I heard the stories of this phenomena in Flatiron, but had to witness it for myself. A great restaurant in NYC with an almost empty room. I’ve been eating in NYC long enough to run across such places on occasion, usually of the ethnic variety. Gazala’s in Hell’s Kitchen comes to mind. Being the only Druze in NYC (and possibly US), featured on Guy Fieri’s DDD, and a staple on the world famous EWZ tours didnt save Gazala before it closed a few years ago. Although there’s still a Gazala in UWS.
For much of our meal at Pippali, the room was completely empty. Two other occupied tables when we arrived, and two new groups showed up before we left. Possible explanations:
- Its Indian in Curry Hill. With a plethora of such places in the area, supply and demand can vary and may not be in its favor for a good portion of the time.
- The room is on the dark side. Its not the darkest room Ive seen, not even close. But dark enough for this kind of space to be slightly uncomfortable. Every time I got a glimpse of the kitchen I was envious of the amount of light there. Our particularly dark corner didnt help.
- Consistency issues? TBD. So far every single dish has been rock solid, and trusted sources on HungryOnion reported similar experiences.
First order of business in any Indian is sample any of the kebabs. A HO tip has led me to the Lucknowi Seekh Kababs and boy were they glorious. Not the dark skinny Seekhs you get elsewhere. To borrow a Seinfeld quote, “These were real and they’re spectacular”. Bright, hefty, and perfectly spiced. Add the accompanied green sauce midway for a nice change of pace, but no flavor enhancement needed.
The curries were quite respectable as well. A fine Butter Chicken, on the tomatoee side, and not overly creamy. Ludhiana Curry was even better. A Punjabi specialty that I havent seen before in NYC. It has the consistency of a simple curry with the flavor profile of a complex, herby one, with ultra tender chicken to boot.
I couldnt find any faults with the Chicken Dum Biryani, though I should have probably tried the goat or lamb instead in that order. Didnt bother with a picture. They all look more or less the same. The garlic Nun is as good as it gets in NYC. Not the stale ones you sometimes get elsewhere.
Pippali has the potential to be my favorite new accessible Indian on the island. With Saar disappointing last time, and Chote Nawab not strong enough to come back on a regular basis, this might just be it for takeout and dine-in. I just need the word to spread just enough to keep them in business.
Pippali
129 E 27th St (Flatiron)
Recommended Dishes: Lucknowi Seekh Kababs, Ludhiana Curry, Butter Chicken, Biryani
Eating With Ziggy 