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Curry Dream
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
66 W 39th St(between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10018
Neighborhood: Midtown West
(212) 810-4124
- Nearest Transit:
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42 St - Bryant Pk (B, D, F, M)
5 Av (7, 7X)
Times Sq - 42 St (1, 2, 3, N, Q, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 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:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Teresa M. said: "A good indian food buffet on the upper eastside. We live very close and walk here all the time. All their food tasts perfectly authentic and their restaurant is maintained very well & tidy and most of all it doesn't reek of old curry…" read more »
44 reviews for Curry Dream
Review Highlights
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Andre P.
What do I know about curry? Absolutely nothing. But I do like it. I'm your typical New York City yuppie with an European pallet that probably does not like "real" Indian food; and I mean real Indian food like in India, by Indians, for Indians. I like more watered down Indian food for - you know - Americans. I don't think a real Indian would like my white pizza with broccoli, either.
All that said, I enjoyed Curry Dream. The food wasn't super spicy, but spicy enough for me. The naan bread was, well, naan bread, which I always like, but my socks weren't wowed off.
I enjoyed it. $14 per person for a buffet. -
Review from Keith T.
If you want good Indian food in a fun atmosphere, go to Basera in Hell's Kitchen or Panna II in the East Village. Curry Dream is meant for people like me, who are trapped in Midtown during working hours and have a craving for Indian food in the middle of the day.
You have to take several steps down into the restaurant, which seems a fitting metaphor for your descent from the world of pleasant eateries above.
The carpet is worn and sticky. The decor is decidedly horrific: like a discount barber shop filled with tables and chairs. Bottles of Pellegrino sit tantalyzingly on the tables, tempting you to open them before you realize they're not complementary.
The lunch buffet is limited but adequate. The selections are, by and large, quite tasty and satisfying.
But the staff is rude. I came with 2 coworkers and we wanted our check split 3 ways. "We can't do that because it takes SO long," is what the cashier told us. Please, dude... There's not a line out the door to get in here. You can take the extra 30 seconds it takes to run 3 cards.
$13 for a serve-yourself buffet? I'll pass next time. -
Review from Rayad A.
Queens, NY
The good (but overpriced) food does not cover up the cheesy decor, disgusting staff and the $8 bottle of Pellegrino which is conveniently not priced on the menu.
If you get the Groupon coupon it's worth the trip but remember you will have to pay the tax that is applied before the discount and gratuity is included in the bill.
Pro: Okay food.
Cons: Staff, ambiance, disgusting restroom. -
Review from Prem J.
Edison, NJ
In Midtown there r better restaurants to eat Indian food. We ordered for jal frazi which was not good. Aloo paratha n veg briyani tasted better frm items we ordered. Assorted veg appetizer avoid.
Service n dish presentation was not that good that they can add 18% tip to bill.... they said because I used groupon. Adding 18% tip to all groupons makes good money making strategy .... bad for business when they don't match service -
Review from crystal k.
Jersey City, NJ
This place has absolutely terrible service. I came here twice (once with a Groupon). Both times, the service was super slow. Literally waited an hour for our meal to come. The tikki masala was watery with too much tomato sauce.
Groupon customers beware! Just because I have a groupon doesn't mean you should treat me any different! With a groupon voucher, they give you way smaller portions.
FYI: Bathrooms here are gross. -
Review from Xerxes S.
Manhattan, NY
Perhaps the worst (and simultaneously absurd) dining experience I've ever had.
We bought a groupon for $40 for a four course meal for four people. Great deal on paper, but in practice it was terrible.
Addressing the food, the appetizers were poor, with incredibly small portions; I suspect this was because we used the Groupon. The lassis were good, but the manager refused to let me get the one I wanted, because he didn't want to have to make it. He suggested the mango since he had some already made. They actually weren't bad, but obviously this was ridiculous.
The entrees were mediocre, and we had to pay for the rice, despite the fact that it wasn't even on the menu; he told us "this is how I have to make my money", as if Groupon forced him to put up the deal. Finally, they brought us desert, and wouldn't let us order what we wanted. They initially claimed only the kheer was available, but we complained and got the mango ice cream instead, which was acceptable.
He then tried to charge us a ton of extra money, but relented when we challenged him on it; basically tried to pocket some extra "tax". He also mentioned that a number of other groupon users had complained about this, and to be fair, we saw a couple angrily leave as we got there because of the bad service (this should have tipped us of). Also, a random guy kept coming in and complaining.
Bottom line, don't go here. The deal might be great, but it's 100% not worth it, except if i you want to be amused by someone who should have gotten nowhere near the restaurant industry. Just absurdly bad. -
Review from Manreet J.
Manhattan, NY
Food quality - very bad, taste worse, service worst
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Review from lorinne a.
Cerritos, CA
Don't go here!! especially if you have groupon!! If you have groupon save yourself the extra +20 there going to charge you after because the food wasn't good and it was small portions. ONLY if we knew about the reviews before we bought it. For all I know the "chicken" was probably rat legs -- SERIOUS - HORRIBLE !
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Review from Mark L.
Manhattan, NY
They should rename this place Sludge Mountain. I went there with two pretty girls and a groupon and was immediately accosted by a miserable waiter who asked me if I had a groupon which I presented to him. Two minutes later the owner walked over to the table and berated me for making a reservation online, saying I could have just called in to make the reservation (what is the difference to him?). After looking at him as if he was insane, I told him I don't see a problem with making a reservation to eat at your place. He then said let me explain again, to which I said no that's okay I got it. He then repeatedly told us what the groupon entailed, which we already knew. He also forced me to purchase an entree for myself. We bought the Grilled Vegetable Appetizer which is priced at $8.95. The waiter brought out a small plate that had two pieces of broccoli and two pieces of cauliflower, that comes out to a little over $2 for a piece of broccoli. We also ordered the shish kebob, which was one piece of meat cut into four pieces again supposedly $8.95. It is clear that they serve the tiniest portion possible to those who use their groupons. I ordered two main entrees of Meat Thai, the waiter brought out two plates filled with sample portions of the entree. It is supposed to be a $20.95 meal. Not only is the service insanely disrespectful and rude, the owner is a seriously ill mental patient. Additionally, they purposely serve portions significantly smaller than their actual size for groupon customers which is basically illegal. Unless your idea of fine dining is being berated by a psychopathic owner and given food by miserable waiters who skimp on the portions, do not go to this sorry excuse for a place. This place should be closed immediately and the workers inside should be in prison.
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Review from Wen D.
Seattle, WA
In the words of my dining companion, "Second worst Indian food I've ever had."
Bland, ugly food. Small portions, which in this case was a blessing. Papadums from Costco? Our "appetizer" set the stage for this miserable meal. Four dried out pieces of paneer with a schmear of mustard.
Mustard.
I'm convinced that we were served leftovers. Not an hour old, but days old. Spinach mushroom saag was gray and the rice looked and tasted old. Chopped onions and hotdog relish passed for chutney.
Service was an insult. The place was nearly empty, our party and another table, and yet the men who work here ate before we did. The other table of men ate before we did. I don't make a point of noticing things like this because I've never been treated this rudely in a restaurant before, but the prevailing message seemed to be, "Women eat last."
The waiter argued with my friend when she politely asked him to clarify some charges on the bill. Finally he told her that he's forced to charge gratuity. Otherwise they receive nothing more than $1 tips.
I've been in restaurants that served great food while laundering money. This place can't even get that part right. -
Review from Stacey C.
Emeryville, CA
They get 1 star for only taking 25 minutes to deliver.
Otherwise, uck, uck, uck.
Had Sag Paneer and Chicken Vindaloo. Tried both, didn't like either. Sag Paneer was runny. Chicken was just gross. Ended up eating the naan and some cookies for dinner.
Stop at the bodega and buy some cookies instead... -
Review from Gabrielle B.
Brooklyn, NY
Curry NIGHTMARE...
The Good
- Near the trains and the New York Public Library
The Bad
- The decor
- The waiting time
The UGLY
- The food
- The price
- The waitstaff
I wrote a complete review, with details, on my blog. http://wp.me/pxCbh-6N -
Review from Alex S.
2.5 stars.
Went here on a double date with friends.
The good:
- The food was actually very tasty
- Beer prices weren't bad. $7 for a 20 oz
The bad:
- Decor and bathroom cleanliness (reminded me of the Times Square Starbucks)
- Food came out luke warm at best
- Pricey! $20 meat platter was disappointing. I should barely be able to finish $20 worth of Indian food.
- Service was awkward at best. Server was gruff, and kept standing over us when we were leaving even though we were one of three tables.
Advice : Listen guys, your food tastes good. But what is your target market? The atmosphere and service aren't good enough to take a date here, and the prices are too steep to go without a reason. If I drop $30 a person on Indian food I'm expecting something special. Room for improvement. -
Review from Brendan Y.
Astoria, NY
You think this would be the type of place you go to on a whim, and end up in the hospital with some mystery ailment. HOWEVER, the lunch buffet is actually pretty good, and I consider myself a seasoned indian food fan (no pun intended). If youre in the area, disregard the shabby facade and get a filling lunch for $10.
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Review from Luis T.
Brooklyn, NY
Beware!
this restaurant will try to extract every single penny out of your pocket, while providing mediocre food. You're better off going somewhere else or even getting food from a cart nearby.
Yesterday was a nice day to have lunch at the park, so I decided to try the $4.95 take out lunch box I've seen advertised outside this place. As soon as I approached the counter to place my order, I realized that the $4.95 price was for vegetarian food only, which was not a problem, but if you want meat, it's $1 extra. This is not mentioned on the sign outside.
When I placed the order I clearly stated I wanted rice and two vegetable options, yet the cashier prodded the waiter to ask me if I wanted to add naan to my order, which, of course, is $1 extra. I had to say no to the naan offer twice.
When the waiter is about to start putting the food in the take out box, the cashier asks if I want vegetable rice and I say sure. After picking the two vegetable options, out of three choices, and getting ready to pay, I'm informed that the vegetable rice is $1 more.
It didn't seem right to walk out after they already had put food on the take out box, but I sure felt like doing it, so I decided to post this as a warning to anyone thinking that they're getting a good deal. Most likely you'll end up paying more, and at that point you're better off getting tastier food from a cart. The food was really bland and had nothing going for it. -
Review from Maria W.
Elmhurst, Queens, NY
I stopped by with my siblings for dinner last Saturday. We were the only ones in the restaurant when we went in, which was around 8pm. The waiters were attentive and the food was pretty good. We got some meat samosas, a lamb dish and a vegetarian platter. They were all pretty good. The mango ice cream was delicious.
I guess I would come back to try their lunch buffet... -
Review from Dawn L.
Brooklyn, NY
I came here with a friend with a homerun coupon (http://www.homerun.com). This will be my first and last time having Indian food. The customer service was not superb but adequate. The food was not amazing either. Would not come here even if I had another voucher. The food was not worth the price.
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Review from Linda M.
Curry dreams has turned into a nightmare.
You'd think coming back for a 2nd time wouldn't be so bad but it has truely gotten worst.
As I'm making my way to the buffet station, 3/4 of the entrees are completely empty leaving me to choose between rice and veggies. So I warned the waiter that the entrees were running low. After 5 mins, I go back to pick up some chicken for our table thinking it would be OK. As I'm eating the food is dry...
At the end of our meal, our table got charged an extra plate of food because we left a couple of pieces of chicken on it. The waiter/owner or whomever, gave us an appologenic pep-talk about wasting food when handed over the bill (bad economic times, food price is high, blah blah....), turns out we got charged 4 plates instead of 3. They wouldn't let us take the leftovers home in our case..so no one wins except them! So we're charged for an extra plate, yet food goes into garbage (hopefully not back to the buffet station!). Don't you dare ask for a doggy bag, they would not allow it. So it was a waste of food AND OUR MONEY.
#1 Fair warning, don't grab what you can't eat.
#2 Their service sucks...where are the waiters when you need them??
#3 The food is dry. The rice is dry, the meat is dry....
Now I smell like a bad case of curry and I'm not happy, screw them.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2008
A good place for a fast work lunch - buffet is around 7 bucks if I remembered. The fritter are… Read more »
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7/15/2008
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Review from Sheila S.
Jersey City, NJ
I went with friends with a http://dealfind.com coupon for lunch. Deal it was not, nightmare was more like it.
The place looks horrible, which we could deal with. Food portion was small for the price. The taste was not bad, but definitely not great. The worst of all was the service.
The only waiter in the entire restaurant was inattentive, rude and arrogant. There was never eye contact or at least a friendly face; the plates were wiped while he stood in front our table; the dishes were announced incorrectly; he was no where in sight during our meal.
We had less than what the coupon was worth, but we didn't mind paying the difference. However, we did mind being forced to pay tips! The waiter came with a piece of paper, with tax and pre-calculated 20% gratuity added to it. He simply dropped a handwritten scribbled paper on our table, and said that this is how much you must pay. Yes, he said MUST. When questioned, he announced that he is in the business for more than 20 year and was supposed to charge us 25% for tips (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) And no, we did not pay for the non-exising service.
I am sorry but I HAD TO advice people to AVOID THIS RESTAURANT! -
Review from Tempest B.
New York, NY
I also think the lunch buffet is great, but sometimes I don't want a buffet. I am partial to Chicken Tikka Masala and whenever I find it, I descend. I happened upon this place one day and ordered my favorite dish. Delicious! Since then I've branched out and not been dissapointed. They also make a nice Naan.
The truth of the matter is that most Indian places in NYC are run by the same family (and offshoots of said family) and therefore rely on the same recipies and same chefs. Though the taste can change a little depending on the chef(s), the menus are practically the same. The key is to find places that cook your fave dishes the way you like. Curry Dream does that for me and I'll keep going back. -
Review from Peter K.
New York, NY
We hit this place up again for our midday, Midtown lunch and had the $9.95 buffet. Like many other reviewers, I agree that the buffet options were limited in scope, but I don't think a few more dishes would have enhanced the experience much.
Indian food, in my opinion, is a very heavy cuisine. It easily induces food coma and, on unlucky days, indigestion (or too much digestion). So Curry Dream was my first Indian meal in quite some time, and I'm glad I had it for lunch and not for dinner (it would've been a long night).
We opted for the buffet takeout, which was a good move because it automatically limited the food intake to a pitifully small aluminum container topped with a plastic cap. We really had to squeeze the rice, chicken, and curries to make it worth our while. The bonus part of takeout was that the naan, the Indian soft bread, was thrown in for free ("only for takeout customers," the store manager told us) and was a perfect complement to our goat and chicken curries.
The food was just okay. It's not like we expected much for ten bucks, and it was a decent way to fill ourselves up. No wet curry dreams in this one, though. -
Review from Young Y.
New York, NY
Okay buffet lunch on Friday.
Pretty empty at 12:15PM during lunch.
Had the lunch buffet which is about $12-13 a person. The sag was really good and so was the tandoori chicken (tender! that's a rare find in most Indian buffets).
They're stingy on the nan. Won't give it to you unless you ask for it. Most Indian buffets have it on the buffet table.
The food is good. The service is good but seeing how we were one of the only few in there, it'd be really bad not to have had good service.
Decent eat. Not the best. -
Review from Gisselle M.
Manhattan, NY
Can I not give it a star at all? Who ever ends up here through one of those deal websites, please be careful! The guy at this restaurant starts offering items not on the menu, and you think he's just being generous...NO, he charges you at the end and it's not cheap! AND it tasted burnt with like some curry-mayonnaise sauce to mask the taste. He tries to make you pay more so you don't just pay your coupon discount. He ignored us most of the time, because the place was so empty, so he would go to the back for long periods of time and forget we were there. It took FOR EVER to get our check and then he adds 20% tip to check! I really hate when they do that because I should have the right to pay what I please based on service. The food is subpar but definitely better than those BYOB places on lower east side. I don't understand why anyone would go here repeatedly, we live in a mega-city with truly amazing authentic Indian food EVERYWHERE, but I came out of this place pissed I paid for crappy overpriced food. Trust me, your taste buds will have more fun if you go to the Kati Rolls place across the street from Curry Dream.
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Review from dela c.
New York, NY
I'm torn. 2.5 stars.
We order from them whenever we need an Indian fix and the sauces are delicious, though the meat is dry and tough. We've had the Korma, Tikka Masala, and the Vindaloo. All are pretty good. The latter is my run away favorite, but it's hot, hot, hot.
Here's the reason for stinginess on stars:
1. The portions is tiny for the price.
2. Each time we order, the food shows up in a leaky, greasy mess. They must use the cheapest food containers available. Last time, the lid to one was completely broken into bits and vindaloo sauce covered the entire contents of the bag.
Get it together. -
Review from Anna L.
I've gone for their cheap lunch AYCE buffet and thought they food was okay. And then I found out they were closed temporarily for rat infestation. Is that true? Anyways, not sure if it was hearsay or not, but since I switched jobs I am no longer in that area....
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Review from Michael L.
New York, NY
I've tried this place for both the lunch buffet and delivery.
They've got a nice little buffet. Not a huge selection, only like 6-8 dishes, but the food was decent. 9.95 for a lunch buffet there.
It's been a while since I got the delivery from them, but my original impression was that I wasn't terribly impressed. I got a lamb curry and the chicken tikka masala, neither of which I thought was especially flavorful or good. That's interesting in that I thought the tikka was decent at the buffet. Could be I was hungrier today when I went to the buffet. -
Review from Zahlia D.
San Francisco, CA
This place is definitely in the middle range for Indian. I got the combo lunch platter for $7.95. Your options are pretty limited -- it's whatever chicken/lamb/goat curry they have available (not sure what it is exactly, very generic curry) + 1 of 5 veg options. I got chicken curry with Dall Makhni, both good but not excellent.
Lunch platter is a pretty good deal as it comes with rice and naan, but food isn't good enough to drop the $11-$12 for individual entrees.
The guy who took my order was kind of a grumpus, but the guy who handed me my food was nice, so not sure how the service comes out overall. -
Review from Carla p.
New York, NY
I am certainly no expert on Indian food, but the Chicken Makhani I just had delivered was delicious! Delivery was prompt, and the sauce on the chicken had the perfect amount of spice.
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Review from Danielle W.
Somerville, MA
Upon wandering around 39th for a good place to eat, my friends and I came to this restaurant. We walked up to the fully glass fronted establishment to browse the menu and the owner came out. "Yes. We are open. We are good. Come in." We decided to travel down into this little Indian food paradise.
The Pros:
-Atmosphere: Bold colors and warm interior design. Comfortable seating. A plus for groups of 8 or so. Authentic metal pounded water glasses and dishware.
-Food: Pretty delicious. I had the Chicken Makhani, which was no disappointment. Their food is also served piping hot and decently sized portions. The veggie samosas, nan, garlic nan and alu paratha were delicious and fresh.
The Cons:
-Service: Though the service was relatively quick and nice, they were a bit pushy. Our server kept insisting we didn't order enough food and kept making more and more suggestions. Like two orders of samosas rather than one and an additional order of nan rather than the two we all agreed upon. Though we turned down the waiter's suggestions he was very persistent and opened up the menu and pointed to the suggestions. Eventually we just gave into his suggestions (and our hunger) and ended up ordering more food than we could all eat. He also took the check prematurely without asking (a pet peeve of mine).
Overall, pretty good prices for good Indian food. Though a lot of the other reviews critique their lunch buffet, I have only had their dinner options which were delicious. -
Review from tiger c.
NY
this isn't the prettiest place but i went with 3 coworkers (one a pakistani foodie) and we liked the food and it was very reasonably priced. we also saved 15% with DailyGobble's app!
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Review from Lisa F.
There aren't really any Indian food choices near work so we often end up at Curry Dream when we want something other than Chinese food or Deli food. Their lunch buffet for $12 isn't exactly a steal but if you are a big eater you can certainly make it worth it. They always have the standards like veggie pakoras, chicken tandoori, tikka masala, saag paneer, and some other vegetable dish plus dessert. My favorite is the goat curry. I wish they replenished the empty dishes faster especially after a big group goes through. This dish always seems to go the quickest. Even though a lot of the pieces are grisly, bony or fatty what meat you can find and the sauce are worth a 2nd or 3nd helping. I've had the take out before as well but find the portions are small but they generous with the grease. For an extra $6 I'd rather dine in and stuff my belly.
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Review from YenTi T.
Manhattan, NY
I ordered two dishes from seamless web and only received one rice and one very tiny sauce set with the order. It's very clear that's only for one dish. I called them about it. Their answer was "oh... That's for two dishes. We combined them into one." well..... If so, I would say if you have other options, don't ever order from this restaurant. They are not honest!!!! It's not right to lie to their customers!
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Review from Stan D.
Brooklyn, NY
Stopped by here around 1:30pm to pick up lunch. I got the Tandoori Lunch platter (mix grill, basically) and saag paneer. Though seasoned well, the meat was a bit dry and while I did like the taste and the non greasiness of the saag paneer - there was barely any paneer in it!
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Review from Marcus M.
Manhattan, NY
The food here is very mediocre. I tried the curry chicken dish for lunch yesterday and it lacked character and flavor. The curry wasn't spicy at all and it didn't have any of the deep flavors and aromas that I expect from a real Indian restaurant. The chai was the best part of my meal and the portion of the lunch was definitely favorable for a big appetite. Usually food tastes better when I'm really hungry but it didn't help out Curry Dream too much.
The most off putting part was paying for my bill. I went up to the counter because I was in a rush and he rang up my bill on a calculator while mumbling various prices. I'm not saying I was swindled and overcharged but it sure felt like it. -
Review from Connie L.
Queens, NY
The food rates a 3 but the service I experience compels me to give a 2 star ranking. The portions are small, the containers they use are so cheap that by the time I walked back to my office (less than ~ 2 minutes), the sauce was already seeping thru the carton, and the server for the lunch box special was rude.
Most importantly, the naan was so-so - it's not that hard to make decently yummy naan - while it was soft, it was also crispy and just kinda blah. I am new to working in the times/square and bryant park area, so my search for yummy, cheap Indian food will continue! -
Review from Tony M.
Forest Hills, NY
When you're starving like a mad man and start craving for some Indian buffet during lunch you expect the food to be decent. I mean not spectacular since its a buffet but at least edible. Curry Dream restaurant is pure garbage. The food is extremely bad - the chicken was extremely overcooked . . . it was like eating a peice of rubber. The vegatables were overcook and tasted like mush. They also raised the prices for the buffet to $11.95. I wouldn't knock a place this hard but the food is just terrible, paying for something that isn't even edible is a crime. Steer clear from this spot!
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Review from Vishal D.
New York, NY
$9.95 for a midtown buffet ain't bad, but the food kinda sucks. I mean its all edible. Not gonna make you sick either. But its just not very good. Stick with the pakoras, alu gobi the tandoori chicken and the chutney/salad. The Tikka masala is watery, flavorless and the chicken is dry. The goat curry wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't mostly bone. You can do a lot better for about $6-$7 more up at Jewel of India or Utsav, but then again that ends up being almost double the price...
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Review from Richard B.
Brooklyn, NY
buffet was great, I liked everything they offered. they had a great vaiety and lots of actual food in the trays.
When I ordered from Seamless web again, I got nasty looks for asking for another fork, and knife packet. I really dont like these people anymore.Listed in: Murrray Hill favorites
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/13/2009
What is it about business owners and seamless web? Its almost like they think they have to be on… Read more »
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5/13/2009
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Review from Jim B.
I've been in a few times for the lunch buffet. The place is a letdown compared to almost anything over on Curry Hill. The seating area is nice enough. Service is OK - they don't have to do much at lunch except bring you a beverage and a bill. The buffet is limited selection but adequate. Food itself is just ordinary.
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Review from Li M.
New York, NY
Always on the lookout for a good Indian buffet place, I happened to stumble upon Curry Dream. The lunch buffet price is unbeatable. The food was great- the veggie curry was wonderful. Not too spicy and not too bland.
