Benares

Benares Indian Restaurant, in Tribeca, NYC,
Located in the heart of Tribeca, Benares stands out as an exceptional Indian cuisine jewel in the vibrant culinary scene of downtown Manhattan. named after a city in northern India, the restaurant centers on the lush spices and abundant diversity of Indian cuisine.

We tried
Drinks
Lychee lover - alcoholic
Mango lassi - non alcoholic
Appetizers
Khasta Gobi
Chicken 65

Entree:
Saag Paneer
Chicken Dum Biryani in clay pot with naan in top
Lamb Rogan Josh
Garlic naan
Plain naan
Peas Pulao

Dessert
Rose ice cream

The robust menu is almost overwhelming, and yet authentic serving contemporary Indian cuisine. Do not skip chicken 65 , Lamb rogan Josh, Chicken Dum biryani or the saag paneer they have an ample selection for both non vegetarian, vegetarian and couple of vegan options like Khasta Gobi ( cauliflower) all are stand-out options that deserves attention. Finish off with refreshing rose petal ice cream.

The ambience strikes a perfect balance of serenity and sophistication.

Staff's knowledge and recommendations are much appreciated.
With its flavorful food, attentive service, and tranquil setting, Benares has carved out a niche for itself as a must-visit Indian restaurant in NYC.

came for dinner on Holi with some of my desi girl friends to celebrate the festival of colors! we choose Benares since they had a reasonably priced menu and could accommodate a large party! the restaurant was relatively empty so it was great for us as it was a monday night. immediately upon entering we were seated at our table. one of my cons is the servers took forever to initially get us water

we started with aloo tikki and chaat - portions were quite small but we ordered 2 of each for the table. food was exactly what we expected so no surprises here - all very delicious

for mains we got lamb biryani which had all the flavors plus tender lamb. chili paneer which was my fav - remotely spicy and tons of veggies - so so good. this plus raita and garlic naan was mouth watering. i really wanted a dal makhani but it wasnt as flavorful as i had in previous places so i would say skip that. chicken tikka masala also wasnt as flavorful, but the lemon rice and butter chicken we ordered were totally worth it. would def return and recommend to friends!

I dined at this delightful Indian restaurant with a large group for my belated birthday dinner. Upon entering, the hostess gave me a warm welcome and wished me a "Happy Birthday." The interior was spacious with a bar area in the front and comfortable booth seating inside. There was low lighting and a sophisticated air to the place, along with a calm, peaceful atmosphere.

Of course I started with the Mango Lassi, which was wonderfully thick, smooth, creamy with true mango taste.

For sides, I had the Masala Fries and Garlic Naan. The fries were amazingly crispy and well seasoned with a bold mixture of spices, including garlic, chili, and more. I wasn't really a fan of the Garlic Naan, because there wasn't enough garlic. I got to try my friend's Poori made with wheat flour, which was oh so addicting. It had a perfectly golden brown, crunchy exterior with irresistibly puffy soft interior, along with a wonderful savory flavor.

I ordered the Mixed Grill for my entree, which came with tandoori salmon, lamb, shrimp and chicken. The salmon was my favorite. It was tender, flaky, and full of flavor. The lone shrimp was tasty and definitely would have liked more. There were 2 types of chicken (with and without bone), which was slightly charred, juicy, as well as succulent. Last, the ground lamb was pretty good, but the way the lamb was prepared is not my favorite. I think there could have been a bit more shrimp, and less chicken.

Dessert was Rose Ice Cream Meltdown, which was accompanied with chocolate lava cake. This was beautifully plated with raspberry syrup surrounding the ice cream and cake in the shape of a flower. I simply loved how pink the ice cream was. The only thing it was missing was a lit birthday candle. The rose ice cream was velvety smooth with delicate taste, while the cake was rich, sweet, oozing with warm chocolate center.

Service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and took care of the group with ease. Pricing was surprisingly reasonable, especially for the area. I would definitely return and would like to try the Goan Salmon Curry, Lamb Korma and Rose Lassi.

I love this place - it's one of my two go-to Indian places in FiDi/Tribeca. The Paneer Tikka is an excellent appetizer - perfectly tender but still flavorful. I appreciate the mint and tamarind chutney that accompanies these dishes. As a main, I always order the Navratan korma - it's a sweet and savory gravy with vegetables, and I always add Paneer. The naan is soft and fresh, with generous amounts of butter or topping. The garlic naan is perfectly seasoned. But my favorite is the Mint laccha paratha - super flaky with generous dried mint and ghee on top. For dessert, I always order the moong daal halwa - think sweet and rich carmelized prridge, with raisins and nuts inside. I always get a variation of this meal, and always leave feeling full and happy. The service is always on point, too - the staff are friendly, and some even have a sense of humor, which is refreshing. And the ambience is great for a date - with mood lighting, and soft instrumental music at a reasonable volume such that you can have a proper conversation without having to raise your voice. This place is a hidden gem, and I highly recommend it.

I really wish I could give half star credits since I believe this establishment deserves a 4.5. The Goan Salmon Curry was absolutely amazing! Very smooth and seasoned well! Super filling, along with having an appetizer, garlic naan , and the dessert, Rose ice cream meltdown (flawless infusion of rose flavor and I think fried rose bits inside!). Points are deducted for the sheer number of mixed pakoras since it was very hard to justify the few number of (albeit delicious) veggie "tempura" style without other garnishes or decoration to hide the minimalism.
The service was INCREDIBLE! I really appreciate Ramita and Damien for being super attentive and friendly (Ramita also had great drink recs!)
The ambiance is nice and sleek - very upscale but still able to properly honor its Indian heritage.
The Pulsd coupon was amazing to get to try so many great items off the menu (highly recommend using it for dinner).

This place was a gem! We stumbled upon it when looking for a quick reasonable dinner option near city hall on our way home.

Very roomy restaurant, with mostly Southeast Asian clientele, which reassured us. There was no need for reservations on a Sunday evening.

The two of us shared the baby eggplant curry and coconut crab curry with naan and rice. We ended up ordering additional naan because there was a good amount of food. Flavors were sharp, nuanced and well balanced. I was especially happy with the crab curry which is not a common dish offered in local restaurants. My only complaint is that the baby eggplant was cooked whole, which is well and good, until you get a really tough stem and you have to fish it out of your mouth. I'd hope they remedy this in the future. Or maybe your date will understand.

Great spot with a good lunch prix fixe menu ($15.95) - lunch came with an appetizer (I got a samosa), entree, rice, naan, and a dessert. They have many vegetarian options as well as vegan and made it easier to ask for the vegan ones. Everything was delicious and the portions are a good size for the price.

Very nice staff and quick service during lunchtime. They have a bit of outdoor seating but mostly indoor.

Incredible!!!!!! It's seriously the best Indian food and the servers were so personable and attentive the whole time and even gave us dessert on the house! They do takeout but I think it's worth dining in for the best dining ambiance/experience.

My must-orders: masala chai, tikka masala, Lamb vindaloo, chicken biryani, and kadai paneer!

Amazing food and service! Special shoutout to Avinash for the outstanding service. Kudos to the Benares team!

A Sunday tradition in our house-this is luxury high quality Indian food and it's so much better than cooking :) it's the best