Akbar Palace

I had the same problem as another reviewer. I made an online reservation and got there to find it closed. We ended up at Benares a few blocks away. That was pretty good and the service was excellent.

Absolutely great experience here. We put together a very last minute group dinner here, 30 people on Friday night with just one week notice. The service was very attentive and they brought out a good selection of classy delicious food. Amazing lamb chops. Bill was only around $ 40/​head with lots of beer and cocktails.
These guys are professionals and well equipped to handle big events. The inside looks very nice in photos also.

This area is a no-man’s land for restaurants. I feel this is an under-​rated find. The manager/​owner was very knowledgable about the menu (I don’t eat any dairy) and we had a great meal of two appetizers and two entrees. Service was great, whenever we looked up, someone came running over. It was a traditional white napkin set up, and an unfortunate TV in the bar area, but I would certainly return.

Before I posted this review, I went through all my previous Unilocal reviews to look for any bad Indian restaurant and recollect my experiences from those places so that I could compare to Akbar. I am thoroughly surprised at all the good reviews for this place. Please note that we were very calm and nice all the time when we spoke to the staff. We visited the restaurant on Monday evening as we were walking to Darbar (which is really good restaurant) and we wanted to try Akbar. God, we regret that decision. We ordered Calamari for appetizer and I usually like calamari. The menu said that Calamari came with curry leaves and onions. So, when the dish arrived, the calamari was overly second fried with oil dripping and chewy. Calamari was laid is a bed of spinach (no curry leaves and no onions). Well, we usually don’t complain about food.
We ordered main course «Avial» and «chicken tikka masala (or something similar on the menu)». When Avial came in, it was a just corn, carrots and beans (the frozen pack from grocery store) in a tomato base. I called the waiter and I told him that I know what Avial is and it’s not this horrid food. He started explaining me how Avial is not a curry but this is a curry, clearly showing me that he had no clue. The manager then walks past our table and admits that the chef is new and he doesn’t know how to make Avial. We told the manager that they should rather tailor the menu to their chef’s expertise. The chicken tikka masala was mediocre at it’s best.
Please note that we were very calm and nice all the time when we spoke to the staff. Realizing their mistake, the manager was very nice enough and offered us a refund on Avial but we did not take any free food as a principle. While we left I personally told the manager that I am thoroughly disappointed with him and his owner and his chef, trying to fool Americans/​and others with fake Indian food. We asked him «why would you offer Avial when you know that you cannot make it?» Manager’s response was «i don’t recommend Avial to customers». I told him, «please, don’t not recommend it, please just take it off of your menu».
It was a really horrible experience. I’d never go back and as I previously mentioned, I am very surprised at good reviews for this restaurant, I am not sure if those reviews are paid, fake or the restaurant’s own review.

My family and I made a reservation using Unilocal!Reservations for Sunday lunch at 1pm. We even received a text message confirmation 1 hour before our lunch the day of. We showed up to the restaurant and the doors were locked, no one was there, no one was picking up their phone. Every indication (including information online, and on the store front, pointed to the fact that they should have been open during this time.) If they knew they would not be for whatever reason, they should have notified us in advance when we made our reservation! Completely unacceptable.

Got here early! No one else there yet! Greeted very warmly and served with great attention, but not overbearing! Food was delicious!

Disappointing, came in for lunch. Place was VERY empty. Should have been our hint to reassess where to go. Staff was nice, not well trained but not rude either.
Food lacked salt and spice. Basically no seasoning. Naan was basic, limp even. Rice was super dry and tasted old. Wine list was terrible. I mean, really, it would have been great to have good wine and decent food but we had neither here. If they get the spices in the food back together and some better wine selections I’d give it another go. As of now, not worth it, not even for takeaway.

So good. The special with an appetizer, naan plus An entrée is the way to go. All the food I tried tasted really homemade and fresh. I sampled the chicken tikka and lentils, plus paneer with onions and peppers. Nothing was overly greasy, which is hard to find with Indian. Def coming back!

The lunch buffet for $ 10.95 is absolutely wonderful. The black lentils can substitute as a soup. The vegetarian dishes are spiced beautifully. I was a little bit less enthusiastic about the chicken but that’s my own tastebud. The carrot pudding is perfect. Enjoy

Hands down one of the worst dining experiences of my life. I eat indian food frequently in NYC, and I have never experienced food this bad. I dined with a friend and we ordered a few entrées — the Kerala pepper chicken dish and a Mutton Marsala dish. Both were virtually inedible… The chicken was super dry and clearly from the day prior. The mutton was full of bones and tendons with virtually no meat at all — it was disgusting. It was almost laughable how poor the food was — our naan was even cold and saggy. To top things off, the waitress and waiter never offered to refill our wine even though it was the only item we even we’re enjoying. Avoid this place at all costs — Take the trip to Murray Hill and eat anywhere but here…

Don’t let anything fool you about this place, it is «woohoo as good as it gets» for Indian food superiority and service and great owners (which is very important). I ate here once for lunch and it was my first Indian meal in about 4 years. It was so good, I have had Indian food at least 2 – 3 times a week since. The ambiance is clean which unlike some other places I have tried, stands out. The bar is huge and though they only have wine and beer, their wine prices were very reasonable (about $ 7 for Saturday night, with GREAT POURS). I hate restaurants that skimp on anything, they DO NOT. They are doing a lot of promoting now, which is sad that they have to because they are new, but once word gets around how great they are they will pack the house (I hope).
Their naan is the best I have had in about 6 other places, their tika masala is to die for, and tonight i tried a lamb yogurt dish that was so good, my wife said she could eat that as her only meal for years and years…
I ended up bringing my dinner group here, and we dine at 60 restaurants a year, and mostly all fine dining establishments. They catered to us with impeccable service and quality. One of my members thought it was the best restaurant we have visited. If you are in the hood and looking for something that is delicious and wont break the bank, this is definitely the place

Stopped by for the lunch buffet. They don’t offer many items for the buffet, but what they do have is delicious. Staff is friendly although got a bit pushy towards the end of my meal to get me out, it seemed.

It was delicious! And the restaurant looks nice and presentable. And the staff was friendly and accommodating. Same price as most indian food in the area, and tastier than many! My friend and I got the groupon deal which was a steal. I would do it again and probably would even pay full price! I would recommend the chicken tikka masala and the shrimp curry.

Found our new lunch buffet spot. This place is such a good deal. They give you free naan too. I’m no expert in Indian food, but there was a huge table with an Indian family eating here, which was a good sign. They have Basmati Rice, Saag Paneer Panir (so good!), Chicken Tikki Masala, Shrimp/​Fish Tikki Masala, different kinds of salad (including a cucumber and tomato one. I love cucumbers and tomatos), different curries, chicken. I didn’t pay much attention to the names, and like I said before, I’m no expert in Indian food. But what I suggest is to get a little bit of everything for your first plate, and then get a lot of what you loved for your second plate. You should find something you like! I’m confident. Also, watermelon for dessert. Great end to a meal. Service is great. Was not crowded at all when we went, and therefore good for conversation.

Good Indian lunch buffet and a great deal at just under $ 11. Although there isn’t a huge selection in the buffet (about 7 – 8 entrees and 1 dessert), the price is right given the quality and selection. The staff is very friendly and looks to accommodate you if possible. For example, one day when I went, they didn’t have the chicken tikka masala. That’s probably the main thing that I eat when I go to an Indian buffet. I asked if they had it and the gentleman told me that they didn’t have it in the buffet, but they would bring out a serving for me. How’s that for making the customer happy?
Quality of food is pretty good. They are consistent with their spices — I’ve come here regularly and haven’t found much variation in terms of quality and taste. Their use of spices do not push any boundaries and are pleasing to most people.
Although there are more Indian restaurants to choose from as you head over to the east side, Akbar Palace fills the void where in midtown where there are no Indian restaurants with a lunch buffet option — filling the gap where two have closed over the past year. It represents a great value and a tasty option for lunch.

Visiting for the weekend.
Found a Unilocal deal & they honored it without any issues.
Great food. Our server offered a great suggestions.

We went at dinner and had the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma, and fiery lamb (vindaloo)? I don’t know because my friends ordered. Everything was delicious and the flavors were correct (I’ve traveled in India for what it’s worth). There was tons of rice and papadams and chutneys to go with too. Don’t be afraid if the restaurant looks a little empty; they are just getting off the ground so go and give them so love! The food is great!

Bought a Groupon so went in. the ambience is perfect for an Indian restaurant. it was just a bit hot inside, and no the food wasn’t spicy. nor was I wearing a jacket. did start to sweat while eating so that was only downside!
Food is ok. menu selection is nice! I ordered lemon rice with my entrée, I don’t recommend that though!

My co worker is Hindu and highly recommended this spot. Even though everybody at work is obsessed with Bengal Tiger and had ordered food in the office. It smelled so good. I went down 55^th and spotted the place. I went in and it was huge. Not too many people were there. The buffet is only $ 10.95. Normally I don’t like buffets but I do love Indian food and I like to be able to get a little bit of everything. I put my stuff down at the table and made myself a plate. I took a super late lunch yesterday so «my eyes were bigger than my stomach». I filled my plate with salad, paneer and spinach, garbanzo salad, potatos and cauliflower and I even squeezed in some yellow lentils. This was a definite collection of my favorite things to eat. I loved that there was tons of veggie options and nothing tasted greasy. I devoured my plate. It was delicious. I asked the waiter for some dressing and he brought me a bowl of a sweet dressing. I also got a plate of naan. I made the bad move, to get one more helping of salad and spinach and paneer. I was stuffed like a Thanksgiving Turkey! Damn! I will have to come back with my husband and brother!
I recommend you skip breakfast before coming here and you might save some dough on dinner since, you will still be full.
Thanks Ritu for the heads up!

Indian food makes my eyes sparkle and my tongue flame, but Akbar Palace serves watery, bland food.
A lunch buffet consisted of six or seven trays of steaming food, all dull, flavorless, and boring. Chicken dishes are horribly overcooked, reminding me of tough cardboard. Tandoori chicken is dry and desiccated, perhaps recycled from yesterday’s lunch «rush.» People sit around the dining room, one person to a table, depressed and slowly chewing their respective pieces of styrofoam (chicken tikka masala). There is also a fish curry which is surprisingly tender pieces of tilapia in a somewhat drab sauce as well. Dessert is only gulab jamun, heated balls of milk solids coated in sugar.
I guess it’s great if you think the normal level of spice in Indian cuisine is too flavorful or spicy or adventurous for you, but this place is an insult to demanding palates.