If you have a serious appetite, if you are serious about food, and if you are seriously hungry, look no further than the brand-new Siri Indian Restaurant in Wheeling. Siri has taken occupancy in the former Deka Restaurant location on the southeast corner near the intersection of Dundee and Milwaukee Roads and is ready for your taste buds to enjoy their menu.
I am an Indian food fanatic. Believe it or not, the first time I ever tried Indian food was when I was vacationing in India four years ago. I got hooked on their delicious cuisine and have been visiting Indian restaurant after Indian restaurant ever since my return. Needless to say, I was excited to be invited to dine at Siri.
I have been a vegetarian for 20-years, so I brought my friend (and fellow The Local Tourist contributor) Jaime Bunnell with me to try their meat dishes. Siri recreates the magic of home cooked delicacies from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and all parts of India. They present an eclectic menu of both northern and southern Indian cuisine. Their vegetarian options are plentiful and so were their meals containing meat.
Starting out the night Jaime and I tried two appetizers; vegetable samosas and vegetable spring rolls. The samosas were triangle shaped turnovers filled with seasoned potatoes and peas and the spring rolls consisted of seasoned Chinese vegetables rolled in a thin wrap fried to golden brown. Yes, they serve other types of Asian food there too.
After the first course, we wet our whistles with mango lassis which are popular traditional Indian yogurt-based drinks. The lassis had the perfect texture and taste.
Next came our entrees. I opted for the dal bhukara, one of my favorites, with black lentils slow cooked on charcoal overnight, flavored with ginger and fenugreek leaves, finished with rich cream. Jaime chose the chicken tikka masala, that includes a char grilled chicken breast cooked with diced onions and bell peppers simmered in a rich, creamy, cashew and tomato sauce. We also ordered plain rice and naan bread to accompany our meals. Both dishes were delicious.
As if that wasn’t enough, we were brought a Hyderabad vegetable dum biryani. Biryanis are a unique combination of fragrant basmati rice and vegetables cooked under steam. This meal came with authentic hyderabadi spices in a sealed pot on a slow flame with a touch of saffron.
For dessert, we tried their rasbhari rasmalai. The name rasmalai comes from two words in Hindi: ras, meaning “juice”, and malai, meaning “cream”. It almost tasted like a cheesecake without a crust.
Siri is great for any occasion, whether you are going on a date, hosting a family gathering, or a large company meeting. They also offer catering services for any event and deliver to local homes and businesses.
Enjoy their large lunch buffet everyday. Plus, Mondays between 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, enjoy 50% off on appetizers with the purchase of a drink.
For more information, visit www.SiriIndianRestaurant.com.
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