Flashy East Village Indian with a retro vibe & unpretentious, memorable cuisine. Hearty portions, from enhanced daal to slow-cooked lamb.
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 spot transports diners with its flashy, retro Indian members club ambiance, complete with murals and a greenhouse-like dining area. Overseen by celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, Bungalow offers a broad, unpretentious survey of Indian cuisine with hearty portions. Standout dishes include enhanced daal, tender Rajasthani lamb, and innovative yogurt kebabs, though some smaller plates can be hit-or-miss.
Bungalow offers a broad range of Indian cuisine with some unique and innovative dishes, such as yogurt kebabs and enhanced daal. While some diners rave about the tender lamb and flavorful curries, others have found staples like bread and rice to be disappointing. The restaurant is noted for its hearty portions and is a popular choice for those seeking a modern take on Indian food.
"The Anarkali chicken is frequently praised for its tenderness and unique glaze. Other highly recommended items include the enhanced daal, Rajasthani pulled lamb, and the innovative yogurt kebabs."
Customer feedback is divided, with some praising the innovative dishes and ambiance, while others find the restaurant overhyped and the food inconsistent, particularly basic staples.
Important Note
Some diners feel the restaurant is overhyped and relies more on the celebrity chef's fame and ambiance than on consistent food quality. There are mixed opinions on whether it lives up to its potential or other acclaimed Indian restaurants.
"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"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
