I was looking forward to trying Thattu. I love Indian food and was excited for an upscale, southern Indian restaurant in chicago. However, my experience was a bummer. We had an 8:15 reservation - showed up on time, ordered our starters drinks and entree through the Tok App. The mussels, fried chicken bites, and cocktails were delicious! Eggplant was extremely bland and weirdly textured. That experience alone would have been a 4. Where things went really awry was when we tried to order a second round of drinks. The Tok app said that the bar and kitchen were closed? Confirmed with a waiter that indeed-- it closed at 8:45 with literally no warning to us. We hadn't even placed the orders for all of our food. Suffice to say this is extremely poor service. We were seated just 30 minutes prior and they took reservations until 8:30!!! This is an expensive restaurant and patrons should be able to slowly enjoy their food, place their order and take their time. Then, our two entrees arrived and one was basically a bland chicken soup that was lukewarm with a tiny of Indian spices. Beyond disappointing given the hype of the restaurant. The pork chop was delicious, however. All in all - service was 1 star given we were basically cut off within 30 minutes of arriving. Food would be a 3 - very hot and cold. Ambiance a 2 to 3- not the coziest vibe, sort of empty warehouse feel. Maybe I'd go back in a few years once they iron things out and move to actual human service as opposed to tok app. read more

Tried Thattu recently, and had a great experience. First loved how you order through the phone makes sense and wonder why more restaurants aren't doing this. The food was good, the porotta and short rib was exceptional. The one thing that was a challenge is the you can't get any extra bread or Appum, I guess BYOBread. Highly recommend, and so cool to see a Kerala restaurant in Chicago!! read more

I used to go to Thattu at Politan row and we were regulars there. I was disappointed with the aapams today. Not to mention extra aapams we're so expensive. Kadala curry was good but did not match the flavors of what we used to get at the politan row. They have a creative menu but today's experience was not great. When I made a reservation, I just assumed this was family friendly and brought my infant here only to find there wasn't a single high chair. Though there was a diaper changing station in the all gender restroom. My infant is very active so I was unable to enjoy my meal to manage his squirminess. Even though they offered a wicker chair that would be very unsafe for my little child. I look around to see mostly Caucasian diners. This explains the change in the flavors. Even the masala biscuits was light in heat. We travelled all the way from suburbs and driving to this location was so painful. Unfortunately this experience has made me not want to go back there again. read more

Thattu - Kadala curry - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this place. Been here a few times for lunch. It's super satisfying and find myself wanting to get back each week. The appam, fermented rice flour crepe, is a must for me. Can't wait to return for dinner for the pork chop. read more

Thattu - Curry if the day, plantains - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing service. Highly recommend the Short Ribs as well as the Yuca with prawn. Will come again

We went for a lunch date and it didn't quite feel like a date since you get your own silverware and cups, etc. but the food made up for the casual service. We started with crispy chicken bites which were made with dark meat so the exterior was crunchy and spicy but inside was tender and juicy. We tried a fruit cooler with mint, ginger & cardamom. It was quite refreshing with a lingering peppery aroma. Loved the lunch fish fry which for $18 is quite a steal. The fish was seared well but the accompanying butternut squash & red bean mash was the star of that dish. We also had the kadala curry which fell a little flat in comparison because it was pretty much one note compared to all the others. The appam bread that pairs with the curry is pillowy in the center with crispy laced edges. Wish lunch service had more variety. It's a pretty limited menu; only one curry offering. Plan to come back for dinner service where there is full service and more offerings. read more

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What a superb meal! Keralite cuisine is distinct from what many have experienced of Indian fare. The dishes here were both authentic yet tastefully modern. As a side note, it is readily apparent that the owners care for their employees (tips are optional as employees are paid an appropriate salary). Margaret Pak and Vinod Kalathil should be deeply commended on what they have accomplished. We look forward to returning again soon! read more

Thattu - Fish fry and kapi - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I actually was disappointed in the restaurant. It gets fantastic reviews but was underwhelmed. There is zero ambiance- in fact it reminds me of a cafeteria. The food was decent (thats why 3 stars instead of 2. Everything is ordered from your phone- which didn't work for us-- the one wait person did help but the food came out so quickly we felt rushed. We wanted dessert but it was one minute past the time when the kitchen closed and they wouldn't accommodate us We left and went elsewhere for dessert. I would not go back. read more

Came here for the first time to try the lunch menu- overall a great experience and will definitely be coming back. The ambiance is very clean and modern with beautiful Indian elements. Make sure you reserve ahead of time unless you have a small enough party for the bar. We were able to order through a QR code and the food came out soon after. This is what we got: Kappi- this coffee was SO good. There was a thick foam on top and the coffee itself was strong and had a balance chicory flavor Malabar Ginger Cooler- this drink was light, refreshing and had a unique touch with the cardamom and ginger Kerala Chicken Sandwich- the chicken was juicy and had a nice balance with the cucumber pickle. Chorum Kariyum- this was a great way to try an assortment of dishes. All the flavors worked so well together. It comes with the curry of the day so you'll get something new each time Fish fry- this was my favorite! The fish was tender and crispy on the edges. The chutney and salad was refreshing and aromatic which perfectly complimented the savory fish. Looking forward to another meal here! read more

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was expecting/hoping for a 6 star review... i unfortunately set the bar too high on this spot. all the praise and the challenges of getting a reservation and i expected more. i snagged a "school night"/later than usual dinner time reservation because i just HAD to try this place. i appreciate the no service fees, "fast formal" set-up (eating dishes/utensils are dropped off at your table and it's self service by way of the toast app). the menu was very limited. i particularly love going to new indian spots bc i know there will be substantial vegetarian items... i ordered their version of dal which came with rice or appam (spongy bread). and a beet puff pastry (the favorite of the table). rice and dal is something that i enjoy but typically reserve as a quick meal at home (either homemade or we've found some really good "heat and serve" ones at the grocer. i loved the black chickpeas in their version but honestly other than that, it was nothing special. my husband ordered the beef curry and said it wasn't near a level of spice he's used to consuming when dining at similar spots. we ordered the theeyal eggplant as an app and if i'm being honest, i think i could've made it better. it tasted like salted eggplant bites roasted over an open flame. the skin was almost inedible. the beverage menu didn't speak to me and the beverage that my husband chose was canned. a little disappointed...and baffled by the hype. read more

Tucked away in Avondale. The food is very tasty, but a touch pricey. Worth going to with friends to share nibbles

Featuring Kerala cuisine ( new cuisine in the Indian culinary venues in CHICAGO) Ate FISH FRY Aappam with Root Korma and Chettinad chicken. I totally understand that they have to cater to caucasian palate but there was no offer of spice level to the customers, so I was disappointed. My origins are in Kerala and while I would never compare the flavors here to the native one at least some of the dishes should scream original in flavors. FISH FRY was cold to eat and the chicken chettinad was watery and lacked the flavor and it ideally is spice heaven. Aappam was served cold and was sticking to the plate . Glad I tried it but it aint the creme de la creme it claimed. read more

We had mixed feelings with Thattu. Two dishes were great, one was ok, and two were bland. So I guess it depends on what you get. I'm not surprised by all of the varied reviews on here. read more

An exciting new spot serving Kerala Indian food. I visited Thattu with a friend and we had a nice meal but perhaps had too high expectations going into it with the NYT top 50 review. The self serve and completely contactless ordering through the QR code was efficient but it would've also been nice to have someone explain the different dishes. Highlights were the steamed fish wrapped in a banana leaf and kappi coffee. We also had the chicken biryani and eggplant. The biryani had pretty mild flavors but was tasty and the eggplant was a bit heavy on the taramind for my personal taste. read more

The food was lovely, but I was really put off by the method of service. Ordering and payment is done by QR code, which made the whole experience seem quite impersonal, and more aligned with going to McDonald's than what I hope for when I go out for an evening meal. I would not make a repeat visit, even though the cuisine was interesting. read more

There are deep flavors to be plumbed at Thattu off of Belmont. Prepare to be smashed over the head with the essence of curry leaves, coconut oils, and the culinary might of the spiciest coastline on planet Earth. We ordered half of the menu off the rip and were thoroughly impressed with the level of heat (which is spicy but not devastatingly so, more than mild less than volcanic) and prolific use of green cardamom, clove, cinnamon et al. particularly in the preparation of their meat dishes. It was also the first time we ever had appam, a sort of Keralan/Tamil "pancake" reminiscent of Ethiopian injera except with coconut milk and fermented rice batter. It provides a textural bedding and is a great balance to the chettinad chicken. Tearing off chunks of appam and using it for the food provided additional tactility to the whole experience. Yucca and plantain also make delightful and welcome appearances. The biryani was compelling because each grain of basmati appeared to be imbued with the soul of 34 million people. Every dish oozed aromaticity, wafting through the air like culinary incense. If you are allergic to flavor and punchy food, do not come to Thattu. If that's the sort of thing you tend to enjoy, make the reservation. read more

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Fantastic atmosphere and amazing food. The Kerala chicken bites are my favorite menu item, but the "chaater tots" made with chaat masala were a revelation. I can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes. This place and its lovely owners are truly deserving of all the industry accolades they have received recently, and I hope it sticks around for years to come! read more

High expectations exceeded. Heard a bunch about how good this place is, was not disappointed. Intense flavor in every bite, would recommend coming on a fri/sat to get the short ribs. Owners seem very nice For two people we got: Kallumakaya muscles appetizer Mushroom Mezhukkupuratti appetizer Short Rib & Porottas main Meen Pollichathu main Spiced bread pudding desert Was a lot of food but couldn't imagine not clearing the plates all for around $100. Can't say enough good things. read more

Came for their first dinner service on 5/27. Tried several dishes, all were tasty with our favorites being the kadala (black chickpea) curry, mussels fry that we added the hot sauce to and the plantains dessert (delicious). Appams were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Staff was very friendly and got to speak with owners/ chef who were wonderful people. Cocktail we had was a margarita with a twist using Indian ingredients and was delicious, the other cocktails sounded very interesting as well. Menu also had plenty of craft beer offerings with many featuring indian flavors and ingredients. Overall, was very enjoyable experience and reminded my Malayali girlfriend of home. We're grateful for the experience and excited to come back and try more. read more

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We were so excited to try this place as we are from Kerala.. we went in around 5:40pm on Saturday and we didn't have a reservation. The owner was rude and told we needed to have a reservation and that there is no table available and he just walked away without even giving us the option that we could wait. There was another employee who was kind enough to tell us that the tables are reserved and also gave us the option to wait and explained patiently that we may or may not get a place at the bar. The owner responded to my review and apologized. I understand it might be difficult during a busy day. We will try to make it to restaurant when we visit Chicago the next time. read more

Solid neighborhood option. I haven't had a lot of Indian food yet for me to opine but I really liked the biriyani was really good. The fish fry was a bit too salty for my taste. It is semi self service. You order via phone, the food and drinks are delivered to your table but you are responsible for all other (getting water, utensils, etc) read more

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Food was good, but service bordered on nonexistence, especially the poor attitude of the host/owner. Our party of four came with high expectations given the accolade showered on this restaurant on local television and Eater's hotlist. However, the lack of service, especially capped off towards the end of our meal by the host telling us that we needed to leave soon since they had another reservation when we had already put in our dessert order and was just waiting for our desserts left us with a very bitter aftertaste on our experience. Given their online ordering system, we had to beg some of the food runners just to answer some questions. Yet we saw the host and even the chef come out of the kitchen on several occasions to talk to presumably their friends or their regulars, we as first timers received no check in , certainly not by the host or any of the servers or should I call them runners. It's a rather strange system given the price points of their menu since the four of us spent about $180 with two cocktails. While the food or some dishes were decent, I can't excuse the indifference of the service, or should I say runners and the rudeness of the host to justify ever coming back to this place. This is probably the worst review that I felt compelled to write but the attitude of the people here just made me disappointed that we ever tried to come here since reservations are so difficult. We came in with great enthusiasm, and so out of the 10 dishes listed under "dinner" we ordered six of them - stand out was the pork chop Peralan which was perfectly cooked with a lovely sauce and collard greens. You can see the other items we ordered from the check, but in general I thought the smaller dishes or appetizers were underwhelming especially for the price. I certainly am not an expert on Indian cuisine, though I have gone to many of the top restaurants in, even in the UK but again I am sorry that the lack of attention or consideration, in terms of how they treat customers or maybe just first time customers is inexcusable. For the host to tell us that we needed to leave when the wait time between our dishes was so slow it's totally unprofessional and so far from the norm. I do have to confess I used to own a restaurant and so perhaps my standards are not the usual, but I was quite appalled at how we were treated. Is it our fault that our meal took about two hours because the waits between the dishes were so long on this Saturday nite? Please get your act together; certainly don't berate your customers who are trying to support you! read more

Yummy food! Kappa bondas are the bomb. So is the stew or other small plates. Such a cute place with the most gracious staff! Cheers to you all!! read more

Indian food is something I'm not overly familiar with but always wanted to try. Wait staff were incredibly friendly and informative, walked us through the menu and made recommendations. Drinks were made extremely well. Tipping is not allowed. read more

Excellent food and ambiance. Went for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. Easy ordering and great service

Such a gem in the Avondale neighborhood. Nice open space, and the nicest staff. Everything is fantastic but the standouts are the mussel fry, pork chop and side of appam. Bonus that service is already factored into menu prices. read more

Thattu is a one of a kind restaurant. Thattu's greatest asset is it's traditional and intense south Indian flavors. At the same time, it has some very interesting fusion items that combine Indian and American flavors like Kerala Fried Chicken Bites and ChaaterTots. Service is unique in that you order in an app (items are brought to your table) and no tip is required (included in the price). Drinks and desserts are also excellent. We enjoyed the Payasam and Chakka Rice Cake (both were so good that I cannot decide which is better). Staff were very kind and made space for our large party despite not having a reservation. We cannot wait to go back! read more

Wow!!! What an amazing place to have food. The ambiance is so soothing and the service is extremely friendly. We had the most fabulous dinner today. Everything is a worth try but our favorites were Kaapi, Sarbath and Malabar chicken. Also when they say spicy, they mean it!!! Would be coming back here again and again. read more

I can't stop thinking about their Kerala Chicken bites. Such a hip and delicious spot with tons of vegan options. Not a vegan but I dabble. This place is a must try. read more

This fried chicken sandwich is insane! Great vibe, elegant restaurant design, nice people. Off the beaten path. Worth seeking out!

Authentic flavors and very homely chill vibes! They have a no tipping policy but the waiters are still very attentive. The yogurt dip was delicious which suggests attention to detail. Highly recommend trying it out! read more

To the owners of Thattu, thank you for responding to my wife's post, but your response inspired me to respond. I rely upon a power wheelchair for mobility, doors, curbs, steps to name a few all represent unintentional discrimination against myself and other wheelchair users. The configuration of your front door makes it difficult to assess whether it is wheelchair accessible without having to first open a storm door. However, according to yelp it indicates your business as not wheelchair accessible, perhaps that needs updating. Plenty of businesses are not wheelchair friendly, but they often try to accommodate the best they can. After reading reviews about the restaurant, I was looking forward to trying your food when we were in the area. When I rolled up to your restaurant's open garage window at 5 o'clock, there were only a handful of customers sitting at the bar. Overall, from what I could see the restaurant looks very nice, I asked one of your staff if I could place an order for takeout, when they returned from the kitchen, they informed me to go orders were not being accepted. Perhaps the person in the kitchen did not realize I was in a wheelchair and this was a special request. From the business's perspective, a better response to my wife's posting would've been, "Sorry your husband was unaware that we are wheelchair accessible and will take steps to make sure future wheelchair understand this. Although we are not currently offering to go orders, we apologize for not making an exception in this situation". I'm giving a one star review not for the food, which I was unable to try, but the failure to accommodate the request of a wheelchair user to receive a takeout order. Hopefully, the next time we visit the area, we will be able to dine at your establishment. read more

So good!! We went after seeing it on tiktok and left satisfied. We got 2 apps and 2 entrees + the platintain dessert for 2 people - we were definitely full but everything was delicious! read more

Not ADA friendly- it's not that my husband couldn't get in the restaurant, it that they refused to- go order (they do to-go) when he went there. Bad business !!! Thanks for the reply- not helpful. read more

I really enjoyed my experience and food. The tots are fantastic! As a Malayalee - it's amazing to have this spot in my neighborhood.

We were underwhelmed by the dining experience after all the hype this restaurant received in social media and other reviews. No dish was that interesting or tasty enough to make us return or recommend this place. The lack of table service, only QR code menus, ordering for yourself and paying via a phone does not make for a special night out. There's no human interaction - might as well serve food on a conveyor belt. The restaurant's colorful interior design makes for a cheerful and welcoming environment and with some service and changes to the menu, it could make this a worthwhile dining experience. The mussel small plate was tasty and a fresh take on the ingredient. The pork chop entree with greens was the most substantial dish and our party enjoyed this the most. The chicken pepper curry with hardly any chicken and chick pea curry are basically the same dishes with small portions. You might be able to fill up on the rice served with the curries. The eggplant dish was more complex but the small serving not worth $11. The Kokanita margarita inspired drink was miniscule and again nothing special. read more