Modern Bombay · Gramercy
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
GupShup means gossip, or a good long chat, and that's exactly the energy of this Gramercy favorite. It's the restaurant you pick when you want dinner to feel like a night out: a bi-level space on East 18th Street dressed in nods to old Bombay, a busy bar and a menu that's built for sharing and talking over.
The kitchen
The cooking is led by culinary director Gurpreet Singh, who came to New York from Indian Accent in New Delhi, one of India's most celebrated restaurants. That pedigree shows in how carefully the dishes are balanced. GupShup is fun, but it isn't frivolous.
What to eat
Start with dahi sev puri, crisp puri shells filled with potato, yogurt, chutneys and crunchy sev. It's the classic Mumbai street snack, sweet, tangy and cooling, and the right way to wake up your palate.
Then get to the main event: the mutton sukka. Goat meat is cooked down with bone marrow stock and a dry, deeply toasted spice blend until every piece is coated and glossy. It's rich, intense and the dish people talk about on the way home.
The nalli and kulcha is a bone marrow lover's dream, with marrow served alongside a soft, mushroom-stuffed kulcha for scooping. The Anarkali lamb chops are juicy and well charred, and the 24-hour braised nahari is slow-cooked comfort in a bowl. If you need a biryani, the goat dum biryani is the pick, and the Old Delhi butter chicken is a crowd-pleaser for the less adventurous at your table.
Feeling celebratory? The sizzler is a big shared platter for two or more, and it arrives with all the drama the name promises.
Dessert and drinks
Do not skip the kulfi falooda. Dense, creamy kulfi with sweet noodles, rose syrup and basil seeds is a classic Bombay treat, and here it's the dessert you'll be tempted to order twice. The cocktail list is a big part of GupShup's appeal, so give the bar a look before you sit down.
Before you go
GupShup is a popular weekend spot, so book ahead. It's best with a group of four to six, and large parties should expect an automatic gratuity on the bill.
Why it matters
New York's Indian scene has gotten more serious in recent years, which is mostly good news. GupShup is a reminder that great Indian food can also be a blast. It mixes nostalgia, cocktails and real cooking into one of the city's most reliably fun dinners.
The Quick Fix
What to order: Mutton sukka; nalli and kulcha; Anarkali lamb chops; dahi sev puri; goat dum biryani; 24-hour braised nahari; Old Delhi butter chicken; kulfi falooda
Pricing: Mid-to-upscale. Sharing keeps it reasonable; the sizzler for the table is a splurge.
Best for: Birthdays, date nights, groups, cocktail lovers and first-timers who want a fun Indian night out
How it compares: More playful than Dhamaka; the same team's food is more refined at Bungalow; the best mutton sukka in Manhattan
See where GupShup ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in New York City: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.