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23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
14th St-6th Aves (F, V, L, 1, 2, 3)
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Ah, NYC Restaurant Week. For those of you that aren't familiar, here's the 4-11 (taken from http://nycgo.com): "NYC Restaurant Week®, New York City's original celebration of dining, dates back to 1992...Since 1992, the success of NYC Restaurant Week has only grown. It has expanded to include both lunch and dinner offerings--three-course, prix-fixe meals for $24.07 and $35, respectively--and extended to two weeks each in the summer and winter." Sounds like one hell of a bargain, doesn't it?
Ceci, a fellow Texan and recent NYC transplant, and I made a date for a Restaurant Week dinner at Devi, a much-hyped-about Indian restaurant in the Flatiron neighborhood. Having arrived slightly early for our reservation, I was able to study both the regular and RW (Restaurant Week) menus. While sipping a cocktail at the restaurant's petite bar (awaiting Ceci's arrival), I began making small talk with some of the employees. "This is interesting," I mumbled, "your regular menu offers virtually the same deal as the RW menu does: $35 prix fixe for two courses plus dessert. So, I don't get it. Why would anyone participate in RW here?" One of the hostesses gushed, "Right? The prix-fixe deal on our regular dinner menu is much better, at least in my opinion. You literally get to choose any two items plus dessert, and you're not restricted to the limited RW-specific menu."
What's the space like?
Spacious, bi-level room; think casual Indian elegance: Bold colored paper-lantern "chandeliers," cherry-red walls sporadically draped with oatmeal-hued tuille, ornate wooden door and banister moldings, and an overall feeling of warmth and tranquility.
How was the service?
Friendly, attentive and knowledgeable.
Did you drink?
Indeed! I had a "Mumbai Margarita," which was topped with a dash of cayenne pepper and St. Germain Elderflower Liquor, before moving on to a refreshing vodka-limeade concoction.
How was the food?
Obviously Ceci and I came to Devi for Restaurant Week, but ultimately opted for the $35 3-course prix-fixe from the regular dinner menu:
* Amuse bouche: The bottom of a small white bowl was lightly smeared with a thick brown sauce, acting as glue to a bite-sized fried chickpea patty. Think: Falafel infused with Indian spices.
* Grilled Scallops, roasted pepper chutney, bitter orange marmalade: Note the "s" on the end of "scallop." The fact that this dish only came with ONE scallop was deceptive and disappointing; had I known that the pluralization was a typo/false-advertisement, I would have chosen a different appetizer. A slender, rectangular white plate arrived with three evenly spaced and modernly arranged items. To the far left was roasted pepper chutney; in the middle, sat a perfectly cooked scallop resting atop a dollop of bright orange cream sauce; and to the far right were two pieces of Manchurian cauliflower that tasted like a meatless version of P.F. Chang's Orange Peel Chicken (crispy, dense, sweet, salty, sour and buttery).
* Tandoori Prawns, eggplant chutney, crispy okra salad: Perched atop what looked like a "hay stack" of thinly sliced fried okra and crunchy purple onions were three of the largest, meatiest prawns I've ever seen. Basted in what I assume was a yogurt marinade, the shellfish were seductively embraced by the heat of the tandoor and thus perfectly cooked. While I loved the juicy prawns, I found the crispy okra salad a dry and incompatible accompaniment.
* Potato paratha (bread) *Note that this did not come with the prix-fixe special; we paid extra for this very necessary staple: Think traditional/plain naan bread, only stuffed with a thin layer of coriander smashed potatoes. Divine!
* Two scoops of homemade ice cream: Vanilla and caramel: As a self-proclaimed ice-cream aficionado, Devi definitely makes a delicious scoop. Yet again, I was taken aback by the tiny portion size (one small scoop of each flavor). But because the ice creams were so fresh and delicious, I ate much slower than usual in order to truly savor each bite.
What's pricing like?
The 3-course $35 prix fixe dinner special is a great deal, especially when you can choose from otherwise expensive plates off of the restaurant's regular menu. However, Devi's entrees do not come with rice or naan, which is like serving Tex-Mex without rice and refried beans. Here's a snapshot of what my meal would have looked like had I dined a-la-carte:
* Grilled Scallops, roasted pepper chutney, bitter orange marmalade: $14
* Tandoori Prawns, eggplant chutney, crispy okra salad: $34
* Potato paratha: $5
* Two scoops of homemade ice cream: $9
* Grand total before two beverages, tax and tip: $62
* Bottom line: You're an idiot if you order a-la-carte.
Will you return to Devi?
Probably, at some point, though I'm not rushing to return any time soon.
Went here to try it out for restaurant week. SOOOO disappointed. The food was mediocre and not very 'indiany'. I was expecting some really good chicken tikka masala with a nice ambience. Alas, no. I got the nice ambience (sort of) and great service but the food was blad and too americanized. When I'm in the mood for indian, I'll head on down on 2nd to my favorite hole in the wall...
Oh yea, what freaked me out more was that i saw a mouse running around near the bar. The host tried to explain that these rodents come in when they open the door but I wasn't buying it. I thought they would've been more appreciative of the fact that we didn't make a big deal but no service from them - just more excuses.
Yelpers let me down on this one.
At 4:30 p.m. I realized my 6 p.m. reservation at David Burke Townhouse wasn't going to work out; I'd wanted the Restaurant Week menu and they were no longer participating. I turned to Yelp for a replacement and settled on Devi, which I was hopeful would be a nice spot for a fancy meal with my mom and sister, in from out of town.
Walking in, I was underwhelmed. I like restaurants -- especially ones with a hefty price tag -- to transport me to another place. Devi is a nice restaurant, but it's only that. Nothing exceptional atmosphere-wise. Strike one.
Then, the food. The curries we got were no better that those at a cheap Indian restaurant on Sixth Street. My shrimp briyaani was presented well but was unfortunately so bland that I found myself looking in vain for salt. My boyfriend's lamb chop was good but tiny. Strike two.
Maybe dessert would be better? No. $9 for a piece of cake the size of a golf ball, which tasted basically like a Hostess cupcake. Seriously? Strike three.
Let me just get to the point. If we hadn't had the mango cheesecake, I would have given Devi three stars. Keep that in mind. For now, the rest of the review.
The ambiance was for the most part lovely--pink hues, drapey curtains, antique wooden doors mounted on the walls. I have to admit that the checkered couch upholstery really bothered me (it was so out of place), as did the jazz music. But the wait staff were all extremely helpful and friendly, which quickly distracted me from the almost there but slightly off decor.
The food was pretty good. My brother liked his lamb shank, though my mother was not terribly impressed with the fish special. I'm a veg and opted for the dal and eggplant. The dal was the closest thing we got to standard home-cooked Indian food--yellow lentils with fresh ginger, spinach, and the usual arrangment of seeds and spices. It was EXCELLENT with the spinach goat cheese parantha (a more appropriate item for the new-Indian menu). I would happily come back for these two plus a Ginger Collins (with fresh ginger pieces floating in the drink and a slab of candied ginger on the top--I should note here that I have an unusually fond taste for ginger).
I would skip the stuffed eggplant and the other drinks we tried (the cilantro drink was interesting but not compelling enough to order a second, and the hard lemonade fell short). My mom, on the other hand, was a pretty big fan of the Bombay Margharita (fresh cayenne) and the Jackfruit Biryani.
We ordered the pudding and the falooda for dessert. Again, good but not stellar. But then! For as of yet unexplained reasons a bus-boy delivered a mango cheesecake to our table, "on the house." This, my friends, is why I will gladly go back to Devi if anyone asks me to. Our watier tells us the cheesecake won second place in some city-wide dessert ranking. My quick google search does not tell me any such thing, but I'll take his word for it! It was light, creamy, and was beautifully presented with a mango crisp that curled up from the almond crust and three jellied mango circles.
I certainly plan to go back, even if it's only for a Ginger Collins and a Mango Cheesecake.
I attended Devi with a group from my school, it was sort of a dinner-meeting, and since it was in the day time we had the entire restaurant to ourselves. I found the food to be quite good. Our group tried a variety of dishes including chicken and lentil curries, nan bread, fish and an okra dish. We also had a great custard-style dessert. I've probably had better Indian cuisine but this was very good as well. The ice tea, however, was very strange, a bright reddish color and sort of a pickle-flavor - I'd stay away from it. The ambiance, as others have noted, is very cool; there are little private areas in the back with curtains, and the top lofted floor can be used as a private dining area if you have a large group.
We ate at Devi on a weeknight when they were not busy.
This is how it went:
Upon being seated, we were given a "cocktail menu" of very expensive
drinks....sat for over 10 minutes until we declined any drinks.
Menus arrived w/another try to sell us alcohol (beers at $10.each!)
We ordered & waited 25 minutes for our meal to arrive. The food was tasty
but several of our choices arrived cold.....service was much too distant &
poor to send anything back so we ate it . Portions were small.
The price for this inferior meal was astronomical!!! At over $50 per person (without drinks or dessert ) was a real ripoff . There are so many
good Indian restaurants in New York that you would do better not to eat here at all .
Alan S.
*Warning: I am a vegetarian
I love this place!!!
The food is excellent. For vegetarians, they have two options - the a la carte and a veg. tasting menu. We usually order a la carte. The mattar paneer is sooo good. The saag is a bit on the bland side, but I think the trick is to order it medium spicy or really spicy.
I can't say much for the non-veg. people out there. However, a group of 4 people was sitting next to us and they ordered the tasting menu. All I can say is that I heard them saying "I cannot eat any more" - just then their 4th course came out! They seemed to be enjoying their food.
I'd also be weary of their desserts. I've ordered different things but by far the tastiest dessert is the mango cheesecake. YOU MUST GET THIS! You'll thank me! =)
Overall, the ambiance is nice. The service is excellent.
What an unexpected delight!
Extremely original, engrossing, beautiful decor. High ceilings, lovely draping, lots of attention to detail.
They mix a fine cocktail.
The lassi is excellent.
The chicken sausage was of questionable consistency.
Everything else was pretty spectacular.
Of particular note - the saag paneer (basic dish, but it stood out), the yam dumplings (easily the best sauce I've had at any Indian restaurant), and the Noodle Falooda (??) - dessert, which was heaven.
Finally, the fried okra gets me every time - and they did a lamb-stuffed chicken, which was really nice.
Get the tasting menu. They'll tell you it's small portions and won't be enough, but that's a lie. It's perfect portions. My friend and I shared the four course, which was comparatively very reasonably priced as opposed to going a la carte - and we were stuffed.
The only real downside - lots of attitude. I had to dock them a star for that.
A large group of my sister's friends came out for her birthday dinner this past weekend and we were seated very comfortably in the upstairs section of the restaurant. It's a great place for a party of our size (about 15 or so).. it felt secluded but open at the same time since we were afforded a birdseye view of the lower floor of the restaurant as were in a balconied section. Impressive decor. I was in total awe over the beauitful hanging lamps throughout the ceiling in Devi.
The restaurant was extremely accomodating in allowing us to dine family-style. We had a few courses -- apps and entrees for the table to share -- and everything was served smoothly and without any hiccups, which is a tiny miracle in and of itself since larger groups are harder to appease. The waitstaff was highly attentive and helpful.
Since I've turned vegetarian for the month of Feb, I can't comment on any of the meat dishes that our table got, however, the veggie plates were satisfying and the garlic naan was warm, soft and delicious. From my observations, everyone seemed to have enjoyed the shrimp and lamb entrees but as far as food presentation, I'd have to say it was only mediocre. I was not impressed with the plating as none of the dishes looked particularly appetizing.. such a shame since the food was fairly good. My beverage was the most memorable part of my meal.. I had their chai tea which was excellent.
To end, I felt I was more engrossed in the ambience and physical decor of Devi rather than the actual food. I have definitely had better Indian, but I would like to come back and give Devi another shot, when I'm back to my omnivorious ways!!
Not from the North
Not from the South
Chef Hemant Mathur incorporates from all the best regions from around the world into his Indian cuisine and "It's a Winner"!!!
This place is an upscale establishment. So don't think you'll be paying e6 street prices or running home with a belly ache.
Our Maître d' was a pleasure who explained each dish as it came out. Service was very high but comfortable -just like a fine symphony -Bravo!
The food was a showcase of WoWs and YuMs. Using the freshest ingredients.
Bombay Bhel Puri
Manchurian Cauliflower
Chicken-Apricot Seekh Kababs
I could have easily eaten the entire basket alone:
Nan Onion-Parmigiano Kulcha
Nan Spinach-goat cheese paratha or papadam paratha
Coconut Shrimp Biryaani tandoor grilled shrimp, grape raita (my mouth is salvating right now as I type) JUMBO sized Shrimps 4"
Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops pear chutney, southern indian potatoes (excellent hands down)
Jackfruit (Kathal) Biryaani yellow lentils, crispy okra salad, raita
Matar Paneer- tomato-onion sauce, indian cheese, green peas
Kararee Bhindi - crispy tangy okra with tomatoes and red onions
I can't say enough here -every dish was amazing!!!
I'm with all the 5 star reviewers, I heart DEVI.
Our cocktails where equally amazing. Some tart, strong and kept us in good spirit. And that is the point of FUN.
My sister, who lives nearby this place and is vegetarian, recently took my mom and I here for dinner. We had walked by it during the day, and from the outside there isn't really much to look at, but the inside is beautiful. Really interesting light fixtures, lots of different textures, and soft lighting. I think this would make a good date spot, but it also worked for a mother-daughter get together.
Our waiter was very helpful, letting my sister know which dishes were vegetarian/vegan and explaining various items to us. I know some Indian dishes that I usually order, but this menu had lots of things I didn't recognize, so it was nice to have his guidance.
I cannot remember everything we ordered, but I do remember that we all really liked the Pakoras with Tamarind Sauce. My mom and I both thought the Tandoori Lamb Chops were delicious, and I am picky about lamb when I order it in a restaurant.
Too bad my sister is moving, I would have liked to come back here!
This bi-level establishment boasts a surprisingly modest decor. I expected a more posh atmosphere, as it's in a trendy USQ north district. No idea how long its been open, but I never noticed its presence after all these years, including my college years at NYU. I noticed the use of heavy spices in their food. Water was promptly refilled and service was attentive. The lamb chops were as stellar as the hype generated, up there with Basta Pasta's. However, the other 2 dishes were kinda weak. 3 for indifference of going back.
RESTAURANT WEEK MENU (3 courses for $35)
-Lamb Stuffed Tandoori chicken - wasn't crazy about this, as it reminded me of a turducken, should've ordered the scallops instead
-Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops (spiced potatoes, sweet and sour pear chutney) - i didn't finish the spiced mash, but the 2 lamb chops were perfectly medium and not too salty, the pear chutney was a nice touch, good job, i like this a lot
-Emperor's Bread Pudding with Nut Brittle - there was this bland beige sauce on top of a flat cylindrical mass, wasn't crazy about this either
menu: http://nycgo.com/cms/u...
Total came out to $45/pp after everything
Dévi (Suvir Saran and Hemant Mathur) [from the 2008 Wine and Food Festival and TastingsNYC] - carrot… Read more »
Devi is a beautiful restaurant, full of (I believe authentic) Indian tapestry-like wall hangings, and decorative lamps that hang from the ceiling. We sat down, hoping that our meals were going to be as rich and sumptuous as the decor around us.
Indeed, our dinners lived up to everything we had hoped for. While Devi offers several different "tasting menus" that are chosen by the individual, we decided to forgo, as we had hoped to share our food (because we couldn't decide who would get what) and our waiter let us know that the portions on the tasting menu were much smaller than ordering a la carte.
Our dinners started with an "amuse bouche" that was on the house. It was a small ball, made of a mushroom surrounded by potato and fried. It was the perfect bite, containing just the right amount of spice and heat.
Next, we shared the Goan Shrimp Bruschetta, which was great. There were two small pieces of (melba-like) toast, each with a large shrimp on top in a delicious sauce. I could have eaten 10 of them as a main course! Lastly, we chose the Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops (pear chutney, Southern Indian potatoes) and Lamb-Stuffed Tandoori Chicken (crispy okra, tomato chutney) as our entrees. Neither of us had any regrets of our choices. Both were moist, and spicy, with bold and creative palates.
We left satisfied with just the right amount of tingling in our mouths from the spiciness of our meals. Overall, Devi was great. I actively want to go back and try more food. I would definitely consider one of the tasting menus as a means to try as many of their dishes as possible! Also, they had a nice cocktail, wine, and beer menu. I had an interesting cocktail with Makers Mark and ginger, while my boyfriend tried a beer made of red rice, which was somehow cross between sake and beer.
Great for a special occasion or just a nice dinner out. I highly recommend Devi.
I wanted to get this review in while I still remember the good details, I took my mother here for her birthday this past friday with my sister and bf. I mentioned to the girl while I made the reservation that it was her birthday in passing and we had an early reservation for like 6:30 which was great since the place wasn't busy, as soon as we walked in the hostess and the floor manager welcomed us and said happy birthday to my mother which was a very nice touch. The space itself is also very pretty, we were seated towards the back where they had some velvet benches and it was a bit more private.
All four of us decided to do the 4 course design your own tasting menu with dessert included which was a decent price of $55 per person. We pretty much got to taste everything on the menu, so if you are here with a few people this might be a good option to go. We also wanted to get a bottle of white wine since the food would be spiced a bit and the waiter recommended a very good bottle which was a reasonable $35 (I didnt get the name since you can never find those bottles in the liquor store anyways). My mother got the mumbai margarita which was pretty tasty and the dash of cayenne gave it an interesting flavor.
Appetizers -- I had to try the cauliflower based on previous reviews and it was GREAT, I dont know how they cooked it but it had a nice consistency and the flavor was a bit general tso-esque. My sister got the calimari and shrimp which was yummy, bf got salmon cakes which had some spicy peppers in the sauce, mom got some light salad which was OK.
First entree -- I tried the tandoori shrimp which were large and cooked great, sister got lamb stuffed chicken which wasn't to bad, mom got jackfruit and rice which was eh and bf got the fish of the day which was halibut over butternut squash which was excellent.
Second entree - My sister and I had similar dishes, the yam and the paneer, sauce was good and went perfect with the naan, mom got the lamb chop..there was nothing left on her plate so I think she liked it, bf got the quail which was served lightly fried and whole, it was pretty juicy and tasty.
Last but not least was dessert the hostess said the mango cheesecake was their signature dessert so I had my mom order that, we also got the bread pudding, black forest cake and I got some noodle thing. They brought out an additional little ice cream thing with a candle in it for my mom with a trick candle..they also messed up and brought me the wrong dessert which was a mango cheesecake...after I tasted it I did not want to send it back but to make up for it they brought out another black forest cake with another trick candle in it.
All in all I am very happy we went here to celebrate my mom's birthday they made it a very memorable and pleasant night.
This was my second of four Winter 2009 RW picks. I did enjoy it more than Town, but not enough to warrant another star.
I got the manchurian cauliflower, the tandoori halibut, and the emperor's morsel. My friend got the lamb-stuffed tandoor chicken, the lamb chops, and the black forest cake.
The cauliflower was AMAZING. Unfortunately, it was so good (and the appetizer portions were so large) that I filled up on it and couldn't finish my entree (which wasn't amazing - the spicy slaw was kind of weird). I also wanted to save room for dessert. I'm glad I did, because the emperor's morsel was really good. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it, but by the end of it, I was kind of in love with it. The black forest cake was also tasty, and my friend enjoyed her other food as well. The only big con was that the portions were so large that we both left pretty stuffed and ended up walking home in the snow in an effort to feel less full. Other than that, it was an enjoyable and unique RW experience.
My gf and I visited this place and it was a really nice place. We enjoyed the food quite a lot and were appreciative of its complexity.
Atmosphere: Awesome! It has excellent light-fixtures and a very cool motif. I was really happy with the design.
Food: Awesome again. I had the Coconut Shrimp Biryaani, she had the Lamb-Stuffed Tandoori Chicken and both were just fantastic! It's amazing what they were able to do with cauliflower too! I was just very, very happy with the flavors that were just poppin' in my mouth.
Service: Excellent. Polite, attentive, and definitely beyond the normal restaurant staff service. They added to an already excellent experience.
Overall: I found my mouth watering the moment the plate hit the table. This place comes highly recommended by me.
Devi's menu, a mélange of kicked-up street snacks - mainly vegetable based - tandoori and grill dishes, and interesting hints of Indo-American fusion, is ambitious and reliably executed by chef Hemant Mathur. I have been eating there since it opened, so this is just a note about a recent visit.
A few changes: the fried chicken with spicy slaw and potato salad is now fried quail (when did that become a trend? Fried quail is all over town these days). The breaded short ribs have departed from the menu, and I also miss the chili-spiked brain bruschetta which was on the menu when the restaurant opened - although I suppose it wasn't everyone's idea of a snack. Delicious it was, though.
The main change, though, is to the structure of the menu. Devi had always offered a carte, and two set tastings - one vegetarian, one not. The approach now is to list every dish individually (about twenty of them, plus sides and extras), and then offer a series of flexible formules - as the French say. You can select an appetizer and entrée, any three dishes, any four dishes, (plus dessert) or put yourself in Hemant's hands for an $85 chef's tasting.
I tried a dish I hadn't noticed on the menu before, a chicken and egg roast attributed to the region of Kerala. Our charming server noted that this was a dry curry; in fact, the chicken itself was exceptionally moist, cooked just to the point of being done and not a moment more. I had started with the crisp salmon-crab cakes and also tasted the shrimp-calamari frito misto - another new dish as far as I was concerned.
A short list of artisanal beers, mainly European, has been added to the wines, but we resolutely and ungratefully stuck with Kingfisher. As ever, a pleasing meal.
I'm tough on Indian food, having spent a few years in London where the Indian there just can't be beat. I went here with a friend of mine for Restaurant Week. What a pleasant surprise.
Everything tasted great. The decor has just enough sophistication without bordering on snobbery. I found the service a little slow but it was Restaurant Week and they were packed.
I'll be moving closer to this place so look forward to trying it out again on a 'normal' day without the Prix Fixe.
Is it Haute Indian? Is it New American meets India? This place is a study in juxtaposition. Exotically familiar menu and design. Pinkish but masculine room. Friendly but formal service.
It has a collision menu ... Each bite like a Big Bang in your mouth ... Chutney-marinated scallops ... Tandoor lamb chops ... All with layers of flavor.
Three tips: 1/ Get the Mumbai Margarita. Actually get two. 2/ Order Naan and a Chutney sampler as an appetizer. It's an off-the-menu request and well worth it. 3/ Talk to your server about spice level. Some dishes are mild and some leave you gasping for water, bread or downing those delicious Mumbai Margaritas!
Final conclusion: Go here if you want something more than a curry-hill Indian experience. Devi manages to be more upscale than that yet not feel corporate the way one sometimes does at Tabla, another good high-end Indian resto. Devi feels more authentic and welcoming.
My boyfriend had been bugging me about trying some Indian food. I cannot do spicy at all, so it took me a while to agree to go. Today, while taking a walk in Union Square, we decided to give Devi a try.
First of all, the decor is great. Red and gold with colorful lamp hanging off the ceiling. The lights are dimmed and candles at every table together with the smell of spices create a great ambiance. 5 stars.
The service is amazing; very polite and courteous. They explained everything on the menu and were always available to answer any questions. 5+ stars.
I got the two-course tasting menu($35): Coconut shrimp biryaani for entree and fried shrimp for appetizer. The appetizer was great, even a wimp like me could handle it (with a full glass of water). The entree: the presentation was great, the first two or three minutes tasted good and then I got the doze of the spicy stuff. I was only able to finish half of it (with 4 glasses of water) and took the rest home. The shrimp tasted great and so did the rice, but I just could not handle the spiciness.
My bf got the three-course tasting menu ($45): Fried quail for entree, shrimp bruschetta for appetizer and a salad as a side. I've tried his food and the bruschetta was amazing. I also loved the quail, it was not that spicy and very tender inside. I believe it came with a coleslaw, which was not spicy. The salad consisted of fresh bell peppers and greens.
Overall, I will give the food 5 stars because it was really nicely done, I'm just a wimp. BF also had two beers and we ordered some bread, I don't remember which. Total was a little shy of $140, which was more than we thought it would be, but definitely worth it.
My colleague recommended this restaurant as her "favorite restaurant on earth". So the expectations were pretty high going in.
Ambiance - We sat in a prime location in the corner on the balcony. The restaurant was casual, cozy, dimly lit (in a romantic way), and decorated with beautiful colorful lights.
Price - Very reasonably priced for a 1 Michelin star rated restaurant. We got the 2-course meal at $35 including dessert.
Appetizer - Manchurian Cauliflower was delicious. Lightly breaded, fried with a tomato base sauce. Yum! The Pakora was different than any I've had before, and almost tasted like thick slices of bread in tamarind dipping sauce. I'm not sure if I really liked this dish.
Entree - Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops were absolutely amazing. My boyfriend loves lamb and claims that this is the best lamb he ever had. Each piece of meat is balanced with a thin layer of fat so that it melted in our mouths. This is definitely the chef's signature dish. Fish of the Day was really light. The halibut was flakey but not too flavorful, the broth was a little sour. The lamb was definitely better.
Dessert - Crispy bread pudding with saffron was the best bread pudding I've ever had. It was hearty and not too sweet. Mango cheesecake was beautiful to look at but was too mangoey (is that possible?).
Oh, and the service was impeccable. If I lived in NY, I'd be back often. Overall a fabulous dining experience!
How Devi can have an average of only 3.5 stars on Yelp is beyond me. The Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chop with Pear Chutney and Spiced Potatoes alone garners 5 stars for the restaurant and the chef. I can guarantee that you will never taste anything like it -- it is by far the best lamb dish I have ever had, and I have had a lot of lamb in my day.
Other highlights include the addictive crispy okra that is better than French fries (that's right, I said better than French fries!), the surprisingly simple yet delicious Manchurian Cauliflower (think sweet and sour cauliflower, but with less breading/batter and more natural crispness from the cauliflower), and the nicely cooked Grilled Scallops with Roasted Pepper Chutney, and Bitter Orange Marmalade.
Devi also offers several choices of affordable tasting menus that you can put together yourself and comes with with generous portions. The service is top-notch but friendly (as opposed to pretentious), and the setting and decor create a romantic ambiance. All in all, I highly recommend Devi, especially to those who enjoy Indian food.
Came here on a Friday night with 3 friends during Restaurant Week. I have to admit that I don't normally go to Indian restaurants-- I have been to Tabla a few times but does that count? Turns out that their regular menu offers a $35 price fixe so even if it wasn't Restaurant Week we would have gotten a good deal anyway.
The Atmosphere: such a pretty and romantic restaurant. It's perfect for a sexy date (ask to sit upstairs where I think it was more cozy). I loved the dim lighting and exotic lamps.
The Food: soooo yummy. I started with the Shanghai Cauliflower which was seasoned so well and the texture made me think it was something more substantial than a vegetable. I think it was deep fried but hey I didn't care that night. My main course was a fish dish (I can't remember exactly what I got because of the 2 cilantro martinis I had) but I ate the whole thing and loved it. My drink of choice is a vodka martini but that night I tried this cilantro lime vodka drink and it was amazing-- not sweet at all and so tasty.
The Service: very attentive and helpful when it came to describing the various dishes.
The Verdict: Thumbs up. Great ambience and delicious food.
I ate at Devi last night on an expense account, so I tried a variety of dishes. One member of my group was running late, but they graciously held our table for 15 minutes. Once we sat down it took our waiter 15 minutes to take our drink order. Surprising since many reviewers felt rushed - not us. Overall the service was a little slow, but our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable. We were in the back section, behind the wine racks and curtains and the temperature was unbearable. We were so hot our entire meal. When we walked to the front of the restaurant to leave, it was a cool comfortable temperature. The heat combined with the spice in some food had us sweating and uncomfortable. We were so ready to leave we passed on dessert.
Our meal:
Crispy Shrimp and Sweet Peppers with Tomato-Chutney Aioli
AVERAGE
Mom's Bread Roll Fritters (potatoes, cilantro, green chiles, garam masala)
VERY GOOD, but filling.
Trio of Rice
AVERAGE, I would have liked plain basmati rice better. Wasn't worth the money in my opinion.
Not-So-Dull Daal
GOOD
Naan
VERY GOOD, but it's always good anywhere I go.
Matar Paneer (tomato-onion sauce, Indian cheese, green peas)
AVERAGE, the paneer wasn't creamy enough, but had a nice flavor.
Spicy Goan Prawns (Balchao sauce, radish rice)
GOOD, very very large prawns.
Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops (pear chutney, spiced potatoes)
VERY GOOD, cooked perfect at medium rare. It's not the most visually appealing dish, but it was very tasty. The best Indian lamb prep I've ever had.
Dinner for three (with tip and a few drinks): $200
Pros: Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops (pear chutney, spiced potatoes), Mom's Bread Roll Fritters (potatoes, cilantro, green chiles, garam masala)
Cons: back room very warm, average drinks at above average prices, no wine by the glass
My final opinion: I'd settle for tasty Indian food at a lower price point any day. Glad I ate at Devi, but not in a hurry to go back.
Devi is a goregous Indian restaurant offering surprisingly traditional dishes in a hip, modern atmosphere. The service is friendly and professional, and the food is delicious.
I went to Devi for Restaurant Week and tried some delicious dishes. For my first course I started with the Lamb-Stuffed Tandoori Chicken with Tomato Chutney. The sauce packed some great flavor, and the lamb-stuffed chicken was an unique dish. I absolutely loved it. My friend ordered the Grilled Scallops with roasted red pepper chutney, Manchurian cauliflower, spicy bitter-orange marmalade. The scallops were tasty, but small. The course was good, but did not pack a punch like my chicken.
For my main course I ordered the Bombay-Style Tandoori Halibut with bottle masala, coconut rice, and spicy slaw. The slaw was spectacular, and the coconut rice was also pretty good. The halibut was tender and flakey, however I found the sauce too bland. My friend ordered the Tandoor-Grilled Lamb Chops with sweet & sour pear chutney and spiced potatoes. The lamb was tender and sweet. It was a great dish.
My Emperor's Morsel (Shahi Tukra) dessert was a crispy saffron bread pudding with cardamom cream and candied almonds. it was sweet and out of this world. My friend's Mango Kulfi (ice cream) was served with mango passion fruit sauce, fleur de sel, and black peppercorn. It tasted like a frozen mango lassi.
The specialty cocktails here are also amazing. Plus, they gave both me and my friend $25 gift certificates to return for lunch.
I highly recommend Devi.
I went to this restaurant with my boyfriend during Restaurant Week Winter 2009.
I am very familiar with traditional Indian restaurants, so this restaurant wasn't exactly what I was expecting since it was more nouveau Indian and very fancy.
The restaurant itself was lovely. The seating was nice, crowded but not too crowded and they had beautiful hanging paper lanterns. The service was mostly attentive, though it took awhile for someone to come over to take our order. But once we ordered the gentlemen serving our area were very nice (if not sometimes a little hard to understand...).
The food was a mix. The appetizer that I got, the lamb-stuffed chicken with tomato chutney, was MARVELOUS. I wish that had been my entree and was far too small to be satisfying. I believe on the regular menu you can get it as an entree, but on the Restaurant Week menu, it was an appetizer. My entree was the tandoori-style halibut which was spicy, but not the kind of spicy that I usually like. My boyfriend got the Masala Friend Quail, and we ended up switching halfway through. The quail was yummy, but it tasted like a glorified chicken so it wasn't really something I could see myself spending a ton of money on.
For dessert, we got both of the options, and they were very good. The Black Forest Cake is on the menu, which was good but very small, and the other option isn't on the regular menu and I can't remember the name, but it was delicious.
All in all, I think I would prefer to have been able to get something off the regular menu as those options (from the website) appear to suit what I prefer. It was a nice restaurant so definitely worth a look-see, but please go with an open mind or you might be disappointed.
some perfectly fine, well-executed dishes. Others, didn't work that well.
A bit overbearing + overattentive waitstaff.
And I think, $6 for a small bowl of plain rice??? Even a basket of naan consisting of 4 wedge pieces was $4 and a bargain by comparison.
The Manchurian cauliflower that came with my grilled scallop appetizer was quite good and unique, though the later side dish version of the same item that my wife ordered turned out heavy-handed with the sauce. Butter Chicken (Chicken Tikka Masala) - their version without ghee, was tasty and competent, but not exceptional. I found the flavors in my Bombay-Style Tandoori Halibut entree not to come together in a complimentary way.
The emperor's morsel bread pudding dessert fell flat - like other reviews, it had strange soggy consistency, yet was neither bready or like pudding and the flavors did not work for me.
Restaurant does have an attractive room and interesting wall carvings and glass lanterns, so perhaps nice spot for romantic dinner, if not for the somewhat awkward staff.
Perhaps it's that my taste in Indian food is not very refined, but I thought Devi was not impressive. Our server, the bartender, and the hostess, on the other hand, were amazing - really friendly, and curteous.
For the price and portion size, skip the proposed fanciness and get great indian food elsewhere.
Amazing American Zing to Indian Food.. This is indian cooking with french style of cooking per se. Also classic indian dishes as well. The Butter Chicken, Lamb chops, Lamb stuffed tandoori, shahi tukra (Indian Bread pudding with cardamom cream. Those dishes were amazing. Great restaurant in Union Square. I recommend to everyone.
I went to Devi with three of my good girl friends for restaurant week, expecting amazing cuisine from the top notch Indian restaurant in New York. After getting seated immediately, the waiter gave us a measly three minutes before asking us for our order.
I ordered the scallop appetizer, Tandoori shrimp entree, and the mango kulfi dessert. The appetizer and entree were well-seasoned and tasty, however I felt unsatisfied with the portion. Our Wesley-Snipes waiter was rather pushy with the food and the check.
Not only did they get my friend's appetizer entree wrong (she ordered the scallop and they gave her the cauliflower), they took the plate away for a minute and then returned with it saying that my friend had ordered the cauliflower. I was shocked to encounter this at such an expensive restaurant. We reluctantly tipped them and headed over to Shake Shack to fill my half-empty stomach.
Overall, the food was mediocre and the service was horrible. 2.5 stars is fair for my experience, so I rounded up to three. I will not be returning and would have rather spent the time and money eating a feast in East Village's little India street.
Tremendous.
Went here for restaraunt week, and it did lived up to the hype.
It's a nice room and the service is attentive, but let's get that out of the way- because its about the food.
The starters were very interesting. Goan shrimp on brushchetta was a unique take on Indian fusion. The light chutney it came with was a perfect complement. The lamb stuffed Tandoori chicken was great- a little seekh kebab (mince meat lamb kebab) rolled inside chicken served in a tomato curry sauce. Amazingly tender and delicious.
The entrees- superb. Masala Fried Quail is a unique take on fried chicken. Not at all greasy and a tremendous batter of garam masala served with a little bit of chaat on the side.
Tandoor Lamb Chops! This will make you pray to Devi! Superb! The best lamb dish I've ever had. It was that good.
Desert was excellent- go for the fig cake with goat cheese ice cream and toasted almonds. Excellent.
My only complaint is our waiter told us the Garlic Naan would only be one small piece- so we got a double order. Left us with 8 pieces of Naan which was twice as much as we needed. I hate when they make you over order like that.
Made reservations here for Restaurant Week after hearing it was one of the better ones. They don't skimp on portion size, for sure--especially for their trademark Manchurian cauliflower dish, which was much more filling than my Tandoori lamb chops entree selection (which was also great, very soft and tender). The Emperor's Morsel cardamom bread pudding was disappointing, however--the disc of "bread pudding" was soggy, as someone else described, and everything just felt very lukewarm. I'd say the only good thing about the dessert were the candied almonds that it came sprinkled with.
However, service was terrible. Our waiter was a bit arrogant towards us. One of my friends ordered the scallop appetizer, and when she was mistakenly brought the cauliflower, our server took it away for a moment, then came back seconds later and put it in front of her, firmly and decisively stating, "No, you ordered the cauliflower." HUH? Even if she HAD accidentally said cauliflower (which she didn't, she definitely said scallops), I've never even heard of this kind of, um, insistence. Plates were also taken away when some of us weren't finished to serve the next course! It's too bad such shoddy service ruined what would have otherwise been a nice dining pleasant.
I'd still come back to try their regular menu, but this isn't the place if you're looking for your fill of homey, hearty Indian food.
okay, so the decor of this place is somewhat tacky. it involves a lot of tool and drapery. reminded me of the bad weddings in wedding singer. i kept waiting for some karaoke to start up. luckily, the bad decor is in no way indicative of how the food taste.
we opted for the "create your own tasting", which at the time i went was any 3 dishes for 35 dollars. a steal in my opinion, but the prices have changed since. boo for inflation. the staff was very attentive. however, i do not know how authentic this is to indian food...probably not very much....
anyways. we had the crab cakes, mushroom & shrimp bruschetta, tandoor grilled lamp chops, fish of the day (i forget...it was a while ago), lemon cake w/ coconut ice cream, and mango cheesecake.
both appetizers were good AND they definitely did not skimp on the portions. the bruschetta was really light and a perfect bite size piece. bread was perfectly toasted. crab cakes were solid. a bit dry...even with the thick cream sauce under.
i remember the fish being okay. it was quite soupy, so i am assuming that was the point. i prefer a thicker consistency when eating fish...not a big fan of fish soup. my friend said the lamp chops were flavorful but the portion was too small.
my lemon cake was surprisingly good. the cake itself was very light. there was a thin wafer cookie that separated that and the coconut ice cream. those 3 flavors combined perfectly and yet it was not overly sweet. the mango cheesecake was average. again, the thin cookie that came with it was the standout and the texture contrasted the smooth cheesecake very well.
Ok this is a restaurant week review so take this into consideration.
I'm not a huge indian food fan, also take that into consideration.
Arrived with 3 of our 4some and went to the bar which had 3 bar stools, although one was occupied so someone was left standing by the busy staircase as waiters and busboys rushed by.
We sat down and started perusing the menu. The RW menu was ok, lots of stuff from the regular menu which made me think the RW portions were going to be small.
I order something like shrimp Bruschetta for the app. it was ok, nothing special, and certaintly lacking in the spice department.
For the entree I got the tandoor lamb chops. they were supposed to be medium rare, but with the brownish gray sauce covering the 3 chops, I couldn't tell how they were cooked.
This dish had spice but the color was terrible. It was all browns and the sauces, chutney and I think veg were all kind of thrown together.
Not the best lamb ever. I'm very thirsty now so I am thinking it was over salted.
The dessert claimed to be a bread pudding but it was niether bready or puddingy. The caramel bits on top were burnt. i just hated it.
The service was terrible too. The waiter wanted us out of there before we even sat down. he didn't listen to one of my friends and brought her dishes at the wrong time in the wrong order.
The drinks also were $14 for a little ketel one and soda.
I'm sorry I'm sounding like a brat but I just kind of hated this place.
I grew up eating Indian food and it's my favourite cuisine - Devi served average Indian food. It doesn't merit going through everything dish by dish. The biggest let down was the bhindi side - the slices of okra seemed to have been dessicated, which rendered them somewhat tasteless, especially mixed with the overpowering raw onion. I can see why they would have lost their Michelin star as the food was nothing to write home about. I hope there are better Indian restaurants in NYC.
This place is really nice--it's not very often I have "eclectic", "creative" Indian food, but I like it every time I have it, and this place does it really well. The food is very well-prepared, delicious and beautifully presented. Plus, the atmosphere is great and the wine/beer list is very good. I went for Restaurant Week, so the pricing was very reasonable, but it seems to me that the regular menu was also pretty good value as they have a number of tasting menus. I would recommend this place to anybody who loves Indian food but is a little tired of CTM and prawn vindaloo.
Take into consideration that I came here for restaurant week.
They gave us a complimentary pre-appetizer which consisted of cilantro and other indian spices fried into a ball with delicious plum sauce. The ball was small and tastey but certainly not something to write home about.
My appetizer was the manchurian cauliflower and that was delicious, probably the best thing I had there all night. The garlic infused tomato sauce on the crunchy cauliflower (maybe it was fried?) was complemented incredibly by the scallions. The sauce still haunts my dreams.
I ordered my entree medium rare and although the sides of sweet and sour pear chutney & spiced potatoes were delicious the lamb chops were subpar at best. The marinade was boring and the lamb tasted old - it became a chore to chew. It probably was just not what I was expecting.
The emperor's morsel was decent. The cardamom cream, candied almonds and bread pudding went very well together. But, I could feel my teeth rotting with every bite.
The service at this place was overattentive, I felt a bit rushed to finish my food and stuffed by the entree. If I were to do it again I don't think I would venture this far from where we were staying (Midtown East) to pay regular prices. Also, there were better choices closer to our location but my friend was not in the mood for Cuban or Italian.
I might just be spoiled by a ton of cheap Indian places in the SF Bay Area.
great upscale indian food and a beautiful interior, but expect to pay a lot of moola unless its restaurant week.
Overpriced and under-performing. About what I've come to expect from "gourmet" high-end Indian food. The food was certainly tasty, but I've had equivalent or better for a quarter of the price. The more western dishes were good, but nothing special.
This restaurant has a great reputation, is centrally located and the one and only time I dined here I saw Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn at a neighboring table.
But. I have to say I wasn't a fan. I love Indian food, and this was a little too "clean" for me. I like my Indian food a little less expensive- both with price and taste. I think you're much better off at a mid-level priced Indian restaurant in the village. This place is just too expensive.
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Category: Indian
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Category: Indian
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