TL;DR Version- Good Indian place with a particularly good lunch special. Open for a few years now, Spice Manta is a pretty popular Indian restaurant serving above-average fare. From what I can tell online, I believe the place is halal, but I'm not positive. The service was friendly both times, and the place is medium-sized with a casual atmosphere. I have been here twice, once for dinner and once for their excellent lunch special, which is notable as this has now become one of the few Indian places in the area with an actual lunch special, with many spots closing and the fancier Chola no longer having a buffet. As for my other meal here, I honestly don't remember much about the dinner we had. This is very rare as I tend to remember most meals I've had, but I can't give any details. The special is very reasonably priced, especially for Midtown East, and comes with your choice of entree, rice, bread, and dal, which reminds me more of Indian places from several years ago, as well as the various spots that are Indian or from the surrounding areas frequented by taxi drivers, which offer similar specials but are of worse quality. The price depends on the protein, ranging from $11.95 for vegetables to $16.95 for shrimp, with a $14.95 option for lamb in between. While the menu has a few less common dishes, including some from southern India, the specials mostly focus on the standard British curries you find at most NYC spots, or rather, Portuguese curries if it's vindaloo. I went with the Lamb Roganjosh (or rogan josh,) which was tasty. It was a pretty standard version with pretty tender lamb and a mild masala. The portion was pretty generous for lunch, with many pieces of lamb. Along with a pretty solid version of the daily dal, which was basically the same Dal Makhani as on the vegetarian menu, it was flavorful and filling. This was especially true when combined with the naan and rice. As for said naan, it was fresh and standard. I also tried someone else's Chicken Madras, which was tasty, with the protein tasting a bit better. Next time, I would probably get the Mattar Paneer or some chicken dish. This is a pretty standard Indian place that is notable for their outstanding lunch special. In terms of dinner quality, I prefer to pay for the much better Chola, which has a much more varied menu and better proteins and curries, but comparing these places is a bit unfair, as the latter spot is much more expensive. If you're looking for a good Indian lunch special and are in this area, I would highly recommend this place. read more

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The best chicken korma I've ever had in my life. It tasted so good. Its creaminess was wild. We also got an eggplant vegetarian dish and it was good as well. More solid Our appetizer that we got was fun to try, but I didn't like that. It was refrigerated cold. It's meant to be served that way, but I didn't fancy it. Great Naan Excellent service. They were so kind to my girlfriend on her birthday. They brought out a yummy dessert of two balls that are soaking in a liquid honey. Thank you for making it special. read more

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This is a take-out review (pick up from store). Definitely noted the take-out packaging was lined with aluminum to maximize warmth in travel! Samosa (5/5): The pieces were jumbo, almost the size of my whole palm! The inside was super flavorful with the potato filling being elevated with the included sauces. Butter Chicken (5/5): It was unlike other Indian butter chicken flavors so perhaps more authentic to its region. Regardless, it was phenomenal with tender shredded cuts of chicken immersed in a blend of unknown bits. Lamb Rogan Josh (5/5): So much flavor with chunks of very tender lamb. The sauce had bursts of flavor. Naan - very standard naan but still delicious compliment to the meal. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu as well. Would definitely recommend and loved all the flavors. Will definitely order from here again! read more

Spice Mantra - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Wow, what an incredible experience! We arrived a little earlier in the afternoon and were seated right away. The service was excellent! Our server kept our glasses full, checked in regularly, and was very attentive throughout the meal. We started with a complimentary papadum appetizer, which was a nice touch. For our mains, we ordered a chicken chetinad curry (I'm pretty sure that's the name), chicken tikka masala (our favorite) and garlic chili naan, which was an absolute hit. To finish, we enjoyed a delicious rice pudding. Everything was flavorful and perfectly prepared. Overall, a wonderful dining experience, we can't wait to come back next time we're on the east side. read more

Spice Mantra - Rice pudding - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Finally found tasty and affordable Indian in upper east side after my kitchen for decades, agra Lexington was gone after covid. Very good food- you should try. Prices are affordable. Some of upper east side Indian are very expensive and not for everyone but this one is. Ambience is not lux but great for friends and family. read more

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After reviewing three other Indian food locations in the area we settled on Spice Mantra due to them having Butter Chicken while the others did not. We came on a Friday around 5:30 to a fairly open seating, while time went on the space did fill up with folks coming in with reservations. Service was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable.....never an empty water glass. We ordered the Butter Chicken at medium hot which was pretty hot, it did not take from the flavor tho. Samosas came packed full and given to us strait from the fryer. So far one of the better Indian cuisines I've been to while in NYC. read more

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Spice Mantra is great Indian food at a reasonable price. You can order anything with confidence and I did. This was a smooth and quick delivery via Door Dash and the food arrived within an hour or so. For the mains, I ordered the tandoori salmon, goat curry, lamb vindaloo, and chicken biryani. I also ordered the saag paneer spinach and aloo gobi potatoes and cauliflower with tomatos.White rice came with everything and I ordered some regular naan to boot. I could not resist the mango lassi and ordered two, which was a good decision. The basmati rice and yellow basmati rice accompanying the chicken biryani were expertly prepared. Of the mains, I found the chicken biryani to be the weakest, but it was still good. It was a little short on chicken, but it is not a big upcharge for it. The tandoori salmon was the sleeper. I didn't see it coming. It is well seasoned and not overcooked. They could cook it slightly less, but it is far from being dried out inside and the accompanying onions and peppers with the lemon for squeezing were great. Simple and good with a slight kick from the chili peppers. Spice Mantra excels with the goat curry and especially the lamb vindaloo. Both are tender and savory, their gravies melding with the rice perfectly, the bones of the goat adding their own flavorful depth and savory dimension, but I gotta give the nod to the lamb vindaloo. It was the star of the show and I would order it anytime I will be dining at Spice Mantra. The tangy vindaloo gravy is swoon worthy over rice with a touch of smoke on my palate and the lamb has that tender, steak satisfying and ever so slightly gamey savory flavor that will grab your attention and not let it go. Those tender pieces of lamb go perfectly with the naan. The saag paneer was very good and contains more spinach than the norm, which I found to be more appealing. The aloo gobi potatoes and cauliflower was not overcooked, with the potatoes retaining their integrity without becoming a mush. They played their accompanying roles wonderfully and could be satisfying on their own for vegetarians with some chick peas. The naan also gets good marks with a nice texture on the outside. Let me put in a short word for the mango lassi. The mango lassi is some of or the best mango lassi I can recall. It's not too sweet and has that nice creamy and smooth texture that goes down well and its kefir will calm and quell anything that may be spicy. I mix it half and half with Topo Chico lime and it's refreshingly great! This was my first order from Spice Mantra and it will not be my last. Nothing was too spicy, despite the name of the restaurant. I will dine in next time and see how it is on premises. I expect one can order anything with confidence here, as I had a fair sampling. It's quite promising and worthy of a solid four stars! read more

Absolutely delicious tandoori chicken and lunch specials! Loved the lychee martinis. Amazing service, looking forward to returning!

I've passed this place so many times in the neighborhood. I was looking for a replacement place for Amma which we dearly miss. Spice Mantra was an unassuming non de script on the outside. It was daily crowded Thursday might at 7pm. We got the chicken tikka masala which was creamy and tasty we asked for mild, sag paneer, which had nice texture and garlic Nan.. the ambiance was sort of dark and romantic, a well stocked bar and the service was friendly and accommodating. Happy to have this little gem in the hood. read more

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came as a party of 4 on a sunday night! the place was packed! as a result, service was a bit on the slower side, from dishes coming out to paying the bill. the food was good! we tried the lamb roganjosh, malai kofta, saag paneer and chicken tikki masala and gobi manchurian as an appetizer. everything was very yummy but nothing was exceptional. overall, would probably try another place! read more

Spice Mantra - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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I have eaten at a number of Indian restaurants over the past 25 years and I'd rank Spice Mantra among the best if not itself the best. I wrote a review a few years ago giving it a 5 star rating. It should be a 5 star ++++. The special lunch cuisine with dal and an entree is excellent- the vindaloo is superb as are all the chaats and curries, the mulligatawny soup, the kulfi, and many other dishes I've tasted, all of which have been of the first order. And the two managers, Suresh and Pratik, deserve congratulations for their customer focus and attention. It offers by far the best Indian cuisine I've had in the city. read more

Been here numerous times since my last review and still never been disappointed. The flavors are amazing and I love the indo Chinese food! The waiters are courteous and friendly, they are good at assisting with filling water/clearing dishes but also not too much in your face. Last night they gave us some rice pudding on the house for fun which was a nice touch! read more

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Good food, reaspoonable, excellent service. I had almond sauce with shrimp which is not on menu but waiter was accommodating.

Ordered a meal for lunch in midtown and was delighted with the flavors and size of portions. Very delicious and authentic. Had vegan options

I went here for the second time and I must I was equally satisfied. Same food quality, same hospitality and ambience. Ordered Chicken biryani this time. It was absolutely delicious. Also ordered some Togo biryani for my flight and the staff packed it with utmost care - absolutely no oil spill. Definitely recommend this restaurant when in NYC read more

All good. Very good food and service and sitting arrangement. Also very clean. All foods are good and Biryani is very good read more

When it comes to eclectic cousins it's hard to pick one place. So when someone asks me what is your favorite restaurant in NYC? My answer is that I don't have one I have a favorite dish that I go to specific restaurant for. Hands down BEST VINDALOO in the island of Manhattan and when I say BEST I meant it. I tried every vindaloo there is in manhattan, if not at the restaurant then as take out. Spicy Mantra does it too well, I like mine with dark chicken meat, yes they don't have it on the menu, just ask and they will whip up some for you. It's creamy, it's vinegary, it's right amount of heat and spicy just delicious. You have the tingle of the heat yet you feel the richness of all the spices coming together. Every time I come here I feel like I'm coming back home, the stuff is so welcoming and attentive, well they remember me and know my order. I love it here, nice, casual, attentive and clean. And the chef knows what he is doing! If you looking for some good Indian Food, come give them a try and you will leave full and happy and definitely will be back read more

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Went to this teeny Indian restaurant on Second Avenue on the advice of a friend. The space was unremarkable. The staff were pleasant and attentive. Tried Rupee ale for the first time- pretty good. Started out with complementary pappadum. Somosas were excellent and piping hot. The tandoori chicken was very good. The lamb roganjosh was toned down to medium to appease my wimpy friend. The naan, raita and rice were on point. I was disappointed that they didn't offer a tandoori mixed grill. Our waiter said that they would prepare one on request. They took it off of the menu because it wasn't ordered very often. We were comped rice pudding for dessert. Very nice restaurant- worth consider if you don't want to travel to little India or Curry Hill. read more

We just ordered from Spice Mantra for the first time for takeout, and while the food is very tasty, the butter chicken was full of bones. Every other bite we were pulling a bone out of our mouths. If it was one bone, no problem. But the dish shouldn't be full of bones. We also ordered gulab jamun, and it only came with two pieces. That is $3 for essentially one donut hole. I would like to give the restaurant another try, but the first impression was not great. read more

Such a large portion for only $20! The rice was literally overflowing and I could only finish about half. The amount of chicken was also very generous, it was such a filling meal. read more

Spice Mantra - Chicken biryani - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

We thought Spice Mantra was one of the best Indian restaurants in the area. The kormas and naans were excellent, with proportional meal sizes in a lovely, low-key restaurant. It's a definite must if you are in this part of midtown. read more

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I specifically picked this place because of their decent sized Indo-Chinese section of the menu, which is hard to find. And I was pleased with every Indo-Chinese dish I tried, especially that Chili Paneer. The regular Indian dishes were good too. Chilli Paneer: My absolute favorite Indo-Chinese dish. Theirs was an especially nice rendition with thin sticks of paneer that were lightly battered and soaked up a lot of that delicious ketchup/chili sauce. Also, the sautéed onions and peppers were a nice pairing. A favorite at our table for sure! Hara Bhara Kabab: Sounded cool with paneer hidden inside a deep fried chickpea & spinach patty. The paneer texture was a little gooey compared to normal squeaky paneer. It was nice in its own right, but kinda bland compared to everything else we got. Chicken Hakka Noodles: Love how the noodles are so chewy and springy. Lots of thinly sliced veggies and a few chicken bits. The real magic here is that it's just the perfect pairing to the Chicken Manchurian. Chicken Manchurian: This is very uniquely Indo-Chinese. Lighter batter than similar Chinese chicken, not as sweet and much more complex flavor profile. Another favorite for the entire table. Really excellent, not a morsel was leftover. Chicken Tikka Masala: A standard. Large chunks of boneless tandoori chicken with a nice charred aroma. Soaked in a rich cream and tomato sauce. Which is just perfect against all that basmati rice. And extremely filling. Sometimes it pays to be cliché. Garlic Naan: Fluffy naan bread. Dotted with lots of yummy garlic bits. Perfect to dip in the tikka masala sauce. read more

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Excellent food quality and flavor. Prices are very reasonable. Quantity of each item is very good.

I have had a couple of very good meals here. It isn't a huge restaurant, but the service is good, and they are attentive. Both vegetarians and meat eaters have plenty of options to enjoy. I would suggest it for both dine in and takeout. Yummy Indian food! Note that their "spicy" isn't super spicy, so you can take that into account when ordering. read more

I visited NYC from out of town last weekend and ended up at Spice Mantra for lunch with a group of friends. I would say the food was ok (average, small portions but that seems to be the NYC standard). However service here was excellent (hence rounding up to 4 stars). There wasn't much of a wait time on a Sunday for lunch. The waitstaff always refilled our water without asking (much needed due to the spice). We ordered garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, and chicken korma, as well as an eggplant dish I can't remember the name of. We did family style and most dishes we ordered were "medium" with the exception of the chicken korma which was "mild". I love Indian food so I will eat almost anything but tend to have a lower spice tolerance; maybe I would have enjoyed it more if more options were a lower spice selection. I was disappointed the sauce for the chicken korma was thin and liquidy; there wasn't really any veggie or anything to make the dish more flavorful and filling. I did like how the rice came with little crinkled fried onions on top with peas however. It was NYC portions and price--not the restaurant's fault. read more

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One of the best restaurants serving Indo Chinese dishes that I've been to outside of India! We started with the gobi malligai appetizer. Didn't like the coconut chutney pairing. Instead we dipped the cauliflower into the mint and date chutneys that came with the pappad. For out entree we ordered the vegetable Hakka noodles with the chicken Manchurian (medium spicy). It was a little spicier than I would've liked the flavors were on point and the gravy with the chicken was really good. We wrapped up the meal with pistachio kulfi. Wish we had time to go back and try some of the other dishes on their menu during our trip, but if you like Indo Chinese or want to give it a try, this is the place to go. Service was really good and the staff was very friendly. read more

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Spice Mantra serves up solid Indian cuisine in the neighborhood. The lamb vindaloo is notable, and the lunch combos are also quite a good bang for the buck. read more

Still excellent when we ate inside a couple of weeks ago! Husband repeated Chana masala; I had aamchur bhindi, an okra dish. Both so delicious! We each took half home because we'd had a snack in the afternoon and weren't starving when we got there. Two days later, I combined them and served over rice, and it was delicious again! read more

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The food here is 10/10 delicious. The Indo-Asian entrees are to die for. The Chai is also a perfection in taste and aroma. Excellent and fast customer service. Would definitely come back here again. read more

Spice Mantra - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Had great food but the pest control is a little concerning!! And the customer service wasn't that great read more

Went here a handful of times with family and the service, meal & general attentiveness of the staff were great, def on point. There's not much more to ask from a local indian spot, esp good if you can get in on their lunch deals since the portions are ample, well priced and perfect to share. I enjoy the onion paratha, saag panir (spinach with curd cheese) & most recently aloo gobi (potato with cauliflower), all solid picks. Overall 4/5. read more

Incredible food and service!! Loved this place - all our food - tandoor chicken & paneer, the wine, and all our dinner including the saag chicken (not on menu) were all amazing. Great prices too. Hidden gem in midtown! read more

First time trying Indian food in New York and it did not disappoint. Everything was flavorful and not too spicy. Perfect if you want to try a different dishes or if you want to taste Indian food. They were also very accommodating to our large party read more

Spice Mantra - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

Service 5/5, Food 5/5, Atmosphere 4/5 (average rounds to 4.6/5) Rounding to a 5 b/c of Yelp ranking system. Some of the best Indian food I've had thus far. Service: We walked in and were promptly seated. Provided complimentary starters and drinks of choice. Our waiter was kind and gave good recommendations when asked. We were provided small plates for appetizers then those were taken away when our mains came. Overall, the waiters were fast and kind, responsive when I asked for things, just solid. A note: I originally was going to get a tandoori thinking it was juicy/curry-like and the waiter told me that it's actually dry and I may not like it. Thank you sir for the recommendation. Food: My oh my ... everything was so delicious here. We were started with crunchy thin naan like bread as soon as we sat down and it was so good. My partner and I order one appetizer, the Dahi Aloo Puri which was cool, crunchy, and bursting with flavor. I had the Butter Chicken and my partner the Chile Chicken. We got medium spice and it was just perfect. The butter chicken came with rice which tasted slightly dry, perfect for the chicken. One downside was that the Chile Chicken did not come with anything, so we ordered a side of Garlic Naan. Prices were on the cheaper end ($25 a person). Atmosphere: Dim lights and everything was fitting to the restaurant. Tables were smaller though and sort of crammed. We were a bit too close to our neighboring customers and our table was wobbly. read more

Spice Mantra - Left to right: Chicken Chilli, Rice, Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great tasting food that feels healthier than other Indian restaurants. Some dishes use white meat chicken and less cream. Highly recommended! read more

Walked by and had to stop in and try the food. Glad I did. It was fantastic. Full of flavor and not salty!! It's a must go! Service is great! Cheers read more

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Excellent food, excellent service! The chicken butter was savory, the Rupee lager was light and smooth. Lively place for an evening special dinner. read more

The food was delicious. Restaurant was empty but don't let that fool you. Very good food.

Amazing place for Indian food. Welcoming and friendly staff, plus excellent decor! Would recommend to anyone who loves Indian cuisine read more

Spice Mantra - Table display of the spices they use - Indian Near Me - New York, New York

We stopped in for a drink and ended up having dinner at this new Indian restaurant in Midtown East that smelled like fresh cut jasmine flowers. I love Indian food, but don't know what I'm doing, so was so happy my Indian friend took lead and ordered a bunch of mainly vegetarian dishes to share. Dahi Aloo Puri - little crispy puffed rice cups filled with yogurt, mashed potato and tamarind chutney...crispy with bursts of flavor Ragada Patties - delicious little potato cakes topped with peas, onion, yogurt, tamarind chutney and mint Samosa - filled with peas and potato made in house (2/order) Hara Bhara Kabab - 2 spinach patties with paneer in the center Jhinga Ka Nasha - 5 shrimp topped with a creamy saffron sauce (was told this wasn't authentic but still very good!) Chicken Manchurian - this dish is Chinese influenced and tasted kind of like a sweet and sour chicken but spicier Dal Makhani - stewed black lentils Baingan Bharta - smoked eggplant purée Paneer Tikka Masala - paneer in a tomato cream sauce. This was one of my favorite dishes. Rice pudding - offered on the house Staff was very friendly and made sure the water glasses were always full. read more

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