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(212) 253-6999

72 University Pl (11th Street)
New York, NY 10003 40.733151 -73.993451

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Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Downtown

Hours:

Mon-Wed: 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-10:30pm

Thurs: 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-11pm

Fri: 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-11:30pm

Sat: 1pm-11:30pm

Sun: 1pm-10:30pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 9.14.09

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining, Brunch, People Watching, Business Dining, Lunch Spot, Online Reservations, Group Dining

Cuisine:

Indian

What People Are Saying About Cafe Spice

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – This Indian bistro is stylish and vibrant, with orange-and-red walls and exotic aromas wafting from the kitchen. Sit next to NYU and New School professors and students dining on food adapted from Goa, Punjab and southern India, including Goan fish curry and Galina Xacutti--chicken and potato simmered in a puree of coconut and spices. Desserts include a sweet masala chai and keer, and cardamom- and saffron-flavored rice pudding.

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great value for authentic Thai food - setting is fun and clubby, service is good too.”
  2. “The ambience is pretty and nice for conversation, so a casual lunch here would probably be best.”
  3. “It can get noisy sometimes so I would't recommend it for a romantic evening or a date.”
  4. “The food is good and the decor is very nice.”
  5. “would recommend this place for a date or to have fun.”
  6. “Great ambiance (I love the mirror above the bar!)”
  7. “Cafe Spice is a beautiful restaurant, with a warm ambience (especially the booths).”
  8. “The restaurant is cozy, and the service is wonderful.”
  9. “The decor is vibrant and eye-pleasing with several semi-private boths on the right side of the dining hall, which are great for a date.”
  10. “Interestingly I saw 2 tables with kids who seemed to like the food too, so that was fun.”
  11. “Atmosphere is fun.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “We ended our great experience by having Gulab Jamun (dessert) recommended by the waiter.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “She was very helpful in suggesting us drinks and helped us in ordering a lot of good dishes since we knew nothing about Indian food.”
  2. “The drink specials(lychee martini) also were great.”
  3. “Great ambiance (I love the mirror above the bar!)”
food quality
85.2299976348877% positive
  1. “love the food here, and although it is pricey, the entree comes with rice, naan, dal, and salad, which makes it worthwhile.”
  2. “It is a bit pricey but not as pricey as some other places I can think of where the food is not as good.”
  3. “The food and portions were really good, although a little bit pricy.”
  4. “Very good (spicy) food”
  5. “Interestingly I saw 2 tables with kids who seemed to like the food too, so that was fun.”
  6. “She was very helpful in suggesting us drinks and helped us in ordering a lot of good dishes since we knew nothing about Indian food.”
  7. “but this place is really good - spicy, good taste variety, etc.”
  8. “Food was fresh, tasty, no complaints.”
  9. “good food, service was real slow.”
  10. “The food's good, but I won't be back.”
  11. “great food, worth the wait”
  12. “good food, quiet and excellent service.”
  13. “Good food, terrible service”
  14. “But to me, it's good food that counts.”
  15. “The (Indian) food is good but much too expensive.”
  16. “wanted to have a stew like chicken and my friend wanted a spicy dish and thanks to the server we had a great meal.”
  17. “My suggestion: If you want to get a good deal and good food: Go to Spice, which is a couple of blocks down but is Thai (and not Indian).”
  18. “Also, specify if you like your food spicy- its rather bland if you don't.”
  19. “The food is fast to come, and is AMAZI.”
  20. “unfortunately overall the food was mediocre at best.”
  21. “my date's non veg thali was really expensive and had like one or two pieces of meat in each sauce.”
  22. “While you kind of have to pump the waitress to identify whats really going on on the menu, this is a great place to take someone who isnt entirely familiar with indian food.”
  23. “good food”
  24. “the servers were attentive, the food was great, and the prices are fair considering the quality of the food.”
  25. “Good food, if you are willing to wait”
  26. “Sometimes serving good food does not mean your customers SHOULD be happy.”
  27. “The food was great and the servers went out of the way to help me select the right dish.”
  28. “Very good Indian cuisine”
  29. “This place is completely overpriced, the service is terrible, the portions are smaller than most Indian restaurants, and the food is bland.”
  30. “Great value for authentic Thai food - setting is fun and clubby, service is good too.”
  31. “The food looked very appetizing and delicious since it came on a variety of fancy plates.”
  32. “Everything I've had here is fresh and flvaorful.”
  33. “The food was very tasty and there were several vegetarian options.”
  34. “great indian food.”
  35. “I've been to Cafe Spice several times, and while the food has always been good, the service ranges from mediocre to awful.”
  36. “The food is good and the decor is very nice.”
  37. “The food we found was really authentic.”
  38. “especially like their saag (spinach) dishes and their tandoori shrimp.”
  39. “love this place for food as its filling.”
  40. “love the spice content of food, which suits my traditional Indian taste for spicy food!”
  41. “and great food!”
  42. “The Taste of Authentic Indian food”
  43. “The food here is rather good, but only if you like to wait for it.”
  44. “It is expensice, but the portions are big and include a side, salad, nan and rice along with your main meal!”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The food was very tasty and there were several vegetarian options.”
  2. “The food looked very appetizing and delicious since it came on a variety of fancy plates.”
  3. “but this place is really good - spicy, good taste variety, etc.”
  4. “great menu knowledge”
  5. “As with most New York restaurants, the wait for seating is extensive.”
  6. “They're a good value and you get to taste a variety of things.”
  7. “Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu, and was very attentive.”
  8. “While you kind of have to pump the waitress to identify whats really going on on the menu, this is a great place to take someone who isnt entirely familiar with indian food.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Service was nice and the restaurant has a nice bistro setting”
  2. “While you kind of have to pump the waitress to identify whats really going on on the menu, this is a great place to take someone who isnt entirely familiar with indian food.”
  3. “I've been to at Cafe Spice probably 5-8 times, it is probably still the best Indian restaurant around Union Square.”
  4. “have been there couple of times and its a nice place.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “The food's good, but I won't be back.”
service
76.1899995803833% positive
  1. “Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu, and was very attentive.”
  2. “hostess was really warm and helpful.”
  3. “the servers were attentive, the food was great, and the prices are fair considering the quality of the food.”
  4. “but it's a charming place but the service is decent and it's in a great neighborhood.”
  5. “The restaurant is cozy, and the service is wonderful.”
  6. “This place is completely overpriced, the service is terrible, the portions are smaller than most Indian restaurants, and the food is bland.”
  7. “Service was friendly and fast.”
  8. “While you kind of have to pump the waitress to identify whats really going on on the menu, this is a great place to take someone who isnt entirely familiar with indian food.”
  9. “The service is also slow.”
  10. “good food, service was real slow.”
  11. “Good food, terrible service”
  12. “I've been to Cafe Spice several times, and while the food has always been good, the service ranges from mediocre to awful.”
  13. “good food, quiet and excellent service.”
  14. “Great value for authentic Thai food - setting is fun and clubby, service is good too.”
  15. “The food was great and the servers went out of the way to help me select the right dish.”
  16. “The service was decent.”
  17. “wanted to have a stew like chicken and my friend wanted a spicy dish and thanks to the server we had a great meal.”
  18. “Yet paired with such rude service, would never recommend for anyone interested in carrying any kind of conversation while there.”
  19. “We were greeted promptly by the waiter who was very nice and cordial.”
  20. “We ended our great experience by having Gulab Jamun (dessert) recommended by the waiter.”
  21. “borderline rude, maximizing clientele turnover”
value
73.08000087738037% positive
  1. “They're a good value and you get to taste a variety of things.”
  2. “If you order the platters all of your typical Indian side items are included so it is a good value.”
  3. “Great value for authentic Thai food - setting is fun and clubby, service is good too.”
  4. “my date's non veg thali was really expensive and had like one or two pieces of meat in each sauce.”
  5. “This place is completely overpriced, the service is terrible, the portions are smaller than most Indian restaurants, and the food is bland.”
  6. “The food and portions were really good, although a little bit pricy.”
  7. “It is a bit pricey but not as pricey as some other places I can think of where the food is not as good.”
  8. “great food, worth the wait”
  9. “love the food here, and although it is pricey, the entree comes with rice, naan, dal, and salad, which makes it worthwhile.”
  10. “the servers were attentive, the food was great, and the prices are fair considering the quality of the food.”
  11. “had a huge group for my birthday and we were well taken care of.”
  12. “The (Indian) food is good but much too expensive.”
  13. “It is expensice, but the portions are big and include a side, salad, nan and rice along with your main meal!”
wait time
12.5% positive
  1. “good food, service was real slow.”
  2. “The service is also slow.”
  3. “The kitchen however, is almost always slow.”
  4. “As many other reviewers noticed, your order is often slow to arrive - this is particularly true in the evening but is not a problem during lunch time.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/18/09

Good Food

by JessicaDee at Citysearch

I would definitely eat here again. Food was fresh, tasty, no complaints. It is a bit pricey but not as pricey as some other places I can think of where the food is not as good.

  • Pros: Decor, Service, Food
  • Cons: A bit pricey for Indian but this is nyc
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/21/08

perfect indian bistro

by MarJerr at Citysearch

Been here awhile, just went here. They were super cool about seating our large group. the servers were attentive, the food was great, and the prices are fair considering the quality of the food. Definitely want to make a habit out of this place.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/08/08

Great Indian near Union Sqaure!

by citilivin at Citysearch

We went to Cafe Spice before heading to Bowlmor Lanes last Firday night. The food we found was really authentic. Compared to other restaurents in nyc, it's an absolute bargain! Service was nice and the restaurant has a nice bistro setting . Definitely will be going back!

3 Star Rating: Average

07/11/08

Good Indian Food

by roahmed at Citysearch

This is a good Indian restaurant, nothing out of the ordinary though. The restaurant is cozy, and the service is wonderful. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu, and was very attentive. There are so many appetizers, entrees and side dishes to choose from, that it's hard to pick which one to get. The naan and papadum with all the different chutneys was amazing. My friend ordered the "Achari Tikka" as an appetizer and loved it. I ordered the "Bhindi Masala" (okra) as an entree, which was good, I just wish it was spicier. Overall, this restaurant was good, although if I went back I'd want to try a different entree, because everything else was good.

  • Pros: Ambiance, Lots of choices, Service
  • Cons: Pricey for what they serve
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/29/07

great menu knowledge

by adamschulz at Citysearch

I went to cafe spice on a saturday eve with my 3 other friends, restaurant wasn't busy so we got the lovely booth.ambience was ok though litttle dark may be they were trying to make it romantic but we were all guys so didn't matter for us.hostess was really warm and helpful.we had a lovely and pretty server(indian).she knew the menu inside out so we didn't even had to look at the menu. we all got what we were craving for...great indian food...I wanted to have a stew like chicken and my friend wanted a spicy dish and thanks to the server we had a great meal.I would say indian food at its best.will definately go back to try their appetizers, now it's a new place for us to hangout when in nyc.

  • Pros: food and service
  • Cons: no parking space

The Details on Cafe Spice

Place Categories:

  • good indian food
  • great place
  • favorite indian restaurant
  • mediocre good food
  • good great value
  • really good portions
  • nice ambience
  • flvaorful everything
  • helpful hostess
  • nice indian bistro
  • very nice waiter
  • never bad experience
  • great indian
  • good dishes
  • like chole
  • not happy customers
  • best chicken
  • great meal
  • great dining hall
  • good chicken tikka masala
  • order appetizer platter
  • often slow order
  • good service
  • very nice waitress
  • extensive wait
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