Spice Symphony — Restaurant in New York

This review is for the restaurant on 50th street. There's another branch of the same restaurant with a different menu, phone number etc in Manhattan. Apologies for the rather long review as there are multiple points to note especially if you are out of towner.

There are multiple ordering methods using different operators with price difference, optional menu offerings. Their internet menu is outdated and the prices today are nowhere close to the old prices. While placing the order directly with Google maps, I initially chose Ritual US which had incidentally reduced price and optional offerings paired together like buy a main course and select bread or rice at lower price but for some reason the order didn't get through.

After clicking confirm order 3 times, I gave up and chose postmates and I had to start all over again. The price in general in NYC is higher than Chicago (for instance) by more than 25%. Ordering through postmates (or Uber eats) didn't give me the option of selecting bread or rice at reduced price or whatever price alongside the main item. Each one had to be ordered at list price. These prices vary from other ordering companies by a few dollars. Though these companies say there's no service charge, the premium price more than makes up for their services. Within a few seconds of submitting the order, it was confirmed and food preparation was set.

When we went down to pick up the food, the gentleman insisted that I prove that I am the one who ordered it. Unfortunately postmates doesn't provide an order number and I had to show him the entire order and email confirmation etc and spend a good couple of minutes to prove my identity. Second time I ordered, I called the restaurant directly for a pick-up. In the restaurant, the same gentleman misunderstood me when I inquired about the outdated internet price, different prices for different ordering services and he hinted that I should place an order with whichever company I prefer if I was unhappy with the prices in their restaurant. I had to tell him that so many prices are online for their menu items and it is causing confusion. For this review, when I requested for permission to take some photos of the restaurant, he spoke with the manager and the manager politely refused saying the patrons would not like their pictures taken. However I did take a shot of their latest menus.

As for the food itself, it is good though expensive and lesser quantity especially the malai chicken and lamb chops. There were just 5 pieces of chicken for the price and 4 of chops which comes to $7.50 per chop. The vegetables Briyani is ok while the Chicken Tikka masala ended up being a bit spicy. Though I had chosen the same spiciness for all dishes, one came out spicier than the others. Garlic naan was good but can do with a little more butter and palak paneer is good with big chunks of paneer. The CTM had a lot of gravy which is good with the naan. There were a couple of complimentary smaller boxes of plain rice that were included with the order causing us to over order rice. So we ordered the next day for the second time with lamb chops, tellicheri chicken and bhindi masalewala. I specifically asked them not to include any complimentary rice as we had several leftovers. But again I found 4 small boxes of plain rice. The 4 pieces of lamb chops are mild in spiciness but good. The TC chicken is rich in gravy though they said during ordering that it is semi-dry. It is ok if you like mild spiciness and rich coconut and other white gravy. The bhindi masalewala was good though a tad too fried to the point of chewiness.

This extra items has been an issue with almost all restaurants everywhere in the US where there is no clarity on when you get complimentary rice and when you don't. You do end up with more rice than you can eat and invariably it gets thrown out. Given there are several homeless and hungry people around, it makes me wonder why so much waste.

All in all, it's a good place for Indian fare if you are in...

Spice Symphony Review: A Mixed Bag of Fabulous Service and Disappointing Integrity

Located in Midtown East, Spice Symphony offers an intimate dining space that may be small, but the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the service staff is truly commendable. The servers were professional, polite, and attentive, going out of their way to make the dining experience pleasant. The food we ordered was flavorful, showcasing a masterful symphony of spices that melded into a delightful concert of taste.

However, despite the exceptional service and well-executed dishes, our experience was significantly marred by one glaring issue: the so-called “Lacha Paratha.” Having enjoyed this flaky, layered Indian bread across various establishments in North America, we were disheartened to find that what was served to us bore no resemblance to the authentic delicacy.

When we raised the issue, we were met with a dismissive and condescending response from a staff member( whose name I am omitting), who insisted that “this is how Lacha Paratha is made here, not like back home.” This reaction was not only arrogant but also deeply insulting to our knowledge of Indian cuisine and culture. While it is perfectly acceptable for a restaurant to put its own spin on a dish, mislabeling it and then insisting customers accept a poor imitation as the standard is unacceptable. It’s akin to asking for an apple and being served a boiled egg, with the insistence that “this is how it’s done here.”

To the management of Spice Symphony: Using the name of a beloved dish from Kerala—an already marginalized region of India—without respecting its authenticity does a disservice to your patrons and the culinary heritage you claim to represent. Lacha Paratha is not an easy bread to master, and if your kitchen is unable to prepare it properly, that’s understandable. But rebranding something entirely different as “Lacha Paratha” is not only misleading but also offensive.

This experience left us feeling scammed and belittled. We urge Spice Symphony to either honor the authenticity of the dishes they list or clearly state that their versions are creative interpretations. Patrons deserve transparency and respect, not arrogance and condescension.

While the service team deserves all the praise for their professionalism and friendliness, the mishandling of this situation overshadowed the positives and left us questioning whether we’d return. Respect for cultural integrity and customer feedback should be as essential as the spices you proudly display...

We were a party of 5. Total bill (including 20% tip) was $228 and change. Majority of the dishes (Chinese Bhel, Manchurian, Coriander soup, Peshawari Naan) ordered were great. However, the sweet corn soup was way too sweet. The whole bowl went back. The Madras vegetables were missing some defining taste. Definitely not as impressive as other dishes.

The reason I gave a rating of 4 is the management mentality. One of the group member requested some cut onions. We received a small dish of few cut onions pieces and few chilies. They charged us $3 for that. Now, $3 is not the bone of contention. I did not even bring it up at the time of paying the bill. This charge reflects poorly on the management. Certainly, we were served with complimentary few pieces of vegetarian cutlets in the beginning. That was very thoughtful. They were really good.

When we returned the bowl of sweet corn soup, neither the serving staff or the kitchen staff seem to be concerned. At the time, we did not feel comfortable to mention the excessive sweet taste (based on 3 out of 5 group members opinion). When we go to a restaurant with a guest(s), we do not want to ruin our guest's experience (including ours) by my complaining at the moment of having our blessed meals. That is why I am writing this review after we left the restaurant. When a restaurant charges 20% tip (no option) there is some expectation from the customer for a caring attitude. I understand all the worker shortage issues etc. etc. I felt that the management projected an egregious attitude to charge 20% tip irrespective of the guest experience. I understand the tip goes to the server. In my opinion the server lacked certain etiquette. The management is responsible because it did not train it's servers and staff adequately.

Despite good food this restaurant does not deserve a 5 star rating. If Spice Symphony wants to stand out, compared to other restaurants then, they need to show better customer service. In terms of food taste they are up there (except for the few...