Veeray da Dhaba — Restaurant in New York

My sister and I were craving Indian food, and this place happened to be right next to my old apartment building and two blocks away from my current one, so it’s always been on my radar.

After my experience, I can confidently say I’m never going to get Indian food delivered to me again now that I know a place like Veeray da Dhaba exists and is obviously much more conveniently located than any another Indian restaurant that I’d only be able to access via a food delivery app. The atmosphere is very clean and welcoming, and from the moment I walked in, my sister and I felt like we were being welcomed to someone’s home in a way. It was just that comforting to be there.

Everything on the menu sounded really good! I definitely plan to keep coming back to try more of their offerings, but for our first visit, we kept it simple with Butter Chicken (since that’s what my younger sister is familiar with) and also tried Gobhi Paratha for the first time—both did not disappoint whatsoever! The meat was very tender and the paratha, though simple, was very tasty and something that I still think about until now because it was that good.

Besides the food, the staff was very friendly and accommodating. And to simply put it, I just felt very at-home and taken care of. Because of this, this will be the only Indian restaurant I’ll most likely keep coming back to and supporting, especially after reading about how the restaurant came to be and knowing how passionate they are about spreading and bringing exposure to Punjabi dhaba cuisine.

So if you’re looking for a comforting and high-quality Indian restaurant that’ll make you feel right at home, this is the...

We lunched here this afternoon with a full appetite. From the entrance, the restaurant is a long narrow corridor of tables leading to the kitchen. We sat close to the kitchen and all food served had to go across us, and the aroma of all food was so tantalizing!

We ate the following Achari Paneer tikka - So soft, yet so well cooked. Fragrance of turmeric and dhaniya were very prominent. It was served with cold tomato-base chutney, I would've loved the usual green yogurt-based chutney (in room temperature). Garlic naan - Fluffy and hot, loved the fragrant flavour of smoky garlic! Aloo gobi masala - Hot and spicy, comfortably serves 1.5 people. It doesn't come with bread, which has to be ordered separately. Jack-fruit biryani - A biryani with 'jack-fruit' is usually rare and and I have never seen it in the menu of any restaurant -- kudos for serving it! The mint flavour was slightly too much to my liking, otherwise quantity/proportion of spices, vegetables, the jack-fruit pieces, and rice were all good. A major criticism is on their preparation -- the rice in biryani is supposed to be finally cooked with the masala gravy (so that it can soak up some favours). However, here it seems to be that fully-cooked white rice was merely mixed with the masala paste at the end. I could see a small patch of white rice that wasn't mixed properly with the masala. Masala chai - It was decent, and was served in a 'glass' glass that is common in Indian small tea-shops.

The pricing of the items are reasonable, and the place has good vegetarian...

This Indian restaurant is a total standout. Best butter chicken I’ve ever had, insanely flavorful dishes, and warm, unforgettable service. A neighborhood gem.

Full Review: This Indian restaurant is a total standout. Best butter chicken I’ve ever had, insanely flavorful dishes, and warm, unforgettable service. A neighborhood gem.

We’ve officially found our go-to Indian spot, and honestly, it might be the best Indian food in the area. My partner and I were so blown away, we came back three times in one week.

The space is clean, cozy, and welcoming. The staff? Incredibly kind and attentive. Lakshmi went above and beyond. Her recommendations weren’t just good—they made our entire experience unforgettable.

Now for the food:

Butter Chicken – Unbelievably good. Creamy, perfectly spiced, and the chicken was insanely tender. Easily some of the best we’ve ever had.

Lamb Chops and Tandoori Chicken – Bursting with flavor, juicy, and perfectly cooked. The sides that come with the lamb chops had us in heaven.

Carrot Pudding – Yes, this dessert deserves its own shoutout. It's rich, warm, and one of the best sweet dishes we’ve had in the neighborhood.

Every single bite was packed with flavor. No matter your spice preference, they get it just right.

This place isn’t just a hidden gem. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves Indian cuisine. We'll be coming back...