117877 Mon May 23 21:11:30 -0700 2005 19 7 Chicago Area 0 643542 I just moved back to Chicago and am looking for a place to get good, cheap Indian carryout. Does this exist? Do I have to go all the way to Devon Street? I'm willing to drive if it's really good and really cheap. But it seems like there should be something around my neighborhood--Lincoln Park/Lakeview area. Mon May 23 21:11:30 -0700 2005 0 JasonK 1 643545 Hema's Kitchen opened up a 2nd location on Clark near Fullerton. There's Raj Darbar (which I know delivers) on Halsted near Diversey. Both are pretty good. There are a few places in the Belmont/Sheffield area but I don't know about their quality. Mon May 23 22:25:45 -0700 2005 643542 0 Dan 2 643561 Hema's is better than average and the portions are huge. It's not cheap. But, it's a good bang for your buck. Tue May 24 10:32:36 -0700 2005 643545 0 YourPalWill 3 643586 fwiw, I'm not a big fan of hema's on devon, and from all I've heard the one in lincoln park is worse. My advice, depending on where in lincoln park/lakeview you actually are is to go south rather than north - to the stretch of cabbie spots on orleans just north of chicago 6 bucks will get you full of pakistani food much better than any I've personally had in lincoln park. Again, fwiw, I've not been to monsoon personally, but a few members of my family have. They, like me, are of Indian heritage and found monsoon VERY unspectacular, and by no means worth the very high prices (and didn't want to go back even to satisfy my curiousity), for that sort of vibe, go to vermillion instead Tue May 24 16:23:59 -0700 2005 643561 0 zim 4 643589 I went to Hema's on Clark shortly after it opened, and from what I understand the service hasn't gotten any better since. The food's expensive and you'll have to wait an hour for it. Avoid at all costs. Tue May 24 18:19:28 -0700 2005 643586 0 Grace 4 643598 What's the names of the Pakistani places on Orleans, north of Chicago? Also what do they serve? Thanks. Wed May 25 00:27:41 -0700 2005 643586 0 Wayne 5 643601 here's a good short summary of the places in the area Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/113408#616768 Wed May 25 09:52:56 -0700 2005 643598 0 zim 6 643716 Couldn't wait .... went to Baba's Palace for a quick carry out lunch.... had the fried cat fish, mutton with chickpeas (I think), spinach and potato veggie side, rice and nan bread..... EXCELLENT Fish.... the nan bread is ok .... was expecting more because of the rave recs... great price .... is now on my list of go to places for cheap eats .... I can't wait to try some of the other places... THANKS! Fri May 27 20:56:46 -0700 2005 643601 0 Wayne 1 643547 Raj is ok, but a little pricy. There's a place on Clark north of Diversey. Forgot the name,... its on the east side of Clark. Don't go, I paid a fortune in nan bread. 3.95 per small order. There were 4 of us and we had to order 4 orders to get thru the meal. We were going to try a joint on Belmont, but haven't gone yet. Go to Devon St. Cheap and good. We went to Tiffin 2 Saturdays ago and it was good. They even had dosa on the buffet. Tiffin is probably the highest price joint on Devon too. I think it was 10.95 or so for the buffet. There are a LOT of other places that are probably as good and cheaper. Check the earlier listings. Tue May 24 00:47:23 -0700 2005 643542 0 Wayne 2 643553 If you need a quick fix without having to trek over to Devon, Raj would be my choice for the distance or delivery option. Wayne might thinking of Monsoon at Diversey/Clark (Broadway, actually)? I haven't been but friends say it's a better place for drinks than food. I think it's more along the lines of "creative" Indian fused with French perhaps? There is a also place on Sheffield just north of Belmont on the west side of the street (don't remember the name) that is cheap, buffet style usually, but I wouldn't recommend it. Tue May 24 08:43:45 -0700 2005 643547 0 shopgirl 3 643555 Yep, that is the place.... kinda 'hip' decor .... but still 'traditional' Indian food(as I know it) and I think Shopgirl is right, it's Broadway .... thanks for the clarification Shopgirl Tue May 24 08:58:59 -0700 2005 643553 0 Wayne 4 643556 Monsoon is very good, but not really traditional...shopgirl had it right when she said it was creative Indian with French influence. And it definitely is not cheap. I've been a couple of times, enjoyed both times. It's a very sensual restaurant. They do have great drinks, but I have also enjoyed their entrees. The food can be a bit heavy, though with lots of infused cream based sauces if I remember correctly. It is definitely more along the lines of Vermillion, but with a French influence, not Latin. Tue May 24 09:04:59 -0700 2005 643555 0 Greg 3 643565 are you thinking of Moti Mahal on Belmont just west of Sheffield? its been there forever. It is way cheap and for the most part your getting what you pay for. It's not in the Tiffin or India House on Grand league, but they deliver, so for the money it might be worth a try. Tue May 24 12:03:21 -0700 2005 643553 0 citywide bill 4 643572 Actually I believe it's Star of India on Sheffield just north of Belmont. Cheap eats, but not even remotely clean. Tue May 24 13:27:36 -0700 2005 643565 0 shopgirl 5 643608 Funny. It isn't exactly the cleanest, neatest place in the world. But the food is good. The lunch buffet is usually better and fresher than the Dinner buffet. I know some folks who are afraid to walk in because it looks so grimy. It's actually clean, just old and unkept. Give it a try. Wed May 25 11:55:15 -0700 2005 643572 0 shlo 2 643597 **On Clark just above Diversey you may be thinking of Hema's Kitchen, the Lakeview rendition of what's on Devon---and it didn't travel well. We went at 1:30 PM on a weekday, nobody there but us, and waited half an hour for our food. When it came, it was too spicy to eat (and we are accustomed to Indian food). EVERYTHING is an extra charge. **Why not just go to Devon? If you don't want to drive, jump on the Red Line at Fullerton or Belmont and get off at Loyola. Right outside the station is a McDonald's---wait in front of it for the Devon bus, which in seven minutes will deliver you to Devon & Western where you can choose from dozens of restaurants. Wed May 25 00:13:28 -0700 2005 643547 0 N Tocus 2 645308 Tiffin is probably the most expensive Indian food on Devon, but it is also the best. No gristle pasanda here. Tiffin's uses the best cuts of meat. So many other places use fatty cuts. I hate that!!! Their sauces are the best as well. The Chicken Tikka Misala (Sp?) and Lamb Pasanda are the bomb. Mon Aug 01 16:35:02 -0700 2005 643547 0 Michele 1 643550 If you don't want to go all the way up to Devon, there's Essence of India in Lincoln Square at Wilson & Lincoln. It's excellent, but not cheap. Tue May 24 07:51:49 -0700 2005 643542 0 JAK 2 643554 Devon is only about 10 minutes away .... if you go that far .....you might as well go the extra 2 miles. the only thing is that if you are going for lunch buffet on the weekends, go a little early (11:30 am) and you will get parking ... otherwise forget it. Tue May 24 08:51:53 -0700 2005 643550 0 Wayne 1 643901 We went to Standard of India on Belmont, just east of Sheffield (a couple of doors down from Ann Sather), for the Sunday lunch buffet. The price was 9.95. 1st time there, the storefront (which really describes the place) was clean, but worn ... the food was good, with the veggie dishes being a little better than the 3 meat dishes. They had Lamb Vindaloo, and Chicken Makhaani and Tandori Chicken. Not real hot (spicy) on the vindaloo ...I expected more 'heat' ... the butter Chicken was good with a flavorable sauce. The Tandori Chicken was very dry and IMHO slightly overcooked. Loved the Sag Paneer (but I am partial to the spicy creamed spinach)... good, but not overpowering spice. The Channa Masala (garbonzo beans) was good and slightly spicy too. Black (?) Dahl was ok in flavor, but a little 'soupy'... you would think less water, more dahl ??? ...so I kinda drained off some of the water/sauce.... 2 types of Mixed veggies was ok, but lacked some heat, and there was a julian cabbage that was kinda uninspiring (although I was probably getting real full by then). The nan bread is excellent, especially if you get it hot coming out of the kitchen. They had pappdums (had a big plateful for the table) and the cilantro chutney and the mango chutney went well with that. The deserts were the standard fare, the Gulab Jamun (I don't know why, but I always try them at every place thinking I am going to get some wonderous experience) was made in long fingers instead of round balls, but other than that it was like every other place. The Kheer was ok, but lacking in any of the nuts I usually find in other renditions. They also had soup, which I did not try. Sorry for going backwards thru the memu, but they also had samosas that were kinda cold and hard, but if you ate around the hard parts, it was ok (filled with potatoes). They also had some veggie pakoras which were cold and hard .... didn't like those at all.... All in all this was a good (not excellent) place. A lot more selection than most buffets. I thought the price was a little much, but then again, I was in Lakeview/Lincoln Park area. I guess I am spoiled by the better prices in the burbs for equal or better (a coupla places in Schaumburg and Himalaya in Niles can be had for 6.95). Also SOI Americanized the food a little too much.... it could have used a little more 'heat' all around.... when I eat Indian, I expect my head to sweat a little .... Mon Jun 06 12:20:45 -0700 2005 643542 0 Wayne