Experience a vibrant East Village spot channeling retro Indian members clubs with unpretentious, memorable cuisine [1] and a flashy, opulent ambiance.
Bryan Kim reviews Bungalow, an East Village restaurant channeling retro Indian members clubs, praising its unpretentious and memorable Indian cuisine, from enhanced daal to slow-cooked lamb.
Bungalow offers a flashy ambiance with retro Indian members club vibes, featuring opulent decor and a celebrity chef's presence. The cuisine is described as unpretentious yet memorable, with standout dishes like a rich daal and slow-cooked lamb [1]. While some smaller plates can be hit-or-miss, the overall experience is often praised for its hearty portions and unique culinary narrative [1, 2]. The restaurant is also noted for its visually striking, skylit dining room [2].
Bungalow offers a broad survey of Indian cuisine with a focus on memorable dishes that tell personal stories [1, 2]. Standout items include a rich daal, Indian Jewish chicken chitarnee, and Rajasthani lamb slow-cooked for eight hours [1]. While some small plates can be inconsistent [1], dishes like the Anarkali Chicken and spice-roasted pineapple have been highlighted positively [1, 3]. Some diners, however, found staples like bread and rice to be disappointing [5].
"Standout dishes include the tender Ammi's Lamb Chops and the Anarkali Chicken with its sweet pomegranate glaze [1]. The spice-roasted pineapple in a velvety curry is also highly recommended as a vegan option [1]."
Customer sentiment is mixed, with some praising the memorable cuisine and excellent service [3, 4], while others found the food to be mediocre, citing issues like cold rice and hard bread [5].
Important Note
Some diners have reported issues with food temperature (cold food) and the quality of staples like bread and rice. Reservations can be difficult to secure, and some perceive the restaurant as overhyped or 'influencer hype' [5, 6, 7, 8].
"This user found Bungalow to be extremely unremarkable based on their experience."
Negative"Bungalow was listed among several upscale Indian restaurants the user had tried, but they found it to be just decent and not particularly impressive."
Neutral"The author mentioned having another reservation at Bungalow the following week, indicating an interest in trying it."
Neutral"Bungalow is mentioned as a highly anticipated restaurant with attainable reservations."
Positive"The commenter found Bungalow to be overrated."
Negative"The commenter finds Bungalow good but too difficult to secure reservations for."
Neutral"The commenter simply states that Bungalow is not worth it."
Negative"The commenter advises against Bungalow, stating it's not worth the effort."
Negative"The commenter states that getting a reservation at Bungalow is practically impossible and suggests it's trendy rather than among the best."
Negative"This user suggested that Uber's package delivery option could be used to transport food from Chef Nupur (in Queens) to Manhattan, acknowledging it might be expensive."
Neutral"This user recommended Chef Nupur, based in Queens, noting she is helpful and can accommodate specific requests. They provided an Instagram link."
Positive"Bungalow was recommended, with a note that getting a reservation might be necessary."
Positive"The author rated the Chicken Anakarli 8/10, noting the very friendly service and solid food, but it didn't particularly wow them."
Positive"A commenter offered to help the original poster secure a table for one at Bungalow NYC, indicating they have connections there."
Neutral"A commenter advised the original poster to inform Bungalow NYC about the friend's cancellation and consider sitting at the bar if dining alone, especially since a deposit was likely paid for the second seat."
Neutral"A commenter explained that some restaurants, like Bungalow NYC, may not be ideal for solo diners, especially concerning reservations and a menu designed for sharing. They suggested requesting a bar seat if dining alone."
Negative"A commenter suggested that Bungalow NYC's menu is ideal for larger groups due to the variety of tasty items available for sharing."
Positive"After learning the bar serves the full menu, the commenter confirmed Bungalow NYC is delicious and recommended dining there."
Positive"A commenter corrected previous information, stating that Bungalow NYC has been serving the full menu at the bar for several months."
Positive"A commenter mentioned that Bungalow NYC has a bar area at the front, but initially stated it didn't serve the full menu."
Neutral
