Oh, just a quick follow-up to note that, as previously reported, Banjara has moved away from First Avenue and East Sixth Street … and is now sharing space with its sister restaurant Haveli on Second Avenue.
As one Banjara staffer explained, "business down, rent up."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Banjara space yielding to Figaro Bistro Grill, 15 comments
Banjara moving soon to the Haveli space on Second Avenue
I've wondered about that window for a long time. Is it broken or is it supposed to look like that?
ReplyDeleteI loved Haveli and went there ofeten, and for years. It was my favorite Indian restaurant in the neighborhood. A few years ago, when Banjara first opened, my mother was in town visiting, and I took her to try it out. She ordered a dish made with chicken in a tomato and spinach puree which was quite literally inedible. It is flat out the worst thing I have ever eaten in a NYC restaurant. I had one of their "famous" chicken dishes baked in a crust, and although it was not nearly as bad as my poor mother's dish, it was overpriced, bland, and unremarkable. Banjara's offerings were not even close to Haveli's menu. If they are going to replace Haveli's dishes with Banjara's cooking, I will certainly not be a customer.
ReplyDeleteI agree - it's strange. I prefer Haveli's food over Banjara for sure. I wonder how they plan to "combine." (I've ordered delivery last few weeks from Haveli that got filled by Banjara - definitely not as good for my taste).
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the window is supposed to be like that.
I think. It's been that way for a looooong time.
Yes, it's called crackle glass. Haveli opened with that lovely glass and was so very pretty back when. Haveli's food was better in the old days than later years, but so was Banjara. The last time we went there they were definitely scrimping more on the ingredients and the staff seemed unhappy.
ReplyDeleteI hope Banjara will get some of their Mojo back in the new and very pretty location. Looking forward to how they refresh the interior.
When Haveli first opened I was struck by the sophisticated architectural deconstruction of a Haveli. A cab driver once explained that a Haveli is an upper class family villa... a walled in family compound if you will. Post modern architecture was peaking when Haveli opened, and I was so surprised by the sophistication of the design, the references to contemporary architecture with a subcontinent twist, and including the cracked glass wall facade, not to mention the indoor balcony, and the color scheme... Also, when they first opened, the hostesses were uniformly gorgeous, and decked out in exquisite silk saris... I honestly can't see how the original Haveli could possibly be connected to the mediocre and quite often terrible Banjara....
ReplyDelete8:46, wow, you took me back in time with your comment. Yes, I too remember how beautiful the interior of Haveli was. It was almost magical. That was in 2000 or 2001. How time flies!
ReplyDelete