Athithi Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Wilton

When we heard from friends that a new and noteworthy Indian restaurant named Athithi with a Michelin-star (actually two) chef as legendary as Hemat Manthur at the helm had opened in nearby Wilton, we were excited to give it a go. It has been nearly a 13-year quest to find a new Indian favorite since our very beloved favorite, Bengal Tiger in White Plains was destroyed in a fire. We have tried several Indian restaurants in the area including the regional favorite and "Best of the Gold Coast" perennial winner but nothing ever came close. That was until now. And it was worth the wait!

The phrase "athithi devo bahva" roughly translates to "the guest is God." And if food quality, presentation, and service are any indication of their dedication to that credo, I would say the team at Athithi are devout believers!

We were greeted graciously and immediately served crisp delicious papadum and two little vessels of chutney. We started our dinner with icy cold mango lassi which were hand's down the best we have ever had anywhere. We then enjoyed a lovely appetizer called Lasooni Kebab which was tender morsels of dark meat chicken seasoned to perfection. For dinner, we ordered two mild entrees - Pistachio Chicken and Lamb Korma. Both were excellent. Again, what stood out for us was the freshness of the ingredients and the masterful play of herbs, spices, and sauce mastery which is a hallmark of Indian cuisine. We also ordered garlic naan and it was oven fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. And then there was the rice. Whereas most Indian restaurants will serve traditional basmati alongside a main course, the rice Athithi used was perhaps the finest quality basmati we have ever had and it had been prepared to absolute perfection. Something so basic yet so perfectly prepared spoke volumes to us. No detail was too small to get perfectly right.

We cannot wait to go back and try more of Hemant Manthur's tondoor artistry including the acclaimed lamb chops that the couple next to us thoroughly enjoyed filling this lamb-lover with major FOMO!

Dinner for two with dessert and tip came to...

Came in on a whim, I had initially been planning on eating dumplings tonight but the dumpling place was closed. I was blown away by the food, absolutely delicious and Srihari (the waiter) helped me pick an appetizer and entree that was perfect for me (I love spicy food but can't eat it as much as I used to because of stomach issues).

The okra was very crispy, wonderfully spiced, and was just a tiny bit spicy. It was spicy enough to enhance the flavor but not so spicy that I'd start sweating. The tikka masala was also delicious. The sauce was very creamy and flavorful without being drowned in oil. The chicken was tender and really soaked in the flavor of the sauce. It was served with light, fluffy long grained rice. I also ordered a side of buttered naan, which was fantastic. The naan was lightly seasoned and generously buttered, making it the perfect accoutrement for the creamy masala. It added just the right bit of flavor and structure to the dish.

In addition to the fantastic food, the wait staff was superb. As I mentioned, the waiter (Srihari) who took my order was extremely helpful. He helped me pick my entire order and was very attentive to my table during my whole meal even though the restaurant had a fair bit of diners in it, including a couple larger tables where he'd likely get better tips. He came by with exactly what I needed, when I needed it, from refills to to go boxes, without being overbearing. While I was eating, he'd generally leave me alone except to ask once how the food was. Then, right when I was done eating, he came by and offered to get boxes and the check. Absolutely perfect service! Srihari wasn't the only helpful staff member either, a waitress also came by my table several times. One time she was bussing another table and just happened to notice my water was low. She came by and refilled it without me saying anything even though I wasn't 'her' table.

From start to end, I had a wonderful meal here and will definitely be coming back again! I would've attached more pictures, but the food was so good, I completely forgot about it until I was...

My girlfriend and I recently had dinner at Athithi for the second time. The last time we ate there they had just opened. We had been extremely impressed at that time. We finally came in for dinner again and our only regret is that we have not returned sooner. I have never had Indian food like this anywhere before. The chef/kitchen crew must be some of the very best in the business. Out of both times we dined here, our favorites have to be the Lasooni Kebab and Achari Mushrooms appetizers. Also, the Kulcha with goat cheese and spinach is delicious. My favorite entree so far is the Kosha Mangsho. I had it prepared spicy and it was absolutely amazing. My girlfriend enjoyed it as well, along with the Chicken Korma, which she loves. I am willing to bet that you cannot go wrong with any of their dishes, as everything seems so fresh and of the highest quality.

This time they had a full selection of cocktails which was not on the menu way back when we came in for the first time. My girlfriend had the Botanical Gardens cocktail and loved it.

Not only is the food superb, but the service is equally as good. The staff are all top notch. We were asked by several people how we were enjoying each of the dishes. Our server was friendly, inviting, and attentive. It is clear that all of the staff take great pride in their work and are passionate about delivering an excellent dining experience for all guests.

10/10 would highly recommend. I could not be more impressed with this place. Congratulations to the ownership and staff, you have done an amazing job. We look forward to...