"The restaurant team who owns places like Rahi and Adda opened this new Indian restaurant in Essex Market that focuses on regional specialties you may not have seen elsewhere in New York City. Try Dhamaka’s version of chicken pulao served directly in a pressure cooker, or the tender lamb kidneys and testicles in a fragrant onion-tomato stew and pao shimmering with ghee on the side, and finish your meal with a rich, souffle-like chhena poda for dessert. Don’t let the fact that Dhamaka is located in Essex Market on the Lower East Side stop you from planning a big night here. The dim-lit dining area and covered patio are comfortable and moody enough to make the meal feel like it’s happening somewhere further away from tourists visiting flower stalls and vegan cheese sellers." - Hannah Albertine
