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 $15, you get $30 worth of Indian cuisine at India House in Buffalo Grove.
Restaurant founder Jagmohan Jayara is dedicated to bringing India's sophisticated use of herbs and spices to the waiting mouths of salivating hunger-havers. The expansive menu is broken down into types of meat or lack thereof, then further subcategorized in matryoshkan manner by cooking style. Herbivores enjoy the benefits of India's longstanding veggie traditions with dishes such as the vegetarian thali ($16.29), whereas sea-meat cravings can be sated with plates of shrimp vindaloo ($15.99), cooked in a rich, spicy curry sauce with faceless potato heads. Chicken comes in numerous varietals including chicken nawabi tikka, featuring boneless cubes marinated in yogurt and spicy spices ($13.99). Sate one or more sweet teeth with a juggle-worthy dessert of gulab jamun ($3)—fried bread sweetened with sugar and rose water—or tickle all manner of fangs by visiting the bountiful lunch buffet.
India House
Jagmohan Jayara’s dream of sharing his Indian culture with others through cuisine became a reality when he opened up the first India House in 1993. Since then, the restaurant has grown a following that demanded three more locations. Each one brings Chicago-area locals the spices, herbs, and vegetarian-friendly dishes that characterize Indian cuisine. The menus include lamb kebabs, tandoori chicken, or whole chickpeas cooked in traditional Punjabi masala. The chain offers dining, takeout, and a buffet alongside banquet and catering options for special celebrations including weddings, birthdays, and first cricket victories.