The Bottom Line
The oft-heard refrain is that it's not as good as it used to be. Really? I was there. I think in the last 10 years the quality of New York's Indian restaurants overall has improved, leading to greater expectations. The Jackson Heights isn't the best Indian ever, but you go because the food is delicious, it's dependable and clean, and the Desi scene on the weekends is a lot of fun.
Pros
- Delicious Indian cuisine
- Easily accessible by subway
- Can accommodate a large group
Cons
- Cash only
- Difficult to find parking
- Often quite noisy
Description
- Jackson Diner Address - 37-47 74th St., Jackson Heights, Queens. Located just north of Roosevelt Ave.
- Phone - 718-672-1232
- Hours - 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Subway - The Jackson Diner is a short walk north from the Roosevelt Ave. station (E, F, 7, G, R, V).
- Don't let the name fool you! "Diner" came from its former digs in what had been a greasy spoon.
- The lunch buffet is a good value ($9). Make sure to have a cool custard for dessert.
Guide Review - Restaurant Review: Jackson Diner
The curries are filling yet relatively light, not floating in a sea of ghee, the clarified butter that is the base of much Indian cooking. I recommend whole heartily the chicken tikka and the aloe gobi. Scan the menu carefully. There are a few uncommon delights tucked away. The mustard greens, oh the mustard greens. They're pungent and flavorful, and make me stand up at attention and then applaud.
Dinner for two at the Jackson Diner with appetizers and beer or mango lassis will run about $50, but you can spend much less and still walk out very pleased.
The lunchtime buffets are cheaper, and the Jackson Diner's buffets are well-stocked and popular. They're better than the typical Indian restaurant steam table, but definitely the food is better if you order a la carte.
