Saar Indian Cuisine & Bar

Saar Indian Bistro Opens in Midtown With Modern Indian Food | Eater NY

"Opened by longtime NYC fine-dining trailblazer Hemant Mathur in collaboration with his wife, chef Surbhi Sahni, this 57-seat Midtown restaurant at 241 West 51st St. centers Indian fare while explicitly drawing on British, Persian, and Jewish influences. The menu scatters unexpected touches across courses: cauliflower latkes spiced with green chile and ginger and served with a cranberry chutney; a truffle risotto with morels, wild mushroom, garlic, and pea shoots; and Mathur’s tandoori lamb chops (a dish that previously drew critical accolades). Sahni oversees a tight dessert program—her unniyappam, a fried banana fritter, comes with black pepper caramel and guava-mango-curry dipping sauces—and has said the goal is to show how food has evolved in India over the past 100 years, serving dishes as they are prepared and eaten at home today. The 2,400-square-foot space is meant to channel a modern French bistro with bright colors reminiscent of vintage India, and the restaurant also provides lunch, dining, catering, and theater specials to the New York City area." - Serena Dai