Yummy Indian food! Happy that Benares was at JPMorgan's headquarters cafeteria this summer featuring a few of their dishes. I had the chicken tikka masala, Chana curry, basmati rice and a vegetable samosa. The serving portion was just right for lunch. Totally enjoyed all the authentic Indian flavors embedded in the curry and OMG - the chicken was super juicy and tender. I enjoyed that it was not super spicy, but had a nice mild touch of spiciness to it. Their samosa was the best and I appreciated the flavorful stuffed potato. Thought it was clever of them to serve one cause it was filling and hit the spot nicely. And oh my the mango lassi was the most delicious! I wanted more!!! The two guys that represented Benares were nice folks with a fun sense of humor - I had made a comment about I think they will run out of basmati rice and they said no no...we have loads stacked up... Looking forward to visit their restaurant and dine there and experience the sit down dinning experience. read more

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Decent space, but execution across the board fell short. Service was frustratingly slow--two waiters handling the bar and serving roughly 10 tables meant long waits for food and the bill. That's a staffing problem on the restaurant's end, plain and simple. But the food issues go deeper than understaffing. The goat biryani had chewy, un-tenderized meat that should've been slow-cooked until soft. The biryani itself was underseasoned--lacked the whole spice backbone you expect from the dish. The paneer tikka masala featured paneer that was never roasted first, which is standard practice; it landed flat and unfinished. The naan was dry. Even a mojito was excessively sweet. Nothing executed well. Worth skipping read more

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Came here for lunch on the weekend. One nice perk is that you can earn rewards through the Seated app and get cash back with Upside app, both are free and easy to use. The place was exactly what we were looking for... Inexpensive, cozy, and comfortable atmosphere! The place wasn't busy. Amazing service and delicious food! The food was fresh and came out fast. Portions are generous, so you definitely won't leave hungry. I had Mixed Vegetables with Basmati Rice, which was tasty, also gluten free, dairy free and soy free. Others had Goan Shrimp Curry with Basmati Rice. Their menu has many options to offer, including gluten free, soy free, and dairy free options. We would come back again and highly recommend you check out this place if you are in Tribeca, Manhattan. read more

I ordered takeout from this place last Sunday when we were visiting family nearby. I got butter Chicken (mild spice level) which priced at $24 and garlic naan $6. The chicken entree came with jeera rice. The total was about $33 including tax. It was a bit pricey Also, I was disappointed with the chicken entree. While the sauce was rich and flavorful, the chicken was not tender and didn't taste good. I ended up eating the sauce and left the chicken. The garlic naan was alright; i wish it was more garlicky. read more

Benares - Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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We love Indian food and this place is a short walk from the 9/11 Memorial. We wanted somewhere to go and sit down and have a good meal. It is a short walk and worth it. The food here is amazing and the staff was extremely attentive and friendly. It was nice and quiet and they were not busy the night we went. Definitely a must try if you are looking for some good Indian food that is very authentic. Give them a try for yourself. read more

Benares - Inside - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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I ordered a larger catering order (over $450 after tax and tip) for a big event 26 hours before I requested for delivery. At 5:25pm (10 minutes after the ETA for delivery), I called the restaurant and inquired about my order. They took a while to find it which made me worried but then they said the order has already gone out. I said thank you, I guess it was just running a little late since the restaurant uses their own delivery system and not seamless. But 30 minutes later, MY FOOD STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED. At this point, I called the restaurant again and asked what's going on and it was at this point that they told me they apparently never received my order. Excuse me??? (1) I've been ordering food for events through Grubhub Corporate for the last 5 years and I've never had an order "disappear." I've had restaurants cancel the order - usually the next day because they're not capable of delivery. But at least I'm given a few hours of notice to come up with a contigency plan. This restaurant obviously have some horrible failure in their operating protocol. But when I called to check on it initially, they basically lied and told me they received my order. It wasn't until I rechecked that they owned up to it. At this point, my event has already started and I'm left scrambling not even last minutes (but 20 minutes AFTER last minute) to try to find a new catering solution for 25+ people. Absolutely worst ordering experience I've had both professionally and personally. Order at your own caution but if you're relying on them when you're very hungry or even worse, for a gathering, I would caution you to look elsewhere. read more

In our adventure to find good food in new places, we were craving Indian food. So we found Benares Tribeca. A couple of blocks away from the Oculus but far from the crowds, Benares was waiting for us. The place was dark with a fancy and romantic vibe. It was quite spacious, a rare occurrence in NYC. When we arrived, we were the only patrons and the servers were quick to help us out. Every single one of them was very attentive and friendly. Four our drink orders, they recommended a lassie and we were easily convinced, and gladly so, as it was creamy. For the food, we started with masala fries with a nice hint of spice and an even better batter. For entrees, we got the lamb and chicken vindaloo and our friend got the chicken tikka masala. The portions were enough to get us satisfied. The rice had a nice hint of bay leaves and cardamom. The lamb was perfectly cooked and tender. The chicken was tender too. The vindaloo sauce was spicy but not overwhelming; it was perfect. The tikka masala was creamy and smooth. Overall, this was a great place to end our day of walking. We ended up satisfied with the amount of food, the flavors, the company, and the very relaxed environment. Our servers were stellar. Our experience, fantastic! read more

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Recently came here for a friend from Yelp's belated birthday celebrations. I will preface this with saying the biggest bang for your buck is either coming in for their Lunch Prix-Fixe which includes an Appetizer, Entree, Naan, and Rice for a set price ranging from $17.95-24.95 depending on what protein of choice you order. They as well have a happy hour Mondays-Fridays until 7pm of $5 beer, $6 wine and cocktails. Which honestly that happy hour is looking kind of neat if I'm ever feeling like something different in the Tribeca area. They have a very sleek and modern kind of atmosphere. We were situated in the back room with a bunch of black booths and tables with chairs across from the booths. I'm assuming they put numerous smaller tables together for such a large group. I ended up ordering a 1947 beer (normal hour pricing is $8). It's a smooth lager that I'm pretty sure numerous Yelp events of lore past has introduced me to. Service was pretty amazing considering they were taking about 30 plus orders and getting them out as fast as they could. Food I ordered butter chicken and a side of regular naan. The portion was kind of medium decent. For the $24 price tag I was hoping for a vat of butter chicken but it was still very good. Rice was shareable and they were a little stingy on it but they brought out more as it was running out. The naan was light and fluffy. I brought a tiny amount back for my boyfriend and while he loves Indian food I think he and both of us would only be convinced to maybe some day come for their lunch special. read more

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Indian food in Tribeca was a treat. Service was great. The staff was kind and helpful and very accommodating. Food was alright. I felt it was geared more to the American palette and less authentic. So if you enjoy Indian food but not a fan of spicy this could be the place for you. Many vegetarian options. Ambiance was fine. Not too fancy but not a hole in the wall. Average restaurant vibe. read more

Benares - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

First time at this place Ordered: - honey crispy lotus stem - aloo papdi chaat - chilli paneer - malai kofta - dal makhani - salmon tikka Food: great! 10/10 Service: exemplary! 10/10 Ambience: upscale and comfortable Will visit again Ps. The green chutney was 10/10 It was superb enough to have its own mention read more

Benares - Indian vegetarian food with a great vibe - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 because their lunch specials are a good deal. Masala chai was super watered down, but the chicken tikka masala was tasty. We also had a shrimp curry that was really delicious and full of coconut flavor. Garlic naan wasn't buttery or garlicky enough for me. I do love that the lunch special comes with a lentil soup or samosa. I picked the soup and flavor was good, but wish there was a little more texture. I also enjoyed the dessert. Service was friendly and we had no trouble getting a table during the weekday lunch hour. read more

Absolutely delicious Indian and Southeast Asian Cuisine! The butter chicken is moist and flavorful. The samosas have a flaky yet tender crust with a fresh and well seasoned potatoes & peas filling. The garlic naan is so fragrant and soft, the perfect vehicle to dip in the butter chicken. Oh and their sauces are freshly made and among the best we have tasted. Don't forget their mango lassi, it's a winner every time. read more

Benares - Yummy Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great neighborhood Indian food spot with good lunch special. Food and service are very good. Takeout is good also. Lovely minimalist decor inside although the exterior door doesn't reflect inside. Great booths for groups. read more

Entryway and bar smell like sewage which wafts through the dining room. Don't dine here if you are sensitive to bad smells. Food was competent Indian food at downtown prices ($15 small apps, $25 regular-portion entrees with no naan included). No deal to be had here. Service was very good. read more

Authentic cuisine. Benares has very good food. I have eaten here twice now and have enjoyed it. The staff are friendly. They also have a full bar if that would help. read more

Benares Indian Restaurant, in Tribeca, NYC, Located in the heart of Tribeca, Benares stands out as an exceptional Indian cuisine jewel in the vibrant culinary scene of downtown Manhattan. named after a city in northern India, the restaurant centers on the lush spices and abundant diversity of Indian cuisine. We tried Drinks Lychee lover - alcoholic Mango lassi - non alcoholic Appetizers Khasta Gobi Chicken 65 Entree: Saag Paneer Chicken Dum Biryani in clay pot with naan in top Lamb Rogan Josh Garlic naan Plain naan Peas Pulao Dessert Rose ice cream The robust menu is almost overwhelming, and yet authentic serving contemporary Indian cuisine. Do not skip chicken 65 , Lamb rogan Josh, Chicken Dum biryani or the saag paneer they have an ample selection for both non vegetarian, vegetarian and couple of vegan options like Khasta Gobi ( cauliflower) all are stand-out options that deserves attention. Finish off with refreshing rose petal ice cream. The ambience strikes a perfect balance of serenity and sophistication. Staff's knowledge and recommendations are much appreciated. With its flavorful food, attentive service, and tranquil setting, Benares has carved out a niche for itself as a must-visit Indian restaurant in NYC. read more

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I dined at this delightful Indian restaurant with a large group for my belated birthday dinner. Upon entering, the hostess gave me a warm welcome and wished me a "Happy Birthday." The interior was spacious with a bar area in the front and comfortable booth seating inside. There was low lighting and a sophisticated air to the place, along with a calm, peaceful atmosphere. Of course I started with the Mango Lassi, which was wonderfully thick, smooth, creamy with true mango taste. For sides, I had the Masala Fries and Garlic Naan. The fries were amazingly crispy and well seasoned with a bold mixture of spices, including garlic, chili, and more. I wasn't really a fan of the Garlic Naan, because there wasn't enough garlic. I got to try my friend's Poori made with wheat flour, which was oh so addicting. It had a perfectly golden brown, crunchy exterior with irresistibly puffy soft interior, along with a wonderful savory flavor. I ordered the Mixed Grill for my entree, which came with tandoori salmon, lamb, shrimp and chicken. The salmon was my favorite. It was tender, flaky, and full of flavor. The lone shrimp was tasty and definitely would have liked more. There were 2 types of chicken (with and without bone), which was slightly charred, juicy, as well as succulent. Last, the ground lamb was pretty good, but the way the lamb was prepared is not my favorite. I think there could have been a bit more shrimp, and less chicken. Dessert was Rose Ice Cream Meltdown, which was accompanied with chocolate lava cake. This was beautifully plated with raspberry syrup surrounding the ice cream and cake in the shape of a flower. I simply loved how pink the ice cream was. The only thing it was missing was a lit birthday candle. The rose ice cream was velvety smooth with delicate taste, while the cake was rich, sweet, oozing with warm chocolate center. Service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and took care of the group with ease. Pricing was surprisingly reasonable, especially for the area. I would definitely return and would like to try the Goan Salmon Curry, Lamb Korma and Rose Lassi. read more

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This wonderful Indian restaurant is worth frequenting often. The relaxed atmosphere, the attentive service, the delicious food will bring me here over and over again. The maitre d made us immediately feel like we were family. My son was excited to order a rose lasse, drink that has become rare to find but is on this menu and we were not disappointed -- it was perfect. As were the samosas, the best tikki masala we've had so far in Manhattan, and the tandori chicken was moist and flavorful. Plus the prices were very affordable, especially since the portions were so generous we'll be having left overs in our salad tonight. I HIGHLY recommend. There was absolutely nothing to complain about and a wonderful time was had by all. Enjoy!! read more

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We were a party of 3 adults and 1 child, here on our NYC trip recently. We ordered a kachori, a paneer dish, roti, naan, and a yellow daal - basically, quintessential Indian fare - nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, service took forever. When the food came in, it tasted decent, nothing to complain about, but also nothing to rave about. I will say that the kachori shell was not crispy. But what took the cake is that the bill had an added 18% gratuity. For 4 people. I am a person that usually tips at least 20 %, and if you do something as simple as pay attention to refill my glass of water when it is almost empty, I'll gladly give you a 25% tip. I'm super easy to please, really. But this 'automatic' 18% 'gratuity' rubbed me the wrong way. I went ahead and questioned the wait staff why they would do this. The waiter actually said, "because there are some people who will just not tip". He even mentioned a race of folks that 'usually don't tip', but I don't think it's worth even talking about here. Another waiter said, "The system adds it randomly. If you don't want to pay, we will take it off". I call BS on it. I ended up keeping my standards and ended up paying the 'automatically added 18% gratuity' anyway. In one sentence: go here for passable Indian food, but be careful about randomly added gratuities and fight for your rights as a customer. read more

Food - impeccable Service - unmatched Truly unreal experience, 12/10 Got Tikka masala and butter chicken - waiter recommended korma instead, it was banging. read more

Benares - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Ok so the service was excellent. Our waiter was great and very accommodating. Food was ok. We def enjoyed the dal Makhani, it was very flavorful but again lacked spice. Malai kebabs were tender but lacked salt spice and flavor. Butter chicken was good with garlic naan. The Naan after 5 min of being on the table, became crispy and hard to break. I think this is catered towards non-Indians and/or who cannot endure spice. Oh and by the way we did request for food to be spicy and with assurance I can say it wasn't. read more

Benares - Fish amritsari on the left and Malai Kebab to - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

This place was a gem! We stumbled upon it when looking for a quick reasonable dinner option near city hall on our way home. Very roomy restaurant, with mostly Southeast Asian clientele, which reassured us. There was no need for reservations on a Sunday evening. The two of us shared the baby eggplant curry and coconut crab curry with naan and rice. We ended up ordering additional naan because there was a good amount of food. Flavors were sharp, nuanced and well balanced. I was especially happy with the crab curry which is not a common dish offered in local restaurants. My only complaint is that the baby eggplant was cooked whole, which is well and good, until you get a really tough stem and you have to fish it out of your mouth. I'd hope they remedy this in the future. Or maybe your date will understand. read more

Great spot with a good lunch prix fixe menu ($15.95) - lunch came with an appetizer (I got a samosa), entree, rice, naan, and a dessert. They have many vegetarian options as well as vegan and made it easier to ask for the vegan ones. Everything was delicious and the portions are a good size for the price. Very nice staff and quick service during lunchtime. They have a bit of outdoor seating but mostly indoor. read more

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This our go-to restaurant for reasonably priced and well executed Indian food. The service and ambience are above average. read more

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Only if you have Indian food nostalgia, otherwise food is not that awesome. Ambience is dull and depressing. I will never go again.

Food is OK. To be improved a lot. They charged 18% auto gratuity for 4 people. It is bad. Ambiance is OK. read more

Delivery takes forever -- Chicken Tikka is five small pieces ala carte (no rice) for $17! Add rice and delivery an it's almost $40! And did I mention way late!! read more

We were there to celebrate a friend's birthday - so I'll start with the service first. One of the fastest service I've experienced. The food has always been good - a bit oily sometimes - but hey, all good things are oily! ;) Ambiance was pretty nice too, given it was a weekday! Quite for most of the time with good Indian background music. read more

Wow! This is a restaurant not to miss. From the amazing food to the server Harish C., our experience was amazing start to finish. Service was wonderful and Harish our server even put a candle on the rasmala for desert and sang happy birthday with me for my sisters birthday. Such a fun and special touch! Food wise. Appetizers (pakoras and samosas) were so good and fresh! Chicken tikka masala with lemon rice was fragrant and hit the spot along with a beautiful light and airy poori! Comfortable and homey neighborhood vibe. Clean and you could hear yourself talk. We had a fabulous experience and can't wait to be back. If you want unpretentious, delicious Indian food with warm service and a cozy atmosphere... this is for you. Thank you for making our night special, Harish! read more

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came for dinner on Holi with some of my desi girl friends to celebrate the festival of colors! we choose Benares since they had a reasonably priced menu and could accommodate a large party! the restaurant was relatively empty so it was great for us as it was a monday night. immediately upon entering we were seated at our table. one of my cons is the servers took forever to initially get us water we started with aloo tikki and chaat - portions were quite small but we ordered 2 of each for the table. food was exactly what we expected so no surprises here - all very delicious for mains we got lamb biryani which had all the flavors plus tender lamb. chili paneer which was my fav - remotely spicy and tons of veggies - so so good. this plus raita and garlic naan was mouth watering. i really wanted a dal makhani but it wasnt as flavorful as i had in previous places so i would say skip that. chicken tikka masala also wasnt as flavorful, but the lemon rice and butter chicken we ordered were totally worth it. would def return and recommend to friends! read more

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Super flavorful delicious food and excellent kind service. Quiet calm atmosphere. Definitely coming back!

Delicious meal with so much flavor! Currently there is construction outside so kind of missed it. Inside is pretty spacious, bathrooms downstairs. My friend ordered the goat curry and I tried the okra & saag paneer. I definitely recommend the saag paneer and the laacha paratha bread, so good! Staff were really friendly, it was my friend's birthday and they gave complimentary rose ice cream with candle. Made the night extra special! read more

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Is it the greatest Indian in nyc? Far from it. Does it get the job done? Sure. Honestly, its probably only worth it to order to home from here, not eat in house. We didn't really have one waiter which made it hard to order. Once our food came out, within 10 minutes multiple serves didnt even ask but tried to take our plates away. We literally had full plates and full mouths and they asked if we were done. Then different servers continued to do this every 5 minutes. For a pretty empty restaurant, it was weird. They didnt need the table but proceeded to rush us to finish our apps and entrees. At first it was odd, then it was rude. The food was simply not good enough to come back and endure that again. read more

I've come here a few times for their brunch and it's an amazing deal. If you have a puls'd account, the deal is even better - I'd definitely recommend the boozy brunch. I've had the paneer pizza twice and it's chefs kiss, the flavors are immaculate and the naan is so soft but also well cooked. Although I wish the bottom was a little more firm. My friend had the chicken version of the pizza and he loved it just as much. I also tend to love Indian fusion food, but I've had their traditional North Indian food which is also great. A lot of Indian restaurants dilute their flavor with heavy cream and butter but this place is not like that. I only wish it was closer to my apartment so I could go more often. I like their food so much I'm catering them for my wedding!! Service is great and staff is friendly. I've only gone twice and both times it was a bit quite so ambiance was fine. read more

Benares - Paneer pizza - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Food colours were used, Paneer was rubbery, service and ambience were typical (clean, courteous) nothing stood out

Horrible service, extremely bad smell in the entrance. Food was very bad. I wouldn't advise going here.

I'm surprised there weren't more people here because the food was REALLY GOOD. My friends and I came here yesterday and they had run out out of one of the drink ingredients. The employee ran out to one of the nearby grocery stores so that he could still make the drink which was really nice of him! My boyfriend and I shared the Butter Chicken, Spicy Naan and Lamb Vindaloo. Everything was delicious and super flavorful/saucy. The lamb definitely had quite the kick to it, but I thought it was delicious. They also provide free rice/peas which is great. Overall, really yummy! read more

Benares - Butter Chicken/Lamb Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Empty restaurant and I was placed on the middle of a busy runway. Bread was served at dessert time. Food was ok.

Love the prix fixe lunch special. Came with a colleague and we both got the vegetarian option - a steal for $15. The lunch comes with choice of appetizer, an entree, naan, daal, and rice. Holy heck there was a ton to eat between the two of us. Among the favorites was the paneer tikka. Incredibly kind service but had to ask for a few things multiple times. Could've been due to the lunch rush. Will be back to try more options. read more

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I truly love going to restaurants where the staff is wonderful, the food is good, and prices are realistic. For me, the staff being warm and professional is what makes the rest of the experience stellar. I used to be a frequent customer at Benares and often dropped in for wine. Unfortunately, I will no longer be returning because of repeated negative experiences with one front-of-house staff member of average height who dons long hair tied in a ponytail. I will not mention the name as there might be someone else working there with a like-sounding/same name and do not wish to give a red X to any other worker in there. On multiple visits for a while now, he has been consistently rude, dismissive, disrespectful, and projects a noticeably bad attitude that sets a very unpleasant tone for a family-style place. Most recently, on the evening before Thanksgiving, I arrived to meet friends for a few drinks. This staff member was the only person visible in the customer dining area. He came from the back of the restaurant and walked past me a couple of times without acknowledging me or offering so much as a "Can I help you?" I stood near the bar and was the only customer in the entire place at the time, and difficult to miss when passing at a distance of three feet behind. After standing there for several minutes being completely ignored, I called my friends and asked them to meet me elsewhere. I left and decided I would not return again. I want to emphasize that other servers and management I have dealt with at Benares have been friendly, above and beyond kind and markedly professional. However, this particular staff member's rudeness, disrespect, negative attitude, and bad energy are completely at odds with what I expect from any restaurant or staff whether front-facing or otherwise. As a once-loyal customer of a place that I have helped to promote and tell friends and others to patronize, I take umbrage to being disrespected by a staff person whose attitude is destructive not building. There are other restaurants with similar cuisine in the area where this kind of treatment towards customers does not exist. read more