Review: LALA SAHAB on the UWS for Wonderful and Distinctive Indian Cuisine

There are Indian restaurants that stand out in a neighborhood and Lala Sahab on the Upper West Side of Manhattan is definitely one of them. This restaurant features a wonderful new concept by Abishek Sharma, the son of Executive Chef Lala Sharma who is renowned for his culinary arts in New York City and beyond. In fact, the restaurant is named for Lala Sharma, Sahab meaning "Sir."

Lala Sahab is the place where you can find exciting modern twists on fine Indian cuisine in a welcoming, stylish setting with the finest service. The menu by Head Chef, Mohan Lal features small plates that are ideal for table sharing and are influenced primarily by Northern Indian cuisine. There are Mumbai Bites, Bhatti Se items from the Tandoor, and Choolah Se prepared from the pan. We stopped by on a Saturday night for dinner. The restaurant was humming with guests seated in both the dining rooms and bar spaces.

We started our meal with a few of our favorites, perfectly prepared Vegetable Samosas and the Lasuna Gobi, crispy cauliflower is a spicy tomato sauce. We enjoyed a wonderful house dish, the Frontier Kebabs that combined three types of seasoned chicken in one dish, the Chicken Tikka, Mala Kebab and Achari Tikka served with corn and mushroom rice. It's a perfect choice if you want to get an idea of the delicious range of flavors that you can experience at Lala Sahab.

For those that enjoy Biryani, the Indian mixed rice dish, you have found a home. Shrimp, vegetable lamb and chicken are all offered in generous portions. You'll also like distinctive options like the Tikka Sliders, tender tandoori oven roasted chicken, served with masala fries and paprika mayo.

There are menu items to suit all tastes and dietary preferences and the servers are pleased to help you make choices. A few vegetarian and vegan options include the Spiced Okra cooked with kokum and onion or Pindi Chooley, chickpeas with onion and tomato.

While portions are generous, sides like their Bean Salad with sprouted Lentils tossed with Cumin, Onion, Tomatoes, Corn, Chickpeas &?Fresh Lemon Juice or the Chef's Tasting Chutneys really round out your meal.

Fresh made to order breads baked in house shouldn't be missed like the traditional Garlic Naan or Peshwari Naan, stuffed with nuts and dried fruit, or Poori, whole-wheat puffed bread.

Save room for Lala Sahab's house made desserts like the classic Rasmalai, sweet cheese dumplings in rosewater-flavored milk or Kulfi, traditional Indian ice cream in mango or pistachio flavors.

Lala Shab offers a rotating draft beer line with mostly local brews like Blue Point Toasted Lager from Long Island and a Rye Pale Ale from Bronx Brewery. There are also Indian imports, such as King Fisher Lager. Bottled craft brews and global wines have been carefully selected to pair with food. Stop by anytime at the wine bar in the front of the restaurant and enjoy a glass of wine or beer along with a small plate.

Find out what the buzz is all about and visit Lala Sahab. It will surely become one of your favorite Indian restaurants.

Lala Sahab is convenient to destinations on the West Side that include The Museum of Natural History, The Beacon Theater and area shops. The restaurant is located at 489 Columbus Avenue between 83rd and 84th. Call 212-875-1400 and visit www.LalaSahabNY.com. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 5 p.m.-11 p.m., brunch Saturday and Sunday Noon-4 p.m. and dinner 5 p.m.-11 p.m.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lala Sahab

To post a comment, you must register and login.