In August, 2024, Ambassador’s Clubhouse opened in London, starting a wave of uber trendy Indian restaurants that has traveled across the pond and into New York. Created by JKS, the restaurant group behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana and founded by siblings Jyotin, Karam, and Sunaina Sethi, it’s the team’s first NYC concept and already it’s taken the city by storm.
Since opening in February this year, Ambassador’s Clubhouse has drawn in an eclectic crowd of fans and newbies alike. So much so, it’s almost impossible to get a table at this hip NoMad eatery. But keep the dream alive, and find out why the Punjabi restaurant has been wooing diners for the last couple of years.
Embrace Indian Opulence to the Max
Gilded pressed-tin ceilings stretch overhead, richly patterned carpet runs underfoot, and tiger-print drapery hangs alongside the paisley-upholstered banquettes. At the heart of it all sits the bar, a commanding oval mahogany island, presided over by artist Mike Langley’s large-scale scalloped mural, each detail etched with the restaurant’s personal crest.
The design concept embraces a maximalist aesthetic, giving diners a chance to dip into the idea behind Northern India’s abandoned party mansions. It also pays homage to the owners’ grandparents’ holiday home in Dalhousie, but with the whimsical addition of childhood memories.
Dark navy walls showcase carefully curated artwork bridging old and new India. The restaurant’s crest also makes a splash across interiors and plates alike, with silver-clad platters, chutney bowls, and spoons reinforcing the opulence at every turn. With two stories to explore, guests can dip into the illuminated ground-level space. Or, feel how the vibe shifts entirely on the other floor, where the setting feels more private and intimate, closer to the hang-out rooms tucked beyond the dining hall in an old school Indian mansion.
Start With a Drink at Ambassador’s Clubhouse
No visit to Ambassador’s Clubhouse is complete without the Patiala Peg, otherwise known as a generous pour of whisky traditionally measured by the space between the top of the index and base of the little fingers. Ambassador’s version riffs on the idea by turning it into a Scotch old-fashioned featuring Johnnie Walker Black Label and Afghani saffron bitters, served over ice.
It doesn’t simply arrive. It is delivered with drama. Ask for one and a server approaches with a 5-liter branded bottle and a glass. You are invited to mark your own pour, and cheekier guests have been known to throw up metal horns in order to span the full glass. The restaurant makes good on the promise with a full dram.
Beyond the Peg, the cocktail list features classic tipples as well, but with a Punjabi flair. The Masala Margarita swaps in mezcal and lands with a serious green chili kick, and comes as a single drink or the 1.5-liter party size. Cool down with the Indian lager Kingfisher, either solo or in the Gunners Shandy, a low-proof cocktail spiked with lemonade, ginger, and saffron.
Don’t skip the lassi menu either. There’s a classic mango version, but also the Rose Lassie and the Salted Masala Lassie, which comprises green chili, cilantro, ginger, black salt, and Greek yogurt.
A Punjabi Feast, from Delhi to NoMad
Delhi chef Karan Mittal leads the kitchen, drawing on Northern India’s street chaat traditions and royal kitchen influences. The food moves between the roadside stall and the royal palace with equal confidence. Like many Indian restaurants, most dishes are designed to share.
Start small with chaat, papads, and the “bitings” menu. The list is long, but standouts include the Achari Duck Chaat Mathi with fenugreek crackers and the Shahi Patiala Seafood Tower with crab bhurji cheela, shrimp nargisi kofta, and chutney scallops. We also enjoyed the stringy and satisfying Chili Cheese Pakode, which comes in with a sneaky heat.
Moving on to the sigri and tawa menu (charcoal grill and iron skillet), the slider-like Kid Goat Shami Bun Kebab showcases a braised goat and lentil patty with fried quail’s eggs. Along the same vein, the vegetarian Mooli Bun Kebab offered a delightful daikon tikki.
The tandoor dishes are exceptional across the board, each delivering smoke and depth while keeping the meat tender. The Butter Chicken Tandoori Chops, the signature from the London location, reinvent the classic with chicken charred in the tandoor and dressed with the curry, doubling down on smoke and butter. The Salmon Tikka demonstrates the kitchen’s range, giving diners a power-packed garlic spice blend with hints of tanginess and a grilled char on the outside that gives way to tender, juicy fish beneath.
The real spirit of the feast lives in the earlier courses, so order generously there. The mains arrive in smaller portions and round out the meal rather than anchor it, save for the large-format platters, meant to serve two to four people.
Also try the Masaledar Lamb Biryani with saffron, caramelized carrots, sultanas, and almonds. Add on the Achari Karahi Chicken (karahi being an Indian wok), which is drier than the typical cream-based curries, but, thanks to bright Meyer lemon, pickled onions, and stuffed shishito peppers, it offers a refreshing, slightly acidic counterpoint that cuts through the richer dishes with ease.
Don’t Skip the Breads or Dessert
The bread deserves a moment all on its own. The Butter Naan comes with a pool of butter collecting at the base of the basket. The Cheese Kulcha is a denser stuffed bread packed with spices and cheese. And then there’s the Masala Lachha Paratha, a whole wheat bread cooked on a tawa rather than the tandoor, which gives it a flakier, lighter consistency.
For dessert, the Gur Malai Toast brings the distinct sweetness of jaggery (an unrefined sugar made of palm sap). But if looking to cap the meal with the royal treatment, the Taran Taran Jalebi is a swirl of pistachio soft serve plated on an ornate silver stand scattered with dried rose petals. It’s a fittingly royal close to an evening that feels like anything but an ordinary dinner out.
Visit Ambassador’s Clubhouse every day from 5 p.m. to midnight, and for brunch Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. 1245 Broadway, NoMad, ambassadorsclubhouse.com
