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Sukhadia’s Devon Chicago Review – Lousy Food, Delicious Sweets, Crunchy Snacks

Nov 092011

By Naveen

Sukhadia’s is a landmark on Devon St. for Chicago desis prematurely ejaculating over nostalgic reveries of the motherland, Incredible India.

Besides the cornucopia of Indian Sweets and Snacks to which they owe their fame, Sukhadia’s also serves fast food.

For most desis in the Chicago area, a visit to Devon is incomplete without hitting the pause button at Sukhadia’s.

So, when I visited Sukhadia’s on Devon last Tuesday evening I expected nothing but the very best!

Sukhadia’s is conveniently located, bang in the middle of the Indian strip on Devon Street.

Parking can be a hassle at Devon because of the cramped space, constant traffic and Indians abdicating their polite facade and unleashing their baser desi instincts of pent-up rudeness and rash driving that are otherwise held in check at other places and times.

Parking a few blocks away, I lazily sauntered over to Sukhadia’s.

Only to find it surprisingly devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. It seemed the store was ready to close any minute.

I decided to sanctify them by dining in and carrying out sweets and snacks for extended company.

Modest Ambiance

Like most desi establishments in the U.S., Sukhadia’s boasts of a modest ambiance with basic facilities.

The shelves and refrigerators are clean and neatly organized.

Tables and floor are tidy. Sugar dispensers, plastic cutlery and paper towels are aplenty.

Like most cheap desi establishments, the Sukhadia’s serve food in Styrofoam plates .

Styrofoam plates, Gaaawd!

The rest room is disgusting and horribly maintained.

Oh, why should that come as a surprise?

Devon desi joints offer nothing but the worst when it comes to rest rooms.

The Food

Sukhadia’s is a self-service place.

We placed our order and paid the bill at the counter after a quick scan of their menu that boasts of an assortment of Chaat, South & North Indian and Gujarati items.

The first item that trotted our way was the commonplace Mumbai street food, Pav Bhaji.

The delectable Bhaji alone justified our long drive to Devon and to our pleasant surprise I found it non-greasy and non-watery.

Voila!

Sukhadia's Pav Bhaji Pav Bhaji

However, I was least impressed with the Pav.

You see, the cheapos at Sukhadia’s seem to be buying the cheapest possible buns from a local grocery store and peddling it as Pav. While there was nothing much wrong about the Pav, the fact that they took no extra effort to make one themselves or at least differentiate it from the standard grocery store bun irked us no end.

You see, our standards have increased after coming to Amreeka!

Next up was Chole Puri, which was adequate in taste although nothing exceptional. Hey, the Jalapeno–Carrot pickle was a good side.

With a nice balance of sourness and right amount of spice, it turned out to be quite addictive.

So addictive indeed that I took a box home.

Sukhadia's Chole Puri Chole Puri

Out came Dahi Batata Puri and, boy, what an utterly lousy, disgusting piece of shit did these bastards serve us!

It was cold, watery, stale and puke-worthy with the Puris disintegrating on holding.

Arre o Sambha, are you listening?

Needless to say, we were livid at these cartoons.

Sukhadia's Dahi Batata Puri Dahi Batata Puri

The Roti-Subji helped us partially recover from the tsunami of ‘Dahi Batata Puri’ disgust we were drowning in.

Roti was large, soft and warm and the Kala Channa subji was a fine side.

Sukhadia's Roti Subji Roti Subji

The other Subji involving the rape of Baingan (Egg Plant) with a salty concoction masquerading as gravy, was unfit for human consumption. Or for that matter, even animals.

Again, the Jalapeno-Carrot pickle abated the agony (Or as young Macaulay would have said, Thank You, Madam, the agony is abated).

The less said the better of the Salt Lassi and Masala Chai.

Masala Chai is supposed to be aromatic and hot.

Alas, we were served a brownish lukewarm bilge devoid of any aroma or flavor.

Sukhadia's Masala Chai Sukhadia’s Masala Chai

Salt Lassi turned out to be partially beaten sour curd with no salt.

Cursing the Sukhadia’s in the foulest language *&@#$%#$%*^, we junked both items without much ado.

Sukhadia's Salt Lassi Salt Lassi

Alas, it was not our day.

The store manager / owner told us that most of the items in the menu were not available because they were shortstaffed that day and they did not expect many visitors.

*&#$^*@$, why do you keep the store open then?

Desperate for some $$$$?

Of course! You greedy *&^$#$*% would like to snatch every dollar from our wallet even if it is by delivering sub-standard quality.

Delicious Sweets

I am not an aficionado of sweets but I guarantee a trip to Sukhadia’s can put you on a high dose of Mithai-addiction.

To keep our desi lower jaws busy for a few days, I selected a sampling of sweets from their fine spread and a few snacks as well.

During the selection of sweets, the glib talking owner was a constant irritant offering his unwanted opinion.

When I asked for a sample of what was labeled as Mathura Peda he promptly thrust his hand into the tray and split the item into two pieces with his fingers and thrust his left hand with one half of the sweet towards my face as he flung the other half back into the tray.

Does this f@cker not know that he is supposed to wear gloves (gloves were present and his helper was using gloves)? Does the Chutiya not know why God bestowed Indians with the left hand?

(Water + desi left hand = clean bottom!)

Ignoring the bozo’s crude, unclean, defiling act, I checked it out (why, God!).

To my surprise, he packed all the items into a nice “Sukhadia’s” bag instead of the clumsy plastic bags.

Sukhadia's Sweets Sukhadia’s Sweets

Let me say upfront that all the sweets with the exception of the Sweet Cutlet (bottom row, extreme left) were fantastic!

Each one tasted exactly how it should taste.

Sweet Cutlet tasted odd and didn’t exactly thrill me.

Sukhadia's Ras Malai Ras Malai

Ras Malai, Kala Jamun and Besan Ladoo were the picks of the lot although the other items were almost as good.

Ras Malai was a spongy delight. It oozed every bit of Ras in perfect coordination with the melting of the malai in my appreciative mouth.

Hmmmmm.. I almost came right in the store!

Kala Jamun was fantastic, evenly cooked, sweet but not overtly saturating.

Brilliant!

Absolutely divine… The version with coconut flakes was also very good.

Prima facie, Besan Ladoo wasn’t that appealing but one bite wiped all doubts away and it proved its worth in besan

The other run of the mill stuff – Motichor Ladoo, Kaju Katri etc, were not exceptionally unique but adequate and sweet!

After this visit, I added two more items to my “Must Try Again” list of sweets and those were the Carrot Burfi and Kalakand.

A mere 10 seconds in the microwave brought all the life back in them much to the delight of my taste buds.

Crunchy Snacks

A review of Sukhadia’s is incomplete without mention of their fine snacks.

We tried the crunchy Chaklu, Spicy Banana Chips and fine Mixture.

All fine items, good to munch on while watching your favorite Bollywood or Kollywood drivel.

Sukhadia's Chaklu Chaklu

Chaklu is my favorite, second only to my inamorata.

It reminds me of its Tamil Cousin “Thattai”.

While they are mostly similar, the use of Sabudana in Chaklu differentiates them.

The noise of a Chaklu disintegrating in my mouth is like magic.

Sukhadia's Mixture Chips and Mixture are a fine companion.

For your Beer, Whisky or any other Indian son of a bitch Bacchus that gets you high!

Sukhadia's Spicy Banana Chips Spicy Banana Chips

Recommendation

Folks – Sukhadia’s is a one of its kind, sui generis for Sweets and Snacks.

It is usually “OK” for fast food but it seems we caught them with their pants down this time.

If you are visiting Devon then make a stop at Sukhadia’s and pick up your favorite snacks!

It seems wiser to avoid dining in on week days based on our experience.

Now, while you folks read this review, if you don’t mind (or even if you do) let me refill my cup of mixture and stuff my mouth with a few more Sukhadia’s Chaklus.

Yummy!

Lemont Rama vs. Aurora Balaji – A Holy Clash

Food, Religion, Reviews 8 Responses »

Oct 202011

By Naveen

Ladies, (not-so)Gentlemen and fans of Bollywood / Kollywood / Tollywood,

After MTV’s Celebrity Death Match and Animal Planet’s Animal Face-Off, we have SearchIndia’s Chicago Hindu Temple Cafeteria Wars!

Y’all would have seen or read about India vs. Pakistan, Federer vs. Nadal, Kamal vs. Rajini, Bush vs Gore, Sri Lanka vs LTTE, Aamir vs. Shah Rukh, Lion vs. Tiger, Pandavas vs. Kauravas but it’s unlikely you’re even aware about the great Rama vs. Balaji clash.

Yes! The two Hindu gods are waging holy war!

Cafeteria is the war zone.

Food is the weapon.

And not-so-humble I am the judge.

Here’s a background for those who have no clue what this post is about.

A few weeks ago I visited the SVS [Balaji] Temple in Aurora and feasted on the out of this world food served in their cafeteria. Here is the account of my Balaji experience.

Chicago Balaji Temple Cafteria Review - SearchIndia.com Aurora Balaji Temple

Last week, I gorged on the delectable offerings of the cafeteria in the Lemont Rama temple aka The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago. You may read my Lemont Rama Temple review here.

With two solid cafeterias near me, I have to do what every idle man does… compare the two and put one above the other for no apparent reason except the sadistic pleasure of putting one down.

Without further ado here is the comparison…

Round 1: The Ambiance and the Crowd

While both Lemont and Aurora cafeterias sport a modest ambiance with only basic facilities for diners, the Aurora cafeteria is much larger – twice as big as Lemont’s. This makes sense because the crowd at Aurora is significantly larger than at Lemont.

If the day of the week is Saturday or Sunday, Balaji turns into Rajinikanth and all the South Indian Mamis dress up in Sarees, kids in Kurta Pyjama or Pattu Pavadai and drive down to Aurora to get Rajinikanth’s Balaji’s Divya Darisanam and importantly the “Prasadham” for lunch/dinner.

It’s like a first day first show of a new Rajinikanth movie. No, we’re not kidding. You’ve got to watch it to believe it.

While Lemont also receives a strong inflow of visitors during the weekends, the crowd is like that of a Kamal Haasan movie – sizable but not comparable to a Rajini film. At Lemont, there are more visitors for the programs organized in the temple auditorium than to the temple or its cafeteria.

Another interesting difference is that Aurora’s cafeteria is located right at the entrance of the temple. Visitors have to go via the cafeteria if they wish to have a darshan of Balaji or other Gods. Lemont Cafeteria is located well inside the temple. Those visiting only the Siva Temple or the Rama temple or the Auditorium do not have to pass via the cafeteria or even go anywhere near it. That way the cafeteria is exclusive to those who really want to eat.

Result: Rama Wins!

I like Aurora cafeteria’s size and Lemont cafeteria’s location within the temple. On the crowd factor, a large crowd can be eventful but a smaller crowd gives me more space, easy seating and better service. Rama manages to deliver an extra punch on Balaji in Round 1.

Lemont Rama Temple Cafeteria Review - SearchIndia.com Lemont Rama Temple

Round 2: Menu & Cost

The two Chicago Hindu temple cafeteria’s menus and prices are very similar.

Lemont offers a choice of Plain Dosa and Masala Dosa while Aurora offers Dosa with Masala always served on the side. Those who don’t want Masala have no choice except to ask for no Masala, which can be a pain considering the large crowd. Lemon Rice is another item on Lemont’s menu that’s missing in Aurora.

But, Aurora fights back with Bholi and Indian Coffee, both not offered by Lemont.

Added to that, Aurora’s menu caters to the majority of its clientele – South Indians.

Lemont on the other hand has a significant North Indian following as the temple itself is a fusion of South and North styles. But their cafeteria serves nothing but the raised middle finger to North Indians. A shame!

Result: Balaji punches Rama in the gut and takes Round 2. Lemont’s menu should be revised to include a few items that North Indians like.

Round 3: Ordering, Service & Billing

Both cafeterias are self service.

From the time one enters the cafeteria it can take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes to have the first bite at Aurora during peak lunch /dinner hours. There’s a line to buy tokens, then there’s a line to collect food and if you are that sinner who ordered Dosa then you have to take a token and wait for your number to show up. If you show up even a minute late then you will have to wait as Dosas take longer than the other items.

The entire process of ordering – billing – collecting food is smooth at Lemont even during peak hours – just one small line. From the time you enter the cafeteria, you could be having your first bite even within 5 minutes. Even in Lemont you have to give your name in case you are ordering Dosas but the wait time was less than 5 minutes. Sweet!

Billing is another area where Lemont stood out. At Aurora, the person at the billing has outright refused to give receipts on multiple occasions. One another instance the swines double billed me and I had to contact them to get that reversed. No such issues at Lemont.

At Lemont, water cups, spoons, paper towels and water cans are abundantly available for patrons. In Aurora, at the time of billing one has to ask for the exact number of water cups and spoons needed. You may even be asked to share cups or spoons by the idiot behind the counter. Also, there are no water jugs at Aurora – only water fountains.

Result: Rama comes right back into the game by landing tight slaps on both cheeks of Balaji

Round 4: Hygiene & Environmental Consciousness

Both Lemont and Aurora do quite ok on hygiene but here are a few observations.

Lemont keeps an open sugar bowl instead of sugar sachets. There are more easily accessible rest rooms in the Lemont temple than at Aurora and also due to the crowd the rest rooms at Aurora are more extensively used. But kudos to the staff who manage to keep it in decent shape.

The one big factor where Aurora gets some extra points is their attempt to implement the “Go Green” initiative. Recently they completely eliminated Styrofoam and moved to paper cups and plates. Lemont is still on Styrofoam.

Result: Balaji recovers from Rama’s brutal assault in the previous round

Round 5: The Food

Lemont Rama Vs Aurora Balaji Temple Canteen Food

Coming to the core of the cafeteria.. the food itself. As you may have read in my reviews both cafeterias can be proud of the food they serve.

South Indians in the Chicago region will take either of these cafeterias any day over the garbage served at many of the so-called “Fine Dining” Indian restaurants in the same area.

Still, there are some differences between the two temple cafeterias that did not miss an astute observer like yours truly.

Despite all the good food at Lemont, two factors clearly tilt the scales in favor of Aurora:

1. Lemont’s Curd rice and Tamarind rice were nowhere in the same heavenly class as Aurora’s. Lemont’s Tamarind rice was actually atrocious.

2. Overall food temperature at Lemont ranged from cold to lukewarm for most items, which was disappointing. It was like Rama was giving the cold shoulder to his ardent devotees. The chances of getting cold food at Aurora is very low.

Result: Balaji delivers a powerful upper-cut and punch to Rama’s face

Verdict

The dust settles in the battle field.

Rama and Balaji waged a tough battle and now they meekly await my verdict.

And I declare Aurora Balaji Temple Cafeteria the CLEAR WINNER of this challenge!

Here is why Balaji takes home the Cafeteria trophy:

* They consistently deliver inexpensive, high quality, tasty and hot food to a much larger clientele. All their menu items are good

* Their menu has what majority of their patrons want while Lemont doesn’t have anything for its North Indian patrons

* They have attempted to be eco-friendly

But if you don’t like to wait in long lines or make a sprint for the tables then the Lemont cafeteria would be a better bet.

Lemont Rama Temple Cafeteria – Abundant Blessings

America, Food, Reviews 1 Response »

Oct 182011

By Naveen

Besides cultural inclinations what else can lure a non-religious person to Hindu temples in the U.S.?

What else but the thought of gorging on an array of fine food at the temple cafeterias!

The Chicago land offers some fine temples for devout Hindus to congregate, places like the Aurora Balaji Temple, Lemont Rama Temple, Swaminarayan Mandir etc.

For me, a visit to Aurora Balaji temple or in this instance the Lemont Rama Temple a.k.a. Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago is a good excuse to feast on the fine “Prasadhams”.

For a long time I was unaware the Lemont Rama Temple had a cafeteria and only recently did I discover the existence of this hidden gem.

Ram Temple Ambiance

A drive to the Lemont Rama Temple is a relaxing experience in itself.

The temple is built on a small landscaped hill (or a large mound depending on how one looks at it).

Plenty of parking, soothing greenery and quiet surroundings bring instant peace as you enter the Temple campus.

Lemont Rama Temple Rama Temple Lemont

Lemont Rama Temple has multiple entrances including a Gopuram visible from a distance.

The temple has multiple blocks linked via a hallway.

I entered through the Siva temple where the Hindu gods Siva, Parvathi, Ganesh, Murugan, Durga, Aiyappa Swamy and Navagraham are worshiped. This is a spacious hall.

Sometimes you may find yourself getting free Prasadham as you move from this block to the other side of the Temple. Alas, I wasn’t lucky during my latest visit.

On the way from here to the main Rama temple, there is a fine auditorium used for cultural events and fund raisers, a Gift shop, Library, couple of footwear removal area, restrooms, the Cafeteria and finally the Rama Temple.

Radha – Krishna, Balaji, Mahalakshmi, Hanuman, Satyanarayana Swamy and, of course, Sita – Rama – Lakshmana are worshiped in this block. If the Siva temple was spacious then the Rama temple is big enough to host an event.

Lemont Rama Temple campus is very clean unlike the ever-present filth one encounters in temples back home in India.

You can see an interesting mix of North and South Indian styles in the Rama Temple’s architecture.

While the interior of the temple shows a North Indian influence, it has an impressive traditional South Indian Gopuram outside.

While a lot of visitors are North Indians, the Priests hail from the South and so is the food in the Cafeteria.

Ah… I finally come to the purpose of my visit… the Cafeteria.

The Cafeteria sports a modest appearance. It just has the basic essentials and a small kitchen.

Thankfully for the diners, although the kitchen is small the food is made with a large heart and a fine taste.

Cafeteria Service

Like most Hindu temple cafeterias in the U.S., the Lemont Rama Temple cafeteria too is self service.

During our visit, the line was short, ordering and billing were quick and the items were served quickly.

There were sufficient tables available during our two visits, on Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening, which are the peak periods.

Lemont Rama Temple Canteen

There were enough water jars, cups and spoons.

However, sugar was kept in an open bowl instead of a sugar dispenser. This is a hygiene issue.

Lemont Rama Temple Sugar Sugar in an Open Bowl – Unhygienic

The full menu is available only on weekends.

Ram Temple Canteen Menu

The menu is basic but adequate for a temple cafeteria.

Here’s the stuff that made me forget the world and had me in an ecstasy.

The first item my starving stomach and hungry eyes targeted was Idly-Sambar, a South Indian favorite.

Lemont Rama Temple Idly Lukewarm Idly, Delicious Chutney

Idly was not as warm as I would have desired but the delicious fresh Coconut Chutney and the lip-smacking Sambar more than compensated for the lukewarm Idlys.

Now, the Sambar deserves a special mention.

Although at first glance it looked watery and unimpressive, a few gulps later I could not get enough of that addictive little bitch!

With a fine flavor and right temperature it was as good if not better than any Sambar I’ve ever tasted! And hailing from South India, if I know anything in life it’s my Sambar.

Lemont Rama Temple Sambar Superb Sambar

What’s next?

Of course it’s the ever reliable Medu Vadai, a spongy delight that after soaking in the warm Sambar had my taste buds in sheer rhapsody.

Lemont Rama Temple Vadai Medu Vadai – Spongy Delight

The caterers at Lemont should be proud of the fantastic Pongal they serve.

To say that the Pongal was yummy would be an understatement but I was not pleased when the “Hot Pongal” was served at lukewarm temperature.

Nevertheless, one spoon of this enchanting stuff sent me into waves of euphoria.

Lemont Rama Temple Pongal Fantastic Pongal

Lemon Rice was a perfect preparation with a fine tangy flavor, light yellow color and chunky rice.

This naughty medley was so palatable that I wanted to skip a few other menu items and do an encore.

Lemont Rama Temple Lemon Rice Fine Lemon Rice

Very rarely does Mango Lassi find its way into my list of must have items but the Rama Temple cafeteria’s Mango Lassi was truly exceptional.

Creamy in color, whipped frothy and light, sweet but not cloyingly sweet, this Lassi was so good that I greedily slurped three cups and still yearned for more.

Lemont Rama Temple Mango Lassi Excellent Mango Lassi

Here is stuff at the Rama Temple that was good and tasty but not exceptional…

Masala Dosai was as expected very appetizing although I personally prefer a slightly thicker crust and a hotter version (temperature-wise)!

Lemont Rama Temple Masala Dosai Masala Dosai – Good but not Great

Curd Rice was ok.

Although it was quite palatable, for me the benchmark for temple curd rice is the exceptional offering at Aurora Balaji temple Cafeteria which ranks several notches above any other curd rice that I have tasted.

Lemont Rama Temple Curd Rice Curd Rice – OK

This curd rice had excess of Jeera and Ginger that interrupted the flavor of the curd.

After going through the assortment of sweets, I picked Badusha as it is one item I rarely eat.

Man, that was one good decision.

The Badusha wasn’t too sugary but packed enough sweetness in it to qualify as a fine dessert.

Lemont Rama Temple Badusha Badusha – Sweet Temptation

Now for the Ugly

Here is stuff for which the caterers need a tight slap.

Surprisingly, the Tamarind Rice turned out to be huge disappointment.

It lacked the enticing smell, savory taste and nice feel of fresh Puliohare and coming from a temple cafeteria it deserves to be frowned upon.

Lemont Rama Temple Badusha Dissappointing Tamarind Rice

The lousy Pickle that they provided for 50 cents was extremely unpleasant.

Who would want to taste an utterly bitter thing in the middle of a fine lunch!

Hell, the pickle wasn’t even pickled enough.

Lemont Rama Temple Pickles Bitter Pickles

Masala Tea was too thin and had absolutely no Tea Masala flavor.

After a few sips I abandoned it.

Lemont Rama Temple Masala Chai Flavorless Masala Tea

By the way, which moron decided that Indians visiting temple cafeteria would have black Coffee?

This was the one item that truly annoyed me among all the items in the cafeteria.

Lemont Rama Temple Coffee Black Coffee

Low Price, High Quality

A key attraction of eating at a Hindu Temple cafeteria in the U.S. is the low price for most items.

For the high quality you generally get at Hindu temples here, the prices are a steal.

Here’s a look at the Lemont Rama Temple menu:

Rama Temple Menu

If Hindu Temples can sell their fine fare at such modest prices, why is it that Indian restaurants here try to palm off crappy food at exorbitant prices. The only explanation we can think of is rapacious greed of the restaurant owners and rank incompetence of the chefs.

Rama Temple Cafeteria – Overall Verdict

Despite a few stumbles the Lemont Rama temple cafeteria is a fine place to visit for good South Indian Lunch or Dinner.

Their fantastic Pongal, swoon-worthy Sambar and frothy Mango Lassi amply make up for the few deficiencies I found in some of the other items.

Just in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to be a Hindu to partake of the cafeteria’s many pleasures.

Your favorite blog SearchIndia.com strongly recommends the Lemont Rama Temple Cafeteria.

And during your visit if you happen to see an Indian-looking character with a laser-like focus on the third plate of Idly-Medhu Vadai or slurping the fourth glass of Mango Lassi you can be sure that person is yours truly.

Go for it, folks!

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Shree Westmont Review – Mon Dieu, This Indian Impostor Serves Hellishly Awful Food

Food 2 Responses »

Sep 262011

By Naveen

Why can’t people stick to what they know best.

Or learn to steer clear of their core incompetency.

Why does Abhishek Bachchan “act”? Why does India have a Soccer team? Why does the TOI website publish soft porn alongside news?

Why do clueless bozos often man the kitchens in South Indian restaurants? Is there a conspiracy to give the nice South Indian food a bad rap.

Do the cooks take a peek at hapless patrons from their safe perch in the kitchen and have a sadistic laugh at their plight?

Convenient Location, Modest Décor

The epicenter of our bad Karma lies at the intersection of N Cass Ave and Ogden in Westmont, IL. For that’s where Shree South & North Indian Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant is located.

Things started out well with easy parking and quick seating.

Perhaps the near-immediate seating at 1 pm on a Sunday should have set off alarm bells that a more alert diner would have heard and beaten a hasty retreat.

The restaurant appears quite modest from outside with the typical clutter of Indian magazines and Desi newspapers. The interiors are neat and simple.

The tables were well arranged and water was served instantly.

The Menu

To my cheap desi dismay, the Lunch Buffet is available only on weekdays.

Schade!

The menu was neat but the first thing that caught my caviling eye and evoked a chuckle was how they misspelled Vadai as Vedai.

That was the last time I laughed at Shree.

Shree’s awkward menu packs a random selection of South and North Indian items. It has a confused and incomplete feel to it perhaps due to the owner’s ambivalence on whether to go all out South Indian or not.

Tell me, was the owner jerking off to desi porn while deciding the menu and prematurely ejaculated this list. How else can you explain these glaring anomalies:

* Special Vegetable Rice but No Vegetarian Biriyani
* South Indian Thali but no North Indian Thali
* Dal Kandhahari but no Dal Makhani / Yellow Dal
* Chapati but no Naan/Roti

Why?? Tell me, why??

And before I forget, they have a travesty called Prantha. I’ll come to it later.

Being the forgiving kind, I decided to ignore these egregious blunders mistakes and focus on ordering what they offered.

The Food

Rose Milk and Badam Kheer gave us a promising start that camouflaged the devilishly bad experience that was about to unfold.

While neither of the drinks gave us any orgasmic fits, they were fairly good, especially the Rose milk.

Badam Kheer was fine but a little thin for my liking.

Rose Milk

Badam Kheer

The drinks were followed by Vegetable Soup, a barely palatable salty concoction of Tomato and Carrot puree which we hoped was a onetime aberration.

Little did we know of the further miseries on the road ahead.

Shree Vegetarian Westmont IL - Vegetable Soup Vegetable Soup – A No-No

Our hunger and anticipation was somewhat insulted by the appearance of the Vegetable Cutlets.

The oval shaped monstrosity resembled nuts extracted from male South Asian (??) genitals.

The lousy filling coupled with the ugly appearance makes this the Father of all ugly food.

Shree Vegetarian Westmont - Vegetable Cutlet

Vegetable Cutlet – Yeeks

Shree Vegetarian Restaurant Westmont - Masala Vadai

Masala Vadai – Yuck

I switched my focus to the sexy-looking Masala Vadai hoping for redemption.

Just one bite had me gasping for water as the sexy bitch burnt my tongue.

The combination of the ridiculously cold Peanut Chutney and Coconut Chutney with the hot Sambar and deceptively hot Masala Vadai had me cursing the bastards.

The uneven temperature of the Masala Vadai makes me strongly suspect that these were 420s substituting Frozen Vadai in lieu of fresh preparations.

Main Course!

Those who have had the Poori Potato dish would know the divine aroma of the lovely Boiled Potato – Onion – Green Chilli – Coriander combination that makes you crave endlessly for more.

Alas, Shree’s Poori Potato had no such flavor or appeal.

The Poori had a tinge of Rice Flour and the Potato Subji was too greasy and bland.

Shree Vegetarian Westmont IL - Poori Potato Poori Potato – Abominable

With dirge in my heart and growing revulsion, I wearily trudged on to North Indian food hoping these bozos would be on a better footing at least here.

Since they had no choice of Naans or Parathas, I went with Chapati, Prantha and Baingan Bharta.

Shree Vegetarian Westmont IL - Baingan Bhartha Baingan Bhartha – Decent Stuff

The Chapati was thick but easily edible since it was warm. The Baingan Bharta was fine although it was too high on Peas.

Compared to the disaster we were served, the Bharta was delicious.

After finishing off the Chapati, I pounced on the Prantha.

Two bites of Prantha had my face muscles twitching in disgust and horror.

The rotten Prantha seemingly made from Besan was hard to bite, difficult to swallow and disgusting as hell.

Was this prepared by a human hand? We want to know.

Out of respect for my digestive system, I decided to give any more of this item a pass.

Chapati – Well, ‘Tis Edible

Shree Vegetarian Restaurant Westmont - Prantha

Prantha – Sheer Hell

I finally ordered the most basic Gulab Jamun for dessert purely for the purpose of a thorough review.

After the ridiculous garbage this restaurant threw our way I was in high dudgeon but I’d have to say that the Gulab Jamun was ok.

Shree Vegetarian Westmont IL - Gulab Jamun Gulab Jamun – OK

Punishment Indeed

Soon after we returned home, my wife threw up and I had mild stomach ache.

I can’t think of anything else that could have caused it expect the pathetic food served by Shree Vegetarian restaurant in Westmont, IL.

Service

The routine tasks of filling empty glasses, clearing used plates, taking order promptly and delivering food quickly were performed efficiently. The waiter was courteous.

However, when I requested for a slightly modified order, the waiter took off his professional uniform and unveiled the clown inside. Let me elaborate…

The Iddly (2 pieces) is 5.95, Medu Vadai (2 pieces) is 5.95 and Masala Vedai (3 pieces) is 6.95.

I asked him for a plate of one Iddly, one Medu Vadai and one Masala Vadai and charge me accordingly but the clown stood there completely bewildered and went on to decline my request with the apologetic shit “My owner does not allow mixing orders, sir”. He also went on with a most absurd story “Our customer order combo of Dahi Vada and Sambar Vada and the owner asked not to take such orders”.

Verdict – Avoid Shree

There are numerous Indian restaurants in Shree’s proximity that serve far better South and North Indian food.

Shree’s patrons are either completely unaware of what is Indian food or they must love crap.

If you value your health and appreciate fine Indian food then stay far away from Shree, a charlatan of an Indian restaurant that serves lousy and potentially unhealthy food.

SVS Temple Aurora Canteen – Count Your Blessings

Food, Religion, Reviews 17 Responses »

Jul 252011

by Naveen

Edukondalavada Venkata Ramana Govinda Govinda!

Hey wait!

Before y’all scoot thinking this is a religious post, I swear on Balaji that you folks will be chanting the same Edukondalavada…Govinda Govinda mantra after tasting the non pareil South Indian Tiffin offered at Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, IL.

SVS Temple Aurora, Chicago SVS Temple Aurora – Nourishing the Soul & the Stomach

After moving from the bustling Chicago downtown to a tranquil suburb, I paid a visit to the famous Balaji temple aka. SVS Temple Aurora, IL this last weekend.

My appetites were roused and I was drooling in anticipation of laying my hands on the big, soft, curvaceous and spongy… Idly.

What were you thinking, you perverts?

Quiet, Serene and Large Parking

Balaji temple is a fine oasis for Desis in the Chicago area, especially the South Indian community, to congregate harmoniously in the name of Vishnu (Balaji/Venkateswara is a form of Vishnu) and food, two things dear to most Hindus.

The campus is sprawling and the temple itself is constructed away from the road and in the middle of man-made ponds that enhance the aura and beauty of the place.

SVS Temple Aurora Sylvan Surroundings of the SVS Temple, Aurora

Despite a large parking lot in front of the temple, a new additional parking lot has been opened to accommodate more guests / worshipers. The overall capacity is probably 400+ parking spaces which is adequate except on special days like Diwali etc.

The temple itself is a beautiful structure, both the interiors and the external facade.

In sheer majesty, it can match any traditional South Indian temple in India.

Services

Devout Hindus may visit this temple to worship Ganesh (Pillayar), Karthikeya (Murugan), Siva, Bhramarambhika (Parvathi), Navagraham, Balaji / Sri Venkateswara Swamy / Vishnu, Sri Devi (Maha Lakshmi), Bhoo Devi (Andal), Kanyeka Parameswari, Aiyappan and Hanuman (Anjaneyar).

Unlike major temples in India, one does not need to buy tickets for Darshan of the deities at the SVS Temple. Natürlich, you don’t have special tickets that allow you to bypass the queue either.

Balaji temple is a one-stop shop for various Hindu religious functions and activities.

Apart from the regular sevas, the temple conducts special pujas periodically based on important dates in the Hindu calendar.

Some of the regular services offered by Temple are:

1. Archana
2. Car Puja, House-warming, etc.
3. Facilities (Space, Catering, Purohit, Puja Items etc.) and to conduct family functions including Marriages.
4. A separate building called Panchavati for Dance, Musical recitals and other cultural activities
5. Gift Shop
6. Sales of Panchangam (Hindu calendar), Titan Watches embossed with Balaji’s likeness, Balaji Photos and a few other religious artifacts
7. And, of course, a Canteen

Ah, but I digress.

The purpose of this review is to cover just the temple canteen and not the temple itself.

So, y’all may visit the SVS Temple web site for details of their services and schedules and read ahead for the food review.

Busy Temple, Busier Cafeteria, and Clean Premises

The moment you near the temple entrance you cannot miss the distinctive, inviting aroma of the two South Indian favorites Vadai and Sambar.

Devotees have to walk past the Canteen on the 1st floor to enter the Sannadhis (worshiping premises) in the 2nd floor. It’s probably designed to make people spend less time worshiping and more money eating.

Not a bad commercial idea!

The temple is at its busiest on weekends.

The lovely Sari clad women, Salwar wearing belles, kids running helter-skelter, slow moving old Mamas and Mamis, loud discussions in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, kids responding in American accent to dads admonishing them in an acquired accent and the several quirkiness associated with South Indians, makes this divine island a lively place.

The clean kitchen, use of gloves to serve and a clean restroom makes us forget any lingering worries and encourage us to eat heartily with gusto.

Busy Canteen at SVS Temple Aurora Crowded Canteen at SVS Temple

Menu… OOPS! It’s called Prasadham
SVS Canteen offers only the popular South Indian Tiffin and snack items in its menu (with Mango Lassi being an exception).

No Garlic Naan, Paneer Makhani, Paav-Bhaji, Dhokla or Kathiawadi food served here.

And if you shaitans dare to even think of non-vegetarian items, may Balaji hurl his nastiest curses at you!

Idly, Vadai, Idly-Vadai Combo, Pongal, Pongal-Vadai Combo, Dosai, Puliohare (Tamarind Rice), Thayir Sadham (Curd Rice), Tea, Indian Coffee, Black Coffee, Mango Lassi, Laddu and Bholi is the complete menu with one or two snack items added occasionally.

How to Buy Food in SVS Canteen?

SVS Canteen is a self-service place.

The canteen is run by volunteers and a small admin staff.

1. Stand in a line and buy tokens from billing counter. Some items such as Bholi, Laddu, and Murukku etc. are pre-packed and you can collect it here.
2. Stand in multiple lines to exchange tokens for the food items.
a. Idly, Vadai, and Pongal go in one line
b. Dosai counter collects the token and issues a ticket. You may collect your Dosai when your number flashes
c. Puliohare and Thayir Sadham are boxed and go in a separate line
d. Another line for Sambar and Chutney
e. Dispensers are available for Tea, Coffee and Mango Lassi

Freshly prepared items are available only on weekends or special days.

Important: Dosai counter opens at 11:30 am on weekends only.

Be prepared for long lines during lunch / dinner hours during weekends.

SVS Temple Food Review

Instead of elaborate descriptions item by item, I would say that most of the items were simply fantastic.

My taste buds were tingled lovingly by the temple kitchen’s passionately cooked food that appeared, tasted, smelt and felt like what good South Indian Tiffin ought to be.

Idly was big, soft, spongy, warm and an absolute pleasure when dipped in the fine tangy, vegetable and aroma rich Sambar.

Coconut chutney was fresh, fragrant and left a spicy feel which made me hanker for more and more of it.

Idly-Vada at SVS Temple, Aurora Great Idly-Vadai Combo

The Vadai was perfect in shape, rich in color, right in size, and fine in taste and surprisingly not oily!

Pongal was an absolute treat.

With the perfect temperature, it melted in my mouth giving me a loving feel of its well mixed ingredients such as Black Peppercorn (Milagu), Ghee and Curry leaf.

Simply orgasmic!

Pongal at SVS Temple, Aurora Canteen Delicious Pongal & Vadai with Chutney & Sambar

Dosai was large, thick and tasted absolutely splendid with the Potato Masala on the side.

One thing I like about the temple’s Dosai is its nice balanced thickness… neither too thin (like paper-roast) nor too thick (like Uthappam).

Dosa at SVS Temple Aurora Heavenly Dosai at SVS Temple

Dosa at SVS Temple Aurora Closer Encounters of the Dosai Kind

Puliohare was tangy, hot, and fragrant with a great after-taste.

The chunky rice only appears that way. Continue reading »

Mysore Woodlands Chicago – O La La La

Food, Reviews 2 Responses »

Jun 272011

(By Naveen)

If you claim to be a South Indian in Chicago and have not heard of Mysore Woodlands then you are a bloody impostor!

Mysore Woodlands is a landmark vegetarian restaurant on the all too famous Devon Avenue in Chicago.

The mere mention of the restaurant’s name is enough to send South Indians into a drooling tsunami of nostalgia.

Since it had been some time since we’d made Mysore Woodlands our port of call, we’d started developing withdrawal symptoms and quickly dropped anchor there on Sunday.

Mysore Woodlands – Ambiance & Cleanliness

As you step into Mysore Woodlands, the enticing aroma of Sambar greets you even before the courteous hosts.

The restaurant is spacious, clean, well furnished and brightly lit.

The décor is simple and the atmosphere filled with non-stop chatter and pleasant smell of food. A visit to this place will never fail to take you back to South India even if only for a moment.

We firmly believe that he who does not keep a clean toilet can never have a clean kitchen. Mysore Woodlands did not fail on this account.

Good Quality Service

Service was fine.

The waiters and waitresses were neat, uniformed, polite, and prompt. They did not get annoyed when we accidentally spilled a glass of water spoiling all the sugar sachets. They quickly brought us tissues to help clean the mess. While this is expected behavior, this unfortunately is rare for Indian restaurants

Mysore Woodlands – Menu & Food

Drinks – Spicy buttermilk
It being a warm Sunday afternoon, we started our lunch with Spicy Buttermilk and it turned out to be the perfect start.

The nice blend of ginger, asafoetida, coriander and cold buttermilk served as a coolant for our system.

Mysore Woodlands Devon Avenue - Buttermilk Spicy Buttermilk

Appetizers – Idly-Vadai Combo
With the drink out of the way, we launched headlong into the Idly-Medhu Vadai combo.

The Idly was just ok but it had none of the fermented yeasty feel associated with a good Idly. However, the delicious Sambar made us forget our Idly woes and we gobbled through them in no time.

Mysore Woodlands Devon Avenue - Idly Vada Combo Idly, Vada with Sambar & Chutneys

Vadai was the real deal. Well fried with an even sprinkle of ginger and green chilli, the crispy Vadai was a reminder of how fortunate we are to hail from the land with arguably the world’s best cuisine.

Main Course – Channa Bhatura!

Mysore Woodlands probably serves the healthiest Channa Bhatura in Chicago.

The Bhatura was large, fluffy and, surprisingly, low on oil.

Mysore Woodlands Devon Avenue - Channa Bathura Channa Bathura

This Channa Masala is not the typical one that y’all are acquainted with. Mysore Woodland’s preparation and choice of spices seems to differ.

Unlike the more famous North Indian version, this one has well cooked Channa over a thick paste of gravy made by mashing all the spices, tomato, onion etc. It renders a different feel and taste.

We loved it.

Main Course – Full Meals!

What do Tamils do on a lazy Sunday afternoon?

Well, they eat full meals!

After scanning through the three choices of meals, we ordered the Mysore Special Thali that offered a sampling of a variety of their fine dishes.

We began the Thali with a juicy serving of Tomato Soup with bread crumbs – a fine concoction indeed!

Unlike the run of the mill Tomato Soups served in most Indian restaurants, this one was thin and tangy. Best of all, it didn’t seem to originate from a can of Tomato puree.

Mysore Woodlands Devon Avenue - Samosa, Cutlet, Tomato Soup Samosa, Cutlet, Tomato Soup

The Thali brings its own set of appetizers.

Pretending as if we hadn’t already polished off some appetizers, we set out to work on the Cutlet, Samosa and another piece of Medhu Vadai.

Samosa was ok but the Cutlet was a misnomer. It would easily assume the identity of Aloo Bonda. After a couple of slices, we set it aside to save room for some of the better items yet to come.

The grand Thali arrived and we were instantly transported to the golden days in Chennai where we would dip our fingers into cups of various shapes and sizes and ferociously dig into our food.

Mysore Woodlands Devon Avenue - Mysore Special Thali Mysore Special Thali

The Roti was typical of Chennai, which North Indians dread and Chennaiites drool over. It went pretty well with the Channa Masala.

By now the Appalam that was comfortably resting over the warm white rice was soft, and that is how we like it.

The Mor-Kuzhambu (or Kadi) was an impostor. It was thick and unsavory.

Tamarind Rice was fine, Keerai (Spinach) was tasty but way too oily for our liking. The traditional Karamani (Black eyed Beans) Kootu pretty much made up for Keerai.

Poriyal made of Broccoli, Carrot and Potato! Who gave these nitwits the right to mess up with a Tamizhan’s Sapadu with Broccoli? While the poriyal wasn’t bad, we take a grim view of the corruption of a traditional South India meal.

We rounded off our fine meal with the nice Curd Rice (we mixed it ourselves), a must in a South Indian diet.

It was a fine meal by any standards.

Our only grouse was that the Thali did not come with Nei (Ghee) or Sambar.

The quantity of rice was sufficient for us. But since our men come in various shapes and sizes and those with bigger appetites may be disappointed with the quantity of Rice.

Dessert – Rasmalai and South Indian Filter Coffee

To our disappointment, the Rasmalai was on the colder side.

We could not help but think that it was one of those frozen ones. It tasted ok but didn’t give us a good feel.

Mysore Woodlands Devon Avenue - Rasmalai & South Indian Filter Coffee Rasmali & South Indian Filter Coffee

Thankfully the Filter Coffee erased the effect of Rasmalai and provided a flavorful and aromatic finale to a wonderful lunch.

Mysore Woodlands – Food Rating

Mysore Woodlands – Value

For the quantity of food and the number of items we tasted, the bill was ok.

At $15.99, the Mysore Special Thali provides a wide range of nice choices, which is good value for money.

Mysore Woodlands – Verdict

Go for it, fellas!

We recommend you visit this fine establishment if you are in the Chicagoland area.

Mysore Woodlands offers reasonably priced good food which you may have with a tinge of nostalgia.

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SearchIndia.com Blog

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Round 2: Menu & Cost

Round 3: Ordering, Service & Billing

Round 4: Hygiene & Environmental Consciousness

Round 5: The Food

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Ram Temple Canteen Menu

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Shree Westmont Review – Mon Dieu, This Indian Impostor Serves Hellishly Awful Food

By Naveen

Convenient Location, Modest Décor

The Menu

The Food

Main Course!

Punishment Indeed

Service

Verdict – Avoid Shree

SVS Temple Aurora Canteen – Count Your Blessings

Edukondalavada Venkata Ramana Govinda Govinda!

Quiet, Serene and Large Parking

Services

Busy Temple, Busier Cafeteria, and Clean Premises

How to Buy Food in SVS Canteen?

SVS Temple Food Review

Mysore Woodlands Chicago – O La La La

Mysore Woodlands – Ambiance & Cleanliness

Mysore Woodlands – Menu & Food

Mysore Woodlands – Food Rating

Mysore Woodlands – Value

Mysore Woodlands – Verdict

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