Junoon — Restaurant in New York

I recently visited Junoon with my family to celebrate a special evening, and unfortunately, the experience was deeply disappointing. We were initially seated at a table right by the entrance, despite the restaurant being far from full. It felt like we were given the least desirable spot. After requesting a better table, we were moved inside, but this was not a good start.

Our server, Tanmay, arrived late despite the slow evening, and his attitude left much to be desired. He seemed disinterested, offering dry responses and no real concern for our experience. We wanted to order a 3-adult, 2-course meal, with the intention of sharing, as our 11-year-old didn’t need a full meal. However, they insisted we order the full adult two-course for him. This was unreasonable for a child, yet even after checking with the manager, they wouldn’t budge.

Another odd issue was that we were forced to order both appetizers and the main course at the same time, which felt rushed and unnecessary. Out of the four appetizers, two were decent, two were subpar—understandable, as personal taste can vary. But for a Michelin restaurant, the presentation of a $45 appetizer was shockingly basic.

The main courses were a complete letdown. None were enjoyable, and again, perhaps that’s a matter of taste, but we’ve dined at high-end places like Indian Accent and Armani Amol recently and know what to expect from fine dining. This was far from it.

Throughout the meal, Tanmay never once checked on us, leaving us feeling completely neglected.

We ended up paying $350 for four people, which is not the issue. However, for the level of service and quality we received, this was completely unjustified. The automatic 18% gratuity for such poor service was another blow. Junoon ruined what was supposed to be a special evening, leaving us frustrated and feeling like our time was stolen.

If you’re considering dining here, I’d strongly recommend reconsidering. It’s not worth the price, the service, or the disappointment. Avoid if you can. Owners, "It's unacceptable to enforce such rigid policies on families with young children."

Update to the response.

It’s unfortunate that you refuse to acknowledge the subpar service provided. The attitude displayed was both arrogant and ignorant. I called ahead before my visit and was told to walk in since the restaurant wasn’t busy. Upon entering, the host explained certain things but never mentioned any child policy.

As a customer, it’s my decision to make, and the benefit of the doubt should be given, especially when considering food waste. Had I been strictly said NO to child full course, I would have probably asked to leave. This is not reflective of Indian hospitality.

The food was below expectations, but that isn’t the primary issue here. Please carefully review the gratuity transaction, as I uploaded the payment photo before completion. Here is the proof of the tips

Change the policy. Don’t be greedy. Respect and...

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I ordered Ghost Chicken Tikka, Lamb Chettinad, Kulfi Pops and Season of Love cocktail.

The Ghost Chicken Tikka was very juicy, flavorful and delicious but extremely spicy. I was crying, sweating and really having trouble to finish the dish because it was way too spicy for me. Unless you're extremely confident you can handle the spice, I wouldn't recommend it. I was, obviously, overconfident about it. The staff was very thoughtful and gave me a bowl of complimentary yogurt to ease the heat, which I appreciated very much.

The Lamb Chetinad was flavorful and delicious. It came with the basmati rice and naan. I thought the naan was greatly made.

I ordered Kulfi Pops for desserts. They are 4 different flavors of very cute Indian-styled ice-cream: mango, rose petals, ube-malai and saffron-cardamom. I really enjoyed these. The portion was very small, which was perfect for me because I was already very full but still wanted to have a taste of them.

The cocktail "Season of Love" was yummy and refreshing but don't let the "light and refreshing" fool you, the after kick can be unexpected. I enjoyed it though.

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