A visually striking Indian restaurant with a celebrity chef, known for unpretentious yet memorable dishes like tender lamb and unique yogurt kebabs, though some find it overhyped.
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.
This East Village establishment offers a visually stunning dining experience with a skylit room and a celebrity chef presence. The menu features a broad survey of Indian cuisine with personal touches, from rich daal to slow-cooked lamb. While some dishes are lauded for their unique flavors and tender preparation, others have fallen short, leading to mixed reviews about whether the restaurant lives up to its hype.
The cuisine is contemporary Indian with some unique twists, such as yogurt kebabs wrapped in kataifi pastry and spice-roasted pineapple in a curry. While some dishes like the Anarkali chicken and Rajasthani Pulled Lamb are highly praised for tenderness and flavor, others, like the smoked sweet potato chaat and breads, have received criticism for being underwhelming, oily, or cold. The chocolate lava cake is a surprisingly popular dessert.
"Customers have specifically recommended the Anarkhali chicken for its tenderness and flavor, the Rajasthani Pulled Lamb for its slow-cooked quality, and the yogurt kebabs as a unique and often sublime starter. The chocolate lava cake is also frequently mentioned as a standout dessert."
Customers have mixed opinions, with some praising the unique dishes and ambiance, while others find the food overhyped or underwhelming. There are mentions of excellent service and highly tender dishes like the Anarkali chicken, but also criticisms of cold food, oily bread, and a focus on hype over substance.
Important Note
Some diners have experienced issues with food temperature (cold food) and the quality of staples like bread and rice, which can detract from the overall experience. There's a recurring sentiment that the restaurant may be more about the 'vibe' and the chef's celebrity than consistently exceptional food.
"Bungalow is confirmed to be 100% halal and is a good option."
Positive"Bungalow is mentioned as an unapologetic foods restaurant with Michelin stars and halal meat, making it a top choice."
Positive"Bungalow is listed as a halal Indian restaurant and a solid choice for a nice dining experience."
Positive"Bungalow is confirmed to be halal and is considered a good option, potentially better than Junoon."
Positive"The commenter notes that while the dessert at Bungalow seems unusual for an Indian restaurant, they found it to be good, with a rich and complex chocolate flavor that wasn't too sweet."
Positive"Bungalow was recommended as a place with a really good chocolate lava cake."
Positive"Despite acknowledging that some people dislike Bungalow, the author found the food, presentation, service, and atmosphere to be sublime. They also had the opportunity to meet the chef."
Positive"Bungalow was mentioned as a restaurant on the NYT top 100 list that has halal meat."
Neutral"Bungalow is mentioned as one of the many upscale Indian spots that offer vegetarian options."
Positive"A user shared a similar mediocre experience at Bungalow, citing disappointing food quality, servers who couldn't explain dishes, and a chef who seemed disengaged. They also felt the booking system was a 'marketing gimmick'."
Negative"A user expressed understanding of the disappointment regarding the basics at Bungalow, noting that warm basmati rice can significantly enhance a meal."
Neutral"Responding to a question about Bungalow, this user agreed that the service was great and the food was better than mediocre but still disappointing due to basic failures like cold rice and hard bread. They questioned how the restaurant could excel at dishes like Goan shrimp curry but fail on staples."
Negative"A user questioned the original poster's review of Bungalow, summarizing it as having great service but mediocre food."
Neutral"A user recalled having a good shrimp curry at Bungalow's bar, along with a good selection of beer."
Positive"The original poster provided a mixed review for Bungalow, highlighting good service, nice decor, and pleasant flavor profiles for appetizers and mains. However, they were disappointed by cold food, subpar bread and rice, and a chipped bowl, which detracted from the overall experience."
Negative"This user expresses a strong desire to try Bungalow, indicating positive anticipation."
Neutral"This user prefers Dhamaka over Bungalow and Semma due to a preference for its taste and spice level."
Neutral"This user recommends Bungalow as a good alternative South Indian restaurant to Semma."
Positive"Bungalow is listed among restaurants offering interesting and non-traditional takes on Indian food, suggested for those who might prefer a unique experience over authentic Indian cuisine."
Positive"This commenter explains the hype around Bungalow, citing Chef Vikas Khanna's celebrity status, Michelin recognition, cultural center aspect, emotional backstory, and personal hospitality, rather than focusing on food quality directly."
Neutral
