Indian Accent — Restaurant in New York

I finally got to try Indian Accent in NYC and wow, what an experience. I went in with high expectations and somehow it still managed to exceed them.

We started with the sweet potato shakarkandi with starfruit and crispy okra and the Kashmiri morels with walnut and parmesan papad. Both were phenomenal. Each bite was bursting with flavor and really set the tone for the evening. If the idea of an appetizer is to leave you wanting more, this absolutely nailed it.

They served us complimentary blue cheese naans, which I had heard a lot about. Personally, I found them okay ,maybe just not my thing but I can see blue cheese fans loving it.

For the mid-course, we tried the tofu medu vada with Madras gunpowder and sambar cream, and the yogurt kebabs with aloo rasa and roasted beet. The medu vada was interesting, not my favorite bite of the night, but the sambar cream? Mind-blowing. It had that nostalgic sambar flavor, but in this luxuriously creamy form I never imagined possible. The yogurt kebabs though, wow. They just melted in the mouth. Absolutely heavenly.

For mains, we had the Kashmiri laal paneer with tomatoes, dried fruits, and lotus root, and the arbi shaami with vegetable nihari and walnut and caramelized onion pulao. The paneer was rich and comforting, paired with a buttery black dal and black garlic naan that made it feel indulgent in the best way. The arbi shaami was soft and paired perfectly with the pulao and crispy lotus root. Oh, and the chana masala kulcha with sesame butter, a nice touch, hearty but not overwhelming.

To finish, we got the makhan malai with saffron milk, rose petal jaggery brittle, and almonds. What a way to end. This dessert was pure joy. Creamy, foamy, delicately sweet, and beautifully balanced. I swear my body did a little happy dance with that first spoonful.

Overall, the experience was absolutely lovely. The food, the quiet ambiance, and the thoughtful presentation. It felt special but not stuffy. I’d definitely go back. Highly recommend if you’re looking to experience Indian cuisine in a truly creative and...

I found myself exhausted—heck, beaten—from the day, meandering down 56th when I decided to try my luck at Indian Accent. And boy, what a magical place. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by an incredibly warm staff. Every single person I interacted with was kind, outgoing, and generous with their time and knowledge.

Then came the food. Was it desi with proper mirch masala? Yes! Was it innovative, inventive, unique? Absolutely. I was lucky enough to try eight items—each one better than the last.

The blue cheese naan? Check and check again if you want to be blown away by a collision of tandoori naan, a mild blue cheese, and a pool of butter. The phulka pulled jackfruit—Lord, what did I just eat? It was comforting like home, but elegant and complex—like the feeling of home you get at the Taj.

The smoked eggplant bharta cornet with goat cheese mousse was a crunchy delight—like a new-school throwback. The soy keema, baked paneer, and rainbow tomato makhani was the most “ordinary” classic dish, but I’ve never had masala and cream so precisely balanced. The mirch hit just right—it had the Punjabi in me dancing and saying, “Chak de phatte!”

Still not impressed? Then go stuff your face with the wild mushroom kulcha drizzled in truffle oil. Am I dead? Is this heaven? Is this what kulchas should’ve always been stuffed with? Seriously—a life-changing dish in my opinion.

And the desserts—oh man. Ever wonder what a cloud made of saffron would taste like? Makhan malai answers that question for you. I had the privilege of finishing with the doda barfi treacle tart. I can’t even explain the mind-blastingness of that dish. For a southern boy like me, it was reminiscent of pecan pie—but with a whole world of desi magic.

Thank you, Indian Accent. This was a phenomenal experience. The food was only rivaled by the kindness of your staff. A special thank you to Karishma for going above and beyond in making this the best meal I’ve had in my 20+...

No doubt this restaurant is wonderful and an experience especially if you know your Indian food, as it's fun to see and taste how the artfully prepared and presented dishes bring notes of traditional Indian food flavors, North and South. The space is intimate and beautiful, and very high-end. I imagine it will be expensive for the average person and place that many may go only for a special occasion as was the case with us. My spouse was lucky to visit this restaurant for a work dinner with other executives. He liked it so much, he wanted to bring me for a visit. It definitely delivered. If I could make one suggestion from the female perspective, when some of these artfully presented dishes are placed on the table, it would be great to have a separate little side plate to eat them over. I.e., the dish with three cones sat in a piece of bark... well those cones fall apart just as an ice cream cone at the end would and it starts to uncomfortably fall below when biting it into it. It would be great to have a spare dish to eat it over and then use a fork for all the pieces that drop down. My last main dish also had this problem. It had the dish it was served in, but no space to actually gather the parts together and eat over a spare needed plate again. The server staff was of course on top of everything and attentive, but were very busy and therefore didn't feel comfortable bothering them for a spare small plate. Anyway, great overall but attention to some small details in my case would be great. The bar at this restaurant was again intimate, average size (appropriate to the size of the restaurant),...