Indienne * — Chicago, IL (USA)

I had a wonderful meal at Indienne last week. I’ll do my best to break down the menu, but I have to admit that although the server explained each dish in detail, his accent was a little difficult for me to understand at times, so I missed some of the info.

1. Green Mango Pani Puri (Buckwheat Tart and Tamarind). Beautiful and fun.
2. Dhokla Aero (Mint, Curry Leaf, Mustard). Surprisingly flavorful for something that looks like a sponge (haha).
3. Tomato Chaat (Tomato Caramel, Melon, Chaas). This was my first time trying Chaas and I was a big fan. Cool and refreshing considering how warm and humid the weather had been.
4. Scallop Balchao (Cauliflower, Golden Kaluga, Citrus). This seems to be a favorite among diners. My boyfriend was kind enough to let me finish his when he saw how much I was enjoying mine.
5. Lamb Kebab (Shami, Ribs, Persimmon, Chili). Delightful flavor on the lamb rib.
6. Supplemental Bread (Chili Cheese Kulcha). Definitely add on the Kulcha, it’s only $6 and perfectly accompanies the Shami.
7. Lobster Moilee (Shrimp Head Thecha, Finger Lime). A supplemental dish ($28). I wish I could remember more about each component, but it was another hit for me.
8. Chicken Makhani (Pistachio, Fenugreek, Red Pepper, Black Dairy Dal, Garlic Naan). Elevated Butter Chicken and Naan, delightful and comforting. Naan not pictured, but it was fantastic.
9. Mishti Doi (Jaggery, Honeycomb, Key Lime). The tart crust itself was ok, I wish it either had more flavor or was a bit thinner. The other components were tasty.
10. Guava & Tamarind
11. Peanut

Overall, it was a fun and tasty menu that I feel is a great value at $125 per person. It’s also a lovely introduction to fine dining for the less-adventurous.

We also had their $110 Reserve Pairing. I planned to split the $70 pairing with my boyfriend, but was told they will only split the Reserve Pairing.