Rudraks — Restaurant in New York

Fabulous new Indian restaurant on the UWS. I’ll start by saying that the previous tenant in this space, Ayurveda Cafe, was my favorite restaurant in NYC, so my expectations were high heading in here tonight on the 3rd night of service of this new spot. Delighted to report my expectations were exceeded! The menu was huge and had many dishes I hadn’t tried before. The Lasuni Gobhi, lightly fried cauliflower in a tomato and garlic sauce, has a great kick while still maintaining the vegetable’s natural sweetness. The Anjeer aur kele ke Kebab, small cakes made with plantain and fig, were such a tasty and mild flavor my 8 year old could eat it. Speaking of my 8 year old, she ate SEVEN of the eight vegetable pakora (fritters) which were sweet chopped veggies fried in chick peas flour. Super tasty.

For mains the Dal Tadka (yellow dal) was spicy and full of vegetables (the chunks of onion and carrot were such a surprise but really made the dish). The happiest surprise was the Rudrak’s Special Makai Saag Malai - real chopped spinach with sweet corn, fresh sliced ginger and fresh dill. Wow. My favorite Indian dish is Chana Saag so I’m always trying out spinach dishes… this was unique, fresh, light, and packed with flavor. It’s a must have!!

All the above were vegan and fabulous. At my table others had the Chicken Tairwala and the Kadhai Chicken to rave reviews.

The owner was friendly and sweet (brought my daughter a mango lassi) and brought everyone else desserts on the house (they don’t yet have a vegan dessert).

I’m so excited to return and try some of the other dishes because if tonight was any indication their cook is a real find!

Good for families and folks with dietary...

Namaste to Flavor! Rudraks is a Taste of India You’ll Never Forget

Dining at Rudraks was a truly outstanding experience from start to finish. From the moment we stepped in, we were charmed by the warm, inviting atmosphere. The restaurant is cozy—just the right size to feel intimate, yet lively. One of the most delightful surprises was the friendly energy among guests; we ended up chatting with neighboring tables, and in a heartwarming moment of community, a fellow patron even offered us a taste of their dish!

Our waiter, Jayseyts, was a gem—so polite, attentive, and kind. His hospitality embodied the best of traditional Indian warmth, making us feel genuinely welcomed and cared for.

Now, the food—where do I begin? Everything was bursting with flavor. The Chicken Tikka Masala was rich and perfectly spiced, while the Tandoori Chicken came out sizzling, tender, and full of smoky goodness. The Saag Paneer was creamy and comforting, paired beautifully with the soft, cheesy naan. And the Nigiri Lamb Korma? Absolutely divine. It melted in the mouth with every bite, a perfect balance of depth and richness. Don't forget to have a mango lassi to start...it was yummy.

There’s something truly special about Rudraks—not just the food, but the spirit of the place. It’s a reminder of the joy and warmth Indian hospitality is known for. I left with a full heart and an even fuller belly.

I’ll definitely be back. Highly recommend for anyone looking to savor delicious Indian cuisine in a place that...

Tonight we visited Rudraks Indian Restaurant on Amsterdam between 94-95 and I highly recommend you experience this gem we have on the UWS! Every single dish we had was cooked perfectly and had a craveability that I have not encountered in a long time. The menu is unique, creative, and presented with an impressive attention to detail. Here is a run down of everything we ordered: Pani Puri, Ragda Chaat, Anjerer aur kele ke Kebab, Makai Saag Malai, and Panchranga Dal. I wish I would have taken more photos but I would order every single dish again and again so next time I can update my post :)

Now I need to rave about the service. It was absolutely flawless! They answered all of our questions in detail, our water was refilled before it was even half empty, our starter plates were cleared and replaced with warm dinner plates and at the end of the meal we were presented with a hot towel.

The entire experience was 5 stars.

FYI - This is a small restaurant so if you are planning to dine in be sure...