Babu Ji Reviews

I cannot believe this restaurant has so few reviews clearly folks who go there don't use trip advisor. I'm lost for words, the food is amazing, unique, divine, delicious!!!! It serves one of the top 100 dishes in NYC - you will not get food like this anywhere!

Food good. Interminable wait with a reservation. Intolerable noise. They cannot deal with their popularity.

We ended up at Babu ji after watching a show at 10 o'clock. We had heard about it and decided to give it a try. The restaurant was full and noisy. You can see everyone was having fun. So we sat down with very high expectations. But what a disappointment. The food was so bad that we wished we can walk out and say something to the chef. We are vegetarians so of course the choice is limited. The menu as it was, was very small. We had ordered batatawada and General Gau's cauliflower. Batawada were soaked in yoghurt and sauces way more than necessary. For vegetarians there are no dishes with vegetables. We had to choose between the lentil based items. There were chick peas, daal, and Punjabi kadi. Apart from these items, there was Anjeer kofta. Daal was inedible. All of us just left it in our plates and did not touch it after first bite. I asked the waiter if there were any other curry based item and there was nothing. It was a disappointing dinner to say the least. It is an expensive restaurant. After spending so much you don't want to feel unfulfilled in every possible way.

Cannot recommend this place enough.. The freshest and most authentic style of cooking I've ever come across. The staff are so knowledgable about their food and helpful. Go for the tasting platter .. You won't be disappointed!

I returned here for another meal after a visit in the fall. The service was better this time and the food was as good despite the fact that the menu is smaller now and some dishes, including the one I'd had last time (Colonel Tso's cauliflower), were no longer on it. Everyone in my group was very happy with their meals though. I had the coconut shrimp curry and enjoyed it and our group split the naan basket. I would return again. 

What a great place. Food was incredible -so tasty. Service was excellent. Be prepared to queue unless you arrive early or are able togged a booking.

There are lots of veg options here but they were very hit and miss. We loved the cauliflower in a sweet sauce, and the naan was buttery as heck. But the creamed spinach was bland and a strange color. The chaat had a nice sweetness but no depth. Whatever you do get here early because the place fills up. And get ready to rub elbows with your neighbor, quite literally.

This place is awesome! Hands down, if it is your first time, order the chef's tasting menu. The service is superb, they walk you through all of the courses and make sure your glass is never empty. Come hungry - I was happily surprised at how much food you receive! MUST TRY the Gol Gappa - flavor explosion unlike anything I've ever had!

For too long Indian restaurants were caught between over the top cheesy restaurants and holes in the wall. Then came several higher priced, beautifully appointed restaurants...but (for me) the food was never up to the scratch. Babu ji is a hip little restaurant in the east village. The wait (an hour and a half) was well worth it. Its the east village....loiter....grab a drink and they will text you. Food was delicious. Manu was quiet varies. And a cooler full of beers (that went well with the food) Service was good

Delicious Indian food. The tasting menu was nice because you have a chance to sample different foods that you may not normally order. Staff was excellent. This was a great experience if you like Indian food.

Well I am a connoisseur of Indian food and have to say that this place is fantastic. It' shelf the price of my previous favourite Junoon, and every bit as good. It has a buzzy contemporary atmosphere, and is on a fun street on Alphabet city. The waits on the weekend can be very long, up to an hour and a half and they do not allow bookings, but there is a great bar over the road called Rue B that is a pleasant place to wait. The tandoori king prawns, lamb chops and chicken tikka were all absolutely wonderful. The nan was piping hot and just out of the tandoor. This place is a must. Please don;t tell your friends as it is crowded enough as it is!

We were hungry after a late night show and were looking for a place to have a small bite. I recommended Babu ji to my husband since it was around the corner and had small plates. We did not have reservations, and were told either to sit on the bar or wait half an hour. We opted for the bar. Our bartender immediately offered us drinks and was very helpful in explaining their different cocktails. She helped us with the menu as well and suggested some gluten free items including Naan ( of course it wasn't as good as regular Naan but I am not complaining) I was beyond thrilled. We split two appetizers and an entree. Overall the food was very good. I highly recommend this restaurant. I give it my GoldnAdvice seal of approval.

Babu Ji has been on my list to check out for a while now. We decided to go to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday. They have a very reasonably priced tasting menu which we opted for. Overall it was fine but dishes were a bit too sweet. There was an opening bite that was good. The papadams and sauces were a lot of fun. The general tsos dish, didn’t work for us. We didn’t like the beet sauce for the cooked yogurt either. The curries were fine but like I noted, just too sweet. I did like dessert though, ice cream.

Some really delicious Indian dishes at this new place a few blocks from Curry Row. We had the buttered chicken and goat curry. Both were excellent. Pricier than your average Indian restaurant in NYC but a lot of thought and effort has gone into these dishes. Plan to return to try more of them.

This place is BOSS! The food is ahhmazing. Came out in a timely manner and the staff were all very friendly. Is it crowded? Yes. A little noisy? Sure. What else are the negative reviews whining about?.... The beer fridge.... Yes, you have to get up and help yourself from a healthy selection, God forbid! I never saw a kid in a candy store complain about helping themselves to the goods, get a grip hangry peeps. I'm almost certain that these bad reviews were written by people who hate puppies (and sunshine for that matter!). Getting back on subject..... We made a reservation which is for the tasting menu only. I had no problem with this as it took all the guess work out of the equation. You get a drink sit back and the food rolls in. Great spread, everything was delicious and we left stuffed! We still have a few more days left in New York, but I'm calling it! Highlight of our trip. The end.

Why are you ruining the image of INDIAN food in New York. I went with 8 guests and all of us had a bad stomach next day. The Channa was funny tasting, maybe stale. Dal was under cooked, rice was stale. Overall very bad experience.

Authentic Flavors and food like a Dishoom in London, UK. Reservations (on Resy.Com) helpful but you have to eat the Set Menu which is volumous and expensive at $62/person. Staff friendly and you'll like the food, but try for eating a little less. Dessert of Kulfi popsicle is inventive and tasty. Good luck and enjoy.

Now that Winter has actually kicked in, in NYC, you probably crave comfort food. And, if you’re like me, you want comfort food that’s hot and spicy too, because, extra warmth. I love Indian food, which pretty much checks these marks for me, so, I was off to Babu Ji in Alphabet City. A mix of modern elegance meets local deli kind of sums up the aesthetic of this contemporary Indian restaurant. You’ll find striking, large print photographs framed on the wall, along with a projecting Indian movie, and, a stuffed peacock on top of a self-serve beverage refrigerator. But once your food starts coming out, you won’t even be paying attention to what’s around you, and only what’s in front of you. Not only are the dishes all visually captivating, they’re insanely delicious. And, the entire staff here was so amazing, attentive, courteous, and, if you’re a crazy food-picture-taker like myself, you’re in luck, because one of our servers asked a few times if I’d like him to provide some additional light from his phone. What a gem! Ok, food, let’s get into it. Get some Naan. It’s warm, soft and pillowy, but still has a nice chew to it. The flavors are delicate, but give the dough a little pizzaz. All of the appetizers sounded amazing, so, I started with a couple to share. First was Papadi Chaat (chickpea, cucumber, pomegranate, tamarind, mint and yogurt chutney). They describe it as the motherland’s version of nachos and salsa, a must try. And, they’re 100% right, this dish was unbelievable. First off, it’s stunning to look at, but each ingredient is so fresh and dynamic, and you can really taste all of the flavors individually, while going so wonderfully all together. Texture wise, you really have everything here, you’ve got crunch from the slaw and the chips, creaminess from the chutney, and all of the other elements in between. It was really fantastic, and you must order it. Ok, so, before I even start about the second appetizer, I need to take a breath. Ok, breath taken. This was possibly one of the best things I’ve eaten in a while, and definitely my favorite thing from my meal here. I had their Colonel Tso’s Cauliflower (Indo-Chinese style cauliflower in a tomato chili sauce, sesame and onion seed, chives). So, they killed it in the immitation department, replicating General Tso’s Chicken from the outside. But, take a bite and this vegan dish made out of cauliflower tastes crazily similar. Everything about this dish was pure perfection, from the sweet, tangy, and spicy sauce, to the airy and crisp breading around the tender and flavorful cauliflower. I wish I could go on forever about this, but, my fingers will get too tired from typing. So, let’s meet up for a plate of Colonel Tso’s Cauliflower and I’ll talk your ear off about it. For my main, I ordered Baingan Bartha (Spiced and fire roasted eggplant curry with green peas). Again, presentation on point. And flavor wise, excellent. The eggplant is pureed into a consistency in between a spread and a paste, making it very substantial. There’s a really nice kick of heat, and the freshness of the peas and shaved veggies on top help to cool your mouth a little bit and add a nice textural component.

If you make reservations you must do the tasting menu. It was a wonderful experience. Two of my favorites were general tso cauliflower, and the butter chicken. I did not like the onion fritter for its texture, but my son really liked it. We had made early reservations so it was quiet when we arrived, but packed by the time we left. There was a nice choice of wines, or self serve beer.

What you get at an Indian restaurant will differ with each place you go, based on regions of India represented, etc. Not sure from where Babu Ji's owners hail, but this is very different from other Indian places we have tried. Wine list was good, so that a good start. Apps were very different, but the Tso cauliflower was very unique. For entries, we ordered dal and tandoori, both very good.

Perfect service, food and ambience. Colonial themed. Street food served on a silver platter. Tasting menu + tasting beer menu was amazing and adaptable for those with food allergies etc. thoroughly recommend both. Great service. Fast paced. Loved the NY beers on the tasting menu. Would recommend to any curry lover!

The food at this restaurant is superb. Service was excellent and prompt. My party of four had a Naan Basket, a cheese appetizer, Tandoori Lamb Chops, Dorade (fish), Coconut Curried Shrimp and Paneer Tilkka…..all excellent. This is not an inexpensive restaurant with main courses between $22 and $26, and glasses of wine between $12 and $18. But the value of finely seasoned and interestingly presented food is worth it.

Ambience: - Really really small place. Only should seat about 40-50 people. But the tables were crammed in together that you have to be careful you don't bump elbows with people sitting around you. Even getting to the table involves squeezing through other tables and asking people to move and give way. Totally uncomfortable to enjoy food. - Very noisy. Too small a place, too many people makes for a totally noisy place. Having any kind of conversation was impossible unless you were willing to shout louder than your neighbours. Time: - Tends to get crowded. We just had a 5 mins wait to get a table. - Food was served quickly. About 10 mins or less from placing the order. Food Quality: - Not an exhaustive menu. Limited items. - Tastes different from the original Indian version. They have added their own twist to the dish. It was OK, didn't think it was any improvement to the original though. Drinks: - Had to be picked from the refrigerator at the end of the room. Since this was not made known initially had to do the squeezing gymnastics to get out pick a beer and get back to the table. Reasonable collection. Overall: - Went there for a try seeing good reviews. As long as you know what to expect and are OK with it, I suppose it's worth a try. Personally, I won't go back again.

We went there after drinks at Eataly and the food was really delicious. We had two meals with meat and one vegetarian option. As an appetizer we had the Naan sampling with different dip sauces. Everything was very tasty. Staff is nice and reservations were easy to shift (by SMS).

A young and modern place with pop music a little too loud for my taste. The gol gappa appetizer ($10) was simply amazing and must be ordered. The spinach paneer ($18) was fine but not exceptional. My companion was happy with his food.

I'm glad high end desi food / fusion desi is finally making a home in NYC, and that the city's catching up with London in this department. We ate at Babuji today (they used to be on the Lower East Side but have now gone a bit more upscale on 13th between Park and 5th): outstanding. You name it, it was great: lamb chops (unlike in most Indian places the default was medium-rare); jumbo shrimp that was really more baby lobster it was so huge and sweet (with some crazy good pineapple chutney, although I wish it were less spicy); perhaps the only overrated dish was the so-called "unauthentic butter chicken" (very good, but a tad too sweet for my liking -- I found myself missing Moti Mahal's snooker offering); my first ever short-rib qorma (divine; the beef rendered it an Indian dish as a Korean might imagine it, with perhaps the best gravy of the night); and, finally, the meat in the duck curry was the stand-out, so good not even its otherwise good gravy could keep up. Did I say "finally"? Ha: you can't leave here without the cardamom and biscotti-flavoured kulfi, probably the best I've ever had that wasn't made by my mother.

Old 1960s Bollywood movie on the second floor playing against the white wall. My favorite is the bathroom playing 60s Hindi music. I LOVED IT. A+ for ambience. Coming to the food, a little overpriced but super tasty. Yes to the unauthentic butter chicken, delicious lamb dish as entrees!! Pampadum was $16, basically Indian crackers and little tiny jars of chutneys was why I gave it four stars.

Came here for dinner with my parents...thoroughly enjoyed the food especially the Lamb Chops and the Tandoori Chicken. Decorated very uniquely and an overall great dining experience, although it must be said that portions are very small considering the high prices charged.

I'd been trying to go to this place for months now but had been completely unsuccessful securing a reservation that wasn't something ridiculous like 5:30pm on a Monday. So I was beyond thrilled when a friend invited me to grab dinner there on a Saturday night. Woohoo! Finally, I'd be able to check out the cool, Indian restaurant getting all the hype. And let me tell you, it was so worth it. The place is small, so I get why it's so hard to find a table, but because most people are on the pre-fixed menu, they actually churn out the food pretty quickly and I'm guessing they must have tremendous table turnover. Size aside, the place is fun and colorful, with portrait of what I can only imagine are some of the coolist Babu Jis (Indian term for "sir") around. There's a bar in the back that sits around 5 people and is made of the prettiest greenish stone, which (much like the portraits) makes the place feel fresh and modern. The menu is (mostly, unless you've managed to snag a walk-in which I believe allows you to order a la carte) pre-fixed so there's not much to decide on once you're seated. Even the wine or beer can be chosen as a pairing so you don't have to worry about making any selections. However, they do have a nice wine list (no cocktalis) if you wanted to opt-out of that. The whole idea of pre-fixed menus is- in my mind- a pro (options) and a con ($$$). In places like this one where I am unfamiliar with most of the food items on the menu, I find it kind of refreshing to have everything selected for me which allows me to try a little bit of everything, feeling like I've gotten the full package. At Babu Ji, it works because had I been left to try only one or two dishes, I don't think I would have walked away as enthusiastic about this place as I did. We had four appetizers, a main dish and a dessert. I found the appetizers to be (for the most part) incredibly flavorful and inventive as I had never had anything like them before- at least in the case of the gol gappa, the yogurt kebab and the Colonel Tso's Cauliflower. The Tandoori chicken I could have done without. The main dish was extremely varied, serving everything from spicy meat to prawn in coconut curry to butter chicken. Plus the traditional basmati rice, dhal and naan. The prawn and chicken were my personal favorites, but being able to try a little of everything was amazing. And, when I thought it couldn't get any better, we had dessert which I think has to be the best non-chocolate dessert I have had in a long time. The kulfi is a must-try! It's a creamy delicious popsicle with hints of cardamom and pistachios and honey. My taste buds exploded. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Honestly, if you are a fan of Indian and are looking for something that's unique and flavorful and interesting, this is definitely a place to try.

We went here for dinner with friends. Very disappointing. The service was lackluster at best. When I asked the server why my dinner hadn’t arrived well after every one else had been served, the response was basically “not my problem”. The noise level averaged around 100 decibels, well into the harmful level and impossible to have conversation. The food was mediocre- not worth a second trip.

I was here a year ago and it was awesome. Something happened. My last visit was horrible. There was nothing good about the meal. The food was a joke. The service was even worse. They tried to bill me for several items we did not order. I will never go back and no one else should either. I could not get out of there fast enough. Either they lost their chef or they are closing. A quick Google search lists a number of problems. HORRIBLE.

Been to this place last weekend. They had this chef sampling on weekend where they serve you with various appetizers before serving the thali which has assortment of dishes with nan and rice. The main course in my opinion was but bland for indian dishes and I felt it was very average food. Appetizers were only the good part of the meal which included gol gappa, corn salad, fried cauliflower and chicken teeka. Price per person $62 was in my opinion very steep makes it most expensive indian food I ever had and the food quality does not justify the price being charged. Over hyped and over priced place.

For once a place deserves the hype it's been getting recently. Very talented cooks putting out north Indian dishes with a twist of various kinds. Among the apps, cauliflower in a red sauce outstanding. Tried three mains - scallops (warning - served raw in a cream sauce): excellent. So-called "butter chicken" unlike what you usually get; rich and well sauced. Tandoori giant prawns - good if not as outstanding as the others. Extra good service, even when the place got packed (if you get there shortly after opening, tables available; by 6:30, people were told there was an hour and a half wait). You can reserve, but only if you commit to a $60/person tasting menu for all in your party. Decor bright, tables close together, all hard surfaces make for a dull roar once it gets full. Decent naan, raita, acchar. They sock you on the extras - you have to pay for rice (in an Indian restaurant!); dal is ten dollars. But price points of entrees reasonable and you get terrific food.

Great food, interesting combination of flavors, super-friendly service. Unusual selection of beers to go with the spicy food. The secret is to go really early, and on a weekday. The place is small and it fills up fast. We went on a Wednesday at 6 pm. Try the rabbit.

We enjoyed our dinner in babu ji enormously! Lamb was melting down, shrimps in coconut sauce were delicious and their butter chicken is a must! Right place where to go for Indian food in manhattan!

Myself and a few friends tried it Babu Ji for Sunday night dinner and we were not disappointed. We waited at the bar while our full party arrived where we had some very imaginative cocktails and good banter with the bartender. Dinner had lots of good vegetarian and gluten free options to accommodate our various food preferences and allergies. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly, helping us with our choices along the way. My favourite dish was the cauliflower appetizer. They offered us a complimentary chai ice cream which was the perfect close to a lovely meal on a hot day. I highly recommend checking this out for imaginative Indian food.

My favourite Indian restaurant in NYC, always go every visit. Take-outs also available. Imaginative & delicious Indian food & good service. Highly recommend.

A small restaurant with limited seating on the ground floor. We were seated upstairs. Our waiter was friendly and helpful. We should have gone with the tasting menu which looked much more interesting than the regular limited menu. There were several gluten free items. The cauliflower which looked really good was not and the waiter said they cannot make it gluten free. The flavors of the dishes were good, but different than what you would expect. The chicken tandoori was very tender and juicy. Portions were small, keep in mind when ordering. Overall it was a bit noisy, we could not keep a conversation.

We visited last week for meal, on a recommendation from someone else. We arrived at around 630pm and the place was packed. We didn't have a reservation and were told by warren on the door there would be and hour wait, we did mind this as it was quite early, he recommended a bar across the road. We got a table around 745pm. It was buzzing in there, lots of people admittedly not a lot of room between tables but it wasn't too bad. Drinks order taken and we were told of we wanted and other drinks we could help ourselves from the large fridge to the large selection of lagers. We went for the tasting menu, great starters, particularly the cauliflower, then the main course was also amazing, the beef curry being my favourite, then kulfi for dessert. They do have a full menu so you have pick other dishes, anything we saw looked and smelt great. I would say this maybe is a little pricey for a curry but the tastes are amazing, certainly not your average curry. One of our party is Indian and is very sceptical when it comes to Indian food in the states but even he left with a smile on his face!

Delicious Indian inspired food, with very personal service, in a vibrant and loud ish room. Well priced.

We arrived a bit early (before they actually opened) and could not wait inside, but they had outside seats and offered water while we waited. We received excellent service at our Chef's table, and I really enjoyed the appetizers served. The main entree dishes were good too but not as spicy as I like and more than we could eat.. Several of us had the additional wine paring, that was also quite good. They were told that we were celebrating my birthday and presented me with the special dessert with candle, special hat and of course sang.

We were a party of 6 and to reserve a table had to go with their 'Chef's Menu'. The staff were wonderful and friendly and very efficient. We were served 3 tasty appetizers beautifully presented but just large enough to allow us a tablespoon of food each and then each given the traditional tray of assorted curries and rice with naan. The food was very nice done but in the end we all felt too expensive for the experience and amount served. They did offer some nice alternatives to our guest with a lactose allergy (at least until dessert) Only one washroom right off restaurant resulted in a line up snaking through tables and blocking self serve beer fridge (cool idea) which was unfortunate.

We were four , we avoided the tasting menu and instead we took a la cart all its dishes with some upgrades. The food is Indian with many twists and is delicious. Great bottled beer selection. Nice vibe

This is my second visit to this non traditional Indian restaurant. The food is still outstanding, but the restaurant lost the charm of its previous location

The cauliflower was something else! The overall food was good. The decor could use some work, very basic! Could use some inspiration from places like Dishoom.

Stumbled across thus tiny spot after drinks with friends and could not be happier. I love spicy - got enough to say a big hello but not too hot that you can’t enjoy the flavors. And this place delivered! Definitely go for the General Tso’s califliwer if you like spice and don’t like your diet. Deep friend yummy comfort foods a kick. Then went for the Chana Masala. Gloriously different than what I’ve had before - in a good way. A bit of garlic naan (that could have been a touch more buttery) to round it out. Yum. Oh and the lighting is nice and dim, and it’s quiet enough to have a real conversation. What’s not to love?

This restaurant has created a passion for Indian food, from reluctance and resistance. First, its the menu selection of traditional street food you don't see on other curry restaurants, and it's clear they are using 'farm to table' ingredients which brings the complex flavors to new heights. Then its the presentation of each dish that belies the moderate price of each dish.Secondly. The food combined with the crisp, clean design makes a meal at Babu Ji an experience. If that's not enough to bring you back, the warmth and passion of the husband and wife owners make you feel like you've been a regular from your first visit. Chef Jessi spends a great deal of time in the front sharing his passion for the food incerasing your appreciation for each dish. To start, try the tandoori flashed honey/ginger trout and the Gol Gappa, which is a suprising explosion of flavors. The 'unauthentic' butter chicken is like none you have ever had, and the coconut curry with scallops is my favorite. This is all topped off by a self-serve beer fridge with over 50 craft beers that is fun and creates conversation with other guests. And the wine list is excellent with a nice blend of wines. Make no mistake, this is not a low budget, currytown restaurant and it would be unfair to compare it to that. But for the excellent food and experience you get, it is a great value. I have been back a few times and it has remained consistent.

We read about this restaurant and went there for dinner on a recent trip to NYC. It was great! Even the papadams were better than other places. We had lamb, shrimp curry, butter chicken, naan, and more. The flavors were wonderful. Service was great as well.

Food was great, but the service still needs a lot of polish. We arrived and there was no clear front-of-house, or area to really wait; after loitering by the door for a few minutes, I flagged a waiter to ask for a table, and was told someone else would be along shortly to seat us. Then another waiter, passing by us, asked "can you please go outside, I have guests here," implying that my friend and I were taking up too much space being in the entryway -- I suppose we were not, ourselves, guests. We were ready to leave but someone ran outside after us to seat us. After that, the food was fine, but the service continued to be slow and a bit off (e.g., brought us the wrong dish), with a server who was smug. All in all, not worth a repeat visit.

We travel the world and eat Indian food from Delhi to Sidney to London. We understand the tastes and can only say the food is ordinary and overpriced. This could be somewhat forgiven if not for the unwelcoming atmosphere. Perhaps if you are a regular, and young and attractive person you would not be escorted to one of the worst tables when the place is empty, even with a reservation....and have another older gentleman seated smack next to you when the entire place is rather empty. Poor behavior, and overpriced average food gets this ego inflated place 1 star.

The tandoori lamb wasn't traditional, but excellent. The naan and papadam platter with chutneys was delicious. The kulfi and gulab jamun and Indian tea were the best. Happy Hour is NOT available in the dining room--a bit misleading.

I was excited about this place when it opened. Finally some authentic, high quality, and reasonably priced Indian food in New York. I and the vegetarian talk a few days ago for two. Hugely overpriced. A meal that in curry hill would have cost US$50 was US$150 as Babu Ji. If the quality had been there it would have been ok, but was not great. The starters were authentic but average. The potential is still there but they need to redouble their efforts and focus on quality and value. Otherwise you won't be seeing me again. The wait was 1.5hrs, although I had been told it would be 45 minutes. Again fine if the food is perfection. But it wasn't. This is the second average dinner that I have had there. Babu Ji you could and should be the best. You have the potential. Price these vegetarian dishes more competitively and have some respect for your customers. The current pro ices are unjustifiable. Don't; let the quality continue to slip. You were my last hope for good indian food in New York. Juniin, Tamaring and Tulsi all in major decline. The star of Indian food in New York is waining. Go try Amaya in London for some SERIOUS indian food. You are not a touch on them, but could be. I sense the potential.

After rave reviews by my friends and managing to score two seats at the bar, o was expecting Indian food reminiscent of what I've loved and tastes abroad. Alas for the hefty price and small portions you get, I was not impressed. The dishes are beautifully presented but the taste did not compliment it at all. Each dish we ordered was a suggestion by the waiter as their most authentic and popular dish. I fear I will not be returning to this establishment soon. I didn't even wait to look at the dessert menu.

We had the tasting menu as recommended by a friend to us and we were not sorry. Excellent Indian food experience, highly recommended.

So excited to go here, so much promise and hype. Dinner started out wonderful, yogurt kebab highly recommended. The rest of the meal was average and unimaginative while simultaneously egregiously overpriced. Much better Indian food to be found almost anywhere else in the city. Skip alphabet city, head to Murray hill. Or go to TriBeCa for Tamarind, same price point, MUCH better food.

Everyone is raving about Babu Ji. It was OK, but not great. The eggplant wasn't cooked through. Nothing stood out as exceptional.

We happened to chance upon the last open table for four on a busy Thursday night. Attentive service. During the meal the hands-on owner stopped by to chat and make sure everything was fine. Crowded and a bit noisy with the bare floor, walls, and ceiling, but still a fun atmosphere. The menu is much smaller than most multi-page menus found at Indian restaurants, but there were plenty of choices for the meat, seafood, poultry, and vegetarian eaters in our party. The food is served very attractively with contemporary twists. Not cheap, but worth it for a festive meal.

As a long time fan of Indian Cuisine, and with lots of experiences eating at Indian Restaurants in NYC, London, Amsterdam, etc., last night I paid my first visit to the well hyped Babu Ji near Union Square with high expectations. You can only book a table if you want the Tasting Menu, which was highly touted as super impressive by friends who had, more than a year ago, visited the original location in East Village. So we went for the Tasting Menu and we found it a major disappointment. The first two starters were good to above average, but after that things went downhill fast. For example the Cauliflower dish, which I was really looking forward to was completely underwhelming: it was served cold to luke warm as if it had been prepared many minutes before it reached our table and had been sitting around for a while. But my main problem was with the Thali platter (second/main course). This consisted of 6 or so different curry dishes, a cucumber/onion salad, raita and naan bread. I've eaten the famous Butter Chicken at more than a dozen other places and Babu Ji's version was the least impressive I've had to date. The Coconut Shrimp dish was a joke: some whitish mass of bland, tasteless sauce with hardly any shrimp. The Short Rib curry was a huge let down, and the Dal (lentils) were utterly forgettable. To sum it all up: there was hardly any distinctive flavours between any of the different curry dishes, which all were served (again) cold to luke warm at best, and seemed to be mass produced and sitting around in pots for some time before it was served to us. Even though we informed the waiter at the start that we didn't like mild curry, but desired some spice and heat, if possible, every dish lacked any kind of kick or individuality. Perhaps it speaks volumes when I say: The most impressive part of the main course was the Naan bread and Raita! Clearly this place is ill-suited to people who really know how good Indian Cuisine can be when the food is properly prepared and spiced, imo.

I’ve been to Babu Ji several times as it is close by my residence near lower 5th avenue Manhattan. We had the lamb chops, although only 2 were delicious. We had for the first time , Grilled dourade, with heavenly spices, perfectly done, and a nice portion. And had the Palak paneer, a spiced spinach curry with cumin, chili and a touch of cream, heavenly. Had a very good glass of syrah. Our waiter and the service staff in general were a 10/10. They brought out a complimentary honeyed donut, delish. And topped off our wine on the house. I am a snobby international foodie and guarantee all will love this food

This is a popular destination for foodies in the East Village. However, you will likely be disappointed if you come here expecting sophisticated Indian cuisine. My companions and I had the tasting menu, as we were told that was a good way to try most things on the menu. The food was well prepared, but intended for the average palate such that it lacked heat and most items tended to be on the sweet side. It is a good place to bring visitors who may appreciate an introduction to Indian cuisine

This place is super busy so make sure you reserve online beforehand. It had to be be online, as they are so busy they never answer the phone. We tried the tasting menu which was amazing! Beware the cauliflower is crazy spicy! For all you beer drinkers, they have a wide range of beers which you can select yourself from the fridge. The restaurant is small, bit tight and very loud but worth it as the food is great!

I come from Melbourne,Australia where the folk behind Babu Ji operated first at Grey Street,St Kilda.Whilst they have moved to New York to start this great new place the original with some old staff still thrives and turns out to die for Indian food.Now in New York for over a year the latest venture is an absolute winner turning out great food in a similar way.We went this week as a sort of homage visit.It did not fail to impress.Its hard to get into,very crowded and loud, but lots of fun and food to match.Cost for five with liquor and tip was USD300.I thought this was pretty reasonable all things considered.The one in Melbourne remains a favourite, thankfully cheaper and you can take your own wine with a modest corkage fee.New York is lucky to have this one.

We went out on a Saturday night with family and friends. We waited for a few minutes until a table became available. When a table was finally empty the man at the door said, "you can have the table but you have to leave in 1 1/2 hours". We accepted this but we felt rushed. As we were looking at the menu we took notice of the extortionate prices. For example a basket of naan is $12!!! When the food came the waitress was polite and helpful. We finished the small dishes and were ushered out of the restraint. We didn't have desert as there was little to choose from. There is a good ice cream place called "Alphabet Scoop" on Ave B and 11th!

Second visit here and still good. Tasting menu is definitely the way to go for the adventurous--just make sure you're hungry because it's a lot of food--but a great assortment of their best and good way to really experience the range and quality of the food. Anything on the menu will be good and fresh. This is "modern" Indian--def not 6th Street. There have been a number of these modern Indian restos in NYC over the past, most not surviving long but offering a welcome change from the old heavy fare of 6th St/etc.

What can I say...everything was exceptional - the food, the service, even the decor! I can not wait to go back!

This is a terrific restaurant with superb cuisine. We had the chef's tasting menu, which was delicious -- artfully constructed and quite a bargain as well (only $50). The place is very cheerful, with a lot of energy. The staff is friendly without being intrusive, and the chef-owner wanders around to ensure everyone is happy. The only downside is that the bare walls make it a very noisy place ("WHAT DID YOU SAY??") A certain amount of buzz is welcome, but this is more than a cheerful buzz. Go anyway. The food is worth it. ("WHAT DID YOU SAY??")

Enjoyed experience at Babu Ji. Not the best Indian food I’ve ever had, but a la carte menu made it easy to taste a variety of dishes. Substituted cauliflower for rice-great choice. Fun, upbeat atmosphere. Cold tap water was good, great local beer selection.

Everything was overly oily, from the rice to the Brussels sprouts to the curries. The most surprising thing was the shrimp curry contained not one full piece of shrimp. Oddly, the curry continued only pieces of shrimp but no whole shrimp. I expected higher quality ingredients for the price tag. I prefer Junoon or Tamarind for the price.

I had a good dinner here with a friend who suggested it. The butter chicken and Colonel Tso’s cauliflower were great, but the service was pretty slow and it took us a while to receive our drinks and our food. I'm giving them 4 stars for the food. I would consider returning in the future and giving them another chance to provide better service.

We went with some friends for restaurant week. Great very friendly and professional service. We tried a large variety of items on the menu and all were beautifully presented and excellent in taste. Not cheap for Indian food but really delicious. Great find.

This was recommenced by a friend and I had my doubts but the food was good, the service was good, the space is cute and casual. Definitely not high end dinging, but a far cry from the E. 6th street places ( to be avoided).

Babu Ji is the most unique indian food I've ever had in NY, and it was delicious. For starters, definitely get the Gol Gappa and the trout. Some of the mains have changed, but we loved the Anjeer Kofta, which is still on the menu. And of course, you have to get the Kulfi for dessert.

The picture was intriguing - so I had to check it out. The online menu looked very enticing, so I knew it was on the to-do list. It took a bit of back and forth to find it - but very much worth the effort. We were greeted warmly and taken upstairs to a table next to the window over looking the street. Ollie greeted us and asked if it was our first visit and we were visiting from. He was patient and answered all of our questions about the menu and did not bat an eye when I changed my order. The Tandoori Chicken and Waffles were so unusual and so good - perfect combination of the spicy chicken with a slightly sweet waffle and made for a spectacular presentation . My friend had a curry bowl with butter chicken - yum. They also shared the Tuna Tartare - really nice! One more place on the list to visit next time we are in NYC.

Tough to get into, very busy, can have long lines. One of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been in and I have been in a lot. We choose the tasting menu because its easier to get a seat and didn't regret that choice for a second. Really, just go. Not for the decor (which is thankfully not red flock wallpaper) just to experience great Indian food that steps aside from the norm

The basmati rice is out of this world, best ever! We tried the Yogurt Kebab and the Chutney platter as appetizers, must try as well.

My wife, Barbara Brown and I have dined at Ba Bu Ji many times and feel so lucky that an excellent Indian food restaurant has opened so close to our residence. We love their Tandoori lamb chops and Montaire Farmes chicken. Their Colonel Tso’s Cauliflower great, The wait staff are always smart and helpful and always have great spirits and red wine

Longest wait of our life, a waitress legitimately called me 'as##ole' as she was trying to hit on one of our friends... Other than this, the food is great and legit so I would definitely go back.

Perhaps I misunderstood that an Indian restaurant with a name like "Babu Ji" and a large photo of a native Indian guru looking guy on their website and menu would offer more than 3 vegetarian dishes. The food was good but small portions and expensive. Won't be returning.

Given the rave reviews and high price tag, I had higher expectations for this Indian restaurant. We ordered the chefs tasting menu. I found every appetizer to be overly sweet. And except for an outstanding cream and scallop dish, the mains were not superior to your run of the mill Indian restaurant. Naan was very good, served light and hot. The ice cream desert was wonderful. My other warning for diners is that the seating is very cramped. We had a small table that was inches from other diners on both sides. It's really like a long communal table.

Babu Ji is a delight. The food is top rate, the staff is friendly and accommodating and the vibe is casual and upbeat. Prices are consistent with the quality and location. Guests that are so inclined are invited to chose their beverage from a beer cooler that contains over 30 varieties, many of them from the owners' native Australia. The only reservations that are accepted are for those who wish to take advantage of the chef's tasting menu, everyone else is seated on a first come, first served basis. The place is very popular, so when filled, it can be noisy. Babu Ji is also among a growing number of NY restaurants that do not allow tipping. Instead, 10% is automatically added to your bill, which is evenly distributed among all employees. We loved everything that we ordered, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but the scallops in coconut curry was over the top delicious. This place is now our favorite Indian restaurant in NYC.

This is a new addition to the NYC dining scene, a less spicy and westernized take on Indian food. While the decor was modem, it was also inviting --- Bollywood movies projected on the wall, unique photos, yet traditional Indian metal cups and plates. Started with Yogurt Kebab but it was actually more like a croquette --- really good, a little tangy and spicy and texture like a soft cheese: - also had the Chaat which was delicious For mains: - Pork Vindaloo: good balance of spice but maybe too much fat even for pork belly. Might skip this one next time. - Cauliflower fritters: My gf had this and thought it was ok. Wine list was ok, but above par for an Indian restaurant. I think if I went back, I'd go with a group and try the 4 people sampler feast. Development areas. - Weird: Largest beer fridge ever in a restaurant - Service: Not great at all - Menu is limited

Babu Ji was my favourite Indian restaurant when I was living in Australia and on a recent trip to NYC, I found out there’s a restaurant there too!! Pros: - The Indian dishes here are fresh, fragrant and so, so delicious. - The space is cool and hip. - Great vegetarian options. Cons: - I think they’ve moved location recently! I’ll need to look them up again when in the city.

They take reservations now so make one! After a 45 minute wait, with time passed for discounted drinks at a nearby bar, we were sat. It's very tight tables. We opted for the chefs menu because really, at $60 for our first visit, made sense. The cauliflower to start was incredible. Absolutely incredible. (so much like at dirt candy). As for the tasting...I loved the butter chicken and the naan. The lamb and seafood curry were ok but the lamb nothing special and the seafood curry just too sweet for me. Desserts was great and fun. Adding just one bottle of wine, our bill wasn't cheap but it was good. I'll be back, but try for a less packed time of day (it's so tight, loud, not very comfortable) and just order a la carte.

Not the East Village Indian food of your college years. This is grown up, sophisticated - the tasting menu was well-crafted with Indian flavors in creative preparations of unexpected ingredients. Spicy, sweet, salty, rich in an ebb and flow of small plates. Wine pairing was solid. Atmosphere is electric, loud and tight, elbow-to-elbow with stylish beautiful people.

Four of us had the chefs table. Two wanted veggie, two wanted just chicken and fish, no beef pork or lamb. They bring a tray of small dishes, three or four bites per dish, and maybe 8 dishes or so. Naan bread in the middle. All were good. We asked for more naan and got more without a problem. It was nice if a bit expensive. Probably best to wait in line and pay less for exactly what you want. But the line can be long.

Fabulous Indian food! All of the dishes are delicious. The $62 Family Style menu offers an excellent sampling of the food. Worth it if you're hungry. Cauliflower appetizers and the Gol Gappa were excellent. The latter was a very different experience and worth trying. All of the appetizers are vegetarian. Tandoori Chicken was tender and a little spicy (and a good sized portion), the Duck was great and not spicy (even though described as such), the Naan bread melted in our mouths, and the Anjeer Kofta delighted us vegetarians in the group. We were stuffed at the end of the meal! There is a great selection of Beers, and the water is plentiful. Napkins folded by the wait staff each time we left our seats. Service was fabulous and conducted with many smiles. The place was buzzing by 6:00 PM on a Saturday night. We would definitely recommend giving this exciting and delicious place a try. While not inexpensive ($150 + tip for 3 people), it was worth every bite!!

Ok food, not great at all. And owner is lacking in restaurant management skills and etiquette. Made 6 pm reservation on phone, only given option of chef's menu, $50 per person, not told of option to wait for a la carte service. Got there, saw a la carte menu on next table. Asked waitress if a la carte was an option, she didn't reply coherently. Manager/owner came over: "You have chef's menu. That's the only way to get a reservation. You can wait outside for a la carte." We said we weren't told that on the phone, we've been here since 5:45 when there were no people waiting. (Long line by then.) "The policy is clear, I'm not going to argue with you, you can wait outside." Then 2 tries for wine, both undrinkable; 3rd was ok. Then they failed to serve us 2 of the appetizers on the chef's menu (we only knew because the table next to us got them). Appetizers were pretty good, main tasting entrees were ok to sub-par. Then they charged for dessert "by mistake." By then the restaurant was crowded, noisy, tables close together, no room in the aisles. Very unpleasant experience, for so-so and too-expensive food.

My fiance and I went on a Friday night and it was filled young groups sharing food. We like the ambiance and food (my fiance has been to India three times, not the best food but not the worst). I recommend it for a casual group dinner so you can try lots of dishes and enjoy the fun music.

Went to this place for early dinner with a friend, my wife and 5 year old daughter. we had to choose the tasting menu in order to get the reservation at the last minute. When we arrive we were greeted by really helpful and friendly staff. The place was only about 25% full. Once sat the waiter explained the tasting menu and asked f there were any allergies. They even allowed us to grab an apple juice from the store for my daughter as they didn't serve it themselves. The meal itself was divine. Each course arrived just as we'd finished the last one, the flavours still tingling and playing on our senses. Then the main Thali of 7 different little small dishes arrived with naan & rice. again each one was full of flavour and surprises. I couldn't help but mop up the sauces of the curries with my naan once all the meat had gone. Finally the pistachio Kulfi - sweet and creamy, delicious. By the time we left two hours later the place was packed with every seat taken, and a 90 minute queue outside. New Yorkers seem to love this place! Well done on creating an Indian restaurant that still manages to surprise and not make you feel greasy and full afterwards.

Ate here on a Friday night and was not disappointed. Our server was attentive and the food was so good. The seating is too tight and the restaurant was loud but so worth it if you like Indian food. I would go back in a heartbeat!

Went with a large group and had a great evening. Service was friendly and food diverse and flavorful. Had a sampler that let us try about 10 different things each and everything that came out of the kitchen was really good. Highly recommend.

What a great restaurant. Get the duck and the lamb and the batata vada. It's gets real busy around 8pm+.

The food is SO YUMMY! I've been to so many indian restaurants around the world but this one is AMAZING! Try chef's tasting menu and their Kulfi Ice cream ! *THE KINDEST PEOPLE WORKS THERE*

This restaurant has been our worst experience so far this winter. Really expensive tasting menu that will leave you both angry and hungry.