Chaiwali (OPEN DINNER & BRUNCH)

Best vibe and atmosphere in Harlem NY, NY by far! Staff, GM and owner are terrific and treats their customers like family. The food is outstanding as well.

Simply one of the best and unexpected gems in Harlem. Who would’ve thought one would find awesome fusion Indian cuisine this far up on Malcom X?

Each dish had enough personal touch from Chef Trehan bettering any Michelin starred offering you get in the lower part of town, but more sophisticated than any normal Indian fare. As a starter we had the Hari Mirch Ricotta (Indian Green Chili Ricotta), which had an unexpected kick much to the delight of my wife who is a fan of spice. The star of the night was the Velvet Carrot Butter chicken - one of the best takes on this dish I’ve had anywhere in the world, including its spiritual hometown of New Delhi. We paired the dish with Naan and a garlic naan, both of which were surprisingly … normal. For dessert we had the Rum Pudding, which is the best piece of Anglo-Indian cuisine I’ve had on this side of the pond.

The drinks – the Delhi Gymkhana Martini (served with bits of Gold leaf), and Ah Na Nas – were good, but not to the class of the food.

The service was phenomenal, with staff holding the line between attentive while not being pushy. The manager, Natalie, did a great job of making us feel welcome and ensured that we come back for brunch at this awesome establishment. Best of luck to (the awesomely named) Chaiwali!

What a delight that my old favorite, Chaiwali, is back again! I had a fabulous meal with my husband and friends last night. The ambiance is absolutely magical, the food was divine, and the service, warm and friendly.

Very expensive and small portions, but the service, atmosphere, and food are worth it if you're into that. The Naan was small, you should definitely order 1 per person. The shishito peppers were very good but were extremely small for the $13 price tag. We got about 8-10 very thin peppers which was kind of a disappointment. The entrees were great and normally sized. We got the butter chicken and rani. My only issue with the rani was that I didn't really know how to eat it. Every part of the dish had its own compartment on a tray. I tasted each component on its own and thought the elements were bland and missing some seasoning, but once I mixed it all together it all seemed to make sense. The rum pudding was amazing!

Owner, Anita's new menu is outstanding and savory. So glad they reopened and showed out! By far the best ambience in Harlem and one of the most unique takes on Indian cuisine. The food is made with love and care. The staff is very professional and warm hearted.