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Category: Indian
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West LoopClinton (Pink, Green)
Tue-Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Veerasway is a very hip restaurant on on the Near West side of Chicago, due west of Halsted. That specific block of Randolph is very cool and adds to the retro hipness of Veerasway.
I went there with my family over the weekend and we basically murdered the menu. Lets just say i was expecting numerous "to-go" boxes in our fridge by the end of the night. However i was pleasantly surprised by the size of each dish. We enjoyed 3 appetizers and 3 entrees and a basket of delicious warm Nan avec olive oil.
Appetizers
Lamb Seekh Kabob: Delicious, simple, small, don't forget to eat with dank indian sauce it comes with
Shrimp Cachoombar: 4 pieces of shrimp, over 10 bucks, simple taste... avoid unless shrimp enthusiast
Crabcakes: Just tastes like a really good crab cake, small, not very "indian" tasting. However I still suggest them
Entrees
*Lamb Rogan Josh: Superb taste, comes in a small bowl, suggest with Naan. Its hard to mess this one up
*Tamarind-date chicken kabobs: 2nd only to the Lamb Rogan Josh... tender juicy chicken with a crispy sweet glazed exterior, MUST HAVE
Saag Aloo: I thought it would suck because there is no meat in it but I have to say it was delicious. Spicy, soup like concoction, with vegetables most notably and deliciously Spinach.
~~~~ Entree's were great, small portions but you get filled up quick. Good date environment or family environment. There were many indian families with 8 or more people so...
Oh and BEER of course
BEER and INDIAN FOOD IS A NECESSITY...(plus water)
If your going to an ethnic restaurant that serves imported beer you have to delve
*Kingfisher (india) The worst of the 3 but still pretty damn good. Doesnt come in a giant bottle like the other two so you have to kep em coming if your getting down
Taj Mahal(really?) Great beer, just order it
Flying Horse(india) top tier, best of the best, rich lager fully flavored
Reasons undeserving of 5 stars
- small portions but nothing over $20 on the menu
- when i order Naan at Indian restaurants i usually get a flipping basketful... my family of four had to split one measly piece, wtf. Still really good
BOTTOM LINE
If you can get past the small portions you will surely enjoy this hip full flavored Indian restaurant... just order as much as your wallet will allow
This place is really yummy! Our waitress, Poeta was incredibly informative and helped us to navigate the vegan offerings here. First of all (and sadly) the naan and the samosas are not vegan. However, the deliciousness of what we did order made up for this.
We had:
-The Kale (simple, salty, scrumptious)
- Baigan Bharta (excellent texture and great flavor)
-Rajma Channa (spicy and addictive)
Awesome service, yummy (albeit limited) vegan selections and a nice "crisp" ambiance.
I had a coupon for here, so gave it a whirl. Food was pretty good. Though I kept thinking I could get slightly better food at Hema's for half the price. The naan was pretty good, and had some good flavors. It's nice you can get it with olive oil instead of ghee.
Service was pretty friendly, though I wonder why they bother giving each table a carafe of water if the staff keeps filling your glass.
Decor is pretty stark, kind of like a contempo-sushi place, in my mind. Not your typical South Asian style.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Veerasway. It's quite the outlier from the traditional Indian restaurant. I loved the simple and relaxing decor. I felt like I was having a bamboo-esque picnic. Our server was Caucasian unlike most Indian restaurants where the staff is usually, well, Indian. I see it as a sign of progress. The best of course was the Indo-American cuisine.
Here are my recommendations:
- hot bollywood lollipops
- malabar crabcakes
- green papaya and ripe mango salad
- tamarind grilled steak
- ANY of their signature cocktails
If you see Veerasway at a street fest, the food they serve doesn't do them justice.
Their menu is way too extensive. They should get rid of all of the subpar items and narrow it down to the few key well-executed items. I was not that impressed with the bindi chaat fry as it was nothing more than thin little slivers of okra, overcooked to a bland crisp. I wouldn't order it again.
Was not feeling the naan stuffed with cream cheese, either. It sounded interesting at first, but then I thought, "It tastes exactly like what it is - naan filled with cream cheese. Probably errs more on the side of culinary uninnovation!"
The spiced brownie dessert thing was also a bit disappointing. I was interested in the idea of chocolate met with Indian spices, but the brownie lacked any distinct chocolate flavor...it had a bit of a processed taste, kind of like a Little Debbie brownie loaded up with coriander and chile. The vanilla ice cream on top also just tasted like sugar.
To this restaurant's credit, I did really enjoy the spring mutter paneer. I found the sauce to be just the right amount of spiciness and richness, and the pea sprouts and fresh, non-overcooked peas went really well with it. The only thing I would change about it was the size of the paneer...they were way too large, with only 3-4 big cubes of paneer in the whole dish.
So that's a 1 out of 4. There's probably a 4 out of 4 hidden in there somewhere...I suppose I'd give it another try.
Hmmmm...more like 3.5 stars, but rounding up since I'm feeling extra nice today.
Veerasway has been on my list to try forever and I finally got there by taking advantage of a recent Groupon purchase. We had 8:30pm reservations on a Friday night and when we arrived the host pointed towards the bar and told us it would just be 5 minutes. 25 minutes later (sigh) we were still drinking at the bar and wondering why we hadn't been seated at one of the empty tables...and then we finally got our wish.
As my hubby raved about his Shankar Sangria drink I sipped on a (just OK) glass of vin du lac Riesling, but couldn't get enough of the complimentary chips and 3 dips on the table. At our waitresss's suggestion we started with an order of the bindi chaat fry. We really liked it, but I couldn't help thinking that it would have been better as a side than an appetizer. We also split a samosa, which was one of the better samosas I've had.
By now hubby had downed 2 Shankar Sangrias and had moved on to a very strong Bengall Tiger - someone was in for a fun night! ;) For our entrees we ordered the spring mutter paneer and tamarind-date chicken kabobs. I liked the spring muter paneer better than my husband (he wasn't a fan), but did find it a bit too tomatoey for my taste. The tamarind-date chicken kabobs were good, but I was too full (too many chips & dip!) to enjoy much of them. Oh, and I can't forget the butter naan. I love naan, but I've had better at Klay Oven.
Our meal came to $75 total (actually $40 after I used the $35 Groupon), which I found to be pretty reasonable for the amount of food and drinks we ordered. The meal didn't blow us away, but I'm glad I finally got around to trying it.
I started with a cocktail - "Bollywood Rehab." At $10.75, I thought, this had better be good. It was. I had 2. When we arrived there were also "chips and dip" on the tables - crackers with 3 kinds of chutney. I went with a bunch of people and shared a few dishes. Here's the rundown:
Veggie Samosas - pretty good. Spicy!
Chicken Tikka Masala - a little disappointing. I've had better.
Spring Mutter Paneer - very good.
Tandoor Roasted Chicken - excellent! This was my favorite dish. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. Really nice flavors.
Masoor lentils - also excellent. Spicy.
Saag Aloo - good. Creamy comfort food.
I enjoyed the pretty and simple decor and the service was very good. The only downside was how expensive the bill ended up being. I suppose I didn't need 2 Bollywood rehabs...
Veerasway is amazing. My husband and I went with our Groupon (sat next to two other tables redeeming theirs) and we enjoyed so many things: the great deal from Groupon, our server Joshua, the fusion food, the atmosphere, and the drinks.
Our server really made the experience for us. I never had Indian food prior to this experience, and I was surprised and relieved by our server's willingness to adjust the spiciness of any dish for me. Spicy and hot foods make me nervous because things that may seem mildly spicy to others are usually fire alarm hot for me. I asked a lot of questions and Joshua provided excellent suggestions and offered to tailor anything to meet my needs. He was so friendly and informative.
My favorite dishes were the Lamb Rogan, chicory coffee, and the brownie dessert. Amazing! The flavors were so intense and I enjoyed savoring each dish to really absorb what I was eating. Everything was presented perfectly. My husband enjoyed a special shrimp appetizer (too hot for me), the mushroom and goat cheese naan breads (we had a complimentary one sent to our table by the chef), and his traditional chicken dish.
Overall, it was a true dining experience from start to finish. The place is crazy crowded and popular, especially after just being on check please, so go early and make a reservation. The only time we could get in with several days advance reservation was 5:30pm!
YIP YIP for groupon, 8 dollars a person for the following...
Samosa- Lovely. Perfect amount of spice. We gobbled this baby right up.
Bindi chhat fry- Uhhhhh... it tasted like a pile of salt. I wanted to like it. The chef said it wasn't sodium it was acidity. I am not sure if our batch was maybe more acidic than others... because I find it hard to believe others could handle that amount of acidity (which really just tasted like salt to both of us). We sent it back though, and they took it off the tab which was super nice. +1!
Scallop appetizer- I loved it. I wish we could have had 20 of the scallops and that's it. The scallop was big and juicy and I loved the seasoning.
Rogan Josh- I often order rogan josh when I go to various indian restaurants on devon... so I had an idea of what it usually tastes like. This rogan josh was good....but it was SWEET. It tasted like kheer. Kind of strange. I could only eat a little of it because it felt like dessert. Really, really sweet. A little disturbing actually.
Saag aloo- It was good, probably my favorite, but again, it was very non-traditional (which isn't a bad thing really)... the saag was whole leaf instead of chopped, I liked the sauce, but it was more like a curry than the usual saag dishes are.
The staff is really nice, a definite plus, but I wasn't too nutso about the food.
Went on a Wednesday night and the place was hopping! I came 30 minutes early for my reservation and was seated immediately. I loved the ambiance of the place-- Nice loungy indo-american music playing in the background, minimalist yet comfortable dining room. My only complaint about the dining room is that they are trying to fit too many tables in such a small space. Felt a bit cramped.
On to the food-- my friend ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, which came out impossibly tender and nicely spiced, served with Basmati rice. The portion size was enough for one, or for two to share. I had the burger. I know, what's wrong with this guy-- ordering a burger at an indian restaurant-- I was interested to see their take on it. It was served kabob style, wrapped in flatbread, with a zesty sauce and seemingly housemade pickles. It was quite nice. Although next time, I would order something a little more traditional...
For bevvies, we each had two english beers (Boddington's Cream Ale for him, Fullers London Pride for me). The perfect compliment to an indian meal.
My suggestions for the owner / gripes: For heaven's sake, lower the price on the beers! $9 each for beer from a can is very excessive. Also, I would recommend removing one of the banquette tables from each side of the dining room. There just isnt enough room to maneuver around the other diners without sticking your arse in their face. Lastly, provide a drinks menu with the specials of the house.. We saw lots of interesting cocktails coming out of the bar and had no idea what they were.
$71 for two entrees and four beers total from a can was a bit excessive, but I would certainly go back for the food.
I first tried Veerasway when they had a booth at the Bucktown Arts Festival and it was delish, so when Groupon had a deal, I was super stoked.
My husband and I decided to use our Groupon to treat ourselves to a mini-anniversary dinner on a Sunday night. I made reservations a few days before and got an email confirmation and a reminder email confirmation on the day-of. Two email confirmations? It struck me as something that a restaurant that was all about service would do. Cool.
We got there a little earlier than our reservation and were seated a few minutes later, sharing a table with a few other couples. That's fine, but the couple who got there after us who didn't have a reservation got their own personal table. Not a huge deal, though. What *was* more irritating was that no server came to where we sat for a good 20 minutes. it was only when we caught the attention of the host was when he went ahead and took our entire order. And that couple who got seated at their own table after us? They were served and finished by the time we got our food.
We found out later that they were short staffed that night so our host, who was running around like crazy, was wearing our server hat as well. I've worked in the service industry, so I understand how it is. But, really, it would have helped if they explained beforehand what the deal was instead of us trying to make eye contact with every server who was near. If I knew the situation, I wouldn't have felt ignored when we first arrived.
Our food came out in a pretty timely manner once we ordered, so that we nice. But, we had to ask to get the dips for our area, we didn't get the water carafe that everyone else did, and we were shorted one rice for our two entree orders.
Overall, the food was good, but I could get dishes priced for less that I deem just as delicious on Devon. The service was not impressive, but I understand that we might have hit a bad, understaffed time. Despite that understanding, it being the first time there, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth and we won't likely be back.
For others, maybe you should go on a week night when it's less busy and the restaurant seems less overwhelmed.
No purism for me, I can get behind fusion restaurants, and Veerasway is one of the better ones in the city. The purists, though, probably won't be as impressed by the supposedly "In Tradition" section of the menu. This, I suspect, will be partly because they add some distinctly gourmet tastes to traditional dishes. Their fusion dishes take the best parts of Indian food (the spice combinations and creamy sauces) and leave out the worst (the dry meat). The tamarind chicken kabobs stay tender, for example. They've also got a great mango sauce for the poppadoms.
The staff are efficient and helpful. Our server recommended the meringue tart, and I'll always love her for it. The tart in itself is a reason to try out the place. The atmosphere is modern and mildly energetic, good for groups and more adventurous outings, as opposed to the quiet and intimate ones.
So typical of so many new restaurants in Chicago: concept over execution. Who is tasting the food here? Better yet, who is making it? In the rush to be clever, someone forgot, you know, CARE: complex spicing patterns have been replaced by single, overwhelming notes--like the preponderance of mustard in the aloo paneer, an overwhelming amount of pepper in the samosa--and by salt, lots and lots of salt. The naan was undercooked, doughy; the papaya and mango in a salad under-ripe and tasteless.
Of the six dishes we ordered, only the bindi chaat fry, with its nice melding of crunchy textures (stir fried okra and onions) and herbal/tangy (cilantro) notes, stood out; I'll confess that this version was better than the one I had at Rasika, a much higher rated restaurant in D.C.
Two guesses: 1) lots of reviews, like this one, will pop up now that the Groupon for this restaurant has been dispersed (hey, that's why we went); 2) that Groupon ain't gonna help this restaurant--only better cooking will.
Shocking, right?
Din-din here last Thursday night.....yep with the Groupon....probably wouldn't do it any other way :)
We were late for our rezzie.....but they were very accommodating and we only had to wait appx 15 min at the bar until our table was ready. Ordered a wine and a beer at the bar....and damn it was a generous pour....generous enough to last me my whole meal....which, if you know me, pretty much never happens. The place was jam packed.....I mean people standing on top of each other packed.....I've only been here for lunch one time before....and it was d-e-a-d dead....so I was surprised to see it this hoppin'.....but I'm going to guess that it had a lot to do with that magic Groupon....
Food
Papadams & Dipping Sauces: Free for the table....I do like their little play on chips and dip.....papadams were good.....but obviously not fresh.....they left a little bit of a gummy taste in my mouth. Dipping sauces were yum-o.....but I don't like that they try to take them away from you when they bring out your entrees....
Samosas: Nice, big and actually pretty spicy......happy!
Chicken Tikka Masala: This is one of my favorite Indian dishes if done correctly....and it was here....yay! We got mixed meat (dark and white).....flavors were good....nice amount of spice....and not oily or greasy...(thank you!). Portion size was pretty normal for Indian restaurants......although for $15 I think they could have thrown in a little more chicken and a little less sauce.
Spring Muttar Paneer: Again....great execution of this dish.....the peas tasted super fresh and the sauce was boss! Paneer was nice....again would have liked more of that....and they can def lose the sprouts as garnish....they just got in my way and added nothing to the dish.
Nan: We got a butter nan and a garlic nan....I thought they were fresh and chewy....not as chewy as I would have liked but overall done well.
Service
We had great service from everyone.....like I said they were nice and accommodating about us being late.....the bartender was attentive and quick even with a bar full of people.....and our server was super nice....knowledgeable and friendly.....overall.....5 stars on service!
Ambiance
Sleek...modern cool space....nice low lighting and nice loungy music.
Overall
I really had a pretty fab experience here....from the customer service and friendliness of the staff to the nicely executed food. I have been to India numerous times & eaten at a ton of Indian spots in the city.....Veerasway did an excellent job.....but I'm only giving it 3 stars because of the price. For.....1 beer....1 glass of wine.....2 samosas....1 Chicken Tikka Masala.....1 Muttar Paneer and 2 pieces of Nan......appx $75 (including tax & tip)......pretty spendy for Indian food.....fancy or not....thank god for the groupon!
For the most part we enjoyed our dinner here.The naan and sikh kebab was just OK. The benghan bharta tasted like tomato sauce. The other four main dishes were fantastic (tandoori, tika masala, sag paneer, spicy peas) and the rice. The pickles were quite interesting and a nice surprise from the chef. Very happy about the pickles. The cocktails were yummy too. They ran out of our beer choices. The biggest disappointment is that they turned on the lights at 10 pm when we were in the middle of dinner. Their staff needs to be trained properly.
So so. I had a coupon for this place, but overall found that it tried a little too hard and the flavors were contrived and a little too fussy. I wasn't in love with any of the naans and found the vegetarian menu a little limited.
It's pretty clear that their target audience is rich white folks (nothing shocking in this neighborhood) but I don't think that means you need to dumb down potentially great fusion food to a very basic level. Rather than layering tasty spices, I found most of what we tried was either garlicy or spicy. For me, a one note wonder like that doesn't keep the palate wanting to come back.
The decor is nice enough and it's great to be able to sit outside and eat...but the service was a little lackadaisical...water was slow to come; the order wasn't exactly right; and our server was often absent...
Our experience:
Atmosphere - soothing sights, loud noise level
Service - passive aggressive hostess/waitress, accommodating manager
Drinks - delicious mango lassi with a coconut twist
Food - too salty for human consumption, happily and surprisingly spicy (too bad we couldn't eat it!)
Price - slightly more expensive than traditional Indian place, the price for casual contemporary
From what I've read of their yelp reviews, Veerasway has consistently ill-accommidating service but the food is all over the place! For some it was too bland, for others too salty, for some no spice, for others too spicy. I don't get it...I guess you have to judge for yourself. We bought two groupons, so we'll be back, against better judgement. I'll update the review after the second go.
I'm not a Indian food connoisseur, but I thought their food was delicious!
The dining room at Veerasway is not very big, but there are tables around the sides and tables in the middle and they also have a very small outside seating in the front. The decor is very minimalist and modern which promotes the Modern Indian food theme at Veerasway.
I ordered the ginger-cucumber fizz and my friend ordered the bollywood rehab for drinks. A word of caution, do not order the ginger-cucumber fizz unless you really enjoy the taste of ginger. I wanted a refreshing drink, but didn't really care for the ginger taste, so I ended up switching drinks with my friend. The bollywood rehab is tasty, but is definitely is a bit sweet so needless to say, I didn't order another drink.
The food on the other hand is ummm, ummm, tasty! Just like how Mexican restaurants serve chips and salsa, Veerasway serves their version of it with 3 different types of dipping sauces - a great way to get the taste buds going! Sometimes the best way to sample food is to share so that's exactly what we did! My friend and I ended up sharing the tamarind-date chicken kabobs and salmon cucumber & turmeric-dill broth with a side of olive oil and sea salt naan. The tamarind chicken was moist and the caramelized cippollini onions were to die for. The salmon was also very well cooked and the broth had just a hint of heat so you feel the warmth at the back of your mouth. The naan was soft, warm, and well prepared.
I would highly recommend Veersaway to anyone who enjoys Indian food or is new to it as there are many items on their menu that is not intimidating for a novice. The waitstaff was nice and not overwhelming where they were on top of you all the time.
A good experience and will be back soon!
nice ambiance. I am not so sure about the portions: last time i ordered myself some organic chickpea and arugula salad:
chickpeas, shallots, tomato, arugula with a green chile tamarind dressing. ..very tasty but my portion was so small.
However, they made it up with abundant jasmine rice(free refill) and chicken tikka masala.
I will go again and try the little dishes they have.
This place is just a big 'ol illusion...
You walk in, and think - Classy, Unique
You see the menu and think - MMM, Delicious. Nice twists on traditional cuisine
But then you get served your food, and everything falls apart. You are shocked at how overspiced every dish is (they must have a huge drum of garam masala in the kitchen). You think to yourself, maybe somebody else's dish is better? (nope!).
Unsatisfied, you receive the bill...
And its right then you realize that you been conned, swindled, had.
Don't go here - there are much better Indian restaurants in Chicago (Gaylord, India House Downtown).
The food id excellent although the portions were a bit small. I recommend that small groups share the food so that you can try a number of different dishes. 4 of us split their eggplant, chicken tikka masala, lamb kebab, crabcakes, goat cheese nan. All of it was excellent. We a also shared the sangria, the pitcher is big and provided about 2 1/2 glasses for each.
The service was a bit rushed in terms of them clearing the plates. However all of the dishes were very good. This place is not cheap, and the decor is sorta of simple yet modern. Approx 70 per couple with drinks.
I would recommend to anyone who likes modern decor Indian food. Excellent place.
Excellent! I was reading some of the recent comments and I have no idea what restaurant they went to, because Veerasway is a fantastic establishment.
Like some of the recent posts, my girlfriend and I took advantage of a Groupon special to try out Veerasway for the first time, but unlike those who would not go back, we already have plans for a return.
We had the full gamut -- from appetizers to dessert -- and loved every bite, as well as each accompanying sip of the Indian-infused cocktails from my Maharita to my girlfriends Cucumber Fizz.
But if there was one food that left us wanting, it was the spicy fudge brownie. It was orgasmic. In a classic Sleepless-in-Seattle moment, ala, Meg Ryan doing the "O" scene in the diner; my girlfriend was spent after the last bite.
In addition, not only did we have friendly service, but our waitress was a dead-ringer Jessica Simpson look-alike! No joke. It was almost distracting (which of course it wasn't because I was there with my girlfriend. Love you monkey).
Needless to say, we'll be back shortly.
Cheers.
I have to admit, as much as I enjoy visiting new restaurants, I have a hard time trying new foods and flavors. When I find something I like, I stick to it. So my approach to Indian cuisine was cautious at best, considering many of its spices and curries are "exotic" by American standards. I also tend to shy away from spicy mustards, cinnamon, and coconut--all prominent ingredients in Indian dishes. I know I'm not alone in my trepidation. Veerasway in the Warehouse District may be helpful to those of us who need to ease our way into a new cuisine.
This sleek, yellow-bricked spot with slatted wood walls is minimalist yet cozy, setting an inviting and upscale atmosphere. The menu offers standards like chicken tikka masala (tandoor-roasted meat folded in a smooth tomato cream sauce) and lamb rogan josh (braised shank pulled off bone, then folded in a rich onion and cashew yogurt gravy). However, there are plenty of "Indo-American creations" available, which will appeal to cuisine novices and veterans alike. The salmon dish, grilled and served with sauteed cabbage and cucumbers in a turmeric-dill broth, is an unexpected delight. Wary diners will find a familiar sight but new flavors in the char-grilled chicken kabobs basted with a sweet and spicy tamarind-date glaze.
Beers from India and England are available, along with specialty cocktails like the "Bollywood Rehab": effen vodka, passion fruit puree, darjeeling tea, basil seeds, and mint.
If approaching new foods is difficult for you, there's no need to do it the hard way. Do it the Veerasway.
Bollywood lollipops were chicken drumsticks with a super cracking crunchy, a nice spicy app. The spice coating reminded me a lot of a Southern Indian spiced fry. Absolutely excellent. I will order them on each return.
My drink of choice was the English Pimm's cup and it was a great execution; the bar isn't messing around, very fresh ingredients. Cucumby but not toocumbry.
Seekh kebabs excellent, a much more smoothly bound texture than normal and filled with good deal of flavor.
You can ask for very spicy; which I will probably do next time. Portions were small but that's Randolph.
Fusion Japanese is mainsteam, Fusion Indian why not? I just got back from a Yelp Elite event in Silicon Valley at one as well (Sakoon).
The difference between authentic and not is instead of following a traditional recipe, one is free to move flavors from one dish to the next., taking a seekh kebab and increasing the quantity of herb or spice seeking the unexpected yet strangely familiar... that's the cliche and I don't mind.
As a side note, on a tip from a San Francisco Yelper, I decided to try dining on a Sunday evening. Honestly, I hadn't considered it for something other than like Mother's Day... it was so much more low key, no reservations required, and amazingly quick service.
My boyfriend wanted to come here for his birthday dinner yesterday, and it was a very nearly perfect meal for the occasion! Any deficits in the experience were made up for in other areas...
It's a very wee tiny restaurant, which is fine, except the tables are *awfully* close together. Eventually you stop hearing the neighbors' conversation, but it takes a while. Nonetheless, the decor was simple and attractive, while still feeling very trendy.
Our server, Keely, was incredibly attentive, helpful, and funny. She made recommendations about food and drinks, and took great care of us without being intrusive. Since our martini glasses were so full, the drinks spilled just the slightest bit on the table when she put them down - she went back for a napkin to dry off our table. Little things like that made the experience great.
We started with the Mumtaz Maharaita for him, and the Bollywood Rehab for me. My drink was flippin' fabulous, one of the best cocktails I've had in the city. It was incredibly fresh and fruity tasting, just the way I like it. My date loved his well - a nice spicy take on the margarita. We also loved the little soft chip/bread things that they leave on the table, and the sauces that went with them. Mix the red one (fruit chutney?) with the green one for a great flavor.
We started with the bindi chaat fry and the crab cakes. Like everybody here is saying, the bindi chaat fry was superb! It was like nothing I have ever tasted, but I hope to taste it many more times in my life. The crispy texture and the surprisingly tasty smoky flavor of the vegetables was really special. The crab cakes were very good as well, though they were the least fantastic of the two appetizers. The texture was great, however - maybe if they had more avocado sauce on the top it would be even better!
We also got an order of naan stuffed with goat cheese, red onion, and sweet peppers. Obviously a very creative dish, and I thought it worked wonderfully. The bread came out so hot and the cheese was gooey. Can't say anything bad about that!
For our entrees, we had the tamarind-date chicken kabobs, and the springs mutter paneer. My date thinks it was one of the best paneer dishes he has ever had, and I'm inclined to agree. It was traditional, but heightened far above the level of normal Indian take out. It was so fresh, so spicy, and that differentiated it from any other Indian dish I have had before. The kabobs were great as well - coated in sticky, delicious sauce - and we were thrilled to take some of our big meal home with us.
Also - the price is right! I mean, this isn't your litle neighborhood Indian joint, this is a classy fusion restaurant, and I paid something like $80 before tip for 2 cocktails, 2 appetizers, and 2 entrees. For the quality of the food, that price is a STEAL. I'd recommend it to anyone - just make a reservation because the restaurant is wee!
If you are a big fan of Indian food, stick with the traditional restaurants. However, if you're new to this ethnic cuisine and are not sure you want to go full out, this is the place to start. It's American-Indian fusion if there even is such a thing. I just thought everything was okay. Food was good quality but the only reason they get away with calling this an Indian restaurant is because of the spices and names of their dishes. Otherwise, it's not the same. Their NAN bread (which we love to go to Indian for) should just be called baked bread here because it's not how NAN should taste. I had the scallops and they were delicious but nothing "Indian" about them.
Overall, like I mentioned in the beginning, if you are looking for real Indian food, this is not for you but if you are wanting just a bit of Indian flavor, check this place out, you probably won't be disappointed.
Like many who saw this place featured on Check Please, we went to try it out. Mostly OK but not worth a return visit. Cocktails are fun if a bit on the sweet side. Our server was the main drawback. She was speedy racer and bit curt/brusque in bringing out our food as fast as humanly possible. At one point we asked for some more rice and my wife and I looked at each other knowing that it would be on the table in about 30 seconds and sure enough it was. The food was pretty tasty except for the tamarind-date-glazed chicken skewers. These had a scorched flavor probably from the glaze burning in the super-hot tandoori oven. Very off-putting. Other dishes were better including the scallop app and the mutter paneer. A bit pricey for a weeknight - $150 for drinks and dinner. Server didn't understand how to apply our coupon and deducted the amount from the previously calculated food/drink/tax amount which was incorrect but not a huge delta.
Ok, if I would have written a review of this place after my first experience, I would have given only 1 star!!! We had an 8pm reservation and by the time they had a table outside available it was literally 2 hours later and we were already at another restaurant.
2nd time around, I explained the deal(a little curtly I might add) when I made the reservation and they actually came through and got us that table al fresco! BUT....they also decided they were going to seat another couple at our table which was slightly AWKWARD and KILLED any romantic inkling of a feel on that date!! We could barely hear each other! They didn't do that to another table the week before when WE wanted outside seating- so I think that makes it even worse. If that was how they always did it- FINE. But obviously sometimes it was ok, and sometimes not!!
Besides that....the food was OUTSTANDING. Drinks were original, tasty and strong. I loved all the dips, and appetizers and entrees. The fried okra app was awesome- you ABSOLUTELY must get, and the scallop app. was nice. Entrees I was able to try in small portions(Yay!!) and I got a lentil veg. dish and a chickpea and kidney bean veg. dish both with X-tra heat....Phenomonal!!!!
I also had a mango sangria and the Moubec- both which were great.
Our server was a very nice girl, and we recieved enough attention.
Cannot wait to go back!!!!!!
This was our 2nd trip to the restaurant. We both enjoyed our first visit to the restaurant much better then the last one. I believe the groupon deal was a great advertising for the restaurant, but there should have been a limit. The restaurant was super packed; they were running 30min-1h late on most reservations! We had a reservation for 7:30p.m. with friends, and were not seated until 8:30! The manager was very nice and did buy us all drinks. The food was good, but a bit salty this time. I did my homework and read other people's review of food so we new what was suppose to be exceptional. The space was extremely loud and crowded which of course kills the atmosphere by far!
For appetizers we had: bindi chaat fry and goat cheese pan - both very good. For the main course: lamb rogan josh -excellent! tandoor roasted chicken - many people recommended, but it was nothing special. Spring mutter paneer -too salty for everyone at our table. Drinks are very interesting. Definitely try this place, but get an earlier reservation to get a better experience.
Terrible Indian food - I tried the chhole and had to return it. Was chock full of burned jeera seeds and every spoonful was so bitter, I could not swallow it.
So I returned it and asked for daal - really simple and takes talent to screw that up. But they did. Same problem. Full of burned jeera seeds. Had a couple of spoons and then could not take it any more. Paid the check and left.
Not sure what kind of crazy cooks they have there. Would not recommend this place to others.
Went here recently with a friend. Atmosphere is great - really pleasant... what you expect from restaurants on Randolph. Service was pretty good until the end of our meal, when it slowed considerably.
The food ... I'm a little mixed on it to be honest. There were some things that I liked. Their eggplant dish was fantastic... but INCREDIBLY salty. I still ate it and enjoyed it... but a little less salt, would go a long way for that dish. My friend also had a bean dish -- i believe it was their chick peas and red kidney bean mix. I thought it was a little lacking in flavor, but okay. My biggest gripe-- the naan was AWFUL. Seriously. It was rock solid.... like it had been sitting in an oven for way too long. Really disappointing.
Not sure if I will return. May order the eggplant takeout... but not sure about much else.
I LOVE me some Indian food. And I worked closely with 2 Indians, who helped nurture my love for all things traditional as well. So, that said...this place is not traditional, but they do some great interpretations.
The Tandoori chicken was the best tandoori I've ever tasted. Sometimes the traditional tastes a little burnt or dry or can be a little too parts is parts. Not here. It was super juicy, flavorful and good quality meat (we chose both light and dark). I seriously am craving it already. The Samosas were awesome, just the right amount of spice. We also tried the bindi chaat fry (eh), spring mutter paneer (awesome), the saag aloo (ok), mashed potato aloo (woohoo!) and the chicken tikka masala (lovely). For naans we had goat cheese (yum) and mushroom (just ok).
They have super fun drinks too...unexpected herbs and spices. Can't remember the names, but they were all good.
Definitely go here to try some new and interesting takes on Indian cuisine.
Veerasway is a great Indian fusion restaurant. The atmosphere is cozy and I've found the wait staff to actually perform better when the place is busy. One thing you shouldn't overlook is the cocktail menu. Veerasway has some of the best drinks in the city as far as I'm concerned. Prices are also pretty reasonable and the food is deceptively filling, so you'll likely leave fat and happy. I recommend the Bengali Tiger cocktail, Bindi Chaat Fry appetizer, and Saag Aloo entree for a great meal. The naan bread is also good for soaking up some of the extra sauce in the dishes. Enjoy!
I have eaten here twice and both times, I have had a pleasant experience. Although, new to Indian food, I tried the recommendations by both my dining partner and the waitress and i was left over satisfied.
We both selected a plate and shared the appetizer with the pita bread and three different dipping sauces which was the highlight for me I think. I also tried the black spiced tea which was amazing.
I love the interior. The black dyed wood is very unique and memorable. I like the use of vintage pendants found frequently throughout the space. I don't like the tables which have four legs, which means they have to be pulled out everytime someone sits on the banquet side. It's very odd that they decided to do this.
In the end, I will definitely be back. great!
Fancy Indian food? Count me in. This place was very good -- had the chicken tikka masala and the lamb.
My only complaint is that the portions are TINY for what you are paying for. Was hoping to have some to take home.
I would go back though -- they have really good fancy cocktails. I had one with mango in it -- very good!
Two friends treated me to dinner for my birthday at Veerasway. I have to say everything was great. The space is sharp, very clean. Our server, Marnie, is very personable and right on with all her suggestions. The food is wonderful and all three of us will be returning with other friends/family.
I really enjoyed Veerasway. Although I love visiting Devon for Indian food it's really nice to have a change in Indian cuisine. And Veerasway is that but it's more as it's very well executed, thoughtful and elegant Indian dishes. And though they are a departure from the oily, buffets on Devon they have true authentic Indian flavors.
A few standouts we still talk about, the appetizer scallops, served in a delish coconut curry. And the chicken in a paratha was incredible. Don't miss the margarita, it is a spice mix that may remind you of something your mom concocted on hot summer days - it did for me.
If you've had the tried and true Devon style and still yearn for more Indian food try this place.
The food was enjoyable, though more on the expensive side, but what killed the experience for me was the seating. Not only were the chairs themselves uncomfortable, but there was no elbow room. We were seated in the middle of the room where there was just one long table that everyone shared.. kinda like a high school cafeteria. There was no privacy for conversation and I ended up feeling crowded in and self conscious through the whole meal. For that price, not worth it.
Way overpriced for Indian. I guess that's to be expected in West Loop. Food was good, drinks were fair, ambiance -- well, it's like any other West Loop place. Only benefit - you didn't smell like a tandoori kitchen when you left. I'll make the trek to Hema's anytime before heading back here.
It was ok overall. The inside was cute, if not a tad too plain. I'd like to see some sort of decoration on the vast wall spaces. Our waitress was very nice, the app was good (surprisingly spicy samosas) and our drinks were great. I can't remember what it was called, but it was some mango cilantro margarita type thing. Yummy and tart!
But then came the wait. Wait. Wait. Drink. More chips. Wait. Drink. Wait. "Your food should be out soon." Wait. Drink. Thank God we ordered a pitcher. Wait. "I'm sorry for your wait." Wait. These chips will ruin my appetite. Wait. OH THANK GOD OUR FOOD IS HERE!!!
Saag aloo, chicken tikka masala and tamarind-date chicken kabobs. Everything tasted fine, but the portions were teeny-tiny. For $15 a dish I expect more than a ladle of food. And the kabobs didn't even come with rice?! Weird.
So we left underwhelmed with much less money in our pockets than food in our bellies and a bit drunk. For how empty the place was when we got there I can't see how our food came out *so* late. And the waitress didn't even give us a comp or discount even tho she was apologizing profusely. Unless someone else is buying, I won't go back.
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Indian
Chicago, IL
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Mexican
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