Neem Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in New York

I’ve been to Neem several times, and the food has always been delicious, the service friendly and good, and the atmosphere somwhere around ok. I ate there last night, and the food wasn’t good. As I told the waitstaff, while I’m an older white woman, I’ve been been eating Indian food since around 1980 and often go to Manhattan for it (and ate much of it in Hoboken and Jersey City when we lived there), so I know what to expect. I ordered chicken biryani with a side of raita. What I got was stickly clumps of rice that had seen better days (was it even basmati rice?) with dried clumps of chicken. Mo fresh herbs, really no herbs and so litte spice so it was really flavorless and one note. No raisins or slivered nuts. Just sticky yellowish clumps of rice with clumps of dry chicken. And the raita was simply bizarre.It didn’t even look like Raita. It was so thick and tasteless there was no purpose in using it. My husbands’s butter chicken was better, but nothing to write home about.

The waitstaff was polite (though we of course were rushed despite the wealth of empty tables, a tendency at many restaurants at the moment) and never asked us how the food was, because they knew what they would hear. I shared by thoughts with the waiter/manager on duty and he really understood, and asked if I would like to speak with the chef. I said yes. Well, the chef claimed to be too busy preparing takeout orders to speak to me. I can tell you that I was surprised at how few bags of takenout I saw that evening. He was hiding from me because I spoke the truth.

Someone offered to charge us for only one entree, but I refused, saying that made it look like I’m a grifter complaining to save money. My complaints were justified.

Neem needs to get it together if it wants to be a real restaurant, and not a takeout joint with a few tables. With a few patrons who will eat anything rather than prepare a meal. Seriously, I think a total of 3 tables were occupied while we were there. That gives a place a strange feel, not a...

Exquisite Dining Experience at NEEM Indian Cuisine

I recently had the pleasure of dining at NEEM Indian Cuisine on Johnson Avenue in Riverdale, and I must say it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable. Nandi and her husband Anil who run this establishment, have created a welcoming and warm atmosphere that sets the tone for a delightful meal. Our server, Jenny was incredibly sweet and attentive, enhancing our dining experience with her friendly demeanor and excellent recommendations.

Now, let's talk about the food—it was simply spectacular. Every dish we tried was bursting with authentic flavors and cooked to perfection. From the aromatic biryanis to the flavorful curries, each bite was a delight to the senses. The attention to detail in the presentation of the dishes was also commendable, adding to the overall dining ambiance.

NEEM Indian Cuisine truly excels in delivering top-notch quality in both service and food. The combination of exquisite flavors, friendly service, and a beautiful atmosphere makes it a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Indian cuisine in Riverdale.

Overall, I cannot recommend NEEM Indian Cuisine enough. Whether you're a seasoned fan of Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, this restaurant will exceed your expectations. It's a gem that deserves every bit of praise...

Great space. Ok fresh food.

The physical place is very nice. It's well decorated, has a nice atmosphere, and it's cleaner than many other Indian joints. The service is good. The servers are polite and attentive and the food comes out fast. However, the flavor is very underwhelming. I could barely taste the spices in my veggie korma - most of the flavor was yogurt (of which there was little). The spices were used very conservatively across the board. The naan and rice were underseasoned. I asked for my food to be spicy and it was honestly mostly just sweet. Barely savory. Barely spiced. And the veggies were undercooked a little, and definitely not marinated in the sauce. The semi-raw flavor of the veggies overwhelmed the flavor of the sauce way too easily. My favorite part of the meal was the masala chai, which tasted fresh not burnt, and was properly spiced, and the tamarind chutney which also tasted fresh. The food is ok! It was by no means a bad meal. It was enjoyable, albeit I can't really justify the prices (which are a little higher than your average indian joint). The experience was good, just underwhelming. It didn't quite scratch the itch for rich, aromatic,...