Food Fight: Tiffin New York vs. Seva

Ruh roh! Looks like neighborhood Indian fave Seva has a serious competitor on its hands. Back in August, Tiffin New York quietly opened its doors on Crescent and 34th avenue, launching its handy-dandy online delivery service. Word on the street is that the place is now doing gangbusters in business and the food, which is "homestyle" and completely trans fat-free, is mighty tasty, to boot. So what's the big difference? Let's take a closer look:

First of all, Tiffin New York isn't really a restaurant at all. The storefront is open and there are few stools and a bar, but unlike Seva's cozy atmosphere, dining in here isn't really the best bet. Seva's downfall, on the other hand, is the consistently slow, albeit friendly service. Instead, Tiffin New York's real focus is a web-only, professional delivery service that mimics the Tiffin "lunch box" culture of Mumbai (in a nutshell, there's an entire workforce of tiffinwala delivery guys who ferry hot, homemade lunches to and from office workers in the city, which doesn't really sound that much different than what we do here in the states but it is.) The Tiffin box includes two main dishes, dal, roti, pickles and rice — all under $10. There's a regular delivery/takeout a la cart menu for us Astorians, too, with a $15 minimum delivery order.




When it comes the quality of the food, Seva and Tiffin New York are neck in neck. Both are delicious, authentic, provide vegan/vegetarian options and the prices are definitely recession-friendly. You can't go wrong with the Chicken Tikki Masala or the Byrini at either place, although Tiffin New York's dishes are incredibly light in that they aren't as oily or don't weigh you down to the point there you just want to take a nap after the meal like other Indian restaurants do (Seva included). Tiffin New York also has yummy Kathi rolls, Bhartha and black-eyed beans—you don't typically find THAT on any old takeout menu! Then again, Seva's ace in the hole is its tasty appetizers—especially the Bok Choy Crispy Curls.

The really cool thing about Tiffin New York is that they pretty much deliver anywhere: Brooklyn, Manhattan and even New Jersey. Plus, you can order and pay for an entire week's worth of meals (bulk, baby!) online if you fancy. Although Seva has a similar customized, online account ordering system, it certainly doesn't offer a rotating menu of dishes. However, Seva's $12 prix fixe dinner deal is pretty awesome and they do have a fantastic, handy clock on the site that counts down the earliest delivery/pickup time.

If it came to a bonafide throwdown between the two, it'd be a seriously tough call. The quality and efficiency of Tiffin New York's delivery wins hands down, so if you're looking to nosh at home without feeling weighed down, it's the way to go. Seva's cool, comfy vibe and dishes are equally great for a dining out experience—and you can always use its proximity to grab an after-dinner drink next door at Sweet Afton.


Which do you prefer? Tell us!

Seva Indian Restaurant
30-07 34th St.
Astoria, NY 11102
(718) 626-4440
www.sevaindianrestaurant.com

Tiffin New York
3411 Crescent St
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 606-1008
www.tiffinnewyork.com