It seems as though there are many Indian restaurants popping up all around the city. But there is one restaurant that has been serving New Yorkers for years with excellent service, great ambiance, and truly delicious cuisine. Aangan is situated on the far Upper West Side, but with the 1 train quite literally right outside, it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away.
The quaint restaurant is quite charming, with copper accents and a gorgeous chandelier. Come hungry because their Indian cuisine is out of this world and you won’t want to miss any of it. We had the opportunity to try favorites from the menu and stuffed ourselves silly. Not to mention we had leftovers for days. We tried a plethora of appetizers, including the chicken and vegetable samosas, Shrimp Balchao, and Dahi Kebab. We also tried the Masala Pao ($7.95), which consisted of mashed vegetables served on Pao bread and reminded us of a veggie version of a Sloppy Joe. But our favorite appetizer was the Lahsooni Gobhi ($8.95), crispy cauliflower in a tomato garlic sauce. These were absolutely mouthwatering and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t even like cauliflower.
Next, we tried so many dishes from the menu it was hard to pick a favorite. The Murgh Tikka Masala ($14.95) was perfection. The chicken was nice and tender, while the creamy tomato and fenugreek sauce was flavorful and robust. A great aspect of this restaurant is their willingness to accommodate your preferences. They will gladly tone down or rev up the spices in your dishes to your liking. The Tandoori Lamb Chops ($19.95) were bursting with flavor and were tender and juicy. We loved the Saffron Shrimp ($20.95), which were amazingly fresh jumbo shrimp, simmered in a rich saffron korma sauced and served with white rice. We also indulged in some good ol’ homestyle Chicken Curry ($14.95), which, like all their other dishes, was to die for. Last but not least, we tried one of their vegetarian items, the Baingan Mirch Ka Salon ($12.95), which is baby eggplant simmered in coconut, peanut, and curry leaves with flavored gravy. It was divine. In addition to all the great flavors of every dish, the presentation was outstanding. Each plate was its own masterpiece, complete with beautiful food art.
Now no Indian meal is complete without some fresh baked naan, and of course, cocktails. Keeping with the quality presentation, the garnishes on each cocktail ($10) was equally stunning. From the fresh and light Mango Tini and Mango Daiquiri, to the equally refreshing Mojito, we were impressed with their mixology skills. But for a real Indian-inspired cocktail, we recommend the Maharaja Punch, which is comprised of traditional Indian dark rum, bitters, orange and pineapple juice, with a splash of grenadine syrup. If you aren’t ready to head to Aangan after all this, you must be crazy!
Aangan is located at 2701 Broadway.
Image via Restaurants in NYC.
