From the outside, Malai Marke could be just another vaguely dubious restaurant on the twinkle-lit East Sixth Street of a decade ago, before that Curry Row stronghold of bedspread-bedecked Indian restaurants gave way to purveyors of macrobiotic Japanese bento boxes and high-end tequila. The restaurant’s name (pronounced Muh-LYE Mar-KAY) means, literally, with cream, as used when ordering tea,...
Nestled in among the old-school, $9.95 prix-fixe Indian joints on 6th St. is this chic spot by restaurateur Shiva Natarajan. who brings Goa and Punjabi specialties to the area. This means the chili pepper lights and party decorations are out, and hanging copper bowls and open kitchen are in. From that kitchen, plates piled high with grilled kebas, including a vegan kebab, chicken tikka, and...