Ishq: A Modern Indian Culinary Experience in New York City

Ishq Introduce

Welcome to Ishq, a premier destination for those seeking an elevated and modern Indian dining experience in New York City. Nestled in the heart of the vibrant East Village, Ishq redefines what it means to enjoy Indian cuisine. We are not just a restaurant; we are a celebration of love, flavor, and tradition, all blended with a contemporary twist. The name "Ishq," meaning love, perfectly encapsulates our passion for food and our dedication to creating a truly memorable experience for every guest. Our menu is a thoughtful blend of traditional recipes and innovative fusion dishes, designed to surprise and delight your palate.

From the moment you step inside, you will be enveloped in a cozy and trendy atmosphere that is perfect for a special date night or a lively gathering with friends. Our beautiful space is thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment. We believe that great food is best enjoyed in a setting that encourages connection and celebration. Our team is committed to providing service that is both attentive and genuine, making sure you feel right at home while exploring our "Hatke" (unique) menu.

Location and Accessibility

Ishq is conveniently located at 202 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009, USA, placing it in one of the city's most dynamic and sought-after neighborhoods. Our prime location in the East Village is easily accessible and adds to the trendy, urban vibe of the restaurant. We are committed to making our space accessible to all guests, offering a **wheelchair accessible entrance** and **restroom**.

For those traveling by car, there are various parking options available, including free street parking and paid parking lots. Our central location makes us a popular choice for both locals and groups looking for a vibrant dining spot. We accept a variety of payment methods, including major credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

Services Offered

We offer a range of services tailored to provide a flexible and enjoyable dining experience.

Dine-in: Enjoy our full menu and a wonderful atmosphere inside our cozy and trendy restaurant. We offer full table service for both dinner and dessert.
Takeout: For those who prefer to enjoy our food at home, our full menu is available for takeout.
Reservations: Given our popularity, especially for dinner, **reservations are recommended**. This ensures that you can secure a table and avoid any potential wait times.
Full Bar Service: Our onsite bar offers a great selection of **cocktails**, **beer**, **wine**, and **hard liquor**, perfect for pairing with your meal or for a pre-dinner drink.

Features / Highlights

Ishq stands out from other Indian restaurants in New York with its unique and thoughtful features.

Innovative Menu: Our "Hatke" menu offers a creative take on traditional Indian cuisine. It features a great blend of classic and fusion dishes, from our popular **Andhra Chili Gobi** to the spectacular **Lobster Malaikari**.
Creative Cocktails: We are highly recommended for our cocktails. Drinks like the "Ishq In Mussoorie" are crafted to complement the bold flavors of our food. Our beverage program is a key part of the unique experience we offer.
Atmosphere: The ambiance is a major highlight. It is described as both trendy and cozy, making it suitable for a variety of occasions, from a romantic date to a group dinner. The space is beautifully designed, with a communal table perfect for larger gatherings.
Unique Presentation: We take pride in the presentation of our dishes. The **Panipuri** is noted for its "beautiful presentation," and the **Kaala Jamun Tart** is presented in an "interesting way" with a flaming cone.
Dietary Options: Our menu includes a variety of **vegan** and **vegetarian options**, ensuring that guests with different dietary needs can find something delicious to enjoy.
Exceptional Service: Our staff is known for being friendly, attentive, and helpful. As one reviewer noted, our servers are "great" and answer questions "smilingly" about the unique menu.

Contact Information

For reservations, inquiries, or to place a takeout order, please contact us at:

Address: 202 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009, USA
Phone: (646) 559-4747

What is worth choosing

Choosing Ishq is choosing an unforgettable culinary journey. The rave reviews from our customers highlight the reasons we are a must-visit destination in New York City. The a la carte menu is a treasure trove of flavors, with standout dishes that consistently receive high praise. The **Nizami Lamb Chops** are noted for their "good amount of warm spices and chili," while the **Lobster Malaikari** is so good it's "to die for."

Our appetizers are a great way to start your meal. The **Andhra Chili Gobi** and **Sharabi Chicken Tikka** are highly recommended and perfect for sharing. For the main course, you can't go wrong with our **Delhi Ki Butter Chicken** or the flavorful **Paneer Laung Latta**. The sides, including the garlic naans and saffron rice, are also noted for being "flavorful" and a perfect accompaniment.

The atmosphere is another key reason to choose Ishq. It’s a space that feels celebratory and perfect for groups, as one reviewer mentioned, "Felt good to celebrate and never felt rushed." The beautiful space is "perfect for date and friends gathering," and the option to dine at a communal table for a large group is a great feature. From the unique menu items to the fantastic cocktails and top-notch service, Ishq provides a complete and delightful experience that will leave you wanting to come back for more.

Ishq Menu

Small Plates
Andhra Chili Gobi $16.00
Cauliflower, curry leaves, green chili, hibiscus labneh, fried garlic..
Dudhiya Kabab $18.00
Stuffed homemade paneer, carom seeds, saffron, sprouts, seasonal fruit wedges.
Nizami Lamb Chops $30.00
Kashmiri chili, mace, yogurt hummus, pistachios.
Sharabi Chicken Tikka $22.00
Overnight marinated chicken thighs, laccha onion, mint chutney, old monk flambe.
Bangla Kodi $20.00
Potato wrapped chicken fritters, radish, cilantro, chili sour cream.
Ajwaini Tiger Shrimp $26.00
Fermented chili sour cream, cilantro, lemon.
Shashi Saffron Murgh Tikka $24.00
Tender chicken marinated in saffron and spices.

Entree
Paneer Laung Latta $26.00
Paneer layered with nuts, cloves, lababdar gravy.
Ishq Dal-E Khaas $24.00
Black lentils, clarified butter, fenugreek leaves, grated black truffle, ghee.
Dum Ka Gosht $32.00
Slow cooked bone-in baby goat, dum ka gravy, fried onion, mint.
Delhi Ki Butter Chicken $28.00
Shredded chicken thighs, tomato makhani, butter, fenugreek leaves.
Lobster Malaikari $32.00
Mustard, onion & coconut gravy, curry leaves, sweet chili pops.
Nalli Gosht Biryani $36.00
Lamb shank, cashews, fried onion, mint, bhurani raita.
Palak Sabz Miloni $26.00
Spinach curry with creamy palak sauce and mixed vegetables.

Sides
Saffron Rice $4.00
Aromatic rice infused with saffron.
Plain Naan $6.00
Soft, lightly leavened Indian flatbread.
Butter Naan $6.00
Soft, lightly buttered Indian flatbread.
Garlic Naan $7.00
Soft, leavened flatbread infused with garlic.
Sesame Naan $7.00
Soft, lightly sesame-topped Indian flatbread.
Chili Cheese Naan $8.00
Naan.
Tandoori Roti $7.00
Traditional Indian flatbread.
Laccha Paratha $8.00
Thin, layered flatbread.
Bhurani Raita $3.00
Cool and creamy yogurt side dish with cucumber and cumin.
Salad $3.00
Onion, chili & lemon.

Ishq Details

Service options
Takeout
Dine-in

Popular for
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Hard liquor
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Brunch
Dinner
Dessert
Table service

Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom

Atmosphere
Cozy
Trendy

Crowd
Groups

Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments

Parking
Free street parking
Paid parking lot
Paid street parking

Ishq Photos

Ishq Location

Ishq

New York New York County New York Avenue A

202 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009, USA

Ishq Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 344 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

We just celebrated my birthday at Ishq! Had a wonderful experience. Great ambience, good food and service. Our server Nandini and her assistant were great and they answered our questions smilingly regarding their unique menu!Loved the “Hatke” menu and a take on Bollywood and “Ishq” phrases in the menu selection.Would highly recommend their cocktails. I had “Ishq In Mussoorie” which was great! We ordered 3 appetizers between 4 of us. “Andhra Chili Gobhi” and “Sharabi Chicken Tikka” were great. Dudhiya Kabab were little mild for our taste but we compensated the flavor with the chilli Gobhi masala and then it was fine.For main entrees we loved the “Gobhi Ali kofta Curry “ and “Paneer Laung Latta”. Their garlic naans and saffron rice as aside were flavorful as well.Ended the meal by celebrating with the delicious “Kaala Jamun Tart”. Loved the interesting way of presenting the tart by lighting the fire on the cone covering the tart!We would highly recommend this place. Felt good to celebrate and never felt rushed.
July 03 · Sapna Gupta
It was an amazing dinner with great blend of traditional and fusion dishes. Love their panipuri (beautiful presentation), the lamb chop (good amout of warm spices and chili) and the lobster Malaikari is to die for!The space was beautiful perfect for date and friends gathering! I’d love to come back for a big dinner at the communal table!
June 27 · S D
Ishq chaandi hai, ishq sona hai - for my Bollywood loving friends - you'll get the reference! One word - spectacular!Made reservations, and if you have a well behaved child, they will let you in with your little one even if the Resy says no kids under 8. Just be considerate to other diners is their ask, which is more than fair.Chef Vamshi delivers another excellent menu after Gazab, with small plates packed with flavor and entrees with a decent balance.Small Plates: Jalebi Chaat ($19) is a must have, just like Sharabi Chicken Tikka ($23). Kadak Rumali ($15) is passable, but their chili sour cream was tasty! Andhra Chili Gobi ($17) for one might be too much, as the oil eventually gets to you - but an excellent choice if sharing the small plate.For non-paneer eaters, you cannot go wrong with Himachali Gucchi ($23) - the the classic onion & tomato gravy goes surprisingly well with morel mushrooms! The Poussin Musallam ($31) was on the less flavorful side, but the cornish hen looked really well cooked.Laccha Paratha ($8) is a generous size, and one should be enough to be shared by two people, just like their tasty garlic Naan ($7).Shout out to Sujit our friendly server who ensured a flawless and attentive service. Food arrived within 10-15 mins of ordering. With bollywood hits playing in a background, noise levels on the lower end, and fresh, modern interiors, Ishq was an absolute hit and a place that we'll definitely revisit with friends and family.
May 10 · Ameya Bhakay
If you're looking for a place that proves vegetarian food can be bold, flavorful, and satisfying, ISHQ restaurant in NYC must visit. Generous portions ensured I left fully satisfied. The pricing was reasonable for the quality. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, even suggesting Vegetarian option. The ambiance was cozy, with a warm feeling.
July 11 · nehika patel
The food was great! Every item we ordered tasted exceptionally well (and very aesthetically pleasing too!)The menu selection was eclectic as well, they offer several dishes that you may not find at your go to Indian restaurant.Great staff! We had three people checking in every few minutes, one to see if we need anything, one to serve/present, and one to clear the table. Loved the attentiveness!Highly recommend!The only improvements I’d like to suggest the hosts are:Lighting: obviously the ambience from the dim light was pretty, but it didn’t do the justice to the colors of the dishes they craft. I was relying on my phone’s ability to brighten the colors of the food. A small lamp on the table would work miracles!Plates: as someone who reuses the same plate at home for multiple courses, I liked how they don’t change your plates and silverware. However, the plates were too small to fit both the entree and the bread. Just a couple inches more to the plate radii would be perfect!
March 24 · Niket Vasavada