Veeray da Dhaba
Indian restaurant · East Village
222 1st Ave., New York, NY 10009
Highlights
Punjabi cuisine featuring tandoori chicken & goat biryani
Punjabi cuisine featuring tandoori chicken & goat biryani
"At the peak of the pandemic, the partners Sonny Solomon, Hemant Mathur, and Binder Saini opened Veeray da Dhaba, a small Punjabi restaurant in the East Village." - Luke Fortney
"Channeling a roadside snack shack in Punjab, Veeray da Dhaba is the brainchild of Indian fine-dining veterans, Sonny Solomon, Hemant Mathur, and Binder Saini. The restaurant offers what is usually displayed on steam tables at Indian buffets, only hiked up a few notches. Goat biryani is one highlight, and so is the saag paneer with cheese made in-house, a fish fry from Amritsar, and an exquisite tandoori chicken." - Robert Sietsema
"An avenue over, the restaurateur Sonny Solomon made a similar gamble when he opened Veeray Da Dhaba, a restaurant whose menu is modeled after the dhabas of Punjab." - Luke Fortney
"Veeray De Dhaba’s tiffin lunch specials are some of the best deals you can find in the East Village. For $16 (or $18 if you want tandoori), you’ll get a combo of five different dishes including a lamb or chicken entree of the day, vegetable dish of the day, richly spiced dal, fluffy basmati rice, and a side of naan. We’ve tried the creamy butter chicken and spicy lamb curry, and both come with a hearty helping of meat. To the point where you could easily turn these combos into two meals. For dinner, try the goat biryani - it’s super fragrant and the meat is extra tender on the bone." - Carlo Mantuano
"The East Village’s Veeray Da Dhaba serves Punjabi food cooked by a Michelin-starred chef, but there’s no need to break out the silverware for your order. They focus on roadside cuisine like fritters, and a recognizable cast of pulses, paneer, curries, and breads. Try the jackfruit biryani, which is meaty in character but totally vegetarian." - Vox Creative
