PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

It used to be a given that if you want great Indian food and you were in Chicago, you had to go to Devon Avenue to get it. Of course, the food is great no matter which place you wandered into, since they are all featuring authentic Northern and / or Southern Indian fare, they are family owned and operated and come at great prices to boot. However, the parking on Devon between Western Avenue and Kimball is horrendous, it is very difficult to even drive around there, the service can be hit or miss and the decor almost unanimously is less than to be desired. One new restaurant set out to remove all the negatives and improve on the positives, and that place is Tandoor's in Park Ridge.

Before even hitting upon the food itself, the first distinction is the location. Street parking is a breeze, and while it may be further west, the drive time for most folks is about the same, even though it's still on Devon! While the outside may be more reminiscent of a small diner, inside it is absolutely lovely and impeccably clean, hitting patrons head on with those wonderful aromas. The service couldn't be any more attentive and friendly, even for folks who have never tried any of those savory, Northern style spicy dishes before. However, be forewarned those used to eye tearing, nose clearing Bombay curries may be somewhat disappointed, as the owner Chris has turned down the heat a notch, possibly in order to cater to the surrounding area.

Like most Indian restaurants, Tandoor offers a small but decently varied buffet for lunch, as well as a dinner buffet on Friday and Saturday nights, all for $9.99! Those really wanting to savor the use of that Tandoor oven should try the Sizzling Platter, which is a whole mound of seasoned meats, poultry and seafood, ideal for sharing. Pair it with a Vegetable Korma and add some Naan or Aloo Paratha for a complete meal. Since they are waiting for their liquor license and no BYOB is currently available, ideal drinks would include a good Masala tea or even a Lassi. The best dessert options so far seem to be the Gulab Jamun and the Kheer dish, which many folks would find similar to rice pudding.

As this restaurant continues to grow and become known as the other place to go for great Indian fare, it can only be assumed Tandoor's will give its well established competitors some food for thought!