Modern Fine Dining · Midtown
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
When Indian Accent opened on West 56th Street, it brought one of New Delhi's most acclaimed restaurants to New York and helped convince the city that Indian food belonged in the fine-dining conversation. Ten years later, it's celebrating a decade in Midtown, and it still feels like the most polished Indian dinner in town.
The room
Indian Accent is calm, elegant and a few blocks from Central Park. It's the kind of place where you can hear your guests, the service is smooth, and nobody is shouting over a DJ. That makes it a go-to for business dinners and milestone celebrations.
How it works
Dinner is a prix fixe menu of three or four courses, with optional wine pairings. For the full experience, book the chef's tasting menu, led by executive chef Raveesh Kapoor. The whole table has to take part, so plan accordingly.
What to eat
The tasting menu opens with Indian Accent's most famous dish, the blue cheese naan, a soft, tangy bread that sounds like a gimmick and tastes like a classic. Purists debate it; everyone else orders it.
From the dinner menu, the smoked duck momos, served with a Nepali chili chutney, are a great opener. The eggplant bharta cornet turns a homestyle smoky eggplant dish into a crisp, elegant bite, and the Goan shrimp balchao brings tangy, fiery coastal flavors.
For mains, the ghee roast lamb is rich and fragrant, while the Mangalorean pork belly and the sweet pickle pork ribs show off the kitchen's playful side. The wagyu pathar kebab, cooked on a hot stone in the Hyderabadi style, is a luxurious upgrade.
Dessert
Makhan malai is the dessert to save room for: a light, airy cream that melts almost as soon as it hits your tongue. It's delicate, beautiful and a fitting end to the meal.
Before you go
Book ahead, especially for weekends. Larger parties should expect an automatic gratuity.
Why it matters
Before Dhamaka, Semma and the new wave, there was Indian Accent, proving that New Yorkers would pay fine-dining prices for creative Indian food. It's less of a thrill ride than the newer restaurants, but its consistency, polish and calm make it the place to take someone you want to impress.
The Quick Fix
What to order: Chef's tasting menu (with blue cheese naan); smoked duck momos; eggplant bharta cornet; Goan shrimp balchao; ghee roast lamb; sweet pickle pork ribs; Mangalorean pork belly; makhan malai
Pricing: Splurge. Prix fixe and tasting menus only; the tasting menu requires the whole table to take part.
Best for: Business dinners, anniversaries, special occasions and introducing non-desi guests to modern Indian food
How it compares: More refined and quieter than Dhamaka; more traditional fine dining than Passerine; the original modern Indian tasting menu in NYC
See where Indian Accent 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.