New Bombay — Restaurant in Makati

A rather quaint restaurant serving Indian food. The place looks like it's seen better days, although it could have deliberately been designed this way from the start, as a homage to places of the same type back in the Indian hometown of the owners. For me, since I'm not Indian and don't have a personal connection to its roots, I found it somewhat depressing. But equivalently, if I were in, say, New York, and I stumbled upon a Filipino restaurant that was styled in the form of a turo-turo, it would add to my joy of finding a bit of home in a foreign land. I would also find it depressing if a Filipino restaurant in Makati styled itself like a turo-turo, but if I were homesick in New York, it would have an entirely different effect. So that's what they might have been aiming for here.

But the most important part of any restaurant is the food, and the food here is delicious. Again, not being Indian, I cannot vouch for the authenticity. All I can say is I like the food here. I read a lot of the other reviews, and they're very mixed with regards to its authenticity. Even if I limited myself to just the reviews from Indian diners, there were many who criticized it as not being authentic, and many others who gave it 4 or 5 stars for being authentically Indian. I guess it boils down to whether or not you're from the same region of India as the owners. It's the same thing with us Filipinos. If someone from Pampanga opened a restaurant in New York serving Kapampangan cuisine, they might call it a "Filipino Restaurant," because they hope to attract American diners who would understand that a lot more than "Kapampangan Restaurant." But then if a Filipino from Zamboanga or the Ilocos region drops by, they might say it's not authentic, just because a particular dish didn't taste the way they expected it to.

So I recommend that you try out the place, whether you're Indian, Filipino, or some other nationality. Form your own opinion, then come back (as I will) if you like it, or just move on elsewhere if it's not sufficiently...

This is probably the worst restaurant in the Philippines in terms of service that I have experienced in my month long stay. You should avoid this place if you can. Here was my experience: I wanted to pick up some food from here. So I entered the restaurant and went to the counter. There were customers in only one table and the rest of the restaurant was empty. The waitress crossed me 4 or 5 times while I waited for 5 mins. Not once did she acknowledge me or said something like "I'll be there with you in a min". After 5 mins I had to waive at her to say I would like some take away for her to look. This restaurant charges to take away, and the reason is for packing. I have never been to a restaurant that charges more take away than dining in. Lastly when I ordered the food the waitress said a price which was higher than the price on the menu. When I asked why she said something that sounded like "parking". I couldn't understand her so I asked twice why for parking. And they shouted at me and then I understood she meant "Packing". I don't blame her for not pronunciation but the way she shouted instead of just writing I was seeing red. I had to control myself and not say anything.

On the food- it is super mediocre and borderline unhealthy. I got a Mutton Biriyani and it was...

Ambiance: 1/5. Looks like a small road side eatery not a restaurant. Hygiene level is very low, found cockroaches running under table. Price: 3/5. I found it cheaper compared to other restaurants in same area. Compare to other Indian restaurants it’s cheaper. Read more if you want to visit this. Food Taste and Quality: taste was ok for paneer butter masala but the chapati served was half cooked, it was 3x thick than a traditional Indian chapati and inner layer of chapati was not cooked. I should have immediately walked out of this restaurant but I did a mistake of eating this and now my stomach got upset.

Conclusion: if you are non-Indian, must try to avoid this otherwise you will forever get a bad impression about Indian food. If you are an Indian on tour, you must avoid, don’t get in the trap...