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Essence of India
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
4601 Lincoln Ave(between Eastwood Ave & Wilson Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood
(773) 506-0002
- Nearest Transit:
-
Western-Brown (Brown Line)
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
Rockwell (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sun 12 pm - 2:30 pm
Fri 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 11:30 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Rashmi P. said: "Chicago residents might have other local favorite joints when it comes to Indo-Pakistani cuisine. For me, however, Sabri Nehari is reminiscent to authentic Indo-Pakistani dishes we grew up withm and miss in this country. We left Sabri…" read more »
161 reviews for Essence of India
Review Highlights
"I especially love the Butter Chicken and the Keema Nan."
(in 23 reviews)
"...chicken was perfect and the murg tikka masala was delicious."
(in 7 reviews)
"We shared a plate of basmati rice and garlic naan."
(in 12 reviews)
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161 reviews in English
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Review from Courtney A.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
I would give Essence of India 5 stars in a heartbeat if I could get past the cost. It is our absolute favorite Indian restaurant in Chicago. Murg tikka masala, add mushrooms. Garlic naan. Samosas. Mmm. God. I always, always plan to eat my leftovers for lunch the next day. And I always, always eat them around 2AM instead.
The prices are also higher than any other Indian joint I've encountered in the year we've lived here. $14 and NO RICE?? WHA? Sadly, the other Indian places in our neighborhood can't compete, so I guess it's worth it. We keep paying. -
Review from Marc W.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
Should be a 3.5 review....come one yelp give us half stars! Essence would have been an easy 4 star restaurant if the following happened.
1. My server seemed angry at the world. Not sure what his problem is, but he brought it to work today.
2. Why don't we just assume that I want rice with my dish. Last time I checked rice won't break the bank.
Other than that, this is a clean restaurant in a great neighborhood that stands up to any of the other Indian options you will find in the city.
If you have any suggestions for 5 star Indian let me know.
VItals:
1 Beer
Garlic Naan
Vegetable Samosa
Malai Kofta
White Rice
$27.50 -
Review from Helena B.
1/3/2012
Primo location on Lincoln, lovely interior - a wonderful start before we even sat down.
We started with samosas - quite good. I recommend using the sauces they bring out - the green and red ones are perfect complements.
Next Round: I went with the tandoori catfish (Why? When have you had tandoori catfish? Never, my friend! This dish sparked a conversation as to whether catfish were native to North America and I was, in fact, dining on a true global fusion dish). Anyway, tasty. I like fish. If you don't, you... probably won't like this dish. In that case, I recommend what Fiance got - the butter chicken.
Butter chicken? I know - I thought it sounded a little dumb, but it is FANTASTIC. The sauce was amazing! Seriously, I dumped it all over my dish and then lapped up the remainder with naan. This is, no contest, what I will be ordering next time I'm here. Don't let the color of the sauce fool you - it's bright red and kind of looks like it would taste like liquid fire, but it's pleasantly sweet. Do it.
We both washed our meals down with Indian beers. Go local, y'all.Listed in: Livin' La Vida Lincoln
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Review from Jaime G.
12/19/2011 2 photos
Been a long time since I had some Indian food so I happend to find this place. And I love the Essence of India. The Butter Chicken blew me away. Think of a great mild Thai curry - add yogurt and the typical red spice that you see in many Indian dishes. Add chicken and basmati rice and it's a home run.
I also tried the tandoori chicken salad (just because I was jonesing for some tandoori chicken but wasn't too hungry. It was excellent too.
Service is good here but come early. This place in a Friday / Saturday night seems to get packed quickly. Prices are a little high esp as compared to Devon street and stay away from the Indian chi tea (awful).
All in all, great place to get your Indian fix without going to Devon. -
Review from Minna A.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like it! But I'm biased because I love restaurant that allow you to personalize your own level of spiciness.
I love that everything is attune with their "essence of India" theme, with their list of imported Indian lagers and their wall art and decor. (The salt and pepper shakers are cute!)
We had the garlic samosas, butter chicken and the lamb palak--plenty of food to share with some left over! The spicy lamb and savory butter chicken were pretty memorable, but I think my favorite thing... was the free dipping sauces. The cilantro/mint one that tastes kind of like chimmichurri is to DIE for. -
Review from Arlene A.
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
A completely enjoyable experience all the way around. We were with a group of 10, and honestly I can't think of a better way to dine. We got to try a multitude of dishes, all delicious.
Butter Chicken? yes please! If you enjoy rice dishes, may I recommend the Biriyani with chicken? Also available with other meats or none if that's the way you roll.
Reasonably priced, and proof that a place doesn't have to be super fancy to provide you with a wonderful dining experience. -
Review from Heather H.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! That would be for the Mango Spice Martini. Outrageously addictive too, I want a pitcher of 'em, or better yet, can I swim in a pool of this stuff?! I'd drown happy.
Left the 5th star off because I really don't think they need to charge so much. I get it, you have to pay rent on a Lincoln/Wilson corner, but $11 for the vegetable dishes? Boo.
However, I will say that I really enjoy the spices that they put in the food and they seemed to fix the portion sizing, it was getting a bit skimpy a few years back. Happy that seems to have been taken care of.
I'm a sucker for their Chana Masala, which I have to say is my favorite in Chicago. It's my go-to dish I always order, and nothing on Devon can compare to this one. I get it with the saffron rice. Sure, that turns it into a $20 dish, but I will say that yes, it's worth it. Plus, you'll have leftovers. Shared with the Baigan Bharta (smoked, pureed eggplant with tomato and onion), and the Onion Kulcha (it's oniony happiness!) it was really the perfect meal.
While it's not cheap, and not a fan of the television that's in their now, it is good Indian eats in Lincoln Square. And check out their cocktails; you won't be sorry.Listed in: Love in the Square
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Review from Dan P.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
The food is really good... maybe not super authentic but really fucking good. Then I got a job here, and realized why... everything has heavy whipping cream in it... making it super rich. But who cares when its this damn good!
Tikka Masal, Butter Chicken and Saag Chaman, keema naan, and lamb biryani.... are the best options.
I gained too much weight on my delivery shifts!
I still love you Satya! -
Review from Emily K.
Chicago, IL
10/6/2011
I was a total skeptic before I actually ate here. Indian food outside of Devon tends to be overpriced and not great tasting. But now I'm a believer!
Food is great and service is prompt. It's more formal than most Indian places (not stuffy but you tend to see people on dates rather than families coming in for meals) and more expensive than what you'll find on Devon but I like to think of it as a convenience charge for not having to take 2 buses north.
They charge extra for rice, which I hate so much. So much. Do you really expect me to eat my butter chicken with a spoon or something? It's like charging extra for tortillas when you order fajitas. The cost to you is negligible and it's basically a part of the meal anyway.
I can rant about Indian restaurants charging for rice all day.
Anyway, you'll pay more to eat here than you would at most places on Devon but the food is comparable and (for me, at least) the location is easier to get to. I've done takeout too and the food was ready quickly and packaged nicely to get home. -
Review from Gabe M.
Chicago, IL
12/20/2011
Hmm, I thought it was ok. We got delivery and the butter chicken was 3/4 gravy. That was a little disappointing considering 2 entrees with tip was $42. The ghobi was not bad. But after eating at many indian restaurants I was a bit disappointed.
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Review from Brian C.
Chicago, IL
10/19/2011
I really have enjoyed every meal I've had here.
One night after having eaten here months ago my girlfriend and I were craving Indian food and looking for delivery.
THEY NOW DELIVER! Awesome... but we were hesitant.
Would the food be as good delivered as it was when we had it in the restaurant?
The answer was a pleasant surprise as the the food was deliver fast and very fresh tasting!
The chicken tandori is incredible, the mutter paneer was wonderful and the nan was perfect! I would highly recommend this gem -
Review from Stacey R.
Chicago, IL
12/10/2011
Good salad, papadum and chutneys. Decent service. Loud and cramped restaurant. Overcooked entree. I requested spicy, and I got what can only be considered mild, at best. Not impressed.
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Review from Dennis L.
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love Indian food! Thus, I wanted to give Essence of India a shot due to it proximity to where I live.
We visited for dinner on a Saturday evening. The atmosphere was very comfortable and homey. My wife and I were constantly drawn to the one TV in the restaurant that was showing Indian Music Videos and Bollywood advertisements. We order the vegetable samosas, garlic naan, peshwari naan, tandoori chicken, and murg tikka masala. Yes, it was way too much food for two people (especially with the 2 order of naan), but I wanted to try a few different things. Besides...we were celebrating my birthday a day late. The samosas were excellent, and I love the garlic naan. I did not really care for the peshwari naan, which sounded like it was going to be amazing. The tandoori chicken was perfect and the murg tikka masala was delicious.
Overall, a solid dining experience with good service and wonderful food. -
Review from Maggie M.
Chicago, IL
9/1/2011
I am a picky eater. I have lived practically my whole life on grilled cheese and cheez-its. Sad I know. About 4 years ago I moved to Chicago and decided that this was the time in my life to go Vegan. I tried that for about a year it was OK. I can't imagine not being able to eat Indian food again. Apparently a lot of their food includes heavy butter or ghee. Being so close to all of the Indian food on Devon doesn't scare this place at all. My husband and I usually make Essence a "treat" for ourselves since it can get pretty pricey but we always have enough left over for the next day's lunch/dinner. GO HERE
...I dream of the Malai Ka Kofta...you need to try it (medium or spicy) -
Review from Cynthia F.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2012
Love this place! The food is great, reasonably priced for the most part, and the staff is friendly. I've had the chicken tandoori and the murg tikka, and both have been excellent. The papadum, naan, and rice are delicious as well. The best part so far? The gulab jamun for desert! I also like that they have Indian beers as well as other alcoholic options. Try this place - you will not be disappointed!
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Review from Jamie H.
11/5/2011
I've been here two times now, and I'm not totally crazy about it. It's decent food, just nothing great or special. Both times I started with the fried veggie dish for an appetizer, it was good...but it was disappointing there wasn't really any sort of "healthier" alternative (ie not fried) for an app. The nan wasn't too bad, I should have gotten it with butter or garlic, plain it was very plain. It was hot and fresh, though, so that's a plus. I got one of specials the chicken salad (very crazy, Indian, I know), it was only $8 and had a TON of chicken on it...so that is a huge plus. But, all the other "real" Indian dishes have just been OK. Staff is nice enough and it's close, but I likely would pick somewhere else next time I go out.
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Review from K W.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
It's tough to go wrong here. I love the coriander (or is that mint?) chutney and pickled vegetables (who knew that pickled vegetables could be so dang tasty?!). The restaurant is cozy and the service is always very good. My absolute favorite is the butter chicken, although the palak paneer is really great too, and so is the rogan josh, and well it's tough to go wrong at Essence. I do wish they'd improve their wine selection and invest in a cooler to keep the red wine at the proper temperature.
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Review from Pam D.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
My boyfriend and I spent a Saturday wandering around Lincoln Square and decided to have dinner at Essence.
We were seated right away in the corner, granted by the window, but had to squeeze through other patrons that ignored my three requests to get by. We could hear everything being said at both tables and one table really needed to take their conversation home or tone it down.
The waiter was fine, but needs to learn how to smile, or make people feel more welcome. My boyfriend was undecided between two dishes and ask for a recommendation and got nothing. He decided on a lamb dish, myself a vegetarian dish. We also got the vegetarian sampler, a rice dish, garlic naan and mango lassis.
We were brought a plata of papadum and various chutneys and their papadums are amazing with the cilantro mint chutney, or I was really hungry! The mango lassis were good, but came in tall, narrow glasses with ice so not worth it.
The food was okay. The Kashmiri rice, which we've had someplace else, was a bit dry, small and just not that good. Our entree dishes were fine. The garlic naan was awful! It was cold, had garlic only in the middle and the garlic was probably the jarred stuff. Was very difficult to eat.
We had lots of leftovers which is fine, but when we got home I realized that they didn't give us our leftover naan. That's half an order that they threw away! And I could have fixed it at home and made it decent. And we were never asked if we wanted dessert, which we might have.... We were handed our bill with out leftovers.
I brought my leftovers to work and the container opened up during transit, fine, but when I went to reclose the lid the container broke!
We will never go back! -
Review from Rose d.
Chicago, IL
10/26/2011
Not only is the food great but they are the perfect choice for catering. We had Essence of India cater our event for 100 people. They were accommodating and helpful in choosing a menu to fit our budget. The delivery and set up were timely. The overall experience was very positive and professional and of course the food is awesome.
If you're worried some people may find Indian food too spicy, don't worry. Essence made everything mild for us, at our request, and the group we hosted from across North America, liked it very much. Even people who thought Indian would be too spicy enjoyed it. -
Review from Heather R.
Chicago, IL
5/29/2011
When you're dining at Essence of India, it's almost like you've been transported to India for your meal.
The decor consists of bright colored fabrics and lots of brass lamps and figurines. The pungent aroma of Indian spices consumes the restaurant and gets you excited about your meal.
Me and two other girl friends had dinner there in the late fall and were all pleased with our selection. The Tandoori Chicken and the Tikki Misala are two of my classic Indian dishes to enjoy and both were nothing short of amazing. The naan bread was also cooked to perfection, but beware of the lemony pepper sauce jardiniere looking sauce they bring to the table. It is disgusting and the taste takes forever to get rid of.
There are lots of choices and it's fairly affordable. I'd be as bold to say that it's my favorite Indian restaurant in the city. It's definitely worth the trip to Lincoln Square and conveniently near the Western brown line stop. -
Review from Molly O.
12/14/2010
Chicken essence. Lamb essence. Vegetable essence. Which menu section of "essence" do we choose from? Ha.
On a rainy Saturday, two friends and I popped in at 7:30 and were able to easily get a table (place was about half empty). We decided to share, so we ordered the dal turka, butter chicken, and rogan josh, along with a side of rice and two orders of naan (one order too many. you get a lot of naan!). Before our food came out, complementary papadum came out to our table, along with a little chutney sampler; probably my favorite parts of the meal. Mmm, lentily crispiness. The mint and cilantro chutney is fantastic. I wasn't a fan of the tamarind one, or the other, which tasted like eating a lemon dredged through salt. Nast.
Butter chicken: I don't understand the fuss. The chicken nor the sauce was outstanding...
Dal Turka: bland city. meh. also, not spicy in the least.
Rogan Josh: ding ding! we have a winner! Wonderfully tender lamb.
We spent about $20/each, which included a beer each as well. Not bad. Definitely had leftovers. The space is really comfortable, service was excellent, and I love being able to just walk in and not have to wait! Though I wasn't totally thrilled, I would definitely go back to Essence to try some other things from the menu. -
Review from dallas h.
10/4/2010
You know those essence waters that has a hit of fruitiness but ultimately no real flavor? That is what Essence of India was to real Indian food, a hint of what could possibly be Indian food, but essentially no real flavor. All in all a massive disappointment, unfortunately.
I went in on a weekend so they had a lunch buffet available. Having frequented many Indian buffets lately I was accustomed to standards such as chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, and lamb curry being available, however at Essence of India these very popular items were missing from the line up. The veggie samosas looked like little potato pancakes instead of a stuffed pastry. They were hard, from perhaps being out too long, and flavorless. The naan was burned. The one highlight was the tandoori chicken which was moist and flavorful.
Ultimately the tandoori chicken couldn't even save this meal. I paid and left and went to Devon Avenue to satisfy my Indian craving as this was a let down.Listed in: You may want to reconsider.
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Review from Scott C.
3/22/2011
In Lincoln Square, Essence of India tends to be our go-to place for Indian food when we are in the mood for it. The food is consistently flavorful and there is a hearty amount in dish - we rarely leave without taking leftovers with us. The restaurant is simple but clean and the service is consistent.
Most of the menu allows you to select your heat (or spice) level so you are not in danger of having really hot food unless you do it to yourself. I've found that the medium level spice is spicy enough but if I'm feeling adventurous I'll have it a bit hotter. My favorite dish is chana masala which is rich with spices and flavor. It's always outstanding with the freshly made nan. The papadum is tasty along with the dipping sauces that are available too as an appetizer.
The liquor selection is a bit limited but there are a variety of wines and a small beer selection that compliments the meals. A nice cold beer is very good with the spicy dishes at the restaurant. -
Review from David Z.
11/22/2010
Another local gem that I hadn't visited in the 3+ years I have lived in Lincoln Square. Man, I suck.
Food: I had the butter chicken. Although it came out in a weird neon red-orange color, I wasn't fazed.....I ate the whole thing despite the fact that I could have made two or three meals of it. Whoops. I guess that is all you need to know about how good the food tasted. Although some may consider the price a little high (think $10-$20), if you don't eat it all like a gluttonus pig, you will have enough for at least one additional meal.
Drinks: They have some cool Indian beers that I have never heard of before. They're pretty decent, and cheap to boot. Can't argue with that! It's not the selection of say, Fiddlehead Cafe (across the street), but they don't pretend to be a bar with a huge beer list, so it's all good.
Service: Waters filled promptly, quick ordering and plate clearing, and a very short wait for the food to come out. Sweet. Seriously, every time I go to an Indian place it seems like the service is a million times better than regular Joe-American place X.
Ambiance: I liked the interior a lot. It was dark in there, but not too dark. It's a little small inside but we still had no wait for a party of five.
Misc: I used the men's bathroom and noticed that the toilet is literally right up against the wall. I cannot imagine anyone actually having to sit on that thing. How would that work? You'd have to side-saddle it or something. I only had to pee so I didn't have to figure it out for myself, thankfully.
All in all, I really enjoyed this place, and will definitely be back.Listed in: Essential Lincoln…
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Review from Vanessa R.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2010
For over 2 years we have walked by this place and said, "We should definitely come here sometime." And this weekend we finally made it out to Essence of India after living in the neighborhood for a couple of years - shame on us! However, I now fear that I will frequently be returning, and I will be heavier and poorer for it.
We came here on a Saturday night with some friends and the atmosphere was very pleasant. The dining area is cozy (in a good way, not a packed way) - great for a group or for a dinner date for two - and the interior features a very tasteful typical Indian décor. Also, good views of the heart of Lincoln Square.
I first tried the complementary crispy cracker-like item (someone please enlighten me - I have no idea what it's called) and 3 sauces to dip it in. The green sauce is AMAZING - such a unique blend of sweet/sour/spicy goodness.
For dinner, I opted for one of their spiciest options, the chicken vindaloo. It was very flavorful and the sauce had just the right amount spice that I was looking for (I could have handled something spicier, however this was just right -- not overly spiced where I could no longer taste the flavor). The portion size was okay, although the potatoes were more plentiful than the chicken. I enjoyed the really neat kettle-type dishes the meals were presented in (yes, I pay attention to these things.)
Oh, and the naan, my God the naan. This was probably my favorite part of the meal. Perhaps because I'm a carb addict. It was so good that we had to order several baskets. While there are a variety of flavors, we ordered the plain naan and it was warm, crispy, goodness. It was great to dip in your food or to devour on its own.
The service was fast and friendly, and not at all overbearing.
So why not 5 stars?
* Pricy for Indian food - without any drinks & smallish-portions, expect to pay $20+ per person;
* Adding to the price, surprisingly the rice is not included with the meal. However, the rice you do order is good and plentiful (two sides of rice sufficed for 5 people). Based on our experience and all of the reviews on here, I think they should consider including the rice with the meals as the dishes are already pricey.
The prices however will not keep me away; I will definitely be back. I can't wait until it gets warm out and we get to enjoy some tasty Indian food on their outdoor patio. Kicking myself for waiting so long to try this place! -
Review from Te D.
Chicago, IL
1/25/2011
I'm on a quest to find the best Indian food in Chicago... so far, Standard India Restaurant by Belmont is winning.
Essence of India was kinda pricey. The waiters were average (you know, they took our order and brought our food- the usual). The food was more filling than I expected but maybe that's because I had half a croissant and starbucks before I came. The ambiance is cozy if not a little crowded.
Hmm, can you tell I'm a little disenchanted with this place?
I ordered Vegetable Biriyani, and my friend ordered an okra dish. The okra dish was perfect. The rice, on the other hand, was kinda dry and not spicy enough.
The naan was pretty good and the water was delicious!
At the end of the day, I'd rather take my money to S.I.R's buffet for the same price ($13) way more food and better flavor.
Sorry, Essence, I was rooting for ya' -
Review from Chrissy P.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2011
As a former resident of the UK I can say I know my curry. I know it well. I miss curry takeaway being as easy as ordering a pizza here in the States but whenever I have a serious taste for some spice I head to Essence of India. Whether I order off the menu or come here for the buffet on the weekends I always leave happy. Prices are very reasonable and the location is great if you're going to a movie at the Davis.
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Review from Katie B.
Chicago, IL
9/26/2010
The naan was fantastic, some of the best I've ever had.
I was disappointed in the lack of heat. You really have to beg them to turn it up!
The dishes are delishes, but too expensive. I think next time I crave Indian I'll stick to Devon. -
Review from edward l.
Chicago, IL
4/10/2011
Few all you can eat Indian places can compare to the holy grail of Gaylords, but it was a warm afternoon and some samosas and tandoori chicken seemed like a good idea.
You pass Essence of India all the time on your way to Gene's or Mertz's and always think to yourself I should keep this place in mind, but rarely commit it to memory. Then, the clouds part and you're walking down Lincoln and all-you-can-eat beckons your name.
The food is plentiful and spiced quite nicely, if someone conservatively. The samosas were plump and paired especially well with the zesty cilantro chutney. The tandoori chicken was a highlight, tangy and super moist.
I was disappointed to not see Saab paneer and the meat curries were served in an oily broth rather than a rich curry sauce. Some of the vegetables curiously close to Green Giant especially in respect to the carrots. I was perhaps most disappointed by the lack of tapioca pudding as a dessert, som drying I take to be a staple at all you can eat. In it's place was a tart, vaguely warm yogurt and fruit cocktail "custard" that warranted a bite but no more.
Essence of India, for 10 bucks you provide value and decent food and the definite advantage of being close, but for better all you can eat, I will still be trekking up north. -
Review from Josh S.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2011
Essence of India is a good Indian restaurant that consistently meets your expectations. Its prime location (in Lincoln Square, across the street from a movie theater, near the Brown line and near plenty of bars) ensures that its always busy, but I've never needed a reservation. The service is always excellent.
Essence of India serve fantastic samosas; they're the one thing I order every time. Besides that, I try to order new items on the menu. Thankfully, Essence will serve you food that is as spicy as you order it. I normally ask for the Rogan Josh, very hot. The lamb is beautifully tender and the deep, flavorful sauce transforms even the blandest rice into a a delicious meal.
The food is reasonably priced. Expect to pay between 11-15 for an entree. Rice and naan come in wide varieties and are solid. Parking is easy and they have limited wine, beer, and cocktail menus. -
Review from Alicia M.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2011
The samosas are amaaaaaazing!
We've had Essence of India delivered and we've also eaten in the restaurant. It's so good no matter how you have it! It's also super affordable. Hubby and I always order the samosas, naan, and the butter chicken. It's more than enough to fill you up and you can't beat a night out with quality food/service under $50! We had that plus wine and beer and it was still under $50 including tip.
Everyone keeps talking about how pricey it is, but I completely disagree if you compare it to other places on Lincoln Ave. -
Review from Rui Carlos d.
Chicago, IL
10/30/2011
The decor is great...that's about it. Finding a parking space in the neighborhood might be tough, even in the pay-to park areas, where I lost a space I was heading towards first by some less than considerate driver. The service is less than friendly, except for the busboy, (who happened to not be South Asian). The busboy greeted my girlfriend and me and showed us to our table in the corner, however, we had to get by two tables of people whose chairs were close to each other, and asked them both to please scoot their chairs in so we could get to our table. The waiter was stiff and rather unpleasant to have around while he took our order or checked up on us every now and again. Their papadums were the best part of the whole meal, the mint chutney was great and the mango pickles were lovely. After finishing my first glass, I had to ask to have my water refilled, after it sat at the edge of the table for about five minutes. The most egregious moment was when I tasted the garlic naan, which came to us, cold and damp, hardly edible at all. I took a bite and left it to take home and put in the oven to reheat it. But they didn't even have the courtesy to put it in our leftovers bag. Their Kashmir rice was greasy and nowhere as good as we've had it at another Indian restaurant (The Little India on Bryn Mawr). Their mango lassi comes in small glasses (not very tall and not very wide round, maybe 6 oz.). Their serving sizes were small. We ordered their vegetable appetizers (which my girlfriend had to ask if they were actually vegetarian, as she saw something that was questionable; the waiter informed us they were in a very harsh damage control sort of way, after we had asked the friendly busboy if he knew). I ordered lamb saag (spicy), however, I had a less than pleasant moment in the restroom as their food made me immediately sick. (And other than the giant ornamental sink, the toilet seat wobbled from side to side, and the state of the men's room was perfunctory, not very elegant at all, not like the main dining area). Overall, other than the garlic naan, the food was good, but the whole experience left me feeling rotten about having dinner there. We're not going back, even if someone else pays the bill. Thanks, but no thanks!
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Review from Cindy S.
Chicago, IL
9/3/2011
I can't believe I have lived in Lincoln Square 4 years and it took me this long to get to this restaurant! Especially since it has always been recommended to me by my brother in law, who is Pakistani and loved this place when he was still living in the city. It should also be said that it has been around since 2004, which in this city, definitely says something.
Tonight we suddenly had a taste for Indian food and after checking out the menu online, (great website by the way) we ordered the Murg Tikka Masala and the Lamb Vindaloo, along with some basmati rice and naan. After hustling it home in the rain, we hunkered down with our German beers and Indian food. The food was amazing. And I will say, the short time that we were in the restaurant to pick our food up, it was a very clean, well decorated restaurant that I would love to eat in next time. They had a well stocked bar and several wines on display as well. My husband and I split everything and were stuffed and very happy with our choice. We will definitely add it into our rotation of local restaurants. -
Review from Aurore L.
6/2/2010
Once upon a time, my gals and I were gathering once a week for food, booze and TV shows.
And gossip. LOTS of gossip.
Then, life happened. Winter settled down, Isa dislocated her shoulder, Mimi had a massive job interview to prepare, Monica and Jen - papers to write, and me, well, I was freer than I had been in years but left alone with my gourmet dinners, my bottles of wine, and Netflix.
You can shed a tear.
After 6 months of this regimen, we decided that it was enough.
Essence of India came up to spicy up our first get together of the year.
And you know what?!?!?!
The guys were invited......
Not totally a four star in my books (a tad too expensive, a vindaloo dish not-so-spicy, a forgetful waitress) but since the menu is expansive and the naans delicious, I round it up. No BYOB, but fairly priced wine and beer (and a nice cocktail list), busy on a Friday night but not overtly so, no fixed gratuity for groups, easy parking. If you have vegetarians in your life Indian is the best option out there. And when you also have a spice fiend who couldn't handle the heat in your life she can easily find mild dishes to indulge with the rest of the group.
Winner.
Finally, I cannot end this review without mentioning our new ecological cause, born in a moment of drunken exhilaration. I invite all of you to embrace it, without question please:
"Maple trees are animals too. Maple Syrup is Murder"
Order your tee-shirt NOW. -
Review from Allison S.
Chicago, IL
8/9/2011
So so so good! I love Indian food, but rarely have a chance to eat it - a lot of my friends are skeptical. I had 2 friends with me willing to head here, and they did not regret it. The food is super spicy, very filling and yummy. We got vegetable samosas (highly recommend), lamb vindaloo, Murg Tikka Masala, and another lamb plate with vegetables and saffron rice. We all shared and mixed the flavors. We cant wait to plan our next trip here.
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Review from Vanessa U.
Chicago, IL
7/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
My Momma had just arrived in Chicago for a week-long visit, and after attempting (and failing, thanks to unexpectedly locked doors) to show her the Old Town School, we decided we were hungry but we didn't know what for... I don't know Lincoln Square too well, but it seemed like the majority of the places were serving upscale bar food, and we were hoping for something different. Ah ha, Essence of India!
One major plus for them: they had a patio. I LOVE a patio. I will eat/drink just about anywhere if they have a patio. Thankfully for us, the food was awesome!
We started with vegetable samosas, and something that was brought to the table (although I couldn't tell you exactly what it was) involving a think crunchy cracker/bread, and various topping sauces. All of it was really great, although one of the toppings (it looked like spiced olives?) was really spicy and sent me into something of a fit. Mum ordered a dish with spinach and shrimp, and liked it, but said it was a little too salty. I ordered shahi paneer and loved it, although maybe I shouldn't have asked for it "extra spicy"? I was a little flushed by the time we finished. We shared a plate of basmati rice and garlic naan.
I really enjoyed this experience, and I thought the food was good (although I have had better Indian food here in Chicago), the winning combination for me is tasty food and a PATIO! I would like to return and try some different dishes. -
Review from Erik N.
West Lafayette, IN
3/1/2011
This place is good- but not great.
It is a good choice if you live in the Lincoln Square area but if you live closer to Devon id go to some of those Indian places first.. This one is definitely better than the other 2-3 in the immediate square area though.
Ive ate a good number of their meals here and my favorite is a spicy rendition of their chicken tikka murg, it is incredible (if I was rating that dish alone, it would be 4,5 stars but the rest of their menu is lacking and a bit pricey) -
Review from Jessica S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/20/2011
Service is phenomenal. Samosas are the size of a baby. Food is excellent. Prices are appropriate for the quality of food, while not terribly high. This is for a special night near Lincoln Square.
1 Previous Review:
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3/27/2011
Amazing food! They make huge samosas and the staff are very pleasant.
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Review from Sarah B.
Chicago, IL
4/21/2010
Yes, it is Americanized, yes, it is expensive. It is also more convenient than Devon for a Southern Uptown girl. Also the meat is less creepy than the the mystery meat you may find in more authentic restaurant's dishes. Yes, I am a white girl from Nebraska; get off my case.
I have not eaten in the restaurant. I have had delivery once and take out another. The first occasion was delivery and the food came hot and fast (heh). My Samosas were a little dried out but everything else was fine. I asked for spicy and really got spicy. Love that. The second occasion was take out. The guy on the phone asked for my phone number and this must have brought up previous orders because he asked if I wanted everything spicy this time, too. That was kinda nice.
I will have to eat in sometime and check out the atmosphere. The staff seemed friendly enough.Listed in: Desi Delights
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Review from jennifer p.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2011
Two things:
1. We were served undercooked tandoori chicken (on two separate occasions)
2. They recently installed a flat screen television in the dining room that plays graphic music videos-- everything from violence to sex. NOT a family friendly experience.
Will not return.
