Spice Mantra is a nice casual restaurant for grabbing tasty south indian cuisine. I went here with…read moremy family to grab lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We were promptly seated upon arrival. The menu variety was good. Pricing was reasonable. We ordered an appetizer dish of Idli and Vada Sambar followed by individual orders of dosas which is what we came for. The food came out shortly. The dosas' texture and taste were nice. The sambar was okay but chutneys were tasty. We received good service. The restaurant's atmosphere was pleasant and inviting. I am curious to try other dishes at this restaurant.

What an awesome place! I have been wondering about this place but put off visiting thinking it may…read morenot be authentic, glad we got the recommendation from our neighbor and checked it out. Great flavor and heat! They asked for the heat level for my chicken biyani and I said 10 (out of 10)...they double checked and I said 10 (due to recent experience at another place where 10 was a 5)...man! I am sweating! I don't usually use the yogurt that came with it...not that I had to put yogurt and I ended up ordering mango lassi. The egg bhuji and chicken seekh kabob had great flavor too. The egg bhuji here tasted more like Chinese spicy scramble egg than what we had at other places. But that flavor was at another level! Wish my mom could make that good :p

We wanted to like the restaurant more, but we felt it lacked on spiciness. As my husband says "if…read moreI order something with the name inferno, I expect some spice." Not much. He ordered the Chicken Makhani Inferno and while the sauce/flavor is good, he wished there was a spiciness to it. I got the Scallops in Spicy Coconut Sauce and it too wasn't that spicy. Excellent sauce, but it would have made the experience if it was spicy. For appetizers, the table got the Galuti Kebab (lamb patties) and the Momos. Both dishes were quite good and the table enjoyed them. All in all - a good experience, and the reviews would have been higher if there was more of a kick to it.

Loved the ambience of this place! I bet it gets better in the summer when the patio opens up!…read more We had a reservation at 9pm but ended up reaching before 8:30... we were given a seat to wait and our table was ready in 10 minutes. The menu is pretty extensive and full of awesome indian dishes so we'll have to get back another time to try some other things! Our Galuti kebab was just melt in your mouth perfect and went great with the pineapple-ginger margarita! The goat biryani, while being not bad at all, was not the kind that I'd come back for. The portion size was good though. The real highlight was the crème' brûlée which was fantastic! And so was the pistachio kulfi! Try the kulfi if you have never tested authentic Indian ice cream!

Amazing food and even better service!…read more We've ordered from Curry NaanStop Indian Grill before, so it was no surprise when my hubby requested it again for Father's Day. I headed over for pickup and the place was packed. There was a line of people waiting for the buffet and honestly... not surprising at all once you taste the food. While I was waiting for our order, the owner came over and offered me what I think was tea or coffee with cream. Such a thoughtful and welcoming touch. It was absolutely delicious and made the whole experience feel extra special. We ordered the garlic naan (because... obviously), Chicken Mughalai, Butter Paneer Masala, and Chicken Tikka Masala. Each entrée came with white rice and every dish had its own unique flavor and spice profile. Rich, creamy, comforting, and full of flavor without feeling repetitive. The food was amazing but the service really stood out. You can tell they genuinely care about their customers. We'll definitely be back and next time we're trying the buffet so we can open up our palate and try even more dishes. 5 stars for incredible food and amazing service!

I should've had Curry NaanStop a long time ago but I thought the name was too gimmicky- Big mistake…read more. The food is fast and tastes extremely fresh and flavorful. I love a good Biriyani and that's exactly what I got. The rice was moist and my lamb wasn't overcooked or dried out. My grilled and fried veggies in the rice was fresh as well and hadn't just been sitting in one big pot. I could taste everything individually in the rice and you get an eggg. But what was very noticeable was the price. I've had mediocre food in the area for 4-7.00 more a plate in the area. I also like the variety. Everyplace doesn't offer goat. I'll be back for sure

I'll definitely give them another chance. My experience wasn't wholy positive. I think but they…read morehave potential. We ordered a lot of items. My favorite was chicken 65. All of the rest was Below par. That's 4.8 stars on Yelp so I m assuming they should definitely get another chance.

This is a nice new south Indian cuisine restaurant that serves tasty vegetarian and non-vegetarian…read more It replaced the previously established, Madurai Kitchen. The restaurant was clean, well-lit, and had a nice ambiance. I went here for lunch with my family. It was busy when we got here which was a good sign. We were seated promptly. The menu was to be accessed through a QR code. My party ordered different varieties as individual orders (not shared). The variety included different types of dosa, idly, vada sambar and a south Indian vegetarian thali aka platter. The food and service were good. Everyone liked what they ordered. The food was fresh and flavorful. I liked this restaurant and its offerings. I'll be back for more. Check them out.

This is an affordable place run by lovely people --and everything always smells amazing. I'm not…read moreexactly sure what everything supposed to taste like so I don't know how authentic it is but it is consistently tasty. Any review that doesn't consider the amazing attitude of the people who work here is missing the point of this family oriented business

They work so hard, and the guy who works behind the live counter and making those dosas I would say…read moresalute to him he doesn't smile back there, but you know that guy is working his ass off, looking at the heat levels. I would say it's not only that guy a couple of ladies that work around the food counter and the cash register when they do a great job. Unsure why it is 3 1/2 stars, definitely more than that and for the food five stars the reasoning they are very close to what the actual Indian food. The food should look like when you know It's not the plating that I like ( I like plating, but I like Food more ) it's it's more like you know the food that I'm eating it should be flavorful and It should be greasy it should be more to satisfy your hunger and not just you know look good. Ambience I would say don't go for a romantic dinner. It's more for people who like Food so you want to order in, go for it thats the best thing and you don't see all the sweat around on people serving your food. And if that makes you feel better that's what you should do. Overall thumbs up for their flavor in the food.

If you're considering dining at Kritunga Indian Restaurant in the northwest suburbs of Chicago,…read morethink again. My recent experience there was nothing short of a disaster, and I would strongly advise against visiting this establishment. Here's why: Firstly, the management of the restaurant is incredibly unprofessional. The place is run by a group of young individuals who seem to have no understanding of customer service or respect for their patrons. Upon arrival, it was clear that they prioritized larger parties over smaller groups like ours. Despite the restaurant being relatively new, it was evident that they had not taken the time to properly train their staff or understand the basics of running a successful business. Our dining experience started off poorly and only got worse. The staff barely acknowledged us and seemed disinterested in providing any sort of quality service. The lack of attention to smaller parties like ours was not just noticeable but blatant. We felt ignored and undervalued, which set a negative tone for the entire meal. The food, which is supposed to be the highlight of any dining experience, was utterly disappointing. We ordered several dishes, hoping to enjoy the rich flavors and spices that Indian cuisine is known for. However, each dish was tasteless and bland. It was as if no thought or care had been put into the preparation. The flavors were flat, and the textures were off. It was a complete waste of money, especially considering there are numerous other Indian restaurants in the area that offer far superior food. Adding to the misery was the state of the restaurant itself. The floor was slippery, making it hazardous to walk around. It was clear that cleanliness and safety were not priorities here. Both bathrooms were lacking basic amenities, such as tissues, which is unacceptable. Additionally, there was no salt and pepper in the shakers at our table, a small but significant detail that further highlighted the restaurant's lack of attention to basic customer needs. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was also lacking. Instead of feeling welcomed and comfortable, we felt neglected and uncomfortable. The staff's attitude was one of arrogance and indifference, which was reflected in the poor service and subpar food. It's truly a shame because the northwest suburbs of Chicago have a vibrant dining scene with many excellent Indian restaurants. Unfortunately, this place does not come close to meeting the standards set by its competitors. The combination of poor service, tasteless food, and an unclean environment makes this place a regrettable choice for anyone looking to enjoy a meal out. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. It was a thoroughly disappointing experience from start to finish. The management needs to seriously rethink their approach to running a restaurant and prioritize their customers' needs and satisfaction. Until significant improvements are made, I would suggest avoiding this place and opting for one of the many other decent Indian restaurants in the area. Save your money and your taste buds--do not dine here.

This was my second time here. The ambiance and atmosphere is nice. The service is a bit slow and…read moresome food was lukewarm temperature when it came to our table, but the staff is incredibly nice! The food was good but it felt like it was missing some flavor. Overall it was decent though I am not sure that I would crave it enough to come back again.

A solid 3 stars is what Cuisine of India EARNED from me, a South Indian…read more They "lean" towards the something for everyone only by default Indian Cuisine. They have vegetarian, vegan (if you ask a million questions about dairy, milk/cream, butter vs. Oil) and meat They serve only North Indian food, nothing South Indian. Every item is made on a flavor/spice palate for Americans. Which means bland. So if you are someone who has never had Indian food or does not know anything about the regional cuisine differences of the Subcontinent, Cuisine of India is you go-to place.

When we entered the restaurant we were greeted right away. The restaurant is clean and the tables…read morehave paper on them which we love! The food is all kept at the proper temperatures and there is a lot of variety in the buffet. The rice was cooked perfectly and the tandoori chicken was very flavorful and tender. This is not the setup that we are used too, pretty much everything is kept covered and that is a good thing! We will be back again for sure! Highly recommend this Indian Buffet!

Upon recent visit, a beautiful Friday evening in summer around 7pm, this restaurant was completely…read moreempty. When we asked for a table, the man at the counter seemed surprised. The minimal staff seemed unsure what to do, and the tables were not set. We were handed plastic plates and utensils, paper napkins. It was odd after reading the reviews and seeing pictures. There were no bar offerings and it seemed to be a no alcohol establishment. It was very quiet, as there was no music or sound except our group talking and laughing. We felt like we were being loud, but it's just that the whole place was so quiet and empty. The food was good, however, and there was a steady stream of take out and door dash happening. A few more families came it for dinner, but it was a mostly empty house. Service was acceptable, food was very good, but ambiance was definitely lackluster and uninviting.

Yum! I don't know if it's just because we haven't had Indian cuisine in a long time, but everything…read morewe had was a hit! We ordered a few things to be non-spicy and it was actually not spicy. Sometimes there's still a hint of mild spice, but this was great for our kids. Portion sizes are great and surprisingly generous. We ordered to go and all the food was still nice and hot when we brought it back. What we got: Butter chicken (not spicy) - So good. Such a staple for us and this one was kind of light on the tongue with a hint of sweetness. Palak paneer (not spicy) - This is akin to a creamed spinach with cheese cubes. We love this. Solid order -- it was good. I think other places have been a bit more savory compared to here, but we love this as a veg dish. Lamb biryani - This was so, so good. Other biryanis we've had have felt really heavy (maybe too greasy?), and super spicy. This one is delightfully bright flavored and surprisingly light feeling! I liked this so much. The lamb was delicious and tender. No bones or gristle in it. Just so good. And paired with the yogurt sauce to take some of the heat off--chef's kiss. This is definitely a spicy dish though. But so worth it. Shrimp korma - This was new to us! And I loved it a lot! It's coconutty and bright, but still creamy. It's reminiscent of a Thai curry if that helps give a comparison. I could drink this curry if it was acceptable. Butter naan - Nothing bad could ever be said about a butter naan. Delicious. Order so many. We fed 4 adults and 2 kids with more than enough leftovers. Maybe this will have to take our place as our new go-to for Indian!