Saar Indian Bistro dazzles with a vibrant decor inspired by Jaipur, showcasing creative Indian fare that seamlessly blends traditional flavors with global influences for a fresh dining experience.
"Saar Indian Bistro is noted for its exceptional dishes by chefs Hemant Mathur and Surbhi Sahni, making it a significant newcomer." - Carla Vianna
"Indian fare makes up the bones of the 57-seat restaurant at 241 West 51st St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, but here, Mathur points to cuisines outside India that have influenced the food over time. He’s scattering elements of British, Persian, and Jewish fare across the menu: There are latkes, though made with cauliflower, spiced with green chile and ginger, and accompanied by a cranberry chutney. A truffle risotto is also on the menu, with morels, wild mushroom, garlic, and pea shoots. Mathur’s tandoori lamb chops — which received critical accolades when he first made them at now-shuttered Tulsi — will also be on the menu. Sahni takes care of the tight dessert menu. Her version of unniyappam, a fried banana fritter, comes with black pepper caramel and guava-mango-curry dipping sauces. “Our goal is to show how food has evolved in India over the past 100 years, serving the dishes exactly as they are prepared and eaten at home today,” Sahni said in a statement. The 2,400-square-foot space is intended to channel a modern French bistro, but with bright colors “reminiscent of vintage India.”" - Serena Dai
"Serving up modern Indian fare, the restaurant opens tonight in Midtown Manhattan. Saar, which translates to 'essence of something' in Hindi, is styled in pinks and blues after Mathur’s hometown, which is also known as 'the pink city.' The menu emphasizes the ever-changing and multi-cultural aspects of India, featuring Parsi and Jewish Indian sub-culture cuisine with starters like cauliflower latkes and Kashmiri gucchi (morel mushroom) truffle risotto. Entrées include stir-fried Cochin black pepper chicken with coconut chutney; Kashmiri kabargah, consisting of milk-poached crispy New Zealand lamb ribs with onion, red pepper and radish relish; and cilantro-tamarind glazed tandoori tiger shrimp with rice and lentil porridge and lemon chutney. The dessert list features kaju kulfi, an Indian cashew ice cream with Tagmo chile chocolate, and unniyappam in the form of sourdough banana fritters with black pepper caramel. Saar opens tonight for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., but will unveil a lunch and high tea menu in the coming weeks and brunch in the summer." - Marguerite Imbert
"Saar Indian Bistro, conceptualized by chef Hemant Mathur and Surbi Sahn, is a modern Indian bistro styled in pinks and blues. The 64-seat venue features a menu emphasizing India's multi-cultural aspects, with dishes like cauliflower latkes, Cochin black pepper chicken, and cilantro-tamarind glazed tandoori tiger shrimp. Saar opens tonight for dinner and plans to unveil a lunch, high tea, and brunch menu in the coming weeks." - Marguerite Imbert
"Indian restaurant with British, Persian, and Jewish influences on the menu." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
