The friends I was dining with had frequented Banjara when it was on First Avenue. According to the menu, Banjara and Haveli Indian 
restaurants have merged into one.
We decided to try to new place and realized quite quickly, that we wouldn’t be returning — especially with the explosion of good Indian restaurant in Manhattan.
The hot food was warm, the spicy bland and the portions quite small. The best part were the free crisp papadum and sauces placed on the table as you order.
I hadn’t remembered ordering fried dough — what those doughy pieces ended up being were our fried okra ($5.95).
The menu described the chicken chat ($4.95) as super spicy. Not. Although nothing special, the best dish was the sauteed chicken livers with tiny puffed poori, a deep fried Indian bread.
The cauliflower (gobi bhajee, $11.95) was neither hot nor spicy and was missing the 
menu state tomatoes. The warm tandoori-cooked naan was wonderful – although missing the fresh garlic we ordered. The flavor of the pasanda lamb’s yogurt-curry sauce was well balanced flavor; the portion was too small for the price ($14.95). We had more than enough sauce to combine with the accompanying carrot-specked aromatic rice.
Would I return? No way.
bonnie
BonnieBOTB
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Haveli Banjara
East Village
100 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003(212) 982-0533
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