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Curry Leaf
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
99 Lexington Ave(between 27th St & 28th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Kips Bay, Flatiron
(212) 725-5558
- Nearest Transit:
-
28 St (4, 6, 6X)
23 St (4, 6, 6X)
33 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- 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:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
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 »
63 reviews for Curry Leaf
Review Highlights
"The chicken Tikka Masala always tastes fresh and the sauce..."
(in 9 reviews)
"And of course the rice and the naan are great."
(in 25 reviews)
"We also ordered the mango lassi and it was super yummy."
(in 5 reviews)
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Asta S.
Manhattan, NY
8/28/2011
Of all the Indian restaurants in Curry Hill, I would recommend Curry Leaf to first-timers in the area. The service is good, although they have waiters who tend to refill water glasses as soon as you take a sip, but they are helpful and don't hover. The food is delicious and has a good variety. I especially like meeting others here for dinner, as it's a great place for conversation.
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Review from Steve C.
Manhattan, NY
10/15/2011
Although I was a little apprehensive at first because the outside decor wasnt particularly inviting, once we got seated we had a pretty solid meal. The service was prompt and friendly, although the interior was a bit cramped and the place felt a little dated. The food came out and was very very good... had an appetizer of a meat sampler, which was extremely good. The Tandoori chicken was incredibly tender and the lamb was also. For my main course I got the Rogan Josh, which was good though the meat was a bit tougher than I would have liked. My friend's chicken curry was decent enough, but it wasn't very spicy at all, which disappointed me a bit.
Overall the food was solid enough though. Came out of there with about a 47 dollar bill + tip for 2 entrees, naan, and an appetizer. I think it cost about $7-10 for most appetizers and about $13-16 for an entree. I might be back but I'll probably check out a few other places around curry hill first -
Review from Daisy C.
Princeton, NJ
8/20/2011
Tried lunch here on a workday, and it was quite an experience. After you are seated, they simply bring out course after course, and the variety of food saves you all the headache of deciding what to eat.
The problem is that food is not spicy at all, and they are all pretty bland to cater more people. Would come back again for business lunch for its simplicity, but not so much for the taste. -
Review from Anthony A.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
There was no way I was leaving NYC without eating some Indian food. The city is littered with more options than you could work your way through in a year, but it seems like Gramercy is stacked with an Indian joint on every block. I almost went to Dhaba, but one quick glance inside positioned it as the hipster spot to eat, with packed tables and diners sitting so close to each other they should be wearing a rubber. Curry Leaf looked far less trendy, and they had plenty of available seating.
The service here is great. Someone else said it was terrible, but I found the staff to be nothing but gracious and attentive. I judge my service at restaurants almost solely on the water service - if my glass goes empty and stays that way for too long, then I'm convinced my waiter couldn't care less about keeping me happy. These guys were on it. I loved the water cups - they looked like something Indiana Jones would have been drinking out of in The Last Crusade. I don't know a whole lot about Indian food, so I kept my order simple: a couple of Samosas and an order of Chicken Tikki Masala.
Before the food arrived, the waiter brought out some bread (I don't think it was naan, even though it looked like it. Too crunchy.) along with some dipping sauces and a dish of something that tasted like diced carrots with ginger. All were delicious.
The food came out in about 10 minutes. I don't recall a time I had samosas before, and I wasn't exactly blown away. The outer crust was very dry and brittle, and the meat inside was equally as parched. Decent, but I can't say it's something I'd order again. The Chicken Tikki Masala was much, much better. I made a bed with the Basmati rice and liberally poured on the meat from the mini cauldron they serve it in. The chicken was tender and moist, with almost no fatty pieces. The sauce was very good, although I wish it had been spicy. I should have made that request when I ordered. The portion size was just right - I ate the whole thing and didn't feel like I was over-stuffing my stomach.
Once I'd throw up my napkin, the waiter came by and asked if I wanted any dessert. I declined, but then he came back out with a complimentary rice pudding. No way I'm turning down free, so I sucked it down. After being spoiled by Rice to Riches for the past couple days, it definitely didn't blow me away. It had a watery consistency, and they also added some almonds and blueberries to it, but it was refreshing after a heavy meal. The free dessert was a nice cap to a solid meal, and I would absolutely come back here to eat again.Listed in: New York, New York
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Review from Asuka N.
5/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Curry Leaf is one of the first restaurants in Curry Hill that I visited when I first moved in, but I've only been back a couple times - I've spent a lot of time at the other, newer entrants into the neighborhood. That said, I went back recently, and I was reminded of why I should come here more often instead of the flashier places (like Dhaba). The spacing is a little cramped, like most of the Curry Hill restaurants, but it didn't bother me much. Service was decent, and the decor feels a bit older than the newer places around.
The food is very well-prepared - I'd probably put it on the same level as Bhatti across the street in terms of flavor. I had the chicken korma, which had a rich, almond-based flavor in the curry sauce. You got plenty of chicken as well, which is a plus in my book. The biggest thumbs-up for me is that I didn't have to pay extra for rice, which a good number of the new places force you to do. I also got a small little rice pudding dessert on the house, which was very kind of them. It's not the best thing I ever had, but it's a very good contrast to curry that helps offset the spice of the main course.
It's easy to overlook it because it's one of the older restaurants in Curry Hill, but there's a reason that it's still open (when many of the restaurants that were here 3 years ago no longer are). I'll definitely come back here more often - it's a little bit cheaper, but the food is the real deal. -
Review from Su W.
New York, NY
4/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Had I been a frequent check-in person on Yelp to Curry Leaf I would be duchess of the place (I am the mayor of it on Foursquare).
I do not go back there because of service or anything else, simply just the food, because let's be honest: they need to REALLY work on their service.
The food here though is amazing and if you are patient enough with the waiter and are kind to them they too will respond back in a nice manner. There are a couple times when I find myself displease with the service but to me it is made up by the amazing food I get delivered to my table. I am after all here for the food, not the service.
The food here is amazing. I came here with my room mate and she is normally not a big eater (got a figure of a stick). She came here and finished 2 bowls of rice and the entire curry dish she had ordered and was still wanting more. That's how amazing the food is to her!
Me. I absolutely loved the food when I had the chicken biryani. Many places don't make the biryani the way I like it (I am very picky about this dish) and when I finally had it here I just knew it that this was the place for me!
And if you are someone who doesn't want service to affect your taste bud or the attitude of this place take it to go. Less drama. -
Review from Linaka M.
San Diego, CA
4/18/2011
We're visiting NYC and Curry Leaf was listed as one of the top 10 places to eat when in uptown Manhattan. My sister and I went there and the service was great! We ordered Nan, Chicken Curry and Chicken Tikka Masala. The chicken tikka masala is different than what I'm used to back home in southern Cali. This place serves this item more runny, darker red color vs back home. This item is served more creamy, a thicker sauce and more robust flavor.
We also ordered the mango lassi and it was super yummy!
We will most likely never to come back here as we thought it was just okay, but glad we tried it. -
Review from Yuhe C.
New York, NY
2/16/2011
Although nothing at Curry Leaf is to-die-for-delicious, I've never had a bad meal here. The selection of curries, naan, appetizer and drinks (mango lassi!) are all pretty standard. The portions, too, are good relative to the typical price you would pay at an Indian restaurant in Manhattan.
The only major problem with eating at Curry Leaf would have to be the lukewarm service. The waiters aren't rude or mean but there is always a slightly unpleasant awkwardness to their service. I guess they make up for it for serving you complimentary kheer (rice pudding) at the end.
As for the food in particular, I would recommend any typical dish (chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, lamb vindaloo, etc.) since they are all made pretty well and with the right amount of spice. Also, I find that Curry Leaf's naan and mango lassi are great accompaniments to the meal - the naan is always hot and the lassi is both sweet and thick. -
Review from jahbless u.
Manhattan, NY
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Loved the service and the corner view atmosphere of the building. The naan was as advertised and the chicken saagwala was done well. But it far from knocked me over. I will, however, be a regular in any neighborhood called Curry Hill.
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Review from Roxy C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/29/2010
First time I came here with a group of friends and we got a kick out of how comically rude the staff was. Nice atmosphere and and we fell in love with the Navratan Curry or Korma (cheese,cream,curry,nuts and fruits yum!) That is why 2 stars not one.
A few weeks later I returned with a friend. Though the place was empty, we were hustled over to the worst table so they could save the window spots for those pushy enough to request them. Kind of a bad feeling to get from the most expensive Indian restaurant in Little India. I was too involved in conversation to request a different table though. IT GETS WORSE
Halfway through the meal I am hit with a STRONG sewage smell from the bathroom. I could not continue eating, the poopy pipe stench was so bad. It was more than poop,it was poop + stagnant filtration system. I quietly informed waiter of the issue and asked if they would mind moving us to another table. Three waiters annoyedly swept up all our things and moved us one table over, to a table even closer to the bathroom and said "This table is fine, yes," as they walked away. "Actually, this is NOT fine, this is even worse. Over there would be better," and I pointed to the window. now they were REALLY pissed. Who am I demanding a table by the window??? Uh...a paying customer and a repeat one at that, THATS who,mofos.
Seated at the window, I finished my now cold Navratan. 3 waiters and one bartender STARING and I mean GLARING at me at my table nonstop for the remainder of our meal. It was so aggressive that my friend could sense the stares from the back of his head. We agreed ordering anything further would be an open invitation for them to do something nasty to it. If those are their standards for poop pipes, what must their standards for kitchen be? Not about to find out and hope you don't find out either. Expected better from Kalustyans. -
Review from Marlo G.
11/17/2007
Well, to be honest, we wanted Baluchi's but maybe we got the address off an old menu because there was no Baluchi's on 29th between Park and Lex. So as we were in the mood for Indian & were in Curry Hill, we passed by Curry Leaf and as it had the dishes we liked, settled.
Yep, settled we did.
Couldn't see a darn thing in the place it was so dark! I don't know about you, but I like to see what I'm eating. Okay, so they had those red lights in tubes you use at Christmas as well as a votive on the table, but big deal!
And when I ordered my Channa Masala to be prepared with very little oil, the waiter gave me a hard time. The sauce of the Channa Masala was brown...yeah, I could make out the color in the dark.
I don't know about you, but I like more than a cup of water with my dinner, especially with Indian!
I found it very amusing that as I left the restaurant prepared to YELP Curry Leave, I saw a sticker on the door saying "People at YELP love us." Well if they do, I'm not one!
There are plenty of other Indian restaurants in the area and I'll try them all before I return to Curry Leaf.Listed in: Indian Food!
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Review from Carol W.
1/22/2011
Had delivery from these folks last night. The service was super quick especially for a Friday night. I had vindaloo and curry and they were great.
I would definitely use them again. -
Review from Irina D.
Hoboken, NJ
1/20/2009
My boyfriend and I (yeah I know I mention him a lot, next time I might make up some characters) were thinking of a place to go to for our one year anniversary.
We are both lovers of Indian food, yet while sitting in the Union Square Au Bon Pain, we couldn't find an Indian place that would match all our criteria (being reasonably priced, highly rated, offer a good amount of vegetarian options and be somewhat in the area we were at). So after checking some things out online and seeing that Lexington Ave seems to be full of Indian restaurants (how could I have forgotten that? only my memory can do that...) we headed there.
Curry leaf was the first, or one of the first restaurants we saw there and since the prices and the selection both looked decent, and we were just too frustrated with our search to keep looking even more, we decided to go there. I must admit that the place doesn't look so great from outside, actually I thought it was a grocery store at first. The decor inside is far from impressive either. It is covered with wood with some other decorations and it was pretty dark, like many Indian restaurants are.
We got the aloo tikki for an appetizer which are potato patties, and it was good. I ordered the Chicken Makhani while the bf ordered the Mater Paneer. Although I was somewhat disappointed with the place based on the first impression I had of it, the food more than compensated for it. It was possibly the best Indian dish I ever had. The flavor was just perfect and the sauce, splendid. Surprisingly, the bf felt the same way. We also ordered the garlic Naan which was really good as well.
What is even more surprising is that two of the bf's friends got sick after eating at this place, one from a meat dish and one from a vegetarian one. I am just happy that this hasn't happened to us, and that we found this out after our dinner.
The service is pretty good, although I cant say they filled the water often enough, a task that I seem to need to be done more often than others. Also, we got a free desert at the end, something like sweet rice ( I think it was the Kheer) which was a nice gesture and very tasty. I am also happy that we didn't get into an argument with the workers there like the table next to us did....
3.5-4 -
Review from nara f.
Brooklyn, NY
11/19/2008
Yowsers, not sure yelpers know what Indian food is supposed to taste like, but this is ~not~ it.
Took my Indian mother-in-law here at someone else's suggestion for her birthday. We walked into an empty restaurant (first sign something is amiss! no diners on a weekend?). The decor was nondescript and to be honest the facilities weren't exactly sparkling clean.
When our first course arrived, we all eyeballed the wilted and browning salad greens with disdain. We then spent a good 10 minutes debating if the dish of oil they brought out was supposed to be a simulation of salad dressing (it was), basically pink oil with a smattering of ginger at the bottom (not good). Second sign.
Fine. Whatever, most Indian restaurants are not known for their salads. Moving on, our entrees arrived. I had the vegetable thali which had an acceptable dish or two on it but was for the most part disappointing. Particularly not good was the palak paneer, something was disturbingly off in the taste of the spinach and it was inedible. Dal makhani also wasn't particularly savory. Other members of our party had the lamb vindaloo and were disappointed with its overly sour taste.
For the finale the staff sang a lackluster version of happy birthday (well 'e' for effort i guess) and served the mother in law a plate of ras malai and gulab jamon. Everyone at the table had a bite and frankly no one wanted a second bite because both were equally terrible. (that would be the third and final sign of an apocalyptically bad dining experience).
Lesson learned? let your mother in law cook good food for you at home or maybe spring some more cash next time and take her to some place a little more upscale.Listed in: NEVER AGAIN
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Review from Nancy C.
Jackson Heights, NY
1/20/2009
Having worked a block away for 4.5 years, I finally schlepped myself over to Curry Leaf. The owner/manager was very friendly & he now remembers my name. I place orders & pick them up - I don't eat in. I go for either the chicken Tikka Masala OR the tandoori Chicken lunch special. The naan was solid, the sag paneer average. The chicken is pretty good - the quality varies. My biggest caveat is the rice - it just doesn't seem fresh & has this whole 'reheated in a microwaved a minute before you walked in' quality.
Was it anything to write home about? No, not really. -
Review from Rebekah A.
New York, NY
12/28/2008
Low on ambience (if you don't count the red stringed lights) and the food was your basic Indian--tandoori, kormas, saags and biryani were all on the menu. The waitstaff were unattentive and never once refilled our water.
I got the prawn saag and was impressed with the quality of the prawns (large and meaty) while friends had the lamb korma (thumbs up).
Save your trips to the bathroom for when you get home--the toilets were not that clean and made me question the cleanliness of the kitchen.
Unfortunately, everything had to be ordered ala carte and so, it can get pricier than other restaurants that might offer a dinner special. -
Review from Ray H.
Atlanta, GA
11/20/2011
my go to indian in the city. i love the naan and papadum with dipping sauces. usually start out with a meat samosa then do a chicken tikka and random other dishes every time.
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Review from James H.
New York, NY
1/15/2009
Good location, nice wait staff, rather quite, ambiance was middle of the road, cute little bar, reasonable view, food came out rather quick, but it took awhile to get the check.
The appetizer was standard yet still tasty. I had panir makhani and it was delicious. It was tied for the best along with several other places. I've had a few places screw it up multiple times in a row, but this was not one of them. I felt as if the tomato sauce was extremely fresh along with the panir cubes. The rice was standard, hehe. I also had a mango lassi which probably ranked a little better than Amin Indian in Brooklyn Heights.
The price was pretty standard for the area. As you will see if you walk around this area, there are literally over 15 places in a 3 block radius so price gouging is almost impossible. I will definitely return some day for more panir makhani, but probably not until I eat at least 5 more of the neighboring places. -
Review from Emily W.
Ann Arbor, MI
Updated - 7/22/2009
After ordering takeout and trying a couple more dishes, I have to downgrade this place to 2 stars.
Reasons:
1) The fish curry dish was made with salmon. Huh???? The salmon flavor totally overpowered everything. Disappointing.
2) The chicken tikka masala was really flavorful, but it was again really extremely greasy.
I do maintain that the naan was outstanding. Also, the delivery service was super-fast.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/18/2009
This place has pretty good food, decent ambience, decent service.
Food~
Our food (mixed tandoori… Read more »
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Review from Cara C.
Brooklyn, NY
10/21/2006
My favourite Indian.....(actually specialized in Indian and south asian)
tacky decor aside - very very good.
kahn the owner is always there with a watchful eye to make sure you enjoy everything.
Just keep a eye on your purse ladies - seriously my girl friends was stolen while we had dinner one night!
Kahn was mortified comped our dinner and gave us cab fare home. -
Review from Jon T.
Brooklyn, NY
11/3/2007
This is easy to sum up: very good (not great), moderately priced food, and quite possibly the worst sit down service I have ever received at an Indian restaurant. The lamb vindaloo was authentic and had just the right amount of spice (although people without a high spice tolerance might want to stay clear).
Now on to the service. Do you remember those "Got Milk" commercials from the 90's where the guy had unlimited access to chocolate chip cookies...but no milk? That was me yesterday, but substitute "water" for milk and "vindaloo" for cookies. I had to wait about 15 minutes for water until I finally got so exasperated that I told the waiter to just bring me a pitcher. Not. Cool. -
Review from Ann B.
New York, NY
11/20/2007
This is my "go to" Indian restaurant, and I don't understand the mixed reviews. What are you guys ordering??!! : ) Here's what I've been getting both in the restaurant and by delivery:
Appetizers: Veggie Samosas
Entrees: Masala w/ Chicken or Prawns, Korma w/ Chicken or Lamb, Vindaloo w/ Lamb or Prawns, Bhuna Punjabi w/ Lamb
We've had only one mis-order ever - when my husband demanded the chicken skewers. Gross. And I have noticed that on occasion their lamb is a little dry, but that's the worst I can say.
Clearly this isn't the fanciest place, but it's a consistently reliable restaurant (at least for us) where you can have a great dinner without the linoleums floors and flourescent lights that populate so many other places in Curry Hill.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Jon L.
7/23/2009
Came here last night and was slightly underwhelmed by the dishes. We ordered the chicken curry, the lamb vindaloo, and the baingran bharta (no idea how to spell this, the eggplant stew dish). While the flavors of everything were alright, the lamb was really tough and dry. The chicken was a bit better but nothing particularly special, which pretty much described the eggplant dish as well. The rice was a little clumpy, which was odd.
What I did like was that they gave us a complimentary rice pudding sort of small dessert thingey at the end.
Pretty standard for Indian food in the city, but I'm not rushing to come back anytime soon. -
Review from Michael Y.
New York, NY
12/29/2008
Great neighborhood place! It has a cozy feel to it and a laid-back atmosphere. Plus...$4 Heinekens, can't beat that.
starters: meat samosas are big and hearty.
Naan: get one order for two people! they are very generous.
entrees:I recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala (all white meat, very tasty sauce) and the Lamb Korma Kashmiri.
Service: reasonably good but not great. 7 or 8 out of 10.
Overall, a great local place to have in your neighborhood. I look foward to coming again.
Lunch specials for $10 looks to be a good deal as well. -
Review from Irina R.
Westhampton Beach, NY
4/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've eaten here twice and gotten there early. The service was okay, but they aren't very friendly. The food is great, but the portions seem to have gotten smaller between my first and second trip. I guess it's inflation, but there's hardly enough food there, if I were to be really hungry.
This is only the third Indian restaurant I've ever eaten at. Come to think of it, they're not very friendly at any of them. Maybe it's cultural. I do love Indian food though! -
Review from Carla B.
9/4/2007
After my fabulous meal at Chennai Garden, I was hankering for more of the same. Curry Leaf was not the place to get it. What we were served was pedestrian and the fish was horribly overcooked to the point that it had the consistency of a piece of cardboard.
Totally disappointing... -
Review from Barbie L.
5/10/2008
Sigh. This place has slipped.
I've been going every few months for the last few years and it used to be pretty good food, despite all the scotch tape holding the place together, and the way too liberal placement of fake flowers everywhere.
On my last visit this afternoon it was just gross. Aside from the naan, which was still quite fluffy and fresh, it sucked the life out of my day. I ordered "lamb curry" and they brought me goat (I suspect it's cheaper and they think people can't tell the difference). The saag has always been bitter, but today it was like defrosted spinach. The bright-red chicken makhani had an acidic edge to it and almost no evidence of cream.
1 star for today's visit, +1 for old times sake, as it used to be my cheap go-to NYC place as well. Sad, dudes. -
Review from Lisa R.
5/19/2009
Since my hubby & I were staying right in the Spice District while in NY, we decided to try one of the many Indian restaurants nearby for an early dinner. We weren't disappointed, and I'd have to say that it was the best Indian food I've had. Everything was just amazingly good, from the naan to the dishes we had.
The service was good, but the waiter was ultra serious. I tried to make conversation at one point, but he either didn't hear me, or thought I was talking to myself or something. Anyway, it was a great and quick meal, and very reasonably priced. -
Review from Justine S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/6/2008
This place is always a safe bet. It is moderately priced and everything I have had has been pretty good. They have great curries (as they should with such a name) and very yummy tandoori dishes. The wait staff is friendly & helpful... And the wine is pretty cheap ($5/glass).
All and all, I have had better & have definitely had worse! However, if you are not eating meat - cross Lexington (going west) and go to Chennai Garden.. they have delicious veggie dishes.. much wider selection.. -
Review from Ellie E.
New York, NY
9/20/2011
Wandered in for lunch and was blown away by $8 special. Very tasty lamb, paneer, naan. Rice was cold but good.
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Review from Brendan M.
New York, NY
11/20/2009
Underwhelming. The food was not bad (it also wasn't good), but it was expensive and slight on the portion size. As a member of the Curry Club™ Manhattan Chapter, I've tasted a number of lamb Vindaloos, and while this one had the base spices correct, the over all consistency left a lot to be desired. The lamb was not what one would call delicious.
The atmosphere was OK, but the service could have been better.
Overall you will spend less and get more at Haveli. I suggest you go there.
Borderline Giraffe Friendly. -
Review from Kaleena M.
New York, NY
4/3/2010
Went here after Saravanaas and Dhaba had waiting lines...
i thought my main course was ok--the chick pea masala was ok but the service was terrible for they hardly acknowledged you and just put down dishes without saying what it is. Serving of the food was quick but the service was a big turn-off.
The boy's lamb curry was spicy but it was kind of a an unflavorful spice.
The naan and mango lassi were good but of course no Indian restaurant can mess that up right?
No second time--even the boy thought the service was terrible. -
Review from Mike B.
Brooklyn, NY
5/12/2008
Indian Food...
Good...
This place...good enough.
It had the atmosphere I wanted...it had serviceable meat thali ( although, after I had my meal, I wished I had the vegetarian thali )...and the Kingfisher was big, frosty, and not made in the kitchen.
The Pakora were fried, left to sit out, and fried again...they were unrecognizable as vegetables...and I regretted ordering them.
The waiter, bless his heart, was really nice, but I couldn't understand a damn word he said.
NOW...I am NOT making a stupid stereotype remark...honestly, I could barely HEAR the guy...but, he spoke so fast, I also just flat out couldn't understand him.
So, I just nodded my head ALOT...which is why my food was less than what I wanted.
Anyway, I've been several times in my travels to the city, and it's been a delight...I'm hoping this night was just a fluke.
I was tired, I was hungry, and I wanted something comforting and delicious...
I got it half right... -
Review from s k.
New York, NY
9/14/2010
with kalustyan's name splashed across the awning, i was intrigued. i mean kalustyan's is one of the greatest meccas for spices in the city! this place had to be good...
well...the food was great.
the vegetable samosas are almost tasty enough to turn this cowgirl into a vegetarian! the chicken vindaloo quite literally set the hubby's pants on fire (which is a good sign for him). everything else we've eaten (chicken saag, masala, makhani, naan, garlic naan...) was all quite tasty.
but yes, the service is lacking.
there were no thank yous. no smiles. no please come agains. however, i did not find the service to be rude. they were prompt with filling our glasses and taking care of whatever else we asked of them. we have always been seated by the window (although the restaurant was completely empty both times we walked in).
i don't need to be fawned over while consuming $14 curry but i do ask that it be tasty with prompt service. and for that, i'll be going back to curry leaf. -
Review from Dave M.
2/10/2010
I am British and a good curry is part of my country's heritage. Nothing beats a Friday night in a curry house with a load of mates and a beer before hitting the bars and clubs of the West End.
My only other experience of a curry in the US was in Vegas and I was scarred for life, but NYC would be better....right?
Wrong! The "Pappa dums" were pretty nasty and i have no idea what it was made of but it was not the usual bubbly tin crisp im used to from back home. The main of Chicken Aloo was alright -way too tepid (in temperature not in spicyness).
The factor that amazed me the most was from arriving in the restaurant to the time i left i did not hear once a noise come out of our waiters mouth. No "what can i get you to drink" "are you ready to order now" just blank stares. Even when my friend paid and forgot to sign it was a case of a tap on the shoulder and a point towards the signature space on the bill.
Do i dare try another NYC Curry house? Unless anyone can prove me otherwise you just can't get a good curry stateside... -
Review from Josie B.
New York, NY
8/15/2009
Best Indian food I've had. The dishes are authentic, as it is run by the same people who run the Indian spice market down the street. My friend who is a trained chef also agrees that this is one of the best Indian places in the city. The flavors are amazing every time. I am really shocked it's got so many poor reviews. I wouldn't go anywhere else.
And yes, the place is not much to look at, but....it really doesn't matter when the food is this good! (We always get the garlic naan, the plain sweet lassi, the chicken saag, and the okra. YUMMMMMM) -
Review from Charlie P.
San Antonio, TX
1/16/2011
The Curry Leaf was to be honest, my first venture into Indian cuisine. My girlfriend and her sister wanted to go for Indian, and this is where we ended up. Dinner was great though, and the prices were far more approachable than I expected. I had the chicken makhani and was not disappointed. The service was incredibly friendly and attentive, and I thought that the ambiance was quite charming. I'll definitely visit the Curry Leaf again one day when I return to New York.
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Review from Amy C.
7/13/2009
I've been here on several different occasions and I wish I can give it 2.5 stars. The quality of the food and service are very inconsistent. Sometimes the chicken is overcooked, but I've also had it cooked to perfection as tender pieces of chicken that just melts in my mouth. Sometimes the service is terrible and rude, but I've also had attentive waiters. In the end, I'm giving it 2 stars because the prices are too high, especially when there are dozens of options within a 3-block radius.
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Review from Chris L.
Philadelphia, PA
11/12/2008
Stopped by here with a friend after a long day cuz I had a sudden craving for Indian food. Since my friend normally has a good experience at this place, we decided to check it out. We got there when it opened for dinner around 5pm. Got the usual must-have's in an indian restaurant (naan, samosas, mango lassi). For my entree, I got something different. I tried out the Chicken Makhani (apparently it's like a chicken tikki masala, except sweeter). It was pretty decent as well as the other indian dishes that I had. Service was pretty iffy... wasn't sure why when the restaurant wasn't even that crowded at the time. Oh wells, as long as the food is good, then I'm satisfied. And yes, I was satisfied when I left the place... satisfied enough such that walking was a struggle.
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Review from sara n.
7/28/2008
went here after seeing a movie at kips bay, and to be honest, I was REALLY hungry. so that may skew my opinion somewhat. we ordered lamb with spinach and chicken tikka masala--the two barometers of an indian restaurant's abilities in my opinion. the lamb was tender and flavorful and the tikka was one of the best i've had. (we asked them to make it a little more spicy, and they did not disappoint!)
the service was fine, patient when i could not decide if i wanted another beer. the tables are so close that we could hear how the dates on either side of us were going--sadly, not as well as ours. we liked it so much it's now a post-movie destination!
