Nestled in a quiet, intimate space on 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Amma offers delicious Indian food that is leaps ahead of normal Indian fare. The peach colored room is warm and the waiters have the personality to match. They are informative, polite and eager to please.
Start off with an order of bhel puri, crunchy and full of flavor. Its lightness is a great appetizer to start off your meal but without filling you up too much. The trio of samosas, with peas, chicken and potatoes, is also a good starter, and easy to share.
My favorite dish at Amma is the Tandoori Prawns. They are jumbo shrimp from Sri Lanka served with mint rice. The dish is fresh and full of flavor. The basil chicken, also grilled in the tandoor, is fabulous, served with lemon rice and tomato chutney. If you like lamb, the Apricot stuffed lamb is an absolute must. The fillets are stuffed with a fennel-apricot stuffing, a light sauce and lemon rice. Do not be thwarted by the higher price tags here – entrees with meat range from $18- $28. The non- traditional menu is packed with non traditional flavor.
Finish off the meal with a sweet end- rich and tasty gulab jamun balls or a lighter, milky kulfi.
There are two tasting menus for $50, a vegetarian and a meat option, and the helpful and patient staff is happy to explain each item to diners.
