Moti Mahal Delux Reviews

Located in mid-town east this is a lovely spot for a great feast. Everything was great and the portions are generally adequate for sharing. The service is leisurely, so plan on staying a while. As advertised the butter chicken and tandor chicken are outstanding. Nothing was uncomfortably spicy, but most of the dishes were spicy.

All dishes were great. Place is comfortable. Service good. Hope to go back. Dishes were excellently spiced. Deserves its Michelin rating.

After a long day at Market week we looked forward to a cold beer and a good curry, our Indian friends didn't disappoint. This restaurant cooks good quality authentic Indian food. We shared tandoori chops and King prawns soft and juicy melt in the mouth, authentic popadoms and fresh chutneys, chicken tikka masala, vegetable pilau, yellow and black lentil dhal, Naan and Roti breads finished of with a traditional gulab jamun for desert........ satisfied!

This has quickly turned into a fave for a reliable, consistently good Indian food. The butter chicken is delicious, and the service is pretty good. It is always busy.Try to grab a table by the windows.

Used to be great; quality reduced now that it is popular. I looked forward to eating here whenever I am in NYC three or four times a year. This time, I was disappointed. The chicken was no longer white meat as in the past. The servings contained a lot of sauce but few, and very small, pieces of chicken. Although one can order seconds, the seconds came with mostly sauce and three tiny pieces of chicken. The lunch price has also now gone up to $12.95 for less qulity. The appetizer plate used to be varied. This time is was only two small fried pakoras and a few crispy crackers with sauce; not worth the price. Will not return. No longer recommended. Sadly, this happens when a restaurants gains popularity too quickly. I love Indian food and used to look forward to my lunches here.

Extremely disappointed! Went to this restaurant based on trip advisor reviews. We probably had our worst meal ever. Had a cauliflower starter which was ok. Our mains were the shrimp Malabar and their signature butter chicken. They just did not taste good at all!! We love Indian food but could not in all conscienceness recommend this restaurant.

My sister and I loved this place, excellent flavor in the food. And a unique buffet offering, where they bring the food to your table in little copper pots. It’s more of a prix -fixe set buffet though for with a vegetarian course or meat option with a few different dishes as part of each package. We loved the food and although it’s all you can eat and can get refills, we did not need (or get) a refill. But when we wanted to take our leftovers, they would not wrap the remaining portion up for us. I get that normal buffets you can’t get leftovers taken out, but this wasn’t a normal buffet. It’s obvious if someone orders a refill just to get it wrapped isn’t acceptable, but our original course leftovers is just going to get thrown away? They were on their way to a five star rating and a very nice tip but that blanket rule cost them both. Recommend they make a policy that if someone orders the lunch buffet (which is delivered table side) and doesn’t get any refills, that they can take that leftover home. If one orders a refill, the option to take leftovers goes away.

This restaurant specializes in northern Indian cuisine. It certainly lives up to its name! We have been here several times, the most recent occasion being Mothers' Day. We had a party of 8, and the restaurant accommodated us well. Our party ordered several vegetarian lunch specials as well as items off the menu: samosas, saag paneer, a cauliflower, and chicken tikki masala. The mango lassi was delicious! The portions were just the right size and spiced to our specifications. The naan is fresh and tasty. The staff is friendly and prompt. Special thanks to the manager who knew several of the members of our party. We'll be back again!

Dinner was FABULOUS and the tastes were rich and tickled the palate. We enjoy eating at Dawat and Tamarind but have to say that the food here is even better. The owner/hostess is FABULOUS. She has a daytime career at Morgan Stanley and is here at night. She and her husband own 3 restaurants. She genuinely cares that each client has a great experience and watches like a hawk.....and is very nice. The location is in a neighborhood but the restaurant rises way above being a neighborhood restaurant. It's small but very nicely appointed. Being small, the tables are a little tight...........almost uncomfortable..........and noise reverberates to the point of being annoying though it doesn't get in the way of good conversation. We had a table of 6 young women behind us and 2 young women on the side. There's a particularly annoying sound of the pitch of exuberant young women's voices when they talk over the noise in a restaurant. We were unlucky. That was the only thing that detracted from an otherwise terrific evening. We'll be back when we don't want to schlep to Tamarind as it's just a few blocks from home.

Little restaurant not to big. Romantic atmosphere and the windows looking on the street is so nice. The Indian food excellent and not expensive. I recommend.

authentic and tasty indian food, good servings and very friendly host nice place to visit and eat in NY

If you want excellent, tasty, authentically-flavored (and spicy, if you like it that way) and inventive Indian cuisine, this is the place for you. Service is good, atmosphere is nice (though large parties can make the place a touch noisy).

Enjoyed our experience, would go again. Bit of a wait to get a table, place was hopping on Sunday evening. Don't know too much about Indian food, but enjoyed every course ordered. Naan bread with dipping sauces delicious. Waitress helpful explaining all. Food excellent and value good - however, the ice tea - $4.25 per glass , wow who knew??? Delicious as it was - not worth $4.25. Felt kinda scammed, when saw $9.50 for two ice teas on the bill. We ordered the ice tea before we had menus in hand - ouch !!.

I'd been wanting to try Moti Mahal for a while but I find it a bit out of the way. With a friend in town I finally decided to make the trek to the east end of the 60s. I don't regret it. The food was delicious and quite inexpensive. 4 people ate a lot for $36 each, including tax and tip. The pampadam (I'm sure I'm misspelling) were awesome. We started with the samosas and an amazingly tender chicken from the tandoori. The butter chicken, sea bass curry, and paneer spinach were all excellent. I really enjoyed the goat biryani as well. Our server was great and helped us order and adjust our order when she thought we ordered too much. I'd definitely go back.

We happened upon this restaurant, while in the neighborhood. Each of us had a lunch special. Priced well and more food then we could eat, and we were very hungry when we walked in! It was very good, the service was superb and we would return.

Everything was great, spinach appetizer, cheese sticks, eggplant, broccoli and tofu main courses- no complaints from any one. A gracious waitress helps us make the decisions and the food was brought to the table hot, and we were all served at once. It was a welcomed change from the rushed east side restaurants we are accustomed to. This is our fourth time and each time we have been pleased. Consistent, good and a joy to be there.

We went for the famed butter chicken, but were charmed all the way around. The service was excellent. Every dish we ordered was delicious! It's a little pricey compared to other Indian options in NYC, but if the location works for you, it's a find.

Today we visited moti Mahal delux with our group tour members for a breakfast they served idli,mendu vada, toast, cereals and masala tea... breakfast was good

Been here many times. Love the lunch buffet of either Vegetarian or Non. Lots of food brought to your table. Love the Chicken Tika Masala and the lamb dishes. Very well spiced. Service is good.

The lunch special here is just that, very special. A copious amount of excellently prepared food, spicy, but not searingly hot. The chaat served as an appetizer is the beat we've ever had, and the dishes that follow are equally as good.

Every time the New York Times gives a positive review to a restaurant EVERYONE wants to eat there - us included. We do not live in New York but we love Indian food and the New York Times review made us want to eat here. We went at lunch when they only offered two fixed menus - vegetarian or non vegetarian. The place was a noisey mob scene. We were seated at a table 3 inches (no exaggeration) from a large office group having a loud Christmas luncheon. We chose one vegetarian and one non vegetarian lunch (which we were only able to order once we "grabbed" a server). Instead of one of each, we were given two vegetarian appetizers - cold fried onion bhaji - not very good. The main courses were a lentil dish, a dish with some peas and large chunks of potatoes, a lamb dish and a VERY gristly chicken dish which was inedible. Apparently you could have as much as you wanted because the loud office group was there for a very long time and kept ordering more and more. It was served with naan (again cold) and I had to ask for raita even though I saw other tables being served pickled lime and other condiments. A tiny, but tasty, gulab jamun was included for dessert. The New York Times article raved about the Tandoori chicken and I was really looking forward to ordering that, but that was not possible. The service was awful and the food was mediocre. It was a huge disappointment. Maybe after the initial "rush" is over it would be worth a visit, but right now I could not recommend it. I would not have gone for lunch had I known I could not choose what I wanted to eat.

Elegant setting with excellent service. All of our dishes were good to very good, if lacking any wow factor.

This place is a bit out of the way, but if you like Indian food, it is well worth the effort. Despite the location, the atmosphere is rather upscale, but it is the food that shines. No over-cooked mystery fare here. Each dish gets careful attention from the kitchen. The ingredients are fresh, and the flavoring is complex. No dish disappoints, but our group of 6 felt that the eggplant was particularly good.

Many Indian restaurant menus are quite similar to one another, but this small corner eatery offers attractive options, prepared with a unique spin and different spicing than the run-of-the mill. While it is difficult to recall the exact names of dishes in a language one doesn't know, I can remember very clearly the outstanding butter sauce on the chunks of chicken breast drenched in a beautiful orange-colored sauce. It seemed to be a tomato base, but not at all acidic, or "tomatoey." The black dal was spectacular and sufficiently spicy for my palate, but someone who does not enjoy spicy dishes may have some trouble with it. My husband's goat curry was perfect--a dish that is not frequently found, and if found often dry and stringy. This dish was expertly prepared. Our appetizers were good, but not outstanding. I had four cigar-like stuffed roll-ups served in a sauce and inverted into narrow glass cups--very attractive and unusual. Unfortunately they were a tad soggy and not hot enough. My husband's scallop appetizer was nicely seasoned, but the one scallop I tasted seemed undercooked for my taste. The onion flat bread was good, but again, a bit soggy. The mango lassie drink and ras malai dessert were outstanding. All in all an enjoyable meal, though the air conditioning was turned on so high I froze. Do make reservations. We snagged nearly the last table without them.

My wife and I had this last night, and we both thought everything was very tasty. My wife is Indian (but not culturally), and I’ve eaten a bunch of Indian food, but by no means are we proficient at understanding the difference between Indian cuisines or when something is truly outstanding. That being said, we are both picky eaters, and we both thought everything from this restaurant was excellent. This will become our new go to Indian restaurant until we try a bunch more on their menu. Big deal to make this our go to Indian considering how many Indian restaurants are around. This jumped to the top quickly for us.

The words of our server when asked what spices were used in the different dishes..... We tried to speak to someone more senior as the menu tells us nothing, left without eating as no idea what we would be getting

After two trips to India my expectations were high for the real thing The daal was thin w/ few lentils The butter chicken no better than from any corner Indian joint The goat curry was the best dish. Service for a weeknight was poor. Avoid the tables in the first room where every time the door opens you get an arctic blast !

We were a group of 7 and they gave us 2 menus. We had to ask more than once for more menus -- and then we still could not all get menus! We ordered lots of different dishes to try -- the samosas were so spicy that I personally could not eat more than the one bite I took to try them. Some other people who like spicier food thought they were ok, but then we had the Chicken tikka with peppers & tomato, way too spicy, not good. The crab had shells in it and was too salty, no one liked it. The best dish was the house specialty the butter chicken. The breads -- we had Naan, Onion Kulcha, and Garlic Naan -- were fine. The lobster was shredded up so you were not really sure you were even having lobster. The lamb was a better choice. The dessert of Coffi with pistachos was ok too. The raita with cucumber was fine. The portions were adequate, not large. You have to pay for rice separately and for plain white rice it is definitely overpriced. We have gone to a lot of different Indian restaurants in NYC and this one is definitely NOT one we plan to revisit. The service was slow and all the food arrived on different schedules -- like some people were done eating when others got their food.

I went at lunch with friends from work, and we enjoyed a large selection of different dishes, served up as small shareable plates. Plenty of choice of both vegetarian and non-veg food, and all prepared nicely. The food had a nice spice level, but nothing excessively hot.

We have been going to this restaurant for a long time and have always loved it until this most recent visit. We were bringing good friends for the first time and I am truly embarrassed by how we were treated. First, we waited over 10 minutes to be seated. There's no place to wait inside the restaurant and it was pouring outside, so this was unpleasant to say the least. Next, we were seated at a small table for 4 when there was a much larger table available. We questioned them and they refused to seat us at the other table. Next, they forgot one of our appetizers. Then, they cleared our plates and silverware and didn't replace silverware for one of our friends (despite asking 3 times). Then, our friend's chicken was incorrectly brought out the first time, burnt beyond recognition the second and undercooked the third. Then, one of our dishes was so spicy that we couldn't eat it. All in all, despite this being one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, I am not sure when we will be going back. We will certainly not being friends there again for a very long time. My advice is to avoid the restaurant on a Saturday night, since they can't handle the crowd.

I am a Brit who is constantly between NyC and London...this is the best curry for the money I have had in living memory. Context: every other Indian I have had in NyC has been substandard to London. You can't go wrong here.

Years ago we visited the original MM in Delhi . It was unique , and justified its well-earned reputation . This time we tried the branch in NY - and it was very average . With one exception ; the service . This was truly fine . But the place itself , with 2 distinct sections , one indoors , and the other in the terrace area ; the mundane decor ; the closeness of the tables ; the lighting ; the noise ; and above all , the food itself , MMD is but an OK typical NY neighborhood restaurant , with an OK Indian menu , and an OK taste and quality . But DELUX - well , this is a stretch . It is no worse and no better than dozens of other Indian food restaurants in NY . Something carrying the name Moti Mahal could and should do better , but until then , the DELUX title is not justified . I did not identify any reason to want to rush back .

Being a frequent business traveler to NYC, I had heard that Moti Mahal had opened, so I couldn't resist making a trip to the East side to try it out. It was so worth it! The tandoori chicken, the black daal and the butter chicken- all bought back memories of the real deal from India. The owner/manager came by and said this was a true franchise of the Moti Mahal Delux from Delhi- I couldn't be happier. Great atmosphere and superb service- def. worth returning to on my next trip to the big apple.

If you're looking for good old fashioned and simple Indian food, then this is the place to go! It's a small restaurant, but the flavors are colorful and mouth-watering as it should be. Portions are excellent and the food is not too spicy, great for those who are afraid of getting their taste buds burnt. Pricing is good and the staff are polite and fast, though you have to remember that the restaurant is small, so you just need to be a little patient if you want to order another drink or a second helping of a particular dish. Overall rating out of 10 is 7/10.

Moti Mahal delux in NYC? I was intrigued as I visited Moti Mahal in New Delhi this after Gordon Ramsey visited them to taste how the original Butter Chicken tasted. The restaurant is located in a non touristy part of what I guess is midtown. Nicely decorated, young attentive staff. I was there for Sunday lunch, they serve a sit down buffet ie one orders from a buffet menu and the food is served. The starters were delicioud, chicken tikka and a spicy shredded chicken that was delicious. Large portions and they made sure to ask if one wanted more. Main course was Butter Chicken which was just about OK, reason being that the chicken was overcooked and sort of rubbery. The other dishes, meat curry, cauliflower and peas, etc etc were outstanding. I’m on a strict diet, usually skip dessert but once again they excelled...I ”had” to have two servings. I’m looking forward to my next trip ti NY and visiting them again. Excellent meal, terrific value ans attentive service.

Really nice food and service. They had some dishes that were unique to this place. I would say try Aachaari Aaloo. It was funtastic. A must go Place

Our Upper East Side friends are regulars at this Indian stalwart and we didn't know what to expect. The food was surprisingly above the usual Indian fare---we especially loved the pomegranate chicken. Service was a little uneven because it was so crowded. We will go again.

This is always a shock to me. We are so used to very good Indian food in the UK, that we expect the same in the US. Sadly it's not the case and the typically dishes we expect are not there or are substantially different. I have added a picture of what is meant to be a Lamb Biryani - an odd little dish with a naan bread lid! Naan breads were a little hopeless as I presume they don't have a proper tandoor.

Stop by this mid-town neighborhood favorite. Refined, authentic and tasty with nice personal touches. And quiet enough to talk despite the fact as we walked out we realized that in the main room behind us a multigenerational Indian family was having a big celebration for about 20 people.

We had been going to this Restaurant at least every 6 months and had always enjoyed food in spite of prices, which for the ambience and service are on the higher side. However, this time we decided to go for Lunch and invited a newly wed couple ( American bride) and that is the biggest mistake we made. The food was below average and the Service pathetic. Had it not been for the embarrassment, I would have asked them to reduce the Tips to 15% (pre-charged 20% in the Bill) or just pay 10%. On enquiring, we were told that the Chef is different during lunch and that is the reason for different taste (what about Service). So please be careful for Lunch!

Had my dinner in this place with some co-worker recently,they had the best indian cuisine in town that I had before in Baluchi.Worth a trip to this place

We went here because it was within walking distance of our hotel and heard and read that it had the best Butter Chicken in this hemisphere. We were greeted and seated promptly at a window table. The decor is upscale and not over the top at some Indian/Pakistani restaurants. We ordered drinks... a nicely poured white for my wife and I went for a Kingfisher beer... as we decided on an appy of MMD Pakoda - Okra. That's fried baby okra to a southerner. It was crisp and pungent with the flavor of this pod. My wife had the Burrah Kebap... thinly sliced lamb chops grilled with a mustard glaze. While they looked kinda sloppy in their presentation, they were juicy, tender and cooked slightly above medium rare. Then there was my Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken) with a side of rice. My wife and I shared both dishes, but I got kinda worried that she was going to eat more than here fair share of my chicken. OK - the meat was tender and moist and smothered with some of the best gravy I've ever had... smooth, creamy and spiced just enough to leave your tongue with a pleasant burn, It's one of the first times ever than my wife may have eaten more gravy than me. And it's one of the first times I've eaten all the rice at an Indian restaurant, but I needed it so soak up and carry the gravy as we had devoured the chicken so quickly. The service is like it almost always is in a place like this... very attentive and multiple servers attending to your needs. This may be one of the best reasons for a return trip to NYC... for the Butter Chicken.

Lovely place with good service and great Indian food. We tried several appetizers plus the spinach with cheese, lamb spinach, butter chicken and tandoori chicken and they were all delicious. The manager is very nice and joined us for a little conversation at the end of the meal. Would definitely return.

We arrived for lunch and were presented with two options: vegetarian or non-vegetarian. The lunch menu is spelled out in generalities, but you get about 5 dishes with either option plus dessert. We got both. Every dish was flavorful, spiced subtly with the freshest ingredients. The naan was light, the rice fluffy and good enough to eat plain. Our offerings included lentils, lamb, beef, paneer that was the best ever! And a marvelous sausage as well. We also were served a couple of dishes that I was not familiar with--as far as I'm concerned one of the advantages of having the kitchen put together our selection. The smells were so enticing before we even began and neither of us was disappointed by anything we ate. Staff was appropriately attentive, the wait short. Although the place is small and unpretentious, it does have the nice touch of huge starched white napkins, always welcome with Indian food. You have the feeling that they've lots of experience in running a restaurant, both in service and food prep, with everything running smoothly. A generous amount of food for one price--more than just a sampling. I'll certainly return and I hope MMD will continue to serve the neighborhood. They also deliver.

We reserved a table for a large group and the table was ready for us upon arrival. We liked the decor very much. Service was attentive. The food was delicious for the spicy food lovers in our party however did not please the ones with low tolerance. I do recommend this place for people who love spicy Indian food ! The chicken tikka and the black lentil were delicious !

The daal was thick and tasty with a wonderful variety of spices . The paratha very good. I would have loved even more mint, but I love it smothered. It was tasty nevertheless. I do wish that they had used brown basmati rice, but that is hard to find in restaurants these days I can recommend this restaurant . The prices of the dishes are slightly higher than other places and you get value for what you pay for.

I used to go to Moti Mahal Delux around the time it opened, but hadn't been back for a while. Quality has clearly dropped. What happened to the "to-die-for" (says Zagat) signature butter chicken??? Moti Mahal in Delhi invented that dish, but what I was served last week has very little in common with the original: the chicken was never grilled in a tandoor, and the sauce was more spicy than buttery. The daal makhani was better, though too liquid and again more spicy than buttery. The meen curry, on the other hand was very good. Service was slow, sometimes abrupt and not always knowledgeable, which is how we found ourselves ordering the lobster masala with cilantro, returning it because there was cilantro on top, and returning it a second time because there was cilantro in the sauce.

My wife and I really enjoy this neighborhood Indian restaurant that, we feel, is a cut or two above the norm. Really excellent, complex sauces as well as succulent tandoori dishes. The real deal here is the $ 13.95 prix fixe lunch special with lots of courses and the option to have more (if you are still hungry and could manage it). It is a 'tasting menu' and you simply select 'vegetarian' or 'meat'. When we go, we get one of each and enjoy trying everything. Suggest making a reservation in the evening if you want to go at a peak dining time.

A great addition to the city's Indian choices, Moti Mahal has a nicely edited menu that includes the usual favorites and many dishes I haven't seen in NY. The Food was delicious and creative and the staff was attentive and friendly.

This is by far the most authentic Indian cuisine in the city. Their dishes are super tasty, yet not overly stuffy like Indian food tends to be sometimes. Everything is cooked to perfection. Their goat meat was heavenly! Even their wine was great! Very elegant vibe. Highly recommended if you're into Indian cuisine!

We were extremely disappointed with the food here, being Indian and wanting to try their famous butter chicken after reading reviews in the New York Times and other publications, we decided to go there in January 2016. The food wasn't that great, the prices were high for the overall quality of the food. We ordered the butter chicken and found it wasn't very good, have had better at other restaurants, the shrimp appetizer was really bad, the shrimp tasted frozen and stale, it was tough to eat.The manager kept arguing with the staff very loudly and it made us uncomfortable. It wasn't a good dining experience, we won't go back there.

The owner is very proud of what he offers and it shows with all the staff and the service they provide. This was authentic food prepared and presented very well. It was one of the best Indian food experiences that I have had. All of the staff was eager to please, the owner was proud of his menu and explained why. I would definitely come back.

So I am not an Indian food connoisseur by any means. I can tell good food that is fresh and well prepared though and this place certainly has that. My husband and I have come here for their amazing lunch special 5-6 times and it's amazing every time. Their saag paneer is great, they make their own paneer which is light and fluffy (seriously, paneer is not supposed to be dense and rubbery, who knew?). The butter chicken, korma, and lentil pureed soup type thing---actually, every single dish we have eaten here (you get a variety for lunch) has been excellent. I also love the creative appetizers that they serve every time. Naan is also excellent. If you live on the UES and like Indian food and eat lunch, this is such a no brainer. Go here now.

Great food, excellent materials and not expensive. We had appetizers and main dish with nan aside and it was really great meal. Recommended!

What fantastic food. Murg Reshmi Seekh (5 spice chicken) so tender and flavoursome. Bhindi Naintara was wonderfully original. Will be rushing back for more.

The New York Avatar of the Delhi originating institution is one of the finest Indian meals I have had out of India. The ambience is romantic and ticks all boxes for fine dining. The service exemplary and the food delicious. We ordered the chicken biryani and dahi kofte , both of which were fantastic with generous helping of mango lassi. Excellent experience which we will definitely repeat.

You choose the vegetarian or the meat buffet, and they bring seven or eight dishes to your table. Eat what you want, get seconds (or thirds) on anything. It’s best with a group so that no food goes to waste since people have different tastes. The butter chicken, chicken chunks, and lamb saag were excellent (even though I don’t like lamb). Yellow lentils were spiced and hot. Most of us (four people) did not like the kidney beans. Dessert was one gulub jaman, but maybe we could ask for more. Service is very friendly, fast, and gracious. The quarters are rather cramped but warm and cozy. I have been here perhaps twelve times and will be back.

The food is below average of the Indian restaurants in New York City, but the prices are higher. The service is below average.

We visited Moti Mahal this evening. We come from the UK and wanted to try some Indian food! I've got to be honest but this was the worst Indian food I have tried in any country let alone NY! Don't both ordering bottled water, they charge $4 a bottle of Voss water but the bottle was already open, so guessing it's just been refilled! Starters had no taste and let's not even talk about the mains! We ordered Panner Makahni, it looked like red soup, very watery with pieces of panner in it! Was not worth what we paid for the meal! The customer service was disgraceful! Never will we be visiting this place again and I suggest you don't visit here too!!

We were looking for Indian restaurant and were not disappointed. Simple, unpretentious interiors but excellent food, judging by what we ordered, grilled mushroom tikka, çhicken tandoori and harra bharra kababs with a difference (spinach in yogurt filling), palak paneer, dal makhani and assorted rotis, naan and paratha. Car parking is always a pain point for such outings but free parking after 7 pm was an unexpected bonus. Dal makhani and spinach kababs were exceptional. Dessert of kulfi, rasmalai and Gulab jamun courtesy restaurant management after they discovered it was a birthday dinner made the evening sweater.

Best Indian in NYC. Lunch buffet is a great deal. Sometimes can be crowded but the wait is never too long.

Must come and try authentic Indian food'. Will be here again ! The chicken pomegranate was tender and amazing. The basmati rice flakes in your mouth ...celery sauce was light and sweet. amazing Naan

A friend was in from out of town and I suggested this restaurant as we walked by on our way to a different restaurant. Wow, am I glad we did!! Serene atmosphere, excellent service, visits from the chef to be sure we were satisfied and SUPERB food. Flavors were subtle like the lemon in the lemon rice and spicing with just enough of a kick in the rarha gosht lamb dish but not overpowering. I will definitely be returning and will recommend. This is a neighborhood gem! Please try it if you are in the area and love high quality Indian food.

The biryani here can rival Hyderabad. My grandson who is the most fastidious eater just loves it so we land up taking them there quite often. I just crave the mango lassie and the chicken tandoori is also good but a trifle salty. The kawabs are great here too. The service is impeccable and the manager always comes by and chats with the children and gives them a KitKat.I've noticed that the clientele is a good mix of Indian and non Indians. My daughter in law also regularly orders the food home.

The menu is quite satisfying for locals and for the many Indians that visit New York. Place is small but intimate. Staff attentive.

For a treat I decided to go upmarket Indian dining, The Moti Mahal was very busy on the night. The food was very good although I thought the vindaloo dish could have been hotter. The samosas and naan were top notch and the buttery chicken very nice indeed, The meal was very enjoyable but I'm not sure worth the high price when the beers are added in and the ambience is nothing special.

The food here is amazing. Definitely try a few things that aren't your go-tos because we've found many wonderful surprises. Their signature dishes are especially fantastic.

Our first visit to Moti, and we'll be back for sure. The food is delicious, authentic, and the service is efficient and attentive.....forget the Spice Symphony (even though it's ranked #1)......if you want good Indian food then eat at the Moti Mahal you won't be disappointed.

This restaurant had a really good lunch special with a wide variety of food. It was pleasant and I would recommend it thank you.

Tried the prix fixe lunch deal for $11.95 after reading the positive reviews. I loved it and will return on every trip to NYC. I liked that it was not a buffet but that the friendly staff served the dishes. We could have ask but the portions served were sufficient. We did order extra nan which came quickly. The restaurant is accessible easily by public transit. It is a small place so get there early. The flavors were authentically Indian and I liked they used chicken breast. The staff is cordial and never rushed us. I have tried other Indian restaurants in NYC and this is now my favorite. If others have found Indian lunches in Manhattan, let me know. I love well prepared and good quality Indian food. This restaurants is good for families with well-behaved children, business lunches, or just a place to dine with friends.

We had read about this place in the NYTimes so when we came back to NYC after being away for 10 yrs, instead of going to Curry Row, we sought this place out on the upper East side. It was good Indian food but it wasn't as good as we thought it would be. The Indian food in Portland OR where we now live is good but not great so we thought we would be blown away by the Indian food back in NYC but we were a little disappointed. It's a little fancier than Indian food we normally eat at. We were seated by the front window and a little hidden so we had to actually get up and go to the wait staff to get another bowl of rice. I would go if I live in the area but I wouldn't bother going out of your way for it.

Sophisticated food at reasonable prices. The flavors are wonderful, subtle, and different. Your palate is not assaulted but covered in wonderful flavors. Indian cuisine could be coarse and spices taste raw in the wrong hands. NOT HERE.

We have become regulars at this place on weekends as they have the best way of serving food and not making you do the buffet thing. The food is delicious and butter chicken and black daal are some of the best you can get

There isn't really much to rave about this restaurant - the food tasted average (we had dinner), the service was all right so will i be back? maybe but i wouldn't say this restaurant is a must go to in the neighbourhood but it's also not bad to pop by - just don't have any high expectations. maybe the lunch buffet is a better deal?

Does this place have a Michelin rating, Really!!! This is nothing like the original Moti Mahal in Delhi. They have no idea what the original Murgh Makhani tastes like. Serving murgh makhani is not the problem, but falsely claiming that it tastes like the original is not nice. Just TALL FAKE claims. Also, please double check your bill BEFORE paying. The hostess has a habit of breathing down your throat while you are paying. They overcharged me and when I pointed this out to them, the owner started showing me some online Menu that was different from the book menu that was given to us in the restaurant to make our dinner selections. Bottom line, go to this place only if you are desperate or if cannot find any better Indian place open on the day.

We have been away from Mumbai for a month and were hankering for some good Indian food so we decided to try Moti Mahal. Normally you need a reservation as the place is packed (mainly with non Indians!) but luckily a table opened up in five minutes. We ordered Chicken kabobs, Pani Puri shots, Mutton Biryani and Sag Chicken with hans. The order arrived steaming hot, promptly and we dug in. It was truly a feast to the the senses as we fulfilled our cravings. Washed down with beer. No room for dessert.

We went for lunch during our visit to NYC. It was unfortunate there were no other diners with us, as we were served a great meal at a reasonable price. Our mealincluded a vegetarian thali and Khumani Kofta which had a sublime buttery-sweet sauce. The butter naans tasted fresh. The friendly owner also brought us some complimentary samosas and rasmalai for dessert. I would recommend this restaurant for taste, service and atmosphere. It was fun watching the bustling activity on First Avenue while we ate.

Excellent neighborhood Indian restaurant on 63rd & !st. Highly recommend the black pepper, pomegranate marinade grilled chicken and the goat curry. Nice selection of Italian red wine. Friendly service.

At lunch you can order the vegetarian or non-vegetarian lunch special. Loads of food come with it, but it is not a buffet. Reasonable price. You can of course still order off the menu. I was in India recently and could not tell the difference. Great food and great service.

This is an outpost of famous restaurants in many parts of the world but our group was disappointed in our dinner. It is clear that their black lentil daal is wonderful but the appertisers felt precooked long before.The chicken dish was quite good but one hardly could find meat in a lamb dish.

Had the “lunch special”. Food was not hot at all, lukewarm at best. Excessively peppered up, with some kind of hot spice. We asked for it “mild” but they said it’s already mixed and could not be altered, which is ridiculous as people have different preferences. “Butter” chicken was very hard as was the stingingly hot peppered up lamb. The only thing that was halfway okay was the naan, which was hot but very under baked. The female waitress was inattentive and completely unfriendly. Didn’t even take us to a table, just pointed over there when we came in. Then she cheated us out of our change when we paid the check. Will absolutely not be returning to this place. And will highly NOT recommend to our friends and family.

Good Indian food. Limited servings so that made it expensive. Pleasant atmosphere . The lamb and breads were good

This is my go to spot for Indian. I even order delivery as well. The staff is so attentive and kind. The food is out of this world delicious. I have taken many friends here and everyone is very impressed and has become a huge fan. They also make great food suggestions based on your preferences or what you are craving that particular night.

Yes, this is the real deal. Best Indian food I have had in NY, though it still falls a little short of India itself. The butter chicken is the best "wet" dish but the black lentil dal is a very close second. Have garlic naan with dinner to sop up the sauces. A lovely find on First Avenue. Two of us ate well with two beers each for well under $100.

Food choices are ok - had much better in UK to be honest. Menu choices were somewhat boring, food was averagely presented and quite bland really. I could have put up with this had the service not been quite as chaotic and slow. I understand the American tipping system but felt quite aggrieved at having to pay a tip for such a poor standard of service. Much to be improved upon sorry to say!

I ordered food from this restaurant and had the chicken tikka, lamb vindaloo and aloo gobi. The food was delivered in a timely manner. I liked the lamb vindaloo and the aloo gobi. I have tasted better chicken tikka masala in other Indian restaurants nearby.

Good basic Indian food. Roots from Delhi and they have kept the standard high enough to get a recommendation.

Just discovered the most delicious Indian restaurant in NYC. Food -decor- and staff was impeccable. A must try as an apetizer is Dahi Palak Kebab. Manoj Jha is the manager and he is FABULOUS!

Mughlai cuisine is a style of cooking developed in South Asia by the imperial kitchens of the Muslim Mughal Empire. It represents the cooking styles used in North India (especially Uttar Pradesh and Delhi), Pakistan, and the Indian city of Hyderabad. Years ago, my wife and I visited north-west India, and we found many wonderful dishes from this cuisine, especially cauliflower dishes -- we were told that there were over a thousand different recipes, and the several we tried were all delicious. Moti Mahal Delux is a wonderful way to visit and enjoy that cuisine, and this New York edition of a gigantic international chain is outstanding. The dishes are carefully described in the menu; the staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful; the food is delicious; and the venue is carefully designed, but unfortunately a bit crowded and quite noisy. Try to get a table along 63rd Street; somehow the noise level from outside tends to balance out the inside noises, and it is possible to have a conversation.

This was I think the best meal we had on our recent trip to the USA. The food was really tasty and well spiced. We had the Mutton Curry which was really tasy and tender, and the Murgh Tandoori which was just brilliant. I have eaten in "Indian" restraunts all over the UK, and live not far from the "famous" Rusholme Curry Mile in Manchester, and would recomend this place over anything I have had there. What a suprise to find this little gem!

We decided to try out this restaurant and placed a to go order. I ordered the Signature Masala and my stepmom ordered the Murgh Makhani. We found both dishes to be very tasty. I think the chicken in the masala was slightly overcooked. I found both dishes to be plentiful. We also ordered the garlic naan and found it be very tasty. I would order from here again.

I knocked down one star for its location on 1st Ave, a hike for most visiting from afar. Once inside, it’s a well decorated, white linen, cozy restaurant. Staff are attentive and prompt. When deciding between a white and red bottle of wine, manager promptly brought out a tasting of both for us to choose! Nicely done!! They have a limited selection of beers and wines, but satisfactory as the primary reason to visit is the food. While we did not sample all, it seemed like all we tasted were nicely prepared—not too spicy or hot, but very flavorful. Must try the “dohara kabab” which has chicken on the inside and lamb on the outside. The butter chicken (milder chicken tikka masala) gravy was delicious as was the goat biryani. Must also try the “railway goat curry”. Many vegetarian choices also including a mildly spiced cheese and spinach kabab. At the end of our meal, manager gave us a special treat of the “pan masala” (betel mouth freshener/digestive). Aaah! Felt like you were in Lucknow India!

Very tasty and reasonably priced, esp. given the selection in the [set] lunch buffet - good combination of veg and non-veg.. I particularly liked the combination of appetizers and great bread and chicken dishes. Went with both South Asian and Middle Eastern friends, thumbs up all around... An easy walk from Lex & 63rd station as well as many employers in UES.

This meal has pulled me back to reviews. My opinion is first based on quality preparation, then cost and service/ambiance all contribute to value. This small comfortable local oasis has it all. If you do not enjoy Moti Mahal Deluxe you don't enjoy eating out or Indian food.Just GO!

Try the lunch buffet; the kababs and lamb curry are excellent. Just amazing! Easy to get a table with walk in; plus desserts were really good.

Lots of fun for lunch. Go with a friend to try the meat and vegetarian selections. Lots of food and variety. Dinner is a bit disappointing in comparison.

Had lunch which was great. Tandoori chicken was delicious and the samosas were just great. Dhal was really great. Could not finish everything and there was enough for another meal. They were very relaxed and let us talk long after we finished.

Ordered home delivery via eat24 and it was great, tasted authentic and fresh! Be careful with the complimentary green 'beans', we committed a rookie mistake to think this was beans, they were of course green chilis. ;)

We have had dinner here few times and the quality of the food has always been very impressive. Recently we decided to revisit Moti Mahal to have an early Indian meal. It turned out every item we ordered had a problem. Even their signature butter chicken was unrecognizable. I asked the only person that appeared to have some authority whether they had changed their chef as the whole dinner was a failure. She told me that their chef was still sleeping (at 7:30 pm) and someone else was cooking! We're not going back to MM. There are so many choices in our great city. We'll let the chef have nice long naps.

It is very difficult to find an Indian restaurant that stands out from the mediocre but this one does. It is a bit out of the way (far East) but the food is very good and the place is small-ish, simple, pleasant. Their star item is butter chicken, which is absolutely delicious (and I never order chicken in restaurants because it is so boring usually). We also thought their tandoori lamb, chicken and beef were superior. AND, big plus, it is not a noisy place.

Though they were busy, we were seated within 5 minutes on a Saturday night and enjoyed one of the best Indian food dinners ever. The butter chicken, one of their specialties, has been written up in Zagat and elsewhere--they are correct: absolutely wonderful. Lamb curry also excellent as were both vegetable dishes. I suspect from our sampling and what I have read there likely are no poor choices. Service was rapid, friendly, and unhurried. Lunch I have read is a bargain but dinner is quite reasonably priced with chicken or lamb dishes $16-18 and vegetable dishes a bit less and seafood a bit more.

The staff here made us feel very welcome on a cold, rainy night when we walked in with no reservations to a packed restaurant. Needless to say they made a place for us and we went on to enjoy an absolutely delicious and genuine Indian meal. The restaurant isn't luxurious but you feel like royalty . They offer traditional dishes like Butter and Tandoori chicken but also have many more unique and less often served options.This place is a vegeterians dream come true .Mostly locals dine there so you can trust they're consistently good.

One of my favorite joints for Indian food in NYC. Moti Mahal's claim to fame is that they were the first ones to concoct the Tandoori Chicken and Butter Chicken about a 100 years ago in India and I am extremely happy that they opened a location in NYC. If you want to taste the authentic Tandoori Chicken, Dal Makhani, Butter Chicken, the way its creators intended it to be cooked, this place is definitely a must-go. The restaurant itself although very clean and contemporary is a tad small and can get quite packed. The wait staff and service is great. I believe they only serve wine and beer. Highly recommended !

Not only is every dish here a cut above all other Indian restaurants in New York but you will also find dishes here like no other. The okra were brilliant, cooked in a manner that rid the vegetables of any gooieness and gave them a delicious texture that was almost like jerky with fabulous spicing. I have never eaten okra like that. They are justly famous for their lentils cooked in butter and the tandoori chicken was simply the most moist and flavorful bird I have ever had prepared in that type of oven. The lemon rice also should not be missed. I want to try every dish on the menu. Worth a detour.

We went for lunch n we asked for the menu n they told us it is a set menu n the chef decide what to eat , I wanted to leave but it was 2:45pm n we wouldn't find another place that is open, and I am happy that we stayed they got us the dishes that we would have ordered ( approximately) but the food is goood.

For unique Indian food, have a scrumptious dinner at Moti Mahal Delux. The butter chicken is everything critics have raved about - melts in your mouth and amazing with just rice or plain naan, although you have a selection of naan to choose from. The Golgappa shots are beautiful to look at, but not memorable. The staff are friendly and make the effort to have you feel welcome

We were a party of 4, the head waiter/Manager gave us the menu. When I asked ( very politely), about the dishes, He was rude, condescending and truly awful. There was no smile. Answers were curt. This spoiled our evening, every one perceived the same, and they asked , why is this guy so pissed off. Food took for ever. We got a dish, which, we did not order, the grumpy guy became even grumpier, once we returned the dish, we did not order

Had a reservation here for dinner on a Friday night prior to going to a Broadway show. Greeted and seated right away. Restaurant has a nice ambiance - on the dimly lit side but romantic feeling. The dining tables are very small. Wine/Beer menu is small but adequate. Ordered 3 dishes: PANEER TIKKA SHASHLIK, CHATPATE BAINGAN, and MURGH MAKHANI. The food came out very quickly and all together. It felt very "squished" to eat on that table. The butter chicken was average - small portion and was expecting a more intensely spiced gravy. The eggplant dish was tasty and our favourite dish of the 3. The food could have come out hotter temperature wise). With so much restaurant competition in Manhattan there is room for improvement with Moti Mahal Delux.

Our daughter picked this spot for a Saturday lunch. We had a nice seat by the window where sunlight was pouring in and we could see all the activity on the street. They really push the buffet for $14.95 on weekends. The catch is that it is a served buffet, so they are controlling the portions and the pacing of the food service. We ordered one vegetarian buffet and two regular. Generally we enjoyed the food with the exception of the goat curry and the tasteless greasy ball of dessert. The naan was light and fluffy, not greasy. Servers did come around and refill water glasses. I don't remember the price of the glass of wine i had, but it was a fair price considering the size of the portion. Our daughter is moving downtown, so we probably won't be back, but if she were still in that neighborhood we would definitely have come back.

The lunch pre-fix is out of this world. Around $14 per person including an array of appetizers and entrees. It was all delicious but the curried goat was a special treat. We were travelling with my mother-in-law who doesn't eat spicy food (go figure) - she had the chicken tandoori which most typically is dry white meat with red food coloring on it. At this place it was half of a chicken, succulent and juicy (spicy sauce served on the side). Service was friendly and efficient. I can't say enough about this place and am very sad we don't have this level of Indian food in Miami.

Our group of three enjoyed our meal. Wish we had more people so we could sample more dishes. Chicken with pomegranate marinade, eggplant and daal were spicy but not too hot. Service was good even though the place was full. Prices were $$ not the $$$ listed here. Would be a regular if I lived in neighborhood. Only con would be noise level.

Good food. Average service.Average place & highly over priced!Maybe most Indian sit down places are for that matter!

My sister had been here a few years prior so we opted to give it a try. We arrived and were seated. We ordered with the suggeztions of the server. Food arrived and it was so tasty and well spiced. Good tasty food coupled with good service and quiet ambiace. Great meal.

Very good food and excellent service. Very good gin and tonics. My son had the butter chicken and declared one of the best he'd had. I had the Railway Curry (Mutton) which was delicious.

Motion mahal delux is preferred by both residential and tourist . according to me the place was a bit still small compared by other restaurants but the food was really nice and delicious it had one single washroom for all (except employee) The staff was good and the place closes after 10 :30 pm do around ten some dishes might not be available some people got in trouble . Avoid going after 10pm staff members are not attending you and this thing should be noticed

You never know what you will experience when you visit an Indian restaurant in NYC.In many cases, these are not run by Indians! Moti Mahal Delux at first look was not something out of the box.However,once seated, we had a very pleasant experience, starting with the service.I must mention that their chairs are incredibly comfortable! We ordered Bhuttey ke kebab as appetiser.The Kebabs and chutneys both were great.(only 3 pieces though but hey, its NYC and hence it is understood).For main course, we had Subz Panchmael,Khumani kofta, garlic naan, lacchha paratha, jeera rice and dal tadka.Everything was very tasty and very authentic.I remembered my college days in New Delhi when we used to eat at Moti Mahals in GK-1 and South Ex, only when we could save some money by skipping some meals!! We are definitely going back!

I have eaten food all over the world in all sorts of different locations including India. I can say with some confidence you will be hard pressed to get higher quality Indian food. The food impressed absolutely everyone including my mom who eats it everyday because she is from India and still lives there. The prices are also extremely reasonable considering the ambiance is very nice and the restaurant is in Midtown Manhattan. We paid only about a $100 for a meal with 5 people.

Not a bad ambience compared to the over decorated traditional Indian restaurants. The food was better than ok, although the price tag was a bit on the heavy side. 130$ for a family of four without tip, dessert and only a couple of beers is a bit steep.

We go here a few times a year for team lunches. While it's a bit of a hike from the office (from Madison to 1st ave), it's always worth the trip. A nice serene venue with accommodating staff and a great selection of dishes. We typically get a fixed prices (per person) lunch with a set of entrees along with naan and jasmine rice. Nothing super fancy about the entrees, but well executed and tasty.

I am not a big fan of indian food but this restaurant was very good. Nice Indian food, generous dishes and reasonable price for the area where it’s located

As soon as I booked my trip to NY I knew I had to visit Moti Mahal for dinner. This was my third time there and the food is as amazing as I remembered. My friends all loved everything we ordered and finished every bite. From vegetarian to carnivore, spice lover to delicate palate, everyone found something tasty on the menu.The service was very good as well but the food is the star attraction.

Dined with large group and tried multiple dishes -- all excellent. Lentils were as good as recommended. Especially liked the rice dishes. Explore this menu; you are sure to be delighted.

Delicious food. Instead of the classic steam table buffet, they bring you a selection of fresh cooked tems to the table and bring refills until you tell them to you give up.

We came to our usual favorite Indian restaurant with all the people from work and had the worse experience ever: for 15 people they gave us only 1 set of vegetarian and 1 of non vegetarian (that is usually good for 8 people) we asked for more food but never came (supposedly is a eat as much as you can). Then dessert was only served to half of the people because they "run out" of that dessert and offered a second option. They refused to give us a discount even though we complained about everything. Not coming again Moti Mahal!!!

Been to this restaurant for christmas eve with bunch of other friends.. food was very nice.. loved the biryani Chicken curry nan bread and starters panner tikka was yummy otherwise the place was too conjusted and noisy.. Ambiance was decent. Mango lassi was very tasty.. Green chutney tasted really nice they had a bowl of onions soaked in lemon or something not sure which tasted really delicious.. I would go back here for another meal :)

The food was not that great at all. The butter chicken sauce was lifeless and the chicken overcooked. The Naan and Paratha were also tired and the cutlets were ordinary. I came in with great expectations but the quality was really not great. The restaurant ambience itself is pleasant and the staff very nice

Having been here twice before I am thoroughly convinced they have the formula down pat. The food is always wonderful and the service is great. My favorite dishes (sag gosht [spinach with lamb] and methi chicken [chefs special chicken] are outstanding. The menu has all the regular dishes i.e. tandoori curry etc. so if you want to stuff yourself with flavor you can. This is my go to place for great Indian food.

We went here for lunch and got the non-vegetarian fixed price lunch special. It was a TON of food for the three of us! It was all delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed it. But, sadly, at the end of the meal we were told we couldn't take any leftovers with us. This could signify cultural differences, but we were all too full to eat more yet saddened to see so much wonderful food go to waste. Just beware and order only what you can eat.

Have not enjoyed such tasty dishes outside of restaurants in London decades ago.Shared the palak paneer (spinach, roasted cheese); murgh makhani (original butter chicken) bhindi naintara (spiced okra) and several other dishes, with the railway mutton curry being a favorite. Look forward to returning on our next trip here.

Truly a delicious meal. I've enjoyed their chicken, fish and vegetable dishes. Each was well spiced and well prepared.

This has become our favorite neighborhood restaurant. We go there at least once a month, we take all our friends there, and it is always good. I don't know if you can get better deal for Indian lunch buffet, either. Their butter chicken is amazing, never had better, softer nor tastier chicken in any cuisine. Vegetarian options are also excellent. Highly recommend!

To me this place ties with Dawat even though they are different. This is less expensive and casual. The food. Wow the food. Really wow. Best indian food ever. The butter chicken puts all others to shame. I don't even order it elsewhere any more. The grilled lamb chops and grilled chicken. Wow. The Dal makani. Lentils in butter. Wow!!!!!

The murg makhani, the ghost biryani, the daal makhani and the lachcha parathas...oh and the rasmalai and gulaabjamuns...mmmm!!! Absolutely Delicious food!!!!

Classy indian feel in New York....ambience is also amazing and had been here udring chritmas week and they served me with super tasty food...

I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious Indian meal. Location is a bit off the beaten path.

Nice ambience in this rather small restaurant. Quite extensive menu with everything you would want in an indian restaurant. Friendly service and just fantastic food. We tried four of their signature dishes and they were all suberb. The lamb in spinach was amazing. The lemon rice is a must. Good choices of wines as well. Good value. Worth a detour on your next NY trip.

Moti Mahal Delux is a great Indian restaurant in the area, and the butter naan is fantastic. To second the other reviewers, these plates are famously/infamously spicy.

With an endless flow of fragrant curries, stewed veggies, and garlic naan, how can I ask for more? Time after time, I walk out of this restaurant fully satisfied and a little guilty that I ate just a weee bit too much. Make no mistake though, it was well worth it! Go hungry and book in advance during peak hours if possible, then... walk it off.

local to my best friends in NYC; this was a great place to go for dinner! We loved it so much and had a great time. the staff was accommodating considering that we showed up there at 11pm. but hey, NY is the city that never sleeps! they made a few dishes vegan for me and everyone loved them! We had a good old time! :-) Very busy and the space is limited but comfortable nonetheless. The lentils Dahl and rice was my favourite! very good value and food

I eat a lot of Indian food and I’m always on the lookout for excellent New York City restaurants featuring that cuisine. I find many good enough places, but few outstanding ones. Recently, I’ve added Moti Mahal Delux to my select list of places that are above the norm. Dinner seems to be a la carte, but if you eat in at lunch time the chef decides what you will have. That’s more than ok. You can specify vegetarian or non-vegetarian and you will get what is essentially a thali, a collection of compatible little dishes. These are served as three courses. I had a delicious behl poori (puffed rice dish) and two cocktail samosas (small fried dumplings) for my appetizer. The main event consisted of a generous portion of white rice and peas accompanied by saag panir (spinach and fresh cheese), vegetable curry, dahl (lentils), raita (flavored liquid yoghurt), and plain and garlic naan (flatbread), richly buttered. Desert was a tiny portion of ras malai (cheese dumplings in cream sauce). This was more than I could eat and take-home is not allowed (why?). That’s a shame because the food here is really, really good, perfectly spiced and way better than the New York Indian restaurant average. I’ll be coming back for weekend brunch. The dining room is pleasant, especially the glassed-in corner terrace where you can watch street life go by.

Indian restaurant found by accident. Well-kept cuisine, really good food. Friendly staff and adequate price. To try

Went to Motis for a lunch after a visit at the Rockefeller University. Authentic and lovely food, nice service. The Mango lassi tasted lovely. Will absolutely visit next time I am in NY.

We went for the lunch buffet. Long gaps between different appetisers. They kept trying to serve the main course before we were done with the appetisers. The main course was really bland. There was not enough space on the table for the dishes. The so-called dessert was a gulab-jamun the size and consistency of a marble. Expensive and disappointing. I also do not like the mandatory 18.5% gratuity.

I have to be honest - I have procrastinated this review wanting to write it only after I have visited this restaurant multiple times...and now is the time! This place, undoubtedly, serves the best kebabs in town! Their tandoori chicken, lamb barrah kebab and lamb sheekh kebabs are the best we have had in NYC. The angaar kebab is extremely good and so is the murgh cream tikka. (Just once, of so many visits, did we find the tandoori chicken not done to perfection, but I am willing to treat that as an off day). Their dal makhani and dal tadka - both are fantastic too! Improvements - their naans could do with some improvement in their texture and the same goes for the dum biryani. A true test of the biryani is the aroma which fills the room when you break the pardah - that doesn't happen here. Go along with their signature dishes and you will most likely not go wrong. The service is good and swift. The decor is simple. We are lucky to have this restaurant in the neighbourhood - and its pretty much our comfort joint when we are looking for authentic North Indian kebabs! For anyone looking to have a real North Indian meal in NYC, I would highly recommend MMD, and it will definitely be a more satisfying and more authentic meal than the couple of pseudo-Michelin 1 star Indian restaurants that NYC has to offer!

All that we ordered were awesome. I find Delhi style cooking & taste. Authentic North Indian. Will visit again. butter chicken, burrah kebab, chicken tandoori, daal makhani, butter Naan followed by gosht biriyani - just awesome ,will visit again.

I have to start by saying I have never eaten inside the brick and mortar NYC Moti Mahal Delux--only had delivery, three times. And three times it took too long to get the food. And, it is difficult to get delivery, because the restaurant will not take lunch orders until noon, nor dinner orders until 4 or later--whether by phone or Seamless. So although they have been here a few years, they have not adapted to NYC restaurants' culture of staying open all day and taking orders at any time. (I guess they don’t need to.) But this is one thing from the old country we could do without. We ordered via Seamless on a weekday at noon and the food arrived (16 blocks away) at 1:45 p.m. Naan was good (not much flour dust), but papadum wasn't even on the menu. I would have loved some. Vegetable samosas were rather small. Where were the peas? The diminutive size rendered them cute, but the insides were a bit too smooth, everything mixed and mushy. I would pass next time. The Dal Makhani (see Pete Wells' description in the NY Times, December 4, 2012) that my dining companion ordered was exceptionally delicious, and I had to admit it was better than the Murgh Saag (chicken tikka with creamed spinach) that I had requested. The spinach had to have been pulverized in a food processor: It had the consistency of a buttery spread, instead of a heartier, textured spinach. The chicken inside could have been hotter and more plentiful, but it was still good. The naan went along very well. I kept stealing spoonfuls of the dal makhani. We made the mistake of ordering extra basmati rice (apparently it came with the dishes), and ended up with way too much; Seamless didn't specify that rice was included, so we thought we had to order it a la carte. (In addition to its inflated prices, here's yet another reason to dislike Seamless.) I had wanted Chana Saag, but it was not on the menu, and I had so much trouble understanding the person who answered the telephone (very thick accent) that I decided not even to ask. Our two lunch entrees could easily have fed three adults. We had a lot left over. If you’re ordering in and don’t mind waiting a long time to get your food, this could be a good place for Indian comfort food. If only they would take orders earlier! It was definitely flavorful enough that I would go back and try the brick and mortar restaurant.

Love the decor, its simple and its not going to overwhelm you with spice flavors. The menu is very easy to understand and quite comprehensive. The food is presented in a very interesting way. The gol gappas come in tom collins glasses and have some delicious flavors. Definitely a twist on the original. The dal makhani is really very good, almost as good as being in Delhi and eating at the original Moti Mahal. You wont find it this good in united states. Rest of the food is pretty good. I couldn't mark this excellent because of the service. I hope they could improve on this, it loses big marks in my books. They weren't rude, but they just weren't responding. They did not understand facial cues, ignored my requests a few times and the place was practically empty. They have a lot of servers, walking around quite clueless. Also this place is expensive so do not go in with the expectation that you will be out without shelling out 25 bucks per person (at least).

I've now been here twice with a few years in between. The food is outstanding! Especially the saag. Can't wait to return!

There are endless choices for Indian food in New York City. Many of them are poor ambassadors for a cuisine that is complex, varied and subtle. Fortunately, Moti Mahal Delux is here to represent the best of northern Indian cooking. Attentive service, an extensive menu and a comfortable setting provide all of the elements for a satisfying meal. If possible take advantage of the lunch special. Rather than place the food on a steam table, the staff prepares and serves the chef's fix price daily recommendations, cooked to order for each table. You will enjoy appetizers, main dishes, naan bread and dessert. Our group shared both the vegetarian and the meat options and were impressed with every dish. The First Avenue location is a bit off of the beaten track, but the food makes it worthwhile. Highly recommended.

Went out to lunch here on a workday. We were quickly seated. You don't have to think much. They ask you "vegetarian or non-vegetarian". This is all you need to choose. They then bring out appetizers, main dishes, rice and naan. Its a lot of food and fairly good. Prices are really reasonable for what you get. Nothing to write home about. More like the relative you visit off and on, only because you are in the area.

In addition to being the best Indian buffet I've found for the weekends the food is delicious. Dal Makhani, chicken, goat are all delicious. You cannot go wrong with the service and hospitality of this place.

Delicious typical indian food... At the end of dinner we were 100% satisfied by food (curry sauce chicken was so good) and by price (30 Bucks each for 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and two glass of good red wine) !!! Strongly recommended !!!!!!

There were four of us - three who live Indian food and one who clearly does not. The one who does not ordered a chicken kabob. Well let me tell you is was great. The rest of us ordered traditional Indian dishes and they were all above expectations. The place is spotlessly clean and certainly on our return list next trip to NYC.

Nice serving, attentive and quick service, only one problem - the food itself is very mediocre, nothing to write home about. There are many other much better Indian restaurant in the city