Junoon

Apparently, there have been some changes at the restaurant that, in my opinion, are not good ones. I have been to Junoon twice before my visit today and have found the food to be delicate, complex, and utterly inspiring. This evening, my dinner was mediocre at best, unappetizing at worst. My party and I ordered the 5 course tasting menu and started with an "amuse bouche" that was vile. It was overwhelmingly spicy and set the wrong tone for the rest of the meal. In the past they seemed to warm up to gradually increasing levels of spice over the course of the tasting menu, which makes sense. Tonight each dish was more overwhelmingly spicy than the next. We let them know how difficult they were to eat. The waiter offered a side of yogurt to cool it down and said, "yeah, your next 2 courses will be even MORE spicy." They said that they have intentionally gone for a more spicy menu, which is fine, but I think they should have offered to bring us different dishes for the remainder of the tasting menu rather than just more yogurt to cover up the unpalletable spiciness of the dishes. They knew how uncomfortable we were and how little we were enjoying ourselves, which I don't think is right for a $350 check. Not one accommodation was made except for more yoghurt. It's a shame because this makes Junoon no better than my local Indian delivery restaurant that simply packs a lot of spice into some boring jasmine rice to give it a wallop of flavor that is not very sophisticated, nor pleasing to the appetite.

I recently moved from Atlanta, GA and I've never been so cold in my life. With it being 15* outside & taking a 45 min. train ride, I'm happy to say that Junoon was worth every minute and every bone-chilling brush of wind!! The atmosphere is "majestic" and yet so cozy. The food was delicious, a perfect blend of spices, and although I have a low tolerance of spicy foods the Piri-Piri Shrimp and the Channa Pindi - Handi sent my taste buds on a frenzy. The avocado & citrus salad with the shrimp and the yoghurt with the stewed chickpeas is a great balance to help the cooling process. Of course a meal wouldn't be complete without dessert, the coconut rice pudding with the almonds is so delightful but the serving size was a little disappointing. Either way my overall experience was of great pleasure and one I won't forget. The service was excellent, thank you Gabriel for being so kind and helpful. I now have a standard to go by since this was my first time eating at an Indian restaurant. I'm so grateful to my lovely new friends for inviting me and exposing me to the greatness of New York City. I'll be sure to bring my mother here when she visits from Hawaii.

After visiting India (the Golden Triangle, Mumbai, Orcha, Khajuraho), I realized that the vast majority of Indian restaurants in NYC just don't quite get it right...too much heat, not enough subtlety in use of spices. Junoon was therefore a revelation...this is what I have been dreaming about for the years since my trip! Not one of our dishes disappointed: wonderful eggplant chaat and duck meatballs for appetizers, delicious lamb kolhapuri, baby eggplants, and simply outstanding crispy okra for mains. None of the dishes was overwhelmingly hot, and the spice combinations were perfect. My friend the oenophile was impressed by the wine list; she hesitated when the sommelier suggested a pinot to begin with but agreed upon tasting that it was perfect for the appetizers (he had consulted with our waiter, and knew what we were ordering). The room is beautiful, and our service was excellent all around. A complete keeper! One small complaint: charging extra for white rice is a little over the top, given the relatively high prices overall.

Brilliant food, brilliant service and a wonderful atmosphere! What else can you ask for. Definitely one of the best Indian restaurants in town. The menu is vast and full of variety. Can be a perfect setting for a romantic or group dining. We will definitely repeat!

This is by far the best Indian restaurant in New York. The food is true to Indian taste yet refined in it's presentation. The service is attentive. The ambience is superb and gives a zen like feeling as if one is dining in a museum. Overall experience is really really good.

Having lived in India as foodies for 25 yrs i can say that this is undoubtedly the BEST high-end Indian restaurant in the city. The food isn't loaded with spice... and the ingredients are fresh and aromatic. Been here at least half a dozen times and every time it's been excellent. It's not cheap, but worth every penny. This is real Mughlai stuff comparable to some high-end restaurants in London (even better than copper chimney or khyber in bombay). It is not comparable to the Tamarind types in NY, completely different league. One caveat: you need to know what to order so take a friend or the waiter's advice...

Beautiful dining room giving diners more than adequate personal space with excellent, thoughtful service. We went for restaurant week not expecting anything exciting. We were pleasantly surprised. The duck meatball appetizer had a subtle, refined sauce that was absolutely delicious. The shrimp appetizer was generous with the right amount of chili to offset the jicama and avocado. We both had the halibut (handi) which we thoroughly enjoyed after the server brought us some extra chili sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked. Kulfi was intensely flavored and delicious. We will be going back for another meal.