Vatan Reviews

All u can eat Gujarati food. Absolutely Delicious food: amazing atmosphere and decor. Great service.

My mom and I stumbled upon by accident several years ago and I have made it a central priority of each of my subsequent visits to NYC. The food is phenomenal and they are willing to make accommodations for vegans, allergies, etc. The service could be a bit more attentive at times, but nothing truly problematic. Great variety and they do a good job explaining what each dish is. In contrast to several reviews I've seen, they have been gracious about providing seconds, but with a true and fair warning that much more is coming.

Go only when your appetite is fully worked up. To enjoy it the best. If you are semi full, it is unlikely you will enjoy it.

Amazing Indian Vegetarian food in the heart of NY. Its better to go for the Thali meals than order individually. Full bar also there in case u wanna enjoy ur food with alcohol. Heavy Traffic around this location and may be difficult to get a parking place, so I suggest that use Public Transport or take a Uber, I am sure it will be more comfortable. The aloo tikki and dahi wada are too good. They ask you personal choice of rotis, in that how one would want it. The masala chai served at the end of the meals was superb.

OMG! How bad was it? I can't begin to list out the negatives. Iam Gujarati from India and know what a Gujju thali should be. This isn't it. In concept yes but in taste and execution absolutely not. The starters were mediocre,cold and downright tasteless. Mains courses bland and pathetic. Absolute waste of time and money. Not cheap for the crap they serve. I'm at a loss reading the positive reviews on this site. Seriously people? Service haphazard and apathetic. Never again and never to be recommended. I would give negative points if I had a choice.

By far the best Gujarati thali i've had in the U.S. Also at $32/person, it's the most expensive, but the whole experience of dining in a great atmosphere and ambiance made it worthwhile. The staff were smiling and welcoming. The food was mouthwatering,, starting with appetizer thali complete with 8 different appetizers, followed by the main course thali with veggies, dal, kadhi, sweet dish, etc. all in authentic Gujju style. Highly recommend this if you're in NYC. Oh and there aren't too many tables, so make reservation upfront.

My husband and I have eaten dinner at Vatan numerous times for more than 15 years, we go there a few times each year. It is consistently great food in a charming, clean setup. There is a huge amount and choice in their all you can eat fixed menu. Service is very good and welcoming.

This was a great find. We were looking for a vegetarian option and stumbled across this on Internet. From outside, the facade is not so great. We almost regretted making this choice and turned away but once inside found the restaurant interior decorated really well. It is made to resemble a hut in an Indian Village. Prix Fix dinner is the only option and you have all-you-can-eat deal. The value is great. The quality of food is as good as I would get in India in a similar establishment. If you are tired of or wanting to experience something other than Dosa / Idli (South Indian Fare) or Kebabs / Butter Chicken / Tandori dishes, this is a great option to explore.

I have been here many times, and always forget to post a review. Excellent food, very kind staff, and nice accommodation for groups. We have had birthdays, going away, and other get-together events and are never disappointed.

We enjoyed trying many, many different dishes. The server was thoughtful and attentive! So happy to have such a fabulous variety of vegetarian dishes! Can’t wait to return and bring my family.

Very good Gujarat atmosphere very calm place very friendly staff really good Gujarati food like in Gujarat

Was at this place last Saturday. To our surprise we were the only ones at the restaurant which is normally packed. When we were leaving at 6.15 PM or so a few people showed up at the restaurant. Food is great but the price is the barrier - Expensive and that is probably the reason for less people showing up at this place

I went here with a couple of colleagues after work. There are plenty of eateries around, but both were Vegetarians, so we picked this one. The front desk managed to find a table for us. Although it was optional there was the suggestion of removing shoes just as you enter the dining table area (near the chair/bench, so no walking necessary). The decor is a bit overwhelming in a nice way, made to look like a village in Gujarat, with murals and "huts" etc. Music is Indian, I don't remember what type. The menu is prix fixe, the fare being traditional Indian but not necessarily Gujarati. Unlimited, all you can eat with several courses. The starters were all good, about 6-8 of them, with only the Chana (chick peas) a little heavier on the masala/ginger. The main meal offers choices of Puri or Roti as bread and a lot of vegetables and Dal etc. The desserts were about three or so. But we were full by the time the main course was half done, it is very filling, taste good and variety really good. Those that like Gujarati food will love this, those that don't, thinking that everything is sweeter, only the Dal was sweeter Gujarati style, everything else was normal. They offer three levels of spicy so you can pick. The place is a little on the expensive side, with each diner being charged $34+taxes, tip, but is worth it. I would go again if the company was picking up the tab, else might keep looking for a less upmarket version of the same concept.

Honestly, the food was really ok. I would prefer Saravana Bhavan over Vatan or even kathi roll company. Only the appetizer thali was great, rest the entrée thali was not at all out of the world. I thought I will get a good indian thali but my dreams were shattered. PS: Their patrons are pervs, if you are travelling with a nursing mom, please avoid this place or else who knows someone might just stop by to ogle at the mother nursing a baby and she will have to end up nursing the baby in the restroom and they wont even acknowledge any awkwardness.

Recently we visited the place for Dinner. It was a great experience. It starts with short eats Potato Bonda or Aloo wada, Dhokla, Mirchi Bajji etc. This is served to your satisfaction. Then comes the main course which is equally tantalising with variety of sabjis and Rotis served with authentic Aam Ras. Finally ends with desserts. The experience is very satisfying with lovely ambience.

Visited with friends and while they liked it, I found the food to be average. It's a good introduction to basic Gujarati cuisine but don't expect flavors from the actual state in India. Nothing stood out in particular and classics like dhokla, kadhi, khichdi with ghee were disappointing.

Vatan offers a vegetarian Gujarati Thali which is completely different from your run of the mill Indian fare (usually north Indian cuisine). Although they don't offer any meat, I guarantee you, you won't miss it. The ambiance is nice as well. Family and kid friendly. Good for groups. (they can even accommodate large (~30) groups as well).

We just ran across this restaurant while searching the internet and it turned out to be a nice experience. The ambience is great! And the bathrooms are amazingly nice (this is a rarity for an Indian restaurant). The food was AMPLE! The waitress kept coming and asking if we wanted anything more and we couldn't imagine anyone wanting seconds. The appetizers were our favorite as there was a lot of variety and they were tasty. The main entree did have canned mango pulp (which was disappointing) and the vegetables were made punjabi style (chole, palak/paneer etc). The traditional gujarati style vegetables would have gone much better with the ambience and menu and the style of the restaurant. Wonder why they didn't serve that. The dal, rice, khitchadi, kadhi, etc were very good. And so were the dessert and tea! We would go back.

The food was amazing! Service impeccable and ambiance so peaceful. My only regret is I scarfed down a Magnolia Cupcake before dinner so I couldn't eat everything. We will be back!

A very unique restaurant serving Gujarati Indian food. The food is delicious. And make sure you come with an empty stomach--you are going to need all the room you can spare.

Recommended by a friend as a must-visit for NYC, we were not disappointed! Although we hadn't booked and arrived late, there was no problem with being shown to a table. Although you can order individual dishes if you want, the idea is that you go for the fixed price 'all you can eat buffet' menu. This is a great way of trying different and new indian dishes - many I'd never heard of. The dishes just keep coming, and you are asked several times if you want a top up of a particular item. The interior is completely unique too! someone called it 'Epcot meets India' and that's not far off, it's great fun! The staff all wear traditional Indian dress and are completely wonderful. All the dishes we had were vegetarian. A great recommendation and it makes a change to eat something different whilst in NYC!

I’ve walked by this place a number of times and always wondered what was inside. It’s a vegetarian Indian restaurant that offers a $34 prefix menu which is all you can eat. Portions are very small but you can order as many as you want. Some of the food looks freshly prepared, while others looks like it’s been sitting around for a day or two. Food is kind of bland with very little color which Indian cuisine is known for!Much better choices for cheaper in the area. Also this restaurant is located in the back of an old building so there’s no windows and it’s kind of dark inside with murals on the wall. It accepts credit card. Two bathrooms available, no elevator.

IF you like Vegan food then this is a place for you. They have an all you can eat plan that gives you so much carbs that you feel stuffed to the gills. Some of the pickles and chilis are HOT Hot Hot so be careful. THey do have beer but if you are a meat eater this is not your cup of tea. People we were with loved it however and it was decent enough but make sure that you have reservations.

This used to be a unique Indian regional restaurant. The added attraction was the ambiance. Well now it is just a jaded old place with food that is boring and unchanging from month to month. The menu never changes and a lot of short cuts are used in the food preparation. It would probably fly with people unaccustomed to good Indian cuisine. New York has so much better to offer for far less. The service also has drastically deteriorated. We commented that one of the dishes was too salty and were told by our server that 'she had tasted it and it was ok". My sister wanted plain tea instead of tea with cardamom and we were told they cannot do that because the tea was pre made!!. Customer service is apparently non existent for the 18% one is forced into paying for a party of 2. Give this place a miss and try one of the nicer joints in little India on Lexington between 25th and 28th sts.

This is a must if you are visiting NYC and you like Indian food. Loved the ambiance and the food. One of the best tasting Gujarati food I have had in the US.

“Not so Great” We had the regular menu(PRIX FIXE MENU – $34 ALL YOU CAN EAT) most of the stuff is part is Potato Feeling then sev puri is some what dhal puri. Samosa is plan potato feeling, batatavada is same potato not flavor at all toor dal was very sweet(very weird)kheer didn’t had dry fruits just Cinnamon powder no top,khichadi was not good at all. Sweet dish I I had the masala tea(some what good)gulab jamun was too too sweet. The ful-gobi,chana masala was good

Had dinner yesterday with a group of 8 other friends. There is an unlimited all you can eat thali or plate option where all of us ran into serious problems of restraint and saying no even when the stomach was full. We are a multi national bunch was this is an achievement. There is a wide variety and you can ask whatever you want more of. They also have the option of adjusting spice levels which is unique. Great experience.

I've been to Vatan a few times and have not been disappointed! Definitely one of the best Indian restaurants in the city - the prix-fixe menu is outstanding and offers such a sumptuous array of dishes that you don't know where to start! Ambiance is great - simple, authentic decor with plenty of room for large groups both on the main floor adn downstairs. Highly recommend!!!

Here are the good things: 1) great food, very tasty and the best Gujarati food I have ever had. 2) pure vegetarian so good for Brahmins as there is no probable dilution of meat. 3) great ambience, the most related to desh amongst the ones I have travelled 4) you have to leave your footwear though I wish they enforced it on everyone. 5) the waitresses are very courteous and nice. Negative things: 1) very expensive. 2) gratuity for 4 or more We were two couples and since gratuity is included (for parties of 4 or more ( weird as it usually is 6 or more)) the total comes to about 160 for 4 of us without any extra beverages but just the thali dinner. 3) they missed giving me everything I asked for such as one extra bhajji. Also pulav mentioned in menu was not there. 4) Desi moms who think their wild kids are yuvarajas so they can roam with shoes on anywhere can be seen. One kid was jumping on the seat the mom was only happier. Best ways to maximize your food for money: 1) In appetizers save the Alu stuff such as bonda for the last. They will fill you for main course otherwise. 2) eat plenty of fried garlic that they give you ( ask for it early ). Unless you have any madi issues eat them throughout the meal. You can eat more and well digest them as well. Those garlic pieces are awesome!!! 3) after finishing the meal ask for those you like most again.

They claim to serve 'gujarathi food' and that is not true. There is nothing there that can substantiate that claim. They will fill you up with bad appetizers. Don't eat all of the appetizers because there will be no room for the meal. Doesn't matter because it is mediocre anyway. And they give you an ice cream for dessert? What a joke. Ice cream for dessert in an Indian restaurant? Are you kidding me or is this highway robbery. I am never going back again.

If you like traditional Gujarathi food this place cannot be beat. The pre-fixe menu makes it easy, since you don't have to pick from a bunch of options. All of the dishes were very well made and tasty. Portions were just right across all of the courses. Ambience is unique and interesting. We had a couple of people in our group that wanted dishes made without garlic and they were very accommodating. Our waitress was excellent - attentive without being fawning. Refills were made available upon request but not pushed on us. Portions were just right. At the end, because we were a group of five they added gratuity to the bill. However, we did not notice that and added a generous tip. When I discovered the mistake the next day (when filing my expenses) and called them, the manager,Mahesh,said that they assumed we had made a mistake and deducted our tip from the charge! Very thoughtful and considerate of him. Will definitely be visiting again, especially since our son now lives in the same block.

The decorum of the restaurant was very unique & very exotic! The service was great & the food was delicious! I enjoyed tasting the various vegetarian dishes in a nice setting with my family & friends!

The décor inside which tries to recreate Indian village is tacky, looks artificial and half hearted. For $34 all you can eat, food is not that great, variety given is not that wide. Quantities served are not big, you have to ask for more and wait. They serve Gujarati style food, at about one third of price you can have same tasting or better tasting Gujarati food elsewhere.

A very nice restaurant conveniently located on 3rd Ave. Superb food (great assortment) with great service.

Been to this place one night for Dinner when we were in New York recently, friend recommended to us, taste of the food is very good, lots of variety of dishes, although its thali style you have to tell staff to get you a item as and when you want, its not a self service, atmosphere is very good and very well India style decorated place. We found it little bit on expensive side but it's worth it if you are Gujarati food lover and has a good appetite.

Lovely concept. One menu Unlimited everything. For everyone. No decisions to make!! Start with sampler portion and reorder what you loved best. Downside - I had to waste ~15% of the food

A very different type of all you can eat. Not a Buffett . Excellent assortment of western Indian dishes brought to you. Ask and you will get as much as you can eat.highly recommended gor families. Individual cubicles add to privacy and comfort. Uniformed waitresses in Indian costumes add authenticity to the dining atmodphere

My husband and I love this restaurant for it quirkiness - it looks like an Indian village square inside and you take your shoes off to sit at low tables around a large tree on the ground floor. It's great to go to with a group of friends. Set priced menu with table service. Beautifully presented food and you are welcome to re-order more of anything that you would like. Very friendly informative waiting staff. My only criticism is that the food never changes and so we don't go there very often as we like some variety.

We are regulars here at Vatan. It is the best Gujrati Thali in New York City and probably the East coast. When I lived in D.C. I would travel all the way to go to Vatan for their delicious unlimited thali. LOVE this place!

Visited here for a family reunion (17 of us). We were lucky to find street parking right in front of the restaurant. The restaurant has a beautiful decor and setup. The person at the reception was very welcoming and provided temporary seating till all parties arrived. We were seated on the second floor. The place looks awesome. Everything looks and feels very authentic. The dinner was 3 course (Appetizers, main course and dessert). Appetizers comes in a thali with 4-5 items (can't recollect all items but it included Dhali batts puri, dhokla, batts vada, samosa etc.) You have a wide variety of drinks to choose from ( they do serve alcohol ). Main course you can customize your spice level (mild, medium or spicy). They have puri, multiple subji and curries, kichadi, rice and kadi. For Desserts they served ice-cream which tasted different from the usual Indian Icrecream ( my kids did not like it much ). I was expecting some indian desserts. Finally they served masala tea which was great. Unlimited serving is available but with so many courses who really don't have any chance of getting second servings. So go here for the variety of food not for the second servings. The best part I felt were the clean restrooms. By far the cleanest restrooms i have ever noticed in any India Restaurant. Service was great and the people serving were very friendly and kind of knew what the kids would like etc. Overall I would recommend trying this place at least once. It would have been great if the price was in the 25$ range instead of the 32$ range. Would have made it more affordable for large groups.

Great food and vibe. I was stuffed afterwards, lots of variety. Sweet, hot, spicy dishes. Best lassy I've had in quite some time.

Food is good, but service is poor. While they claim to be as much as you can eat, but they don’t entertain if you ask for more. My son asked for a full tray of appetizers and the server made her displeasure apparent. Stay away of you want good service. 18% mandatory gratuity charged even if we were unhappy with service.

We have been going to Vatan at least 2-3 times a year for the past 10+ years. Here is what we love about it: 1. Food: this is not your typical Indian restaurant. The cuisine is Gujarati and is a specialty you wont find in all Indian restaurants.It is home-style and absolutely delicious 2. Prix-fixe with loads of options for special meals: This is the only place with a prix-fixe menu that I know that has so many options: vegan, gluten free, nut free, Jain, etc etc. Make sure you talk to the waitstaff to ask for explanations - they are very knowledgeable and helpful. They also ask you if you are a first timer so they can explain as needed. 3. Spice preference: Post appetizers, they take a mild/medium/spicy preference into account 4. Seating: You can opt to sit crisscross with your shoes off, or at a regular table. Just make sure you tell them your preference when you reserve. 5. Unlimited food: if you especially like a few of the many many options, you can order them again and again - till you are satiated. 6. Clean restrooms: No need for an explanation here! 7. Pricing: For the experience, I dont think this is pricey at $34 per person - especially when compared to the comparable experiences in other cuisines, where a similar meal in NYC is sure to cost $50-75 per person.

This is an all you can eat restaurant and I can eat a lot of Indian food. I used to sit upstairs on the pillows, but opted for the thatched booth type tables for my last visit just for comfort. Everything on the menu is a triumph to the taste senses, from the Samosas to the Kadhi. The service is wonderful as well. At $32 per person, this is one of the best deals in the city. Oh, and don't forget to wash the food down with a Mango Lassi.

Great ambience, great food, great customer service.... Probably one of the best option in Manhattan for pure traditional Indian vegetarian food. Good job guys, keep it up..!

The food was like home-made. The menu was very ordinary. Definitely not worth the money.You can make this kind of food at home. Don't need to spend that kind of money.

We ate here while on a short trip to NYC. This was one of the best Indian restaurants I've been to outside India. The fixed menu made it easy, and the food was great. The atmosphere was unique and authentic (I think). A bit spendy, but this is New York.

Great food. If you are looking for pure vegetarian indian place this is the place. Very good Gujarat food. Relaxing and relaxing ambience. Service is great. Convenient location for parking and just 1 mile from downtown.

Visited this placed with family and guest based on the a friend's recommendations. Service was bad and so was the preparation as if the whole stuff was already prepared and kept and not even warm. Had to keep reminding the staff for order.Wish had to gone to some other restaurant and ordered a la carte.

The food here is just as amazing as the atmosphere. The seats are extremely comfortable, the place looks amazingly homy, and the bathrooms don't even have paper for your hands; they have clean towels ready to go. The staff is extremely friendly. Just make sure to have room because they offer a lot of food, and it's so delicious you will want to eat it all. It's a very filling and fulfilling experience.

Outstanding Indian cuisine with great service. This restaurant utilizes the concept of 'thali'. Fairly common concept to people of South Asian descent. if you are looking for that true authentic experience this place should be high on your list. The restaurant is true to its name, with the plate settings to the ambience every part of it reminds you of home. Definitely will be going back for that true homemade taste. Worth every penny.

Vatan offers am all you can eat three platter experience which presents a plate of mixed appetizers gfollwoed by a plate of mixed entrees - all vegetarian. There is certainly enough to eat despite the fact that most entrees are served in the small tin cups normally found in Indian restaurants at the buffet line. Service was very good and the experience somewhat unique but I preferred a more traditional Indian restaurant experience and there are many good such vegetarian restaurants in NY along Lexington Avenue. The setting and the seating is somewhat odd. The restaurant looks like a courtyard - it brought to mind the Spanish Courtyard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - but most seating requires at least one in your party to take off their shoes and put their legs under a low table because they have purposely blocked the entry to the seating. They did have one booth where our party which included someone with a cane and mobility issues to sit comfortably. !

The Restaurant's look and feel is very Indian/indian village kinds with the idols of Indian god. The ambience is good and the food menu is generally fixed. We ordered some drinks aside from the menu. The food was not that great and plus it was way expensive. You could find much better vegetarian food somehwere else at a better price. If you can, avoid it.

This is only second time in last few years .. this place scared us away because of inordinate wait times and sometimes they refuse seats because of popularity/ reservations.. But wait is worth it.. ambience, food and service is premium.. Starters can be little spicy but you can have spice level of your choice in main course. Desserts are all home made - very delicious.. This is place even pickiest kids would eat .. You can easily spend an hour for food and leave $150 lighter.. But then hey - you will still love it.. just the way we did..

We stumbled upon this restaurant while searching for a Thai restaurant but it turned out to be a great find in the end. The food was authentic Gujarati vegetarian fare - three courses - appetizers, entries and desserts. We could reorder any amount of those three parts. The food, service and ambience were excellent. The interior reminded me of eating out in an Indian village. The dishes tasted excellent and we were explained about each of the dishes served by the waiter patiently. Definitely a must go for all Indian Vegetarian food lovers. Just remember to go there with an open mind, empty stomach and a big wallet. The dinner costed us around $50 per person but it was worth the cost and experience ;-)

Friends brought us to a stab when we arrived in New York and it didn’t disappoint. Prix Fixe menu (34$) offered a fabulous range of appetisers and mains served in small helpings. You are allowed refills of anything you want and spice level of the mains is adapted to your chosen spice level. Great food, lovely setting.

Vatan Indian Restaurant, located at 409 3rd Ave in Manhattan, offers an exceptional dining experience for those seeking authentic Gujarati cuisine. The restaurant’s ambiance is designed to resemble a traditional Indian village, complete with a 20-foot tall banyan tree and hand-painted tables, providing a unique and immersive atmosphere.  The prix fixe thali menu is a highlight, featuring a variety of vegetarian dishes that showcase the rich flavors of Gujarat. Diners can enjoy an array of appetizers, such as chana masala and sev puri, followed by main courses including toor dal and ful-cobi, all served in an all-you-can-eat format.  The service at Vatan is attentive and courteous, with staff dressed in traditional Indian attire, enhancing the cultural experience. In particular, Navya’s warm hospitality and knowledge of the menu contributed significantly to a memorable dining experience. For those interested in exploring Vatan’s offerings further, here’s a video review that provides an in-depth look at the restaurant:

Being a fan of Indian food is too common these days. When looking for a spot to entertain business guests from India, who want the taste of authentic indian food with great indian hospitality, there's no other place in NewYork other than Vatan !!

the overall ambience was good, food was OK. It takes forever for refills and even before dessert was served the owner comes and says "Would you pls leave as soon as you are done??" this was the first in 20 years!!!! this is enough reason never to go back

All vegetarian affair! Excellent quality All you can eat "Thali", Gujrai cuisine. Three course meal, starts with Appetiser Thali, followed by Main course , Desert and Masala Chai. Pleasant surrounding, open and spacious seating.

My wife and I were In NYC last week and her friend had recommended this restaurant highly. Being Gujarati and vegetarian it appealed to us and so we went. It's open only in the evenings for 4 hours and so we made a reservation. Got a text to remind us of our booking too ! Walking in we were greeted by two young men dressed in silk tunics. They checked our booking and one of them escorted us to our table. We were handed menus and I found that there was hardly any light to allow my retina to read the items on the menu. I asked to be seated where there was more light and was told that all those tables were booked and soon would be filled up so " sorry....can't help you..Go upstairs if you like.." We decided to stay put. Selections were made and Meenakshi, who gave good quick service, explained what some of the menu items and food started to show up. Gujarati appetizers. Looked good, chutneys. No raita, no papads. The menu was whisked away so fast there was no time to really glance through it to see what our choices really were. The appetizers included cocktail samosas and muthias a few small pieces that appeared to be out of frozen packets being sold by Deep Foods. But the batata vadas and dhokla were good. Chana was cold and I was told that its the way its supposed to be eaten ! Lot of education at this restaurant even for those who are born Gujaratis. Soon the main thali arrived and as we savored some of the items and were checking them out, bowls of Kadhi, pulao and khichdi were brought and kept on the side. By the time we ate the decent quality of the thali including pooris and vegetables, the kadhi and khichdi went cold. Some the thali items were also luke warm. So Meenakshi had them heated up again. Khichdi was outstanding and kadhi was good. There was PLENTY of food and more was brought out. For desert there was malai kulfi and gulab jamuns that were delicious. Re[eat rounds were offered. We enjoyed the experience though we felt rushed. Some of the tables that were refused to us were still vacant. But we were happy that we could find this restaurant in New York City and enjoy the food there. Would recommend it for at least one visit.

Casual ethnic atmosphere. Price fixed meal served at your table approx. $30 a person. Unlimited quantities of food you can ask for refills again and again. Seriously IC you're eating dinner here come empty stomached and devour the cuisine multiple times. Only downside is a conversation with the waitress revealed almost nothing is cooked on the premises but simply procured and re heated - a huge setback. They never rushed us. Awesome samosas minis, poori, potatoes, cauliflower curry. Rice is very enjoyable and well cooked. Do not visit in a rush and stay to enjoy everything offered on the menu.

I am an avid non-vegetarian, but when it comes to Vatan, I am all for it. They have nice ambience, the food is amazing, and they serve your food without having to order anything makes life easier. The only downside is the price. There are other great places where my wife and I can eat for under $50.

The food here is ok. There is nothing extraordinary about it. I do remember eating from the mixed plate and thinking that the food was particularly dry tasting. The waitress was also very eager to turn the table over, so it was very much and in and out experience. From my recollection, I don’t think they serve alcohol either.

The food had no taste, flavor just went missing. We asked for extra spicy (hot - what they call it ), it seemed like red pepper was simply sprinkled over the food. The service is very slow, we asked for a refill for dahi-papdi chat in appetizer ,and we were offered only 1 extra puri. The waitress never gave us the choice for roti(baked bread) vs puri(fried),

One of our friends recommended this restaurant. It has a nice ambience, Bollywood music, interesting coding seats, and great food. They will serve food in three courses with lot of options. However, I’m giving four stars because none of us was able to complete the food. I felt lot of food was wasted, otherwise it’s good to visit at least once.

They have a set price menu for $34 per person which is all you can eat but it is not a buffet. It includes an array of appetizers main dishes and dessert that they bring to you. Think of it as a Indian Tapas restaurant. Everything is quite delicious and uniquely prepared. Be prepared to be very full when you walk out the door!!

Inviting in appearance. Apparently clean and neat. Appetizers, a nearly full plate, came in after a considerable wait. Samosa was generic factory food fried and served in house. Plate itself was humongous, leaving it look half full. The main course had mango full, freshly poured out of a can! Bread was a fixed puri, a flat fried bread and they could not and certainly would not offer any alternatives, none in place of fried bread!

A prix fix vegetarian menu that takes you on an Indian palate adventure. Our service asked immediately if there were any dietary health restrictions, I.e., allergies, veganism, etc. Nice to know that a restaurant is so conscientious. Individual platter trays of appetizers come out, preparing you for the journey. It gets better. FYI, as much as I like spicy, medium was intense enough for me.

My business colleague and I recently visited Vatan for dinner. I liked the decor of this place. However we had a few awful experiences during the dinner. - for the main course, the server brought different things in mine and my colleague's plates ("thaali"). When asked, the server said we can exchange food from each other's plate ! We had an all-you-can-eat dinner and we felt very uncomfortable with such senseless comment and approach to dining for their guests. - when it came to dessert, my colleague who is american wasn't sure what to order because of his unfamiliarity with options. The server told him to pick one of the 2 dessert items. This was all you can eat dinner and a right guest experience would be to try out both desserts. When we asked to bring both, server said that she would bring "just a little bit" of both ! - The main course was just warm and it was clear that the curries were not made fresh. I am from Gujarat region (the cuisine of this place), and their food didn't meet the bar on taste - finally, regarding the food quality - given the cheap tactics used by servers, we left wondering what kind of cheap tactics would be used in the preparation of the food We felt fooled by the decor and (indian vegetarian) speciality of this place but our experience has made us to believe that this restaurant uses cheap tactics in every thing and it is best to avoid their food. Needless to say, I will never visit here even if they offer it for free.

Had heard a lot about this place and called them on a recent trip to NYC. The place opens for dinner at 5 PM so we called them at that time while driving to make a reservation for 5:20 PM. Called them again to confirm the reservation and when they asked how far we were, we told them our location in NYC. When we got there they said they didn't have our reservation. Turns out the phone number we had called was for their New Jersey location. They said they have no tables available but the whole place was empty. After much pleading they gave us a table in the basement but said we have to be done by 6:30 PM. That gave us just about an hour to eat. The place is interestingly decorated but the basement felt like a dungeon. We were the only people who were seated there but later a loud party of 4 appeared who seemed drunk and were talking way too loudly. Even after we complained to the head server the decibel level was still high. The food is thali style where you get a variety of things and they said it is unlimited but you really can't eat much of that stuff. Bit pricey for the little portions they serve. Seemed more like a tasting menu. At $39 per person and 20% gratuity included it came to over $50 with taxes per person. Don't mind paying more for good food but this place had unappetizing Gujarati food. In fact the next day when we went to Vraj temple in central PA we got "free" lunch for devotees which was similar cuisine yet way more delicious. The sad part is that now I would avoid Gujarati restaurants all together after this insipid experience.

A vegetarian Gujarati restaurant. Well it’s an experience. The food is great and service is awesome. It’s three course set meal with multiple appetiser, followed by main course and desserts. It’s all you can eat restaurant. Recommended for experience with great decor.

This restaurant is cuisine from Gujarat, western state of India. They must have spent huge sum in decorations/ambience so great for celebration. sittings are on three levels, designed for big family dinners. We were 12 people this time around and it's a fixed price unlimited food with three course dinner. You gets 8 appetizers and you can select what is second or third helpings you want. 8 or so items for dinner with two types of bread and couple of desserts. Food is not extremely spicy so this place is good for non- Indian as well. I highly recommend to those who wouldn't have explored vegetarian cuisine otherwise-- it's a very balanced meal. Food here tastes like home cooked rather than a greasy, heavy restaurant food like most other restaurants serves. It's $34 per person so it's not cheap but variety you will get to try and because you want to keep eating more food, it's justifies the price.

I used to dine here every now and then when I lived in the NYC area. Now that I live in LA, I have missed the food, ambience, and service at Vatan. On a family vacation to NYC, I was able to bring my family here. My kids were so impressed by the variety of foods they were able to sample here, and my palate was in food heaven. It's $32 for adults. My son was charged 1/2 the price, but for the regular meal (not a kids meal). My daughter was not charged at all as she's quite young. I felt like I was sitting in a restaurant I used to go to in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, called Vishala. Similar to that, here at Vatan, I felt like I was transported to a village in India, sitting cross-legged, under a banyan tree, eating whatever my hosts offered me that evening for dinner. Amazing dining experience, and I strongly recommend it!!!

I still rate this 4 star, however they should stop pretending they offer unlimited food. Not that you want to eat more than the three courses they offer, however they make sure that you don't even get a chance to order second serving of that one item u liked the most! Consequently, service is not that great. Our pretty waitress did not even place water jug on the table! All in all, go here for great 3 course expensive meal!

To be qualified as a well run Indian restaurant, you need three basic things: A) Right amount of Indian spices - ✓ B) Indian ambience - ✓ C) Happy staff looking after you - ✓ Vatan checks all of them in my opinion! Food is quite frankly very delicious, and as I said, just the right amount of right spices can do magic when it comes to Indian food, Vatan doesn't disappoints their! It's a well maintained veggie restaurant which is about to become my goto place whenever I'm in NYC.

We, a party of 2, had a reservation at 6:30 pm on Saturday. We were seated in western style seats. They also have seats where you seat cross-legged. We chose two prix fixe menu. I also had two beers. The food comes on a huge thali and after you finish food , you can ask for second helpings of the dishes you liked. A great idea. An interesting place to go go for vegetarian food. The decor inside is also quite interesting and not ordinary. There s a huge tree in middle of the restaurant. The check for two with tax and tip was $105.00.

Family outing in Manhattan and we decided to try Vatan after reading many yelp reviews about restaurants near by. It was about 6-7 blocks away from our hotel so it was a quick walk there and back. We called in advance to make sure they can accommodate 12 people and they took our reservation. We are so happy that we chose Vatan. The decor and service were outstanding. We were greeted warmly and they took our strollers out of our way and took us to the upstairs seating area. We were given an explanation of the buffet system by our server and then they took our appetizer choices. To make a long story short we had one of the best meals ever at a restaurant. The food was brought out in rounds and every single item they had was authentic and delicious. We were able to pick and chose what items we wanted again before the next course was offered. I love this place and will let anyone I know heading in to NY city to give it a try. It is not cheap but hey you get what you pay for many times and this place was worth the money for us. KUDOS!

When we were in Manhattan, there were so many options for Indian food around but what actually separated this restaurant from others was its Gujarati food- Thali style. ATMOSPHERE- Many restaurants have good service, ambiance and food but this restaurant has a unique Gujarati village ambiance with comfortable sitting style and the beautiful wall paintings all around. SERVICE- The waitress were wearing their traditional Indian attire and were very welcoming and polite. Their service was very good. They kept a check on your needs and were very prompt. FOOD- They have a prefixed menu for all which has many varieties. It starts with welcome drink and ends with dessert and tea/coffee. Their starter itself has 9-10 varieties. Overall, food was yummy!! TIPS- Do visit this restaurant when you are really hungry!!!LOL!!, If you just want a single dish and want to eat less then do not go as you wont be able to relish the food. Also, they charge 32$ per person so decide accordingly.

One of the most authentic and amazing vegetarian place to eat. If you are a foodie and loves to eat indian food , this is a right place to visit. Entire menu is a delicacy on its own.

I'm not a vegetarian. but I don't miss meat one bit when I eat here. There are so many different flavors and textures that your palette is kept very busy. I love the "no decisions" format where you get everything in small portions and then, if you fancy anything a lot, you can always ask for more. The first course of "appetizers", you have no option for selecting spice levels and be careful, a bit of it is spicy. For the second/main course, you can choose mild, medium, spicy - if you are at all skittish about spices, I would advise sticking with mild. The rice and yogurt sauce are such a comforting combo to balance out the flavors. My only complains would be the tables are very varied, some require awkward sitting on the floor-type of seating, and others are more traditional booths and tables. And the service is warm if prefunctory. Overall, I always enjoy it when I dine there - and recommend anyone, especially vegetarians, to try it at least once!

I recently posted a review stating facts about the place and they replied to my review but all lies! Unfortunately Google does not allow us to reply back. They do mention that they offer unlimited desserts but they actually don’t. If you’ll ask them for 2nd or 3rd time they’ll say we ran out of it. And there’s a big difference in requesting someone to squeeze themselves to sit 10 on a small table and the manager coming and sitting next to you like a fool. They should hire someone with ethics! Absolutely pathetic behavior and that too from the manager.

This is a Gujarati style Indian cuisine restaurant. The interior décor is different with picture painted walls, a mock well to draw water and tables in a rural cabin style. Pleasing to the eye. Service was good and waiters were efficient and helpful, offering suggestion in spice levels and such. Food was tasty and delivered without delay. Overall it was nice experience and will definitely go back.

My wife and I were In NYC last week and her friend had recommended this restaurant highly. Being Gujarati and vegetarian it appealed to us and so we went. It's only open in the evenings for 4 hours and so we made a reservation. Got a text to remind us of our booking too ! Walking in we were greeted by two young men dressed in silk tunics. They checked our booking and one of them escorted us to our table. We were handed menus and I found that there was hardly any light to allow my retina to read the items on the menu. It was dark all around. I asked to be seated where there was more light and was told that all those tables were booked and soon would be filled up so " sorry....can't help you..Go upstairs if you like.." . We decided to stay where we were. Selections were made and the server, who gave good quick service, explained what some of the menu items were and food started to show up. Gujarati appetizers. Looked good, chutneys. No pickles, no papads. The menu was taken away so fast there was no time to really glance through it to see what our choices really were. The appetizers included cocktail samosas and muthias a few small pieces that appeared to be out of frozen packets. But the batata vadas and dhokla were good. Chana was cold and I was told that its the way its supposed to be eaten ! Lot of education at this restaurant even for those who are born Gujaratis. Soon the main thali arrived and as we savored some of the items and were checking them out, bowls of Kadhi, pulao and khichdi were brought and kept on the side. By the time we ate the decent quality of the thali including pooris and vegetables, the kadhi and khichdi went cold. Some the thali items were also luke warm. So the server had them heated up again. Khichdi was outstanding and kadhi was good. There was PLENTY of food. For desert there was malai kulfi and gulab jamuns that were delicious. Repeat rounds were offered. We enjoyed the experience though we felt rushed.Since its open only 4 hours they like to have a quick turnover of customers I guess, Some of the tables that were refused to us were still vacant. But we were happy that we could find this restaurant in New York City and enjoy the food there. Would recommend it for one visit.

This restaurant appears to be family run and offers vegetarian fare, as much as one can eat! With three distinct and filling courses I doubt many patrons ask for more, but it's there if you want it. Staff attentive and knowledgable. Owner had been here for over 20 years, which says something for custom and the food! If you like Indian, worth a visit but don't eat much on the day before you go or you will be disappointed!!

Great vegetarian food.. Although there is only one option to choose - fixed price thali, it's more than any one can ask for in a meal. The dessert served was one of the bestest I have ever had. The restaurant is open only after 5 pm. Little overpriced(34$ a meal) but a place worth trying if you are planning a dinner for special occasion.

Had been to NY and wanted to eat something unique from the all kinds of food. Not knowing about this place but after checking on the Google we saw some good review. On entering the place looks as we are in one of the best place with lots of Indian touch. We are told to remove our shoes before sitting on the seats. The food was 3 course meals and served with great style and smiling face from the server dressed in pure Gujarati style. My family never had this kind of service and food in the last 10 years of our stay in US. The food was very very delicious, served hot with spice level as per our taste and had lots of variety. Will recommend and will surely visit again.

Food no doubt is good and tasty. Gives you small portion of everything and you can ask more that way it's less wastage. Now Service quality isn't that good and that's why 3 star. It felt like they want me to finish the food and move rather than enjoying. Went there twice different server both time but service was same. Was asked 3 times for desert when I told then after first time I will let you know. You ask to change the seat and standard answer is 'it's reserved', I had reservations as well but not sure what is their logic. Gratuity is added 20% w/o any choice, that felt little pushy. And this is restaurant , server should at-least take shower, one of the server was smelling bad. Recommend to go again (I went twice in same trip) but will clear my intention that "I WILL CALL YOU WHEN I NEED SOMETHING SO STOP BUGGING ME"

Love it As a meat eater I didn’t think I would enjoy a all vegetarian restaurant, WRONG It was tasty and fun and a real educational experience Very good value and lots of choice for people with dairy or gluten issues Enjoy

upon entering you are taken to a replication of an outdoor plaza for a truly unique dining experience. there is no menu. the only decision we needed to make was mild, medium or spicy. it was absolutely delicious. even the kids loved it. we will be back many times.

If you are looking for a somewhat different dining experience you may want to try this place. Vatan is an Indian Veg restaurant with a Prix Fixe menu. This food was good, but I’m definitely not an expert with this cuisine so others may have a different view. However, I can summarize my observations on the following: Decor / Vibe - We sat upstairs which had a limited amount of seating. The main seating area is on the main floor and has tables for larger groups. I believe there is a lower / basement level seating too. There are no windows and once you enter you feel nowhere near NYC. How it works - There are three courses each consisting of multiple small plates. Once you are done, they ask you if you want any more before moving on to the next course. Drinks are not included in the price. Take your time and enjoy the opportunity to try many different dishes. Service - our server was excellent. He explained how things worked and provided insight on the food. Price / Value - While the price on Tripadvisor is $32 , the price keeps on rising. Older posts mention $34 but the price as of July 2022 is $45. Add tax and the 20% gratuity you are at $60 per person. Our server was very clear about this approach. The credit card slip also indicated in Red ink that the service charge / gratuity was already included. In summary, this is a fun place if you are up for Indian Veg food.

A pure vegetarian Indian restaurant off the third avenue in Manhattan, it serves a fixed menu to all patrons. The food, service and the ambiance is excellent, and the food is as authentic as it can get in New York. The patrons mostly seemed Indian though. The place is worth a visit and it costs about $40 (incl Tax+Tips) for a meal. However it is unlimited food for this price.

On my first trip I struggled to find decent vegetarian food instead I paid over the odds for below average food targeted at tourists, on this trip I did my research and it paid off. Vartan is great value at $34 pp all you can eat buffet, the deco of the restaurant is great, fast and efficient. They suffered great warm starters, main thali and chai with sweet to end the experience. The food was Gujarati style pure vegetarian, definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful ambiance, great service, very good food! This is the first time I got to experience real thali system here in the US. I experienced this system in India a lot but in the US, usually the thali means limited quantity and not unlimited refills. At Vatan, they really give you unlimited refills, which was a nice change for me. Do not expect to come here for a quick bite. They want you to enjoy the company, enjoy the ambiance and most importantly enjoy the food so, you will end up spending at least 1.5-2 hours. Menu was pre-fixed but with many options, I am sure you won't complain. It is pure vegetarian so please bear that in mind. I would highly recommend to get reservations ahead of time as it used to be booked all the time pre-pandemic and it is trending that way again. The staff is very accommodating and Jay, I am assuming the manager, was very nice and helpful. Will definitely visit again in my next NY trip.

What a delightful and enchanting venue serving very simple and yet delicious Indian vegetarian food in traditional manner - in a thali. The menu is fixed but gives you the opportunity to taste an array of Indian vegetarian dishes. And all for $31 per person and you can eat as much as you like - starter, main course and afters. Fantastic. But that is not all. The atmosphere inside makes you feel as if you have arrived at a traditional, authentic village restaurant. Service is personal, polite, courteous and yet unobtrusive. I would recommend it highly. Go and enjoy the whole experience.

We had eaten at this place a few times and enjoyed it several years ago. Last night we chose to bring our friends to come to Vatan on our recommendation. But it was a total nightmare!! Most disappointing service- almost the worst/ most rude server one can imagine - and the quality of the food had deteriorated markedly from our earlier visits of years ago. Food was more than plentiful, and the first two courses were okay but totally average; but the dessert course was particularly poor and almost non-existent. I couldn’t understand- why offer a separate course for dessert when it is so extremely poor and substandard. A dollop of cheap Mango Ice-cream and a tiny cup of Masala Tea which stank of Thermos Flask staleness. Overall, Dishes were not very well made at all except for the fluffy fried Poori breads and the rice pudding. We remembered that they used to serve Aam Ras. The server answered: you should have asked for it with the dinner!! How can we know we have to specially ask for it when everything else is fixed and served automatically. She brought 3 tiny bowls for 6 people, and it was from a can! Since alcoholic drinks are on menu now, one guest asked about the specific kind of a particular wine on menu! The Server: “I don’t drink- so I don’t know”. One person, on arrival of the first course - picked up a condiment from a plate of other sauces! The server snubbed the guest and said: “put it back” as she was going to explain which sauce was what!! It was hugely embarrassing to be snubbed for just picking up something because the lady had not done her explaining. Her entire attitude towards us seemed to be - I am giving you food - be thankful for that. If you want to spare yourself of bad food then just take the first two courses and run like a missile!! When we asked for separate bills for our group of six, the server created so much fuss. In NYC many people go to eat together but choose to pay separately. And getting even a single proper receipt other than the credit card receipts, was like pulling teeth. We were charged 18% service charge for the most atrocious service!! We will NEVER RETURN to Vatan nor would we send any of our family & friends!! Bye Bye Vatan

We liked the ambience and food but the service was poor and bowls in which food is served were too tiny. Portion size of food served is small. It would hold just 3 teaspoons of vegetables. I understand it was unlimited food but one had to keep asking for more which many people don’t find it comfortable asking more than 2 times. After appetizers we had to wait for 10 minutes for main course. When dessert was served they gave one tiny gulab jamun, other Indian restaurants serve at least 2. The ice cream scoops were smallest in size. So they are ready to bring more but you have to ask and ask and ask. We couldn’t enjoy our food because we had to ask and wait for food.

Waited 10 years to finally go to this place on one of my US biz trips from UK. First time I went 10 years ago it was closed (9.30). Anyway food was authentic and just like home. Venue was positively unusual in a hall like setting so it doesn't feel crowded. Great staff - she did miss a few refills for some of my party but that's minor. Look forward to going back!

amazing decor and ambience. The food was excellent. They serve a fixed preset menu which is served course by course. Too much food for 1 person to eat. The khichdi kadi was mouthwatering.

During dinner you get only a fixed menu of Gujarthi vegetarian items. You should be prepared to remove your shoes to get seated. We are briefed about these at the front desk itself. The food is very serious. We were almost full after the appetizers. Main course continues to be delicious. The choice is given for medium and less spicy dishes as per individual taste. A small scoop of ice cream and a small cup of tea at the end was great!

The Best place to have 3 course Thali meal at Manhattan, New York, food was really delicious and quality is excellent 👌, even quantity wise. Must try whenever you are in New York

Perfect place to enjoy Gujrati home style food. The devote andante cd is in an ideal location in busy manhatten location. The decore is superb. Just loved it. We have been here with family and friends on several occasions.

This restaurant is unique in that it serves only vegetarian dishes, one would not realize this because the dishes are so delectable. It has a very cozy atmosphere and a definite visit for your out-of-town guests.

This place is open only for dinner. (They do so well that they do not need lunch business) This is one of rare places in America where you can even take your parents for authentic indian food. (how many Indians actually eat Naan bread and chicken tkka masala at home!!) Reservations are strongly suggested as this place gets full quickly. Ambiance - The new decor is not as good as previous one but still tries to make an attampt to create an artificial village scene (prevous setup was lot more authentic) Servers are suppose to be wearing tradional dress but they look clumsy. Seating - Both traditional cross-legged as well as normal seating is available One hour - Although there is no prescribed time limit. Their typical service speed is to get you in & out in an hour or so (Not mentioned or ever expressed but I know that they take reservations based on this) Everything is UNLIMITED. They recommend that you skip lunch when you viit this place for dinner. Suggestion - dont insult by ordering beer/wine/soda at this place. (They will love your business but that defeats the purpose of the meal. Order Lassi or jsut water is fine) Menu is for your information only. There is no choice. It is set menu. Please keep in mind that initial serving of 6-8 items (unlimited) is just appetizers. Many people assume that meal ends there!! (it is only first of the five course meal, So pace yourself. Second course is the main meal of thali with poori. aamras, several very authetic vegetable dishes (at least one curried and one dry), kathols (legumes), daal, Third course is Khichdi. (Rice and Daal cooked together) with Kadhi. (Kadhi is extremely good) Fourth course is pistachip or mango icecream or gajar halwa. (dessert) FInally, masala tea. All of these for less than 40 USD in Manhattan!!. Summary: Dont visit without reservation. I fyou do so and have to wait, dont come here and complain. Skip lunch the day you are planning to visit. Remmebr, this is authentic indian food from western india. (Dont come here expecting stupid Naan bread or that horrible dish called chicken-tikka-masala)

The atmosphere is great. They put a lot of work into the authenticity of the location and scenery. The staff is full of great people who are good at what they do, but the problem is with the food. The food is a $30 fixed menu and you get everything but also can order extras of whatever you enjoyed for no extra cost. It is strictly vegetarian and hard for people not used to this cuisine to enjoy. I'd recommend giving it a try if you're a thrill seeker or have had Gujarati food before. Though i would avoid if you're expecting palak paneer or a sheik kebab.

On two separate occasions I had social gatherings @ this establishment. Both times, I was "blown- away" by the village like setting, exceptional service and the amazing Gujarati dishes. It is truly a unique dining adventure.

Gujarathi Thali was quite good .Choice of Product mix in the plate was very nice Ambience was quite pleasing and sitting arrangements to give cozy exclusive compartment was quite welcome . Number of heritage photos on the wall take you back home . As this Restaurant operate only on dinner , it is a constraint for customers to try lunch Wish their business model to make volume more to bring down cost will benefit large number of visitors as $32 per plate look little expensive

Vatan has a Prix Fixe menu with awesome Gujju food. They are very consistent in their quality. I have been there several times with family and friends. It is a great place to go as a group. They have lots of seating but they do get busy during weekends -- so call ahead and reserve. They are also accommodating of people with Jain diet. If you tell them, they'll make substitutions to your dinner. Well worth the trip.

Friends treated us to dinner in this wonderful restaurant. The trays of food keep coming until you ask them to stop. Before dinner the waitress questioned us as to how hot we would like our food. Even though I said "mild," some of the offerings were too hot for me. My husband can handle more heat and indicated as such at the outset. He too found a few things a bit hotter than he could handle. This was not really a problem in any case, as there was so much to choose from we had more than enough food to eat. Another option was exercised by one of our friends and that was a completely vegan meal. She was not given a few of the choices but still had much to sample. We also had lychee martinis, which were very fruity, with two lychee on top as garnish. The interior of the restaurant brings to mind eating in a beautiful village with its murals and architectural setting. Reservations are recommended as this place is very popular. Parking is on nearby side streets. The restroom was very spacious and I am certain a person in a wheel chair would have no problems using it. Not all of the dining area was accessible as some of the tables are on the upper level.

Even though the atmosphere in this place is a bit marginal, the quality of the food and service are excellent. The menu for dinner is prix fixe, and it's an all-you-can-eat thali served to you by request. The food is excellent, authentic Gujarati, vegetarian, with Jain options if your diet requires. I would say that the price is a bit stiff for what you're getting, but this is New York City after all. The dining room is perfectly comfortable, but the decorating needs work for a restaurant of this quality.

I visited Vatan during July 4th weekend and was satisfied with the experience. Being a Gujju myself, I love Gujarati food. In my opinion, Vatan offered some delicious Gujju food. Appetizers Was very satisfied with the variety here. Mini samosas, ragada patis, sev puri, dhokla, bhajiya, bataka vada, muthiya, chana masala. I liked most of the items. It's rare you get these many options for appetizers and majority of them taste good. Main Course Came in proper Gujju style thali. Offered Puris, Papad, Bataka nu shak, Bhaji, Cauliflower shak, Chhole, Gujju style dal, Kheer and Keri no Ras. Except for Bhaji, everything was tasty. Had some Khichadi and Kadhi later which finished the dinner. Also ordered Red Wine there - which is kind of rare in Gujju restaurants. I enjoyed the food with wine. The ambience is good and the staff was friendly. I'd go there again if I visit NYC.

A very good authentic vegetarian restaurant with excellent service. Dishes are well prepared and served with attention and style. Must try.

Visited Vatan earlier this week with family. The service is impeccable! The staff are dressed in traditional costume and the place is so well done up. Lots of photo opportunities. Foodwise i loved the chat best in the starters and the Gulab jamun was to die for. I ate like 5 to 6 of them. They literally melt in your mouth. The main course was ok ok, nothing spectacular. Thats the only reason i gave 4 instead of 5 stars. Also the price is really exhorbitant so I would hesitate to visit again unless they advertise some spectacular main course dishes.

It was like finding a jewel. Decor is authentic and gives a village feel and one forgets that one is sitting in New York. my first theme Indian restaurant in US. Food was excellent and hostess was very polite and helpful. We went on Tuesday night still it was crowded. Food is from the western India (Gujarati) thus just a tip to my fellow travelers that they should not expect food which is usually served in other Indian restaurants, which is either from North Indian or South Indian cuisines.

I am not familiar with authentic Indian cuisine, so I can't comment on that; however, as a vegetarian, it's great to be able to eat everything on a tasting menu. My husband is a meat & potatoes guy, but he really enjoyed Vatan, too.

Great vegetarian food— they give you several small dishes for each course to try, and then you can ask for more of what you like.

It is a gujrati restaurant with a lovely traditional setting which is well kept and helpful staff. The food was ok but the dishes varied and did not feel it very authentic gujrati. The portions were quite substantial and loved the masala chas and mango ice cream.

Food is served "Thali" style, meaning you get several small portions of a several foods. They serve a 3 course meal thali style, so there is no choice of what you get. It turns out to be a huge meal. If you like Indian food you will love it. The service was very good and the decor was fun. If you don't like Indian food you can look forward to the rice pudding and the mango ice cream for dessert. At $32 per meal, I think it is a little overpriced.

The price is 45 and not 32 any more like mentioned in TripAdvisor. Food taste is not that authentic or that tasty either. Muthia was really bad. I like ragda pattis. And mirchi bhajji. It's all you can eat but every dish is bite size. And they keep staring at you when you ask for more. Service was not that good and worst part was that for 3 people also they put a mandatory service charge for 30$ which was like really bad for me. Total bill came to 185$ for 3 people dinner. Not worth it.

I have had Gujarati thali in various countries all over the world. The Vatan thali was a bit expensive and food was average. The worst part was they added too much soda so I couldn’t eat even 25% of what I usually eat.

I was curious to try this place but had written it off when I found out it was a $45 price fix no exceptions. Yet my friend really wanted to give it a try so we did. the total cost of the meal is $57 and that’s if you don’t order any drinks. That includes tax and tip on the $45 price fix. yes it’s all you can eat, but you can only eat so much. after eating all the appetizers and main courses that they bring you, I actually felt nauseous from eating so much. However the food isn’t that good. there’s far superior Indian food in New York. It was rather bland; certainly not worth $57. Two of the items in the main course are soups and they don’t even have nan! I’m not sure why this restaurant insists on price gouging people with a prix fix instead of allowing them to order a la cart, but I won’t be going back. There’s far too many good Indian restaurants in this city that let you choose what you want from the menu.

I’ve eaten in lots of Indian restaurants across the globe; and this is up there with a top place for visitors to NYC! If you like fresh fast indian food; and you’re a veggie in NYC - then try it out. Lots of tasty dishes in both starter and main thali. Well done! Open one in london!

We had dinner here several times already. The restaurant is quiet (which is nice) and it's interior is quite special featuring a tree and paited murals all oer the restaurant. Food is excellent and the staff is friendly.

Food here is delicious. Set menu. 3 courses. Pace yourself and save room for dessert and tea. Be really hungry and taste everything. The quality of the food had dipped a little a few years ago but it has been back and consistently good for a while now. Make a reservation in advance and remember that they are only open for dinner.

This was simply a wonderful dining experience. The service was excellent and friendly, the food was amazing and varied, and the ambiance was perfect. Would recommend this to visitors to NYC or locals.

A three course meal is served in an authentic Indian atmosphere. You do not choose the dishes, just have to tell the waitress about allergies etc, and the dishes are chosen for you. Very nice indeed.

Being Indian, my family makes a lot of Indian food at home, so I know when I've had good food at a restaurant. The food is some of the best Indian food I've ever had. And initially, I wasn't too thrilled about going to an vegetarian restaurant. The décor was very unique and colorful. The experience was authentic. If you sit on the main floor, there are table where you have take off your shoes. I've only experienced this atmosphere in India prior to coming here.

Worst experience ever...we had heard a lot about this place from our friends so on Friday 05/10/2013, we decided to go to this restaurant... We were 8 of us...the problem started with the seating, we had children with us hence for their comfort requested the waitress to provide us with high chairs ... The next statement which I heard from the waitress was quite shocking" we don't have high chairs"... Which came as a surprise to me, then when this conversation was on the manager overheard us and approached us and said they do have high chairs and provided us with the same... Honestly I just felt like getting up n leaving the restaurant but then decided to stay back and see where this all ends... Then our waitress was trying to make us change the tables as two of our kids were not having anything coz they wer little and there were on a many empty tables but still our waitress tried very hard to move us on smaller table ... probably she dint wanted to serve us... The lady on the our table added salt to the wound... She rushed us through our dinner as if she had a flight to catch....we were not even half way through our appetizers that she brought us the main course... And I am like what is wrong with these guys... So after spending around $300.00 I am pissed with this restaurant... I would never recommend this place to anybody....

The thali is overpriced and not worth it . The food taste is less than average . Only the ambience is good . Won't recommend this restaurant to anyone.

The food was delicious and well presented. It is a multi-course veg meal with options for each course. The staff is very warm.

On entering, a pleasant Indian rural setting confronts and together with spaciousness, makes one forgets that it's still downtown Manhattan that one is in. The food is very authentic regional Gujarati and not a mixed combination that tries to pass off as "Indian". Good service and very generous portions with unlimited refills. The fare is all vegetarian though alcoholic drinks can be ordered. A bit on the pricey side unless you really have a hearty appetite.

Excellent vegetarian Indian cuisine. Its ambience is out of the world for Newyork. They have given it the rustic Indian ambience. It is spacious. The food is all vegetarian and fixed all you can eat menu. Their appetizer platter itself was delicious and filling. The mains platter was also delicious. They are a ask you can eat with a difference- you do not go and serve yourself, they bring the food to the table.

It’s a Gujarati fair with unlimited servings I am not sure how authentic it is Has good ambience You need to reserve in advance A visit once in 6 months is OK Not a place to visit frequently

Ambience is great. I agree with the other reviewers, go with an empty stomach. The food was good, nothing extraordinary, but the whole experience was unique.

The only good thing is the service with a smile. My two star rating is based on the service attribute only. The restaurant has a Thali concept. The Thali is served in 2 steps, first the appetizer Thali that includes five or six appetizers. All taste the same, there is no tingling of senses, no exceptional taste. Taste like they were made in a factory some days back, no garnishes, no distinctive colours, no identification. It was the worst experience I had of an Indian vegetarian food. The main Thali consisted of several dishes. The veggies were overcooked, the curries tasted the same. Yes lot of quantity but no signature dish. It is an all you can eat concept but who wants seconds for REALLY BAD FOOD. The decor is heavy all around, the lighting arrangement is bad that one can't even see the menu. You need your IPhone light to see what you are eating. Good bye Vatan.

We really enjoyed the whole experience. Fun to try new dishes. Found some new favorites! Was the perfect place to have a dinner with family and friends.

I had first visited Vatan several years ago and the experience was very positive at that time. Visited a second time earlier this week for dinner. food quality remains very good. One of the better places in New York city for vegetarian Indian food. The dinner menu is fixed and the courses are presented in two sequences. The first is an all you can eat appetizer thali and the second is an all you can eat main course. To do justice, you have to stay away from food all day before you hit dinner here ! Food quality is very good and the service is friendly. The staff do hover around you for refills of any dish that you want to try again. There was no distress on the digestive system post dinner !!!! Worth a visit for sure

It is a great place to eat and would recommend this to all travelers to eat a great variety of food on the platter with great Indian taste. Vatan has a great location at the heart of Manhattan.

Vatan is one of those NY places you would walk by if you just noticed it on the street, but be sure not to. When you enter this Indian vegetarian establishment, you are transported to a peaceful Indian courtyard (presided over by a giant Ganesh). With a lovely atmosphere, and excellent food, this is restaurant is sure to please. Vatan offers foods from the Gujarat region, so it may be different than you are used to. The menu is prix fixe ($32 per person) and is served thali style like you find in India. For those unfamiliar with this, it's small portions of many different foods. You are free to ask for more of anything you'd like. The flavors were interesting, and while I didn't love everything, some of the dishes were excellent. Appetizer favorites included the Chana Masala (served as a cold appetizer) and the Khaman (cream of wheat cakes -- interesting). The mains were also good, and favorites here were the Toor Dal (a lentil soup), Chole (chickpeas with tamirand and garam masala -- great mix of sweet and spicy) and the Palao (basmati rice with peas). Kheer (rice pudding) was also served as a main (but I am not complaining). Desserts were ice cream and tea. The service was attentive and helpful. They will answer any food and cultural questions (such as why Ganesh is holding a trident -- which he should not be) and be sure to prepare food according to your spice tolerance. Our check for 2 was $100 with tip and 1 beer. Be sure to reserve on weekends.

A place like Vatan can only survive in a city like NY or London, where there are enough Indians and non Indians who are not jaded enough to think of only tandoori cooking as Indian cuisine. However, the long serving Vatan speaks for itself with its authenticity, I am afraid it has started to compromise at the edges from its truly Gujarati cuisine. e,g tonite when I dined there with my family, three of the sabjis (gobhi matar, chole and palak corn) were distinctly non Gujarati in flavor, And there was not a single truly Guju sabji. In fact even the kadhi did not have the traditional gur flavoring. However, the appetizer thali was out and out Guju along with the array of chutneys and pickles. So also the khichadi was outstanding (in fact better than I make it)! The kheer was disappointing (it had coconut flavoring which is more South Indian), and the masala chai that should be a standard here, was also thick with milk and cardamom, and sense of ginger and other spices. It really baffles me that no restaurant in the USA can get a simple cup of masala chai correct, not even a Guju place like Vatan. Service continues to be polite and relaxed, with proper pacing between the thalis, and no attempt to rush you. I just wish, they would not compromise on their USP and bring back the bhindi and the tindola and the Undhiyu etc.

It’s a very good restaurant who serve vegetarian 🌱 thali Stater contains Stater - dhai pure, Chile bhajia,bata Vada, Chana,muthia,khaman,samosas, ragda patties. Main course Thali- dal, chole , roti, flower,spinach corn, aloo subji , aamras and rice kheer Desert Desert. Gulabjamun, malai kulfi or Masala chai. Good restaurant with hut type sitting arrangements on entrance level. Good service.

Went there on a weekend with a few friends. Our server was Jai and this was perhaps one of the best meals I have ever had. The food and service truly fed my soul, and I will highly recommend this place. Note that the Vatan in NJ is NOT from the same people, so don't be mad if your experience is sub-par there.

Wonderful hospitality, great food and experience. The food can feel much, so go with an appetite, but the taste and variety of set menu is outstanding. We enjoyed from start to end.

This is my second time going to this great establishment and the food was just as good if not better than the first. If you're intimidated by ordering very good Indian food this is the place for you. It is a vegetarian restaurant but with the quantity and the mass of the food you would never know it. The waitress made ordering very simple and easy by explaining every course of theof the meal. They even give you the option of choosing your preference of "heat, mild or spicy",i will definitely be back when I'm in New York.

Vegetarians can eat everything on the menu. Trouble is, there is no menu. There's a prix fixe dinner, and it is not cheap. However the food is very tasty and you will get a wide variety of offerings in every course. Your palate will be filled, so even if you don't overeat, you will have the impression of being well sated. I ate some dishes that I've never seen offered anywhere else.

The overall quality and taste of the food is average, good to hang out place with friends and family.

We came to Vatan as a party of nine who love vegetarian Indian food. The table was gracious and quiet- the portions more than ample-(only a few of us requested more and it was brought quickly). We loved some of the dishes and liked others but being brought a selection was fun and easy. We were each served an enormous appetizer platter and then a full entree selection.The wait staff were lovely and sang for the birthday person. Altogether a lovely evening!

This is one of the best Indian restaurant in north east America. Like the concept of pure vegetarian. The restaurant food and service is awesome as well as the ambiance. Whenever you go to New York city, make sure you visit this restaurant to eat. Also you must be real hungry to justify the fool dish otherwise you can not finish all.

Fantastic location , view of Empire State Building from street. Unlimited Indian food , all veg. Interiors are nice , setting like Indian village. Food was good but no meat. Liquor is served. Food has option of spicy make. A decent one if you are craving for Indian food!!

Pure indian, homely food. If you have the time to eat and carry a decent appetite, you'll be addicted! yes, its thaaatt goood. Cons: Not enough seating space.

The food has not changed a bit in like 15 years. It's crazy. Service is usually attentive. At most of the tables you have to remove your shoes. Let them know how spicy you want it. It all goes excellent with Indian beer. I agree with other reviewers: the gulab jamun is amazing, and the app plate is the highlight. And I love the chai masala as well. It's my fav veg Indian joint in nyc.

With a Gujarati wife, I surely earn brownie points whenever I visit traditional Gujarati eateries. This on in New York is great. Also serves alcohol, that helps though never tried pairing wine with Gujarati vegetarian food. Generous helpings of appetizers and mains. If you are in a diet as they say in their menu, not the place. Good array of authentic food set in a great ambiance. Do pace and eat!

We came here looking for something excellent and exotic - and we found it, with lots of guidance to assure us a well designed meal. This is Gujarati food, quite different from the more commonly available northern Indian cuisine - more like southern Indian, but not quite. We had the prix fixe dinner, which included a thali-style arrangement of appetizers and condiments, followed by a thali-style main course array, plus bread, plus dessert. Everything was well prepared and very tasty. Our server took care to tell us what everything was, including what condiments went best with which appetizers or main course items. She also gave us our choice of degree of spiciness. (We went for medium, which suits us, but may be a bit hot for others. The appetizers don't come with that choice, but they're medium - which gives you a good idea of how to choose for the main course.) The ice cream and gulab jaman desserts were lovely; this might be the best gulab jaman I've ever had, dainty and flavor-rich at the same time. We were advised that we could have as much as we wanted of everything, but frankly what we were served was very generous - I couldn't possibly have eaten more.

I have been visiting Vatan every time I have come to New York.The food quality has definitely gone down. I had asked for aamras which is served only if you ask for it. Even after confirming, they didn't serve . Also they tried to pass off vanilla ice cream as kulfi. Next time i am in NY, will try to look for an alternative.

As I entered Vatan Restaurant in NYC for the first time, I was very impressed with the ambience of an Indian village. A lady dressed in traditional Indian attire explained about their food and served us dinner. I recommend visiting this restaurant when you are really hungry. Because they serve a lot of delicious food in a three course meal. The menu is fixed, and does not include additional drinks. I ordered a tasty jaljeera drink to go with my dinner. I tend to over eat in a three course meal, and jaljeera drink helps in digesting the food. The style of cuisine is Gujarati (from an Indian state called Gujarat) and the items in the three course meal range from mild/medium to hot/spicy. It is one of the most expensive Indian restaurants I have visited, but it was well worth it, because the ambience, service, and food were all top of the line. Vatan is a treat for vegetarian palette. Check out their fixed menu at http://www.vatanny.com/menu.html

I try to hit most of my fave’s given my ~24-trips annually to the Big Apple. Especially if I have not gotten my India fix, I try to get up to Vatan once a year... The menu is average, the spices are inconsistent, and the service almost militant like... A friend of mine who was kind of to accompany me and indulge me in the “fix” - said he’d watch me “consume shamelessly” - it’s a thing - as nurses a bad allergy and headache. So I ordered my Thali. The first and one meal of the day - knowing the consistency of what I am going to get... And my friend ordered Chai. A simple 3-Oz milk-boiled chai. Waiter/master/Maitre De —“no chai for you, unless you order the whole overpriced $34-Thali” Whaat? You can have the Chai - it’s comes with Thali. But your friend, he can’t have your Chai. Got it. But Whaat? Can he order of the menu? Sure. But he cannot order Chai - anything on the 2 page drink menu, wine, beer, lassi anything. Me: Buuuuut, He wants your Chai. Them: Nope. Sorry. Rules. It comes with the Thali. Whatever. Just got my fix. Pissed my friend off. Just have to fix my fix and get my mix of restaurants right. Another time. Another place.

My friend knew I was vegetarian and gf, and took me here. I loved the decor, music, ambience, delicious food morsels that never ended, and our sweet 'foodie' server, Mina. Everything was unique and simply delicious, and we felt like we were in a temple of heavenly food. We could not possibly eat it all but qhen we rolled out a couple of hours later we felt satiated and deeply happy - I recommend this experience to one and all.

This place deserves a 5 star but will not get it because they keep compromising following the footsteps of other Indian restaurants. This is supposed to be a Guju place on the lines of the thali dining halls and the farsan places in Gujarat and Bombay. First of all, they have started asking for the spice level (mild, medium, spicy) which is a non no in any authentic Indian restaurant. It is a practice followed by the pseudo Indian restaurants that dot the landscape in the USA. No restaurant in India asks this stupid question. Second, they still have non Guju items like chole and palak in the thali which is a shame. On the other hand, the appetizer platter continues to be authentic and excellent. The chai is still too milky. At $34 a head it is by no means a steal but you are paying for the experience that is unique in the USA.

Restaurant with Excellent ambiance and excellent Indian food . First they serve Indian Snacks including papdi chaat and others. Main xourse includes 4-5 vegetables and poori, chapati, papad. Then sweet dish and icecream . Out ofthese best was mangoe puree

I absolutely love this restaurant, from the decor, to the food. It's a prix-fixe menu (all you can eat) but I love 95% of what is served. If there is something that you don't necessary like, you don't have to eat it and you can still ask for extras of the food that you do like. You receive a tray of appetizers, a tray of different main courses and at the end they serve you ice cream with chai tea. I've been coming here for years and the quality of food is always great. The restaurant is decorated like a village in India and I find it very charming and romantic. Their bathrooms are really nice as well and always very clean. This is gujurati Indian food so many of the dishes are very unique and not what you will find in a regular Indian restaurant in NYC.

Prepare to be overwhelmed! The experience at Vatan is so much more than 'just great food'. BTW you can't get more authentic than the food here. From the getgo, you'll be amazed by the quality, variety and sheer explosion of flavors as you work your way through the appetizers. I love the 'prefix' style with thali's. You've got to relish the extensive variety of dishes, each with unique authentic flavor and taste! Take your time! This experience has to be savored !

As a gujarati, I can say this is one of the few restaurants that actually reflects the food we eat at home. Just be aware of the quantity, its a lot of food and feels like a waste so I dont indulge in this too often because I can only eat so much. The decor is quite nice, and the service is always impeccable. The prices are also reasonable considering the price. I wish they had a option for a downsized meal so I could go more often and get a meal without feeling that I am going to waste a lot of food or eat way too much to feel sick.

Good food but not worth $30.00. We asked for mild and they said they could make it , but it was still spicy. I presume they had the same curry for everything. All inclusive did not include Lassi/Chaas, which is staple for this kind of Indian food. They charged $5.00 per glass. If you have a huge appetite, it is worth spending $30.00+. Service was very good. Just try it once. Would not go back again.

Have gone for dinner at vatan. Very friendly staff and was able to provide us good suggestion on food. Nice Indian food.

Food was very spicy kids did not eat and we asked them not to bring any more courses for then and they still charged the entire amount.