JACKSON DINER - INDIAN CUISINE

After reading all the rave reviews a friend and I ventured into Jackson Heights in search for ""The best Indian Restaurant outside of India"".\r \r Well, to make a long story short, it's not bad, but it's really over-hyped. We didn't have cockroaches hanging around as other reviewers had, we didn't see waiters handing out secondhand food, and the bathroom - although it sucked, wasn't as horrid as others have made it. But I can say this: this is certainly NOT an authentic joint. It's Indian Food for Yuppies. If you ever go there, you will be surrounded by yuppies searching for culture, just as you are. You won't find Indian/Pakis/Bangalis eating there. It's not the real deal. If you want authentic Indian/Paki food, go to Roti Boti which is not far from Jackson Dinner (Broadway/72nd - there are two, right across from each other, I think the Shaheen Roti Boti is the better one). Or go to Bukhari on Coney Island Ave, bet Glenwood Rd and Avenue H (not on Citysearch either). Both are places that Indians and Pakistanis swear by, and for good reasons. more

The atmosphere is very nice, specially decoration, which is in my point of view pretty particular. I went with my family and even though the food was taking so many time it is not bad. more

i ordered tandoori chicken and they brought me 3 pieces of bone with tiny bits of meat on them and then they charged me $12 for it all. this ""meal"" is barely a sampler! they didn't even bring me rice, but even if they did, that still wouldn't change the unacceptable meat dish! I i ended up paying $19 because i was eating with a friend's group and that's the share my friend asked me to pay! maybe the restaurant made some kind of mistake? also, i sent them a an email through their website and it's been a few weeks now and they have not responded yet, so i just resent it. in case u work for the restaurant and u r reading this, please work this problem out 4 me and email me back at milanchik85@yahoo\r more

I am Black American but my husband is Indian. So when he suggested that we and a couple of our friends go to Jackson Diner for Christmas Eve the first thing I asked him would the food be as good as what he makes at home (I am also a vegetarian). Much to my surprise, the food at Jackson Diner was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and the drinks are POWERFUL. FINALLY, there is a restaurant where you can order an alcoholic beverage and really taste the alcohol; YUM, YUM! The restaurant was really busy (which is always a good sign). The waiters were very sweet, a little shy at first, but all you have to do is be kind to them and they will certainly pour on the charm. I strongly suggest to anyone visiting a restaurant which is of a different culture than their own, is to please keep an open mind and let the good times flow. more

Very good food overall with different dishes from Dosa to Crab Curries (which is a little strange but delicious). The prices are also great for those used to Manhattan prices for subpar food this is a refreshing place to goto. The only issue I have with the place is that they do not take credit and so you should hit the ATM but a dinner for four should not cost more than 60$. P.S. Great Atmosphere P.P.S. During my last visit however there were these loud obnoxious people next to me who could only stomach Chicken Tikka and complained about the food being too spicy. Avoid this table at all costs Pros: Food is great! Cons: Does not take credit cards more

They don’t deserve a star at all. They deserve to be shut down. Wasted money. I should have gone to McDonalds for dinner. I went there Saturday evening hoping for some good Indian food with family. I was wrong, and embarrassed, to bring my family there. It was so bad I don’t know where to begin in this post. The service was horrible. The food was horrible. Everything was a big disappointment. Let’s just say this was the worst service ever. Even worse than Chinatown service if you people know what I mean. (i.e. pushy in ordering, no recommendations on dishes when requested by us (trust me, nothing there was good), not friendly, never smiled until we paid the bill, took forever to get more napkins, charged us extra for roti we never ordered, dishes were not made to order, and much more). As for the food, a few of my family members (elders and toddlers) can not eat spicy food. I specifically requested the waiter to have those dishes be mild. The waiter just nodded his head, so I assumed he understood and made a mental note. When the food came, everything was spicy. My nephew couldn’t eat anything but white rice the whole night. Poor kid!!! What really got me upset was when we requested a booster seat for my three year nephew. The waiter said they do not have any. Right there, I was already skeptical about this restaurant. What restaurant doesn’t have booster seats!!!!! I was right about it. When we were about to pay the bill, I see 5 booster seats against the wall. We didn’t see it from the beginning because the restaurant lighting was dim. Pros: None at all Cons: Everything was horrible from service to food more

The food was great and came quick. No real gripes about the food. The ambience is above average for the area that the restaurant is located in. Service was friendly and helpful. If you are not familiar with Indian cuisine just ask the waiter. The restaurant seems oddly empty most of the time though. Pros: Spicy food. Helpful and friendly staff. Cons: Parking. more

I ordered takeout a couple of days ago, and pointed out to the host taking my order that the price he quoted per dish was not what was shown on the website. He replied that the website hasn't been updated in 8 years because the person in charge of it left. As a matter of principle, I asked him if he could honor the price on the website anyway, and he refused. The different was only $10, so it wasn't a big deal, but just the whole take it or leave it attitude left a bad taste in my mouth. I was already on my way, so I couldn't change my plans, but I would rather give my business to someone who is honest, even if it's more expensive. No wonder there were only 4 people in the restaurant. Pros: Accessibility to train service Cons: Service more

I've gone to the Jackson Diner a few times now for the buffet, and have been quite pleased each time. The... more

I've gone to the Jackson Diner a few times now for the buffet, and have been quite pleased each time. The restaurant was clean and the service was ... more

I've gone to the Jackson Diner a few times now for the buffet, and have been quite pleased each time. The restaurant was clean and the service was ... more

Wow, I had no idea that such a place existed until yesterday when my friends surprised me for my birthday. I loved the food. I never had Indian food before and always wanted to try it so my boyfriend and me friends surprised me with this restaurant. I had the masala dosa and the chicken makhani. I was not sure if it was going to be spicy, but to my surprise the waiter asked us how we wanted our food and their medium level was good. It wasn't spicy. Also, there are so many ethnic places to shop around on the block. I highly recommend this place to anyone who has never tried Indian food before. Pros: Thumbs up more

No atmosphere, solid food, worthwhile lunch buffet ($8.95, 11-4 on weekdays). Not the best Jackson Heights... more

No atmosphere, solid food, worthwhile lunch buffet ($8.95, 11-4 on weekdays). Not the best Jackson Heights Indian place, but a safe bet. more

No atmosphere, solid food, worthwhile lunch buffet ($8.95, 11-4 on weekdays). Not the best Jackson Heights Indian place, but a safe bet. more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. They only accept cash which is cleary stated on a sign when you walk in. Even though it's usually busy you are seated quickly. The service is not extremely fast but we weren't totally neglected. I highly recomend the murg korma. I get it all the time. The only negative thing i can say is that it doesn't seem totally clean. I brought my family there and my plate and all our utensils were dirty which i had them change. Pros: decent prices, good food Cons: a little dirty more

At that price (ok maybe a couple of bucks extra), you could get MUCH better food in Manhattan. I didn't try the ala carte options but I don't expect much from this place. Seriously, you could find much much better places. Stay away ... Cons: Bad ambience, no service, strictly average food more

You can't beat it for the food and the price. The decor may be a bit too ""cafeteria,"" but the buffet is so nice that you won't care much. Pros: Great food, great price Cons: Cafeteria style seating more

Seating is usually prompt at Jackson Diner, but the waiter service isn't always as prompt, especially when trying to request the check. Cocktails & food usually comes in a timely manner once you order. I've never left this restaurant w/o being completely, gluttinously stuffed. We've tried different appetizers & entrees each visit, never finding one that we didn't love. My current suggestions to diners is to try the samosa chat & vindaloo (if you can stand the heat). The dosa is an amazing site--it overhung our table from side to side it was so HUGE! My true test of any Indian restaurant is naan dipped in my entree's sauce. The garlic naan @ Jackson Diner will definitely keep the vampires away, but is a garlic lover's delight! Dipping the naan in their sauce, I find their sauces so thick, creamy & rich w/o being overpowering or overwhelming. I've tried a few E. Village Indian restaurants, but the brightly lit, modern design & clean appearance of the JD will definitely make me choose it over one of those. JD's weekend brunch is a great way to try several different things & expose your friends to Indian cuisine, but I also highly suggest you visit there in the evening sometime so you can try the wide array of dishes their menu offers. DELICIOUS! Pros: Affordable, tasty cocktails. Amazing Indian sauces. Killer garlic naan. Cons: Cash only. Service can be slow. more

Living here in JH for over 20 years, I was an early and happy customer of the Jackson Diner. When it was small and in it's original location, it was great. I brought everyone there and had wonderful experiences. I would often go thereby myself. The atmosphere has declined drastically since the move to the larger space. It's noisy, uncomfortable and feels like a factory, even feels unclean. I always get take out if I go there, as the the food is good. Better than the EVillage Indian fare. I prefer the other Indian restaurant just a couple of doors down for eating in. Pros: Plenty of space Cons: Not so comfortable. Maybe a little dirty. more