Bungalow
Indian restaurant · East Village
24 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009
Highlights
Celebrity chef's modern Indian eatery, creative dishes
Celebrity chef's modern Indian eatery, creative dishes
"Any dinner at Bungalow feels like a big deal, and not just because it has a TV-famous chef. The entrance is framed with artificial flowers, and the sunken dining room doglegs into a greenhouse-like space with vines drooping from the ceiling. The East Village restaurant is a flashy place—with food that more than holds its own. Your birthday could really use some roasted pineapple in a vivid yellow curry. 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)." - will hartman, bryan kim, neha talreja, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore
"The next time you have a birthday, graduation, or Friday night to celebrate, do it at Bungalow. The pan-Indian restaurant with a subterranean dining room and a thumping soundtrack is always fun, especially if you like the sound of unpretentious, lovable food from a regular judge on MasterChef India. Everything is portioned to share, like butter-heavy daal that’s simmered for eight hours, and slow-cooked lamb in a gravy made with roasted tomatoes and caramelized onions. 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)." - will hartman, bryan kim, willa moore, kenny yang, neha talreja
"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
"Verdict: Bungalow has all the trappings of a clubstaurant: a celebrity chef, a bass-heavy soundtrack, and enough chandeliers and fake vines to make Tao feel insecure. But the inventive Indian food at this East Village restaurant sure does hit the spot. Come for a lively night out, and eat some slow-cooked lamb in a custard-thick sauce with caramelized onion. 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)." - bryan kim
"Much of the menu at the in-demand chic Indian restaurant Bungalow is gluten-free. That includes the pomegranate-chile-flavored Anarkali chicken, tandoori avocado, lamb chops and seekh kebab, and black lentil daal. Bungalow even offers a gluten-free roti. The chickpea-based take on a staple doesn’t have the same pliable texture as the original, but it is still craveable, especially when you request that it get a brushing of ghee." - Shivani Vora
