"main dish, rice, bread, and mango ice cream."
(in 12 reviews)
"The price is right, you BYOB, and there's no corkage fee."
(in 34 reviews)
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Milon
Rating Details »
- Nearest Transit:
-
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Astor Place (6)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
77 reviews for Milon
Review Highlights
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100% fantastic.
go on a thur/fri/sat night and expect to wait outside. not even reservations are going to help you avoid that. but it's all part of the experience.
you're going to be hussled in and around and ignored by the waiters repeatedly. good luck getting a glass of water or a fork if you don't have one.
never bring a big group here. stick with four at most i'd say.
i promise all of these things contribute to the awesomeness of this place.
not to mention it's super cheap, we're talking cheap beyond new york standards. and it's BYOB. and the chili pepper slash christmas lights are of course the defining feature. also if you're claustrophobic or can't handle the sensory overload of the indoor las vegas strip reenactment, the outdoor garden area is pretty inviting as well.
surprisingly the food is very tasty and definitely get the naan
i'm sure there are fire codes being broken and sanitation issues. but this is one of the best places to go for more than just dinner in new york. i'd say it's a good spot to bring out of towners who want to "go somewhere new york"
I am easy to please and laid back and have never written a review in my life but my experience at Milon was SO TERRIBLE I signed up for Yelp just to warn others how HORRIBLE this place is. If I could give it ZERO stars I would. I went to Milon with my 2 roommates, there was a long line but for some reason they were able to "accommodate" us quickly. Like everyone says the place is packed and tight there is no privacy, but lots on restaurants in NYC are like this so I didn't give it a second thought, however as we were being seated the host grabbed my friends arm and SHOVED her into her seat. I mistakenly decided to overlook this.
Menus were immediately brought to us, and we sat there taking in the decor and chatting for maybe 2 minutes. During this short period of time 2 table left because the host was trying to seat other parties at their tables with them.
The waiter showed up and asked us if we were ready, when we said no he groaned rolled his eyes and walked away...When he came back 30 SECONDS LATER we still had not decided and he began to harass us DEMANDING that we order. We should have left then, but against our better judgment we ordered.
The food was horrible, watery curries, and nan filled with NACHO cheese-the kind that you get at baseball games-I may not be Indian but any idiot would know that's not authentic. The waiters were breathing down our necks waiting for us to finish each course, trying to take plates before we were finished. The crowning moment was when our waiter took my friends plate out from under her while she had her fork in her mouth, scraped what was left on to the serving plate and said "you eat off that". I would have stabbed him with my fork. The whole time this was going on the host was screaming at the wait staff and making comments to rush us along.
When the $30 bill came we paid it and for some RIDICULOUS reason left $2 for tip. I walk out the front door first, my friends had to squeeze out from behind the table. While they were in the process the host picked up the bill folder, saw the tip we left and slammed the door shut, he then demanded that my friend leave SIX dollars and was holding the door shut so they couldn't get out and I couldn't get it. I finally shoved the door opened and threatened to call the cops and reminded him that tipping is OPTIONAL when the service is HORRIBLE. We left and will NEVER go back. Eating here will be the most INFURIATING experience of your life.
This was my first experience of Indian food, and maybe to New York City altogether when I look back on it.
I recall walking up to this place and being yelled at by the other restaurants as we're walking in. 'Come here, come here! This one is the best!' But we had our sights set and trudged to the left hand side of the screaming men!
My group all ordered a variety of things that I can't even recall the names of. But I do recall this: they were all good and there wasn't one thing that I didn't care for. Which I found surprising since I'd never had Indian food before this. But I like things spicy, so I should have known!
The ending was great. Christmas lights and a type of Indian techno playing while the workers made the lights 'dance' in sync. And to top it all off, complimentary ice cream!
This was one of the places while visiting NYC that I just had to sit back and take it all in and think, 'now THIS is New York!'.
Robin S. really hit the nail on the head for this place -
Food is a 2.5-3; It's not AUTHENTIC Indian food, but it is certainly edible; I had the tandoori chicken which was basically very flavorful BBQ chicken here. The Naan is great; and my friends and I always enjoy the sauces and starting crackers (which I don't know the name of)...
Atmosphere - 10!; The restaurant is absolutely tiny, but once in and situated, it's so much fun!! They constantly flicker the lights while crazy re-mixes of "happy birthday" play... (be sure to alert them it's someone's birthday even if its not!)
Some points for first-timers:
1. It is BYOB, and when they say BYOB, they mean ANYTHING. We had beer, wine, champagne.. We've been there where people were mixing all types of drinks at their table. So feel free to bring what you want.
2. There are actually FOUR restaurants in the one building. They will try to rope you in at the other places claiming they can take you right away and it's the same - DO NOT fall for this - it's worth sticking out the wait.
3. That brings me to the wait... while reservations are certainly encouraged, they are also not honored. So make one, get there on time, but be ready to wait 45 min to an hour. Keep being persistent, you'll get in eventually.
4. Claustrophobic people and those who suffer from epilepsy, I would not advise dining here... Place is small, cramped, and people are all over you; the lights are also flickering on and off just about the entire time...
5. Cash only!
6. Enjoy yourself!!!!!! :)
OK, the food is mediocre, but it's cheap as hell, and the delivery is fast and awesome. "Awesome" because they have the happiest delivery man in the world. Dress shirt, tie, and an incredibly happy smile.
Well, I found the location of my next birthday dinner. Milon needs to be broken down into three rating categories:
1) The food: The food gets a solid 3. I was not wowed by any stretch of the imagination, but it was all edible and the vegetable samosas were very tasty. I had the chicken shag and I just prefer the spinach a bit creamier. The sauce was more liquidy than at most Indian restaurants. And it's a BYOB, so who cares? :)
2) The atmosphere: 5. The restaurant is small and cramped, but that didn't bother me in the slightest, which is saying something. I love the lights, the constant singing for people's birthdays, the enthusiasm of the owner. The customers were even striking up conversations with each other, from different tables.
3) The price: 5!!! Any moderate complaints I would have about the food go out the window when we talk about the prices. Unreal for Manhattan.
As others have said, make sure you actually end up at Milon and not one of the places on either side. I haven't been so I don't know if they are any good or not. But it's something to be aware of.
This is my go-to indian/bangladeshi food place in Manhattan. Sure, it's not the most amazing indian food I've ever had - but for the price? You not only get SO much food but you get a whole eating experience.
This begins when you walk up to the building and find yourself with *three* different restaurants fighting over you. They're all generally the same but I liked Milon's personality the best... their staff was always friendly and talkative, especially compared to Royal Bangladesh's wait staff who seemed to hate coming to my table for some reason.
Anyway, money wise what you can't beat is their lunch special. On a normal basis you can get an entree for about $7-8, and then you pay for nan on top of that... it's all very cheap but their lunch special is ridiculous. All of the usually house specials they give you for free (like lentil soup, cabbage) plus your entree, another bowl of a different kind of soup, one piece of nan, for about $6. How that even adds up is beyond me but I just know I got a ton of food for my dollar.
Also, love the complimentary mango ice-cream they throw in at the end. Especially since they actually give each person their own bowl, unlike at RB downstairs.
Finally, the Christmas lights! I love the density of the lights in Milon! They really go all out. I especially love sitting in that front window and people watching with the lights going on all around you. It really is like eating in another world.
Coconut samosas, banana dumpling curry, garlic parantha, mango sorbet, magnum bottes of cheap white wine (byob), the waiter professing his love for my friend, multiple birthday celebrations, the frantic touts at the entrance, and a lighting situation dominated mostly by little plastic jalapeno lights picked up at the local party store.
And I think the whole debaucherous dinner set back my 9-person group $15 each.
What's not to love?
My old go-to for dulling and nulling the social discomforts of mixed-group dining, for cozy, crazy Milon never fails to -
-Sublimate the awkwardness of strangers, secret trysts, subtextualized rivalries into the camaraderie-forging awkwardness of no leg room, no elbow room, and no standing room (lest you're getting down with the waitstaff to the Bhangra birthday remix).
-Uncork, pop, tap, and pour as many units of social lubricant it (you) take(s).
-Fill us with family-style fried crap. Samosas, pekoras, masalas are all indistinguishable in taste and texture - blandish, goodish, dirt-cheap.
-Leave you with pleasant, bizarre, blaze-red-womb-tomb-hued memories of a pretty fun night. You'll probably think it was your birthday, too.
i suggest this particular restaurant for your birthday, bally-wood happy bday music and energetic vibe! the food is amazing too! and byob totally cool with me!
only irritation is how they get you in the restaurant and its competitors ranting to you as well, as far as i am concerned it was unnecessary.
Been coming here for years. I'm sad they cleaned up some of the decorations. It's still crazy chili lights in here though.
1) Upper left. Don't let the others fool you.
2) You're always a friend to the host. Girlfriend or wife if you're a lady. And yes, if you're female, he may hug you or touch your arm and back but like the craziness of this place, go with it.
3) I don't give a shit how authentic their food is. Order anything and everything. It's cheap, it's filling, it's delicious, there's refills on rice and soup, and free mango ice cream. It's BYOB so load up on some booze beforehand.
4) Tell them it's your birthday. If someone else already activated the crazy disco ball and weird Indian(?) remix of the Birthday song, clap along and say "Happy Birthday" to the person who probably isn't celebrating their birthday but just LOVE the crazy 30 seconds of the birthday song.
5) Crazy crowded in here. Used the bathroom ONCE in all the years I've been here and only because our table was really close to it. Don't bring friends over 5'6. See crazy lights in picture? That's why. Or I suppose you can make them bend and walk. :)
"No come here" ," No come here, this one", "This one good, this one the best". What is the difference?!
Who knows but as for us we ended going upstairs to the left. What's with all Christmas lights? Tight ass space, hot ass restaurant, no AC.
Look at the menu-dam this place is cheap, tacky but cheap . After spotting a patron sipping his Red Stripe beer with his meal, we learned this spot is BYOB--- yes!
The food is decently good.
Complimentary mango-ice cream after your meal to cleanse the palate---nice! And yummy!
What can I say about this restaurant, it can be quite festive, seem like its someone's birthday every five minutes, and that's whem the lights start blinking and the hands get the clapping and the waiters get the singing of Happy Birthday- the Indian version.
This place is definitely a place worth checking out. Remember upstairs to the LEFT to the LEFT!
"Please, come in" beckoned the nice host/bouncer from atop the short staircase leading to one of the East Village's many Indian cafes. Milon looks like many of the others - strands of gawdy chili pepper lights, inflatable beach balls decorated with cartoon characters, and many other hideously festive displays. The area around East 6th Street is packed with authentic Indian culinary shrines, often making it difficult to discern which would provide the best dining experience. Luckily, a friend introduced me to Milon, a true hidden gem. We were ushered into the intimate dining room, where our server was extremely friendly and helpful with our selections.
Our side order of Naan was soft, doughy, and delicious. The Chicken Tikka Mussalam contained tender chicken in an aromatic coconut sauce and tossed with crisp almonds. The grilled Chicken Tandoori was enhanced with bold Indian seasonings. Both entrees were served with fresh rice. We were pleasantly surprised by the bonus scoop of creamy mango ice cream, which calmed the spicy festivities dancing around on our tongues.
There was a birthday being celebrated at a neighboring table, and apparently this restaurant is a common place to celebrate such an occasion. The waiters gather around to serenade the birthday person, and the small space encourages all fellow diners to join in with their new acquaintances.
The affordable prices, congenial atmosphere, and authentic cuisine make Milon stand out among its peers.
Shaking of hands to introduce yourself is fine. A quick hug on the first time you meet, okay good. But hugs that linger? FROM A SERVER/OWNER who you met for the first time? I DONT THINK SO.
Ruined everything for me. Will definitely NOT return again. Too touchy-feely for my taste. I dont like my Indian food with light harassment on the side. BEWARE.
My staple Indian restaurant in NYC. Up and to the left. ALWAYS to the left. Don't give in to the pressure.
The inside looks like like someone shook up a can of New Years Eve and it exploded everywhere, and there aren't enough red chili pepper lights anymore. A warning, if you're over 5'10, you're going to have trouble walking, sitting, and eating in here. And forget using the bathroom.
The food is good. Really good. Not fantastic, but every time I've gone to another Indian restaurant on Indian Row I've wished I had just gone to Milon.
BYOB, take advantage of this. There's a liquor shop on 8th and 1st (look for the yellow 'Liquor' sign) for wine (the waiters will uncork it for you and bring you wine glasses), or go to the bodega downstairs and choose from the 100s of kinds of beer they have. Last night a couple had a case of Miller Lite under the table. Never saw that before, but I'm filing it away for next time. I prefer getting a magnum of yellow tail, or if you're really in a party mood, a gallon of Carlo Rossi for like $7.
Be sure to tell them it's someone's birthday when you go. It doesn't matter whose, nor do they really care, but it's totally worth it for the sing along. Just point to anyone and say "Hey it's their birthday!"
And holy shit is this place cheap. Cash only tho.
I am completely obsessed with spicy food. I spent 5 1/2 weeks traveling India and Sri Lanka tasting every curry I could get my hands on. I am extremely picky, and have come to realize that it's almost impossible to find Indian food in the US with the same spice that I had when I was in Asia.
I happen to love Milon. The atmosphere just might give you a seizure. We had the pleasure of eating our last meal to the entire soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire.
It is a popular place for birthday parties. The lights dim (even further), a strobe light appears, and their idea of Happy Birthday blows through the speakers. It's a lot of fun. The waiters are so excited to have customers, they get a bit too friendly at times. I have been offered free appetizers just for entering their restaurant instead of the neighboring place.
The price is right, you BYOB, and there's no corkage fee. I usually order the lamb vindaloo-spicy, butter/garlic nan (there's is the best), and a dal or shag ponir. They will serve you mango ice cream at the end of your meal. It is delicious, and tastes homemade.
I don't believe in paying a ton of money for a decent Indian meal. It's nice to know I don't have to. You can have the pleasure of enjoying your meal, the ambiance, and your company at Milon. I prefer this restaurant to its neighbors, and have been fought over when trying to choose between them. It really depends on how hungry I am and how long the line is, but 9 times out of 10 I will choose Milon.
The reason to go here is real simple SCIENCE. It gets surreal. What everyone says is totally true. Cramped little space, loads of Christmas extravaganza hanging from the ceilings & that odd moment when the makeshift light show starts blinking & the crazy, Indian techno birthday song begins. Your unsuspecting friend sitting completely bewildered with his candlelit scoop of mango ice-cream, people clapping & grinning to the beat & a true 'WTF just happened' moment. Combine that to BYOB policy & a really cheap dinner that ain't half bad & you're onto a winning combination.
As a woman who doesn't like a waiter touching her back, I sit with my back to the wall. They can't touch me until I'm on the way out & they're saying, "Happy Birthday!" They tend to say it to the whole group of birthday revelers which adds to the WTF nature of the whole experience. NYC FUN. More places need to experiment with time & space, indeed.
Don't be afraid of the aggressive doormen at this place. GO IN and EAT HERE. It's your birthday, anyway! Why not celebrate with disco lights spinning, an insane version of "Happy Birthday" playing, tinsel and Christmas lights hanging in your face, and sitting elbow to elbow to the table next to you? And not to mention, free mango sorbet! The staff is incredibly jubilant and happy to serve you, and you can BYOB. Oh yeah, the food's tasty as well, and the price is right. Just do it. You'll be happy you did.
Despite their policy of everyone showing up before they seat you policy, this place is a phenomenal place to have a birthday party. I tried planning a surprise party of 18 people here yesterday night. We waited a little, but were successfully seated before the "SURPRISE" part of the party. It was hilarious because just about everyone in NYC is celebrating their party there. So as soon as one table cheers, every other table cheers. It was definitely a festive environment, and well worth the wait. I think for a party of 10, you can get seated quicker. They don't say "no." They only take cash. They will rush you out, but granted everyone in NYC is celebrating their birthdays there. It is truly a unique experience.
Now there are 4 of these restaurants -- two at the top, and two at the bottom. Milon in the one on the left-top corner. Last time I didn't have the patience, and went to one of the other 3, which occluded me from returning because I didn't think the food was up to par. But for this party, and the price-point, I revisited Milon, and stuck with it even though the promoters for the other restaurants were trying to persuade my group to try the other 3. There was a significant difference in the taste of the food. Milon was definitely better than the other one I tried last year.
The surprisee said that was the best party, and it really was. It's a little uncomfortable at first, but take a lot of wine, and keep the bubbly flowing. It is definitely a memorable experience.
Absolutely LOVE Milon! Great place for a weeknight dinner, place to bring out-of-town friends, or birthday celebration. The prices are cheap and the food is solidly good. Plus, you can't help but love the random assortment of lights.
When I go to Milon I always get the vegetarian dinner, which costs about $10. It comes with soup (mulligatawny is yummy), a plate of fried things (samosa, pakora, etc.), main dish, rice, bread, and mango ice cream. The portion size of the main dish is pretty large, and everything is good and tasty (but not particularly notable). The service is fast, if a bit "touchy feely", as other reviewers have mentioned (it seems to be one older waiter in particular who likes to rub the ladies' shoulders). The BYOB is also another excellent feature, of course.
Don't forget to surprise your friend who's never been there by secretly telling the waiters it's his/her b-day (when it's not). You won't regret it.
Milon... Can you say "FUC* YEAH" !?
Hello Yelp!
- BYOB with no cork fee (Buy a bottle at Trader Joes for $5 and get waisted at dinner with friends for NOTHING!)
- Cheap and decent (not the best Indian food, but it fits the cheap price) dinner options along with combos that include soup, appetizer & dessert.
- Fun & Bouncy Indian Club Like Music
- Crazy Christmas lights on crack decor
The only downfall about this east village Indian Restaurant is the super tiny space and if your not drinking or slightly drunk you'll probably get annoyed quickly. Also, the waiters tend to be very "touchy" with the females, I'm sure they did not mean anything disrespectful by it and some cultures are just more lovey dovey...but dude, enough with rubbing my shoulders. I almost charged them for my meal! (j/p of course)
Overall this place is a great spot for cheap drinking and eats with a couple of friends (no more than 4). ;o)
Milon, known amongst my friends as "top left" because of its place among 3 other Indian restaurants, is the best amongst the lot of them. The food isn't the best Indian I've had, but the value is second to none--you can get a great, full meal here for under $12.
The seating is incredibly tight, no doubt. The ambiance is...peculiar; every wall, as well as the ceiling, is covered with lights and various holiday celebration decorations. Celebrations at Milon are common, as I've been witness to a birthday EVERY time I've been there. Are they real birthdays? Doubtful, but every bday is met with a crazy light show and Indian birthday song--from speakers, though, rather than the staff itself.
The best time to go is at lunch when it's less crowded and you can take advantage of the lunch special, which is generous. That said, the young crowds that frequent this place help make it fun, and whether you're there for lunch or dinner, there's always a free scoop of mango ice scream to top off your meal.
Take someone who gets thoroughly embarrassed when sung to on their birthday. (+ tell them its their birthday secretly)
Hope its crowded.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/14/2008
The ONE reason to go here is the decor.
The food is pretty mediocre.. you can definitely find better… Read more »
This place is amazingly weird, but I love it. I wish D.C. had a place like this. Milon is one of my favorites in NYC since it's close to my boyfriend's place and there is always a unique experience to be had here. Plus, it's cheap!!
Milon has great food, it's BYOB, the music is fun and loud and the decor is festively tacky. I love it!! On top of that, the waiters are a pushy and I think they lack any sort of sense of personal space. Perhaps this explains why they think it's OK to string layers and layers of lights, beach balls and streamers across an already low ceiling so they skim the top of your head and why your table of 4 feels like it's connected the the table just 3 feet to side of you. But in NYC, I feel like it's required that you're awkwardly close to complete strangers next to you.
So, all of this probably sounds bad, but it's not... it's great!! Oh yes, and the best part, I love the happy birthday routine! What an unusual place... did I mention that I love it?! =D
I came here with a few girlfriends this weekend - I've passed by this place many times and was intrigued by all the Christmas lights, but never got a chance to come in so I was excited to try it.
There are three almost identical restaurants that share the same corner. Staff from all three restaurants stand outside pressuring you to come in. Some people find this off-putting, but I was expecting it so I laughed and went to Milon, where I was supposed to meet my friends.
The restaunt was very small and a bit cramped - this is my main complaint. Otherwise, it was a really fun experience to eat here.
I loved the quirky decor and the cheesy Bollywood music. The waiters were a bit flirty and chatty with us, but they were also pretty efficient with the service and they were very nice.
The food is Indian, but it is prepared by Bengalis so there are some Bengali influences to the spelling of dishes and the preparation of the food. However, it is very good Indian food and the value is unbeatable. (I'm Indian and a decent cook so I have some credibility here). My favorites were the banana pakora & the vegetable house curry.
I ordered a vegetable curry, which came with rice, bread, and daal & it was only $6.50. On top of that, the restaurant is BYOB with no corkage fee. It was the cheapest sit-down dinner I've had in ages!
Overall a really fun, quirky place with cheap, delicious Indian food!
Fun place. Crazy lights. Say it's your birthday.
Four competing Indian Restaurants right next to each other bodes for an entertaining start of a meal. Don't fear when men jump out from inside the restaurants calling you to enter, its part of the whole shebang.
Milon (the one on the top left) we delightful. Great selection with pleasant servers. They even gave us a small sample of the DELICIOUS mango ice cream for free, without us asking.
I suggest the Banana Pakora as an appetizer, and the Nobaration as a main dish. The Chicken Tikka Masala was not as creamy as I usually see it, but still good.
Prices were very reasonable. BYOB.
There are a lot of favorites for me when it comes to this place.
It's BYOB
It's cheap
The staff is super friendly
It's always someone's birthday-- an event that prompts the flipping of the lightswitch and happy Indian music playing while everyone claps
Palak Paneer and Chana Masala are divine. The nan and samosas I could eat all day but would be obese.
Some very minor negatives are that it's super narrow and cramped, with low hanging glitzy lights and decorations (adds to the fun but makes it a fire hazard). Also, one bathroom right next to the kitchen. The staff, as I said, is super friendly but sometimes a little overly so but still a nice bunch of guys.
And last, when youre approaching the restaurant to enter you have another one direcly opposite it and one below it with men from each establishment, Milon included, trying to get you to eat at their respective places. Slightly annoying/scary.
Go for the food. The BYOB. ::salivates::
BYOB & cheap eat. the restaurant is very narrow and is lit by a fire hazard of low-hanging christmas lights. somehow they can accommodate groups, but i also enjoy going with small groups of friends or solo. great for lunch or dinner. favorite items to order on the menu: the mulagatani soup, assorted samosa appetizers (fried bananas, veggie pies, and yams), garlic nan and the chicken tikka masala (white meat chicken in a red cream sauce with bananas and nuts).
i love the people who work here and haven't found indian food as tasty as this place anywhere else (though naan 'n' curry in san francisco came kind of close). salivating for milon and missing my friends!
The food at Milon is totally unremarkable, the bathroom is kind of gross, the waitstaff is friendly to the point of being sketchy, and there is no legroom to speak of anywhere in the restaurant. Yet somehow this place is one of my favourites in the entire world.
There are honestly not words to describe this place. It's like every overstocked holiday (yes, holiday -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, birthday, thanksgiving, tiki-themed, St Patty's...) decoration in every dollar store in the five boroughs went through a wormhole which opened up into 400 square feet of seizure-inducing glory in the East Village. It's BYOB, so hit up the Trader Joe's wine store on 14th on your way there -- the place only gets better halfway through a $7 bottle of wine.
Also, when it's someone's birthday? The overhead lights go out, a strange techno-Asian version of the birthday song comes on, and all the lights begin flashing on and off. Look carefully: it's not a strobe light, it's the man by the door actually PLUGGING AND UNPLUGGING THE POWER STRIP to the whole place. Fire hazards FTW!
Seriously, it's amazing.
AMBIANCE.There are several men standing outside trying to woo you into their restaurant, so make sure you walk into the right one. They all look so similar you'd think it was the same place (go up the stairs, to the left). It's like walking into a carnival fun house. Crazy things hanging all over the ceiling. If you have eyeglasses, take them off and it'll feel like you're at a rave with "flashing lights" as Indian house music beats in the background.
WAIT STAFF. The waiters are friendly enough. I read a review by Sara S. about them hitting on the ladies, but my girl friend and I weren't bothered at all (though we were with 4 guys). The service was quick and they kept our waters filled (I'm REALLY picky about always having my water glass filled at an appropriate level).
FOOD. CHEAP. DELICIOUS. Oh. man. I just had an appetizer (poori bread with chicken curry) for $3.50. Yes, you read that correctly. It was tasty! I tried their strawberry lassi too. It was refreshing! I'd definitely go back if I weren't so paranoid about getting hit on by one of the waiters. If I had a team of guys to accompany me, I'm so there.
4 STARS for a hilarious atmosphere, nice service, and cheap yummy eats. Minus one star for having to be paranoid about going there to eat alone or with girls only o_O Also, the way they stand outside hollering at people to come eat at their restaurant can get kiiiind of intimidating.
I don't like to be lured like wild cattle, thanks.
Amidst a reading of Shantaram I was craving a "transporting" Indian dining experience. I'm not quite sure where I was transported to but I enjoyed where Milon took me. The food was quite good - not the best to be clear - but for $6.95 an entree plus the flexibility of BYOB you really feel triumphantly full, strangely entertained and pleased that good value doesn't come with too many sacrifices. We'll be back for sure.
I haven't gone back to this place since last year, but if what Heather M. wrote is true, I'm utterly disappointed!!!! I loved the tacky crazy Xmas-esque decorations, that's what made this place so special and amusing! I was also planning to bring my out-of-town friend here but I guess I have to go next door then. What a shame!!!
The food here is decent and cheap($20 for prix-fixe dinner for 2!), but without all the decorations, it must have lost its charm. I really hope they put those cheesy fabulous decor back!
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in the city. Not just for the food, but for the atmosphere. This is the kind of restaurant where the owners stand outside and try to usher people in, and by God, let them!
There are so many lights and crap all over the walls and the ceiling that it's impossible to walk through without ducking and hitting everything with your head. It's also a very tight place, usually with a good number of people crammed into it, but that just adds to the charm.
The menu is huge, and I've never ordered something I didn't like. The owners and waiters appear to be seriously happy that you're there, and they make the experience all the better.
Whether it's your first time, or tenth time, everyone will act like you're a regular, and call you by your name (whether it's really your name or not) and everyone gets a free hug on the way out!
Also, like everyone has said, it's BYOB. So if you wanna drink, bring some booze. However, this is a place right down stairs that sells beer and wine, and that works out perfectly.
Definitely a place to check out. And definitely a place I take my tourist friends whenever they're visiting.
This place is a gem. Good food, bring your own alcohol, loud music, tacky yet festive decor, extra low ceilings and pushy waiters. Sounds bad, but it's not, it's oh so good.
I love the happy birthday routine here! Even if it's not your birthday just lie to them and tell the waiters it is and watch as the waiter hits play on the tape deck!
Some places have great food, some have great service, this place has a boatload of crazy lights and cheap/good Indian food.
If you go in knowing that, you can have a blast. Already thinking of having a next b'day there (and it's byob).
Do you want to eat decent Indian food inside the Times Square New Years Eve ball ( transported to the top of an East Village stoop) next to underage teens from the boroughs drinking the six packs they bought on the corner store? I think that it depends on the night, don't you think? Let the festivities and the chicken that's almost tikka sala, but goes by another similar name, begin!! Oh, and did I mention that it's my friend's birthday?
This should probably be more like 3 1/2 stars because for the price it is hard to beat, but overall i just didn't think the food was that good. I had the lunch special which came with papadum, a few chutneys, soup, samosa (meat or veggie) naan, dal, rice, and afterward a small bit of ice cream. All that for 8.50 including tax/tip. In addition i didn't finish the rice/dish so i have left overs. needless to say thats an insane amount of food for 8.50 (the portions weren't small), but overall i just didnt think the food was that great. Not a lot of spice and oftentimes there was sugar where it wasn't needed. In conclusion, I may go again because of the good deals, but the food was nothing special.
Milon is next door to and in direct competition with Panna II. Everyone thinks they're secretly owned by the same person and/or they share a kitchen. I believe neither of these things because I have been to both multiple times and there is a very clear difference in that Panna II is significantly cleaner inside and the food tastes much more fresh.
They're both BYOB and extremely affordable - and Milon isn't bad, it's just that Panna II is better. So there.
The thing that gets you in the door is the crazy lights that serve as a beacon from the street ---- it's saying "Come get your Spice!"
If you want cheap eats, get the Dinner Special.
If you want tasty deliciousness, order the Banana Pakora .
If you are going with friends, take advantage of BYOB!
I'm not a well seasoned Indian food lover -- I actually hate it. My girlfriend loves it, so I'm converting. This place helps me bridge the gap.
First off, Milon is not for everybody. But at the very least it's not boring - the place has 10000 watts worth of fire hazard character, a robust Indian techno soundtrack, a horny wait staff, rampant boozing, and birthdays every 5 minutes all shoved into a cramped corridor of a restaurant. This is THE place, the other place to the right and downstairs has some of these elements, but you've gotta hit up Milon.
I enjoy it because I enjoy cheap decently good Indian food (granted there's some Bangladeshi influence and it's not like omg the best Indian food EVER), the festive party hard atmosphere, the tacky decor and just to partake in some ridiculous debauchery. Plus, BYOB rules.
And yes, there is rampant ass and booby grabbin' by the waiters. I've gotta say that I've been there with girls or seen girls who not only seemed to enjoy this lewd behavior but encouraged it? Oh those silly broads.
Having said that, it can be avoided with harsh rebuttals/making it clear you won't tolerate it and by bringing guys who look like they won't tolerate it as well... I saw a waiter acting a little too friendly with my girlfriend at the time and shot him a little look to let him know I wasn't happy about it. He backed off. So ladies, bring out the bitch face.
