Location: 914 Columbus Avenue New York, NY 10025
Cuisine: Indian
Cost: $$$
Overall: An upscale Indian restaurant serving authentic Indian cuisine in a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere.
Roasted Masala is a family-owned eatery in upper Manhattan. Flanked by residential high rises and a just a short walk from Central Park this hidden gem is worth the trek uptown. Their bright yellow awning beckons you to their opulent dining room filled with chandeliers, gold damask wallpaper, and riveted leather booths. The menu is an homage to classic Indian flavors with a modern presentation. From fragrant curries to fresh homemade bread, the selection was carefully curated to highlight the complex flavors and techniques involved in Indian cuisine. Many of their recipes have been passed down through generations, each dish is part of a growing legacy in culinary excellence.
Recheado Shrimp
Rechado is a popular Goan spice mixture that is created by grinding spices is vinegar. The process results in a vibrant red paste that is often used to season seafood. The shrimp were prepared in the mixture producing a deliciously spicy and slightly sweet flavor.
Crab Cakes
We adore Maryland style crab cakes and looked forward to sampling this Indian spiced version. In comparison, these cakes are much denser than their American counterparts with a texture similar to a classic hushpuppy. The little discs were more cake than crab, but very tasty.
Lasooni Gobi
For this starter, crispy cauliflower florets are tossed in a tomato garlic sauce. The flavor is similar to General Tso’s as it is sweet but savory with a peppery kick. This was one of the best bites of the evening and a sharable treat for the whole table.
Chicken Malai Kabab
If you prefer a milder appetizer we recommend the Chicken Malai Kabab. For this dish, the chicken is marinated in cream and spices and served simply with a lemon garnish. The chicken chunks were tender and juicy.
Goan Fish Curry
Chilean Sea Bass is the star of this savory curry dish. The fish was tender and fragrant with a hint of coconut flavor.
Beef Nahari
Tender boneless beef shank is sautéed with garam masala and caramelized onions in this hearty dish. We enjoyed this with white rice and a bit of fresh roti. We suggest enjoying the delicious curry mixture on the rice and or savoring the bits of beef inside curry dipped bits of roti.
Goat Biryani Rice
This delicious flavorful rice is made with big chunks of tender goat meat and an assortment of savory spices. The biryani is served with a helping of raita, adding a creamy tart texture and tempering some of the intense spices.
Cassata
We ended our feast with creamy gelato. In this dessert, chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio gelato are rolled together and sliced per order as one would a cake and served with a fresh strawberry garnish.
Roasted Masala specializes in dishes usually reserved for special occasions. Their slow cooking, complex spice mixtures and classic techniques combined have created a phenomenal foodie experience. At the time of our visit, Roasted Masala was awaiting their liquor license, as a result, they were unable to serve alcohol. But that will be changing very soon. We enjoyed our meal without but if you prefer a glass of wine or two you may purchase your own at any nearby wine shop or bring your own with no corkage fee. Also during our visit, we witness a lot of local picking up to-go orders, so Roasted Masala is already a neighborhood favorite after only being for about 10 months.
For more information, please head over to roastedmasala.com.
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