Cheeni — Restaurant in New York

This place is a VIBE! From the carefully curated playlist to the thoughtful touches throughout the space (don't miss the bar covered with pictures of famous Southeast Asian celebrities and the Instagram-worthy bathroom!), this is the kind of spot you'll want to post up at all day. Luckily you can - I only stopped in for dinner, but I'm dying to come back and try the breakfast and lunch menus (Kati roll crunchwrap?! Yes please). And the FOOD AND DRINKS! Everything was shareable so we ordered a ton - the standouts were the Vada Pav (the perfect handheld snack), Keema (which tasted like an Indian-ish bolognese), and Chop (served with an Indian mustard that was so addictive). We also got the Tea-ramisu which was such a unique, lighter take on your traditional Tiramisu, featuring masala chai instead of espresso. The wine options looked great, and I also appreciated the nonalcoholic drink options - I tried the Aam Panna, which was super tart and refreshing. We dined in their outside space which felt truly magical with the twinkle lights and tall trees around it. I'm so excited...

Such a fun local spot, with a unique twist on the daytime café / nighttime wine bar concept! The owners and staff are all so friendly, and the ambiance is amazing. Loved the fun decor (which has so many fun personal touches!), the cozy living room feel of their indoor space and the lovely atmosphere of the large outdoor terrace.

The Indian-ish food is truly to die for - all the dishes we tasted were packed with flavor and so delicious we couldn’t stop eating them. The portions are also quite generous, so come hungry and ready to dig in with a group of friends! My favorites were the Payaji, Papor and the Lentil Pav. The desserts are so tasty too - couldn’t help but try all three, and honestly can’t pick a favorite they were all so delicious. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu items and check out some of the day-time options like the Paneer...

Love this place. I’ve come here for dinner a few times, and love how inventive and tasty the food is. My favorite items are the crispy paneer salad and the lentil pav (pictured). But also the chop (pictured) and the phuchka (devoured too quickly). All the desserts are amazing, but my the mango pavlova wins for me. Plenty of vegetarian and even vegan options. The house made nonalcoholic options are all excellent. The mango lassi is a fragrant version of the lassi you grew up with, and the aam panna is a super unique drink with a spicy/tangy punch to it. Not to mention that the vibe inside is super trendy but also relaxed. I’ll definitely be back again for dinner and drinks, but also need to visit for breakfast and lunch asap, esp for the pastries and...