My husband and I have dined at Kismat several times within the last year and have had enjoyable experiences each time. The personnel including hosts, managers and servers are professional and friendly. The food is delicious and the atmosphere, inviting. There are many seating options and the ambiance is seasonal, festive, whimsical and cozy. The music is a serene selection of Indian music at a subdued level so it’s easy to have conversations. For those who want more of a show, Thursdays & Fridays are live jazz nights! We look forward to bringing family & friends here as well as enjoying more meals at Kismat ourselves. Thank you to the owners, chefs and floor staff for this enjoyable dining experience! 😌
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adria Cruz
We love their chicken malai (a delicious yogurt and pineapple curry), as well as their Jazmine rice and rice pudding for dessert 🌟
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Aponte
I’m a regular at Clove, the wonderful restaurant run by this amazing family in Harlem—it’s always a great experience. I often go there with my colleagues and have never been disappointed.
But this review is for Kismat, their equally fantastic spot in Washington Heights. What a lovely place! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, especially on nights when local bands are playing—it really adds to the charm.
One of the things I appreciate most is how accommodating they are to my dietary needs—I’m vegan and gluten-free, and they always go out of their way to make sure I have delicious options.
And of course, the service is top-notch. My dear Narinie and Sammy are truly the best—hardworking, kind, and always making you feel at home. A big shoutout as well to Fidel for his dedication and kindness.
Do yourself a favor and visit this great neighborhood gem. You’ll be glad you did!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristen VanAcker
Passionfruit margarita and Tofu Saag - highly recommended! This is my second visit and just as wonderful as the first. I commented about a seasoning on the table and one of the workers came over and explained everything g he made the sauce with. Such good service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kilgore Trout
By far one of the most inconsistent restaurants I've ever regrettably been a patron of. I had to stop trying in hopes that it'd get better just because I was craving Indian. There really isn't many options in this neighborhood for it.
Sometimes you'll get a fairly flavorful, properly spiced dish, and others you'll get the most offensively bland and flavorless monstrosity. Even if you request more spices, there's a chance they won't bother.
Their naan is actually inedible at times. How do you mess up naan?! Underdone. Like Wonderbread dunked in a glass of water. Entirely tasteless.
The last time we ate from here, my wife contracted Norovirus. We haven't been back since.
If you personally want to chance it, I recommend eating in because they're ever-so-slightly more reliable (likely because they have to look you in the face while you eat instead of using a delivery guy as a buffer), but for the record there is ZERO effort put in on delivery/to-go orders. Not even worth the gamble.
If you walk by, you'll see from outside that it gets busy at times. Just know that this is only because of live jazz music and their happy hour specials, not their food. Be aware that the local geriatrics who've likely never experienced real and flavorful Indian food are just looking for cheap drinks, free entertainment, and unsalted food, so please take that into consideration before you choose to dine here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Sandro Maldonado
Great food and nice place. Attentive service. Would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Labarichi DeStafano
Food is great. Kurma tikka chicken is mmm delicious. Just wish they'd serve the cabbage and lentil/red soup they used to serve with the entree
Arnold
Awful customer service. I went in just for a drink on karaoke night and it was a disappointing night. So glad I wasn’t there for food. I’m definitely never going back to this place.
Service: 1
Erika Petersen
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Had a wonderful time, great food and they were wonderful with my allergy. The staff made sure to clarify my allergy and gave me an allergen free fresh made version. I would highly recommend. We sat outside and loved the ambiance!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaitlyn Chen
Delicious food and the staff were amazing and so helpful with an allergy in our party!
My favorite place in Washington heights, the food is amazing, great service, karaoke on fridays, and their happy hour and regular prices can’t be beat in NYC, all the bartenders are great!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aleksey Z
Great place, great service, great delicious food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexandra Collazo-Baker
This place has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. Love their tandoori chicken, mulligatawny soup, garlic naan, and curries. I often head back up to the area just to have a bite of my favorites.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andre Schoolman
This neighborhood Indian restaurant truly elevates the local dining scene. The food is consistently delicious, the staff are warm, friendly, and highly accommodating, and the overall atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a standout—perfectly cooked every time, rich in flavor, and customizable to satisfy even the most dedicated spice lovers. The cheese poori pairs beautifully with the crispy vegetable samosas, and the tandoori chicken is always served hot and freshly made, with clear attention to detail and quality.
I’ve been coming here for years, and the experience has remained reliably excellent. While the prices are slightly higher than what you’d typically expect from an Indian restaurant, the quality of the food and the fact that it’s the only option of its kind in the area make the cost reasonable.
There were past concerns around kitchen cleanliness, but the team has clearly made improvements. They currently hold a solid B from the health department, and based on recent visits, I’m confident that will soon improve to an A.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cecilia Figueroa
First time in today for lunch and had the mushroom saag. For $12.95 ($14.25 total) you get the saag, rice, naan, cute baby samosas and chai iced tea.
I came in to fuel up before walking on the George Washington Bridge and I’m so glad I did!
Looks like they have live music and karaoke, too. I’ll have to come back! Really lovely experience!! Thank you!!
My husband and I have dined at Kismat several times within the last year and have had enjoyable experiences each time. The personnel including hosts, managers and servers are professional and friendly. The food is delicious and the atmosphere, inviting. There are many seating options and the ambiance is seasonal, festive, whimsical and cozy. The music is a serene selection of Indian music at a subdued level so it’s easy to have conversations. For those who want more of a show, Thursdays & Fridays are live jazz nights! We look forward to bringing family & friends here as well as enjoying more meals at Kismat ourselves. Thank you to the owners, chefs and floor staff for this enjoyable dining experience! 😌
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love their chicken malai (a delicious yogurt and pineapple curry), as well as their Jazmine rice and rice pudding for dessert 🌟
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m a regular at Clove, the wonderful restaurant run by this amazing family in Harlem—it’s always a great experience. I often go there with my colleagues and have never been disappointed.
But this review is for Kismat, their equally fantastic spot in Washington Heights. What a lovely place! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, especially on nights when local bands are playing—it really adds to the charm.
One of the things I appreciate most is how accommodating they are to my dietary needs—I’m vegan and gluten-free, and they always go out of their way to make sure I have delicious options.
And of course, the service is top-notch. My dear Narinie and Sammy are truly the best—hardworking, kind, and always making you feel at home. A big shoutout as well to Fidel for his dedication and kindness.
Do yourself a favor and visit this great neighborhood gem. You’ll be glad you did!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Passionfruit margarita and Tofu Saag - highly recommended! This is my second visit and just as wonderful as the first.
I commented about a seasoning on the table and one of the workers came over and explained everything g he made the sauce with. Such good service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
By far one of the most inconsistent restaurants I've ever regrettably been a patron of. I had to stop trying in hopes that it'd get better just because I was craving Indian. There really isn't many options in this neighborhood for it.
Sometimes you'll get a fairly flavorful, properly spiced dish, and others you'll get the most offensively bland and flavorless monstrosity. Even if you request more spices, there's a chance they won't bother.
Their naan is actually inedible at times. How do you mess up naan?! Underdone. Like Wonderbread dunked in a glass of water. Entirely tasteless.
The last time we ate from here, my wife contracted Norovirus. We haven't been back since.
If you personally want to chance it, I recommend eating in because they're ever-so-slightly more reliable (likely because they have to look you in the face while you eat instead of using a delivery guy as a buffer), but for the record there is ZERO effort put in on delivery/to-go orders. Not even worth the gamble.
If you walk by, you'll see from outside that it gets busy at times. Just know that this is only because of live jazz music and their happy hour specials, not their food. Be aware that the local geriatrics who've likely never experienced real and flavorful Indian food are just looking for cheap drinks, free entertainment, and unsalted food, so please take that into consideration before you choose to dine here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Great food and nice place. Attentive service. Would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is great. Kurma tikka chicken is mmm delicious. Just wish they'd serve the cabbage and lentil/red soup they used to serve with the entree
Awful customer service. I went in just for a drink on karaoke night and it was a disappointing night. So glad I wasn’t there for food. I’m definitely never going back to this place.
Service: 1
Absolutely amazing restaurant. Had a wonderful time, great food and they were wonderful with my allergy. The staff made sure to clarify my allergy and gave me an allergen free fresh made version. I would highly recommend. We sat outside and loved the ambiance!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and the staff were amazing and so helpful with an allergy in our party!
Restaurantji Recommends
My favorite place in Washington heights, the food is amazing, great service, karaoke on fridays, and their happy hour and regular prices can’t be beat in NYC, all the bartenders are great!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place, great service, great delicious food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. Love their tandoori chicken, mulligatawny soup, garlic naan, and curries. I often head back up to the area just to have a bite of my favorites.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This neighborhood Indian restaurant truly elevates the local dining scene. The food is consistently delicious, the staff are warm, friendly, and highly accommodating, and the overall atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a standout—perfectly cooked every time, rich in flavor, and customizable to satisfy even the most dedicated spice lovers. The cheese poori pairs beautifully with the crispy vegetable samosas, and the tandoori chicken is always served hot and freshly made, with clear attention to detail and quality.
I’ve been coming here for years, and the experience has remained reliably excellent. While the prices are slightly higher than what you’d typically expect from an Indian restaurant, the quality of the food and the fact that it’s the only option of its kind in the area make the cost reasonable.
There were past concerns around kitchen cleanliness, but the team has clearly made improvements. They currently hold a solid B from the health department, and based on recent visits, I’m confident that will soon improve to an A.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time in today for lunch and had the mushroom saag. For $12.95 ($14.25 total) you get the saag, rice, naan, cute baby samosas and chai iced tea.
I came in to fuel up before walking on the George Washington Bridge and I’m so glad I did!
Looks like they have live music and karaoke, too. I’ll have to come back! Really lovely experience!! Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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