Marco Polo's travels through India are left largely undocumented because he decided to write his journal entries on naan and later ran out of Clif Bars. Discover the culinary treats Marco Polo used for stationery with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of Indian cuisine at India House's location downtown on Grand Avenue. Today's deal is valid at this India House location only. Any outstanding balance exceeding the value of the Groupon must be paid in cash.
India House's vast menu is broken down into types of meat or the lack thereof, and then further subcategorized like a matryoshka nesting doll by traditional cooking style, such as dishes cooked in the tandoori clay oven. Herbivores can enjoy the benefits of India's longstanding vegetarian traditions with dishes such as dal banjara ($12.95), lentils cooked tenderly in an Indian wok with rare herbs and spices, or the hearty palak paneer ($13.95), fresh cottage-cheese cubes in a spicy spinach sauce. Tandoori chicken comes in numerous varietals, such as the chicken tikka ($15.95), boneless cubes marinated in yogurt and spicy spices, while the khurmi naan ($4.50) makes for excellent excess-sauce sopping with garlic, tomato, and chili baked into the tender flatbread. Sea-meat cravings can be aptly sated with a dish of shrimp masala ($19.95), cooked in a medley of traditional herbs and spices. Cool down a spice-sodden palate with a chilled mango lassi ($4.75), a traditional yogurt drink, or save the sweet tooth for a juggle-worthy dessert of gulab jamun ($3.95), golden-fried balls of milk pastry in sweet saffron syrup.
The subtle décor of the downtown India House quietly reflects the traditions and culture of the cuisine, with warm lighting cast over saffron walls, red drapes, verdant plants, and traditional Indian artwork. Restaurant founder Jagmohan Jayara is dedicated to bringing India's sophisticated use of spices and herbs to the waiting mouths of salivating hunger-havers. Grab today's deal and eat up. After all, things that seem impossible on an empty stomach, such as skydiving straight into space, convincing your boss to trade spouses, and turning a recurring dream into reality by going back to high school and passing that chemistry exam pants-less, slide into the realm of the certain once you've devoured a traditional Indian meal.
This Groupon is valid for the lunch buffet.
Reviews
India House is Zagat rated and was featured in its Indian Tops list for Indian restaurants. Eighty-five percent of more than 160 Urbanspooners like the restaurant, and Yelpers give it an average of four stars. Citysearchers give the restaurant a 3.5-star average:
- Food was great! Atmosphere cozy. Staff was friendly and helpfull. We particularly enjoyed the paneer tikka (Tandori baked cheese). – LeRoy Howard, Urbanspoon
- Sizzling goodness and an incredible value. – Helena D., Yelp
- The food was delicious, it was hard to stop eating! – taufiqhabib, Citysearch
India House
The epicurean alchemists at India House, winner of Chicago magazine's Best Indian Buffet designation, draw inspiration from the cuisine of Bombay and Delhi as well as Indian street fare and homestyle tandoori cooking. The menu's more than 250 items please vegetarian and meat-eating palates alike with curries, kebabs, and grilled saris that utilize the flavors of fresh cilantro, chilies, and coconut. A reviewer for the Chicago Tribune praises the restaurant’s “incredibly tender tandoori chicken,” and Chicago magazine says that the fiery "Hyderabadi-style mahi-mahi … is a must." Midday lunchers can dig into a buffet whose myriad options beget multiple trips and consultation with a pack of tarot cards before deciding which delicious curries should be ladled over naan and rice.