Patiala Indian Grill — Restaurant in New York

Definitely come by here when the weather is terrible. I popped in for lunch this past Thursday, which boasted atrocious humidity and intermittent rain storms. As a result, there were a few tables available, which I imagine is not often the case. This place is SMALL. I've been to my fair share of NYC restaurants so I always know going in that the square acreage is going to be pretty limited but this really might have the tiniest dining space I've encountered to date.

One of my colleagues recommended I try the butter chicken, and it was the right call. I have Indian food fairly regularly, but it's the "safe" stuff - it's almost always Chicken Tikka Masala and/or some type of paneer. This was my first time trying (or even hearing of) butter chicken, and I think I'm officially converting to this chicken going forward. It's very similar to Tikka Masala, but not as tomato-ey and seemed creamier and overall more flavorful. The chicken was very tender and the pieces weren't insanely big where I ended up eating like a barbarian or awkwardly trying to split it up into multiple bites within the sauce. Really hit the spot. When in Rome/Delhi, you have to get some Naan. I just went with the plain variation (they offered several variations including garlic, which sounded intriguing) and primarily dipped it in the tomato/butter gravy. Can never go wrong with Naan, and I think it particularly hits on a crummy, gloomy day like this one was.

The service was pretty decent. I was on a time crunch but was able to order very quickly - I'd say the food came out within 10 minutes or so, which certainly isn't bad for a legit entree. It did lag a bit toward the end, when I'd wrapped up and was looking for the check. That's another issue with the condensed space; if one or two customers need assistance, it's tough to make eye contact with anyone. In this instance, my primary server was occupied with other customers, and the other server (who assisted me as well intermittently) wasn't busy but also wasn't actively attentive/looking to assist. Not a huge deal, and overall it was still a positive.

The one other issue I encountered (and interestingly, I heard this come up literally three other times while I was in there) was Patiala's decision not to allow sit-down customers to utilize the lunch menu. I'm really not understanding that one at all - people were told repeatedly that the lunch specials were only for take-out/delivery customers. I honestly can't think of a basis for this other than an in-person cash grab, but it was a little frustrating to spend $30 on a dish that was a lunch-size portion - you shouldn't be financially punished for giving a restaurant some additional business. That's something I'd definitely reconsider on their end; feels like an unforced error that's primarily just going to alienate potential customers.

Bottom line though, the food was really good. I'd be concerned about the seating situation on a day with actual sunlight so I'm probably using these guys specifically for to-go situations, especially given the aforementioned lunch...

Oh, oh, oh, I loved the food here! I ordered:

Lamb Madras* ($22.95, lamb chunks, comes with no rice, *spicy) Garlic Naan ($5.95, one large fluffy piece sliced in two) Butter Roti ($5.95, one large whole wheat piece, sliced in two) Mango Lassi ($5.95, sweet and delicious, served in a glass) Salted Lassi ($5.95, not so sweet, was OK, never tried before), and the Gulab Jamun ($5.95, two hot dough balls in sweet syrup).

Everything was made so well and tasted incredible. I think they used ghee, if my taste buds are keen enough, which is clarified butter (easier to eat and healthier for the body) and it tasted amazing, especially on the naan and buttered roti!

The Lamb was spicy and tender. Chef's kiss 🤌

The bread was perfect. Both types.

The Mango Lassi was perfect. The Salted Lassi was new to me, and was well made, but I personally didn't care for it, especially after the sweetness of the Mango flavor.

The Gulab Jamun was hot, I nearly burned my tongue, but as good as any other Indian restaurant that cares about the food the serve you. Delicious.

...... The establishment was small. Only about four small 2-person tables crammed next to each other on one wall, and the same on the opposite wall. Outside the door was an enclosed patio with a similar setup. The place got cramped very quickly, but was nice to see that it was getting good business.

I don't think there was a bathroom in the restaurant. It was pretty much just tables, and then the counter and register, excluding the kitchen in the back.

The service was attentive (hard not to be when there were only so many tables to serve--NOT AT ALL a criticism on size, I LOVED this place), and I continuously was checked in on.

*They do serve tap water, fyi, so if you're uncomfortable with New York tap, keep that in mind and bring a bottle or something.

....... Not much else to add. Their menu was slightly pricey, but you're in New York and, relatively speaking, on par with some other Indian restaurants I've tried in other cities. The place was small, but the ambience and atmosphere were intimate (but casual). Overall, as stated above, I LOVED the food here. When I'm in the area again, I will definitely be coming back.

One other note on recommendation: the people next to me were, I think, a college freshman moving in to the area, being treated by his parents. They all, per some recommendations from their son, audibly loved the food as much as I. I wouldn't be surprised if they also tipped well based on food quality alone.

PS--the restaurant is right around the block or so from Moynihan Train Hall, if you're coming in by train or Amtrak and want some great Indian food nearby. You can also walk to Times Square or Hudson Yards very quickly. 👍

5/5 stars from...

Title: Terrible Service and rude and bigoted manager at Patyala Indian Restaurant

Review:

My recent visit to Patyala Indian Restaurant in New York Midtown left a sour taste in my mouth, and not just because of the food. The abysmal service and the intolerably rude waiter ruined what could have been a pleasant dining experience.

From the moment my party and I entered the restaurant, it was clear that the staff had little interest in providing quality customer service. The waiter assigned to our table displayed an astonishing level of arrogance and rudeness that was both shocking and unwarranted.

As we were eagerly anticipating our meal, the waiter abruptly interrupted our conversation, demanding that one of us get up and switch seats due to an undisclosed reason. This sudden request was not only disruptive but also embarrassing, causing unnecessary discomfort among our party.

Throughout the evening, the waiter continued to display an uncaring attitude, visibly showing annoyance any time we asked questions or requested assistance. It was evident that he had no interest in providing guidance or making our experience enjoyable.

Adding insult to injury, the service was extremely slow and inefficient. We waited an unreasonably long time for our orders to be taken, and even longer for our food to arrive. The lack of attention and care from the staff was apparent, as empty water glasses went unnoticed and requests for condiments were ignored.

To make matters worse, the food itself was mediocre at best. While the flavors were decent, the portion sizes were disappointingly small, not commensurate with the high prices charged by the restaurant. This further added to our disappointment, as we had hoped for a satisfying culinary experience.

Overall, I cannot in good conscience recommend Patyala Indian Restaurant. The abhorrent service provided by the rude and arrogant waiter overshadowed any potential enjoyment we might have had. Until the restaurant ensures better customer service and improved staff training, I would advise diners to look elsewhere for an authentic Indian dining experience in New York Midtown.

Note: This review is based on my personal experience at Patyala Indian Restaurant in September 2023 and is an accurate reflection of the service and atmosphere encountered...