Fittingly, this East Village newcomer gets some glitz from pieces of mirror shimmering in the ceiling, and walls of multicolored, mirror-studded cloth in the restaurant and bar. In a room of its own, it has a modern, loungy ambiance in pastels which is atypical of its neighbors on Sixth Street's curry central. The food veers away from the sameness of the neighborhood too, taking chances with the likes of sliced eggplant stuffed with coconut shrimp, and dumpakht, a stew baked with a lid of pastry.
Service is unhurried and solicitous.
Waiters speaking in hushed tones make sure the silver water glasses stay filled, brush crumbs from the table between courses, and clear plates so quietly, the softly playing sitar music remains undisturbed. The songs of the Banjara are filled with mystery, we are told. The big mystery of Banjara, however is why it is so empty on our visits. But then, it's only a few weeks old. Waiters are justly proud of their dumpakht.