The slab looks dense enough to break Hannibal Lecter's jaw. We don't usually start with dessert, but everything at Ada is bleep-backwards. A large plate supports three harsh, tiny round elements, so far apart they remind you of a planetarium lesson in intergalactic distances. Ada is easily the most expensive Indian restaurant ever to open in New York - nearly twice as costly as delightful Dawat next door.
Some dishes almost justify the price.
Breads like nan brushed with mint and black pepper are sublime. But Ada won't settle down. It tossed an early menu that boasted of seven courses where only three could be counted. Your sea bass might come with green sauce one night, brown the next. Not with waiters who hover while you try to eat, wander when you need them and toss the bowl of rice you requested on the table without a spoon.