New York, NY: Indigo

My experience with Indian restaurants in New York City has taught me two things. One, never judge a book by its cover, some of the best Indian food I’ve had came from a restaurant with the ambiance of a pizzeria. Two, if you think the Indian restaurants in Manhattan are good try one in Jackson heights.

But in order to be a Food Find you have to be centrally located, fabulous and frugal!

I am especially critical when eating Indian food, as I’m half Punjabi. Finding an Indian restaurant that featured good food, a fabulous atmosphere and location, as well as low prices is tricky but I found it. It’s called Indigo, and it’s located in East Midtown Manhattan.

Indigo is a fairly small sized restaurant, but because it is off the beaten path, (all the way on 1st ave.) it is usually fairly empty.

Dishes are about ten dollars a plate, more or less, and the servings are very generous. The tandoori chicken, at twelve dollars features a large plate of parts of a whole chicken with a bowl of rice. Indigo pleased me with their ability to create a broiled, juicy tandoori chicken. A rookie mistake I’ve found at other restaurants is they bake their chicken leaving it too dry to appreciate. I’ve enjoyed just about everything on their menu at this point, but I couldn’t mention Indigo without suggesting their tandoori chicken, samosas, and chicken tikka masala.

Their service is superb as well. It is quick, friendly, and generous. I can’t mention generous enough when reviewing Indigo. The last two times I went they offered a free plate of Indian vegetable fritters, called Bhajias to get us started.

One appetizer, entrée, and dessert could easily serve two. So the more people you bring the more you can share. They also offer a buffet at lunch for seven dollars and fifty cents. Indigo is a win-win. I’ve gone twice in two weeks, and I plan on coming back many more times.

$ | Indigo | 357 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 | (212) 421-1919 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (212) 421-1919      end_of_the_skype_highlighting‎