"Appearance-wise, Bungalow was inspired by the private members-only clubs that opened around India at the turn of the 20th century. There are rugs, chandeliers, and fake vines creeping across the walls of the greenhouse-like room in the back, where you’ll see the TV-famous chef posing for the occasional group photo. The setup is fussy, but the ghee-heavy pan-Indian food is pure comfort. Bring a group for an upscale, celebratory meal, and order the big bowl of creamy daal, the roasted pineapple in a pool of velvety curry, and the pomegranate glazed chicken that tastes like charred butterscotch. Online reservations go up 20 days in advance at 11am. Bungalow accepts walk-ins for the dining room and eight-seat bar. If you want a walk-in table, your best bet is early in the week. We've also had some success with email (info@bungalowny.com)." - molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, neha talreja, carina finn koeppicus, sonal shah