All 459 rated mentions, most helpful first
“I wouldn't mind so much, if their food lived up to it. But it really doesn't. Their biryani was so salty that I had to take a big gulp of water after every bite and had to stop eating it all the way through. I LOVE salt, but this was just botched.”
H3
“If you haven’t been to Dhamaka in a while, go check it out!! They updated the menu again and it’s got some incredibly bold, complex, spicy flavors (which makes sense given that “dhamaka” means “explosion” in Hindi).”
H3
“Food was all very spicy and expensive, but didn’t have much flavor variety. Service was slow and not attentive. Generally I walked away pretty dissatisfied and I’d never go back for what they charge.”
H3
“The food was good - we love and eat Indian all the time and this was among the best I’ve had. The dal and goat curry were standouts.”
H3
“It was totally inedible. Honestly, most of their food was trash.”
H3
“Dhamaka was wildly underwhelming. The food was decent, but the service was so bad as to be embarrassing.”
H3
“Paneer methi. Their housemade paneer is so soft like silken tofu. I’ve never had paneer like it at other restaurants.”
H3
“I enjoyed Dhamaka in the summer when they had the outdoor space but I have to say that the flavor profile just wasn’t for me — like the goat biryani was quite gamey and heavy.”
H3
“I just didn’t like it. It was deafeningly loud, and the service was weird. You have to order everything all at once, so you can’t order an appetizer and then assess from there how you feel.”
H3
“For the record, I loved Dhamaka. Particularly the biryani, which I found flavorful, rich and not at all too salty.”
H3
“Yes. Did not like. And my entree had so much spice in it that it was gritty. Like eating gravel. Not great.”
H3
“I love Indian food but found dhamaka inedible because of the salt level. If you've ever bought a chili relish condiment in a jar (like patak's), every bite was as salty as that.”
H3
“A lot of places are super well rated such as Dhamaka, but I still don’t think they’re that good.”
H3
“Had possibly the worst rendition of champaran in my life, the dish smelt putrid, as well as rancid , gave it benefit out doubt, and the taste matched the odor, off and completely unappetizing it was inedible . The Baingain Bharta was off putting with the main taste being of liquid charcoal.”
H3
“Flavors were average, nothing really stood out. We got the Nalli Biriyani and it was pretty underwhelming – a $75 biriyani that was just average.”
H3
“My meal at Dhamaka tasted like they dumped buckets of garam masala into every dish. No one in my indian family is willing to try it again.”
H3
“Had possibly the worst rendition of champaran in my life, the dish smelt putrid, as well as rancid , gave it benefit out doubt, and the taste matched the odor, off and completely unappetizing it was inedible .”
H3
“Had possibly the worst rendition of champaran in my life, the dish smelt putrid, as well as rancid , gave it benefit out doubt, and the taste matched the odor, off and completely unappetizing it was inedible .”
H3
“Had possibly the worst rendition of champaran in my life, the dish smelt putrid, as well as rancid , gave it benefit out doubt, and the taste matched the odor, off and completely unappetizing it was inedible .”
H3
“For the record, I loved Dhamaka. Particularly the biryani, which I found flavorful, rich and not at all too salty.”
H3
“Personally, I absolutely loved the food here and feel like its such an underrated place.”
H2
“Loved this meal! The crab was definitely the highlight for us followed by goat. Would skip the daal next time. I enjoy Semma a little more but their food is delicious and it’s much easier to get a reservation.”
H2
“Dhamaka- also ditto- but a more casual atmosphere”
H2
“So the Moonrise Bagel x Dhamaka for a chicken Tikka stuffed bagel was legit for $13.”
H2
“Dhamaka spice level is ridiculous - there is almost no place in India that serves food like that. You are definitely allowed to chest thump your scoville level tolerance but calling it Indian food is a disservice to that country and its cuisine.”
H2
“Tbh everything at dhamaka is next level spicy! Def recommend for that”
H2
“Service was outright bad, the food was decent but not special enough to warrant the prices.”
H2
“I liked the food at Dhamaka but ambiance is a 0/10.”
H2
“The crab garlic butter rice dish at Dhamaka is one of my favorite dishes in the city”
H2
“no one goes in thinking they’re going to get a decent dal chawal at Dhamaka.”
H2
“Indian accent was fantastic and way more worth it than dhamaka imo”
H2
“Not worth it!”
H2
“Dhamaka is very disappointing for me, especially as an Indian. The goat neck biryani was the highlight but they discontinued it for some reason. Everything else is not worth the price at all.”
H2
“the best paneer I have eaten this side of the Atlantic.”
H2
“Semma or Dhamaka, they’re atypical and very much worth it.”
H2
“but the moment I tasted that Beef Pepper Fry, I have been going back every two weeks :') I don't get craving for any other meat based dish. It is perfection.”
H2
“Dhamaka - my favorite Indian place to eat if I'm willing to splurge and have friends to dine with, but still affordable. I love the quality of all their dishes, the Champaran Mutton is my favorite.”
H2
“Dhamaka, Gupshup etc are overhyped.”
H2
“Even at Dhamaka, which is ostensibly pulling dishes from across the subcontinent, every curry tastes the same (and they’re all red for some reason).”
H2
“I really liked eating here. Everything is a bit spicy so it’s not for everyone”
H2
“It’s the same owners of Dhamaka which is just as ridiculously spicy because frankly the chefs don’t know shit about North Indian food.”
H2
“I personally was very disappointed. I had a few good dishes but there were several that were either totally bland or WAY oversalted. And everything was much too oily”
H2
“Everything is aggressively spicy for the sake of being spicy. It’s more of an ordeal than a meal.”
H2
“Dhamaka from the same restaurant group is a bit more unique and adventurous, IMO, but the portions are smaller for the price point.”
H2
“I was somewhat underwhelmed with Dhamaka. The food was solid, but the service was rushed and cold.”
H2
“Overrated: Dhamaka (but paneer is made in house and the best I’ve had in the city)”
H2
“Still a great meal, and fairly spicy!”
H2
“I agree. The venue sucks and it’s weird to be eating a 100+ meal in that setting.”
H2
“The beef pepper fry at Dhamaka. Go with God my friend.”
H2
“The sister restaurant, Dhamaka, on the other hand was 10/10, one of my fav restaurants in the city. The lamb shank biryani is the best I've eaten”
H2