aRoqa

On our biannual visit to NYC, this one being the Christmas Holidays, we made reservations at our one and only favorite South Asian restaurant AROQA owned by Monica Saxena. There are a wide variety of others, many suggested by friends and family, but this is the ONLY place we visit where we know service and delicious food are guaranteed. This was an especially timely visit as our younger son who lives in NYC and is a frequent diner, mentioned there were numerous changes to the menu we last enjoyed and suggested we sample the new items on the menu. It was a family gathering and as usual we had one of the tables in the back. The restaurant was packed as usual. We had a number of servers including Jostin and all were excellent. For drinks, the Reiling, 206 Fashion, Emerald Proposal and Tito's. For appetizers and main courses: Murgh Barra Chicken chops; costal crab cakes (excellent), pit roasted lamb chops (a variation of the old dish); char grilled paneer; grilled lobster masala (exciting new dish; paturi Chilean seabass; chicken bhuna; Awadhi chicken; Punjabi Patiala Lamb Shank; rice and naan. For dessert Gulab creme brulee and Shahi Tukra. Owner Saxena arranged for us to also gave a comp dessert. ALL of the new menu items were delicious, full of flavor and served at the right temperatures. There were no carry-out boxes as all the food was finished. Congrats to Owner Monica and her team for maintaining the standards of excellence for AROQA and it will continue to be the first choice for our visits.

Decent food but the service is horrible and the portions are really tiny. The restaurant was totally empty but they tried to turn us away bc we didn't have a reservation. We convinced them to seat us by promising we'd leave in an hour. Our water cups were empty almost all night. And the food took forever to come out. The good dishes were the signature creme butter paneer and the sea bass. The fish amritsari recommended by the waitress was awful - hard and very over cooked. The lamb entree was meh. Definitely won't be returning.

I've been intrigued by aRoqa for quite a while, so one night, when I was craving Indian food, we came in. No reservations needed for a Tuesday evening. aRoqa is definitely an upscale Indian restaurant, with a smartly decorated interior and nice bar. We ordered chicken biriyani, butter chicken, and garlic naan (basic, I know). The chicken biriyani was a modest portion, and I was pleasantly surprised to see an addition of crunchy caramelized onions on to (reminds me of a Mediterranean dish). This dish is bone in, and the chicken is very moist, but there were some chicken bits (tendon?) that I found myself biting into that somewhat soured the experience. The raita was much thicker than I'm used to, more of a creamy sweet addition than the usual thin, refreshing raita. This dish was just ok to me. Butter chicken was amazing. Obviously this dish is always good, but it was really delicious here, we surprisingly finished off the entire dish and I found myself licking the spoon at the end. The chicken chunks are large and juicy, but you'll need to cut them with a knife. Garlic naan was delicious - crispy, brushed with butter, incredibly flavorful. Just wish there was more to soak up the delicious butter chicken sauce. Service was very attentive, our waters were filled very quickly. Overall, solid meal. I'm not sure the slight elevation of Indian food is worth the hike in prices, but your options are somewhat limited in the area. I'm not dying to go back, but it definitely hit my Indian food craving.

Went here last minute for an anniversary dinner! The Sunset cocktail was delicious and crazy flavorful and the food was cooked perfectly! We were so happy with the service, our waitress Catarina gave great advice on what we should order, and she gave us a small side of masala sauce with our naan because she heard me say I enjoy dipping! The ambiance is romantic, with dark walls and warm lighting, and we did not feel on top of other diners.

Date night w/ the ladies and this was the spot chosen. This place is really a date night spot, it has that dark and moody look.Anywho, the drink of the night was the gin cocktail called a cultural impact. I was fan and probably would drink it all night if my liver would be okay. For food, it was a hodge podge of food for all. Our waiter was helpful and gave a bunch of suggestions. Chicken tikka masalaButternut squash ke kofteLots of garlic naanThere were a few other things but I can't remember the names.I was a happy full patron by the time we were done.

Kind of disappointed in this place. I wanted some Indian food and this place came recommended as a great modern Indian spot but ultimately didn't live up to expectations. It's definitely got that modern vibe with a contemporary decor and a nice bar. We were seated pretty immediately which was good given it was a Thursday night. We started with the Paratwala Paneer and Corn Paddu to start. Both were very good and had a playful presentation to them. A lot of different flavors going on and it was pretty good. Then we got the chicken Tikka masala and the butternut squash ke kofte. The Tikka masala was very sweet and almost inedible because of how sweet it was. Almost ruined the entire meal for me. The kofte was nutty and flavorful and thankfully although it had some sweetness it was much better balanced. I think as far as Indian restaurants go, you could do much better.

We were seeing a show and needed dinner in a fun and delicious spot. ARoqa really delivered. Modern fun delicious Indian food presented in super unique ways. They are know for their mushroom appetizer which we ordered. It wasn't our favorite but what do we know? We ordered a bunch of other apps each came with a fun sauce. The corn fritters were fun and good to share. The chicken tikka masala and chicken Biryani were my favorites.The service was helpful and polite. Of course we ordered dessert - the fried balls of heaven in a rice pudding. Perfect way to end the meal.

This has become one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the city.Price: It's a bit pricey and many of the portions are small for the price but the taste of the food definitely makes up for it. Drinks are also pricey but they are unique.Food: The food is amazing! I highly recommend the Lasuni Gobi and the Vegetable Sweet Potato cutlets as appetizer choices. For entrée, we usually get the Dal Makhani and the Palak Paneer. The Okra special is also really good and I thought the Butternut Squash ke Kofte were unique and different. Overall the food here is very tasty, well seasoned, and a nice balance.Also, I'm not usually an Indian dessert person but aRoqa really knows how to make them and we always end up getting 2-3 desserts because of how delicious they are. Service: Everyone is so friendly and open to answer any questions. They check on you often and service is quick. Ambiance: The restaurant is beautifully decorated in a tasteful way. Everything seems to go together and they have even spent time figuring out the best dishware to serve the food in. The bar is classy and elegant. It's a good pick for date night or even a group dinner.

Ambience 5/5Food 5/5Service 5/5!! From the moment I walked in, the romantic ambiance set the perfect mood for a delightful evening. The creativity in each dish was truly impressive; every plate was a work of art bursting with flavor. The friendly and attentive staff made us feel welcomed and ensured we had everything we needed. I enjoyed every dish and left with a heart full of satisfaction. I can't wait to return for more culinary adventures!

I've been frequenting aRoqa over several years (every time I'm in Manhattan), and the place has been consistently outstanding! Indian-style food @Michelin-star level.Kudos to owner Monica, Chefs Ajay & Mani, Cocktail Guru & Sommalier Prasad, and the rest of the team for maintaining the highest standard I've come to expect.