"Harlem’s Indian restaurant set within a two-story brownstone recently re-opened after an almost two-year renovation. The space at Chaiwali is largely unchanged: There’s plenty of seating both at the bar and at tables spread out over two floors, plus exposed brick walls, dark wood, and antique-looking lamps. The food was a little more hit-and-miss than the first iteration, but there are still some solid options like the pink anari beet bhel, a take on Indian puffed rice street food snack bhel with the addition of pureed beets and pomegranate seeds; and a butter chicken that replaces the typical tomato-based sauce with a carrot based one, making it feel just a tad healthier. This time around, Chaiwali is leaning more heavily into vegetarian options like the tangy achari gobi, a cauliflower dish with pickling spices, and a lush kale burger served with avocado, and fries that have turmeric in the batter." - Eater Staff
