Bungalow

24 1st Ave New York, NY 10009

Three months to get a table? We we were already suspicious. Indian food, while illustrious in its flavors and diverse offering, is not a translatable “trendy” cuisine. It should be accessible, easy to find, and inspiring to eat. Bungalow, from chef Vikas Khanna, defies all those expectations, and brings even more to the table.

The food encapsulates a dialogue of traditional inspirations and a modern, unexpected perspective. This reads like a cliche, but Bungalow delivers on that promise, which is rare. The Chicken Amiritsari is a headliner for a reason: velvety-rich, lustfully indulgent, the sort of dish that silences conversation mid-sentence. Beautiful fresh-baked bread offerings, lambs, fish choices, and even vegetarian dishes that are truly interesting and challenge your expectations with each arrival.

Drinks are derived with the same sense of purpose as the food: precise, with a little mischief, whether it’s a spice-laced highball or something citrusy and cold enough to cut through the richness. It’s the kind of place where one drink turns into three, not out of excess, but curiosity, and that, more than anything, feels like the point. The Lucky Cheng, an artful curry infused gimlet is unmissable. The Holi Moli was a dramatically smokey and appetizing play on a passionfruit margarita. If you go to Bungalow, be prepared to eat and drink, all the way to Punjab and back.