In short, amazing. Service was great, friendly, and very cognizant of allergies. - Ghee Whiz - smoked cocktail, really good, flavorful, smooth, unique - Paneer - on the one hand, $20+ for two pieces of paneer seems crazy but on the other hand that paneer was so melt-in-your-mouth texture maybe it's worth getting again, but probably not - Beef pepper fry - amazing, my favorite dish we got. Definitely a bit on the spicier side but incredible flavor, beef all cooked well, great presentation on the skillet, so worth it. - Makai Lamb - the lamb itself was incredible; imagine a giant lamb bone with meat falling off into a thin soup-like sauce. The sauce was delicate in flavor, allowing the lamb to really shine and it was delicious. So filling too, a ton of food. Only weird thing, the two chunks of corn cobs felt out of place. Will definitely return, delicious and best done with more people to try more dishes. read more

Dhamaka - Ghee Whiz - fantastic cocktail. Smokey, smooth, delicious - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Food was excellent! Just like my trip to India. They have the right food in the menus and all the things we ordered had a little taste of slickness in it. Service was very good as well. And the ambiance is at the corner area of Essex Street Market tucked away with its own convenient toilet. The crab with garlic was served with Indian rice. The Tika was perfectly done and their Indian bread which very thin went with it and the eggplant dishes that they cooked Jndian style - must also order. We had the goat dish which was also delicious. They gave us green chutney and fresh sliced red onion as well So overall it was a positive experience. read more

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As a brown girl, Dhamaka has been on my list since moving to NYC. It's inside Essex Market (food hall) but they have their own nook with seating. The interior is actually super vibrant and fun, just like the menu. We went for Sunday brunch, had a reservation, and were seated quickly. Also, our host was so sweet. We ordered a lot: garlic crab, methi paneer, dhaaba daal, and malai murgh. I'll be honest, my standards for Indian food are high and this was under seasoned. I get they may cater to a wider audience but the spices are what make Indian food shine. Favorites were the dhaaba daal and garlic crab. The rest I'd probably skip next time. Loved the vibes but still on the hunt for my go-to Indian spot in NYC! read more

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I was in town for work staying in Chinatown. I was lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful restaurants Dhamaka is located in Essex Market with a good selection of vendors. I came right before lunch ended and I was able to snag a seat at the bar. My go to is always something with paneer so I ordered the paneer methi. I was definitely scoping out what everyone order too. The girl next to me ordered the paneer tikka which is my next go to! I ordered the paratha which was similar to roti. Made fresh, flakey, and buttery, oh my! The portions are pretty big! This was something I could have shared or taken home if I wasn't traveling for work. I did my best to get as much of that meal in my belly. It was so good. I love Indian food and this place was off the chain! The flavors were so amazing. I'll definitely be back to try more. I loved the chill vibe with bar and restaurant seating too. Not a bad place for lunch at all. read more

Dhamaka - Paneer methi and paratha - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

We snagged a 9:15 PM reservation for Dhamaka this past Friday, mainly because its sister restaurant Semma is basically impossible to get into, and my friends raved about their experience at Adda (their third restaurant). Figured it was a solid alternative, but in hindsight, the late reservation was kind of a mistake. We're big paneer people, so naturally we went 2/3 paneer on the order. PANEER TIKKA (2 PCS) - 21 Each piece was thick and creamy. Super flavorful and packed with spice, with that soft, cheesy texture done really well. I can see why it's a fan favorite, but it's incredibly pricey for just two pieces. PANEER METHI - 36 The paneer in this entree was just as delicious as the paneer tikka, but the curry was way too salty for me. It didn't come with any basmati rice (and we would have had to order a side of it), so I didn't go back for more. NALLI BIRYANI - 75 The dum (steamed) biryani in a huge claypot, and we were amazed when we saw it. The lamb shank was the highlight -- fall-off-the-bone tender and really well-cooked. Super deep flavors. There was a ton of rice and meat, way more than we could finish. The rice was very flavorful as well, but the whole dish got pretty heavy after a while. Overall, the food was good, but nothing was mind-blowing. We paid about $65 each and had a fair amount of leftovers. Sadly, the food wasn't worth a 9:15 reservation, but I'd like to try Adda and Semma eventually. read more

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Two of us shared: - paneer tikka: the texture of this is amazing and it was good but personally I could have used more of a sauce - beef pepper fry: wagyu strips that were delicious and very flavorful. Fortunately, we had the paneer and the biryani to offset the saltiness, but you need to order something else to balance this - lamb biryani: the star of the show, tender lamb in a huge container. There were so much leftovers. It did get a little bland at times but the beef pepper fry was helpful for that They provided a green sauce, onion, and yogurt as well, but not sure if any of these come with specific dishes. I got the garden nimbu pani as a drink which is nice and refreshing, in the vibe of a mint-less mojito. read more

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"Busy" is not the word for this popular Indian spot in Essex Market. It's just as packed as the sister restaurant, Adda, that recently re-located from Queens. Alex, our waiter, was fantastic and walked us through the menu with his favorites. They also have unique cocktails and a decent wine selection. The cocktail I ordered was a little too sweet and reminded me of mouthwash so I switched it for a glass of wine. We definitely ordered way too much for two people, but every dish was layered with incredible flavor. If you're not big on spice, ask about the heat level, a dish or two had an extra kick. The Butter Pepper Garlic Crab was my favorite. They level up the presentation by bringing it out in the shell and flipping it at the table. Raita isn't listed on the menu, but they do have it . Reservations are a must, even if you are planning to sit at the bar. Their dining area is suitable for all size parties. FYI: they're also participating in Restaurant Week. read more

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RESTAURANT WEEK ONLY REVIEW Came here after seeing Dhamaka end up on the restaurant week menus. Made a 5:15pm reservation about a week before. From the restaurant week menu we ordered: - Chana Chhena Tikki - Paneer Tikka - Rara Gosht - Malai Murgh All the dishes were great! Everything was definitely bursting with flavors from start to finish. My wife's favorite thing was the paneer tikka. I personally really liked both the rara gosht (had a nice little kick to it) and the malai murgh (which had a nice rich creaminess to it). The dishes are definitely on the richer side of things so we ended up having a decent amount of leftovers to take back. The paratha that was served with the mains was also excellent. Super buttery, but not overly oily. I also ordered the Malai Lassi which was super tasty and a nice sweet treat. My wife also ordered the Manjal Saaru off the N/A menu, but got it with an actual shot of gin and enjoyed it. The only things that were a bit of a bummer was they didn't have the Thandai Dhamaka (sponge cake) since it hadn't set by the time of service. They did swap it with a chocolate cake which was solid though. Additionally the space is very cramped. It didn't help that it was so cold outside so everyone's puffy winter jackets were taking up space. Our server was excellent, but definitely seemed like there wasn't enough front-of-house staff as she was running between so many different tables. It was a bit hard to get a hold of her at times, but when we did she was excellent. The price is definitely on the steeper side, but I think with restaurant week pricing you effectively get the desserts for free. Dhamaka has definitely been on my list for a while (as with Adda), so I'm definitely glad I tried it. I'm not sure I'd come flocking back again to try it since there's so many other excellent Indian restaurants in the city, but this one is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

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One of a kind experience- and highly recommend snagging that reservation asap! So Dhamaka is attached to the Essex Market and their entrance is within the market. Right off the bat you're met with Bollywood music & a colorful bar and wall decor. The restaurant itself is a bit on the smaller side, but it's not overly crowded even with a full house. The food is undeniably delicious! We tried recommendations from our server and you should too because they won't steer you wrong. Every dish is fresh and has spices that are unique to the different Indian regions. You quite literally are having a taste of every part of India when you order different dishes. The drinks menu is also carefully caring to incorporate Indian and South Asian culture. If you run into the chef like we did highly recommend having a chat with him as he's super nice and takes the time to describe the dishes and the ideas behind them. In all, wonderful experience and would recommend Dhamaka to anyone who's looking for Indian food read more

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Great restaurant: delicious food, attentive service and nice atmosphere. We will be back! read more

I give this place a 3.5. When we arrived I didn't realize this was located in a food hall apart of Essex market. I do agree with some of the reviews how it's pricey for being apart of a food market. The service was great and waiter gave us some good recommendations on what to order. It's a small place so definitely recommend having resy. They have a small bar area which has cute esthetic. Now to the part that everyone cares about the food! We ordered the paneer tikka and the bohri chicken cutlets. We really enjoyed both appetizers. They are known for their paneer as it's fresh and it was definitely fresh as it was so soft. The green chutney was also fresh, limey, good balance of mint, and spice level which was good pairing with paneer and chicken cutlets. The chicken cutlets were yummy and had a good level of spice kick. For the entree we got paneer methi which was good and you got that soft paneer again. However, for my tasting I could have used a little more spice and sauce/gravy. It got a little dry and hard to eat with rice. We also got the paratha which was flakey, crunchy and buttery goodness. For drinks, we got trusted the waiter and bartender. We had the following: -Avocado Avatar -Genda mule-not overly limey and was good -Bombay blues- was interesting and enjoyed trying it but I think I liked mikes better -Manual Saaru with vodka-almost reminded me of mango ish drink althou there no mango in it. It definitely was not over empowering. Overall it was a good experience and I really enjoyed the appetizers. I would recommend people to try it. I hear the crab is good however I don't eat seafood. read more

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Dhamaka is one of the sister restaurants of Semma and Adda, both of which my boyfriend and I had been to before. Dhamaka lives up to the hype! It's located inside a sort of food hall complex with other businesses. My boyfriend and I ordered with the intention of being able to take home leftovers, so yes we got way too much food for 2 people. We started with the butter pepper garlic crab which was amazing! I love any opportunity where I don't have to get the crab meat out from the shell myself lol. We shared three mains: the Malai Murgh (chicken), Rara Gosht (goat meat and mince) and the Nalli Biryani (braised lamb shank with basmati rice). The goat dish is a bit spicy but that is considering I have a pretty mid spice tolerance. Still good though, especially over rice! We ended on the rice pudding dessert which we were nervous about originally because the table next to us did not finish their rice pudding dessert, but my boyfriend and I LOVED it and did not leave a single lick behind lol. Overall I think the price is worth it for the amount of food and skill displayed by the cook of the food. read more

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This is an updated review since Dhamaka recently started serving lunch. We visited for a hearty Sunday lunch and enjoyed seeing some new menu items. The chana chhenna was delicious, and the beef pepper fry, though quite spicy, was really flavorful. The paneer methi continues to be one of our favorites. The bohri chicken was a bit inconsistent: my first piece didn't have any cheese, but the second did, and both could have used a bit more salt and seasoning. Our waitress was new and seemed a bit nervous, but she was friendly and attentive--I'm sure she'll gain confidence with time. Some menu items could still use a bit of work, but overall, the food is good here and I look forward to coming back to try more dishes. read more

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Food was honestly underwhelming. We ordered the goat neck biryani and paneer. The paneer was soft, but had almost no flavor -- it honestly tasted like plain store-bought paneer slices. The biryani leaned oddly sweet, and the goat itself lacked seasoning and depth of flavor. Overall, really disappointing and didn't live up to the expectations or price point. The one positive was that the service was very friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately, for the price, there are definitely much better spots out there. read more

Dhamaka - Goat Neck Biryani - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Was super excited to try this restaurant. Service was amazing and the vibe was fun, the decor was an interesting choice. Paneer tikka was yummy. Super soft and very fresh. The green chutney was perfect with it. The malai murgh cream sauce was absolutely delicious. However the chicken was bone dry and had too many bones that would fall apart and would be in the bites with the meat. The daal was my favorite. Whole cloves of roasted garlic and chili was delicious. The paratha was flaky and perfect. Comped is with a birthday dessert which was excellent service and a nice touch. I don't usually like rose desserts but the rose kulfi was actually so good despite how thick it was. A nice and refreshing end to the meal. Went on Sunday at 5. No one there. Around 6 a lot more people showed up. read more

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Authentic Indian food with bold flavors. The restaurant is colorful and vibrant serving Indian flavor inspirired cocktails . The paneer is made in- house and is the softest malai panner available in all of new York. We ordered the paneer tikka & methi paneer . They do not hold back on their spice and favour. Its exactly how Indian food is . They served phulkas which is a fully puffed bread which reminded me of home. A phulka is supposed to be had hot so the servers made it a point to get one by one .Methi paneer portion was family style so be sure to share . read more

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Is it a restaurant, or is it an indoor market food stall? Given its location inside Essex Market, their prices aren't cheap but it's certainly worth a visit. Dhamaka offers small to medium to large plates so go with a group and be prepared to order a bunch and share. The menu showcases spices and food preparation from different parts of India (not just the North or South). We tried the paneer tikka (excellent), the lamb belly seekh (very soft and melt in your mouth but lacked oomph in flavor), the Kashmiri gosht chaamp (spicy and had a kick but definitely recommend) and the rara ghost for our entree with roti and paratha. We really like lamb &goat meat as you can tell :). Given the expertise of the chef, the roti was pretty sad (and reminded me more of a taco in taste and texture), and definitely didn't feel freshly made. We finished off with bite size pistachio kulfi which was great and the perfect sweet treat. read more

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Delicious authentic Indian cuisine, with an emphasis on attentive service. The hearty dishes are large - enough for several people to share, with rich, complex, spicy flavors. (We probably could have shared bread and one entrée between the 2 of us and been satisfied.) The "Kolambi Ani Kekda Bhaath" arrived in its pressure cooker with shredded coconut added table-side for a nice texture complement to the curry dish rich with a generous portion of crab and shrimp, having whole cinnamon bark pieces, cardamom seeds, and cloves hidden inside for occasional surprisingly flavorful bites. The paneer methi has beautifully fresh house-made paneer in a strong and vibrant curry with fenugreek and tomato. For some background on the chef and the work that goes into these dishes, watch "A Day in the Life of an Indian Master Chef" -https://youtu.be/29ZP8ADQJ1Y The only downside was we were the first seated after they opened but no food arrived for 50 minutes. But it was worth the wait. read more

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Before I get into the food, I must admit my continued frustration with the claim to represent "regional" Indian cooking across many of the new hyped desi eateries in the city. I suppose the lehsooni palak references Rajasthani lehsooni chutney, but more so than dal baati or gatte ki sabzi? Champaran may be a secondary hallmark of Bihar, but where is sattu and where is litti chokha? My partner hails from Uttarakhand and has never heard of a pahari dish called "dahi wali bhindi." NYC needs better regional Indian restaurants that ACTUALLY serve regional cuisine. With that being said, the flavors were very good. As always at Unapologetic Indian establishments, the paneer is a standout - it was perfectly tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, just like the one I had ordered from Biryani Bol. The aforementioned lehsooni palak and dahi bhindi were both nicely spiced, very rich mains that I'm glad we ate with chappatis rather than a heavier bread. The atmosphere is fun and casual with a 2010s Bollywood playlist (I'm pretty sure I heard Hookah Bar). Thankfully the hype has died down so you can actually get a seat here now. read more

Dhamaka - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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For the price point, I was mildly unimpressed. We went in during restaurant week and they had a pretty solid menu. The dishes however didn't seem to stand out and I left feeling that I dined at a standard Indian restaurant not a $$$ one. The ambiance is also very casual. In fact the restaurant shares space with a food court on one corner. Overall, I'd say it was just okay and not worth the price. The drinks however were fantastic - I especially enjoyed the ghee whiz. read more

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if you're going to go to dhamaka, the paneer is a MUST!! i don't normally get vegetarian dishes but this meal was delicious. to start, we got the chickpea patties for an app and WOW, the flavor was just right and had the right kick to it with the chillies inside - was way better than i had expected! we also got the paneer methi as it was came highly recommended and the paneer literally MELTS in your mouth, it was awesome!! personally i could have used a bit more spice but the flavors were just right. we also got the baigan bharta which was charred to perfection giving it a slight smoky flavor that was delicious - the portion was small but the flavors were large!! and finally we got the dal and that was honestly my second favorite and i did not expect to love dal so much. they do the thadka at tableside which is always a fun experience - so highly reccomend!! for a drink i did try their non alcoholic manjul saaru that was perfectly refreshing especially pairing well with an indian meal. the service was awesome and our server was so kind and helpful when we were debating between what to get! the food comes at a relatively quick pace and comes out very hot and fresh which is always really nice. and the inside seating is a bit limited so definitely recomend making a reservation and if not there is bar seating available as well. interior is cute and located right inside the essex market read more

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First time dining at this Michelin Bib Gourmand and it was restaurant week. I had a 5pm dinner. Service was great and accommodating. My server was knowledgeable and helpful in choosing what dishes to order. I ordered from the restaurant week menu and the portions were definitely smaller. Ambiance was small and it is situated inside Essex Market. I started off with the Genda Mule, which was refreshing and complemented my entire meal. For the appetizer I ordered the Paneer Tikka which is one of their popular dishes and it was small. Given the alcoholic drink ordered the slice of Tikka flavored paneer cheese was not enough. For the entree I ordered the Rara Goscht and it was definitely spicy and filling for a small portion. I didn't finish the dish and I ended up taking it home for my other half to enjoy. He only devoured the bread and I ate the rest of the entree for lunch the next day. For the dessert I had the Rabri which was small but enough to mask the alcohol consumption from the Mule. I would definitely return with a friend who can handle spice to try the Champaran Meat. read more

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it's good, really good. And judging by the crowd, it's popular with the Indian population, always a good sign. My favorite was the kidney and testicle dish. Probably the first time I've ever said that. Malai murgh was tasty, super flavor able with bold flavors and creaminess. The lassoni palak was equally complex. Spicy, earthy, and liquidy. A little surprised it wasn't automatically served with rice. And that was the only disappointment here, no rice served with dishes. Must be ordered à la carte. I usually have many all sorts of problems with "craft cocktails" but the ghee whiz was well thought out and a perfect blend of sweetness, butteriness, and alcohol. Service was fantastic! read more

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My absolute favorite Indian restaurant in the city! I can't rave about it enough. Authentically Indian and not afraid to use those spices. If you can't handle the heat, I suggest you go elsewhere because some recipes here can't (or perhaps won't) be modified to be mild/bland. Also, this place surpasses Bungalow. I said what I said. Enjoy! read more

Paratha: I fear I much prefer naan but this was flaky and buttery. Lamb biryani: 10/10 deffo overpriced but this has to be the best biryani I've had in terms of the flavor and tenderness of the lamb. There's an entire lamb shank in there and the portion is enough to feed 6 ppl imo. Paneer methi: amazing paneer, clearly made in house and the fenugreek really comes through. I do wish this dish was less greasy. Beef pepper fry: spicy, tender beef, what's not to like Service is good, waters are constantly refilled and they bring clean plates between appetizers and main course. Note that this place is super loud as it's in Essex market and always packed. read more

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Went at Saturday right at 11:30 AM as they opened. We had a reservation but they had plenty of seating throughout the time we were there. We were quickly helped by a really nice waiter, who walked us through the menu and gave us suggestions on what to order. I appreciated that they feature dishes all throughout India, giving a different diversity of options. We went with the paneer, crab, and lamb biriyani. It was all delicious! The paneer was well seasoned and a great texture. The crab had a good amount of meat and was served in a really nice way, with the shell which the waiter then poured out and mixed for us with the rice. And then the lamb biriyani was great, lamb was super tender and fell right off the bone. Especially the biriyani, good amount of food for easily 4 people. The vibe is nice, right in Essex market, so easy place to buy spices afterwards or pickup any other food you may want! Definitely a decent place for some Indian food! read more

Dhamaka - Tikka paneer - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

I never thought I'd have to update my Dhamaka review, but here we are three years later. I took some friends to Dhamaka, obviously so excited for them to try the biryani since my experience has been phenomenal each time I've been (I've taken friends, my parents, etc...). However, this time, the biryani felt flat - lacked seasoning and just didn't feel as cohesive as it once did. I haven't been back in 8-ish months, but something had clearly changed and I'm not a chef so idk what it was but there was something off. Everyone at the table including the gore pakores were underwhelmed. I do want to mention the other dishes we had: Paneer Methi - 5/5 still slapped hard, exactly how I remembered it Rara Gosht - 4/5. Tried this one for the first time, and rly enjoyed it Beef Pepper Fry - 4/5 solid Lassi - 5/5 LOVED But folks, I come to Dhamaka for the biryani and unfortunately it just wasn't good :( read more

They serve the best, softest, tastiest, full of right spices and texture paneer tikka in North America so far. I've tried paneer tikka from various restaurants and this is my favorite. We ordered it twice. I ordered their methi paneer entree with the paratha and roti and it was crazy good - the gravy was very flavorful and paired well with the paratha. This was enough for 3 people or you could take it Togo. Thankfully the reservation was not hard to find. The food options were very good and we had a great time. Our server was also very sweet and friendly. Would definitely recommend this restaurant if you haven't tried it despite the price point. read more

Dhamaka - Methi paneer masala - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Spicy but delicious food! We came one early evening for dinner - had the okra and the eggplant dip. And the rice pudding dessert. The restaurant was relatively quiet compared to other times I have walked by. The waitress was on top of her game. The food was good portions. It was super spicy - even the sauce they give at the beginning. But I loved it! read more

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Indian restaurant Top inside the Essex Street market serving up high end Indian culinary. We made a reservation and we're set in like this corner restaurant inside the market staff was bustling about ensuring our water glasses were filled in. Our every need was taken care of the waiter made suggestionsand we decided on cocktails appetizers and mains after we were through. There was no room for dessert. I definitely would love to come back here to experience more of the exotic dishes as they were tasty and spicy like I like it. Go here!! read more

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Had an amazing experience at Dhamaka. The menu is kinda small so there's not many options and limited vegetarian options. I wish they had naan instead of just chapathi/paratha but the paratha was pretty good. We sat at the bar area and the service was good too. The paneer methi was super yummy and I'd definitely order it again. The methi in it was the best part in my opinion which I didn't expect. The quantity was also huge so we were able to eat it with rice too which was nice. read more

Dhamaka - Paratha and paneer methi - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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we walked in on a Friday night and got seated immediately at the bar. the interior is super cute and every dish was outstanding! by far the yummiest and most high quality Indian food i have ever had! literally THE BEST lamb biryani and paneer tikka i have ever consumed. the lamb meat literally SLIPPED off the huge bone it was SO tender and juicy plus i loved how the biryani came in the bread pot. it was such a huge portion! all the spices in the biryani were so flavorful wow. also i really thought i hated paneer until this day but i guess i've only had cheap trashy paneer before lol. the baingan bharta was so smoky and delicious with the perfect amount of spice, and it paired so well with the paratha. the paratha was definitely better than the chapati but i loved both bc i just love all bread LOL but overall, everything was delicious! highly highly recommend! read more

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I was recommended this place by an Indian friend and my sister was not recommended by another Indian friend, food was alright and priceyish, I found everything had dairy, not many vegan options either. read more

Dhamaka - butter chicken naan and saag paneer - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Dhamaka was one Indian restaurant we decided to try on our trip to NYC & it certainly did not disappoint. The staff is warm & welcoming, the suggestions made by them were bang on. We tried "Paneer Tikka", "Macchi Hara Masala" & the "Malai Murgh". All 3 dishes were delicious. The Paneer Tikka was hands down the best dish and best paneer we have had so far, it was so soft that it was melting in our mouth, it's a must try. The Macchi was cooked to perfection and the Hara masala marinade was very flavorful.(mind the bones) The Murgh was roasted with perfect char on the outside and tender juicy chicken inside, the decadent malai gravy was later poured on top of murgh at our table. Overall we felt that Dhamaka was a great experience with authentic bold flavors and each dish cooked to perfection. read more

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We were pleasantly surprised at how amazing the service and food was at this restaurant. I also enjoyed the decoration around their bar. The service was very friendly and they took the time to explain the dishes to us. The food tasted absolutely amazing. All of the meat that we ordered was well cooked and tender, moist and soft. The drinks were absolutely amazing and dangerously good. read more

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This place is a little over hyped and the service is a bit slow. I was expecting bigger portions and for them to be served faster considering 2 of them were appetizer sized. Each dish also came out individually which I thought was irritating instead of 2 at a time or in a faster sequence once we finished each 1. The only dish worth getting out of what I tried was the crab over rice. It had a lot of lump crab, but that's expected for being over $40 for an appetizer. The sauce and crab had a lot of flavor and wasn't over cooked, tasted distinctly Indian and was really well executed. The pepper beef was ok, but too spicy to comfortably eat without either rice or something to drink like mango lassi. The mango lassi was a bit unique with a lot of whipped cream and real mangoes blended into it almost like a smoothie. The white sauce for the chicken was almost like a mayo but there was nothing else special even though it was similar to butter chicken. I would only go back for the crab dish, otherwise I don't think I'd go back to try anything else. read more

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Enjoyed a lovely gals evening at Dhamka. We got the famous lamb rice and it indeed was delicious. The crab dish was TOP TIER and probably my favorite thing consumed that night. Casual atmosphere located the the Essex Market Food Hall, I highly recommend you make a reservation to attend. Our drinks were lovely and the manager was super kind. Our waitress was nice, but it felt as if she were trying to particularly expeditiously turn our table. Would I return, possible. As long as I am not looking to chill and catch up with friends. For an in-and-out(ish) want interesting Indian food in LES... Sure... Give it a go! read more

Quaint dining room and has some flexible seating or big and small groups. The dishes were pretty interesting and my favorites were the chickpeas and paneer. read more

Dhamaka - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Dhamaka is tucked away in an unassuming corner of Essex Market, but their slogan is, "unapologetic Indian" that is "explosive," stating, "this is the other side of India, the forgotten side of India." This place is popular, so reservations are recommended. I reserved right at opening at 5 PM and had the place to myself for maybe the first 45 minutes, but by the end, seats were starting to fill. This was on a weekday. First of all, my server was wonderful. I wish his name was on the receipt so I could recognize him personally. He was attentive and explained the menu in detail, and made great recommendations. The dishes here come in various sizes. There are appetizer/small plate sized dishes, sides, large plate dishes, and limited availability special dishes. I started off with the jam masjid seekh, which is smoked lamb belly, ginger, and cilantro. I thought his would be served differently, but it comes out like a ground meat kebab. Which is fine, and the seasoning was good and the taste was good, just not what I thought I was ordering. I think I would get the bohri chicken cutlet next time, made with chicken mince, green chili, and amul cheese (should have gone with the server recommendation on this one). At the recommendation of the server, I ordered the beef pepper fry, made with wagyu flank, curry leaves, and tellicherry pepper. This was by far my favorite dish. Spicy, smacking you in the face with flavor. I loved wrapping it in chapati, almost like a taco. For my main dish, I had the malai murgh, which is young chicken, cream, and amul butter. The taste of this dish was creamy and complex, but I am sad to say that I am not a person who enjoys my meat on the bone. I would pass on this one next time because of that--plus I like spicier flavors with less dairy. They have several paneer dishes. Goat, crab, rainbow crab, lamb. There are five veggie dishes that I count on the menu--with a wide array of flavors and ingredients--eggplant, tomato, paneer, fenugreek, okra, yogurt, garbanzo, and spices. I don't think a vegan can get a meal here. They have some inventive cocktails that are unlike any you're likely to experience anywhere else. I had: Avocado avatar: methi-infused mezcal, Serrano-infused tequila, avocado, chaat masala, lime, and ginger. A savory cocktail with a truly unique taste. Hara panna: Indian dry gin, sotol, cucumber, bergamot, lemon, salted fennel, and paan tincture. A very simple, spirit forward drink. Bombay blues: Indian rum, basil eau de vie, cultured coconut, genepy, celery, lim, blue spirulina, and ajwain. Served with a flaming lime with a shot inside! This one was a little sweeter than I usually drink, but I appreciated it for the showmanship and the fun composition. The server did warn me it was almost like an Indian Pina colada. And the ghee whiz, a ghee-washed Indian rum and whiskey, spiced jaggery, and smoked applewood. Smoky sipper served literally smoking. So many drinks here put on a show before you drink them! Subtotal without tax and tip: 189. A little commentary beyond my experience at Dhamaka: I've eaten a lot of Indian around Manhattan. And I'm starting to realize many of them are under the same hospitality teams. Dhamaka is from the group who also manages Semma, Adda, and several other restaurants. The group responsible for Junoon, which I really did enjoy as a high class dining experience, also manages Indian street food cousin, Jazba. Gupshup, another great place I've tried in Manhattan, seems to stand alone, and for that I commend it for being original (and focusing on the cuisine from Bombay specifically). Maybe it's time to get out of Manhattan and try some spots in Queens. read more

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This is going to be a slightly harsher review just because it's an expensive relatively hyped restaurant. The good: the food is very good. The paneer especially is some of the best I've had. The paratha went well with the eggplant. The okra curry, which was my least favorite of the three, was still very good. The bad: the ambience is not worth the money. We ended up spending north of $150 for two people to basically have dinner in the corner of a food court. I've heard the covered outdoor dining section is a bit better but we were seated inside and it just wasn't it. The okay: the sevice was just fine for the ambience and the price paid. read more

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