I hate the part of East Village near Stuytown. I know that’s a hot take as the East Village in general is a fun jaunt, but this specific section always feels like a part of town time forgot about and more specifically abandoned.
On top of looking like the set of the next set of Fallout at times, locals are primarily comprised of 20-year-olds going to nearby NYU, which once you hit a certain age, is the last sort of neighborhood you want to be in. All of that is to say I was thankful that I had no reason to visit this neighborhood but ISHQ has changed my mind.
ISHQ is an Indian casual fine-dining restaurant that opened in the East Village in the fall of last year and was recently awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand Title. The menu is labor of love by, Executive Chef-Owner Vamshi Adi, formerly of Baar Baar and Michelin-starred Junoon. Chef Vamshi showcases at ISHQ regional Indian cuisine infused with a modern flair. Traditional dishes are reimagined by unique plating and presentation, all while maintaining their authentic flavors and ingredients.
To start, we had the Sharabi Chicken Tikka and the Kasundi Shrimp. The chicken tikka was served on a skewer covered in literal fire. It was nothing short of an absolute spectacle to have the waiter come by, quickly douse the chicken in a flammable liquid, and ignite the dish to awe me and onlookers alike. However, it wasn’t just a feast for the eyes. It was easily the best chicken dish I’ve had in New York so far this year and something I’ve been thinking about ever since I ate there. As for the Kasundi Shrimp, it’s worth noting that I am not the biggest fan of seafood curries, especially shrimp curries. Outside of my own mother’s, I find the shrimp in curries to be overcooked far more often than I’d like. However here, it was cooked to absolute perfection.
After such a strong start to the meal, we continued with Delhi Ki Butter Chicken and the Nalli Gosht Biryani. The Butter Chicken was beautifully served with a hefty topping of saffron and gold flakes and I complimented it with some perfectly made garlic naan. Butter Chicken, however, is a fairly straightforward dish, unlike Biryani. I firmly believe New York has a good version of pretty much any dish known to man but good Biryani always feels hard to find. ISHQ has certainly made that search easier as this is one of my favorites if not my favorite in the city at the moment. Perfectly served and presented as if a family member made it, except, of course, a little nicer. The center of the Biryani was topped with a shank of lamb still on the bone which was absolutely fantastic. Lastly, to finish off the meal, we had the Kaala Jamun Tart which was a sweet chocolatey dessert topped with faux beads of tapioca in the shape of caviar. Honestly, it might be my favorite dessert from an Indian restaurant in New York so far.
After finishing our mocktails which were both wonderfully sweet and fruity, we left a meal that I’ve been thinking about for the past two weeks. I will say, a key aspect of the menu is that all of the food is to be shared and that portions are generous. Take it from someone who doesn’t shy away from large portions of good food: the portions are substantial.
One main would’ve easily sufficed for two but you’re going to want to try more than one thing on the menu, which brings me to my closing thoughts. Find some friends, block out an evening, and lock in for a night of great food and cocktails. If ISHQ can get me to come to a part of the city I hate going to, it easily earns its place as one of if not my absolute favorite Indian restaurants in New York.
