Utsav
“Vegeterian and vegan options abound, as does the light, fluffy naan.”
“Utsav falls in the rare category of "great lunch options" around Times Square.”
“Ustav should satisfy newbies to Indian cuisine and followers alike.”
Utsav
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I decided to give this a try after spending $10-12 on every lame "lunch special" the Indian restaurants around midtown offered, where 4 tiny pieces of chicken was the norm.
Was a bit worried about the mixed reviews but glad I tried it out.
This place is on the smaller side and gets PACKED between 12-2pm, i actually had to wait to be seated.
The food is very good, even if the selection is on the smaller side.
There's 2 types of rice, 4 sides, naan, 3 types of meat (tandoori chicken, tikka masala, and fish curry), 2 deserts(rice pudding and carrot pudding), and some cold american salads (egg salad, mac salad)
The flavors were great, and the chicken tikka masala was tender, the tandoori chicken had a nice char on it, and the naan was always fresh.
No complaints except maybe the price, which will set you back $23.90 before tip, which is about double the average cost even in Manhattan.
Overall, good place for times square.
EDIT: Apparently I went during a day they had an event so half the restaurant was blocked off, leading to a tiny dining room and limited food selection that day.
I'd give this place zero stars if I could. What is up with these crazy prices?!?! $23 for Saag lamb?!??
This is a place for really rich white people to get their "exotic Indian flavor" kick and Utsav is ready to milk this base of clientele.
If you're looking for an affordable yet delicious quick Indian meal for lunch/dinner, just avoid this place.
Mostly recommended for lunch or pre-theater, given there were all of 5 people for dinner including us and the waiters. Having said that, the food was not bad. Sure, a mildly spicy, watered-down American version of Indian food, but the naan for one was fluffy and crunchy to the right point; the sea bass drowning in coconut soup was actually surprisingly good; and the channa masala was kind of like getting close but not quite yet still a valiant attempt at emulating the real thing. Overall solid.
I was pleasantly surprised. We had a prix fixe at $38, which may or may not have been a great deal, but was certainly easy. Everyone enjoyed the food, though it lacked some traditional HOT that we craved. I would return to try again.
The restaurant is in the same building as my job and a few times my coworkers have suggested coming here for group lunches. During lunch time they have a buffet lunch. Comes out to be around $25pp and you can eat as you please. The food is pretty good and the selection is okay. It's not the wide variety you may imagine when you think buffet but it's enough. It's not my first choice for lunch but I'm not opposed to it either.
After my recent meal at Utsav I am raising it to 5 stars! The interior has been changed and so has the level of food and plating. I was quite simply blown away! The service has also gone to a level to rival Tamarind and Junoon. No need to go there anymore!
I'm not a lamb saag person but my friend ordered it so I gave it a try, WOW! Order blindingly and your won't be disappointed.
I can't wait for my next meal here.
At the risk of sounding like an elitist snob, Goan food is my favorite Indian regional cuisine. It's quite different from the typical North Indian/Punjabi fare that dominates most Indian restaurants. Since I moved to NY, I've been on the hunt for a good Goan spot in Manhattan (I've already done the Jackson Heights tour, but sometimes, a girl just wants to avoid the 7). I thought Utsav was it, based on my online research, but alas, it was not to be.
I guess they've redone their menu and gotten rid of much of the Goan dishes. Most of the items were the standard Westernized Indian dishes you can find anywhere. When I asked our server, he confirmed that there had been a big change. Disappointed, I asked him to recommend the best Goan dish still available. He suggested the Cochin Curry (fish and coconut sauce). It was okay, but a far cry from the authentic Goan food I've had that makes you want to weep, it's so delicious.
Other things we tried ranged from okay to disappointing. In that order:
Utsavpolitan: Tasty little number
Crispy Quinoa Aloo Tikki: Red quinoa potato patty with white pea mash and chutneys. Interesting.
Butter Chicken: Too sweet
Garlic Naan: Not garlicky enough
The space is lovely, and the prices–while not cheap–are not unreasonable either. For Midtown, I guess this is a solid choice.
And my Goan Quest continues…
After staying in HK for close to 7 years, this was my 2nd time at Utsav, only to remind me of why I didn't really come to this regularly…
Never tried this Masala Chaas (butter milk), which was a winner (and savior) of the night… And the Chicken Chettinad… Everything else… Bland and a forgettable experience..
We ordered the Reshmi Kabab which was decent too, although a bit dry.. Was expecting the kabab to be a bit moist. The other thing we got for entrée was the Chicken Bharta… Absolutely horrible… It had no flavor whatsoever, but definitely not the worst. The worst dish on our order was the Crispy Bhindi (Kurkuree Bhindi).. I've had this before at several places.. It was missing a little takda, sugar and chaat masala. Basically… The heart of the dish…
Service was excellent and 1 star goes to the staff for being warm and welcoming.. Everything else was just okay. Am sure this place is a good pick for their lunch buffet during weekdays; I'd definitely not recommend this for dinner.