Unapologetic, rustic Indian cuisine w/ fiery, authentic flavors. A
Amber Sutherland-Namako reviews Dhamaka, an "unapologetic Indian" restaurant in Essex Market, highlighting its unique dishes and exciting atmosphere.
Dhamaka offers an unapologetic exploration of rustic Indian cuisine, serving up bold flavors and authentic preparations of lesser-known dishes. With a lively atmosphere and a dedication to fresh spices, it's a must-visit for those seeking an exciting and fiery culinary adventure.
Dhamaka is celebrated for its rustic and authentic Indian cuisine, often featuring less common dishes and bold spice blends. While many rave about the complex flavors and fiery heat, some diners find it overwhelmingly spicy. Dishes like the biryani, goat meat, and crab are frequently highlighted as exceptional, though some vegetarian options have been noted as less satisfying.
"Highly recommended dishes include the biryani (especially goat neck biryani), Paneer Methi, Beef Pepper Fry, and the Champaran Meat. The crab garlic butter rice is also a standout."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards Dhamaka, praising its authentic and bold flavors, though some find the spice levels intense.
Important Note
Some diners find the food intensely spicy, and reservations can be difficult to secure. The restaurant's location within Essex Market might detract from the ambiance for some.
"Dhamaka is recommended as an alternative to Semma if a reservation cannot be secured there."
Positive"This user notes that Dhamaka is located in a food court, questioning if adequate space would be available."
Neutral"Dhamaka is recommended for Indian food."
Positive"Dhamaka is presented as a sister restaurant to Semma, excelling at North Indian cuisine, particularly goat meat dishes. It's suggested as an alternative if Semma reservations are unavailable."
Positive"The user questioned if restaurants like Dhamaka are truly American, given their ethnic influences and techniques, suggesting a need to promote dishes specifically conceived in the US using American farms and techniques."
Neutral"This user responded dismissively to the OP's question about "ethnic" restaurants, stating that places like Dhamaka are "American" in the way NYC conceives of America and that their popularity stems from being excellent high-end new restaurants, contrasting NYC's scene favorably with Chicago's."
Positive"Dhamaka is recommended and is conveniently located near the Delancey Essex M train stop."
Neutral"This user found Dhamaka's vibe less desirable due to its location within Essex Food Hall, mentioning the outdoor area can be loud and chaotic, thus not recommending it based on the user's preference for a nice ambiance."
Negative"Responding to a query about vibe, this commenter clarifies that Dhamaka, despite being near Essex Market, has a main dining room that doesn't feel like part of the market and an enclosed outdoor area. However, they acknowledge it's casual and might be less charming than Bungalow."
Neutral"This commenter states they love Dhamaka and consider it better than Bungalow."
Positive"Dhamaka is listed as one of the Unapologetic Foods restaurants that the commenter has enjoyed in Manhattan."
Positive"Dhamaka is presented as a leading fine dining Indian restaurant that is contributing to the elevation of Indian cuisine in the culinary scene."
Positive"The original post mentioned Dhamaka as a potential starting point for a late-evening Indian food crawl in NYC."
Positive"This Indian restaurant is recommended as a place that likely has vegan options. The commenter enjoys the Unapologetic group restaurants, including Dhamaka, though they haven't tried their specific vegan dishes."
Neutral"The user recommends Dhamaka as a good Indian restaurant."
Positive"Dhamaka was recommended for its amazing Indian food."
Positive"This user advises skipping Dhamaka if noise is a concern, as they found the restaurant to be excessively loud."
Negative"Dhamaka is listed as a recommendation for date-worthy food that is not stuffy or fine dining."
Positive"The user recommends Dhamaka as a great choice for a birthday dinner in NYC. They also suggest Bungalow and mention Queens for amazing Indian food."
Positive"This user states that Indian Accent is fantastic and much better than Dhamaka in their opinion."
Negative
