Courtesy of Yelp – the Interior
Last night a friend and I decided to grab dinner in Murray Hill, and figured the perfect place to go was somewhere in Curry Hill. We ended up at Chote Nawab on Lexington between 27th and 28th Street.
What I liked about Chote Nawab was the modern décor and the service – attentive, but gave you a moment to breathe. We lingered after the check, and I didn’t feel like I was getting any stares. On a Tuesday night, the place was full but not crowded. Honestly, it felt like it’d be a great date spot since the entrees prices were between $15-20, the place was cute and the waiters wouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable – plus you wouldn’t be the only one in the restaurant.
While there are a ton of 4 and 5 star reviews on Yelp, I had mixed feelings on the food and again, I am no expert on Indian. The potatoes stuffed with paneer cheese were good and the chicken tikka masala ($15) was outstanding. The sauce was sweet and I couldn’t stop dipping my delicious garlic naan in it – which was warm, fluffy and quickly devoured. However, the shrimp ajadina (shrimp cooked with coconut and Coondapur masala – $17) tasted like boiled, bland shrimp with a tasteless sauce poured over it. I was unimpressed, and only ate it because I felt bad we were splitting the entrees and paid money for it. Again, I’m not an expert, but it just didn’t taste good – and I didn’t feel 100% when I got on the subway and headed home. I know, TMI.
My verdict for Chote Nawab: go for the décor, naan and the chicken tikka masala.
The Basics: Name: Chote Nawab Location: 115 Lexington Ave Who to Bring: Date, Friends Price: $$ $15-$20 an entrée Overall: Loved the tikka masala and naan but skip the seafood. 3.5 stars.
