Yatra Restaurant

For months I've been searching for even an adequate Indian spot in midtown to quench my oft-overwhelming lunchtime paneer pangs and finally I found it at Yatra. I had the Malai Kofta which was a new one for me but surprisingly flavorful and the portions were quite sufficient. The naan was a tad flaky and thin and for some reason was rather greasy on the surface but had a nice flavor and was crispy and fresh. My coworker said it was even better than the Indian meal he had had in London that was frequently raved about.\r My veg entree with naan came out to about 12 bucks before tax and tip but again, the portions are more than enough. The buffet is 9.95 and actually looked like it was probably a safe bet as there was a large variety of dishes as well as a fruit salad and some sort of soup. I couldn't tell if the naan was included.\r The room was nice enough though very sparse but for lunch, who cares. The service was fine but we could've used napkins (I eat Indian by scooping with the naan). All in all, quality Indian in an area of New York where the only alternatives are the bland, mild Indian diners. I'll be going back to try the buffet and this will probably be a regular in my lunch rotation. Go! Pros: Quality food! Cheap, Large Buffet. Cons: Not much atmosphere more

I ordered delivery from the restaurant. A chicken mackni, bread, and a can of coke. I ate the bread, and barely touched the chicken mackni, so i put it covered in that plastic hard to open container that it came in, in the refrigerator. \r The next day, i took the leftover outta the refrigerator, microwaved it and started enjoying the dish, when i FOUND A COKROCH (the site wont let me spell the real word), one of those flying ones mixed in with the curry sauce and the chicken bits. So I called the restaurant and explained to them the situation. The man that answered told me they were not open yet and hung up on me. \r \r So I walked 6 blocks to the restaurant and asked to speak to the manager. He told me that since i ordered it a day ago and it stayed overnight in the refrigerator (implying that the buggr might have gotten in the refrigerator----I told him it would be pretty hard for anything to get it the round plastic container) Then he told me that since i didnt bring in a receipt and it was a day old, he would not do anything about it and to report him to food inspectior if I wanted. \r \r So I got outta that restaurant pretty mad and decided it might be quite a while before I would get some chicken mackni or Indian food. Cons: BAD HYGENE more

I've tried several midtown Indian restaurants, and Yatra is always my favorite. The service is great. The buffet and lunch boxes are a great value, but the best dishes are found on the entree menu. Great, tender lamb, not just spicy but flavorful. The atmosphere is very nice for an inexpensive place like this. Finally got the office to order delivery from them last week - the food arrived very quickly, and everyone was very happy with their food. more

I ate here a couple of times during a recent visit to NYC. Their lunch buffet was actually pretty good,... more

I ate here a couple of times during a recent visit to NYC. Their lunch buffet was actually pretty good, included a decent number of vegetarian opti... more

Ugh. Its now $10 a person for the buffet. Thats what happens when a place gets so popular that business decides to jack it up a few dollars. At least the food is still good. Pros: Food, Service, Value more

took my girlfriend for valentine's day. was very excited to see the $14.95 prix fixe menu; a little leery when we walked in to find we were the only ones there. at least we couldn't complain about the service. the menu was confusing in that you're weren't entirely sure what you were getting, and what some of the items were. their takeout menu lists the ingredients in each dish. however, for the money, we got soup, an appetizer, main course, dessert, and tea, all of which was delicious; some of the best middle eastern i've eaten. we'll definitely go back. Pros: price, food quality, service Cons: empty at 6 p.m. more

Hands down, one of the best-kept secrets in NYC. Though not a well-trafficked scene after the work-lunch-buffet crowd goes home, Yatra offers fine Indian dining all day at this 31st St location. The setting IS ROMANTIC and peaceful-- with candles lit at every table and staff catering to customers in nuanced & seemingly genuine ways-- Yatra is definitely underrated as far as this critic is concerned. For lunch and dinner, I really recommend it:) more