Dhamaka

"Easy to find the place in market. There’s paid street parking, a paid parking lot nearby and also easy to get to using subway. You need a reservation and book well in advance. They will not be able accommodate walk-ins and the wait times can sometimes be more than expected. Ambiance is decent, atmosphere is slightly noisy and music is acceptable. But you can easily have conversations in the loudest setting. Staff and service is top notch. Really efficient and knowledgeable. Those who cook good tasty Indian food at home, you’ll not feel the difference, so don’t even read the full review and just stay at home or go some place else who’ll give good experience along with decent food. I would have been disappointed even if Nalli Biryani cost 1/3rd of what it is. In my visits to this place, I have tried majority of their current menu but nothing has wow’d me. For rest of you, continue on.. Food is pure and authentic, you’ll really feel at home. No fake curry and sauces. Paneer is made in house and is worth a try for vegetarians. Each of the rice dishes are unique and distinguishable including Nalli Biryani (portion size is large, 3-4 people) and Kolambi bhaath. For Rajasthani khargosh, you’ll have to place an order 2 days ahead. Kashmiri gosht chap and lasuni lobsters are good apps. Everything on the menu is worth a shot. Skip the kulfi, will recommend the Rabri. Limited selection of drinks. Goan gangster was unique. Good place for family and friends get-together. No option for take aways but there’s a work around - get a seat, order food, let it come to your table and ask to get it packed. Unapologetically Meh! Might not return for more."

"I expected the place to be more sophisticated given the price level. Dhamaka, located on the first floor of the Chelsea Market, is actually quite casual. It has a simple interior, but you can easily overlook that because the food is exceptionally delicious. I ordered the omelette and two entrees, one cold and the other hot, and all three dishes tasted great. They were authentically spicy and hot, so be prepared for that. However, this is the true taste of India without compromising or toning down for European taste buds. I highly recommend this place for those seeking new food experiences and enjoyment."

"This place was good but the price is what made me give it a 3-star rating AMBIANCE The decor was great. The restaurant itself is large and spacious. It's really hard to get a reservation here so after booking a month in advance it was great to sit at a table for two and have plenty of space to dine comfortably. Bollywood music was playing overhead and overall the place had a great vibe. SERVICE Also great! Our server was attentive and gave recommendations on the food when we asked him to help us choose between two dishes. FOOD Okay so here is where my qualm starts. The food was good. Here is the breakdown solely on flavor: Papri Chaat (3/5): The spice level was great but the papri was very strange... it was super thick and hard and difficult to eat... it didn't soak in the yogurt like it should have Prawn (4.5/5): The flavor is great. However, even though it looks quite extravagant it's really only 2-3 bites of deliciousness. Paneer (3/5): The dish itself was pretty oily (similar to a few other dishes judging from other reviews) and there was strong flavors from mace and methi which could be a bit overwhelming in certain bites. Dessert (4/5): Came warm which was unique. I'm used to cool desserts but I loved the burnt edges of this dessert. I could have excused the food given the excellent service and the vibes. But the price! $14 for the prawn is a bit outlandish. The dessert which was a rice pudding-esque dessert was $12. We ordered a mango lassi and it was $9 (!!?). The raita on the side is also $3. Overall, I thought the food was good. But I'd rather go to somewhere in Flushing or Jackson Heights to get similar quality food at half or third the price. Was I happy I came here to check out the hype? Yes. Will I come back? Probably not unfortunately."

"My sister was very excited to try this spot. She mention it was hard to get reservations online & raved it was recently michelin rated. Unfortunately we weren't wowed. The interior is smaller than I expected but it shares the space with the market line. The decor is bright and abstract. The service was great. We were seated immediately & staff were pleasant. We ordered the Amritsaril Fish Fry, Afghani chicken, Paneer Methi, Dal Panchmel and paratha. The mains were flavorful but the small bites were lacking. In my opinion, it's overpriced & underwhelming."

"Delighted by the innovative Indian twist in their various omelet offerings, I found the culinary experience truly unique. The sandwich, while decent, didn't quite match the level of creativity. A minor inconvenience surfaced as orders were restricted to a single placement. In conclusion, if you're seeking distinctive Indian flavors beyond the usual menu, this place is worth exploring!"