Flashy East Village Indian w/ unpretentious, memorable cuisine & opulent decor. Chef Vikas Khanna's narrative dishes & hearty portions shine.
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 yet unpretentious Indian dining experience in the East Village. Chef Vikas Khanna's menu is narrative-driven, with hearty portions of memorable dishes like enhanced daal and slow-cooked lamb. The vibrant, opulent decor, including a chandelier-filled greenhouse, adds to the energetic atmosphere.
Bungalow offers a contemporary take on Indian cuisine with a diverse menu that includes both traditional and innovative dishes. While some patrons rave about the tender Anarkali chicken, the flavorful daal, and the unique yogurt kebabs, others have found dishes like the breads and rice to be underwhelming or poorly executed. The menu aims to tell personal stories through food, with some fusion elements that can be hit-or-miss.
"Standout dishes mentioned include the tender Anarkali chicken, the flavorful daal, and the unique yogurt kebabs. The Spice Roasted Pineapple is also highlighted as a great vegan option."
Customer feedback is divided, with some praising the vibrant ambiance and unique, flavorful dishes like the Anarkali chicken and yogurt kebabs, while others find it overhyped and mediocre, citing issues with food quality like oily breads or cold rice.
Important Note
Some diners find the restaurant to be overhyped, with a focus on ambiance and celebrity chef appeal over consistent food quality. Specific dishes like breads and yogurt kebabs have received mixed reviews.
"The user asks for a comparison between Bungalow and Semma for Indian food."
Neutral"Bungalow is recommended for Indian food."
Neutral"This commenter suggests that attempting a walk-in at Bungalow could work if the user is flexible with their plans."
Neutral"Bungalow is listed as a restaurant in Manhattan that the commenter has enjoyed."
Positive"Bungalow is mentioned as a restaurant that is part of the movement to establish Indian cuisine as fine dining."
Positive"The Manhattan relocation of Bungalow is mentioned as frequently recommended on this sub, though the commenter has not yet tried it."
Neutral"The user considered Bungalow for a 'wildcard' meal in Manhattan, seeking fun yet approachable flavors."
Neutral"This commenter inquired if Bungalow has received a Michelin star yet, stating that the place is great."
Positive"This place is recommended as a potential venue for a team dinner, although there is uncertainty about securing a reservation on short notice."
Neutral"The author mentioned Anarkali Chicken at Bungalow as a potential first meat to try."
Positive"The user mentioned trying to book a 3-person reservation for 2 people at Bungalow and it was successful. This was done to get around limited availability for 2-person reservations."
Neutral"The user mentioned Bungalow as a place with a great overall experience they liked the look of."
Neutral"This restaurant was listed as a potential dining suggestion."
Positive"The user recommends Bungalow as a great choice for a birthday dinner in NYC. They also suggest Dhamaka and mention Queens for amazing Indian food."
Positive"This user expresses that they have been itching to try Bungalow."
Positive"This user suggests Bungalow as an alternative to the listed options, along with Indian Accent and Junoon."
Positive"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
