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Vatan Indian Vegetarian

4 star rating
based on 69 reviews

Categories: Indian, Vegetarian

Neighborhoods: Murray Hill, Kips Bay
409 3rd Ave
(between 28th St & 29th St)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 689-5666
Current Deals!

-All You Can Eat Prix Fixe Dinner Menu Now for ONLY $25.00!
-Entire Drink Menu, Buy One Get One Free (Includes all alcoholic beverages)!

 
Nearest Transit:

28th St-Park Ave S (6)

Hours:

Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
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69 reviews for Vatan Indian Vegetarian

Review Highlights   

user photo
"Beautiful Gujarati food that is rich without being greasy." (in 11 reviews)
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"Dessert - mango ice cream, tea - both my absolute favs." (in 5 reviews)
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"Like everyone says, you won't miss the meat if you're an omnivore." (in 5 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of P S.

 

0

9

P S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/31/2010

This is sort of a family style restaurant. I would NOT go on a date to Vatan. The food is authentic/amazing, and the service was very good. The mix is quite good.

The restuarant was recently renovated however most people have said the ambience was better before. The table and the seats were rather awkward. If you make a reservation, try to get seated downstairs.

If the ambiance was better I would have rated it higher. I will definitely go back again.

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Photo of elizabeth t.

 

4

26

elizabeth t.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
12/31/2009

I love Vatan. I've been going there off and on for the past three years and I've always loved the meals I get there.

The place is spacious and neat. The wait staff is friendly. And I can't find the food of this quality anywhere else. When I moved out to San Francisco, Vatan was the restaurant I missed the most. Now we go on New Years Eve for dinner - and I just got back tonight and, again, it was fantastic.

If you don't want prix fixe, if you don't want vegetarian, if you don't want to go somewhere that the wait staff doesn't hover and lets you be... Don't go here. But it's a lovely, quiet, not cramped place with fantastic and unique Indian food. If you are a fan of that, by all means, go!

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Photo of Al J.

 

13

86

Al J.

New York, NY

4 star rating
12/18/2009

Delicious - Indian Gujarati Vegeterian that hits the spot everytime. No menus or ordering necessary; upon arriving, diners will be presented with the first of three different thalis (each of which have 5-7 different dishes). If that weren't enough, the thalis come with several garnishes and chutneys to supplement the meal. The textures and flavors are all distinct, interesting, and mouth-watering. An interesting tidbit about Gujarati food is the blend of sweet and spicy: each course has at least one "dessert" along with the savory items.

Many favorites to look out for. First and foremost, I always order seconds (the thalis are "all-you-can-eat") of the samosas. The Batatavadas are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, almost like a perfectly cooked croquette. The Chola (Chickpeas with Tamarind and Garam Masala) is my favorite of the entrees, and I always order a side of Mango Pulp (ask for it) to eat with the Pooris.

Dessert is simple: mango ice-cream and Chai. Usually, I'm not able to finish it, on account of being completely stuffed.

The decor of Vatan is one of a kind - one of the kitschiest restaurants in Manhattan, complete with plastic trees, pagodas, paintings, and sculptures. Service is consistently excellent. All in all, Vatan is the type of place you want to bring friends too for a nice, long, lazy dinner. Everyone will want to come back again.

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Elite '10

39

66

Neha M.

New York, NY

4 star rating
9/28/2009

god damn, I've never been literally rolled out of a restaurant before...first time for everything I suppose. Vatan is a cheesy looking all you can eat Indian restaurant which only serves vegetarian food. Upon walking in, you're greeted by a statue of Ganesh, aka the elephant god and fake trees. All I could think was that the Indian Uncle who owns this place had a field day creating his own Indian version of Vegas or something.

Aside from the cheese ass decor, the food at this place is pretty damn good. An all you can eat menu of really simple, down home Indian food is served for $31 bucks a person, not including drinks. Here's a play by play:

Round 1: The appetizer plate came out first and was filled with mini samosas, chaat and appetizery delights . Overall the apps were just ok and not all that flavorful. Child's play. Bring on the good stuff would you?

Round 2: The main course is where it got good. Multiple vegetable curries, dals, and yogurt, were brought out on a plate along with a basket of puri (fried bread) and a vat of rice to sop it all up with. Going strong, eating, laughing and chatting, no sweat.

Round 3: We ask the waitress to fill 'er up again. I grab more puris and go at it. Halfway through all of a sudden I start feeling a little bloated. I wash the feeling down with my beer

Round 4: Feeling queasy, loosen the belt a few notches and keep going.

Round 5: no more for the love of God! didn't even make it to dessert.....K.O.

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1

11

Miah M.

New York, NY

3 star rating
9/24/2009

Well, my food and decor ratings are different. 3 is an average, i think, I am comfortable with.

We had a reservation (I think you need to have one) for a party of two but we waited for a good 20 minutes to get seated. The staff and environment reminded me a bit of the organized chaos you see in India. The hosts were polite and updated us frequently about how soon we may get seated.

The first thing you notice once you walk into the restaurant is its unusual decor - considering this is a NYC establishment. The renovated decor resembles a courtyard of an Indian palace - a good idea but a bit gimmicky and kitschy - something I'd expect in Vegas. Though it added to the overall experience. Maybe, a good place to take out of town friends and relatives. The layout and seating arrangement are good for groups and parties. For its different and interesting (!) decor, I'd give it a 3.5.

The food looked good but tasted average. I can't remember a single item that I wanted more or finished fast. Everything was OK but nothing was exceptional - falling short of creating an impact. I'd give them a 2 for food.

I might go there again with a large group so we enjoy the company and not focus on food.

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0

26

jay h.

Bronx, NY

4 star rating
12/27/2009

Great place - reminds a bit of how I'm served at Mom's. The food just comes out and there is a lot of it. Different appetizers are put out first and a little later the main courses are served. At Mom's there are anywhere from 3 to 10 entrees served (depending on the event). At Vatan it's pretty much the same way. You get an offering of different things (although, having visited this place a few times over years, it seems the different things on the plate, don't change too much) to try and can ask for more if you like. This is the same at Mom's - she always makes more than needed and always stuffs everyone :).

The setting is nice - a little tacky but hits the spot because, I think, it's lighted well and the tables are fare enough apart. The service is very good and pricing is reasonable. The food overall is reliable and consistent - nothing fancy (but then again, what indian food is fancy?).

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Elite '10

20

147

Patricia S.

New York, NY

3 star rating
10/11/2009

I have such mixed feelings about this place. The good: all you can eat veg indian food, friendly service, they don't skimp on variety. The bad: the decor is a bit too much, some of the items are bland, the price is on the expensive side and most of the food is served cold.

It's definitely worth the experience for a special occasion or just to try once, but I can't give it a rave review :-/

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2

150

Randy W.

Suffolk, NY

5 star rating
10/13/2009

One of the best Indian restaurants I've ever experienced!  The decor is very original and has the feel of a late 90's Bollywood romance ... very classic, perhaps a little campy, but happily so.

The service was top notch and possibly the friendliest I've ever experienced in NYC.  I think our waitress genuinely felt bad about interupting us when she explained each course.

Now the food ... $31 for all you can eat Gujarati Vegetarian.  No, not buffet, but platters of food brought out to you.  Think 18 different items to choose from, almost all of which are FABULOUS.  And after you have stuffed yourself so full you think you may explode they bring you desert.

Vatan, I love you.  One small critique ... use glasses for water instead of the metal cups.  They make the water taste metallic and bad.

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2

4

Brion R.

New York, NY

5 star rating
9/13/2009

This is best North Indian restaurant in NYC.   Its authentic and ask any Indian person and they will tell you its great.

- Portions are plenty
- They will adjust the food to even American palate
- Beautiful decor
- Great service
- And healthy eating.

If you want something more creative, that's different. Try Tabla or Devi.  But the real deal north Indian style is here.

You won't be disappointed and its a great date place to impress someone.  Even a new yorker that's been everywhere.

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Photo of myles f.

 

0

5

myles f.

Palm Beach, FL

1 star rating
10/9/2009

(Dined there in late June 2009)... Tremendous disappointment that this once good restaurant has descended into expensive mediocrity, punctuated by what must be a lack of care. The food was mushy and tasteless. The service amateurish (with an 18% gratuity tagged on). And worse, we spent $175 for 4 people with wine. It just is not worth it.

They redecorated but it does not look much different except they may have added seating upstairs. Skip this place. There are too many Indian restaurants in New York and loads of vegetarian options on their menus to waste a dime or your time at Vatan. Shame, as I used to really like it there and brought friends all the time.

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Photo of Karolina L.

 

1

4

Karolina L.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
10/1/2009

After switching to vegetarianism I searched high and low for a veg. restaurant that would serve great veg. food. I was blown away by this place. Since then I have gone back many times and all of my non veg. friends love the food as well.  Though the price has increased since the first time I went there, I still consider it a bargain. It's $31 all you can eat and the food is addicting. The decor is kinda cheese and since the renovation you can no longer get seated at a table where you can take your shoes off unless you come with a group of people (that's a bummer). Other than that, service is great and the food is delicious.

Did I mention how nice the bathrooms are?

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Elite '10

68

289

Adam R.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
Updated - 11/5/2009

After the remodel, some of the ambiance was lost.  Plus, while the food is still good, it's not the best.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    7/29/2008

    If you want a decidedly different Indian experience, try Vatan on for size.  I love meat, but have… Read more »

Photo of Chelsea Q.

 

6

42

Chelsea Q.

New York, NY

5 star rating
7/6/2009

Beautiful Gujarati food that is rich without being greasy.  Fun, slightly kitschy decor in the style of an Indian palace courtyard.

Bring a big appetite and a tolerance for spice.  You'll get a lot of variety but the uniting theme is that it's all good and it's all hot.

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Elite '10

2

77

Ian R.

Bloomfield, NJ

3 star rating
5/26/2009

I would like to give Vatan 4 stars.

Having enjoyed several authentic thalis in various parts of India, the authenticity of Vatan's thali is quite high.  Tasty, non-greasy, and sufficient offerings in both the appetizer and main course.  (The puris are too greasy, however)  I'm not going to comment on each of the offerings suffice to say they were all very enjoyable, some more than others.  I was surprised the tea is unsweetened, as I am unaware of any self-respecting Indian restaurant that serves unsweetened tea.  The mango ice cream, while a nice idea, needs more mango flavor.

You definitely get your money's worth to the extent that there is too much food and a lot of waste.  The upper level needs a bit more ambiance apart from the sky-blue theme backlit by fluorescent lighting.

Walked out of there just paying just over $80 for two, tax, tip, and a glass of wine each.

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Elite '10

25

92

Scott S.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
8/10/2009

Awesome, awesome Gujarati Indian.  Very authentic - you walk down a corridor and are transported out of NYC into a beautiful Indian enclave.  You sit with your group either on a large, low floor-table or a benched booth.  You don't order; the thalis (large round platters with smaller dishes inside them, for those of you not yet into West Indian) of the day are just brought to you, and you can keep asking for more of anything you want.  The flavors are beautiful and dynamic. Native/first-gen Indians I know say the food is very authentic to the home region of the cooks.  Of course it is vegetarian, being Gujarati, but trust me carnivores: you WON'T miss the meat.  The spicing and the subtleties of flavor weave their beautiful magic and transport you away to a better place.

Vatan is one of the things I miss the most about NYC.

(Thank you to the reader who corrected me - I had mis-pegged Vatan as South Indian when it is really Gujarati, a western state.)

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Photo of Vihar D.

 

0

10

Vihar D.

Monmouth Junction, NJ

3 star rating
1/2/2010

Too much food. At $31 a pop, it is a little too much to ask for even with the variety of food thats offered. Worst part is that kids 10 yr old pay the same price. Sure enough, they dont even eat half as much as the adults. I might never visit this place again.

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Photo of wendy k.

 

0

36

wendy k.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/2/2009

Its all you can eat-but in a good way.  Just wish I had known before walking in.   Tasty.  

No meat?  Who noticed?  

Friendly, helpful, kind service.  Yes a bit kitschy interior-but in a cute, subtle  kind of way.  

Overall, something like 18 (seriously) things served on the price fix menu (the only option), so go hungry and sample everything.

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1

7

A B.

New York, NY

3 star rating
1/11/2010

the space was extremely interesting. you take off your shoes before you eat and the decor was cool. i think it happens to be a little pricey because it's prix fixe. for a meal without any meat. the food was good, but extremely spicy (for those of us not use to indian food).

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5 star rating
Updated - 9/30/2009

Since re-opening last Fall after their renovations, their all-you-can-eat 3 course dinner has increased from $24 to $31, but considering the amount and quality of food you are getting, I still consider this a steal for NYC!  Service is always friendly and the atmosphere is very peaceful and inviting.  Still my fave Indian veg restaurant in NYC after all these years!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    4/26/2007

    Yes, I'm afraid it 's true - I think I'm becoming a "regular" here!  How could I not, with all the… Read more »

Photo of Arshbir G.

 

23

46

Arshbir G.

Sunnyside, NY

1 star rating
5/22/2009

Note: I did not taste the food.

*Why can't I give this place 0 stars?*

I thought this place being vegetarian-only would be like mecca for me.

I WAS SOOOOOO WRONG.

When I first walked in, I was greeted by a lovely lady who showed me to my table. That was about the only thing nice about the place. After that, I waited 30 minutes without even being brought water. The same lady who showed me to my table, after seating some people, noticed that I had not been served, told me she would get someone. 15 minutes later - NOTHING. I walked out of there after being patient for 30 minutes. Where did I go? Tamarind.

Honestly, I'm paying for service and food.

Maybe it was a bad day for them, considering they have gotten decent reviews. BUT I WILL NEVER GO BACK.

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Photo of Sonia K.

 

1

37

Sonia K.

Edison, NJ

3 star rating
5/29/2009

Ok..it has been some time I ate here but looks like things have not changed much. My experience, you of course need a reservation to show up here. We were waiting in line and a family showed up an hour after their reservation time and was pissed they had to still wait. Well, I don't think they had reason to gripe whatever their reason for delay but hey..that's my opinion.
As for the restaurant, we were seated downstairs and if you are not used to sitting on the floor then it can get uncomfortable. The portion size was huge and we ended up leaving a lot of it. The spice for me was a lot.
Yes, the server lady does come around and explain all the food with lot hand gestures.
It is an experience restaurant..it is definitely not a foodie restaurant.
Go here for the ambiance if you want!

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5

10

Apurva P.

Manhasset, NY

4 star rating
6/9/2009

We had a great experience last Sunday. Unfortunately we were not very hungry going in, so were not able to totally pig-out - it's the only way to eat at Vatan, with the number of goodies and courses.

I am from the Gujarat region of India - that's the kind of food Vatan specializes in.  The food is very authentic - while some of the things vary from the way my mom prepares it - for example the daal and kadhi are a little sweeter at my home, everything is still done right.

I would like more bread offerings like rotli, rotla, thepla, pooran poli etc.  They only had poori - but it was perfectly done - fresh, hot and puffy.

I wonder if they have the same menu every day of the week...did not ask. I would definitely like a rotating menu for the main course at least.

I am definitely going back.

*** It's all you can eat, prix-fixe...so go only when you are really, really hungry!

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Photo of K T B.

 

155

251

K T B.

New York, NY

5 star rating
11/30/2008

My meal at Vatan was excellent -- one of the best Indian meals I've had in a very long time.  I'm an omnivore and I didn't miss the meat one iota.  I'm also a big spice wimp, so the low-spicy version of the dishes was perfect for me.  My companion, who loves spice, said that the hot version wasn't quite hot enough for her.  So if you can actually take it, perhaps tell your server that you want Indian-level hot, not American-level hot.

I love meals where you get to sample a lot of pre-selected dishes.  There were several that I wanted more of, and the server was happy to bring them (no extra charge).  The flavors, textures, preparation were all amazing.  Each new and familiar thing I tried made my mouth happy.

If you're into Indian food or looking for a heavenly dining experience for not a ridiculous amount of money, go to Vatan.

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Elite '10

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56

Nicole R.

New York, NY

2 star rating
4/14/2009

I don't see what everyone else likes about this place.  

First of all, the place is huge.  We sat upstairs and it felt cold, bare, and isolated.  The space was used poorly...and the seats/tables were arranged awkwardly.  I also remember it being very dark and gloomy.

As soon as we sat down, we were given menus, which were immediately confiscated because there's only one option: the pre fix menu, which I think was about $30 per person.  The appetizers were awesome, and I couldn't wait for the main course.  But the main course turned out to be a huge disappointment (unless you like Lentil soup sans lentils).  That was followed by an insulting little bowl of ice cream and tea.  

The place wasn't that busy, even though it was a Friday night.  But for some reason the waitress waited about 20 minutes between each course.  She explained everything well and even used the "flight attendant double-finger point" when she described the dishes - classy!

This place isn't worth the money.  You feel ripped off after sitting in a cold dungeon for almost 2.5 hours.

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6

14

Carolyn S.

Doylestown, PA

5 star rating
2/17/2009 2 photos

Oh geez, Vatan was so good that I'm still thinking about it, and it's been over a month since I ate there.  Basically all my friend and I were able to talk about throughout the meal was how freaking GOOD it was, we couldn't get over it.  Now, not every single dish was as good as all the others, but the ones that were good were really over-the-top delicious.  The cauliflower appetizer really stood out, as did the spinach/corn and cauliflower (different kind) entrees.  The breads were both phenomenal, and the dal rice was beyond delicious.  The menu is all you can eat, but I was too stuffed to order seconds of anything except the cauliflower appetizer.  Oh also, the chutneys, delicious!  

Our waitress was incredibly helpful and nice, she was happy to explain the million courses we were served and was very attentive.  An overall wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back!

I also reviewed Vatan here:
http://lveggplant.word...

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Elite '10

63

368

Kelly A.

Revere, MA

5 star rating
12/21/2008

Thanks to Yelp for leading my in the direction of Vatan!  It was right near my hotel and it wooed us for dinner on a snowy Friday night.

When we got there, the waiter explained how the menu worked, how it was a completely-vegetarian prix fixe dinner, and how at $30 per person, we'd get to try every single thing on the menu.  That kind of blew my mind.  So we went in, got a seat, took in the cool atmosphere.  (A giant elephant!  A huge tree!  Awesome paintings!  Traditional garb!)

I knew we'd be getting a ton of food, so I really made a concerted effort to take only a bite or two of each thing.  The appetizers were all delicious, very different from most of the Indian food I've had before, and full of all kinds of unusual flavors.  I particularly enjoyed the garbanzo bean and tomato salad.  The entrees were equally interesting, with everything from spinach and corn to cardamom rice pudding.  For dessert we had a lovely masala tea and mango ice cream.  

I was glad that I made the decision to only eat a tiny bit of each item, as I felt like I really got to appreciate all of the well-rounded flavors without stuffing myself to discomfort.  This was the best, most interesting Indian meal I've had yet.

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Photo of Michiel M.

 

2

12

Michiel M.

New York, NY

5 star rating
3/24/2009

Vatan serves Gujarati food from Gujarat in Western India. It is simply amazing! I am still thinking about the lovely food.... did I already say it was amazing?! Here is what you get for a fixed price: an appetizer consisting of 8 small dishes, 9 dishes for the entree, rice and dessert. All very tasty/ nice flavors.

Meat lovers will not miss anything: guaranteed!

Just bring socks, shoes are off at the dining table but the floor has cold tiles!

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1

6

sumbul n.

Shelton, CT

2 star rating
11/12/2008

I heard lots about this place and finally went to eat there. The food is definitely not worth the fuss. Its 25 bucks a person so if you dont have a humumgus apetite you will be wasting a lot of food. And besides tehy get you so many small things you really dont know what you are eating (and I say that inspite of india)...so if you are a person who likes your 600 calorie meals, this place is definitely not for you.

The wait staff is extremely cheesily dressed and seem to be rude.
The place itself it kinda nice and rustic.

I wouldnt recommend it very much.

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Photo of Muna K.

 

11

19

Muna K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
8/15/2008

Vatan and Tamarind are my favorite Indian restaurants in the city.

Vatan serves traditional Gujurati Vegetarian dishes served thaali-style (lots of small dishes plus flatbreads and rice).  Its a family-style experience which reminds me of eating at home with my Gujurati family.  Speaking of, my family loves this restaurant - everyone but my mom (who we try not to offend when raving about the Vatan chef - she feels threatened by the competition).

Make sure to ask for seconds of the mango raas (puree) and enjoy a cup of authentic chai (no soy-chai-latte-foamy imitator) with your meal.

Please hurry up and open up again, Vatan!

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2

52

Nick in NY C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/12/2009

It's Gujurati vegetarian.

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Photo of Sai S.

 

0

64

Sai S.

Palo Alto, CA

1 star rating
12/8/2008

Just awful. Please keep reading, this is not a joke

- Service: just terrible. We get there at 845pm, are seated, and it take sthem 45 minutes to even come back to the table to check on us and bring the appetizer thali. Amazingly, they serve THE SAME THALI TO EVERYONE so why we waited, starved, for 45 minutes with not even a "can I get you anything" from the waiter was unreal
- When we asked the waiter for some water, he took 20 minutes to bring it. Now, for spicy food, a 5 min wait can be tough, so 20 minutes is unacceptable. He ended up bringing the whole jug of water, dropping it on our table, and never showing up again.

So you may say, ok, you had a terrible waiter, who was rude on top of this, (I will spare you the details, enough is above) but --- how was the food?

Caveat: I eat Indian food every single day. So I feel like I can discern between good and bad. Many of my friends cannot. So if you want something different from the butter laden typical Indian food, you may like it.  But short of this...

Appetizer thali -- only 2 of the 7 things were above 3 star quality. Very plain and unimpressive

Main thali -- just like the appetizer thali except the kheer which was fantastic (although it was also fattier than kheer is supposed to be so that explains it)

Dessert: ice cream that was not freshly made for sure.

Overall, an awful experience. I had such high expectations and was let down enormously. The fact that this place has so many 4 and 5 stars has to mean it comes from people who love the fact that they get different Indian food, and havent had anything like it before so they cannot realize, for what it is, it is poor and low quality.

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Elite '10

279

279

Srini V.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/28/2007

A different kind of place.  Quite a welcome departure from the formulaic North Indian fare.  And the ambience is distinctly "rustic", again a welcome change from the overly-manicured Indian joints with stock-in-trade sofa cushions at one end of the spectrum and pseudo-retro, bohemian-wannabe settings at the other.

Wonder if Vatan makes any money, given that it is closed on Mondays, only open for dinner, doesn't admit tiny tots and serves a three-course meal for just $25, with an average dinner for each table lasting well over two hours, and the tables being fairly spaced out.  Go figure.

The three-course meal is filling even if mediocre in quality for the discerning.  There is little if any varation across days, save the extra dessert item on select week days.  Ask for the Aam Rus (mango pulp) with the main course--for some unknown reason it is the only part of the fixed-price meal that is not served unless requested.

At any rate, I love their baby samosas.  And masala tea.  Some of the Vatan staff know me by name now, but that doesn't always land me a reservation.

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102

303

Christy V.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
9/5/2006

Every time I eat here I leave feeling extraordinarily full. The prix fixe dinner is an amazing value and features more legumes and fiber in one meal than you ever thought possible!

This is a great place to go with vegetarian friends because you won't miss the meat at all and if they're used to dining at places where the only vegetarian option is a roasted vegetable plate, this will be a nice change. The ambiance is especially nice - little private wooden booths and fountains create a feeling of privacy and calm.

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85

145

Brian K.

Weehawken, NJ

4 star rating
7/23/2006

Not being a vegetarian, I wasn't sure I was going to like this place.  The food is so tasty, varied, and plentiful, though, that I didn't miss meat at all.

The decor is pretty nice too, with its intentional tackiness.

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362

Hootie H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/13/2007

+ very pleasant service
+ love the decor
+ not cramped/crowded at all
+ i love beans! chickpeas, lentils, kidney... all of them!
+ everything is vegetarian (might be a minus to some... but for me a plus)
+ most dishes have a healthy kick to them
+ fantastic chai

- as cool as it is to sit low to the ground... my legs did fall asleep. but this should probably be blamed on my poor circulation/lack of flexibility than to the seating format itself.

i have to comment on how delicious the chai was - probably the highlight of the meal. it is heavily spiced with cardamom, which i love... not a commonly used spice in western cultures, and reminds me of home. a delightful surprise.

a la fin, i am fairly inexperienced in the ways of indian food, so i can't speak to it's authenticity, but all i know is that it tasted good. 4 stars for yumminess.

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Kate F.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
3/19/2007

Okay, you are going to leave this place REALLY full.  This is how it works: There are no choices, they bring you 5 courses of vegetarian goodness, each course is huge unto itself with enough range in spice and taste to satisfy most (as long as you like Indian Food). The servers are delightful and explain everything to you.  If you'd like any portion of a single course, they happily bring out more for you.  This is great, because if only half the plate is working for you, just ask for more of half that plate!  I really like the decor because it's kitshy Indian, with teared booths, making for an interesting eating experience. All of the tables have roof tops.
I'm a former vegetarian, but have been with lots of non veggies, who LOVE this place.

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Elite '10

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389

Namrata A.

New York, NY

3 star rating
5/14/2009

You've got to LOVE the deal here however as an Indian, I know Indian food at-all-you-can-eat is just a lot of food especially if it is served on a huge platter, or thali.  The service for our big group was so slow, ridiculously slow, but they were accomodating as we had our own spot downstairs.  I do wish they took some more time slowly to explain the options.  The lighting is dim, and there is a 3 floor area where you can sit.  The place has a nice village atmosphere - which is what they are trying to do.  $30 for the prefixe and I wish they had more dessert options... and some PANEER PLEASE!

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Ben C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/1/2006

Before we got married, my wife and I were dating long distance for a few years.  I lived in NYC and she lived in Chicago.

Whenever she came for a visit I HAD to make a reservation at this place.  The food is really good.  Like everyone says, you won't miss the meat if you're an omnivore.  The decor, while a bit kitschy, does give the place a unique and warm feel (look for the stuffed monkey's in the tree).  And the place is mildly romantic.  No wonder we had to eat here all the time.

Now years later, we're married and living on the West Coast.  But whenever we come to New York for a visit, we still make our pilgrimage to Vatan.  It's become a tradition.

The food might not be for everyone.  I've taken a few people there who didn't think it was worth the fuss.  But if you like Indian food, it's worth checking out.

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liam k.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
6/6/2007

Prix-fixe, all you can eat, vegetarian Indian food. Everything was prepared about on par with the other Indian places I've eaten since moving to New York (an aside: Chicago has New York beat in Indian food, Mexican food and the Hot Dog. New York has Chicago beat in pizza, sushi, and falafel). Less than $25 dollars a person. As other reviewers have mentioned, you are going to leave ridiculously full.

If it was just based on the food, I'd have given the place three stars, but the atmosphere earns them another star. The waiters have a cute little schtick going on, and there is so much space, much more than I'm used to in New York.

The wine list is pretty pathetic. You'd think that they'd be interested in trying to make some money there, 'cause it's not like they're gonna get you to buy more food...

So, decent food, good atmosphere, crummy wine, funny waiter and cheap. Good place to take your vegetarian friends,

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Elite '10

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400

Norman S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
5/2/2009

i can't believe i've been missing out on such great food for soooo many years.  vatan is really great.  i've had much hotter gujarati food before but this will do.  (their hot is equivalent to my mild)

so you walk through this corridor into a huge space and the first thing you see is the huge ganesh lit up by the purple spotlight.  absolutely LOVE IT.

i also love the kindly request that you remove your shoes before entering the cozy booth.  its a first for me in an indian restaurant in nyc.

you better come when you are hungry and have no food or drink in your stomach because they will feed you here.  the samosas are great.  the fried chili is not killer spicy but flavorful.  the chole is different and i loved how savory it was.  the gobi was so delicious.  the saag was different but also great.  the poori was one of the tastiest i've had.

it was a delight to see taj mahal on the menu as you can't get that stuff in india anymore but i chose the flying horse beer instead because i never tried had it, it was a decent lager.

how could you complain when the food is so fresh, the spices taste freshly ground, the staff is so nice and attentive, and they will feed you until you beg for mercy.  well i do have one complaint - they are a little too heavy handed with the sweet flavor, but overall very well balanced.

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