Platinum 1.
Yelp
I am Indian food connoisseur. And Cloves was just amazing. I wish I could give this restaurant six stars. It really kills the competition in NYC, having eaten at most of the toniest restaurants.
Across all three categories - taste, service and cleanliness - it was a 10+. Taste: I ordered three dishes, the mix grill, seekh kebab and saag panner. Not only were the flavors nuanced and delicate, but everything tasted super fresh. The saag paneer, for instance, wasn't creamed to death but still had the creamy and soft texture. You could tell they used fresh spinach. The paneer just melted in your mouth. All three dishes were out of this world.
Service: Raju, who manages the place, was professional like no other. Incredibly meticulous. You could tell other servers were very well trained. They were attentive. Just one example: When pouring my beer or water, they held the glass from the bottom end.
Cleanliness: not only was the restaurant clean, but the bathroom - a key litmus test - was completely remodeled and spotless. Most Indian restaurants lack hygiene, and the bathrooms is where it first manifests. Not Cloves, they nailed it.
Finally, prices were super reasonable. All in all, this one gets six stars. On, one more thing, the interior design of the restaurant was done with a lot of thought.