The year was 2006. I was reckless, lying to my parents about horrible things like needing Plan B or Monistat so they would wire me money that I would later use for cigarettes or booze. I was a shell of myself, but damn, cigarettes were expensive! $11.00 a pack! And we smokers in NYC are complaining...
Anyway, there was this sketchy yellow-lit little "Indian" joint. If you sat down to eat you'd have to take 3 showers and dry clean your clothing because the curry scent would never leave. So we didn't go for the food. We went for the contraband. Cartons of Benson & Hedges for $45.00 each. It was a miracle. Far better than the counterfeit Afghani Marlboros our friends were trying to peddle to us. It took a while for me to be able to buy the cartons from these guys, but once they were accustomed to me entering the establishment flanked by a gang of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian dudes they relented.
The biryani is decent, but not worth the cloak of curry fumes you'll leave with. A carton of cigarettes for $45.00? Totally worth it.