed potatoes and the pastry was equally characterless. And it was served with a not-especially flavorful chutney (not my favorite which is the more usual tamarind)--more points off.
The raita, however, was superb--unusually thick and tasty.
The main course was quite good. Unlike the places I go regularly, they did not ask how spicy I wanted it but it came out quite spicy as I prefer (and as it should be since this simple meat and potato mixture is traditionally one of the hotter curries). It was excellent--with big chunks of boneless white chicken meat and just enough potato--and the raita complemented it perfectly. The naan was just OK.
And the bill. The bill totaled just about twice what I am used to for this food in San Francisco, but to be fair again, I usually get my food to go there and do not get beer with it.
Overall, I gave it 3 stars and would make it 3.5 if I could. The food overall is solid but not spectacular--and frankly I remember the same meal as being better at the Midtown location a year or so ago. The service was not the best but that may have been a misunderstanding. And the prices seem steep even for Manhattan. -
Review from Lili K.
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a Friday night. The hostess said she'd hook it up and by that she meant a 45 minute wait.
I got the butter masala, which was SUPER filling-you can definitely share a curry with someone else. My friend got the chicken, we got stuffed naan with cheeese for the table, and my boo got the phaal.
That's right. My boo took on the phaal challenge. Our server said, "Are you sure? It doesn't even taste good," etc etc but that was the whole reason as to why we showed up at this joint in the first place. I took a tiny drop from my fork, and it was spicy and without any savory tastes whatsoever. My boo had some helpings and was sweating, and we just told him he's gotta stuff himself with it. Within less than a minute, he downed the last half of it. IMPRESSIVE! The waiters and waitresses all came out to cheer, presented him with a certificate, got him a free beer, and it was all victory paradin' from then on. Btw, our server did say only 8-10% of people succeed in finishing this dish, most quitting after taking the first spoonful.
What a night. That's mah boo! -
Review from Jane K.
11/7/2011
I don't normally like spending a lot on delivery but when my urge for Indian hits, there's nothing better than Brick Lane to get my fix fast. Well, sort of fast. I'm only 6 blocks away but delivery takes about 40 minutes so take that as you will. I'm okay with it but if you're starving you might want to grab take out or just eat there.
I've ordered the Tikka Masala curry twice now and it's always perfectly spiced and pretty darn addictive. The naan is super doughy but not as oily as other's I've had and the garlic version is definitely a breath killer.
While the curries are all $16+ they definitely serve up enough for two to share and the appetizers are all delectable. So go ahead, Seamlessweb this house. It's awesome. -
Review from Jake L.
Santa Monica, CA
Went for lunch and ordered a la carte
The buffet looked good enough, but we saw the 'B' rating from the health department and decided against it.
We love Indian food, but were rather disappointed with the lack of spice and 'kick' in the dishes that we ordered.
Flavor wasn't nearly what we were hoping for either...perhaps all of the spices were put in the buffet food items. -
Review from Simon W.
Oakland Gardens, NY
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food here was pretty good.
I had the all you can eat curry.
Food: I had tried most of the food items on the all you can eat menu. The curry was consistent and flavors were label correctly. The soup was amazing.
Service: The service here was the reason why I gave it a 4 stars. The staff here were very helpful and friendly. I will be coming back here because of the great service I had gotten while I was here. I will be back to tried their full dinner menu next time. -
Review from Ms B.
Brooklyn, NY
11/12/2011
Went late on a Friday night.
The good:
Motor Paneer: nice amount of spice and a significant amount of cheese
Portion size, had enough to take home of the paneer
The eh:
Price... way overpriced. 17 for curry?! just didn't add up when compared to other options in the area.
Veggie Korma: overall bland and not a lot of veggies in it.
naan: too doughy, hardly crispy at all
The weird:
The service asked "is everything alright" in a manner that made you feel that you just got hit by a car.
I wouldn't come here again just because I thought it was overpriced. -
Review from Lisa Jane C.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 10/22/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I have to upgrade this place. My three most recent experiences have been much better than the first one.
Still working my way through the curry menu. Just love that I can order tofu curries here rather than settle for vegetable, as I would at most restaurants. This has helped make me a repeat customer. Had the saag last night and it was amazing. Would love to have it again at my next visit but still working my way down the list.
Service has become much friendlier. The manager introduced himself a few weeks ago, remembered me from a previous visit and asked why I was so loyal. He even remembered what I had ordered. Always great when your business is appreciated.
I will return. Still another six or so curries to try. Then onto the vegetarian menu.
Love, love, love.Listed in: Vegetarian in the East Village
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/2/2011
It is never a good sign if I am asked "Are you alone?" twice before I have been seated. Should have… Read more »
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Review from Maly A.
12/29/2011
Reasonably priced & fairly decent Indian food. Ambiance is certainly better than many other spots in same price range. It's fine....but nothing spectacular.
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Review from Perry A.
Robbinsville, NJ
1/2/2012
The food was amazing. I never had Indian food, and this will start a new trend now to try it more often. However this place was soo delicious my standards might be a little high..
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Review from Ashish V.
Saratoga, CA
10/16/2011
Service - top notch. Our server & the manager were very attentive, and we were never without an empty drink, water, etc.
Food - fantastic. paneer tikka dish was phenomenal.
I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Lucy C.
Manhattan, NY
1/8/2012
Went for lunch buffet two weeks ago. The naan was excellent and they bring the tandoori chicken, which was baked to perfect tenderness, to your table. The buffet choices were limited but very delicious. The sauces were flavorful, perfect for dipping naan in! The ambiance was nice, although very "un-indian". I'm not a fan of gulab jamun but Brick Lane Curry House's gulab jamun were DELICIOUS. Will definitely be going back, especially for the great price! Just wish they could expand the lunch buffet selections and play some indian music in the background.
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Review from Mary T.
Brooklyn, NY
12/21/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Great service! Food was delicious... Place was a bit small n narrow.. So prepared to be bumped into! But overall...enjoyed myself ;)
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Review from Mallika I.
Manhattan, NY
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy. Hands down the best Indian Food I have ever had at a restaurant in the USA. Highly recommend their Parsi Machhi - mouthwateringly delicious.
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Review from Michelle O.
Kansas City, MO
9/29/2011
I originally saw Brick Lane on Man vs. Food, so I was a little interested, given my love for Indian food. Then a friend recommended the place, so I was determined to go there during our NYC visit.
The service totally ruined the place for my husband and me, unfortunately, but I chalk that up to one guy who didn't really give a shit. But it still ruined the experience, because we waited about 15 minutes before getting water, and another 10-15 minutes before our order was taken. Our food didn't take as long to get to us as we feared, but our waiter never returned, yet he walked by several times. We also heard other tables complaining about their service. Luckily, one of the other nearby waiters was very helpful and brought us our bill (about 25-30 mins after we had finished eating and after our water had not been refilled at all), but by that point we were pretty turned off by the whole thing. However, I'm betting that if this other guy was our waiter, we would have received great service like some of the other tables around us seemed to have received.
As for the food, it was good... but I was hoping for more. I'm from Kansas City, which obviously is not known for a plethora of Indian cuisine, but we have a restaurant there that I swear by when I'm in the area. Brick Lane was almost but not quite as good as this place. It was a little blander, which was very disappointing. I just assumed since I was in a city with thousands of ethnic food options instead of just a couple, and in a restaurant that's been profiled on a TV show, I'd be getting a little more than what I'm used to. -
Review from Jess K.
12/5/2011
I thought the food here was great. I gobbled up all of my chicken tikka masala and my boyfriend said his vindaloo was the perfect amount of spicy. The waiter made it seem like the naan order is small but it really isn't. I made a reservation here for a Friday night for 6 people no problem. We were seated right away. I didn't feel like the restaurant is too crowded. Also, they always kept my water glass full which is important to me in general but especially when I am eating (just a wee bit of) spicy food. This restaurant is just a few blocks from Astor Place so it is easy enough to get to from anywhere in the city. I would definitely go back here.
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Review from Atousa F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/14/2011
DELICIOUS!
Oh man, Indian Alley. I've passed by this place many times because 1. the price is too high compared to the neighboring joints, and 2. I didn't believe the hype. Especially after the dude from Man vs. Food was on there.
But no way, totally good.
We ordered delivery an hour ahead, because I had read the reviews and knew this place had a tendency to lag. I ordered the chicken tikka, the lamb masala, madras, the aloo matar and a side of the garlic naan.
The naan was kind of the big downer. It didn't seem like it was cooked all the way (too doughy, but maybe that's because we had it delivered?), however the aloo matar and the chicken tikka stole the show. The peas and the potatoes were perfectly cooked (not hard but not mushy), and it was sweet but also spicy.
The chicken tikka was thick and smooth. And the chicken! Super tender.
The lamb in the madras was cut into thick chunks, which wasn't the best. And the curry in the madras was a little too lemony for my taste.
However, all were very flavorful, no gristle/fat, tasty flavors and most importantly, it didn't taste like the rest of the restaurants on Indian Alley.
This is important because I've tried most of them. At best, they're mediocre. Worst, downright disgusting with questionable cooking methods.
Brick Curry definitely tasted better and is well worth the price. Instead of the $10.99 dinner specials at the other spots, I'd rather pay more and get amazing food from here.
On another note, the food here tastes almost exactly like Tikka Masala on Ellis Street in San Francisco. Anyone from SF agree?? -
Review from Diana Y.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
brick lane curry house. i don't know if it is just me, but every time i go back here, i miss nepalese/indian food in seoul (@everest. legitttttt) or even in anaheim!
this place is solid, you expect it to be decent. and that is exactly what it is. decent, hot indian food. chicken tikka masala, naan, close to home. -
Review from Mark A.
Brooklyn, NY
12/24/2011
Everything tasted great. Very fresh spices. Excellent service. Make sure you make a reservation.
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Review from Aaliyah K.
Manhattan, NY
9/2/2011
Didn't see any Indians eating there...
Food, DELICIOUS
Atmosphere, Small but charming -
Review from Christine T.
Manhattan, NY
8/18/2011 3 photos
I've been here twice. Once during the all you can eat brunch for $9.99 and once for dinner. The brunch was well worth the money. Food was great and lots to choose from. For dinner I had the seafood moilee, which was sooooo yummy! If you can't handle spicy, this is a great choice!!! Not spicy at all, and very creamy. (I can't handle spicy...)
My friend decided to do the Phaal Challenge, which this place is famous for. It is a super spicy concoction of 13 different peppers to make a death bowl of fire. If you finish it, you get your name on the Phaal of Fame, a certificate, and a free beer. DEFINITELY DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU DONT WANT TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!!! My friend was able to finish it, but not without sweat, blood, and tears!!! ok...maybe not that dramatic, but the instant he stood up, he said he felt like his stomach was eating itself. And was bedridden for the rest of the night HAHA!!! But if the pain is worth the satisfaction of finishing it and a free beer, then go for it!!!
Overall, food here is very good, service here is great, and the atmosphere is classy and pleasant. I would definitely recommend this place for great indian food :) -
Review from Joyce C.
ROOSEVELT ISL, NY
12/16/2011
Price is fair and the food is amazing! I LOVE getting the vindaloo and samosa! yumm! Service is great too! Really friendly and always smiling, lol.
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Review from Richard D.
New York, NY
After seeing Adam Richman on Man V Food hype this place up so much, I've been really wanting to try my hand at the Phaal challenge. I came here last night with Tobin T. and my boo Lili K. If you're going to attempt a challenge like this, you'll need the support of friends to encourage (egg you on to do stupid things).
The whole place smelled very fragrant and sometimes you could feel your nose burn from someone's curry.
On my quest to conquer the Phaal, there were many moments that really challenged me:
1. Tobin, having first hand knowledge of Indian cuisine, declined to join me in the challenge because he wanted "to enjoy his meal". I thought I was in trouble, because if he couldn't handle it, it must be a horrible challenge.
2. I saw a table of gringos discussing how to eat their newly procured Phaal, but they failed. Yeah you 8 frat boys ain't so manly now, are ya?
3. Standing by the kitchen, I could smell the spice, and it almost choked me. Yeah, it could be used as a weapon against Occupy Wall Street protesters.
4. The waiter tried to talk me out of it. Said it's not flavorful and pretty disgusting.
But my lovely boo encouraged me to try it. She said the only reason why we went to the place was to eat that dish, and there's no turning back now. See how having the love and support of a boo can take you further?
Time to man up and take the challenge. I ordered the dish along with the yogurt on the recommendation of the waiter.
When it arrived, it didn't smell that spicy. But tasting it at first it wasn't that spicy, but then it grows on you. The flavor itself wasn't that good. It definitely wasn't as good as the butter chicken. There was a kind of bitterness and nasty flavor to it. The spice can be described as an slow painful afterburn. After the first few spoonfuls, It began making me sweat and my stomach churn. It almost felt like I had swallowed a NYC subway rat and it was clawing it's way out. I had finished the lamb (they ran out of goat) chunks and there was nothing but fiery lava left.
Halfway through the challenge, I was tempted to give in. It's like knowing no good can come out of finishing the gilded silver bowl of pain. Tobin and Lili began to encourage me. Tobin said take a break, eat some other things and try it again, Lili showered me with nothing but words of encouragement. The waiter came over to check on us and we found out that 8-10% of the people who take the challenge only succeed. Most of the people who give up just taste a bit and then just don't try. I was way ahead of those losers. The waiter pointed out that I don't get a free beer or certificate unless I finish everything. Hmm, with something free awaiting me at the end of hell, I kept pushing on. Lili, Tobin and I decided the best way to finish this was by being an animal. Eating it and savoring it one spoonful at a time will not help you. I had to rip off the bandaid, so to speak. I pounded the rest of the curry from hell in spurts of 4 spoonfuls and using the yogurt in between. Eventually sea of lava parted and I was able to see the shiny metallic bottom. Tobin saw it and yelped out with glee, "holy crap, you're gonna do it". With more and more cheering I kept going and going.
The waiter watched from afar (probably to make sure I'm not cheating) and then came over to congratulate me when I finished. He asked me what beer I wanted and then came back to get my info for the my certificate.
I was presented with the certificate and cheered on by the whole staff of waiters and waitresses.
After all of that, I must say, yes it was worth it. Would I do it again? Nah, I got nothing to prove. Plus as of right now, my butt still burns with no end in sight. -
Review from Kelly L.
9/5/2011
My friend brought me here once and I wasn't too sure about it since it looked much cleaner and modern compared to all the other Indian restaurants on Indian Row. Not to mention more expensive.
I ordered the butter masala with chicken and garlic naan and it was probably some of the best butter chicken curry I've had. It was a little pricey but think it was worth it. Think it also depends what type of atmosphere you are looking for as well to be a deciding factor between this place and the other Indian restaurants on Indian Row. -
Review from Tony M.
Baltimore, MD
7/20/2011
And in conclusion....
I am an every once in a while indian food kind of person. I love it, but it's just not something I can eat every day. Unless... It is from this place.
Warning...
It is not cheap. If you are a cheap person, don't go. I'd rather you not, because I don't like stingy people. I think stingy people should go to places with cheap bad food so that I don't have to look at them frowning their stingyness all over the place. If you like really good food and have no problem dropping $35 or more on FIlet Mignon at a steak house, then the price wont bother you.
We had an appetizer, an entree a piece, a few drinks and a lot of naan, and I think the bill ended up being $35 each for the 3 of us. Not bad considering all of the food was great.
I am not rich, but if I am going to pay $24 for dinner at a crappy indian place, I'd rather pay $35 and love the food. That's just me, because I have taste buds.
I am giving 5 stars because the service we had was great, the food was fantastic, and out of ~40 indian restuarants I have been to, the food was definitely the best.
P.S.
As for Joan H who changed her 5 star review to a 1 star review because of one experience, you are the reason that average ratings are not more reliable. Killing a rating because some frat boys showed up and destroyed your evening (booo hooo) is immature. If you have a 5 star and then have a bad experience, move it to 4 and note the reason. Hopefully that experience makes you never return as you don't deserve the food. -
Review from Joan H.
Updated - 7/14/2011
Crazy how my once 5-star review can be converted into an "Eeek! Methinks not," but that is what happens when you have such a painful experience that colors your entire experience and history, that you end up leaving feeling so grumpy and upset that your whole night is ruined!
The food is still great, and I think the restaurant does offer some unusual offerings not found at most Indian restaurants (eg rosemary or basil naan, this great green curry with coconut milk and South Indian spices, etc.), but that the staff did NOTHING to curb the LOUD inconsiderate douchebag table next to us, was so disappointing and upsetting that I can NEVER risk dealing with this horrific experience again! NEVER!
There was a table of 8-10 30-somethings that were behaving like frat party d-bags -- they were just plain LOUD on a regular basis and could not even tell how irked everyone else was around them. It was like they were completely deaf to their own voices, so they had to talk and laugh extra loud just to hear themselves!
What made it WORSE?! They had a few individuals taking up the phaal challenge, and they would woop and clap and SCREAM! And when the phaal was eaten, the worst was this one very shrill woman, who knew she was making a total scene of herself and upsetting others around her, who insisted on continuing her SHRILL SHOUTS and clapping as loud as possible. She'd try to justify herself and say she was just cheering on her friend -- well lady, this is a RESTAURANT, not a stadium or even a sports bar (the only inside place where outside voices are tolerated).
We complained, the table next to us commented, the couple across from us looked very stifled. It was utterly HORRIBLE!
Worse, the staff did little to stop this ridiculous behavior and also clapped at one point, supporting this behavior.
We made our opinions known when we paid our bill, and were given nonsense excuses on how the manager was out tonight (that didn't mean they couldn't step up to this misbehavior), and I just emphasized that I'd NEVER come back again! If you want to feel lousy and miss out on enjoying a meal and conversation, then come here. Or if you want to be a douchebag and shout all night long, I guess you are invited too.
UNACCEPTABLE!
PS - fairly expensive for an Indian restaurant on curry row -- $15 for a vegetable curry? Really?!Listed in: Vegetarian-Friendly, An Indian Food List!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2007
Oh my word.. that is some awesome spice! We had garlic naan, chicken jalfrezi, tofu vindaloo, with a… Read more »
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