Swagat Indian Cuisine Reviews

This is a small restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue on the upper west side. Very friendly and helpful staff. The food was delicious. So many different flavors in the dishes. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Would go again.

So this is a good place to go for Indian before a show. Service was prompt. I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Palak Paneer. Both good but nothing stellar. I ordered pashwari nan but they gave me regular nan.

A little cramped & perhaps not the best accommodation for couples unless you are happy to be imposed on by those around you. Nevertheless good food at a reasonable price for Upper Westside served by friendly staff.

The food was ok. Nothing to write to home about. After about 40 minutes when we were finishing our main courses two group of people arrived at the resturant and they apperantly had tables reserved. (We also had reservations...) The resturant didnt have an empty place for the two groups so they just gave us the bill. Without asking us if we wanted a desert or something. We sat for a few more mintues and drank our wine, while every minute or so someone came and opened the check to see if we left money inside already... Meanwhile they were telling the pepole that were waiting, " they are just leaving dont worry" After finishing our wine in a few minutes we left.

We travel around the world for work and always hunt down a good Indian restaurant . We found this gem a few years ago and make it our First stop in the City. The owners and staff are terrific and hospitable and the food is right up there as some of the best Indian we have tasted. Every mouthful was great and the lovely owner/lady made some suggestions that i would not have normally gone for. But now i have some new favorites. Great job, great food , great service deserves a great review. Thanks again and we will be seeing you again very soon

Food was a little pricey for the atmosphere, but they give you plenty of it. Would suggest splitting an order between two people. Definitely not fancy, but food was good and servers were polite and accommodating.

First-rate, skillfully spiced Indian curry dishes with attentive, efficient service. The fresh naan was also top-notch.

We ate the Lasuni Gobi (Cauliflower never tasted so good) and the Chat Masala for appetizers and each had a Biryani (Chicken & Lamb) with the riata and Na'an. Best Indian food I have had in the North East. Hands down.

It’s my 3rd time at the restaurant and it was great as always! We were 8 people this time. We ate spicy shrimps, tandoori mix grill, nan, chicken tikka, butter chicken and more. Delicious food! and Great service! We will come back again. If you are looking for tasty Indian food it’s the place for you.

Hole in the wall, yet will make room for a small (8) group. Great curries, spiced to your taste. We all shared, and everything was excellent. Great choice also for vegetarians.

Small restaurant on Amsterdam, but truly great food and service. The vindaloo curries were excellent, as were the Nans and the chutneys. Plus, they got enough staff to open before the storm. Ate there last NYC trip and will return next one!

I'm British and have lived in Canada for three years. I haven't had a decent Indian meal since I arrived until I took a trip to Swagat. A relatively small restaurant; long and narrow and surrounded by other restaurants it can be easy to miss. Don't. The service was great - nice friendly staff. The food was deeeeelicious. To be fair, my husband said his lamb dish was 'OK' but my chicken dish was outstanding (Chicken Nilgiri). And the bread - oh my god, I had died and gone to heaven. Peshwari Nan like I haven't tasted before. In fact it was so nice, we went back again the following night with friends who also loved it. One friend had Vindaloo which was, as you'd expect, very hot. he also said he hadn't had one that tasty in the States for years. On the down side, and I'm nitpicking here - don't sit on very back table where menus and music system are - you are continually leaning forward so they can get a menu or fiddle with the music. Price? Very reasonable. Wine? OK - overpriced but no more than other restaurants. In fact, if it was a BYO it would be the perfect Indian restaurant.

Ok - not much more than that. Chicken tikka masala more like chicken in tomato sauce! Mixed starter nice as was naan. Nothing special.

The atmosphere is excellent, food so good, the service is so pleasant, and the price is perfect ( there is a great menu for 7.95$). I totally recommend this place!! Believe me, you won't regret.

Food fine but they can go to hell about what tip i should give them, they better understand other restaurants along the street don't worry any percentage of tipping expected ,where I come from it seem pretty average what is the norm watch out travellers. They are expecting a 15 percent tip at this Indian

Amazing food with pure Indian flavours . Very clean restaurant and very polite stuff ! I recommend it 100% ! The location is great as well ❤️

Swagat offered delicious Indian food made with super fresh ingredients and a more sophisticated choice of spices than I've typically encountered with Indian food. One of the best Indian food experiences I've had.

As a Brit with a liking for Indian cuisine, I have been on the search for a genuinely good mid-range Indian restaurant in New York. And now I've found it in the Upper West Side tucked away as an inconspicuous half shop front on Amsterdam. The service and food were top notch.

I recently ate at Swagat and it was delicious! The wait staff was helpful in providing food recommendations and gave us a great table to enjoy this yummy meal. I only wish I could get get delivery in the South. I know I will daydream about this meal!

Modestly priced and excellent quality. A small place squeezed in between a slew of restaurants. Well worth a visit

Delicious food, very friendly staff and great Iocation. Cosy and pleasant atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it.

So good. The host was attentive and the food was amazing. Recommend the butter chicken and lamb samosa. Great low-key affordable Indian spot if you’re looking for quick service and getting your moneys worth.

Helpful staff, attentive and nice. Food came quickly and was hot. Starters came within five minutes of placing the order. Aloo Ghobi was very delicious with garlic naan. Chai tea was unfortunately a bit ›boring‹. Might be helpful to get a reservation after 5pm.

Had to write this review after my 2nd visit (1st visit over a year ago). Food quality is excellent and reasonably priced. Swagat offers a good selection of starters and a wide range of different mains. Would definitely recommend this place to all lovers of Indian food!

Found this resturant just walking around . Served food even when i was suppose to think its closed . Food quality and quantity both good . Ambience is wonderful and nice service . Should try chickpeas authenticated Punjabi food

I ate there on my last visit to New York City. Now that I am back in Southern Utah I crave it and there is no where for me to get Indian food around here. I can't wait for my next trip to eat there again!

Swagat Indian Restaurant at Amsterdam Avenue and 80th Street in New York was a pleasant discovery. It offered a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The simple storefront restaurant had long series of tables against both walls that could accommodate small and large parties. I started with a large quenching bottle of Taj Mahal Beer served with Chapatti, raita and chutney. It was followed by a warm bowl of Mulgutwanni soup made with a mild mix of traditional lentils and herbs. The Lamb Chettinad (boneless cubes of lamb cooked with onion, mustard, coconut, black pepper, tamarind sauce and curry leaves) was a delicious blend of succulent meat and diverse spices. It was well complemented with Peshawri Naan stuffed with almonds, raisins, cashews and cranberries that was a delicious bread full of healthy ingredients. Dinner was filling and the food was reasonably priced.

Still the best Indian food we’ve eaten in our 40 years of working and living in NY — also the best we’ve eaten anywhere outside the Indian Subcontinent and UK. Bravo!

We visited this restaurant several times.avi a friend from New York who loves to eat at this restaurant all the time takes us to the restaurant when we're in New York. The food simply delicious. Quiet atmosphere. Excellent service. I do not eat spicy and they make me my taste. Everything is just fine. I even took home nahn with spinach and cheese. Namaste

I've been there for lunch a week ago Great prices and variety of options with extra nice touch. Don't miss their garlic nan and chicken butter.

Light and puffy puri; goat on the menu which was an unexpected pleasure, and deliciously prepared; perfect rice; decent dessert. The only down side was going as a single woman-- I was put in the worst spot (right next to where people pick up takeout, under the ledge of the shelf where they keep wine) even though I came late enough that tables were opening up and there were several "less challenged" tables available.

We have eaten at many Indian restaurants Swagat is by far the best The appetizers the vegetable dishes and the chicken tikka are so delicately seasoned that your palate cries for more

Super friendly family run a local restaurant. Food always hot and good, I particularly like the Garlic Nan. Great place for a group wanting an inexpensive meal or to grab a quick bite on your own. Great lunch specials. One final note. I give this a 5, not because its the best restaurant I've ever been to, rather because for the small family-run local restaurant it is, it is reliably fantastic.

Swagat is one of the best Indian restaurants in NYC. The food is consistently better than any of the downtown curry row restaurants. The items from the tandoor are fantastic and all the curries are very good. I am particularly partial to the Lasooni Gobi, which is a sauteed cauliflower in a wonderfully spicy red sauce. The restaurant is small and gets crowded but that is only because it is so good. Not to be miss on the Upper West Side.

we have eaten here on multiple visits to NYC and we like it but it s pretty average food on par with what you can get in many cities.

Swagat is the place to go... Well spiced, decently sized portions, and the quality is fantastic. I ate lunch here with co-workers, then the next day had dinner with my wife - that's how good the food is. The Chana Saag in my favorite, along with Samosa. Wife loves the Chicken Tikka Masala. Lunch specials are plentiful and include a salad, dinner is without salad but the portions are much larger. Service is super friendly and incredibly fast - no more than a 10 minute wait for our food. Yum, I could go for more now...

We grub hub ordered our favorites, chickens makhani and malai koftai. Although it was okay, it was not great! grub Hub or the restaurant, we don’t know. We love Indian food, but not sure we will try it again. Sorry we really wanted to love it.

The place wasn't busy when we went so we were able to get a table without waiting. The menu has a lot of the standard Indian fare and some more interesting ones. We grabbed an aloo papri chat, lamb korma, rice and naan to share. I really like the chat, crispy chips with potato and chickpeas topped with a sweet and tangy yoghurt sauce. The korma was also nice. They also do have dessert options but we ended up going somewhere else for that.

This is a respectable Indian restaurant that serves decent food. But there were two things that bothered us. Despite ordering an average amount of appetizers and main dishes, two other tables that ordered after us got their food first. We were asked if we wanted raita and chutney. We asked if the meal came with it? They said yes. This is not a question demonstrating our culinary ignorance. Nor is it because the waiter did not properly hear our question. When the bill came, we were charged about eight dollars for the two items. It’s not a big thing, but it’s disingenuous to say that an item comes with the meal, and then charges were adopted

Lovely little restaurant with a friendly staff. Food is reasonably priced and delicious, particularly the Chana Saag and Chicken Tikka Marsala. Paan and Samosa were delectable, especially with the mango chutney. There are other Indian restaurants nearby, but Swagat is my favorite!

Firstly I go into the restaurant the previous evening to ask if I needed to book for an early evening table on Sunday 6th March, my birthday and was told that there would be no problem and I could walk in on the night. I duly turned up at the promised time to find the restaurant absolutely packed and had to wait for a small table, crammed up against another table, to become available. I then ordered my meal, bearing in mind that this was my supposed birthday treat, only to be brought the wrong order. Needless to say that this completely ruined my evening. I certainly can not recommend this restaurant and will not be back. They need to learn on how the British Indian restaurants work and how much better their service is.

A very good restaurant! Entrees and appetizers are delicious and not very pricey. Naans are succulent and the service is good. I tasted the best Indian cuisine there! I went there twice, and I love their cuisine!

The usual classics but with some twists—lamb samosas, slightly different spices, attentive service. We were really pleased, and will be back.

Still the best and most authentic Indian food we’ve eaten in 40 years of dining in many (pricey and not-so-pricey) restaurants we’ve eaten in, in NY or anywhere else in the US — only restaurants in India or UK have served us as good or better food (and you expect that level of quality from restaurants there).

My two friends and I gave this restaurant a try for lunch on a cold, rainy Wednesday. The quiet interior is elegant yet welcoming - exposed brick wall, warm lighting, white tablecloths and good quality table settings and gracious service. We sat in a very comfortable booth. We each chose the lunch special (an incredible value for $8.95!) which included choice of entree, fresh baked Naan and rice. The Naan and a small salad arrived right away. We selected a lamb, chicken and vegetable entrees to share. All were delicious with unique flavors and obviously made with quality ingredients. We finished our meal with perfectly brewed cups of steaming hot tea. Our experience was more than a meal - leaving we felt refreshed and ready to take on the rest of our day. Highly recommended!

They are totally incompent. There are many great Indian restaurants - you should go to one of those.

ok. not the best. try tamarind across the street. i think it's slightly better.

Loved this neighborhood restaurant. The quality of the food is very good. Don't expect a fancy place. But it has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Want to return. There breads, the one with cranberrys, to die for. Wonderful vegetable curries. Had a great Tandori chicken.

For dinner we went to Swagat and ordered vegan and vegetarian dishes. No doubt authentic Indian food. Modest settings but very friendly personnel. Dishes have all their own distinct and fine flavor, not the usual hot red pepper taste everywhere. However, the baby eggplants were burned and with their stems. I certainly understand that the eggplants have to be charred in their entirety, but it would’ve been better probably to peel them and cut the stems before putting in the dish. This would simplify the eating process... Excellent Roti. Samosas ok but a bit too oily. Mango Kulfi too sweet and the decoration syrup destroyed the mango taste. Still, this restaurant deserves to be frequented.

We did not enjoy the food at this restaurant. I usually love Indian food and chicken biryani is my favorite dish with naan bread. I asked for mildest spice level available and the chicken and rice were so spicey we couldn't eat much of the dish.

Based upon TA reviewers, I decided to make a reservation. Our server was friendly. The place is cozy and has a nice atmosphere. The food was ok. The spices are bland. My friend and I were not happy with the staff constantly coming over to take our plates. The place was not full. for a second or two, I thought I was at some diner. On top of this, we told the staff to stop (and politely) to leave us alone. There is another Indian restaurant a few doors down. I'll try that one next time.

This is a pleasant neighborhood restaurant with decent food. The saag paneer was not good, but their vegetable korma was very tasty. It has a nice atmosphere, and you can smell the food all the way down the street.

We ended up in this little cozy indian restaurant for dinner when the kitchen of almost every place was closed, but we couldn't find a better place to eat!!! Delicious indian kitchen, quick and kind service.

We choose this little restaurant mainly because it was within walking distance from our hotel and that decision was an extraordinary stroke of good luck, as it made us discover this little jewel of indian cuisine. The place is tiny, so I advise to reserve a table in advance, but the kindness and helpfulness of the restaurant staff more than makes up for the limited space. We had a lot of different dishes (between the tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, spinach cream with Indian cheese and a plate of goat meat that was incredibly tasty) and every one of us was totally satisfied of their dish. Prices are absolutely reasonable too. If you like indian food and happen to be in the Upper West Side, try Swagat: you'll love it 👌

Had a great meal here - chicken saagwala and vegetable tikka masala with aloo papri chaat to start and garlic naan. Everything was to die for! And they have a really nice wine list to complement things!

What a great find, we happened on this great Indian restaurant and had a fantastic meal for a pretty good price. There were five of us (3 kids) and we all thought the food was fantastic. They asked us how hot we wanted the dishes and they came out spot on. We took the left overs home and had them the next night. Highly recommended.

My wife and I were really looking forward to some Indian food (missing home cooked Indian food) and decided to try out Swagat based on the reviews. Unfortunately, the butter chicken was watery and the Gulab Jamun was terrible. I would definitely suggest going next-door to Saravan Bhavan.

Laura and I went for dinner on a Thursday night. We arrived at 6.30, and got a table right away. We were greeted very affably. We ordered Aloo Tikki ($5) and Samosa Chat ($5) for appetizers; both were superb, just spicy and delicious. For our entrees we ordered the Chicken Saagwala ($15), and Lamb Shahi Korma ($16). The chicken was fine, though it was overwhelmed by far too much spinach; the dish could have used a bit more spice. The lamb was superb. A top-notch dish perfectly spiced, the meat was so tender it did not need a knife. The rice we were served was quite nice. The restaurant itself is a narrow space, with rows of tables along the walls separated by a narrow aisle. The lighting was soft, and dimmed as night fell. The service was impeccable, attentive, not intrusive. It appears to be a family enterprise, and it is wonderful. Dinner for two, with a Taj Mahal beer added, was sixty dollars. They have a good selection of beers and wines. It was a very enjoyable meal. We will be going back. Highly recommended.

What a busy place! Every seat was taken! Arrive before 7 unless you book ahead! Great selection of food & well prepared! I had Lamb Rogan Josh($16), which is a fav, and I liked their version. Friends got Chicken Tikka Masala($15) and it too was good. Naan ($6) was nice and service was good. I'd definitely go back!

This small Indian restaurant is around 1 mile from Central Park at Amsterdam Ave. The place is very small and congested but the dishes they serve are so tasty you will be compelled to visit again. We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala which they serve with rice, 3 chicken kulchas, 2 beers and a glass of wine and paid $70 including the tip. Something which i liked most was the service and friendly staff. Would definitely visit again.

The restaurant is very small for dining in and the take-out takes longer than expected to be ready (clearly truly made from scratch upon order) but the staff is friendly and the food fantastic.

We had a fabulous dinner - the chicken tikka masala was absolutely delicious and my husband had a lamb dish that he also really enjoyed. The Naan came out very hot and perfect. We would definitely eat here again.

While visiting the Upper West Side in New York we needed a place to eat one night. We passed this small, but quaint restaurant. We went in and although it was near closing time, they were very gracious. The food was the best Indian food I have ever had. It was really well spiced and tasted great. We tried a lot of different things and each thing was better than the next. This is a great spot near the Museum of Natural History.

A cosy and friendly neighborhood spot which has never disappointed. Food so good, one wants to keep eating after being fully sated. The cauliflower appetizer is DIVINE, and the house Dal could be a daily staple. Quality of preparation and freshness is consistent, as is friendliness of owner and staff. One could quibble over the hodgepodge decor, as well as the female server who insists on suggesting lots of extras, then fails to hide her disappointment if one does not order them...but all in all, it is a lovely dining experience, and does not break the budget. The Indian beer is a perfect accompaniment on a sweltering night.

I would say that this is a very Americanized version of indian cuisine. The food was good, but a bit bland in my opinion, and rather pricey. The masala chai had nothing in common with what you find in India, but the restaurant staff did not charge for it once I noted that fact. Service was excellent

I was surprised to see a few bad reviews, so before going to the restaurant, I interviewed a couple customers exiting the place. Many of them were returned customers, and were happy with food and service. Friendly service, simple Indian food that was modified to our taste (no onion, no garlic)… all was good, no complains. We would return without any hesitation. Our order was daal, Potato Jeera, Naan & Roti and our favorite – roasted eggplant in gravy.

This is a good and small Indian restaurant not far from central park. Small is relative, normal size for New York. Good selection of dishes and quite alot vegetarian ones as well. We actually went there twice at it was close to our Hotel. The chicken Chicken Tikka Masala was a bit too much on the tomato side. But this is only my taste. The Chicken Korma and Alo Gobi were very good, too. Prices are quite moderate. Mains about 16$ + Tax. Would go there again.

We had dinner here after a long day of walking through the Museum of Natural History which is only a couple blocks away. Everything was excellent, from the initial service to the dessert. The food was delicious, including the appetizers, dinner and dessert. I will be back the next time I am in NYC.

We were hungry and had very little time to enjoy dinner. We called our order in to Swagat. Less than 20 minutes later, our food was delivered. It was still hot. It was delicious. How often does that happen?

I looked forward to the food here because of past reviews. I ordered Lamb Korma with Papadams, mild. Both were too spicy and the flavor of the Korma was less flavorful than I hoped for. I think they used hot spice instead of flavorful. The Basmati rice was skimpy but nicely cooked. I will try another restaurant next time.

We stumbled upon Swagat on accident while we were walking to a reservation at a different restaurant. While walking by we were pulled in by the smells. We cancelled the other rez and ate here. Some of the best Indian food I've had in NYC to date. Don't let this one slip by, it's awesome 😎🤘🏼

Excellent food, a quiet and relaxing ambiance, and very attentive service add up to an "A+" rating for this lovely little Upper West Side restaurant. Bar service, too.

Indian restaurants in New York tend to all be the same: pretty good, mostly north indian, nothing special. Swagat is another one of those, except it actually is better than the others. The people are really nice and it's got of an american service experience than the indian service experience. And while the food is completely your standard north indian, they do have a couple dishes you don't find everywhere else. And the food is better than the other places I've gone. My veg tip: if you're by yourself, get the Papdi Chaat appetizer -- that way you get your bean protein -- and then have the Panneer Kadhi. Yummy!

We went here for lunch one day. We were not greeted very welcoming at the door and eventually got a table. The food was okay. Basic indian curries with shrimp and paneer. We loved the Naan though, it was very fresh.

My girlfriend and I decided to visit this restaurant as it was close to our hotel, fairly late-on in the evening and we were hungry. We didn't have a reservation and when we arrived the restaurant was full. The staff asked us to wait a few minutes and 5 mins later we were seated. We weren't overly hungry so we shared some onion bhajis for starters which were superb, seriously great fresh flavour. We then had a main course each, again the flavours and freshness were great. Total cost of the meal with a Coke and large Kingfisher beer was $55 + tips. Review would have been 5 stars but I was a little cramped at the table as the venue was quite small.

Good, honest without pretensions but tasty. We had dinner at this restaurant as a family and, being vegan, I had the lentils and basmati. The portions are generous and tasty. I recommend it

This restaurant is small, located on 80th and Amsterdam, they have great food very authentic, full of flavor. We came here a few times for their lunch special which is a choice of curry with rice and naan for $9. Super tasty and great value for money. The only issue is really the service that needs to be improved. One time we arrived at 2:35 and they closed at 3 and the waiter made it way to clear that we had to order because they are closing. When we ordered an additional appetizer a few minutes later he was very annoyed and got all crazy, g-d forbids he stays an extra few minutes for his clients.

Terrible service. Ok food. Owner has major attitude. Slow and not willing to improve. Chicken is chewy like rubber. Paneer tastes stale

Weate here with friends last night. Swagat is a rather austere looking Indian restaurant on the Upper West Side in a city that now boasts dozens (hundreds?) of Indian eating places so competition is fierce. The food here is a mixed experience. The two chat dishes (Indian street snacks) were quite decent. The tandoori lamb chops were excellent - juicy, tender, beautifully spiced. If we had known this we would have ordered two plates of this delectable meat. The other main courses were acceptable but rather undistinguished. A shrimp/prawn dish (Malabar) had some tasty and not overcooked seafood but the sauce hadn't done more than coat the shrimp. A chicken dish (Manglorean) with green chillies and ginger was deliciously hot but the sauce wasn't complex enough for my taste. The Alooo Gobi vegetables (potato and cauliflower) , a favourite of ours, was the best of the remaining main dishes. Service was prompt and pleasant, and the prices were reasonable. I'd return quite happily and sample more dishes from the menu to see if our choices last night were an adequate representation of what Swagart has on offer.

We had a decent Indian meal here last night. We started with the Lasuni Gobi which, while good, tasted pretty much like deep-fried cauliflower covered in spicy catchup. Our main courses included chicken tikka masala and lamb bhuna. The chicken chunks, unfortunately, were dry but the gravy was typically delicious. The lamb, on the other hand, was robust and flavorful. We would order this again. The naan was perfect. Overall we'd say this is an average Indian restaurant, which is to say that it's pretty good! We'd eat here again. $50 for two with beer.

We went to this restaurant just because it was Indian and wow the food was amazing. It is only a small restaurant but the staff and the food really opened our eyes to how good a small restaurant can be. It was so good we went back the next night. For a starter we had prawns and for a main Mago chicken with a glass of red wine. If you are in New York and in the area of this restaurant it is a must visit. We will be going again before we leave. This is probably the best Indian food we have ever eaten and we eat Indian at least once a week for many years. Thank you to the staff and the chef amazing is not good enough to describe this food and the restaurant.

Sorry to say but the food was seriously wrong, I didn't eat anything except the popodoms. Chicken was bland, vegetables ok ish, daal was dry and I didn't even bother With the rice. Staff were very nice and friendly but the happy experience stopped there. Shame

Awesome food , service excellent, very friendly staff as well as knowledgeable Great naan Chicken biryani was perfect

Went here with friends on a Friday night. The place is small, so make reservations. Ambiance is cozy, not cramped, service is crisp and friendly and the food is excellent. This is perhaps the best Indian food we have had on the Upper West Side. Prices are good too. Highly recommended!

On this visit to New York City I decided to try a restaurant that served Indian Cuisine. Swagat Indian Cuisine was close to my hotel so I decided to give it a try. It was small but not to the point of feeling cramped, and the atmosphere was pleasant. Since this was a first time for Indian food I had questions about the dishes on the menu, all of which were answered by the staff who were very helpful. The food was excellent, well presented, and the service was good. There were several items on the menu that I would like to try on my next vacation to New York City and would definitely return to this restaurant.

Food ok but service poor. We had booked ahead on open table but arrived and no one greeted us, or asked if we had a reservation. Eventually after serveral minutes of being ignored at the front door (they don't appear to have a concierge) we were seated. Waiter spilled water down my sleeve leaning across and another dropped a curry stained spoon on my wife's lap. All in all the sort of place I'd grab a quick lunch rather than an evening meal out. And then, a day later open table e mailed us to ask why we hadn't kept our reservation!

We ate at Swagat while on a stopover in NY on our way to Denmark. I was fairly unimpressed with the restaurant and immediately noticed something was off about my chicken korma. The meat tasted rubbery and dry and it did not have most of the components of a traditional korma, but was just cooked in a tepid curry sauce--not creamy at all. It also lacked any hint of spice. About 16 hours after eating at Swagat (having only a breakfast at Sarabeth's shortly before, and I KNOW I didn't get ill from that), I started having sudden stomach cramps and diarrhea. It's 4 days later, and I'm still dealing with dehydration and fever. My boyfriend ordered a vegetarian dish and was fine so I suspect it was spoiled or undercooked chicken. If you look at reviews for this place on Yelp, you will find numerous others who experienced food poisoning after eating here as well and were blown off by Swagat staff when they called to discuss it.

I love Indian and this place had the best chicken curry! It was affordable and thestaff is friendly and helpful. The decor was lovely and atmosphere was perfect to catch up with a friend. I will definitely return again next time I am back in NYC.

Delicious Indian restaurant, in a New York setting. Very fast and very friendly service. Very fragrant food, not serious and delicious.

Delightful change from the monotonous procession of the same small selection of Indian dishes (adulterated to American taste) served in almost all 'Indian' restaurants in NYC. The menu here is much more varied and interesting; the preparation (inc the spices used) is far more authentic; and the variety of tastes offered is far greater and a much more representative cross section of the variety offered in the Indian subcontinent. Also a warm and genuine welcome and desire to please, and very reasonable pricing

This place is one of those secrets that you're tempted to keep to yourself lest an overflow of visitors ruin it. The service is nearly always first-rate -- unobtrusive, welcoming, and expert. The food is remarkable in every way. I have brought many friends here, and none has been disappointed -- ever.

Lovely curry dishes, we are both vegetarian and there are plenty of options. Attentive service, cosy restaurant, generous portions.

Small restaurant but the food is delicious and the service is awesome. Great menu selections for both food and wine. Highly recommend.

We visit monthly. Terrific Indian cuisine in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Lunch buffets give many choices of quality dishes. Dinner is very reasonably priced and we split an entire tandoori chicken for under 19. Enjoy it here!

got take-out while staying in NY on vacation over Christmas. very easy to order from looking at the website. girl on phone was helpful. food was delicious. would certainly go again.

My daughter suggested that we go here. The service was relaxed, our water was refilled constantly, the food was very good and the price was right. My daughter's dish was vert hot and she asked for yogurt to the spiciness and not only did they bring it right away, they came back to check if it helped. I would certainly go back.

This was our fourth time dining here. Every dish we have ever had here has been tasty and the service can not be beat. They are always so helpful with picking different dishes. Warm, welcoming and cozy ambiance.

After the N.Y.C. Marathon and the family getting hungry. Around the corner from 79th on Amsterdam a truly incredible discovery. There's Lakshmi from Karla and her adorable Indian restaurant, Swagat. We got the last table for 5. For appetizer the Vegetable Samosa Chat. Pastries stuffed with savory potatoes and green peas with indian herbs and spices, served with chickpeas, mint and tamarind chutney. Then, Akbari Boti Kebab. Medallions of succulent lamb steak marinated with ginger-garlic and garam masala, masterfully barbecued over charcoal in this clay oven. Accompanied by Garlic Nan (my favorite) leavened white flour bread topped with fresh diced garlic. Of course, Rita to cool my mouth down ready for the next tasty morsel. Homemade whipped yogurt mixed with grated cucumbers and roasted cumin seeds. And a Chutney Tray. Tamarind chutney, mint chutney, mango chutney and mango pickles. with the bread basket! And a must dessert. Gulab Jamun A very popular indian delicacy a "khoya" dumpling dipped in rose flavored syrup and served warm. I'm familiar with Lakshmi brother's restaurant Indian Ocean in upper Northwest Washington, D.C. so finding this was a real treat. My guests were quite impressed with my finding Swagat.

small restaurant. good lunch menu. good food. good samosa. we enjoy getting takeout. the soups were good too.

....at Swagat. Excellent, authentic, interesting dishes (assuming you avoid the couple patently 'catering down' to American tastes); relaxed atmosphere (we sat for 3 hours) courteous, efficient, unobtrusive, friendly service; reasonable pricing. A great resource for the 'hood!

Visited this restaurant on our visit to New York it was a short walk from our hotel. It was full and we had to wait for our table, must be a good sign. The service was quick and polite and efficient. The food excellent, the naan breads were gorgeous. Eat here if you want authentic Indian cuisine.

First time here. Group of six. So we were able to try most of the menu. Everything was terrific. Nice place. Cozy atmosphere. Staff is nice and responsive.

Being from the SF bay area, we may be spoiled by the numerous and high quality Indian restaurants. The best part of this restaurant is the very friendly and efficient service staff. Unfortunately, that is not enough reason to return to or recommend this restaurant. Among the various items we had, only one of them were very good. Samosas were not very tasty; naan was doughy; saag paneer was watery and the cheese was rubbery; tandoori chicken was dry. The lamb dish we had was very good. Based on the crowd at the restaurant and waiting outside, there are many people who like this place.

Continues to offer the best Indian meals I’ve had outside of India and UK — not surprising given that the owner’s heritage includes the Delhi Bukhara. Also courteous service, reasonable pricing, good acoustics and no hustling/hurrying of diners.

Had the lunch specials and some samosas. It was good for ala carte, but we are used to the variety of buffets.

Tiny place, but great food. We hadn't reserved, the neighborhood was crawling with people wanting to see the Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons, we were six, and yet they found a way to make a table for us. Food was fantastic, spiced just right, really really hot for my husband, very hot for me, just right for my brother and sister in law, and perfect for a no spice neophyte cousin. The Bombay shrimp was excellent, as was the lamb vindaloo. My brother ordered some dhal and a potato and something, that were delicious. This is a great place!

Just a wonderful Indian restaurant, seriously. We had a large party of 8 including 3 kids and we couldn't have had a more gracious and generous host. Warm and generous folks, who had a huge night that night. The curries were nothing short of amazing and the service was excellent. Get there early for your reservation. A few folks were turned away while we were seated immediately - maybe that's an issue with the place. It is small, so reserve early. Thank you for a wonderful time!

A totally uninspiring menu serving run-of-the mill Indian food. We ordered the lamb vindaloo which the menu indicated was spicy. Nope. Not in the least. Bland and boring. The chat appetizer was tasty but the chicken tikka masala and saag paneer were as tasty as a microwave product. I ordered an Indian beer which they accidentally spilled. When they asked me if I wanted another beer I said yes...and then they charged me for both. If you're searching for good Indian food...continue your search. This isn't the place.

tasty curry and friendly with the children. Homemade kulfi and lassi. The only negative my husband would say is that he would rather have a jug of water on the table rather than our glasses filled up regularly when we had only drunk a bit - but that's his bug bear in most north american restaurants and not this one particularly!!! Overall it's a great place - go and check it out if you like a good curry

Enjoyed the food and the service was excellent. We found items that sated eveyone - my wife who has a limited palate for Indian food, my son and myself.

Dined 3 times with different chicken currys different naans and different starters. And they all were different, but very excellent and tastefull. Acompanied by a lovely thick mangolassie(2) drink. This 36 dollar dish was more then enough for the both of us with a small salad and extra sauces

This tiny little restaurant warrants the wait. Reservations are recommended but they will accommodate with a little wait if you just pop by. The food, the service, even the beautiful bowls make this a wonderful place to eat.

Last night of our trip, the rest of our family had left town, kids exhausted, and our local hosts were done with us, so dinner was up to us. Our go-to local Indian was undergoing renovations, so some internet searching came up with Swagat, just a few blocks further away. I went for a nice walk to get there, order from wife in hand. I checked out the menu myself, added the few additional things I wanted, and placed my to-go order. The staff was very friendly among the busy crowd, telling me my order would be ready in about 10 minutes. I went for a lovely walk around the block, came back, picked up the food, and headed back to the hotel. The meal was fantastic. Best chicken pakoras I think I've ever had. We had a mix of chicken curries and tandoor, and it was all delicious. Just excellent takeout for us to eat in our hotel room. The only reason I'm giving 4 rather than 5 stars is that I said I wanted everything "mild" given the preferences of my family, and the main dish my wife ordered was too spicy and she couldn't eat it. I ate it and absolutely loved it, but it was what she was looking forward to. While we didn't eat at the restaurant itself, it was quite filled up, with a mix of different size families and parties, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. It looked pretty cramped as any NY restaurant with high rents would be, but the wait staff seemed to flow among the tables with ease. We'll definitely do it again when we're back in New York. Super yummy.

I had the Chana Malasa. It was wonderful. Great service. Reasonably priced for NYC. Will definitely return as we have family that lives in the neighborhood.

We were walking by the area and ran into swagat. It was a great experience. The naan was cooked perfectly and dishes had the right amount of spices (extra hot for us and mild for the kids). Our kids generally dont care for indian food, however they thoroughly enjoyed the malai chicken tikka.

We were staying at a hotel across the street and lucked into this place. Lovely staff, attentive and helpful. Food is good if not epic- but on a cold winter night, it was a quiet and friendly place to happen in to. I would definitely go back if I lived here-

We were staying near by on a trip to the city and with all of the options in the city we still ate her twice. We got takeout, but atmosphere seemed nice in this small restaurant. If you are staying near by this place is great. Can you say NAAN.