Remember what I said in my last review that New York City is chock full of healthy restaurants, cafes, and eateries? Well the city is also home to every ethnic cuisine known to man. 


Inday, an eatery located in the Flatiron district, is a good blending of the two concepts, because it is an Indian restaurant specializing in food that is as good for you as it is delicious. With a focus on plant-based, mindful eating, Inday offers a 100% gluten-free menu that is predominately dairy-free as well. With that peace of mind in place, diners can dive in to the Chipotle-style cuisine, designing custom bowls bursting with flavor. 



I visited Inday for a pre-show dinner, since it was a few short blocks from my hotel. Located in a busy, but not oppressively touristy part of time, it was a perfect stop that allowed for hailing a cab to Lincoln Center for an evening performance by American Ballet Theater. The restaurant was a allowed my mom and I to grab food and get a quick reprieve from the business of the city. Oh, and gluten-free, vegan waffles-for-dinner? That’s totally a thing here.

What’s cool about Inday is that the whole spread is gluten-free, vegan friendly, and made from scratch. The restaurant is Chipotle-style in the sense that you design your bowl from the bottom up, customizing to your tastes.

Pre-made suggestions are provided on the menu, but everything is customized to your tastes so feel free to be picky and let the staff know what you want in or out of your bowl. Other menu options include a dosa waffle, karma cup, assorted beverages and a variety of dessert options. The only dairy-containing items are the yogurt sauce and ghee (for the karma cup, but it can be made vegan).

For my bowl, I ordered the riced cauliflower as a base. This is all the rage in grain-free paleo circles, and I wanted to try it for myself. I debated between the chicken and the turkey but because the latter was out, I chose the chicken by default. As vegetable toppings I chose bok choy, pickled cucumbers, herbs, and vegetable slaw (hidden in this picture). 


The chicken was delicious, chargrilled and spicy without being too heated. The other vegetable toppings were fresh and flavorful, with my favorite being the vegetable slaw which was an unexpected surprise as I typically am not much of a slaw fan. The cauliflower was an interesting culinary experience though, and I think the verdict is still out as to if I am a fan. Texturally it is a bit mushier than rice, and being a vegetable, it’s grain-free and filling. As a newbie, I liked the novelty of the “not rice” but I probably would opt for rice next time out of familiarity. 

Because I knew I wanted to eat around the menu a bit, I also ordered a dosa waffle, which is made with a fermented basmati rice and lentil batter. The waffles and irons are dedicated gluten-free and vegan, and can be dressed up with chutneys and other toppings. I chose the tomato chutney. 

The waffle itself was excellent, crispy, airy, and light. It was slathered with spicy tomato chutney, which added a savory flavor and sprinkled with fresh herbs. It definitely would not hold me over as a full meal but it was perfect to split with my mom in addition to our bowls. Waffles are such a rare treat for gluten-free, dairy-free eaters, and this untraditional presentation of the breakfast fare impressed me. 

Disclaimer: This review is based upon the information I have at the time of the review and does not reflect changes in ingredients or availability of items. Please contact the restaurant directly for up-to-date information and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I was not compensated for this review and it is a reflection of my personal opinion.