Indian Tandoor Oven Restaurant
175 E. 83rd Street
New York, NY 10028
212-628-3000

In search of affordable eateries on the UES, I stumbled upon the Indian Tandoor Restaurant on East 83rd between Third and Lex. Intrigued by photos of Woody Allen, Jimmy Fallon and Christina Ricci on the website posing with its smiling bald owner, a Zagat rating and dinner prices in the $9–$13 range, I headed over after a crowded afternoon at the Met. A reasonably priced prix fixe menu makes it possible to hit one of the museums on a free Friday night and top it off with curry for a cheap date.

Arriving just before the dinner hour, we were seated in a cozy ground floor dining room with worn Oriental rugs and dark wood paneling. Being one of only two tables in the room was refreshing after a crowded museum. The service was friendly but slow, but the languid pacing encouraged conversation. Our yoghurt lassis took at least 15 minutes to arrive and when they did, had the consistency of skim milk. A request for rosewater was obliged by the waiter, who gave our drinks a few quick squirts from a plastic bottle stashed by the cash register.

The atmosphere was relaxing, the music pleasantly atonal and the food was plentiful but bland. The cuisine was tailored to the most timid of Upper East Side palates, but has a loyal neighborhood following for dining and takeout. I’d recommend the Chicken Tikki Masala, the Shrimp Kurma, and the vegetable fritters, and would steer away from the Garlic Lamb. In view of the odd absence of spices in an Indian restaurant, although the place is a bargain and offers vegetarian entrees, I’d order the food ‘medium’ or ‘hot’ in hopes of obtaining some flavor. Free green tea and mango ice cream after dinner left us sleepy and sated after a day of art viewing.

--Kirsten Bengtson-Lykoudis