Upper West Side Deli Named Among Best Indian Restaurants In NYC
UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — An uptown deli favored by Columbia University students (and possibly a former U.S. president) has been named one of the best Indian restaurants in New York City.
Doaba Deli at 945 Columbus Ave. is among 23 eateries included in Eater’s recently released list of “23 Standout Indian Restaurants in NYC.”
The ranking features high-end eateries, hole-in-the-wall spots, iconic neighborhood restaurants, and a deli on the Upper West Side known for its “truck stop fare,” according to Eater.
“This worn-down, but much loved, double-storefront deli is named after a region of the Punjab, and was opened by Inderjit Singh over a decade ago,” Eater notes.
“The steam table displays all that’s available that day… you have a beguiling number of choices, but not too many.”
Doaba Deli opened in 2010 and its Yelp profile notes the owner has a presidential fan in Bill Clinton, which Patch was unable to confirm as the owner was available when we called.
“Started by Chef Inderjit Singh, who counts President Clinton amongst his many fans, to provide a new authentic Indian food experience to the larger Upper West Side and Columbia community without breaking the bank,” the profile reads.
“This concept has proven to be extremely successful as consumers desire healthy food for a reasonable cost.”
This may be why Doaba Deli appears in the Columbia Spectator’s roundup of cheap eats on the Upper West Side, which the university newspaper notes are far and few between.
Popular items at the vegetarian eatery include aloo pratha, dal makhani, jeera rice biryani, garlic naan, and masala tea.
Students can dine on naan during late night cram sessions — its closed for only 30 minutes a day from 5:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. — and receive a discount with a Columbia ID.
Doaba Deli features food from Punjab, the Indian region for which the restaurant is named, according to Eater and the restaurant’s Yelp profile.
“We make the most authentic Punjabi Vegetarian food you will ever have outside of Punjab,” Singh writes on Yelp.
“We also have a Tiffin Service catering towards busy professionals and students who still want freshly cooked food every day.”
