Chicago Curry House in the South Loop

Chicago Curry House
899 S. Plymouth Ct.
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone:  (312) 362-9999
curryhouse2008@gmail.com


I first discovered Chicago Curry House via a gift certificate a while back. I remembered it being absolutely delicious, a bit pricey and in the South Loop of Chicago. With those 3 things in mind, we ventured back to Chicago Curry House, hoping to relive a gratifying (but maybe expensive?) experience.

And yes we did.

Surrounded by the luminous city lights and modern condominiums, Chicago Curry House, unfortunately, sits in a downright ugly strip mall. I felt like I was walking through the outdoor hallways of a doctor's outpatient office. The exterior did not proclaim "quality restaurant" at all. If one were to drive by, Chicago Curry House would be passed up as salon or dentist office.

However, never judge a book by its cover, right?

Well, that is absolutely true in this case. The ambiance was somewhat nicer than the past restaurants I've been to, but didn't have the high class or elegance, which is fine if you are looking for a nice casual dinner in the city. Let's put it like this - you can either dress up, or look like a hobo (as I did that night), either way, no one would care. We were greeted and immediately seated upon our arrival. For a Friday night, it wasn't packed but did have pockets of customers throughout the place.

We dove right into appetizers, ordering Chicken Momo - a Nepali item that consists of minced chicken and Nepali spices steamed inside a wheat bun. It was deliciously different from the standard samosa we order. I recommend mixing it with the tamarind sauces and mint chutney usually served with samosa.

Chicken Momo

On to the main course. This time it was a party of 4, so we decided to try multiple curry dishes, one red meat, one chicken AND ALL SPICY. Through my experiences at Indian restaurants in America, I learned that "spicy" is a loose term in menus. That being said, we emphasized to ensure that "spicy" meant what in my mind is - mouth watering, savory, tasty, aromatic, seasoned.

And boy was it spicy! I didn't think they would actually listen, but they did. My friends and I were almost in tears, but they were enjoyable tears. If you don't like spicy, make sure you tell them - because they will listen. We ordered the traditional chicken tikka masala, which had the standard taste. Really, the extra spiciness is what made it more interesting, however if you aren't into spice, then this would be exactly what you expect - boneless white meat in a creamy sauce.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Next, one quick note about the naan.  The overall taste and texture of this naan was the best I've had in Chicago.  Buttery, while being crispy and soft at the same time, this naan was top notch.  The portion size was also fairly large.

Next, I love lamb. Lamb will probably always be my first choice anywhere I go, and I definitely was delighted to enjoy the lamb curry here. Yes, it was spicy. However, the overall taste was exquisite (Note, if you don't like spicy, you can still enjoy it with a more mild taste). The lamb was tender and juicy, filled with cardamom spices and the aroma of onions and tomatoes. I couldn't stop eating...and wanting more. However, with the naan and rice, my stomach was starting to feel overwhelmed. The portion sizes are small, but the richness of the food definitely left me satisfied.

Lamb Curry

However, that didn't mean we were going to pass up dessert. We decided to quell our stomachs with something super sweet, and what's better than Gulab Jamun? Served hot, the taste of sugar sweet bliss was the most perfect end to a delicious meal in a strip mall ;)

Joe's Mango Lassi Review - Overall a very large portion compared to most restaurants. A little tangier than usual, but still pretty good. Definitely helped to quell the spiciness on the tongue.  3.5/5

So What's the Score? (out of 5)
Price: $$  ($14-21 Per Entree)
Service: 4.1
Ambiance: 3.7
Food: 4.1
Overall Rating: 4.0

Tandoor Char House in Lincoln Park

Tandoor Char House

2652 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 327-2652
info@tandoorchicago.com

We have been waiting a long time to go to Tandoor again. Yes again. We came here once before and walked out with grins on our faces and food babies to take home.

So I came here expecting the same experience…

Just as Cumin filled our noses with Indian spices when we walked in, the smell of incense filled our nostrils. It reminded me of my Mom always lighting incense after her long day of cooking. I loved the nostalgia.

Many Indian restaurants carry Bollywood rhythms and or/ classical, instrumental tunes with soft beats.  Tandoor definitely had an eclectic music mix, with tunes such as “Abyss” by Karsh Kale & Anoushka Shankar.   This made the ambiance feel modern, peaceful, and experiential.

We went on a Monday afternoon, so the chatter, clinking glasses and rumbles of a busy restaurant didn’t exist during this experience, only the steady flow of customers picking up their To-go orders (which was quite frequent during our lunch).  The setup required us to walk a couple steps to find our table. I understand why there might be a wait on a busy night because the restaurant space is cozy.

Our waitress was extremely nice and very knowledgeable about the various dishes. As we contemplated our appetizers, she played various roles, including waitress, hostess and bus boy, probably since it wasn’t busy at the time.

We were immediately served with large sized salads that included cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion (rice & salad included with each entrée). This made me actually want more appetizers! The last time I came here, the vegetable samosas were superb, so why try something new? That’s what I thought, but I couldn’t help wonder about those beef samosas. I decided to go outside my norm and try the beef samosas...I ended up wishing I stayed inside my norm. The beef samosas weren’t terrible; it just had too much ground beef and no distinct taste. The crust was still amazing, but after this experience, vegetable samosas are just better in general.

Complimentary Salad Included with Entrees

Beef Samosas

Next up, the chicken karhai. I was expecting an onion-based curry sauce as described in the menu, but it end up being more tomato-based. It was interesting to say the least. I’m usually not a fan of tomato-dominant taste, but this was delicious. It consisted of boneless white meat, green peppers and a couple other vegetables.  We asked for it to be spicy, but it didn’t have too much of a kick.  Next time we’ll ask for extra spicy, or just try something with more heat.

Chicken Karhai

Continuing on my quest to go outside the box, I went with the paratha instead of the usual naan. Paratha is flat unleavened bread, popular across various regions of India. It’s similar to naan, but it’s made with whole wheat flour.  It lacked a certain flavor I’m used to with paratha, so if anything, I would just recommend to order naan.

Onto my favorite parts of the meal – lamb tandoor and dessert.  The lamb tandoor was amazing. It came out in a sizzlin’ plate with green peppers, onions, red peppers and spices. The boneless meat was extremely tender and juicy, and cooked to the right temperature.  I paired with the rice, raita (yogurt) and the curry from chicken karhai. It was food heaven.

Tandoori Lamb Boti Kabob

After trying going outside our norms on the appetizers and bread, we decided to stick with our go-to dessert and order gulab jamun. I can’t say how happy I was – served in a medium-sized martini glass, it combined sweet deliciousness with a hint of classiness.

Gulab Jamun

Overall, my second run of Tandoor proved to be just as good as the first one. I definitely would order different items the next time I go to expand my horizons at this place, but would probably stick with the standard naan and gulab jamun (just because they are delicious here!)

Joe’s Mango Lassi Review- Probably the largest portion size so far, about 12 oz, but it was slightly more tangy than I prefer.  I added a little ice to cool it down, but that’s not an issue at all considering the lack of ice is what delivered the huge portion size.  All in all it was a decent Lassi.  3.5 out of 5.                                                

So what’s the score? (Out of 5)

Price: $$ ($14 -21 per entrée)

Service: 5.0

Ambiance:  3.0

Food: 3.5

Overall Rating: 3.8

Raj Darbar in Lincoln Park

Raj Darbar
2660 N Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
p: 773-348-1010
info@rajdarbar.com


Ok, first off, I admit we decided to try this restaurant because Tandoor was only accepting reservations for the entire night. Look out for that review when I make a reservation for next month.

As we walked in Raj Darbar, the lack of aroma usually associated with Indian restaurants was a bit strange, yet it didn't put a damper on my excitement.

We were seated in a very nice booth and at first glance, the place seemed semi-fancy. However, upon further inspection, it had more of a “basement-turned-restaurant” look and feel. It seemed like the owners' goal was to be an elegant eatery, but then they opted for cheaper property, floor tiling, and décor.

Initially, the service was stupendous. They were quick to take our order and the food arrived in a flash. However, as the crowds gradually filed in, the service ended up being pretty terrible. The wait staff seemed to have good intentions, but they lacked professionalism and it seemed like they were just a bunch of kids working for their parents. Once the room was filled, they stopped being attentive.

Tandoori Chicken

Now onto the important stuff – food! Since my mango lassi partner in crime, Joe, is currently on a no-carb, no-nothing diet, I was pretty much tasked with eating majority of the food. In any case, this would be an ideal situation, however the food (to be totally blunt) was disappointing. We ordered tandoori chicken, which came out pipin' hot on a sizzling plate. The chicken was satisfactory, but nothing that I haven't tasted before. I was hoping my taste buds would be enveloped with alluring spices, but was only left with an average bird on a hot plate.

We paired the chicken with rice and “spicy” vegetable curry (note the quotations on spicy). It consisted of a bland mix of cauliflower, peas, carrots, and potatoes. Lastly, the naan...oh the naan! I never thought naan could actually be bad at a restaurant, but this was kind of...bad. It was strangely chewy and seemed like it was just rewarmed in the microwave. Very disappointing.

Vegetable Curry and Naan

Sounds pathetic right? That's what we thought. We decided to see if there was anything on the menu that could provide some type of redemption. What better way to do that other than to order some dessert! We ordered Ras Malai, which are cheese patties soaked in coconut milk, sprinkled with pistachio and cardamom. It was absolutely delicious. Eating this delectable dessert was the most enjoyable moment out of the entire experience. It lessened the negativity surrounding this basement...er restaurant.

I'll hand off to Joe to discuss the mango lassi, but all in all, the experience was a little less than stellar. With average food and portion sizes, Raj Darbar will most likely survive as a less than notable restaurant, but should be careful as there are other competing Indian establishments right in the neighborhood.

Joe's Mango Lassi Review– Overall, the lassi was pretty good. Iced down to a good temperature and holding a tangy taste, I'd rate it a 3.5 out of 5. It could've been a larger portion and lacked a certain richness that is usually associated with the mango drink.

So what's the score? (Out of 5)
Price: $$ ($12-16 per entree)
Service: 2.0
Ambiance: 2.0
Food: 2.5
Overall Rating: 2.2

Cumin in Wicker Park

Cumin
1414 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
p:  773-342-1414
info@cumin-chicago.com


Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker park is often consumed by the aroma of Indian spices that are hard to ignore and hard to resist. We walked in and our noses were immediately filled with the delicious scents of Indian food. I knew this was going to be promising. 

We were seated and attended to quite immediately, most likely due to the time in which we arrived (6pm on a Friday). Arrive early, because this place starts bringing in the crowds by 6:30pm. The ambiance is very nice, dimly lit and intimate. However, it might be too intimate at times due to the close proximity of the table next to you. Intimacy with a stranger, in that case, might not be preferred.  Overall, it's a great atmosphere for a date or just dinner with your friends. I would recommend them to add more music, as I think their iTunes was on repeat. 

We decided to forgo appetizers during this experience and went straight for the real deal (we were super hungry and wanted to cut to the chase!). We started off with lamb bhuna, a hot and spicy curry, bhindi masala (sauteed okra with cumin seeds and other vegetables) and garlic naan. 

Usually, I don't expect spicy Indian food from restaurants outside Devon street, so I was pleasantly surprised by Cumin's lamb. At the same time, the bhuna had a slightly sweet taste at the tip of your tongue.  The meat was just right and perfectly spiced. The bhindi masala was slightly bland, yet sufficient if you're looking for a side of vegetables. Next time, though, we'll look to try a different vegetable dish.  Garlic naan and rice were cooked to perfection.

As for portion sizes, Cumin's dishes were small-medium.  Compared to other restaurants, the dishes filled us up, but there was barely any food leftover for a second helping the next day.

My partner in food crime, Joe, is a fiend for Mango Lassi, so he will be rating those in all future reviews.  He said that the flavor was great (not too sour, not too sweet, not too tangy), but it was slightly warm and could've used some extra ice cubes.  Since the portion size was slightly small, he had to ration his lassi consumption.

After our satisfying meal, dessert was a must.  We went forward with the gulaab jaamun. It wasn't as sweet as others that I've tried, but it was still very satisfying.  If you're looking for that typically ultra-sweet syrup that comes in the dish, then you might want to opt for another choice.  Personally, I felt it was still a delectable dessert.

Overall, Cumin is a great restaurant and has the potential to be a very authentic choice in Wicker Park.

So what's the score? (Out of 5)
Price: $$
Service: 4
Ambiance: 3.5
Food: 3.5
Overall Rating: 3.7

Introduction & A Little About Myself

Hello everyone! Welcome to my new blog, "Windy City Indian." In this blog, you will find my take on various Indian restaurants across the good ol' city of Chicago. I am concentrating on restaurants outside of Devon Street to focus more on eateries in neighborhoods that don't have Indian influences.

A little bit about me: My parents migrated from Southern India to the States 20+ years ago. I was born and bred in Houston, Texas. I grew up knowing nothing about food other than the spicy goodness of my parents' home-cooked meals.

After college, I moved to Chicago to work in Advertising, and through the years, I noticed the lack of quality Indian dining in Chicago's most popular neighborhoods. Most of the restaurants had bland flavors and I craved the richness of authentic Indian food.

With that in mind, I set out to discover the (in my opinion) best Indian cuisines in Chicago and help create a guide for anyone looking to enjoy good food experiences. You will find at least a new review once a month.