From the team behind Gazab on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, comes chef Vamshi Adi’s latest venture — a refined yet approachable take on casual fine dining. It’s the kind of place inspired enough to impress a date yet relaxed enough for a hearty meal with a friend, all without the fuss of formal attire. It’s bustling even on a Wednesday evening, and securing a reservation may be difficult since earning its well-deserved Michelin Bib Gourmand title.
A stunning pink quartz bar greets guests at the entrance, drawing them into the moodier dining space where floral light fixtures steal the spotlight. The walls, wrapped in rattan-accented red hues, pair seamlessly with floral accents and velvety teal seating, play into the air of romance. Red leather-bound menus, embossed with “ISHQ” in bold script, feel like cherished books of poetry, while classic Bollywood wedding favorites set the nostalgic backdrop. 
While it goes without being said, the menu is best shared, so bring a friend or three and pass a few dishes around the table. The food is authentic, with a flavor profile reminiscent of home. The Dudhiya Kabab is an easy start — it’s a rich, stuffed homemade paneer, infused with saffron and carom seeds. Caramelized figs and sprouts make for a novel topping on this paneer dish, the contrasting crunch is a bonus, too.
For something heartier, the Nizami Lambchops are an excellent example of the generous portions and dialed in flavors at ISHQ, abundant and spiced to their core with Kashmiri chili and mace. A dish as traditional as this one is elevated with plating, this one served on a stunning textured plate and sitting in a bed of yogurt hummus and pistachios.
A rarity on most Indian menus, Adi even offers Oysters topped with amul cheese and sooji rusk, staple ingredients in any household.
An ode to the Bengali region is the Lobster Malaikari, a lobster tail bathed in an aromatic sauce with that ideal hint of spicy and sweet. It’s succulent and absorbs every flavor thrown in the pot. You’ll want to keep spooning up the velvety, nutty coconut gravy, even when the lobster is long gone. It’s not every day you see a lobster curry on a dinner menu —making this dish an absolute must-order.
Hailing from Adi’s hometown of Hyderabad, the Dum Ka Gosht is a slow-cooked baby goat, bone-in, simmered to perfection in a spice-laden dum ka gravy. Fragrant with fried onions, mint, and a blend of spices, ISHQ’s version is the fall-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness you crave from any good Indian joint. Often cooked on a low flame in a sealed clay pot to lock in the steam, the resulting entrée is smoky, fragrant, juicy, and paired best with their saffron rice.
My only regret? Not sampling ISHQ’s Paneer Laung Latta, layered in nuts, cloves, and gravy, a garlic naan’s dream pairing, it closely resembles a work of art too intricate to eat. For dessert, the Kaala Jamun Tart is as theatric as it is decadent. Patrons are handed a lighter to set a flammable cone on fire, which after a table side blaze, reveals a tart filled with chocolate caviar and gold leaf dust, yes, you read those ingredients right.
Finally, cocktails are a tribute to love across India’s vibrant cities, affectionately donning names like Mumtaz Meri Jaan and Dona Paula’s Kiss. Inspired by Jaipur, The Pink City, leans more floral with rose-infused bourbon, bitters, and rose nectar, finished with a coconut wash and petals to top it off. Expect to find crafty Indian ingredients like Kashmiri Kawa tea, marigold flowers, and jamun cordial accenting your drinks. And if like me, you skip right to the back, the wine list pairs well with the rich dishes, you can’t go wrong with any of the selections. We loved the Andeluna Malbec, fruity and expressive on its own, and paired even better with the menu’s many charred and smoky plates.
ISHQ
Website
202 Avenue A, New York, New York
