(Sadly, Sapphire just closed on December 31, 2022.)

Sapphire Cuisines of India on the Upper West Side is close enough to the Vivian Beaumont Theater to grab a bite before attending a show. We did just that before seeing Mike Birbiglia in his one-man show.

My dining partner noticed some small batch bourbons and ordered Old Fashions for us made with Clyde Mays, an Alabama-style whiskey ($18) that we sipped while topping the crispy flatbread papadum with the two sauces.

I’d recommend the Lasuni Gobi ($9), their cauliflower florets batter-fried in a garlic sauce and their fried onion fritters ($9) made using a spiced gram flour batter.   

Also good is the tender occasional bone-in baby goat biryani ($28), cooked in a sealed pot with aromatic spices and basmati rice ($7) with green peas.

I so enjoyed laughing with Mike Birbiglia during his hilarious tales about life, death and a highly chlorinated YMCA pool. I’d recommend that, too.

Sapphire Cuisines of India
Upper West Side
2014 Broadway,
New York, NY 10023
(212) 245-4444
sapphire2014.com