This place has been on my list for a while and I'm glad I finally got to visit to celebrate my husband's birthday. The good: - The decor and ambience is excellent, I love the thoughtful design and wanted to take photos of everything! - The service was friendly and explained the dishes well - The mango lassi was heavenly, I'd come back just for the drink, loved the cardamom flavor! - most of the meat was halal! - The chettinad chicken was delicious, like the best thing we tried. Flavors were great and I liked the texture. - the garlic naan was different from most Indian restaurants and more bread like but heavenly, I've tried naans like this before and so glad I could taste it here too! - the fish moilee, low key felt a little expensive for what it was but at least it tasted good! I like the tangy coconut flavors though the paratha it came with was disappointing, but flakey and very dry. Room for improvement: - We ordered the jaggery chicken because it's not something we usually see on menus, I wouldn't call it an Indian dish but an elevated chicken roast and I liked it a lot! Unfortunately it wasn't hot or warm when we ate it so we took most of it home to reheat. I also feel like it should have come with some sides, tandoor dishes typically do like even a little side salad would have been nice because it was too dry to eat with naan. - the aloo tiki chat was not it. It was potato wedges with some sev sprinkled and barely any yogurt. It definitely needed a lot more going because it was super dry and not flavorful. Nonetheless I'd return to try the mango lassi again and try their featured cake! read more

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I was in Durham downtown for one night and was going to skip dinner and then I stumbled onto Bar beej which is the bar adjacent to cheeni. I read some reviews and landed here on a Monday night They offer their food menu at the bar which is great I got the kerala beef that comes with a malabar paratha. I mean I'm in love with them but if I'm being honest which I technically should be the paratha needed a lot more flakes/layers inside The beef though was exactly as defined on the menu - warm spices and slow cooked short ribs. It is so well balanced the spice level I mean it's a banger. I didn't get to try their other items but can't wait to come back and try :) Highly recommend this place Service is amazing btw! read more

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This was one of the most unique eating experiences I've had in a while. Stepping into the restaurant we saw a nicely decorated area with a variety of classic dining tables with home style chairs and booths. The server seated us at a table with a basket in the center and explained that everything we needed was inside. There was a card with a monkey printed on it and if we needed the server's attention we should put the monkey card up like a tent. We ordered food and it was decent -- not the best Indian food I've had as it wasn't spicy at all, but the flavors were fine. Despite us not putting up the monkey card, the server was attentive and filled our waters regularly. It was a good experience and I'd recommend coming here if you're around Durham! read more

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I'd heard great things about Cheeni and enjoyed our meal there with friends. The staff weee super kind, responsive, and helpful. The setting is homey and feels like you're at someone kitchen table, which was lovely. Our group agreed collectively that the food was good, but maybe a tad underwhelming from the hype. Everything smelled heavenly but I was expecting a little bit of a bigger punch of flavor. The standout item we tried was the garlic naan, which was terrific. read more

Cheeni - Crab cake fried rice - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Unfortunately, this restaurant misses the Mark in terms of accuracy, price, and taste. I had checked with a waitress to make sure that they could do a proper substitution in one of the dishes where instead of beef, they would put chicken. They confirmed this was correct, and it even showed as documented on the receipt as correct. However, once I got the dish, I noticed that there was beef in it. Unfortunately, the restaurant was only willing to provide a 30% discount for the price of the dish rather than a full refund, even though the dish was not touched. Second, the price is quite a lot for the quantity you get. Portions are extremely small, and you are easily paying $20-30 per dish. Lastly, taste is seriously lacking. Everything has zero spice in it, and the dishes themselves are mild at best. They have some dishes that they claim are with crispy chicken, but it was definitely soggy. I don't recommend this place unless you want to be disappointed. read more

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Cheeni has an Anglo-Indian decor and ambience that houses a lot of tables without feeling crowded, along with an open kitchen. Service was great, with frequent check-ins and well-timed service of appetizers and entrées. The star of our order was the Kerala Chaat with the most beautifully dressed bitter gourd. I was pleasantly surprised and could've eaten a whole plate of it. The remainder of the food was underwhelming. I remember previously devouring the Muttakos Medallions on a different visit, but it came short of expectations this time around. The Mangalorean Chicken was average, and I wouldn't order that again. The Kasundi Fish in Banana Leaf was not edible -- the mustard was overwhelming and made it unpalatable. While the ambience and service were great, I won't be coming back for the food. read more

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Cheeni is a 10/10! The service was immaculate! They were so patient considering Friday evening traffic and everyone was friendly. I even asked our server for recommendations which she enthusiastically gave suggestions. I also told our server we were celebrating a birthday and we received 4 complimentary mango lassi shots which were so delicious! We tried the veggies samosas. They were yummy- a solid 7.5/10. Next time I'll probably try the non veggie version Our dishes were really yummy and well spiced. The portion and prices were appropriate. The garlic naan was a show stopper! 20/10 recommend! So delicious. I would love to try their desserts next time! read more

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I was really excited to try out this restaurant in Downtown Durham, but unfortunately it did not hit. Firstly, it is difficult to find parking, so make sure you account for that on weekends. The vibe was super cool and that is the main attraction for this place. It makes you feel like you stepped into a town in South India. The unique presentation of the menu was intriguing and had us hooked. The drinks were delicious and peaked our interest into the bar next door. Unfortunately, the food was meh. Got the vegetable korma, which was tasteless. There were lots of vegetables, but the sauce itself did not have any flavor. It comes plated touching rice, so do not order more. Also got the chili paneer which is not a curry even though it comes with rice, so would order some bread along with it. It is honestly a little sweet, as opposed to the name. The paneer is not well marinated so it does not retain the flavor of the sweet sauce it was surrounded by. The meal was pricey, unexpected for the quality of food. I will be back for the drinks but probably will try the bar next door instead. Sorry :( read more

Such a great new Indian spot in Downtown Durham! First off, I love that they have food represented from so many different parts of India- it warmed my heart to see food from South India, which is usually never featured in most Indian restaurants! The ambiance is super aesthetic & homey-feeling. I loved all the little touches (the cool boxes all the cutlery & menus came in, the handwritten note from the head chef in the menu, the little placard with a cute monkey on it to get your server's attention, open kitchen, etc). We got: - The Rani: Truly the prettiest plate of food I've ever eaten in my life. While it didn't blow me away taste-wise, I appreciated the diversity of textures & flavors (eggplant puree, tandoori mushrooms, beetroot kabab, paneer tikkas, and parsnips with picked red onions and a beetroot raita). - Chicken Ishtu: A surprise to me, this was my favorite dish! Definitely stayed true to the essence of Malayali coconut milk-based stews, while somehow managing to feel & look elevated. Perfectly cooked chicken & veggies with a wonderfully creamy & savory gravy. Would recommend that you eat the Malabar paratha that comes with it fast because it tends to harden quickly. - Lamb Vindaloo: This was alright- a bit too vinegary and not sufficiently spicy for me. - Garlic Naan: Did you even go to an Indian restaurant if you didn't get naan? - Mango Lassi: Loved this! Definitely get it. So appreciated the strong cardamom & rosewater essence, which is not commonplace but should be~ Would suggest getting a reservation, esp on the weekends. Relatively fast service, wonderful ambiance. Free nearby parking in City of Durham garages on weekdays after 7pm and weekends. 8.5/10 would recommend! read more

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Super attentive staff, absolutely delicious food from appetizers to Indian twists with n homemade cookies . The vibe is upscale but still feels like home. Will definitely come back. read more

First time checking out Cheeni for brunch and I was pleasantly impressed. I got the chicken and waffles and have to say it was a very unique experience. It blended together a spicy chicken with a dosa like waffle. Probably my favorite item I had there. I also got their appetizer potato's which were very yummy. The chai was okay but goes well with brunch. The dessert was also very good. The service was great. We made a reservation beforehand and got seated quickly. The waiter was very friendly and helpful in finding things for various dietary restrictions. Prices for brunch were definitely on the higher end but for a restaurant at this level seemed justified. They do not have parking but if you go for Sunday brunch, there is free street parking. The inside was also very well crafted and I enjoyed the ambience. I definitely want to come back for brunch and try some of their other options. May try their dinner though I have heard mixed reviews. They are also in the process of making a cool speakeasy which I plan to check out when open! read more

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A good place to go for elevated Indian food. The dishes were perfectly spicy- the chicken had a very nice kick to it! Overall, I think the food was good and the experience was close to fine dining. They have menus in a treasure box which I thought was unique. read more

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Came here for a work dinner with three colleagues and we ordered a large assortment of items, all of which were tasty and some that were exceptional. The ambiance is terrific - feels very cozy (we were seated at a real wood dining room table with two chairs on one side and a cushioned bench on the other). The noise level was good - we could all easily hear each other talk. Service was terrific. Small bites: Chettinad-Style Chicken - 5*/5 - my colleague and i had a little discussion about who got to finish this one. It did get spicier as the meal progressed but so delicious with the crispy curry leaves Baby Brinjals - 5/5 - i would definitely order this one again too, i think there were only three baby eggplants for the four of us to share :( Kerala Beef - 5*/5 - this was my favorite dish of the evening (again had to negotiate with colleague about who got to finish this one off!) Came with paratha which was excellent, so tasty was the shredded beef, mouth-watering just to think about it Chaat: Bhel Puri - 4/5, my colleague loved this, I'd never had it before so it was yummy but not my total fav Kaaris & Such: Lamb Vindaloo - 4/5 said it was FIERY hot, but i found it not quite so hot, came with rice. Yummy but not the one to write home about Tamatar & Bhindi Daal Tadka - 4/5 lentils, okra, rice, good overall Some beef dish with coconut rice - 3/5 this was my least favorite dish overall although the coconut rice was very coconut-forward, the beef didn't have as much flavor/wasn't as interesting as the other dishes Saath Mein: Malabar Paratha - 5*/5, crisp, flaky, white flour flatbread, so so so delicious! I ate probably most of the paratha while my colleagues weren't noticing and eating the garlic naan which I can't comment on since I only focused on the paratha. Dessert: Mango Lassi Shots - 5/5 came as four small shots which were delicious and flavored with cardomom and pistachio I think Everyone enjoyed their drinks as well the names of which I cannot recall or find online. I highly recommend Cheeni for a delicious evening! read more

Cheeni is always a spectacular choice when finding a meal downtown! It has a cozy vibe which pairs perfectly with the hearty dishes! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but their biryani is amazing! Don't forget to try out their drink menu as well, which is very thoughtful and pairs very well with a meal. read more

Decided to try this place on a Saturday night with friends because I really wanted to check out their cocktail bar next door (Bar Beej). I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Overall, the food was a bit bland (surprising). I've definitely had better at some of the strip-mall Indian restaurants in Cary and with a lower price tag. South Indian Vegetable Kurma - not enough vegetables, but good flavor Chicken Ishtu - very bland The food also arrived at different times (nowhere did we see this stated), so our dinner for 4 was a bit awkward as we waited for 10+ minutes for each persons food to arrive. On a positive note, the owner/chef came around and asked for feedback and seemed very interested in continuous improvement. I would give it another try, maybe we just had an off experience. I do like the decor and the ambience. read more

Stevie K Ceritified Legit...I love this place! Was a fan of the location in North Raleigh but this elevates the concept. Loved Garland too. You can't go wrong with anything Preeti Waas is associated with. She is a 2 time James Beard semifinalist and deserves the recognition...Be sure to read the menu descriptions in the back of the menu with her tales about the food and her connection to it. Highly recommend the chettinad-style chicken and the fish moilee. Excellent cocktail menu with lots of interesting creations. Service was also outstanding! read more

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This is our 5th time dining here. We love the food. I am of Indian descent, so I always have high expectations for the taste. What I love most about this place, aside from the subtle tributes to Bollywood of the 70's in terms of atmosphere, is the food. While the names of dishes are familiar, the chef's/owner's imagination to make them new/reinvent while keeping flavors you anticipate is phenomenal. We have never had a bad experience or bad dish. Service is always attentive. Yes, portions are small, but always sufficient for my husband and I such that we still often take a box home. The cocktail menu is also nothing short of amazing--have enjoyed the Sweety, Saanjh, masala guava, ananas se bana, to name a few. There are other more traditional Indian restaurants around that are also good, but if you want Indian food of the 21st century, this is the place to go. Love, too, the fresh flowers on the tables as well as the ability to sit outside on a beautiful day or evening. Also, love that the music is not played at a deafening level as is so common is so many restaurants these days. read more

Amazing take on Indian food - incredibly creatively spiced, beautifully presented - an extraordinary dining experience. Run don't walk to this uniquely wonderful restaurant. read more

We were at a charity even where the Chef was participating and enjoyed her food (whether or not she was a James Beard Award nominee). They are located in downtown durham where Jack Tar and the Colonel's Daughter previously was. We made reservations for an early dinner on a Wednesday and were warmly welcomed by staff and seated at a table with a little box, which contains the menu and your dinnerware. Right away, we felt very comfortable. We enjoyed the baby brinjals (eggplant app), lamb vindaloo, dal, and garlic naan. We decided to take some of our meal home with us and left room for chai shots and what my wife said is probably the best chocolate chip cookie she ever ate. The server ended up being the chef's daughter, and we had a nice chat. We are looking forward to coming back for brunch and other meals. read more

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Bar Beej is a cute small bar behind Cheeni. The addition here is the incredible cocktails. The bar serves the full Cheeni menu which is great for small bites. The cocktails are inventive, fresh and fun and truly an experience in themselves. A nod to classic Indian flavors but revamped and glammed up-- putting chutney in a drink-- it left us feeling nostalgic and happy. Took a little time to get our cocktails but the bartender was very kind. We will be coming back soon as regulars. read more

Had a delicious dinner with family at Cheeni! We had reservations and were greeted promptly and escorted to our table. It was very cozy, like being welcomed into someone's home. The menu and staff were very informative and gave great recommendations. Everyone in my party loved what they ordered. We had lamb samosas, fesejun, chicken biryani, and lamb vindaloo before finishing with round of mango lassis. Highly recommend! read more

My husband and I ventured to Durham tonight to try Cheeni, an indian restaurant i've heard a lot of people talking about. It's located in the heart of downtown Durham (great location) and the service was great (lovely, prompt service staff and timely food service). I loved the touch of Indian music playing in the background and fun wallpaper throughout the restaurant. The food was pretty good, but left a bit to be desired in most dishes we tried. We started off with the coconut prawn croquettes - these were wonderfully spicy, the exterior was crispy with coconut, and the interior had sizable prawn pieces cooked nicely. For entrees, we split the Hariyali whole fish & lamb vindaloo. The branzino was nicely cooked, however it had so many tiny bones that were impossible to eat around (I've had whole branzino before without as many tiny bones in every bite, so I feel like this can be avoided?). The lamb vindaloo had great warming spices, however it was labeled as "FIERY hot" which it certainly was not - we were definitely missing some heat in this dish, though the sauce itself was still lovely and flavorful. We got some garlic naan alongside and this particular dish confused me as it certainly was not naan - it seemed almost like pizza dough? It was still tasty, but definitely not naan like we were expecting. Overall, the food was solid but didn't seem very authentically Indian to us like some other Indian restaurants we have tried in the Triangle area. The service and atmosphere was great though. read more

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I absolutely LOVED the food here and could not recommend it more. the crab fried rice was delicious and addictive, and the naan was extremely fresh. the staff was incredible kind and attentive, this is definitely a must do spot!! read more

My husband and I were in Downtown Durham and hit up Brunello Wine Bar then walked over to grab dinner at Cheeni. He started off with a masala chai but they were not serving alcohol yet so I was able to walk over to Pour Taproom and bring a beer over. You start off your dining experience by opening a box that contains your utensils and menus. All of the food that we tried was delicious except for the dessert. I recommend checking out one of their locations. read more

I absolutely love a family owned and operated food service restaurant. We came back three days in a row; once for dinner, then for brunch, and another dinner! Crazy! Even had to bring my sister who lives in D.C. The outdoor seating was perfect for when we had our dogs and the indoor was so cozy. We loved the different furniture and homey / eclectic feel. The whole family was involved in our experience. We had a great experience despite what some reviewers are saying. They are being pretentious and know-it-alls.... The flavors were FLAVORING and the drinks were also amazing. It is definitely different, and we appreciated all the little touches put into our experience. From the box that had everything we needed to exceptional service, it's a 5-star every time! read more

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I don't know exactly where to post it because Lutra don't have a specific page on Yelp or TripAdvisor but because the popup brunch was located at Cheeni, I'll post it here anyway just because it was fabulous. One of the best brunch in town. As a foodie, it was impossible to miss the collaboration with Cheeni and Lutra Bakery. Every Saturday & Sunday, Lutra Bakery is in charge of the brunch so his team joined Cheeni's kitchen to create a special menu. We were so happy to discover the universe of Lutra Bakery, can't wait for them to open in the American Tobacco Campus around the end of the year. It will be such a great location. Let's get back to the brunch. We chose 2 savory and 2 sweet items. For the sweets, we had the giant cookie also know as the Big Chip... Bigger than the Cédric Grolet cookie in Paris. It's a dinner-plate-sized cookie with big chunks of chocolate and flaky sea salt on top. The cookie was served warm and chewy (ten out of ten). The Tiramisu bun was so creamy inside and outside. It was so rich, full of flavors, plus the texture of the bun was very soft and fuffy and absorbed the coffee syrup well. It was hard to put down once I took my first bite. We ordered 2 savory dishes: one was the breakfast sandwich with a sunny side egg, a sausagd Patty with calabrian aioli, all on a toasted brioche; the second one was the mortadella hash, with crispy potatoes, large sautéed chunks of flavorful mortadella, Peppers, green onions, and two fried eggs. I enjoyed the hash more but the breakfast sandwich was well balances. We will have to come back for another brunch to try more of their menu items! read more

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We enjoyed our dinner at Bar Beej at the bar. We had the chettinad chicken, chicken ishtu, and rasam with fish fry. All were excellent and authentic. Service with the bartenders was friendly and prompt. We enjoyed the unique cocktails. read more

Food was bland and seriously overpriced for what was served. This place is way overrated. You can find better tasting Indian food at your local mom and pop restaurant. read more

Cheeni is a truly excellent restaurant around! I had long heard about Cheeni and James-Beard nominated chef Preeti Waas - all the way back when Cheeni was a Raleigh establishment (now closed). We've tried dining here a few different occasions, usually on a whim, but it turns out reservations are hard to come by and best planned in advance. What really stands out to me is the feeling / vibe at Cheeni. There were several moments that elevated this night out from just another dinner with friends to what felt like an intimate and warm experience. Beginning with the little box and unique monkey card concept to perusing the menu and exploring all the regions of India that are represented - there's something so inviting and comfortable about these thoughtful touches, almost like you're eating at a friends personal home. The service was friendly, timely, and helpful and our menu selections surprised me with unparalleled flavor. I've never had cuisine done quite like this and I was truly delighted by the entire experience. The cocktail and (quite extensive) mocktail menu were equally divine. In my experience, it's hard to get a mocktail just right but honestly, I'd go back to Cheeni just for a drink (but then I would inevitably wind up ordering food too...how could I resist?). Also...I would highly recommend ending your evening with the mango lassi shots. I am still dreaming about that creamy, sweet/savory treat! read more

Pros: - Chef Preeti and her daughters are the core of this female-centered venture. They even have their grandmother's chair in their decor as homage to their family - The decor makes you feel like you have walked into an Indian home on the coast, just beautiful, airy, and refreshing! - The brunch was an absolute treat---with the chai shots, new takes on Indian centered brunch, and sweet treats and drinks. I am so sad that the brunch service was closed as it was a beautiful way to start your Saturday morning with family and friends. Cons: - Dinner options, especially for vegetarians, is limited and generally the dinner options pale when compared to the creativity displayed in their now closed brunch - Hostess/service is subpar. I did not like their hostess's response to us when we came 15 minutes late for our reservation. The restaurant was empty and yet, I still was given an inappropriate lecture on the importance of being on time. While I know being on time is important, parking and walking over with kids can take more time. It almost felt like it would be better to never make a reservation and just walk in. - The loss of brunch....that was the star! I wish them the best of luck and hope they continue to grow! read more

We had read something about the chef being nominated for a Beard award or somesuch, so had high expectations. Wow, what a letdown. Lamb samosas were good. Generous amount of lamb but otherwise just good. Expected really good or excellent, but no. Chicken dish recommendation by waiter was surprisingly bland. read more

This place was so bad and overhyped I had to return to Yelp for this review. We had a group of ten with a reservation of course so being seated 15 min late was not that big of a deal since this restaurant is clearly not set up for large parties. Cheeni also does not have a bar for a drink prior to dining. When we were seated there were two boxes placed on the table and we were told there would be our silverware and menus inside, followed by "When you are ready to order place the white paper on top of the box and we will do our best to get to you!" If only there was a font that said I don't wanna be here and I wish you weren't either it would be the font used for the prior quotation. Now I can see how someone would see the box idea as cute or different however when mixed with attitude it is both pretentious and lazy. When it came time to place a drink order I asked if they had any Bourbon(as there is no bar visible) I was told they had ghee washed George Dickel. I ordered that on the rocks please. Everyone's drink arrived sans mine so I flagged a server down. I was told they would check. Ten minutes passes no drink and no answer back. Finally a different server comes by and tells me the only way that I can have that is in the cocktail on the menu. I asked is it premade? The answer was a shoulder shrug and she left the table. Later the original server came back and I just ordered a beer. Food begins to arrive at the other end of the table, from the time the first entree landed to the last was 45 Minutes. Yes I said 45 minutes, no apologies or reasons given, My wife and I ordered the same thing both of which were inedible(I believe it was Chicken Ishtu). Typically your server or even better a manager would ask if you would like something else but that didn't happen, so I just had my slightly burnt garlic naan and I tried a sample of the other dishes and none were as bad as ours but nothing to warrant writing a storybook in the menu. The one bright note was I tried one of my friends Branzino and it was great. The server later returned to inquire about a dessert order, a few people ordered and I also ordered another beer. Desserts came but no beer, I motioned to my passing server and was ignored. A few moments later the shoulder shrug girl returns to tell me "Since you didn't have an entree I can only serve you two beers per ABC law." Guess what not an ABC law or regulation at all. The overall experience was a train wreck, Certainly don't go with a group and expect to eat together. read more

The service was very warm and welcoming! I enjoyed the very lovely decor, and the beautiful service box that held the menus! The food was absolutely on point! The lamb vindaloo was exactly what I was looking for: the spices are properly layered and give depth to the dish, so (for me) there's some heat, but it's delicious without being punishingly hot. The Uncle Ji was the perfect pre-dinner cocktail for me, while the saffron beer paired very nicely with the lamb. read more

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Cheeni is hands down the best restaurant in Durham right now and the other places aren't even close. The food is delicious, the service is wonderful, and the decor is gorgeous. The head cook/owner clearly puts her heart and soul into the food. Favorites are the harilya whole roasted branzino, the tamilian chicken, the baby brinjals (roasted eggplant). This is is such a wonderful dinner spot. That being said, this is not a great lunch spot as they serve vastly simplified forms of their food and the portions are small. Go for dinner and you will be hugely impressed. read more

Oh, so good! It is a treat to go to a restaurant with an inspired menu, high-quality ingredients, beautiful presentation, and great service. Everything we ordered was delicious. They nailed it. read more

A solid two stars. Decor is pleasant and the service was friendly but a bit aggressive to get you in and out. Food was my issue; for a cuisine known for depth of flavors this was not that. It was fast food made spicy. I ordered a lamb dish and it was sparse on the protein (2 small pieces). Overall I would not return. read more

Where to start...I think I decided to write this review after I ordered and was told they couldn't change the spice level on my food. Sigh. As an Indian, cmon what the heck. Our food is known for being spicy. Not mild. Instead I was given some raw diced green Chiles, like the kind I would dice before making some daal tadka. No Indian chefs in this restaurant (open kitchen so you can see everyone) and frankly not any real Indian flavors. To be honest everything was FINE, but if you put so much effort into making a menu where you specifically state what regions of India different dishes are from, then you should have the authenticity to make those dishes taste like where they are from. Not be some half arsed American mild version. Also, the rice portion is way too small, Indians love to eat rice but this was completely ridiculous. I hate to be a hater but sadly very unimpressed. The Indian food in downtown Durham is very sad. Very inauthentic. I don't know the owner, but I do know that this restaurant was more or less made as a money grab for American people trying to feel like they're eating super authentic food, yet sadly they're being fooled into eating half arsed crap that isn't really Indian. Do have to say that service was very good and employees all very friendly and helpful. They deserve a good tip, but unfortunately the food itself didn't. Edit: just remembered my dish (kala paneer = cream + black pepper + paneer) was served ON TOP OF RICE ALREADY. And barely any rice. So insulting to pay over $100 here I had to come back to Yelp. read more

We tried Cheeni last night and it inspired me to leave my first ever Yelp review. The food is elevated and inspired, something we've rarely seen after moving to the Triangle from NYC. First, we loved the beautiful box with the menu which made you feel like you were opening a gift. The sense of discovery while reading her stories only added to your anticipation to taste the food. The dishes were creative interpretations of Indian cuisine that were well balanced, incredibly tasty and visually appealing. We took a risk at first and tried the cabbage appetizer and the karela chaat; they're not usually our preferred ingredients but we were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed them. For the main course, the Rani was incredibly tasty and the tamarind rice dish paired incredibly well with perfectly cooked fish. We learned this tamarind rice dish was presented at the James Beard awards and is a definite must try. The special dessert of the day had the right amount of sweetness with a hint of cardamom. We shared all the dishes so it felt like a 2 thousand mile journey from the North to the South of India. Finally, the cocktails from their bar beej speakeasy next door were imaginative and fun. It's not a typical bar menu. It's a combination of flavors that take some risks to delight the palate. Finally the service and ambiance made you feel like you were the guest at an Indian person's home. She was warm, inviting, super personable and well spoken. This is a much more premium experience than virtually all Indian restaurants in the Triangle. I'd compare this more to Dishoom in London (IYKYK) but it's a few thousand miles closer. It was our first trip to Cheeni but definitely not our last. read more

I was pretty excited to try Cheeni, their menu looked delicious and reminded me of some fancy places in Mumbai that I really like. When we arrived at the restaurant, they were playing some of my favorite Hindi music from the 80's, another sign that this place would be awesome. The food itself was really disappointing, spice and flavor were seriously lacking, some of the food was not cooked properly, and a couple items I had seen on their online menu were not available. I will give this place another try eventually, but I feel really let down. It might be better if you go in with no expectations, but they definitely didn't meet the high bar I had set in my mind. read more

Highly anticipated. The food and service was very good but there was too much smaltz. The menu and special box goven to every table was filled with stories about the menu items and ingredients that are supposed to evoke special memories and experiences . A back story of the restaurant was also included. I find this to be pretentious and unwanted. A welcoming greeting was nice upon arrival but the dood and service should speak for itself read more