Darbar Reviews

Typical Indian food with a decent selection for the buffet menu. Their mango lassi was exceptional. Ambience could be better.

We had a fabulous experience at the Darbar hotel right in the centre of New York city. The restaurant is tastefully done up, the service is excellent - but the real star is the FOOD! Real authentic Indian food - subject to none!

Although NYC is crawling with Indian restaurants, some good, and many truly awful, Darbar stands as an oasis of real Indian cuisine, freshly cooked, with excellent service. The prices are low to fair, and this should be a destination for anyone looking for an authentic (and inexpensive) Indian meal.

Service and ambiance were excellent. Wonderful mix of spices, although we were advised to tone it down to 6, which was great and had a real bite. Limited number of tables so reservations are a must. Always a stop on our trips to NY

There was buffet food available and quite a variety. The food is tasty and not too spicy. Also the seating is convenient and ample enough to hold business meetings over lunch or to meet with colleagues to discuss projects. Can also serve for couples. Overall i'd say its value for money in the city of NY.

We booked on Open Table for our Christmas lunch and loved it! As a couple consisting of a vegan and carnivore, the buffet lunch was plentiful with great choice for us both. The dhal, brinjal bharjee and spinach were lovely and my husband enjoyed tandoori chicken and Goan fish curry. Very nice!!

Only downside is the price but everything else was great. We ordered take out: Lamb Biryani, Chicken Vindaloo w/rice, garlic naan, pickle, kheer (rice pudding), and papadum for a total of $68. The meal was spicy and tasty.

This restaurant serves authentic Indian food with a smile. I always enjoydinner here when visiting NYC.

Never had Indian before and the couple we were with love it. We decided on Darbar and the server was fabulous. Helped us determine what to get and we all got something different. It was the best and we will forever and always be a fan of Darbar. We really enjoyed it and we are from the Deep South, just eating and trying new things as we travel around.

From the outside you do think "hmmm I'm not sure" but as soon as you walk in everyone's friendly, and don't be put off by the small amount of seating downstairs, upstairs is great and won't get the draft from the door. Great service, fantastic food, you can also ask for the vegetarian options like chana masala or aloo Gobi as a side dish and they will do that for you and half the price of the dish. Wine is excellent and a good price for a large glass especially in New York. Very good meal, would recommend and definitely come back!

Very good food and price average The indian variety id huge The cook is clean and the service is 👍 I advise for indean food lovers maybe it is one of the best in Geneva

It seems to be one of the very few restaurants (possibly the only one) offering an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet in Midtown. There is a long and narrow dining room downstairs and a larger and noisy (waiters contribute to the noise) dining room upstairs. The choice of dishes is standard. As far as I remember the upstairs buffet had the ubiquitous tandoori chicken, a goat meat dish (not to be recommended), another meat dish which was already finished at 13.45 and I could not taste, some vegetables dishes, plain rice, many sauces, two desserts. Everything average. Service is impersonal as they are used to customers who choose the buffet for a quick lunch and go away. The place was full of customers but is this a reason to recommend it? According to my experience there is no reason to recommend this place (at least for the lunch buffet).

With about fifty seats downstairs and another forty in an upstairs room this restaurant exudes the pleasantness of Indian culture. The staff are gracious, the food entices the palate, and the prices are reasonable (for NYC). The manager was quick to recognize that the okra had been cooked in oil that was past its best - question is why the cook did not make that determination, earlier!. The goat was great, but not to everyone's raster and the multi tawny soup was simple outstanding. The next time we are in NYC and want an ethnic shot, we will be back.

I am not exaggerating when I say that Darbar has wrecked most Indian restaurants for me. Everything, from the Peshawari naan to the kebab appetizer, was a notch above. Their house cocktail, a play on a mango lassi with rum and pineapple, goes down far too smoothly. Kudos for excellent cooking and attentive service.

We went for dinner on 28/07. The service was excellent - the food was average. Very very spicy food was served to us first time round and when we spoke to the waiter they replaced it immediately. They even gave us extra roti and Gulab Jamuns on the house but that didn't compensate for the average tasting food. The restaurant can do with more authentic tasting vegetarian dishes ! That said , the place was bustling with people so it is obviously quite a popular joint - perhaps it was an off day! And again - excellent wait staff.

We were visiting NY and was told about Darbar. It was absolutely wonderfully delicious. They had a variety on the buffet- all dishes unique and flavorful. The perfect amount of spice &’heat’. The staff was thoughtful and excellent service. Highly recommend. We went at lunch and the crowd wasn’t bad.

Pleasant and friendly staff, food was pleasant. Table on second floor near window. Not far from fifth avenue, easy walk from most central locations.

We were in a hurry for a Broadway show and the waiter accommodated us nicely. The chicken tikka masala and saagwala were "melt in your mouth" and perfectly spiced. The rosemary naan nicely meshed with the sauces

We visited after a very full day in New York with family- staff found us a perfect table. Stored our wheelchair. Great selection for our vegetarian. Food yummy and staff happy to explain anything on menu. Food well priced had a fab meal. Close to our hotel a 10 minute walk at a slow speed as had older peeps in our party 5th Ave and 45 th street or $ 7.50 cab ride. Staff very attentive nothing too much trouble. Seek this place out.

I am a lover of Indian food and I have to say this was one of the worst Indian meals I have ever tasted . I chose Goat vindaloo , the sauce tasted of vinegar and the meat was in small pieces with bits of fat or bone attached , overall not a pleasant experience , I will not return .

We really enjoyed our meal here - we ate very late as we'd only just arrived in the city but the food tasted as fresh as it would have at the start of the evening. Popular with locals too.

Stumbled upon this restaurant in NYC last week. Had never tried Indian food so was a little unsure but was so happy we found this place. Staff was great, atmosphere was good. We were sat right away. Waiter made great suggestion and food was great. Was a great start to our week in NYC.

Great authentic food! Every item was perfectly seasoned and fresh. It had many choices and it was all amazing. Decor very nice. Staff wxceptional!!!

First off, the service was amazing. The servers are very attentive. We called before to make sure we could walk in since the listing on trip advisor says to reserve a table. It was around 5pm and they allowed us to walk in without a reservation. The food was served quickly and extremely fresh. The servers came to our table every 2-3 minutes to refill our waters constantly without asking. When the food was ready the server actually served our food onto our plates right in front of us. It was just a wonderful experience and incredibly delicious! The desserts are great too! It was our first time in nyc and can't wait to bring family to try this place. (The place is extremely nice so if you're on a date this is perfect).

Recently visited Darbar on a trip to New York. Stumbled across it after we rejected another restaurant we had googled but changed our minds when we got outside !! How glad we were we got a fantastic reception from staff they made us feel so welcome. A lovely restaurant and the food was exceptional. Lovely warm friendly atmosphere and not expensive you get what you pay for. If you like Indian food I recommend you go there you certainly will not be disappointed. Thank you to all the staff for a great evening.

Solid option but not a 5 star. I found that it just didn’t quite have the depth of flavor that I expected, but overall it was fine and I would return.

Three of us went to dinner at Darbar on 46th because we were looking for dining near the theater district before our planned show. I have to preface this review with an explanation that our daughter is a cook in New York, so when we go to restaurants, she often knows someone in the kitchen and we get special goodies sent to our table. We didn't have that connection here, but even our daughter said she would return to Darbar. The service was great, and the food was delicious. We ordered two apps: Gobi Manchurian and the chicken kebab. I have to learn how to make the Gobi! It was fabulous. We each ordered a different entre and shared to get a chance to taste everything. Our dinner included Chicken Korma, Darbar Special Chicken and Goat Melagu (our daughter was the brave one to try goat). We also had Peshawari Naan filled with nuts and fruits and so yummy we wished we had ordered more. We were so full at the end of our meal though that we would have needed a doggy bag. We would definitely recommend this restaurant. Our service was prompt, helped us make decisions, and got us out the door to our show in plenty of time.

Being an Indian, I have tried lots of Indian restaurants across the globe. This one may be liked by non-Indians but it definitely lacks the authenticity of an Indian food. I understand that in a city like NY you will have to temper down the chilly and spices but you can still retain the flavours if the base gravy is done properly. I went there twice in a matter of three days. Here are my low points for the place- 1. The flavours are not authentic. Clearly looks like pre cooked frozen gravies which are quickly heated and meat or vegetables added to it. 2. The portion sizes are decently big enough for 2-3 people so you will be wasting lots of food if you’re visiting solo. 3. The local staff keeps chatting a lot and for someone local you can see the level of unprofessionalism - abusive words being used, joking about the customers in the restaurant etc. 4. TIP- avoid sitting near the bar counter in the ground floor. They throw used dishes for cleaning with such a loud bang that everyone turns around to see if someone tripped. Perhaps a disgruntled employee but leaves a bad impression. 5. The only good thing w I didn’t get the feel that owner was around. Maybe all above is in the absence of their boss.

Total disappointment , soon as we were in they tried to give us the table near the door only to find it gets an icy blast every time the doors opened, we asked to be moved and watched them try to give everyone else that came in the same table, all asked to be moved, to make matters worse it was mostly opened by the waiters and kitchen staff going out to smoke right at the front door, watched one come in and start working without washing his hands. after 30 mins we had to ask for a wine menu then they tried to give us 2 soaking wet wine glasses , food was served on cold plates so rice was cold by the time it got to us, to be fair I did like my korma but the overall experience and the grumpy owner was terrible

Went to the Sunday lunch buffet. Amazing food! I am a vegetarian but my husband enjoyed the 5 meat dishes, while I had second helpings of the 7 veggie options. The nan is made to order and was unlimited. I can't say what the desserts were like as I was over stuffed from the main meal. My husband had visited the restaurent for lunch during the week and reports that there was an equally impressive and different selection of dishes. There are not allot of tables and the ambiance is perfect for a quiet meal.

Yesterday was Sunday and I booked the buffet lunch for 5. Our 2 guests were American and we thought we would take them out to an Indian meal. We were seated politely, but that was almost it. The food was pretty awful, some of it was cold. The waiter brought a basket of naan and put it on the table. No replenishment, just the cold naan through the meal. Garlic naans are not included in the buffet, quite ridiculous in my view. The dessert was hot custard and limp watermelon. That's it. Yuk. Whoever thought of that combination? It's not Indian for sure. I agree that the price at $16.30 each is not much but you simply cannot put on such a poor show. There were hardly any other people, so it could be that Sunday is not the best day to go. I don't know. We will not go back, that's for sure.

I recently stayed at Hotel Lexington and was sent to Darbar for dinner by our concierge. Always a toss up when you get a recommendation from a hotel as they are usually paid to send people to specific places. Darbar turned out to be a most excellent surprise. It's right around the corner between Lexington and 3rd Avenue. It was DELICIOUS. The service was IMPECCABLE. We had such a great experience we went back a second time before the end of or trip. I highly recommend Darbar!

Who says good meals in NYC cost a fortune? Darbar has a fantastic lunch buffet--in a calm, linen-tablecloth environment, for less than 15 bucks. We also ordered takeout one night that was equally good. Goat curry and carrot halwah were standouts.

the welcome was warm, we were nicely seated, the waiter was pushing to make the order as soon as possible. The service was very good. The food was excelent we had chicken masala and chicken tandoori with Naan with rosemary and two glaces of wine. The only issue was that the staff wanted us to leave early (they started pushing to leave at 21.50 despite it says in the netrance that it opens until 22.30, they kept on pushing untli we left at 22.10 (this was very impolite)

Great lamb chops tandoor and shrimp bouna. Very nice service. Not my favorite indian but above average. Affiliated with the one on 55 but not identical.

visited one night for a meal with my partner,upon arrival we had the chef going ape at the delivery guy for parking his bike at the front a few choice words thrown infront of customers shocking, ordered popodoms and mango chutney for starters popodoms came and some sort of liquid when asked what this was we was told mango chutney passed on it as it was awful so dry starters to begin with ordered our meals when these came alongside it was my mango chutney cheers for charging for dry popodoms and a mango with my mains what was useless we ordered chicken madras and biriyani if the chef thinks these are what was ordered he needs to go back to cookery school they was the worst curry i have ever had anywhere around the world absolutley disgusting place to eat

You can’t beat the quality of the food and the price for this buffet. Indian food is my favorite and this place wowed me. I sampled everything on the buffet and found it all exceptional. It was incredibly spiced but not overly so for sensitive western palates. The fried cauliflower had a wonderfully sweet flavoring. The tandoori chicken had that great clay-oven flavor and the goat was a delight. $15 for all you can eat buffet doesn’t get much better than this place. My best buddy’s mom’s home cooking is the best Indian food I’ve had; this is number 2!

Good buffet with great lentil soup, friendly people nice place. If you like tasty and spicy is the right place.

Really enjoyed dinner here. Staff were friendly and attentive, but not in your face. Food was freshly cooked, authentic and tasty. The chicken was good quality. Enjoyed our meal very much. Not overpriced. Will go back again. Have eaten here before. The decor downstairs isn't that exciting, they could may be make that a bit more cheerful or slightly more Indian in styling - but that didn't really matter. It was the food that was nice!

The food was overall fine; however, the basic etiquette of treating guests properly is missing. What was most disappointing is the manager's attitude; he was too rude when I mentioned to him about the undercooked food. Needless to say, I'm not going there again and won't recommend it to anyone.

Went here with my wife and had a very nice time. My wife, who never eats much Indian food enjoyed her meal, as did I. Food was very affordable and was generous in portion size. I thought the staff was very helpful and friendly.

I found Darbar by Googling restaurants near our hotel and was very satisfied by it. Ambiance is classy. Food is tasty. Prices aren't astronomical.

Went here recently with four colleagues for an early business dinner. The restaurant is small-ish, we sat upstair. It was a Monday night so not too busy (still early I think). There are lots of good options for your typical Indian Punjabi dishes. We had lots of Taj Mahal beer, and the waiter was very attentive.

We have wonderful Indian food in London where we are from. So we set a very high standard. This restaurant not only met that standard but exceeded it. Very comfortable to sit and excellent service. The food was exceptional and an added bonus was it wasn’t expensive even though it’s in midtown New York. We started with bhel poori. Awesome. Then I had tandoori shrimp which came with a delicious sauce on the side. My husband had one of the lamb dishes. The lamb melted in our mouth. It was a little on the spicy side but was great. Our friends had beetroot balls in a sauce. I don’t like beetroot but this was awesome and nothing like I’ve seen or tasted before. I can’t wait to return to New York and to go there again.

This is why we use Tripadvisor when we search for a restaurant. The rating for this restaurant made us decide to go and we were not disappointed at all. We had a delicious dinner in a very nice atmosphere and reasonably priced as well. We choose the chef's selection with chicken and one with fish and it was very tasty. Would definitzely recommend this restaurant

I really enjoyed the buffet for lunch. Went with a work colleague and it was great setting to eat, relax and chat. Make sure you get there a little early, it was super full the day we went. I liked the Naan that they brought to the table.

Darbar was recommended by Lexington Hotel which is close by. The restaurant is cozy and serves really good Indian food. We enjoyed the chicken Tikka Masala and Okra dishes. Onion Naan was good too. Coconut sorbet in shell was perfect ending. Good wines by glass or bottle.

A colleague and I recently went for lunch to Darbar Indian Restaurant on East 46 Street in Manhattan. We left terribly disappointed and wondering how can this restaurant of hurried, smileless, and unfriendly service, mediocre food quality, and noisy ambience claim laurels it fails to earn and deserve. As the ground-floor level was very noisy, we chose to walk upstairs. We noted that none of the buffet entries was labeled, a far cry from other Indian restaurants I have been to. Requests to waiting staff for recommendations of non-spicy dishes were met with rushed and unclear responses that proved inaccurate -- not to mention uncomfortable and of incompatible taste. Food quality was disappointingly low, much lower than any other Indian restaurant I have been to. Waiting staff who filled water glasses and brought and picked up dining bills were hurriedly pacing back and forth preventing a calm eating and talking experience. Their smileless faces reflected an unfriendly work environment and disregard for the customer experience. At one point, while we were eating, a waiter slammed on our table the folio containing paper dollars and coin change on a bill that had been paid by a different table. His slamming action caused the coins to fly out of the folio, beyond our table, and down to the floor between our table and the wall. We had to get up, bend down, and collect the coins from the floor to put back in the folio for the rushed and unprofessional waiter to give to the appropriate table. I do NOT recommend Darbar Restaurant and will certainly not return.

Fantastic dinner last night! Everything from the garlic naan to the kalfi(?) was delicious. The lamb biryani was spiced properly with the raita providing a cooling counter. The goat korma was tender. The Indian red wine(Sula) was surprisingly good and the Taj Mahal beer is always an excellent accompaniment.

I have had Indian food before many times. This is was not pleasing, not aromatic, not flavorful, not exciting, and not the first bad Indian in NYC.

Enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala and the samosas. Srvice was slow, ut the food was very good. Sat on the balcony overlooking the street in the upper level.

We enjoyed chilly chicken and yogurt fish. Good service clean and comfortable. I would recommend to anyone

Decided to stop by to give this place a try after walking by and we did not leave disappointed. We tried the prix fixe meal and it was definitely good value - leaves you full but also satisfied. The flavours are there and services is excellent. Would recommend if you are craving indian - it said fine dining outside but we were dressed pretty casual and others too - granted we were seated downstairs so maybe upstairs is fancier?

Very good food, freshly prepared. Vegan options also available. Very friendly service. We liked it so much that we went there twice during our stay

Went here recently by myself for lunch on a Sunday and was pleasantly surprised. $13 for all you can eat Indian buffet. And the quality of the buffet was quite high. They had appetizers, good mains and some dessert. Staff were very friendly and there was plenty of food. Would recommend for anyone wanting to eat LOTS of Indian!

This place serves very authentic Indian food. Garlic Naan and Paneer Makhani are my favourite and go-to.

This place is good for a buffet. The selection unfortunately does not change much but always fresh and for the most part delicious. The pickles and pickled salads are great.

We were walking round looking for somewhere to eat and literally just fell upon this restaurant. Decor is nice, looks like an authentic Indian restaurant. The lady that showed us to our table was nice although once she had sat us down she went back to her spot at the door where she spent the majority of the time checking her phone. The food was ok, we asked for a balti, which in the UK is a staple Indian curry and is on most Indian restaurant menus wherever we have been in the world, but the waiters here had never heard of a balti. Is this not a traditional Indian dish? Popadoms left a little bitter after taste and the dips were not the traditional Indian dips we were used to. Perhaps the Indian food differs from country to country, we just presumed Indian food in any country was based on traditional authentic Indian food from India. We weren't blown away with the food here but the dishes we had were fine. We would probably try somewhere else next time just to compare as this is the first Indian restaurant we have eaten in whilst in NY.

Great food and good service. Reasonably priced for New York. Lots of options for chicken, seafood, lamb and beef.

The naan bread was soft like putty and the goat curry was the opposite - as tough as old boots. I couldn’t cut it, never mind eat it! When I told the waiter he just said sorry but didn’t offer an alternative that I might have been able to eat. Needless to say, bring the reasonable person I am, I paid them anyway.....put it down to experience. But I would never go back.

A short walk from the UN. We stepped out of the snowstorm and onto this quaint restaurant. We enjoyed a delicious lunchtime buffet with all that one expects at an Indian buffet. I particularly liked the Goat Curry. My son loved the Tiki Masala and my daughter loved all the different chutneys.

During lunch time threre's a buffet with a large variety of dishes - the meal costs about 16$ w/o tax. Everything we've tried was delicious, and the service was also very good.

I've ordered Delivery from this place for a couple of years and have generally been well satisfied. The other night I was walking by after a cocktail party, about 8 p.m., and decided to go in for the first time for a light supper. It was quite full but there was room without a wait. I was not disappointed by my choice. The menu is diverse. I started with the Mulligitawny soup, one of my favorites, which I order quite often and consider a test of a good Indian restaurant. It was excellent if a tad short of the best I've had. I then had the goat bhana, one of the place's specialties. (Yes, I'm one of those who appreciate goat.) It was very good, very savory. Most everything here is spicey-savory. And, If you order here straight off the menu, the dishes will come out on the spicey-hot side, so those who are shy of the hot stuff should ask for mild. The service was attentive but the kitchen was somewhat slow. The décor is pleasant if unremarkable. The prices here are reasonable for good quality Manhattan dining.

I was skeptical about eating here after reading all the reviews however when I got there the Stat wad very friendly and helpful. I ordered a chicken dish and a shrimp dish. They were both delicious! The dinner menu is a little pricy but the food made up for it! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone!

I couldnt say anymore, this is one of the tastiest indian food in town!. I ate the chicken, amazing and very juicy with all the spiciness, the cauliflower with szechuan style sauce is excellent as well.

We always include Darbar on our restaurant list when in NY. The food is very good and authentic. No beef on the menu as would be expected in a true Indian restaurant. A bit more spicy this time than before but that is not a criticism.

You'd think NYC would be the epicenter of great Indian food, but we've been disappointed a few times . Outside of the Murray Hill area, its hit and miss. This place is an exception though. Attentive service in this small midtown eatery. Good and decently priced food. Just the right amount of spice.

Enjoy the food while staff serve with a smile and attention to detail. Great portions. I had the lamb curry and did not leave anything on the plate!

Dropped in during restaurant week. A little early for dinner, but they were serving and a few people were at the bar. We opted for the full meal offered during the week. Multiple choices of appetizers, followed by choices for entrees and dessert. Naan AND rice with the meals. Everything we ordered was delicious, including on-premises made kulfi for dessert. Beer and wine not significantly marked up, full bar as well Service was gracious, friendly and informative. Glancing at the regular menu, they had most of the usual: since we picked from a special menu, can’t pass judgement. We plan to return any time we are in the vicinity. We noticed groups of people dropping in to nibble and sample the bar

We were two for dinner in the middle of the week. We ordered tandoori chicken, pureed spinach, samosas, chutney and naan. The samosas are a good size and very flavorful and come with a choices of sauces. The tandoori chicken is 2 good sized pieces of chicken and very tasty. We both enjoyed the spinach as well. We had more than enough to eat and the service was efficient and polite. My only complaint is everything is an added charge so if you want to sample different breads for instance, you would pay $4 or $5 each time. But all in all we were very satisfied and had a good meal.

This place was recommended to us, and were weren't disappointed. Prices for NYC were very reasonable,plant of food, and good service. We started off with the "Vegetable Snack Platter" which was plenty. For dinner we had the "Tandoori Mixed Grill", it was plenty for the two of us. What was good about this plate is gives you a sample of everything, tandoori chicken, lamb chop, seekh kebab,salmon,shrimp. You wouldn't be disappointed, and the Indian species were perfect.

First, the good; the staff were very helpful and attentive and the tandoori vegetables were very tasty. However, the over all drab, tired, and dingy atmosphere of the place made it an unpleasant place to hang out. In addition the beer wasn’t even cold, there wasn’t any music to liven up the place up, and the tables were weirdly arranged. When we arrived there were only two other tables seated, but they wanted to put us in a corner very close to one of the other groups.

We had dinner here. The food is good and the portions generous. We had the chicken Tika ;lamb rogan Josh ; Aloo gobi , peshwari naan and onion Bajia . They were all very tasty. The service was good and attentive. The Taj Mahal beer is similar to kingfisher.

I am very picky about Indian but this place stood up to my expectations. Wait staff were awesome! The food was even better! They offer a prix fix and everything we ordered was fabulous! Chefs suggestions are a must!

We were a group of four people. We enjoyed the food. We enjoyed the Service and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Two of our group were very familiar with Indian cuisine; two were relatively new to the experience and did not like spicy food. There was something for all of us, and we all agreed the experience was excellent.

We discovered this place just by chance around 1500 hrs. The manager informed us that they were closing in 10 minutes and would not be able to open up tables for us, but we could sit at the bar and eat. We were famished and would agree to any condition. The buffet spread at $14.95 was great. All the items were very well made. Great value for money.

Personally the best Indian I have ever had. Service was good, attentive without being too fussy. We just ordered poppadum's and pickles to start followed by a main course each. It was delicious, perfect flavour, not greasy, really really enjoyed it. Price was so reasonable too. Highly recommend.

The prices are similar to other Indian restaurants in the area, but it excels with ambience. The waiter was very engaging about his life and food experience in India and it was a very clean and chic yet simple space. The food was really good. Their spicy chicken house specialty brought the heat clandestinely. I didn't taste the heat, but could feel its presence. The sag paneer and sag lamb were both tasty as well. The garlic naan tasted as good as it smelled which is, to say, amazing. Veggie samosas as appetizers were wonderful too.

If your looking for authentic Indian food Darbar is the place to go. Some of the best Korma and Vindaloo I've eaten. Additionally the restaurant gets an A rating for cleanliness form the city.

The title of this review says it all. We got in late but the kitchen was still open. We had a delicious lentil soup, chicken with mint and coriander and a tikka masala. All very good

Some of the best chicken tikka masala, goat, paneer, etc. !5 bucks for the extensive, fresh buffet. I truly recommend it.

We expected a bit more after seeing all of the great reviews. It's a simple, good Indian spot. Zero ambiance, fair to mid-level service. The food is solid - very good Indian, but nothing to write home about. They did have a great bottle of wine (amidst a really bad wine list) that we splurged on, which made the meal very nice. They had a bit of a hard time accommodating a dairy allergy - even the rice had cream in it!

Eated her for dinner. The resurant has a nice atmosphere. Friendly staff that delivered good service. And the most important,the food vas really good! Would love to eat here again.

Really enjoyed our meal here. It was some of the best Indian food I've had. The service was also excellent. The prices were reasonable. We would eat here again. The only thing we didn't like was the scallop appetizer.

Darbar provided very good food and impeccable service. The Gobi Manchurian appetizer, which I have an enjoyed at other restaurants, was the highlight of the meal. The chicken saag was fresh and lighter than I've had elsewhere. I like spicey food, but not Indian hot. When I asked the server how hot is hot, he responded, "We mean business." I opted for medium but probably would have enjoyed a bit more heat. The garlic nan was also terrific. The meal was a little pricier than I anticipated. Add $4 to all the entrees listed on the TripAdvisor sample menu. Paid $52 with tip and one beer. Still not too bad because the food was quite good.

Whenever we feel lazy to go far for a dinner out we go to this local indian place. Food is always great and we have been coming for years now. Equally tasty are the lamb and chicken dishes as arr vegetarian options

Nothing special about atmosphere nor service. Large verity of food but again nothing special not to say not tasty about it.

Often hard to find a good Indian restaurant but I came back here as I enjoyed it last time in 2014. Lots of good choices. Although gluten free options are available for food they do not serve gluten free beer which is disappointing, and so easy to rectify.

We were staying close by so picked this place as it was our nearest curry house. Staff were lovely, service was great. Food was lovely. The waiter asked if one of us would try the special so my husband did and I was a little jealous as it was lovely, a coconut base I believe. We didn't order starters but were brought a popedom each and we didn't order dessert but was brought a portion of Rice Pudding to share (no charge for these items). Highly recommend if you are in the area, lovely cosy spot and fair prices.

We had seven people for dinner, and had a variety of dishes--shrimp (2), chicken (2), salmon, goat, and spinach. Everyone loved their dishes. I had the shrimp with the house special sauce for the chicken (I think it's called Mali); it was excellent. It is sweeter than the shrimp special sauce, which a friend had and was also very good. The appetizers--vegetable samosas and shrimp special--and bread (Naan--plain, garlic, and fruit) were also excellent. I can't say enough about the service. We had a reservation upstairs but one person wasn't able to climb stairs (who knew there was an upstairs?). The manager was understanding and was going to allow us to try to walk the person up the stairs. When I asked if I could ask another couple if they would mind moving to accommodate us (and allow us to put two tables together downstairs), he said fine, and that worked out for us. And the servers were just extremely pleasant and accommodating. Plus, I love when I read reviews of a restaurant before I review it and see things like "it is costly"--anyone can see the prices online and judge for oneself. For a restaurant a couple of blocks from Grand Central Station, I hardly find $20 to $25 for most entrees costly, but what do I know. Our total bill with appetizers and drinks was quite reasonable.

Was visiting New York for the week and on the last day my girlfriend and I wanted to treat ourselves. We both had a craving for Indian food and Darbar had pretty good reviews so we thought we would give it a go. The whole environment was pretty relaxed and welcoming, staff were lovely from start to end and the servers were quietly confident and did a great job, there was never a moment where we felt rushed or ignored. As for the food, we ordered appetizers and entrees with Bhajia to start, Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Korma for the main (which comes with rice), regular Naan (to clean up the plates), and Mango Chutney with Papadum on the side. Every dish was amazing and full of flavour but not overwhelmingly so, which was great. Servings were perfect sizes that left us both unbelievably stuffed. Incredibly satisfied and ready to leave we were surprised with a complimentary rice pudding for dessert that we somehow managed to finish and yet it helped to settle our stomachs and made us feel less full. Would absolutely come back if we come back to New York as we feel that we missed out on the rest of the menu as we simply couldn't eat all of it in one go. Would recommend to anyone who has a little bit of money to treat themselves. Definitely spent the same at places like Applebee's but felt that it was better spent here.

Greeted well. Friendly staff. Attentive. Started with two orders of Naan bread. Luke warm at best with an empty restaurant. Not acceptable. We ordered Lamb Roghan Josh, Chicken Malai, Shrimp Tandori. Lamb was regular spicy but had a bite. Don't order hotter. It was fine. The chicken dish was a house special. It was mild. The shrimp was dry and tasteless. Not a good presentation. Overall the food was average. I expect better in NYC with such a large diverse population. The bread is a killer. Not good and missing a third dipping sauce. I would not go back.

We find this restaurant near our hotel. We liked a lot. Food is very good. We tried Palak Paneer, Chicken tikka and Lamb chop masala. Rosemary Naan and beer. Service was excellent. I will return soon. Moderate prices.

in town for personal and business and decided to try this restaurant out because of all the good reviews. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent and the food was awesome and everyone just could not stop raving about it... we have been to many indian restaurants and this place ranks up there with the best of them. Would definitely come back here again and recommend it to others.

I really liked how we were treated by the waiter/manager. We sat on the bar counter and they made sure we're comfortable. They served us food on the counter itself. They were also serving Old Monk which you don't usually get in the US. The quantity was good enough for 2 people. Non-veg platter had a lot of variety and all super delicious!

What impressed us: Food was delicious-our group of 6 ordered a variety of vegetarian and meat dishes. Service was impeccable. Table setting was elegant. Atmosphere was quiet, so that we could enjoy lively dinner conversation. Best of all, servings were ample enough that our take-home boxes provided another fine meal later in the week. Price for dinner was quite reasonable for mid-town East.

Not worth your money poor rudeeemployees closed the upper section almost 2 hours before buffet was over filthy bathrooms food better than most Indian restaurants but not worth money

We ate only vegetarian dishes. Daal makhani was good. Kheer and gulabjamun were good too. But pakoras were very oily.

This restaurant is not only costly but also it doesn't have food to live up to that price. Curries were sour and you can make out that most of them had frozen veggies. Dessert Shrikhand was watery. Cutlery was looking unclean. Dal had taste of raw turmuric. Even water in Pani-Puri was made from store bought poweder. I a sure you can find better food than that nearby.

Midtown location. Made reservations on OpenTable. This is a neighborhood go to for me. We were seated right away. The pappads come gratis with a tamarind and mint sauce. The main dishes come with rice. We had saag paneer which was really good. The chicken mirch bhuna was spicy and flavorful. The dry rubbed chicken tikka pieces are juicy and perfect with a squeeze of lemon. Really good waitstaff, attentive and friendly. Portions are of good size and prices are reasonable. Would for sure go back!

The food and atmosphere in the restaurant was excellent. The staff were very friendly and attentive throuought.

Good place and nice food. Authentic Indian. Visited with friends and family and it was worth. A little expensive but worth going if u love Indian food

Nice ambience.. A little bit of sluggish service but not too slow.. Food was awesome.. Garlic Naan and Daal Makhni, peas pulav were just too good.. My friends who had Non-veg food were equally impressed as well.. I will surely visit again..

Atmosphere and staff were not amazing but the food was pretty good although every dish was extra hot ( some to much to eat ) other than that the food was all good tasted fresh and came out hot.

Nine of us met for a Saturday dinner here with some arriving by car some by train and others by foot. Conveniently located near Grand Central, this Indian restaurant was a fabulous delightful surprise. From a good Chardonnay to some delicious drinks called Karma, through a selection of appetizers all great which included Tandoori Vegetables spicy and crisp, Resmi Kebab, wonderfully moist flavorful chicken, and Jinga Tadka a tasty shrimp dish. For an entree I had the Tandoori Lamb Chops, oh wow so good. Also had some Aloo Gobi very tasty. Also eaten by others to good reviews were mulligatawny soup, goat bhuna, chicken tikka masala. We even ventured to eat dessert and were rewarded with a very good rice pudding, a traditional Indian dessert whose name I forget. Let me say this was a wonderful experience to be repeated again soon.

Excellent, varied menu with relatively reasonable prices; perfect central location in midtown east. Polite & thorough service, too.

Googled a decent Indian in NYC and this little gem came highly rated. We were not disappointed... Food, service and value were all Excellent. Truly couldn’t fault it. Would definitely recommend. Didn’t feel like we were on a production line... thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Great place for lunch. They have a buffet with a lot of Indian dishes. They had lamb tandoori chicken lentils rice. Service was excellent. Plenty of nam bread.

Located very close to Grand Central train station, this is truly a great Indian restaurant. The interior decor is traditionally Indian, service is extremely courteous and pricing is reasonable considering the location. The main courses were good spicy catered to Indian taste buds. The appetizers could have been slightly better. Overall good value for money spent.

A wide variety of Indian Cusine to satisfy your taste buds with! We tried a little bit of everything! This was our second visit to Darbar and plan on returning whenever we are in NYC.

We've been eating at Darbar for years. Their lunch buffet is all you can eat and tasty with consistent quality. Take out dinner is solid but delivery can take forever to arrive. The chicken tikka masala is tasty and you'll be using your naan to sop up the sauce although I wish they'd give a few more pieces of chicken. Tandoori chicken is yummy and they grant us the request of dark meat only. Saag paneer is great but again there is never enough cottage cheese - a few more pieces of cheese would go a long way to getting another star from me. It's a bit pricey so we don't order as often as I'd like to but we always return to order again!

We were here for a group gathering so it was a pre-set menu. The food was tasty and served hot. The customer service was excellent. For a pre-set menu we had a nice variety of foods to select.

Enjoyed the chef's special one evening in September absolutely delicious. Impecable service and a nice 2nd floor dining area added to an overall wonderful meal.

This restaurant has been one of my favorites for many years. I love the atmosphere. I love the food. I love the fact that the owner cares that it's patrons are very satisfied with its meals. I moved west nine years ago but whenever I'm back in New York City I try to make my way here for dinner with family or friends. I'm very happy to report the food and atmosphere are as good as always! I hope to be back very soon! I recommend Darbar for excellent Indian food at a reasonable price in Midtown.

We found this cozy restaurant via Open Table. Is near to the Waldorf Astoria. The manu was very extensive, and we ordered the Chicken Biryani rice, Lamb Korma and pudding rice dessert. All was exquisite and the service was superb. Will go back soon

Imagine and unlimited Indian Food Bonanza for $14 in the heart of Manhattan. Darbar offers very excellent food that comes with warm bread and condiments. I have found that this is truly a great value but make sure that you are hungry as this is very filling and you really do not want to get sleepy back in the office. I believe that the buffet runs from 11:30-3. There regular menu is quite nice as well but the location on east 46th street off of lex is where I go. They do not skimp on the food and refill quite oftern; a truly great value.

As an individual traveller from Manchester UK, I arrived staying locally at the Radisson looking for some extra spice for dinner. I was not disappointed by with the warm welcome nor the quality of food cooked to a requested specification, the dinner was perfect. For those who know and dine with me, I have a habit of ordering 'off piste', however, the chefs cooked my order to perfection without question. For an individual traveller or group, this place will not disappoint you! Enjoy supporting a restaurant that prides itself in your enjoyment. Thank you!

Had the lamb rogan josh and garlic naan. My friend ordered a vegetarian and non-dairy alternative of a menu item - something I've never seen another restaurant do. Service was good, meals were tasty but certainly weren't spilling off of the plates. Prices were reasonable for NYC and I would come back.

Our daughter loves Indian food and this did not disappoint. We had been there several years ago and it was as good as remembered. Reasonably priced. Good service. Only issue was that the Lamb Bhuna was very spicy though not indicated so on menu -- should check with waiter on spiciness of a dish when ordering something new.

we went on a Sunday. The restaurant offers a good value , all you can eat meal . It has a a good selection of vegan dishes. we ate the vegan and not vegan dishes. In our opinion the food taste was on the okay side. Nothing special. The service was really attentive.

Darbar was my self discovered place staff is fast and takes care of ally your special requirements really well. Will surely return back to try out more items from menu.

I went with my daughter and we have Indian food all the time so we ordered our favorite dishes. They serve very small portions and it's expensive. 2 pieces of chicken tandoori for 17$, the paneer Masala had like 7 pieces drowning in sauce, the flavors a were good but again not enough. We ordered a cocktail and there bartender is very inconsistent, had to return drinks could not drink them, first round was ok, second round ugh...the service was good.

We tried this place on a whim and felt like we hit the jackpot! It's small and doesn't look like much from the outside but the food was some of the best I've ever had. Very good selection and service. I thought the prices were very good too, particularly for NYC. Don't miss this place!!!

Loving Indian food we are always looking for new restaurants. Darbar is small two level restaurant. Seems to be family run and they offer great service. The lower level is the bar and some tables for pre dinner service. Dinner service takes place upstairs which offers very nice atmosphere. We got there at happy hour and had house special Kharma drink which was potent and great.

Super little place and reasonable for New York prices. Service was excellent and the menu not huge but the onion bhargies were excellent as was the Lamb curry and the Indian beer. Naan bread was fresh and the rice light. Very close to a British Indian and so worth a visit. Give it a try....

We had dinner twice at the Darbar Restaurant in New York. This is a compact restuarante on the 46th St. that serves primarily Indian but also Bangladeshi cuisine at it's restaurant. The management and staff are mostly Bangladeshis so you can see a nice "eastern" touch to the cooking. The menu is varied and prices are reasonable for a restaurant on the 46th St. However, the only thing that ruins that somewhat perfect experience is the mediocre service quality. It takes longer for the food to turn up than you would generally expect from a restaurant of this size, and the staff are always hurried as they aren't able to keep up with the orders. I had to remind them of a couple of items on my order twice for them to send it to my table.

We were casting about for someplace near Grand Central, and found Darbar. We had the buffet thing, and everything was quite good, notably the fish curry and the chicken tandoori, and something I've forgotten the name of that involved something very like sweet potatoes. We were the only ones in the place, since we got there just as they opened. Staff were attentive but not intrusive, price was very reasonably indeed. Eat here.

6 of us ate dinner here. The crackers were homemade and flavorful as were the condiments. Vegetarian samosas were fresh and delicious. All enjoyed their entrees, particularly the chana masala. Had garlic naan, onion naan and the potato stuffed naan, some of the best anywhere. Service was even and attentive, room was lovely. Will come back here!

We had the carry out because of the freezing temps. Delivery on time; nan and palak paneer were excellent. My wife and son also liked their stuff equally well.

From start to finish our meal here was exquisite! The hostess and servers were so friendly and we were never without anything we needed. All of the food was so flavourful and perfectly presented. It is a very unassuming front to the restaurant but the inside is very cosy and well presented. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone wanting to treat themselves to a relaxed evening with amazing food! The rice pudding dessert is also the perfect calming end to a meal!

Good honest Indian cuisine. Friendly service and helpful staff. A nice spot if ‘jonesing’ for a curry in Manhattan.

We were planning on trying a new Indian restaurant on our trip to NY this year but decided to return to this place as it is very close to our hotel, not disappointed! Very good food. We tried new dishes as well as our favourites. Only complain was with the mint scallops, not to our taste. But everything else delicious. I will also recommend some update in the decor, it is very very simple.

The hotel recommended this place so we decided to try it. It was close within walking distance, 5 blocks from the hotel. We had the goat and lamb vindaloo. The goat was a little tough but the sauce was very good. The cauliflower with potatoes was also good. Overall it was good but not as spectacular as the conciege had suggested. I think spice symphony was better. The service was good as was the wine selection. I gave it 4 stars for service and good food. Will return and try some other dishes.

We had a really great time at Darbar. The restaurant was easy to get find and had a varied menu. The food had great flavours and was perfectly seasoned according to our order. A special mention to the garlic nan-breads which were absolutely top-notch. The staff was very helpful and nice. Darbar is on our "must visit again"-list the next time we're in New York.

This restaurant was a real find midtown. The curry was pleasantly spicy but you could still taste the meat, yummy spinach dish and piping hot nan. Great location, good service, reasonable price. I'd go again in a heartbeat.

stared badly with what were obviously pre cooked and reheated aloo tikki whose batter was almost inpenetrable. The Chicken Tandoori had less meat on it that your average sparrow and the Kheer to finish was just warm milk with a few grains of rice thrown in. I wouldn't go near this place again

We went there based on an article in an add in the hotel magazine and really enjoyed it. It is an upscale restaurant, based on price, but casual dress. The food and wait staff were very good and really enjoyed all of the food we had. Would definitely go back next time in NYC.

I stumbled across this place in New York the other day on a short overnight. Had a hankering for Indian food and looked at several places before this one. Since there was another Indian food place next door, I figured I would head over and check out the looks of each and decide when I got there. This one had a more welcoming ambiance than the one next door to it. I had purposely arrived a little early to beat the late evening dinner rush, so it wasn't busy at all when I arrived. Naan bread, garlic, was one of the best I have ever had, as was the chicken entree I ordered. I asked for hot and it did not disappoint. Nicely flavored with just the right amount of spice. If I had on complaint it would be the Taj Mahal beer at $12 each. Larger bottle sure, but still a lot for a less than great beer. When in Rome however......

It was Friday night and we had just finished a Broadway show and I was craving some Indian food. I called for take out at 10:15PM - 45 minutes before closing. They said they were closed. I have since read similar reviews. Obviously they are not that interested in getting business. There are entirely too many restaurant choices in NYC. Don’t waste your time here.

One of the best dinners I have had in an Indian restaurant. Staff very friendly. Since the two guys who were responsible for the home deliveries were very busy all the time we spent in the restaurant there most be many more people who likes the food prepared here.

During our recent visit to New York, we as a family visited Darbar. It's a fine North Indian dinners. It is conveniently located in the heart of the city. The staff is excellent especially Joseph. We ordered Lentil Soup as a starter. It was okay being authentic in taste. There chicken masala was very good and there Lentils with rice were excellent. Rice was served generously. We feel Nan (breads) are over priced significantly though rest of the menu is okay from pricing point of view. On overall basis, a nice place to dine and revisit.

I had two dishes here, a house special appetizer with mung beans and goat bhuna. The appetizer was amazing and the goat was very good. The cocktail, Karma, was excellent. This is a place I will come back to.

Enjoyed an evening here with colleagues. The food was great with good service and reasonable cost. Would definitely come back in future.

It states fine dining and they hand you the plates to put them in front of you. The sodas are flat and with no ice.

The lunch buffet was pretty good. The service is quick and a business party from the office can get in and out within one hour.

Went here for dinner with three friends. This is a comfortable restaurant, nice atmosphere and excellent service. It is located on E. 56th St., not E. 46th as stated on this site, We're all quite familiar with Indian food and found all of our dishes, including aloo ghobi, mutter paneer, chicken tika, well spiced and cooked.

First time to New York but definitely not our first Indian meal but without doubt the best we have had the service excellent, prices for the quality have to say on the low side if you're in this side of town don't miss this gem .

I went to this place only after reading the reviews on TripAdvisors. Buffett looked decent, so we opted for that. The food was quite decent except the rice. We just asked one of the waiters (cum manager) if he could check if it was undercooked. He went in and came back with a bowl of rice that he checked with the chef and it wasn't undercooked at all. We happily agreed and started to have rice again. After about 5 minutes when I was discussing a similar issue I faced in another hotel, that waiter overheard us and he thought I was still discussing the "undercooked rice" story. What he then said was really disgusting. He said our hotel has had over 100's and 1000's of customers and you people have just come here for once and that too for a buffet and are acting so high-handedly. I don't feel like talking to you guys. Just because of his age and respecting other customers around, we kept quiet and let this go. He was just not worth arguing, but it was good to see how good reviews not only affect a customer's behavior but changes the hotel staff too!

The service was outstanding. The waiter brought us food combinations and tea that were not on the menu. The lamb was tender and not too spicy. A good selection of wines and the happy hour made it possible to enjoy more than one glass. An indian food restaurant not too far from Grand Central station that can be recommended.

Came here for dinner on a week night. Got to say the food here is very good and tasty. The spicy dishes we got were not overly spicy that we couldn’t taste the food. Staff here were friendly and offered advice as to what dishes to select.

Darbar is a very elegant place for a before theater dinner. It is four long blocks from the middle of the Broadway theater district. The food we had was perfect for a pre-theater meal, not heavy, very beautifully presented, and full of flavor in a setting that was perfect for the two of us. Service was the New York standard, efficient, and unobtrusive. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and made suggestions we followed. All were well prepared, and fresh. The cost was a little off putting, and we definitely should have saved room for dessert. It looked amazing as it went by, but we had neither time nor inclination to eat more than we had at dinner.

Mainstream food, very bad service, unpleasant atmosphere. They let us sit on the table, order drinks, take some food from the bufee and after that they informed they close in 5 minutes so we shoud hurry up filling our plates ...

I love the restaurant with crisp white tablecloth's and this one has it. The food was truly delicious we had a wonderful lobster in spicy red sauce and we also had a very tasty lamb dish. The service was absolutely the best and made our evening so nice

We got reservations on Open Table...didn't need them after all as the place wasn't that busy. Great Indian food, very attentive service and good ambience. Would return.

The lunch buffet is among the best in NYC: a wide array of fine dishes: tandori chicken, chicken tikka masala, goat curry, goan fish curry, veggies, naans--all for the very reasonable price of $14.95.

Stayed in a nearby hotel and checked Trip Advisor for a place nearby that met our criteria-walking distance, good reviews, and won't break the bank- and check, check, check! Great food at reasonable prices (always a challenge in Manhattan). We had two chicken dishes, one fish curry, and one lamb dish, all absolutely delicious and shared baskets of garlic and onion naan. Everything was great and authentic, down to the curry leaves/ mustard seeds in the fish curry. Bill came to just over $130 including beer or wine for everyone I would absolutely eat here again. Come to think of it, probably will since the Lexington Hotel down the street will likely be my go-to NYC hotel from here on

Darbar offers an impressive menu of genuine meat and vegetarian Indian-style dishes, with reasonable prices. The freshly made breads, such as roti and naan, are not to miss. The wide array of choices contains a few unexpected choices, such as a stew of goat (and yes, it was pretty good). If you like Indian food, don't miss it, it's far beyond the average. So is the quietly civilized white tablecloth setting for dining, with an energetic wait staff.

I like this place. The prices are reasonable, there is an available lunch buffet that is the best of the surrounding Indian restaurants, and the food off the menu is well prepared and fresh. The menu selections tend to be more spicy than the buffet, so plan accordingly.

Four of us shared 3 dishes, nan and a couple of appetizers. We had some of the best Indian food I've ever had. The house specials on the menu had wonderful flavors. And it's reasonably priced for the quality, ambience, and location. With taxes, tip, and a bottle of wine we got out for under $150.

I just came back from lunch at Darbar. Their big draw is the $15 buffet. I skipped that and ordered the mutton kheema and tandoori roti. What if got was fairly big chunks of meat cooked hastily and poorly and a cold roti. There's a no frills Indian place just two doors away. The food is so much better. The service at Darbar (except for the bossman, who calls everyone 'Boss') though was friendly. And there's wifi.

We picked this place as it was close to our hotel on Lexington avenue and we fancied and Indian. We were not disappointed, the food here is really good and it's somewhere I'd definitely recommend eating at.

Darbar (E46th Street outpost) takes the typical Indian menu and elevates it. Primarily offering Northern Indian food, it does so without the excess oil and ghee that is found far too often in similar fare. The lunch buffet is truly varied in offering and taste and serious value for money. No two dishes are the “same” (ie different meat or veg in the same sauce) and the variation in spice and taste is applaudable. A la carte items are equally tasty. With a fair amount of choices for Indian food in the neighbourhood, Darbar punches above its weight and will be a “go to” for us in the future.

Nice Indian restaurant. The hostess Monday night was gracious and charming. The service non existent. The food took a while. However, it was excellent when it finally came! The lamb specialty spiced medium was lean, flavorful, and the heat was just right. Perhaps they pay better attention to couples or larger parties. The hostess represents the place very well, as does the chef.

We had read about this in a guide book. The restaurant was full with locals. We had the afternoon buffet which was good if not a tad cold but this was resolved once they realised. We also tried the lassi's which were amazing. There was a slight language barrier with the waiter but overall a good meal and would recommend.

The food was well made tasty,generous portions and genuine. Service was great. Gluten-free was no problem. Recommended.