Indian Tanpura: An Authentic Indian Restaurant on NYC's Upper West Side

Indian Tanpura Introduce

Nestled on Amsterdam Avenue, Indian Tanpura stands out as a true culinary gem on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. For New Yorkers in search of rich, authentic Indian cuisine, this restaurant has established itself as a cherished neighborhood staple and a favorite go-to spot. The moment you step inside, you're greeted by a calm and classic atmosphere that provides a comfortable escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The staff is consistently described as warm, welcoming, and the service is noted as being exceptional, creating a dining experience that is both professional and genuinely friendly.

Indian Tanpura is a place that honors tradition while delivering a diverse and flavorful menu. It is an ideal destination for those seeking a full dining experience, whether it's for a relaxed dinner or a quick lunch. The restaurant’s reputation for delivering food that is consistently rich and full of flavor is well-earned. The sauces are described by loyal patrons as complex and delicious, enhancing every bite without overpowering the primary ingredients. This commitment to flavor and quality is what makes Indian Tanpura a standout choice for anyone looking for a truly satisfying and memorable Indian meal in the city.

The wide array of offerings ensures that there is something to suit every palate, whether you're a seasoned aficionado of Indian cuisine or a newcomer. From classic curries and tandoori specials to a robust selection of vegetarian options, the menu is a testament to the depth and variety of Indian cooking. The ability to cater to different dietary preferences while maintaining the integrity and tradition of each dish is a significant highlight, making it a reliable and versatile dining spot for locals on the Upper West Side.

Location and Accessibility

Indian Tanpura is conveniently located at

564 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

. Situated on a bustling thoroughfare in the heart of the Upper West Side, the restaurant is easily accessible to neighborhood residents and visitors alike. Its location makes it a prime choice for a planned dining experience or a spontaneous drop-in while running errands.

While the primary access is from the street, the restaurant is designed to be a welcoming place for everyone. The amenities provided, including a

Restroom

and a

Gender-neutral restroom

, show a thoughtful approach to creating an inclusive and comfortable environment for all patrons. Whether you're dining in, picking up an order, or receiving a delivery, the location and its features are designed for ease and convenience, a crucial factor in the fast-paced life of New York.

Services Offered

Indian Tanpura is equipped to serve the dynamic lifestyle of New York, offering a variety of convenient services that cater to different dining preferences. These services include:

Delivery: The restaurant provides reliable delivery service, ensuring that its delicious food can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. This option is perfect for those cozy nights in when you crave authentic Indian cuisine.
No-contact delivery: For those who prioritize safety and convenience, this service allows for a seamless, no-contact transaction right to your door.
Takeout: Ideal for a quick meal on the go, takeout is a popular option for customers who want to enjoy the food elsewhere. As noted in a review, the pickup service is quick and efficient, with a comfortable seating area offered while you wait.
Dine-in: Enjoy the calm and classic atmosphere of the restaurant with their dine-in option, complete with
Table service
from a warm and welcoming staff.
Catering: For special events or large gatherings, Indian Tanpura offers catering services, allowing you to share their flavorful dishes with a larger group.
Reservations: The restaurant accepts reservations, making it easy to plan ahead and secure a table for a special occasion or a guaranteed spot during peak hours.

Features / Highlights

Indian Tanpura distinguishes itself with a variety of features that make it a premier choice for Indian dining on the Upper West Side. Key highlights and offerings include:

Fast Service: Praised for its efficiency, the restaurant provides
Fast service
, ensuring that dine-in and takeout orders are prepared promptly without compromising on quality or flavor.
Diverse and Authentic Menu: The menu is a comprehensive showcase of Indian culinary traditions, offering a wide range of dishes categorized as
Comfort food
,
Small plates
, and
Healthy options
. From classic curries to specialized tandoori items, the variety is impressive.
Vegetarian-Friendly: With an extensive list under
From The Garden
and
Vegetarian's Choice
, the restaurant is a fantastic destination for those seeking
Vegetarian options
. Popular items like
Vegetable Samosas
,
Saag Paneer
, and
Dal Makhni
are standout choices.
Beverage Selection: Indian Tanpura offers a selection of alcoholic beverages, including
Beer
and
Wine
, to perfectly complement your meal. Traditional beverages like
Lassi
and
Mango Lassi
are also on the menu.
Cozy and Casual Atmosphere: The restaurant’s vibe is described as
Casual
and
Cozy
, creating a relaxed setting that is popular for both
Lunch
and
Dinner
as well as
Solo dining
.
Convenient Payments: For a smooth and easy transaction, the restaurant accepts various payment methods, including
Credit cards
,
Debit cards
, and
NFC mobile payments
.

Contact Information

For more information, to make a reservation, or to place an order, you can contact Indian Tanpura directly.

Address: 564 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Phone: (212) 721-8700

Mobile Phone: +1 212-721-8700

What is worth choosing

What truly sets Indian Tanpura apart is the consistent quality and rich, complex flavors of its food. For many New Yorkers, the search for a reliable and authentic Indian restaurant can be a journey, and this establishment consistently delivers. A deep dive into the menu reveals why it has become such a beloved spot for both long-time residents and new visitors to the neighborhood. The restaurant is a delivery restaurant in addition to a traditional dine-in restaurant, which makes it a very popular choice for many people in New York who are looking for delivery.

The menu is a treasure trove of culinary delights, with standout dishes that are mentioned by name in customer reviews. The

Vegetable Samosas

are an absolute must-try, described as "absolutely excellent with the sauces & garlic." The sauces themselves are praised for their flavorful and complex nature, enhancing each dish and making every bite a delight. The

Saag Paneer

is another standout dish that is part of most repeat orders, a testament to its popularity and well-executed flavor profile. For those who enjoy a variety of tastes, the

Biryani Dishes

offer a complete and aromatic experience. The

Tanpura Biryani

, for example, is a grand mix of chicken tandoori, minced meat, and dried fruits, showcasing a harmony of flavors.

Beyond the most popular items, the menu is full of other rich and flavorful options. Many of the curried dishes, including the

Rogan Josh

and

Lamb Moglai

, have been tried and enjoyed by regular customers. For those who can handle the heat, the

Vindaloo

dishes come with a friendly warning from patrons that they are "one of the spiciest I've had," offering a truly authentic and fiery experience. The

Tandoori and Grill

section is another highlight, with classics like

Chicken Tikka

and

Tandoori Mixed Grill

cooked to perfection.

A meal at Indian Tanpura is not complete without trying the exceptional bread. The

Garlic Nan

and

Aloo Paratha

are particularly well-regarded, with one customer noting them as "absolutely excellent." The menu also features a wide selection of other breads, including

Spinach Nan

and

Onion Kulcha

, ensuring the perfect complement to your meal. With its exceptional food, welcoming staff, and an atmosphere that feels both calm and classic, Indian Tanpura is a place that truly deserves its reputation as a go-to spot for authentic Indian cuisine on the Upper West Side of New York.

Indian Tanpura Vibe

Cold Appetizers
Chana Chat $6.95
Chick peas, onion, sweet chutney, mint chutney, tomato and cucumber.
Green Salad $6.95
Indian salad of cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce.
Chicken Chat $7.95
Pieces of chicken and cucumber tossed in tamarind sauce with herbs and spices.

Hot Appetizers
Papadum $2.00
Thin bean wafers. 4 pieces.
Vegetable Samosa $6.95
Crispy pastry turnover filled with vegetable. 2 pieces.
Vegetable Pakoras $6.95
Patties of mildly spiced vegetables. 4 pieces.
Meat Samosa $7.95
Crispy pastry turnover filled with minced meat. 2 pieces.
Chana Poori $11.95
Indian deep fried bread with spiced sauteed chick peas.
Vegetable Platter $9.95
A tasty vegetarian platter consisting of vegetable samosa, vegetable pakora and crispy lentil wafers served with a special tamarind chutney. For 2 people.
Calcutta Kabab $12.95
Diced lamb sauteed with fresh ginger, garlic, green pepper, onion and tomatoes served with fluffy poori bread.
Fresh Shrimp $12.95
Shrimp cooked in Bengal style served with fluffy bread.
Crab Bombay $12.95
Crab meat sauteed with onions and tomatoes flavored with spiced and herbs and served with light poori.

Soups
Mulligatawny Soup $6.95
Traditional lentils soup.
Coconut Soup $6.50
Delicious coconut with coconut cream in hot milk.

Chicken Specialties
Chicken Curry $16.50
Chicken in a mild curry sauce.
Chicken Shaag $16.95
Boneless chicken simmered in cream spinach and fresh ginger.
Chicken Vindaloo $16.95
Spiced chicken cooked in a sharp and pungent curry sauce.
Chicken Kurma $16.95
Chicken cooked in a creamy coconut sauce.
Chicken Makhni $16.95
Tandoori chicken simmered in mildly spiced tomato and butter sauce.
Chicken Tikka Masala $16.95
Pieces of boneless chicken from the tandoori oven cooked in fine spices.
Chicken Kasmir $17.95
Chicken in a creamy sauce with pineapple, almond and raisins.

Lamb And Beef
Beef Curry $16.95
Beef cooked in mild curry sauce.
Lamb Curry $16.95
Lamb cooked in mild curry sauce.
Lamb Bhuna $17.95
Lamb cooked with tomatoes and onions, spiced medium.
Beef Bhuna $17.95
Beef cooked with tomatoes and onions, spiced medium.
Lamb Vindaloo $17.95
Spiced lamb cooked in a sharp and pungent curry sauce.
Beef Vindaloo $17.95
Spiced beef cooked in a sharp and pungent curry sauce.
Rogan Josh $17.95
Tender juicy lamb pieces cooked in spicy sauce, garnished with fried onion, tomato and green pepper.
Keema Mutter $17.95
Minced meat cooked with green peas and exotic spices.
Lamb Moglai $17.95
Lamb simmered in creamy curry sauce with almonds.
Beef Moglai $17.95
beef simmered in creamy curry sauce with almonds.
Lamb Shaag $17.95
Lamb cooked with spinach and blended with spices.
Beef Shaag $17.95
Beef cooked with spinach and blended with spices.

From The Sea
Shrimp Curry $16.95
Fresh shrimp in a mild curry sauce.
Shrimp Vindaloo $17.95
Fresh shrimp cooked in a very hot sauce, Madras style.
Shrimp Shaag $17.95
Fresh shrimp cooked with spinach in a thick spiced sauce.
Shrimp Patia $17.95
Fresh shrimp cooked with lentil and hot spices.
Shrimp Muglai $17.95
Fresh shrimp sauteed with fresh ginger and garlic in a creamy curry sauce with almond.
Seafood Muglai $18.95
Fresh scallops, shrimp and crab meat in Muglai sauce.
Fish Masala $18.95
Delicate fish fillets sauteed Bengali style with onions, tomatoes, chilies and fresh herbs.
Crab Meat Curry $17.95
Fresh crab meat in a mild curry sauce.

Goat Specialties
Goat Curry $18.00
Goat meat in a mild curry sauce.
Goat Vindaloo $18.00
Baby goat cooked in a spicy curry sauce.
Goat Bhuna $18.00
Medium spiced goat cooked with tomatoes and onions.
Goat Dhansak $18.00
Goat cooked with lentils, spinach and hot spices.

Biryani Dishes
Vegetable Biryani $15.95
Fresh vegetables blended with fragrant basmati rice, raisins and almonds. Served with rice.
Chicken Biryani $16.95
Boneless chicken cooked with fragrant basmati rice, sweet spices, almonds, raisins and coconuts.
Lamb Biryani $16.95
Boneless lamb cooked with fragrant basmati rice, sweet spices, almonds, raisins and coconuts.
Shrimp Biryani $17.95
Fresh shrimp blended with fragrant basmati rice, raisins and almonds.
Tanpura Biryani $20.95
Chicken tandoori, minced meat, green peas, dried fruits and eggs with fragrant basmati rice.

From The Garden
Dal Makhni $13.95
Black lentils sauteed in ghee with ginger and garlic.
Mixed Vegetable Curry $13.95
Fresh vegetables sauteed in a lightly spiced sauce.
Chana Shaag $14.95
Chick peas and spinach cooked in a specially flavored sauce.
Mushroom Shaag $14.95
Mushrooms and spinach cooked with aromatic spices.
Dhaal Shaag $14.95
Spinach and lentils cooked with specially flavored sauce. Served Rice
Alu Mattor Gobi $14.95
Potatoes, peas and cauliflower cooked together in a special masala sauce. Served with rice.
Okra Masala $14.95
Tender young okra braised with onions, tomatoes and spices.
Saag Paneer $15.95
Cubes of homemade cheese cooked with fresh spinach and aromatic spices.
Mattor Paneer $14.95
Fried cottage cheese cooked with green peas and blended with tomatoes.
Began Bharta $14.95
Baked eggplant blended with herbs, sauteed onion and tomatoes.
Vegetable Jalfrezi $14.95
Fresh vegetables sauteed with green pepper, onion and tomatoes.
Vegetable Vindaloo $14.95
Cooked in a very hot sauce, Madras style.
Vegetable Malai Kofta $15.95
Rounded minced fresh vegetable cakes cooked with spices and served in a velvety, coriander-scented cream sauce.
Vegetable Makhni $14.95
Fresh vegetables simmered in mildly spiced tomato and butter sauce.
Vegetable Korma $14.95
Mixed vegetables cooked in cream with almonds and sweet spices.

Tandoori And Grill
Tandoori Chicken $16.95
Spring chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and cooked in a special oven.
Chicken Tikka $16.95
Marinated boneless chicken breast flavored with spiced cooked in a special oven.
Seekh Kebab $17.95
Marinated minced meat with onions and herbs, toasted on skewers.
Boti Kebab $19.95
Chunks of lamb marinated in mild spices and cooked in special oven.
Tandoori Mixed Grill $21.95
Chicken tandoori, shrimp tandoori, chicken tikka, boti kebab and seekh kebab.
Tandoori Shrimp $20.95
Jumbo shrimps marinated in lemon, ginger, garlic and broiled over mild charcoal heat.

Combination Platters
Sabji Thali $25.95
Malar, chana saag, aloo matar gobi, pilaf rice, raita & dal makhni
Gost Thaili $26.95
Tandoori chicken, lamb saag, aloo matar gobi, poori, pilaf rice, raitha & dhal makhni.
Thali E Samunder $28.95
Crab meat, shrimp saag, fish masala, raita, nan, rice & dal makhni.

House Specials
Vegetable Korai $16.95
Fresh vegetables, curried in lightly spiced gravy with spring onion, tomato and green peppers. Served on a hot platter.
Lamb Korai $18.95
Lamb cubes carried in lightly spiced gravy with spring onion, tomato, green pepper, coriander leaf and mild spices. Served on a hot platter.
Balti Malaya $21.95
Lamb cooked with coconut, creamy sauce and banana.
Balti Shrimp $21.95
Mildly spiced king shrimp grilled in oven. Cooked with red wine.

Breads
Chapati $3.00
Unleavened, freshly baked bread.
Roti $3.00
Whole wheat bread.
Poori $3.00
White flour bread puffed up and deep fried.
Nan $3.95
Leavened bread, freshly baked.
Paratha $4.95
Multi-layered, grilled white flour bread topped with melted butter.
Garlic Nan $4.50
Nan seasoned with garlic butter.
Aloo Paratha $5.95
Stuffed with mildly spiced potatoes.
Onion Kulcha $4.95
Nan stuffed with spiced onions.
Spinach Nan $5.95
Nan with spinach.
Keema Nan $6.95
Nan bread stuffed with spiced flavored minced meat.
Muglai Paratha $7.95
Stuffed with meat, egg, chopped onion and pepper.

Side Dishes
Hot Sauce $3.00
Mango Pickle $4.95
Hot and spicy.
Mango Chutney $4.95
Sweet mango relish.
Raita $4.95
Cucumber and yogurt with a cooling effect,
Spinach With Chick Peas $8.95
Baby Okra With Tomato $8.95
Bombay Potato $8.95
Tarka Dal $8.00
Lentils cooked with herbs and spices.

Desserts
Rasmalai $6.95
Homemade cottage cheese sweetened with condensed milk and flavored with rosewater and nuts.
Kher $6.95
Rice pudding cooked with coconuts, raisins and almonds. Flavored with rosewater and nuts.
Gulab Jamun $6.95
Milk ball fried in honey syrup.
Kulfi $6.95
Indian ice cream flavored with nuts and saffron.
Mango Ice Cream $6.95

Beverages
Lassi $5.50
Yogurt and sweetened rose water.
Mango Lassi $5.95
Mango flavored yogurt rose water.
Juice $4.50
Soda $1.95
S. Pellegrino $5.95
750 ml.

Indian Tanpura Details

Service options
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Comfort food
Healthy options
Small plates
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Table service

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Indian Tanpura Photos

Indian Tanpura Location

Indian Tanpura

New York New York County New York Amsterdam Avenue

564 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024, USA

Indian Tanpura Reviews

An average rating of ★4.4 from 254 user reviews.

pricestakeoutgarlic naanchicken tikka masalavindaloosamosasweetmusicsaag paneerchana saag

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I live 1 block away & get to enjoy Indian Tanpura's food whenever I want! Pictured are the vegetable samosas (2 per order), Saag Paneer, garlic naan & aloo paratha, and Chicken Kashmir.Every time we order we get the samosa: absolutely excellent with the sauces & garlic. Saag Paneer is a standout too, that's part of most of our orders. We've tried almost all of the curried dishes, and others like Rogan Josh, lamb moglai and have enjoyed them all. Proceed with caution on the vindaloo, one of the spiciest I've had!The staff is warm & welcoming, vibe inside is calm & classic. Highly recommend!
July 27 · John Onufer
Loved this place. I have been on the hunt to find my go to Indian spot and this has taken the place… for now at least haha. The service was exceptional, I was greeted nicely and offered a seat to wait for my pick up order. The dishes provided were rich and full of flavor while keeping with traditions. The sauces were flavorful and complex enhancing each bite.
September 13 · Brian Fleischli
Great food, excellent service. The vibe here is good too! It’s me and my boyfriend’s favorite Indian restaurant in town.
June 06 · Winnie Huang
This fantastic restaurant was recommended to us by a local in a nearby coffee shop. We were the only ones in the restaurant but we had a great time. The papadam that was served before the meal came with three chutneys, the onion was my favorite. For entrees we got the chicken tikka masala and the lamb korai which is a specialty of theirs. Both dishes were extremely flavorful and left us wanting more. The garlic naan that we ordered was the best we have ever had, baked perfectly and seasoned well. Overall we had one of our best meals in New York here and would recommend it to anyone looking for great Indian in the area.
December 22 · Charles Vega
We love takeout from this restaurant! Like home cooking Indian food (they offer mild which is great for us). The owner is so nice. This is a real neighborhood gem!
September 06 · Dan Shiber