Bukhara Grill

(646) 833-0580

217 E 49th St (nr. Third Ave.)
New York, NY 10017 40.7556 -73.9723

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Neighborhoods: Midtown Center, Midtown

bukharagrill.ypguides.net/

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm

Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11:30pm

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

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

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants, Unclassified

What People Are Saying About Bukhara Grill

The Owner

Bukhara Grill

Owner

Bukhara Grill offers a very spacious, rustic, yet highly sophisticated interior with an old-fashioned stonewall finish. Hand-woven Persian carpets are elegantly draped from the ceilings and the atmosphere as a whole does indeed satisfy the yearnings of a mind bent toward whimsical creativity.A passionate team of servers and chefs, who believe in absolute perfection, help to enhance your dining experience to a higher degree of satisfaction, a true feast for all five senses.

Provided by CityGrid

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Midtown Indian restaurant serves popular lunch buffet and dishes from the northern region in a romantic and rustic atmosphere.

ambiance
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. “feel that this restaurant gets a little too much blind praise then it actually deserves, I found the food very ordinary & at outrageous prices at dinner, their rude service and stuffy ambiance has just put me off for good.”
  2. “The decor was the same and the service was good.”
  3. “Indian food is great and there is a good amount of fun, trendy and delicious places to eat it in the city.”
  4. “The restaurant is nice, good decor, and good service.”
  5. “really like the decor.”
  6. “The decor is one of the most beautiful decor i have seen.”
  7. “The decor is wonderful.”
  8. “The wood decor is beautiful.”
  9. “Nice service, delicious food, quiet ambiance, local music not too loud.”
  10. “really liked the interior decoration with the wood furniture.”
  11. “the atmosphere was good, the food was good.”
  12. “The ambience was a little bit quirky and fun, and yet romantic; the food was spicy and distinctive; and the service was unusually good.”
  13. “Choosing appetizers and entrees from it was even more fun!”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “tried a new beer called 1947 Premium Lager, never heard of it before but the waiter said it was a new beer and people liked it so decided to gave it a shot.”
  2. “also liked the fact that they had a nice beer and full bar selection.”
  3. “With prompt bar service, food was moderately spicy and delicious [Close to authentic Indian taste”
  4. “We did not make reservations and had to wait for a while but the hostess let us sit at the waterfall seating where we enjoyed some nice drinks.”
  5. “Even though it was busy we were seated by the waterfall seating and enjoyed a couple of drinks while waiting for our table.”
food quality
89.61000442504883% positive
  1. “Go to BUKHARA and enjoy a WONDERFUL Indian meal!”
  2. “Decor needs to be upgraded but the food is amazing!”
  3. “The food is delicious.”
  4. “Bukhara grill has an all you can eat lunch that is a great value, delicious and high quality, I'd recommend it just for that.”
  5. “but the service was bad on this day, i waited for an half an hour for my food, then another 15 minutes for the bill”
  6. “GREAT food!”
  7. “the best indian food i have had.”
  8. “The service is wonderful, there's a beautiful back balcony that's wonderful in the summer and spring, and the food can't be beat.”
  9. “My favorite dishes are Pickled Mushrooms ,Tandoori Shrimp ,Fish Tikka, Chicken Tikka, Balti Gosht and of course DAL BUKHARA.”
  10. “All you can eat and the curries are delicious.”
  11. “For dinner, our party of 4 had 3 typical dishes which were atypically delicious!”
  12. “basically to me Bukhara grill is the best indian food out there.”
  13. “The food is excellent.”
  14. “We started with a great round of tandoori kababs (absolutely amazing) followed by 3 great chicken dishes, a spicy but very tasty lamb dish.”
  15. “The place has a nice warm feeling to it and the food just can't be beat.”
  16. “The food was horrible, and for $50 just for take-out, it was very expensive.”
  17. “feel that this restaurant gets a little too much blind praise then it actually deserves, I found the food very ordinary & at outrageous prices at dinner, their rude service and stuffy ambiance has just put me off for good.”
  18. “The food is rediculous, the service (even though the place was empty on a friday evening) was slow as hell.”
  19. “the best food.”
  20. “That is a problem since we paid about 20 bucks a dish, and had to order 5 dishes to get a decent taste.”
  21. “It's not the cheapest of places, but the food is fantastic.”
  22. “Best dish was Chicken Mahakana (don't remember spelling) - Tikka Masala esque but more creamy.”
  23. “Fried Okra with spices is very unique and tasty - more as an appetizer than a main course.”
  24. “The food was just great i had a great time.”
  25. “The Main Course was amazing as well as we had Chicken Makhani, Lamb Vindaloo,Kadai Paneer ,Kurkuri Bhindi and the famous Dal Bukhara along with bread.”
  26. “First, my creds: My family is North Indian, and though I was never much for Indian food as a kid (maybe a result of my British-born mother's terrible cooking skills), but in the past 10 or so years, I've really grown to appreciate all kinds of Indian food”
  27. “my fav are mal mal kabab, lambchop, and of course the most popular dish in Bukhara Dhal Bukhara!”
  28. “If i can recall correctly it was Mr. Akshay Jhanjee, who reccomended me wonderful dishes.”
  29. “the 4th dish was made to our liking, it was not on the menu, but the service is wonderful and adapts to your wishes.”
  30. “Taste just like a famous cuisine in India.”
  31. “The chicken Masala and Chicken vindaloo are great.”
  32. “The food is authentic and good.”
  33. “The food is simply mouthwatering Dal Bukhara, Chicken Makhani, Fish tikka, Lambchops and everything else.”
  34. “The ambience was a little bit quirky and fun, and yet romantic; the food was spicy and distinctive; and the service was unusually good.”
  35. “That being said, here is my review: The food at Bukhara is super tasty.”
  36. “The Apps were very good we had a chicken haryali , cottage cheese, mushroom, lamb chops Tandoori Shrimps , and they all were simply delicious, very tender and juicy.”
  37. “Bukhara serves outstanding Tandoori and does a wonderful job with seafood.”
  38. “This restaurant is quite expensive for Indian food, but not too expensive for a nice restaurant in midtown, and a nice restaurant it is.”
  39. “The shrimp is amazing; the chicken is incredibly flavorful and spicy; the naan was delicious.”
  40. “They also get points for excelling at the small things, like the breads, the rice and samosas: these are among the best samosas I've ever head.”
  41. “great spicy indian food and the service is good and the restaurant it great.”
  42. “THey hire the best employees and chefs, they make the best food and they give you the best service!”
  43. “believe your foods are already fresh and healthy so this is just to be MORE accommodating.”
  44. “also the chicken makhni, the Pickled Mushrooms, lambochop and the all the kababs are reallly tasty.”
  45. “the atmosphere was good, the food was good.”
  46. “Excellent food and service”
  47. “the Kababs were nice and hot and I loved these mushrooms from here everything was great and Dinner i had the Famous Dhal Bukhara and rice.”
  48. “Located in mid town on the east side, it has the best lunch buffet spread ever seen and great food too, for very reasonable price, you can almost not walk after eating there!”
  49. “The food is excellent, the service is great and so is the restaurant.”
  50. “appetizer - the shrimp is dry and rubbery.”
  51. “because at lunch the quality of food was too poor, just because buffet is cheap, its not right to cut down on the quality completely, everything, all the curries, tasted so similar to me, it looked like it was the same orange red sauce that was used for t”
  52. “Love the food.”
  53. “Last year we had Bukhara grill cater my sisters wedding, The catering made the party as all our guest loved the food.”
  54. “At $15, I would say the food is good.”
  55. “Great food!”
  56. “great indian food”
  57. “Fantastic food and I grew up with this stuff.”
  58. “The service is superb and the food is superb as well.”
  59. “best food in ny”
  60. “best Indian food in town!”
  61. “The food was good, but nothing special.”
  62. “Indian food is great and there is a good amount of fun, trendy and delicious places to eat it in the city.”
  63. “With prompt bar service, food was moderately spicy and delicious [Close to authentic Indian taste”
  64. “Service is extremely attentive (they clear your plate and give a new one every time you get up for more food) and not at all rush you out.”
  65. “Food was amazing - I love Indian food and eat it quite regularly, but I can say this is one of the best I've had.”
  66. “Bukhara Grill- Best Indian food 2006.”
  67. “love Indian food, but this place is without a doubt NOT worth its money.”
  68. “The food was fantastic.”
  69. “it's one of the best Indian restaurants on the island - great food and excellent service!”
  70. “The food is delicious and "spicy" but not incredibly hot.”
  71. “The service was great, the food was great and I will defiantly be back for more!”
  72. “The food (lamb) is quite good, though it did not present the mind-blowing experience that I expected after reading some reviews.”
  73. “My favorite dishes are mal mal kabab, haryali chicken, DaL Bukhara and everything.”
  74. “Great Indian food”
  75. “This place has good potential, but needs a significant amount of work before we can justify spending that much money on indian food you can get everywhere else.”
  76. “From the huge wooden menu, a Bukhara bib that sets the tone - this place is all about food, eating and a good time.”
  77. “Good to know: portions are pretty big, and they can accomodate any special food request”
  78. “While you can get a decent meal in the Lex area too, this is a restaurant you can take family, friends, boss, and clients too.”
  79. “This is some of the best Indian food I've ever had!”
  80. “The food is the Best!”
  81. “The service is always very attentive and, when I lived over there, they knew me well and would make the dishes the way I liked them.”
  82. “NOTE - ask for mild seasoning if you're like us and be very specific about how much heat you want otherwise you won't enjoy the food if your mouth is on fire.”
  83. “Nice service, delicious food, quiet ambiance, local music not too loud.”
  84. “Naan tasted like it had been made hours before, rice was good.”
  85. “reccomened Bukhara Grill To Everyone as it truly is the most authentic Indian in the TriState”
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “The wooden menus are pretty cool.”
  2. “From the huge wooden menu, a Bukhara bib that sets the tone - this place is all about food, eating and a good time.”
  3. “the 4th dish was made to our liking, it was not on the menu, but the service is wonderful and adapts to your wishes.”
  4. “When the check comes and you ask why everything is so much more expensive, well, the menu's have the "old prices.”
  5. “also liked the fact that they had a nice beer and full bar selection.”
  6. “They have a great variety to choose from and if you're not sure one of the many waiters can explain them.”
overall
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. “Yonkers is a nice friendly banquet place.”
  2. “it is my favorite and truely the best restaurant in New York.”
  3. “The food is excellent, the service is great and so is the restaurant.”
  4. “But the best part for me is the superb management of the restaurant”
  5. “The Bukhara Grill is the best restaurant I've been to in years.”
  6. “This restaurant is quite expensive for Indian food, but not too expensive for a nice restaurant in midtown, and a nice restaurant it is.”
  7. “Overall, I would go back, but not at the expense of passing up another nice Indian restaurant, which I haven't tried yet.”
  8. “great spicy indian food and the service is good and the restaurant it great.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “Overall, I would go back, but not at the expense of passing up another nice Indian restaurant, which I haven't tried yet.”
  2. “The service was great, the food was great and I will defiantly be back for more!”
service
86.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Nice service, delicious food, quiet ambiance, local music not too loud.”
  2. “The ambience was a little bit quirky and fun, and yet romantic; the food was spicy and distinctive; and the service was unusually good.”
  3. “Yonkers is a nice friendly banquet place.”
  4. “don't appreciate places or people that try to drive up the bill without the patron's knowledge so that was a huge turnoff (more than the price).”
  5. “but the service was bad on this day, i waited for an half an hour for my food, then another 15 minutes for the bill”
  6. “We did not make reservations and had to wait for a while but the hostess let us sit at the waterfall seating where we enjoyed some nice drinks.”
  7. “Expected terrible service and high prices - that was confirmed quckly as waiter cared less about us.”
  8. “The service was decent, but not very friendly at all (why would they be, they're focused on tourists that come here once in their lifetime).”
  9. “The service is wonderful, there's a beautiful back balcony that's wonderful in the summer and spring, and the food can't be beat.”
  10. “had been recommended this place by a few people and wanted to see why they loved this place so much.”
  11. “We have gone for dinner only a few times but the same great quality and service is given.”
  12. “great service.”
  13. “The service is awsome very nice staff.”
  14. “Service is extremely attentive (they clear your plate and give a new one every time you get up for more food) and not at all rush you out.”
  15. “Authentic stoneware plates, copper cups for water, the costumes for the staff.”
  16. “The decor was the same and the service was good.”
  17. “Everything fromt he waiter's garb to the copper cups scream authenticity and I love this place.”
  18. “GREAT service!”
  19. “The restaurant is nice, good decor, and good service.”
  20. “The service is superb and the food is superb as well.”
  21. “feel that this restaurant gets a little too much blind praise then it actually deserves, I found the food very ordinary & at outrageous prices at dinner, their rude service and stuffy ambiance has just put me off for good.”
  22. “The food is excellent, the service is great and so is the restaurant.”
  23. “Awsome place and owners are very nice always working and making Bukhara a friendly enviroment.”
  24. “The Staff was very nice as the manager checked up on us and welcomed us and made us feel at home.”
  25. “With prompt bar service, food was moderately spicy and delicious [Close to authentic Indian taste”
  26. “They have a great variety to choose from and if you're not sure one of the many waiters can explain them.”
  27. “because at lunch the quality of food was too poor, just because buffet is cheap, its not right to cut down on the quality completely, everything, all the curries, tasted so similar to me, it looked like it was the same orange red sauce that was used for t”
  28. “Excellent food and service”
  29. “tried a new beer called 1947 Premium Lager, never heard of it before but the waiter said it was a new beer and people liked it so decided to gave it a shot.”
  30. “The place is always packed but we always have great fast service.”
  31. “The staff is very nice.”
  32. “the 4th dish was made to our liking, it was not on the menu, but the service is wonderful and adapts to your wishes.”
  33. “The staff here is excellent as well.”
  34. “The service was great, the food was great and I will defiantly be back for more!”
  35. “THey hire the best employees and chefs, they make the best food and they give you the best service!”
  36. “The uniform on the waiters is just as nice as they are as they always are smiling and helping.”
  37. “it's one of the best Indian restaurants on the island - great food and excellent service!”
  38. “Service is attentive without being too intrusive.”
  39. “The food is rediculous, the service (even though the place was empty on a friday evening) was slow as hell.”
  40. “The service is always very attentive and, when I lived over there, they knew me well and would make the dishes the way I liked them.”
  41. “great spicy indian food and the service is good and the restaurant it great.”
  42. “The service is generally attentive though at times a little intrusive.”
  43. “All in all - too expensive for what you got - which was slightly sub-standard Inidan fare with bad service.”
  44. “The place was clean and the service was okay, but I expect these things at any place I eat.”
  45. “The service at Bukhara grill is very good and very helpful.”
value
64.80999946594238% positive
  1. “love Indian food, but this place is without a doubt NOT worth its money.”
  2. “don't appreciate places or people that try to drive up the bill without the patron's knowledge so that was a huge turnoff (more than the price).”
  3. “When the check comes and you ask why everything is so much more expensive, well, the menu's have the "old prices.”
  4. “feel that this restaurant gets a little too much blind praise then it actually deserves, I found the food very ordinary & at outrageous prices at dinner, their rude service and stuffy ambiance has just put me off for good.”
  5. “because at lunch the quality of food was too poor, just because buffet is cheap, its not right to cut down on the quality completely, everything, all the curries, tasted so similar to me, it looked like it was the same orange red sauce that was used for t”
  6. “All in all - too expensive for what you got - which was slightly sub-standard Inidan fare with bad service.”
  7. “Tourist trap / overpriced - Food decent but nothing special”
  8. “Expected terrible service and high prices - that was confirmed quckly as waiter cared less about us.”
  9. “Located in mid town on the east side, it has the best lunch buffet spread ever seen and great food too, for very reasonable price, you can almost not walk after eating there!”
  10. “The only reason we don't go more often is the pricing but the quality is fantastic.”
  11. “This place has good potential, but needs a significant amount of work before we can justify spending that much money on indian food you can get everywhere else.”
  12. “From the huge wooden menu, a Bukhara bib that sets the tone - this place is all about food, eating and a good time.”
  13. “The food was horrible, and for $50 just for take-out, it was very expensive.”
  14. “That is a problem since we paid about 20 bucks a dish, and had to order 5 dishes to get a decent taste.”
  15. “Good to know: portions are pretty big, and they can accomodate any special food request”
  16. “This restaurant is quite expensive for Indian food, but not too expensive for a nice restaurant in midtown, and a nice restaurant it is.”
  17. “Bukhara grill has an all you can eat lunch that is a great value, delicious and high quality, I'd recommend it just for that.”
  18. “Value wise, we thought we received a great value.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “but the service was bad on this day, i waited for an half an hour for my food, then another 15 minutes for the bill”
  2. “The food is rediculous, the service (even though the place was empty on a friday evening) was slow as hell.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/21/12

Not worth it

by RT111 at Citysearch

Not worth it! The food is pretty average (not bad) but the prices are too high. I am not a price sensitive customer - in fact I like to eat at an upscale place which serves good food. This one is an average place, and the wait staff just mills around. Too many waiters doing really nothing! The tables are crowded together, the menu tablet (yes, it is a big wooden tablet!) is too heavy, and table space is so limited that you have to keep holding it in your hand until the waiters come and take it back from you. We wanted to order the crab from the appetizer section, but the waiter told us it is crab from a can. Then he recommended the dahi papri - and after we ordered it from the menu, he brought the same dish to the table next to us and told them it is a complimentary appetizer. Not a great start for our dinner :) The other thing a reader may find useful to know (we wish we knew before going there) is that there is no street parking nearby, and right across from the restaurant is a parking facility that charges $30 an hour. So our two person dinner ended up costing us close to $180 (after you include parking charges for 2.5 hours). For that kind of money, this place is definitely not worth it.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/25/10

Bukhara on Behind the Burner

by lovingfood15 at Citysearch

I first read about Bukhara on "Behind the Burner" and watched a video with Divya - great stuff! Love the food.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/31/10

Class Act - Divine Dishes and Service

by chopratravel at Citysearch

Bukhara Grill honors the flavors and traditions of the North Indian region. The only reason we don't go more often is the pricing but the quality is fantastic.

Veg appetizers to try: mushrooms, fried veg fritters, and paneer tikka from the clay oven that's not on the menu as a starter but ask for it and they'll make it. The veg seekh kabab was average. Papri Chat gets soggy so it must be eaten immediately.

Non-Veg appetizers include chicken malai kabab (very soft and delicious), lamb seekh kabab (spiced to perfection). And the sharabi kabab (chicken tikka).

NOTE - ask for mild seasoning if you're like us and be very specific about how much heat you want otherwise you won't enjoy the food if your mouth is on fire.

PRICES for starters range from $7-$15.

They are able to accommodate special requests. Things like low-sodium or no added salt are difficult for them since many of the sauces are pre-made but they can definitely cater to health-restricted eating plans so ask.

Main course delights for vegetarians - Grilled Vegetables (healthier option). Dal Bukhara (famous). Yellow Lentil Dal Soup very flavorful but salty. Fried Okra with spices is very unique and tasty - more as an appetizer than a main course. Spinach and mustard greens mixed - not on the menu but it worked.

For non-veg, they never disappoint. Try whatever you like or are in the mood for.

Try the bread basket. Healthier option is Tandoori Roti - ask for no butter. Rice and the raita made with low-fat yogurt, also good to order for the table. Indian food is meant to be eaten family-style so order with that in mind. You can ask for a main course dish to be made into an appetizer portion and vice versa.

Desserts (if you have any room to eat) - try the Rasgula or rasmalai. Carrot halwa as well. Prices $6-$9.

Cheers to Master Chef Bachan Rawat. He and his team are thoughtful and experienced in the kitchen. When a chef is also a partner in the business, you see the invested interest they have in the restaurant.

They serve alcohol and have an average selection of wines. Better than many other Indian places. I might suggest they get a sommelier but afraid that would jack up the prices.

PRICES for main courses about $14-$25

Bukhara Grill has a typical Punjabi Indian flair which is refreshing. Authentic stoneware plates, copper cups for water, the costumes for the staff.

Suggestions to Bukhara - create an appetizer platter called Tour of Bukhara for non-veg and veg. Create a family-style meal for $40 per person and include appetizer, main course, bread, rice, dessert. Create a "light healthy options" menu for people with dietary concerns. A menu that's flavorful but doesn't use any salt or sugar. I believe your foods are already fresh and healthy so this is just to be MORE accommodating. Maybe sugar-free dessert (carrot halva with splenda).

The owners (Raja and Vicky) are always there which helps allow this place to run well. They keep their standards HIGH and maintain them. This is where other Indian restaurants fail.

Try lunch and you can explore the flavors without the high prices. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $17. Take out lunch for $15 (you fill your plate with as much food you can pile on to it). They offer boxed take out lunches for $10-$12.

They understand the business of taking care of their customers. Whether you're a big group or a two-person table for dinner, they will be sure to make the experience memorable. From the huge wooden menu, a Bukhara bib that sets the tone - this place is all about food, eating and a good time.

Bukhara is on E49th btwn 2nd and 3rd Aves.

  • Pros: Fresh foods, flavors, vegetarian and non-veg options
  • Cons: Prices, climb up the stairs to 2nd floor (not easy for all)
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/23/10

Great Indian food

by ajk1 at Citysearch

I lived on 50th st, and wanted Indian one day so decided to check this place out. Food was amazing - I love Indian food and eat it quite regularly, but I can say this is one of the best I've had. Very "normal Indian food", but done really well. I have it a 4 instead of 5 because of the price (just chicken tikka masala - no bread of rice - is $25), which I would expect at a upscale Indian restaurant but this place doesn't have an upscale feel. Also, waiters try to push more food on you, like suggest things as if they are complimentary when they actually cost $. I don't appreciate places or people that try to drive up the bill without the patron's knowledge so that was a huge turnoff (more than the price). But if you're prepared to spend some $ and remember to ask if something they offer is complimentary, then this is the place to go for Indian food

  • Pros: Food
  • Cons: Price
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/02/09

Best Indian Restaurant in the City

by john10012 at Citysearch

Decor needs to be upgraded but the food is amazing!

  • Pros: Amazing Paneer Dilruba

The Details on Bukhara Grill

Place Categories:

  • great spicy indian food
  • great fast service
  • romantic friendly banquet place
  • best indian restaurant
  • very nice staff
  • excellent experience
  • favorite chicken dishes
  • reallly tasty the kababs
  • great quality
  • reallly tasty pickled mushrooms
  • bad service
  • not enjoy food
  • favorite dal
  • reallly tasty lambochop
  • reallly tasty chicken makhni
  • beautiful water fall seating
  • famous dal bukhara
  • best dhal bukhara
  • rubbery shrimp
  • absolutely loved bukhara grill
  • authentic indian taste
  • enjoy wonderful indian meal
  • salty yellow lentil dal soup
  • most beautiful good decor
  • great everything

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

New York

Message from Bukhara Grill

  • Private Parties
  • Lunch Buffet
  • Multiple Locations

Bukhara Grill offers a very spacious, rustic, yet highly sophisticated interior with an old-fashioned stonewall finish. Hand-woven Persian carpets are elegantly draped from the ceilings and the atmosphere as a whole does indeed satisfy the yearnings of a mind bent toward whimsical creativity.

A passionate team of servers and chefs, who believe in absolute perfection, help to enhance your dining experience to a higher degree of satisfaction, a true feast for all five senses.

Bukhara Grill