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Seva
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
30-07 34th StAstoria, NY 11103
Neighbourhood: Astoria
(718) 626-4440
- Nearest Transit:
-
30 Av (N, Q)
Astoria Blvd (N, Q)
Broadway (N, Q)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 10:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
327 reviews for Seva
Review Highlights
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"I recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala." In 60 reviews -
"The lamb spring roll was delicious." In 14 reviews -
"Prix fixe can't be beaten." In 23 reviews
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327 reviews in English
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Review from Allie R.
Astoria, NY
5/24/2012
Freaking awesome! That is how I am going to start this one.
When I moved into Astoria, my roommate told me about this awesome Indian place she had been to 2 blocks away. At first, I was like "ew Indian food." But since she kept raving about how delicious this place was, i decided to try it. We ordered take out. And it changed my life. I am no longer scared of Indian food. Now we order from here at least once a month.
Their portions are huge. Their prices are reasonable. And their service is fast and friendly. They also ask you how hot you want the dishes to be so you can basically personalize the meal. When you dine in, your water glass is always kept full (very important for when the food is spicy and you run out naan).
I also took my friend from England who loves Indian food and he said it was the best he's ever had. So if that's not an indication of how awesome his place is, i don't know what is.
Here is what I've ordered:
Veggie Samoa - not too greasy. Just the right amount of spice.
Naan: Who doesn't love oven baked bread smothered in garlic??!! We had the rosemary one once. That was good too.
Masala Crab Cakes: Actually, these gave me bad heartburn. But...it happens.
Chicken Takka Masala: A iconic Indian dish. The chicken is flavorful. And they also give you a lot of extra sauce to dip your naan in.
Saag Paneer (Spinach, homemade cheese, ginger, garlic): This seemed to be more of a side dish, but it was really good. The cheese was a nice surprise. And also great for naan-dipping
Lamb Rogan Josh (cardamom-cinnamon scented curry sauce with hints of clove and nutmeg): I was prompted to order this by my English friend. It was awesome. The lamb was tender. And the sauce was incredibly flavorful. i dream of this dish now.
This place is awesome for anyone who loves flavorful food. If you've never had Indian before, I'd recommend this place as a great starter to their delicious cuisine. Also, every time we order there are leftovers for days...which is the best part of eating out or ordering taking out. -
Review from Sue K.
Claremont, CA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't like to give five stars. This place deserves five considering the price.
My date and I went to dinner here and found the prix fix deal - appetizer, entree and dessert for 13.5 Good deal, right? So for the price, the quality of the meal, the service, atmosphere was fantastic.
Why did i dock a star?
Though it was tasty, it did not stand out to me. Maybe my palate is not as refined to distinguish different indian places, but their tikka and vindaloo were what you'd find anywhere...(it is just at a better price).
Dessert...is not their forte. but it was sweet and did the job...
bathroom is small. the restaurant is small. it is just small all around.... -
Review from Petros H.
Astoria, NY
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yes, for the price you pay, this is as good as it gets in Astoria!
Everything was excellent.
Good service, friendly and accommodating.
We tried a few different plates and all where great.
Plenty of choices, including Vegan, vegetarian, chicken and some lamb...
The spices were very nicely held back for those in the party who could not handle the heat...
the only criticism I can make is that the coconut Nan, although very nice, did not have the apparent taste of coconut.. -
Review from Alex K.
Astoria, Queens, NY
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
AYCE Heaven! I've never seen an Indian AYCE buffet wtih samosas. Sold!
The raita, curries, naan, and samosas were all on point. And what an awesome deal for $10. I've tried Namaste and Ghandi (both within a block of this place) and the food at Seva is always better. The service was great too! The place itself is a little small, but take out is an option, and even having the brunch AYCE buffet there was not too cramped. This little gem in our neighborhood is a 'must go' in my book!
My only criticism is that it can get a little hot in there. But my experience at Indian restaurants are all this way... -
Review from Amy M.
Updated - 4/26/2012
We had another craving for Indian food and found ourselves back at Seva again! LOL! It is authentic and the service is great! And the ambiance as well!
So I ordered pretty much the same thing I usually order at Indian restaurants...haha. I ordered the the mango lassi, vegetable samosas, naan bread, and chicken tikka masala. And he had the grilled tandoori chicken with dahl again! Everything was delicious! The naan bread was so soft and yummy. Samosas were pretty good, but I think I like them more from other Indian restaurants. The chicken tikka masala was soft and juicy and was great with the rice and naan bread! Mmmm...
This is one of my favorite Indian spots! :)Listed in: Best of Queens, Casual Eats, Yummy Indian Food!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/22/2012
So in the hunt for another Indian restaraunt, we decided to come to Seva in Astoria. It was a small… Read more »
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Review from John N.
Los Angeles, CA
5/9/2012
Had the lunch buffet here. There isn't much room in the restaurant but the food was very good northern Indian (typical for Indian buffets).
all the dishes I had were good but not spicy enough clearly tailored for the American pallet. If that's what you ate looking for, this is the place. -
Review from John P.
ASTORIA, NY
5/11/2012
Never eaten inside here but frequently get delivery. Waits on the delivery can be a bit long, but this is still definitely my favorite Indian place in Astoria. Love the options to spice up or spice down a dish and the basmati rice is very nicely seasoned with aromatic spices. If you want the food spicier, all you need to do is ask.
My favorites here are the Green Chile Chicken and the Lamb Spring rolls. As others have noted, the spring rolls and samosas are definitely oily... I happen to find them oily in a delicious way, but if you're sensitive about that type of thing, you might want to pass them up.
The Korma used to be very good but they changed the recipe a few months back and I can't say I'm a fan of it now. The delivery special is a great deal; usually when the wife and I order two of those we have enough left over for another meal the next day- granted, we aren't really big eaters, though. -
Review from R K.
New York, NY
5/2/2012
Amazing AMAZING AMAZING Indian food! I have a great meal each every time I have come here for lunch or dinner. The decor is very simple and clean. The music is always awesome and relaxing.
They have great appetizers like delicious vegetable samosas and masala crab cakes.
My favorite dish is the chicken tikka masala.
If you love spicy food you will ADORE this place because they modify the heat to your liking! -
Review from Lori N.
Astoria, NY
5/16/2012
I have been coming here for years with my sister and friends way back when they were BYOB. The food is delicious, the place is clean, the beer is cold and the prices are great. I live too far for the delivery but my sister orders from them constantly.
This is the only place I go for Indian. I have ordered ala carte and done the AYCE - either way, you can't go wrong. It just depends what you are in the mood for and the time you are going.
The sampler platter along with the bok choy appetizer are a perfect fit for 3-4 people to start. The Chicken Korma is entree my favorite.
The staff is very friendly and the place is clean. Time for another visit as I am getting hungry just thinking about it :) -
Review from Pinky And The B.
Manhattan, NY
4/28/2012 4 photos
Manhattan quality at Queens prices! Seriously one of the best Indian restaurants that I have been to In the 5 boros. The weather was in the 40's and rainy which for me is perfect for Indian food! (WTH did Spring go?)
I saw it pop up on Yelp a few times but ignored it for the most part. One of the reasons is people seem to be overly forgiving of bad Indian, Chinese and Mexican food in the 5 boros on Yelp for some reason.
The flavors were all distinctly different unlike restaurants like Jackson Diner which in my opinion serves generic Indian mush. We only found it due to having my massage in the area and wanting to eat out since I didn't get out of my massage until 9:30 PM.
I also accidentally deleted some of the pictures we took. But I managed not to delete them all!
Here is what we had. 1.Tandoori Chicken Tikka. 2.Navarattan Korma 3.Aloo Chana Matar 4.Lamb Rogan Josh. Everything was distinctive and enjoyable.
The restaurant space itself is small. But seating is comfortable in spite of that. But there are only about 10-12 tables.
My husband got up when they presented us with the bill and went to the ATM. They all kind of panicked and thought we were skipping out on the bill.
Slow your Kati roll!
He was just going to the ATM! Service was good but slightly over zealous! But better overly zealous than clueless like MexiQ. We will be back for sure!Listed in: Multi ethnicity at it's best!…, Astoria euphoria
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Review from Kittie P.
ASTORIA, NY
3/22/2012
This is my fav Indian spot in Astoria. Haven't had a bad experience here and it's almost always packed when I go in.
Great lunch/dinner specials and the tikka masala is fantastic! It's the perfect date spot for a casual/low key evening out... plus it's right next door to Sweet Afton which is convenient for a drink afterwards.
Beware the medium spicy is pretty spicy, but tastes great. -
Review from Ro C.
New York, NY
4/1/2012
*Gasp* the chicken tikka masala has to be one of the best I've ever had.
The green chili chicken was also fabulous. The flavor in the shrimp curry dish was excellent; however, the shrimp could have been fresher.
The bok choy blossoms are a must-try!
Service:
The staff were extremely hospitable, friendly, and attentive - love 'em!
I got a kick out of one of the waiters who was very generous with his wine pours and would make a "whoo-oooo" sound as he filled my glass to the brim. -
Review from Caroline H.
Astoria, NY
5/6/2012
Our go-to neighborhood joint for Indian. They have a great delivery special deal (appetizer + entree + rice + dessert), which is hard to resist ordering, even if we don't love their appetizers or desserts. We generally stick to saag paneer, chicken tikka masala (which they'll make actually spicy), and garlic naan. I can't say it's the best Indian I've ever had, but it's dependable and the best we've found in Astoria.
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Review from Michelle C.
ASTORIA, NY
3/19/2012
With many Indian restaurants to choose from in Astoria, Seva stands out amongst the crowd. Offering flavorful, top notch Indian fare, an excellent prix fix menu, outstanding service and ambience, Seva truly is a gem. Seva is personally my favorite Indian restaurant, and one of my preferred restaurants in Astoria.
I've been to Seva more than any other restaurant in Astoria (although it may be a tie with the weekend morning bagels I crave from Mt. Olympus Bagels) and have yet to experience a bad meal or less than stellar dining experience. Seva starts you off with a light and crispy serving of Pappadum, accompanied with tamarind and mint chutneys. The prix fix menu is the way to go at Seva, with an appetizer, entrée, Basmati rice, and dessert for $13.50. Not only that, but the portions are generous, guaranteeing a leftover meal the next day. For our visit, my friend and I ordered the Masala Crab Cake and Butternut Squash Soup for appetizers, Chana Saag and Chicken Tikka Masala as the entrees, and Kheer for dessert, along with Garlic Nan, Mango Lassi, and Iced Tea.
This visit was my first time trying the Butternut Squash Soup. I usually get the Vegetable Samosa, which has a perfectly crispy, flaky shell filled with spiced potatoes and green peas, served on top of mint and tamarind chutneys. Not certain the soup could hold up to my samosa expectations, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Butternut Squash Soup had the same depth in flavors as the samosa, and was thick and creamy as if it has been simmering all day. The soup is spiced with nutmeg, tamarind, and a hint of cinnamon, with just the right amount of kick. The Masala Crab Cake consists of lump crab meat, garam masala, and mint, served on top of a yogurt and lemon-cilantro sauce. The yogurt sauce stabilizes the heat of the garam masala spices.
The Chicken Tikka Masala is my staple Seva dish. As much as I tell myself I will order their other dishes, the dish is so perfectly done, I cannot gravitate away from it. The dish consists of tender white meat cubed chicken, cooked in a clay oven and served in a light cream tomato sauce. Seva lets you choose the spiciness of your entrée, in either mild, medium, or hot, although even the mild has a spicy kick. The Chicken Tikka Masala comes topped with fresh parsley, which accompanies the delicate yet complex flavors embedded in the dish. The sauce is extremely flavorful, and the meat is so tender making this a favorite dish. The Basmati rice is also subtly spiced with cloves and saffron.
Read more at http://michelleeatsast... -
Review from Lindsey M.
Flushing, NY
4/26/2012
Lamb & apricots? Whatttt? Delicious. I know I should say more about Seva, but the food is so good here that it puts me at a loss for words.
Listed in: Asian/Indian Foods
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Review from J L.
Brooklyn, NY
3/19/2012
Although I'm still a loyal fan to Jackson Diner in Jackson Heights, this place was small yet cozy. Went on a weekend and it was pretty packed, but they'll take your name and number down and call you when your table is ready. That way you can have a drink at the bar next door while you're waiting! (big plus)
We ordered our food and the lamb spring rolls came out fairly quick. It was one of the best things we ate all night. The rest of our food took a very long time to come out... but I believe it's because of the massive amount of take out orders leaving the restaurant and the packed restaurant.
The chicken tikka masala was flavorful, but they only use white meat... which shocked me because dark meat is so delicious. The waiter screwed up one of the dishes we ordered.. but they apologized and took the mis-order off our bill... but even let us keep the dish we didn't order (we didn't really eat it, but it was nice of them to let us keep the dish since it was cooked already). They even went the extra mile and the manager came over with three mango lassi drinks and apologized again for the mistake. We tipped them extra because of the professional way they handled the mistake. -
Review from S B.
Manhattan, NY
5/8/2012
This place is delicious everytime. The veg samosa are spicy but great.
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Review from Sara W.
ASTORIA, NY
5/2/2012
DEEElicious. Quick delivery AND you can order online.
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Review from Kim K.
ASTORIA, NY
5/9/2012
after reading the reviews, went there last night for dinner (pick up). Ordered lamb spring rolls, masala crab cakes, and Aloo Gobi. The food was pretty good. I wouldnt order the lamb spring rolls again b/c the grease dripped through the paper bag and id rather save the calories for something else. My bf liked the crab cakes alot but i thought it was a little dry. I liked the seasoning though. The aloo Gobi was good.
oh the mango lassi was good too. Not my fav indian restaurant though.
btw, they dont take american express, or discover card. -
Review from Miss E.
Astoria, Queens, NY
4/18/2012
My family loves to order from this place simply because they serve up tasty authentic Indian cuisine. The moment you open the bag, your home is filled with wonderful curry aromas...it honestly smells like heaven. Have never been to the restaurant itself, but I hope to try a dine-in experience someday so this review will be updated when I do :)
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Review from Dennis H.
Long Island City, NY
5/17/2012
This has definitely become one of my favorite restaurants hands down. The chicken tikka masala was amazing and I really loved the garlic nan bread. I cannot wait to try the rest of the menu.
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Review from Alyssa B.
2/22/2012
I've lived in my apartment on 34th street for almost a little over 3 months now and every time I walk out of my building, I can smell the aroma of Indian spices wafting through the air. I've been wanting to check it out for a while, so when my boyfriend had to stay late for work, I decided to finally order some take-out from Seva. I got the Aloo Gobi Matar, something I've never had (or heard of) before. It was a mix of cauliflower, potatoes and peas in a ginger curry sauce with basmati rice. When I walked in to pick up my order, the place was PACKED. It's not a large space to begin with, maybe about 15 tables, but all of them were occupied. I left with a heavy bag and headed back to my apartment.
My first thought was "Oh good! I can probably get 2 meals out of this!" Of course I was wrong. I ate the whole thing including the extremely spicy chile pepper they managed to hide in my food. I usually say spice is a nice surprise, but this was not nice. I wanted to die. Overall, the meal was good, but not great. I think I would have liked it more if they cut down the portion and threw in a piece of naan instead. -
Review from Joey S.
2/13/2012
Seva has the nicest staff in the world. Everyone always has a smile on their face and is super happy to serve, even when you ask them like an idiot what the deserts are. It is also a really warm and cozy restaurant with delicious food.
On top of all that it is super cheap. The dishes are pretty affordable at around 10 - 12 bucks a pop, but the real deal is the prix fixe. For 14 bucks you get an appetizer, main course and dessert - a lot of food for not a lot of dough.
I came here most recently with a few friends and scarfed down the chicken saag, which was awesome. The chicken, along with the vegetable somosa and kheer (which is basically rice pudding - found that out the hard way) made for a really enjoyable dinner. We also split some nan, I was super skeptical of how the coconut nan would be, and I am happy to report it is fantastic. Seva never lets me down! -
Review from Regina S.
KEW GARDEN HL, NY
4/27/2012
Delicious and cheap!
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Review from Nate R.
Astoria, NY
4/29/2012
So delicious. The smells wafting out the front door make me want to float like Pepe L'Pew.
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Review from Aida M.
Astoria, NY
1/30/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I fell in Love. Mmm... I didn't know how good Indian food is until I stumble here. The Pri-Fix is a great value and delicious. Try everything, I love it all. Yum. I want some food now. I think I will go again tomorrow for Dinner.
This place is small, cute and cozy spot. Nice place for a date. And yes, if you prefer spicy, it will be spicy. Don't worry, they are always around to refill your water cup.
Love this place. -
Review from Mike N.
Astoria, NY
1/23/2012
Great for delivery..
Food is good, not quite great
Handful of vegan options
Large portionsListed in: Astoria Vegan
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Review from Jando S.
1/14/2012
For awhile there, the Indian options in Astoria were looking a tad bleak. Similarly to Mexican joints in the area, many Indian places had simply come and gone. It may be easy to blame the economy, or perhaps a lack of interest, but it was likely both that catapulted the scarcity, and were all likelihood extremely mediocre. Seva, has stood the test of time and like all good restaurants has only gotten better with age. They not only have the best Indian food in the hood, it is some of the tastiest Queens has to offer.
Seva isn't as fancy as it's restaurant neighbors along 30th Avenue, but still far cleaner than most of their divey counterparts in Woodside / Jackson Heights. It's a remarkably simple spot, with a laid back vibe of a cafe and the service of a 4-5 star establishment. The owner and his wife are some of the nicest people I've met and they care tremendously about the quality of the food and it shows.
Over the years, they've done an amazing job at keeping the prices moderate and affordable. Their lunch special (consisting of basmati rice, soup, and meat/veggie entree) still remains at $7.50, which is the same price I paid 4 years ago when I first tried it. The delivery special is at $13.50 comes with all of the above, including dessert and an appetizer. They're one of the only Indian restaurants I know that actually labels a portion of their veggie dishes as "vegan," which considering how hip Astoria is becoming, is no surprise.
I've eaten most everything from top to bottom and virtually everything to have to offer is fantastic. There's a lot of flavor in the food and dare I say without the greasy, overbearingly heavy feeling post-meal time. I give special props for their delightfully creamy palak paneer, their semi-sweet but savory worthy chicken tikka masala, and a masterfully prepared lamb vindaloo that just melts on the tongue. Most of the naan breads taste as fresh as they look, which for all accounts, means the place is doing just fine.
My one knock back then would be that they didn't offer this stuff in buffet fashion like their competition. Granted the food is always freshly prepared and the prices are still reasonable, there is never really a need for a buffet. Some of the best Indian restaurants in Manhattan still offer some type of a lunch special, in unlimited quantities nonetheless. So as of 1.5 years ago, Seva now has a weekend only brunch buffet starting from 12-3pm. Many Astorians and I are now doing our version of a happy dance. (#1)
I don't often give my blessing too quickly when it comes these sorts of places, expecting them to fall down the hatch somewhere while they're on top. 4 years later, I give it nothing but 5 stars top to down.
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(#1) Just like this: http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from Ellenore S.
ASTORIA, NY
1/20/2012
Whether you get their delivery or go to the restaurant, this place rocks! Love to get their Chicken Tikka Masala when I'm carnivorous and ANY of the vegetarian dishes when I'm vegan for the day. I love there rice, and if I could suggest, get the Rasmalai dessert! It is so good. Haven't found any other place that does it the same! The portions are so big you can split an entree with a friend and share an appetizer (Bok Choy Blossoms!). Or, order to go and have two meals in one. Great place. So happy I live so close to it!
Also, the service in the restaurant is great. My water glass was never below half full. Good work, Seva! -
Review from Marika T.
My 200th review!
I love Indian curry and it has been quite a journey to find an Indian restaurant serving great food for affordable dinner prices. Seva is a petite yet wonderful restaurant. It is best come with 2-4 people maximum. My boyfriend and I ordered from the dinner prefix menu ($13.50) which comes with an appetizer, curry, rice, and dessert. For the appetizer, we ordered the chicken samosa and masala crab cakes. Even though the appetizer only comes with one piece, that one piece is decent in size and tasty. Both cooked to perfection and the dips/chutneys complimented the dish well with hints of spiciness, sweetness, and saltiness - distinctive flavors you can only taste with Indian cuisine. We then had the chicken tikka masala (medium heat) and lamb saag. The tikka masala was to die for (so creamy) and the lamb saag was earthy (a little slimy with a touch of rich lamb). I'm a meat girl but I'm dying to try the vegetarian dishes after trying the saag. We also ordered a side of nan to eat the curry and Taj Mahal and Kingfisher (so yes, they do serve alcohol). We finished up the meal with the desserts - gulab jamun (not my favorite - reminded me of a donut soaked in honey and spices) and the kheer (rice pudding). The portion is tiny which is good for me because I'm not a dessert person. Just enough to cleanse my palate. I do wish they had rice with raisins or peas but that's just my personal preference. The staff was so friendly and attentive (we never had to ask for water refills). I love Seva and I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Shea D.
Updated - 2/3/2012
I'm writing this right now with a mouthful of delicious (and spicy!) chicken samosas. I promise not to drool all over this review...well, I'll try not to.
There is nothing bad that I can say about the food. It is delicious, *consistently* delicious, and always nice and hot when it arrives. If you're a heartburn or acid reflux sufferer, they'll make it nice and mild for you, or if on occasion you like to clean out your sinuses (like me), they know how to make it spicy! The food is DELICIOUS. Don't fight me on this.
Next up is their awesome delivery deal that you can order either online or over the phone. Beware their online ordering system however (see the review I'm updating from). I simply call in every time and select the "delivery special," which is $13.50. For that hard earned cash you receive one appetizer, one entree, and the choice of dessert or drink. If you want naan it's a little extra, but the appetizer, entree, and drink are more than enough to satisfy me and can easily feed me 2-3x.
Finally, the delivery times can vary. Upon taking another bite of this delectable chicken samosa, I am reflecting on this current order and I believe it was incredibly fast. Sometimes it can take close to 45 minutes or an hour, but this was 20 minutes or less. Delivery time is the only downside to Seva, but the food is WELL worth the wait.Listed in: Astoria Appreciation (the…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2011
I'll preface this review by saying that the food, when we finally got to try it, was REALLY good.… Read more »
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Review from Anna S.
Astoria, Queens, NY
5/12/2012
Truly excellent Indian food. I love their prix fix options--$13.50 for appetizer, entree, and dessert. I always take food home with me because their portions are enormous. I've never ordered out because I live outside their delivery zone, but the service when you eat there is fantastic. They always keep your water glass well filled, which is essential when eating Indian food. Good job guys!
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Review from Lauren K.
1/20/2012
Seva is my go-to delivery place in Astoria. It's cheap, delicious, and offers extremely fast service.
I've had a few dishes, but I usually order the Chicken Tikka Masala because it is SO good. It's probably the best masala I've ever had-- creamy, thick, and it has an amazing kick!
You can't beat the price fix here-- appetizer, entree and dessert for $14? Amazing. The mango lassi is very good as desserts go too! They have a great lunch special also! -
Review from Nicole D.
New York, NY
1/7/2012
SPICY AS HELL but good! i love their vindaloo and for the LUNCH PRICE why skip this little hidden gem?!
The waiters are VERY FRIENDLY. They brought out some crispy bread with 2 differently sauce. One was mango chutney and the other one was green (forgot) but the waiters explained to us how to eat it.
Ordered mango lassi to accompany with our chicken and lamb vindaloo everything was so good that we had to order our second glass. The waiter warned us that the vindaloo is spicy even if it was medium but we went ahead ordering spicy and we were sweating all the way down our buttocks!
Everything was good except the fact that they serve water in these metal cups. It gave a metal after taste. -
Review from Donna F.
3/4/2012
Hands down, best Indian food I have ever had.
While I don't frequent Astoria that much (being a Brooklyn gal and all), I am beginning to believe my queens-based friends that even though Astoria isn't quite as pretty as Brooklyn, there are some local flavors that are not to be missed (and at better prices).
Now, I love my Indian buffets but the prix-fix dinner at Seva is undoubtedly the best deal for really great Indian food. With an appetizer each (chicken samosa and Masala crab cake--both ridiculously flavorful and the crab cake had a great kick to it), my friend and I knew we had picked the right Sunday night meal. Next came the Baigan Bharta, an unsusal Indian dish of peas, roasted and smashed eggplant,onions and tomatoes that hit just the right spot for me. Along with the interesting Fennel Chicken Curry that brought the fennel flavor out expertly while still maintaining the Indian heat with the curry. As we were loosening our belts and sinking into oblivion, the desert came, I had the perfect Gulab Jamun (honeyed dumplings) which are my personal favorite and after trying every one in the city (and various other towns), I can honestly say they are the best I have ever tasted--it must be the cardamom and rosewater.
For $13.50, a better deal can not be had. Seva has the best food and undoubtedly the best service. Waiters, who waited and answered our many questions, who refilled our waters so we never had less than half a glass at the ready and who let us sit undisturbed, quietly bringing the bill and clearing dishes, even as the place was bursting with waiting customers.
Even more so, I started off this review with a 4 star however, after going over the meal in my mind, remembering the waiter service, remembering the server apologizing that they had only one bathroom when he saw me waiting (so sweet!) and just feeling the satiated feeling in my body an hour later, I cannot possibly give Seva anything but a 5 star review. The Best! -
Review from Jay R.
ASTORIA, NY
12/28/2011
Its very good Indian food, I was very impressed by Seva's quality.
Its also lot better than some of the Indian places in Jackson Heights.
I ordered dinner.The Saag Paneer was very delicious. Navaratan Kurma was very good too but little too sweet. Also tried the Malai Kofta it was yummy as well.
Only reason I am giving 4 start is the food is not spicy I ordered Malai Kofta and Saag Paneer as medium on the spicy scale but I should say its very mild. -
Review from Monica S.
3/19/2012
I know this is slightly ghetto of me, but I feel like when I order indian food it should do me for 2 full meals. Seva, thank you for making that extrmely easy for me. Unfortunately you couldnt stop my fat boyfriend from eating my leftover, but the vindaloo was too spicy for him (no matter how cool he thinks he is). Without having to really think about it, this is easily going to be my go-to indian joint in the hood. Tikka masala was absolutely delicious. Make sure to ask for some naan. Also both soups are delicious..
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Review from H H.
Long Island City, NY
4/11/2012
Overpriced dried out chicken in orange sauce. Indistinguishable from any other delivery Indian. $17 would feed a family of 12 in Delhi for a week and they'd eat better than this.
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Review from Don F.
Astoria, NY
12/27/2011
Damn good Indian food. Much better than the place around the corner from it. Even better, the place just keeps improving. I ate here a couple years back, and was sort of underwhelmed, it was fine but not great. Then recently i ordered delivery..and MAN! this is now probably my second favorite indian food in NYC (next to Curry Leaf in Manhattan). I'm so glad this place is in my neighborhood.
oh the paratha is awesome. -
Review from Ray M.
Long Island City, NY
4/9/2012
Seva is delicious Indian food, best in Astoria for sure. The place itself is right off the corner of 30th ave and 34th st next to Sweet Afton, its small and you can see the entire dining area through the window on the street. They only have 15 or so tables and ive never seen the place less than half full during meal times, this one is worth the wait if your craving indian food. Being a small place you are blasted with smells of curry and spices from before you get into the restaurant, this can be a pro or con depending on your prefence. Ive eaten here 4 times, chicken tikki masala as others have said is outstanding, same with the Korma and lamb Saag.
Now this is my favorite indian resturant but keep in mind ive only eaten at 4 or 5 others so I am not a true expert, def best in Astoria though. Prices are also super reasonable for the high quality, they probably could take this same food and put it in a bigger much fancier place and charge 20% more without an issue.
I had delivery once, showed up pretty quick and of course was tasty. If im going for Indian I dont see any need to try anywhere else.
