Hichki — Restaurant in Woodbridge Township

A Complete Disaster – Ruined My Father’s 90th Birthday Dinner

Took me a month to post this review. I wanted to make sure i wrote this with level head instead of the anger and frustration the whole family felt that night.

Where do I even begin? We made a reservation for 10 people to celebrate my father’s 90th birthday. A milestone. A big deal. Yet when we arrived, not only was our table not properly set, but the staff scrambled to push together an 8-top with a smaller 2-top, leaving two guests crammed at the end. Not exactly the welcome you expect after booking in advance.

It took 10 minutes just to be greeted — not because it was busy, but because the owner (who also played host) was too busy chatting with her friends to even notice us at the host stand. Someone else had to point us out to her. Red flag number one.

When we sat down and began ordering, the server informed us that many menu items weren’t available. Why? Because they were in a “soft opening.” That would’ve been useful information before we sat down — especially because apparently, it was Friends & Family Night. No one told us that either. Had we known, we would’ve gladly taken our business elsewhere for a proper celebration. Red flag number two.

Appetizers came out slowly — fine, we gave them the benefit of the doubt — new place, working out the kinks. But the table behind us, who had arrived before us, didn’t get theirs at all. They complained and eventually walked out. Smart move. We should’ve followed.

Then it really went downhill: an hour and a half later, our entrees still hadn’t arrived. In that time, no one checked on us. No water refills. No updates. My wife had to get up and grab water herself. When she did, the waiter told her he’d do it — then just dropped pitchers on the table and walked off. Seriously? For a place pretending to be “upscale,” this was unacceptable.

When our food finally came, the table hadn’t even been reset. The server had to leave the food to go find utensils. One entree — the Goan Shrimp Curry — was missing entirely. When we asked, the response was “It’s a tandoor item, it takes longer.” Really? How long are you cooking the shrimp in the tandoor? What?

Two and a half hours in, the owner finally stopped by. We told her everything that had gone wrong — the poor service, the delays, the missing food, the lack of basic hospitality. Her excuse? “It’s a soft opening, we apologize.” We asked why they took our reservation if they couldn’t properly serve a party of 10. Her response? “Let me talk to him and see what we can do.” Who is “him”? Aren’t you the owner?

In the end, they removed one dish — the late Goan curry — and gave us a 10% discount. Ten whole percent...Wow Thanks. After ruining my father's 90th birthday dinner, making us serve ourselves water, wait hours for food, and sit at a dirty table. That was their idea of “taking care of us.”

Only then did we find out that the kitchen only had two cooks, the front of house had one server and one runner, and the whole night was supposed to be “owners and their guests only.” Yet they still accepted our reservation, seated us, and pretended like it was business as usual. Multiple tables left. Dirty tables stayed untouched for hours. Meanwhile, the owner continued to socialize, clearly more concerned about her friends than the disaster unfolding around her.

If it was truly Friends & Family Night, we should have been told. You don’t let paying guests in under those conditions — and certainly not for a 90th birthday dinner. We would’ve happily walked away with grace and maybe tried again in a few weeks. Instead, we left angry, embarrassed, and deeply disappointed. This restaurant wants to be seen as upscale. But from what we experienced, they’re nowhere close — not in service, not in kitchen readiness, and certainly not in...

I’ve now been to Hichki three times, and each visit has left me with mixed feelings — not because the food isn’t good (it is), but because they’ve set the bar high for themselves in terms of presentation and menu variety, so I expect every dish to really deliver.

On the highs — the paneer was fresh, tender, and well-marinated, with a spice balance that didn’t overpower. The mushroom dish was rich and earthy, with just the right amount of gravy to scoop up with their soft, flaky laccha paratha (which is easily one of the best I’ve had in New Jersey).

The ram ladoo was a standout — crispy outside, fluffy inside, and paired with tangy chutney that made me want to order another plate. Baigan bharta had that deep, smoky flavor you can only get when the eggplant is roasted right, and their lauki kofta was surprisingly indulgent for a bottle gourd dish — creamy, comforting, and subtly spiced.

The experimental side of the menu also impressed me — I never thought I’d see karela (bitter gourd) on a restaurant menu here, and theirs was done in a way that kept the bitterness in check while letting the texture shine.

On the dessert front, falooda was generous in portion, with a good balance of rose syrup and vermicelli. But the real treat was the malpua rabdi — crispy edges, soft center, and rabdi so thick and fragrant it could almost pass for kulfi.

Service has been warm and attentive each time, and the space itself has a lively, modern vibe that makes it just as good for a casual dinner as for bringing out-of-town guests.

Verdict: Worth visiting, especially if you want a mix of nostalgic North Indian flavors and some offbeat regional touches you don’t often see in the US. Just be ready to leave with a full stomach and probably...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Memorable Dining Experience at Hichki

Had the pleasure of dining at Hichki, and it was truly an experience worth sharing.

From the moment we entered, the elegant interiors and fine cutlery gave us a sense of upscale dining. The atmosphere was inviting, setting the perfect tone for the evening.

Although we were running late (arrived at 9:40 PM instead of 9), a quick call to the restaurant reassured us — they warmly encouraged us to come in, even though their closing time was 10. On arrival, we were personally greeted by the Head Chef and Zuber, whose hospitality instantly made us feel welcome.

We ordered a variety of dishes, each better than the last:

Kofta Sham Savera – rich, flavorful, and beautifully presented Anjeer Kofta – a standout dish with a unique, slightly sweet twist Lamb Rogan-e-Ghosht Kashmir – possibly the best Rogan I’ve had in recent memory Alongside Chur-Chur Naan, Garlic Naan, and Roomali Roti, all baked to perfection Despite limited time, the team ensured nothing felt rushed. The Head Chef personally ensured every dish was on point, while Zuber provided excellent service throughout.

Looking forward to returning soon (on time!) — especially to try their much-loved Lamb Chops appetizer.

Hichki is a must-visit for anyone seeking a modern yet authentic Indian dining experience.

Thank you very much...