Standard India Restaurant

I was extremely disappointed to find out this restaurant closed! They had the best makhani sauce I have EVER had (Since chicken makhani is my favorite, I have tried it at every Indian restaurant I have ever visited.), and I never got to figure out how to replicate it. They got a bit more expensive at the end, but the food was definitely worth it. I’m finally writing this review now because I have come to terms with the fact that they are probably closed for good.
I shall now go about the sad business of finding a new favorite Indian restaurant. *sigh*

I wish that I had been to Standard India in it’s hayday, for when I got taken there my boyfriend was a little let down that everything he remembered from the year before had changed around a bit, including the prices. And I’m glad I got the experience before I heard just recently the building is for sale, and that’s what I’m here to talk about. A memorial!
We had samosas, which were probably the only reasonably priced thing we ordered. I got the Tandoori Murgh which was I suppose also reasonably priced at 13 dollars, but I was really sad that for 2 pieces of roti we had to spend 4 dollars. That was hard, but I NEEDED it for the sake of my meal experience. I haven’t had Indian food without roti since… I don’t even know, which is why even for the extra 4 bucks it was worth it. We got Mango Lassi and Iced Chai and he got Aloo Gobi which was what I thought was overpriced, but regardless, it was a filling meal and I have no regrets that we didn’t return. There are a lot of great Indian restaurants in Chicago.

I loved Standard India so much but it appears as if it has left us for good and just after I moved right across the street. :’(
R.I.P. SIR, you will be missed.

Just drove past the restaurant and saw a «For Sale» sign.
RIP, Standard India :(

I stand by my original statement. As far as warm and welcoming hospitality goes, Standard India cannot be beat. It’s that focus on customers as family that puts Standard India into a category of it’s own.
My previous experience, I opted for the buffet and truly for the money it is a wonderful value with plenty of variety. My initial review made mention of the fact that I wasn’t wowed by the flavors of the items off the buffet. This time, after speaking with the owner herself, I learned that all of the food is created from scratch each and every morning so of course there is some inconsistency with spices and such. Knowing this changes my opinion entirely. Of course we have all had our moments when we’re a little heavy-​handed with something and others where we maybe should have added a pinch more of something. I can relate to this as if it were me cooking in my own kitchen. Sure, it makes sense now and it’s all worth it for fresh, homemade flavors.
On this occassion, I had the tikka masala off the a la carte menu and the experience was very different. There was a perfect amount of heat. The tangy yogurt taste was in great balance with the spice and when it all came together with the seasoned rice and cilantro garnish, everything popped perfectly in place. This is the real deal! Delicious, quality ingredients created with love and it really shows not just in the food but also in the presentation and mood of the establishment. It’s an all around outstanding experience and I highly recommend coming here!

Sorry, Olive Garden, you have to forfeit your slogan! It’s when you’re in Standard India Restaurant, «you’re family!»
Everyone from the hostess, server, and even to the owner, they make you feel so welcomed! They’re so attentive and care very much if you are enjoying your meal and experience. For example, if the food is too spicy, they offer a yogurt drink and if its not spicy enough, they’d offer peppers!
Along with their buffet, they include several additional hearty side dishes, naan, and dipping sauces, spacing them out during the first buffet plate! It was such a pleasant surprise because I just thought I’d be eating just the buffet… which wouldn’t be a bad all! It’s a good spread, but hey, I’m not complaining for getting extra food! Oh, and at the end of the meal, they gave us a cup of yogurt smoothie to send us off!
Service, Food, and Décor… all 5 stars! I can’t wait to come here again!

Standard India Restaurant was the best Indian food I have ever had since I began my journey to eating Indian food this past spring. I have been to several different Indian buffets in the last several months, and I can say that Standard India Resturant rocks!
They have a dinner buffet for $ 18.99 per person the waiters serve table side dishes and you get up and dish your own food from the buffet table as well. We had all the standard Indian dishes, like butter chicken, tandoori chicken and my favorite the Gulab Jamun and the Naan which were amazing! O’ and their samosa were big and yummy with three different types of sauces to dip.
Everything I had was delicious and the service was top notch! I would recommend this place for anyone who likes to eat Indian food and I would return there for dinner.

This place is a little slice of heaven. Everyone is welcoming and attentive, they provide some of the warmest dining service in the city, period.
We decided to go a la carte instead of doing the lunch buffet… which I feel got more expensive since our last visit ($ 15.99/person…a little on the high side for lunch IMHO).
We started with a complimentary tasting of Kadhi soup, a creamy sweet yet spicy soup. It was not something I would have otherwise ordered but it was good. I had the Murgh Makhani (chicken with tomato and creamy flavorful spiced curry), the hubby had the Murgh Tikka Masala (tandoori chicken in a mild curry) and we split garlic naan. Their naan is the best. It’s soft, warm and slightly chewier in the middle… the best! Visually, both dishes looked the same; a bowl filled with light orange curry and chicken swimming at the bottom, a bowlful of basmati rice and a small side of cucumber and onion. But each had it’s own unique blend of beautifully rich spices. We ended lunch with a little sampling of mango lassi, perfect ending to a great lunch.

When it comes to Indian food, I would consider myself a novice. I don’t have a ton of experience and wouldn’t know what to order if I went out on my own, so when a Groupon for SIR came up and I saw the great reviews for their buffet, I thought this would be a great place to learn a little more. I happy to say that SIR delivered.
The items on the buffet (Half of which are served in a traditional buffet and half of which are brought to you table-​side) were great. Clearly labeled and explained, I knew what I was eating and enjoyed everything I tried. Nothing was too spicy, though some things had a little residual heat. This was perfect for me, but my husband appreciated the offer the chili sauce to make it hotter. They also offer yogurt sauce to cool the spice if needed.
More than anything, the staff at SIR were the reason our experience was so great. From the time I called to make a reservation to the time we walked out the door after dinner, we felt like we were family. Everyone was so welcoming and warm. Service was top notch and really added to the atmosphere and experience.
I would definitely come back here.

I simply don’t know what to say. My experience is not the same as the other reviewers.
The food was rather good, but to me, not extraordinary. I must admit. It wasn’t what I was expecting, and they did give me a lesson in the difference between Indian and Pakistani food. So the food was good, but not extraordinary. I was gravely disappointed in the service. The server was just not on top of it, and was dismissive at times.
This place is worth giving another shot, because so many of the other reviewers have given it such high marks, but I admit, I just thought it was about average. I don’t inflate my scores, not that it’s indicative of anyone else’s review of this restaurant.

Excellent food, great service
Good price for what you get.
Options of buffet, thali, a la carte

I’ll admit it — I was skeptical. I mean, Indian Buffet, Dinner, Lakeview… But I am sold. And add the BYOB… this place was better than good.
For me, an Indian buffet conjures up images of many items laid out for you to choose from (preferably with names, if not ingredients listed). This one is a little different. Some of the food is siting out on the buffet, but other food (which is all included in the price of the buffet) is brought to you at your table — samosas, naan, and little bowls of foods that aren’t on the buffet table. And you can have as much of these things as you want — you just have to ask the server for more!
Food was REALLY good. Chana masala was nice and spicy (ok, some of my friends may have thought it was too spicy, but they might just be wimps…). Great selection of choices for both vegetarians and meat eaters.
The only thing I found at all disappointing was the naan. It was cut into small pieces, which would have been fine, but it was much crispier than naan usually is. But really, as much as I normally love naan, there was SO much other food that it really didn’t matter. I went home happy and full. What more can you really want?

SIR = Standard India Restaurant
S: ervice was okay. The man and woman (the brother-​sister team?) who occasionally popped by our table were friendly and warm, but the pace at which things happened was a little too leisurely for me. It took a while for our orders to be taken, the bill to come, etc.
I: tried the murgh makhani (butter chicken) and an order of naan, and neither dish was prepared like I’ve ever had it before. I liked the different presentation of the food on a big, stainless steel plate you can use to share with others. The chicken tasted like ground chicken vs. meatier, heartier pieces of tandoori cooked chicken; the spice level was also higher than usual for what I’m used to. Any more kick, and I probably would have taken the waitress up on the offer for yogurt sauce to subdue the heat. It was also served with an unappetizing piece of hair in the sauce. :o (The naan reminded me of pita and was denser and yeastier than other naans I’ve had; while I didn’t prefer it as naan, I love bread and carbs, and had no problem finishing it off as leftovers.
R: estaurant could use some renovating. Some of the hangings on the wall are interesting; the chairs could be updated, in my opinion. SIR’s got a good location on Belmont, just a few doors down from Comedy Sportz (where we headed afterwards) and the Belmont el stop.

I hadn’t been to Standard India in years and apparently, it’s had a bit of a facelift and possibly an owner change. Either way, whatever it was is working!
Hubs and I had buffet, which was all around delicious. Lots of vegan options, if you lean that way. Also some meaty options, if you lean THAT way. I can’t believe I’m going to say that I loved the spiced cabbage, but it’s true. It was delicious.
Before we told them we were going to hit the buffet, our server informed us that she would be bringing out samosas and naan… love! Nice to not have to pay extra for 2 of my favorites. We were also treated to complimentary samples of lamb vindaloo (SO good), saag paneer, a dal, and post-​meal, a small mango lassi. Everything was great, from the food to the service. The gulab jaman was seriously the best I’ve ever had. Standard’s definitely going to be a fave in the future!

My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of eating here last Friday night. We rolled in just around dusk, with our BYOBottles of wine, and were met by the super nice hostess who, throughout the night, checked on us and made sure we were happy. She was so pleasant, friendly, and just plain easy to talk to — she has earned the fourth star.
I would say the food, aside from a couple dishes, is pretty 3 star. «A-​OK» but «I’ve had better.» Does it mean I wouldn’t come back? Of course I would! They are so accommodating, and they really cater to your needs.
IE: I love vindaloo, especially lamb vindaloo, but I also like my food hotter than H-​E-​double hockey sticks. So when I asked, after eating my first round of vindaloo (which is not on the buffet line but brought to you in little metal cups) if they could make it spicier for me, I was met wit ha smile
and, «no problem!» Yay :)
The samosas were of course a hit with my boy, and were very good, and artfully presented. I love when appetizers come with multiple sauces — So fun! I missed the presence of Pappadums, something I came to love when experiencing the myriad Indian joints in NYC. I ordered it a la carte, but it didn’t come accompanied with the normal green and red (and sometimes chutney) sauces I am used to… Sadness.
While there were a few items on the buffet I found bland, the sauteed spinach was nice, the chickpeas outstanding, the saffron peas another favorite, the chicken in tomato broth was lacking in flavor IMO, but all in all it was a nice, if heavy, meal. The naan was decent, not the best nor worst I’ve had.
The desserts were killer. My fiancé loved the rice pudding, and I was head over heels for the ‘Gulab Jamun’ = «2 Lightly fried dough balls made with milk in a dense syrup» — To die for! They reminded me of a cross between a dense beignet and a tres leches cake.
A wonderful and decadent concoction, for sure.
Looking at their website, it seems like they have a very interesting Sunday Night — the Social Dining Experience. I think I’d be up for that!
See you on Sunday: D (well, maybe not Easter Sunday, but soon!)

The worst Indian food I’ve had in my life.
All the dough and breading was too greasy from frying. The samosas were filled largely with overcooked /​starchy potatoes and not much else. The naan (which is cut up into small bite-​sized pieces — making it hard to scoop, btw) was super-​thick and undercooked (raw) in the middle; other pieces were clearly re-​heated (they had that chewy, impossible to bite or tear texture that comes from microwaving bread). The saag paneer was almost entirely spinach, and very little cheese. The aloo gobi was dominated by the overcooked /​mushy /​pasty potatoes.
The chana masala was nice and their presentation of the tandoori chicken was lovely.
The desserts were nicely done.
When you order the «thali» — which, here, just means buffet — then servers walk around with samples of other things not currently on the buffet. These samples included garlic naan, rose lassi, pakoras, and other bites. This was nice, but ultimately not very nice. I had one bite of a pakora when they were first brought around. It was so soggy from being cooked in grease that was not hot enough that I couldn’t have any more. The garlic naan samples that were brought were burnt. The lassis were fine.
The staff was clearly catering to non-​Indian eaters — the spiels they gave about the food and servingware were targeted at people who don’t regularly eat thalis. Maybe this explains the quality of food being presented (and the other reviews on here) — they’re assuming that you might not have much to compare the food to.
If you’re just interested in a large quantity of food at a decent price, then this is a good place for you. But it was not strong on quality.

Make a reservation if you want to eat dinner here on the weekend! This place is tiny, and it fills up fast.
We tried to come here a couple of weeks ago, but the wait was too long. So we came back here Saturday after making a reservation.
I thought the buffet was good. They seemed to be refilling it constantly, which is good.
It took us a long long long time to get naan. But other than that service was fine.
I ate so much that I was uncomfortably full. But it was hard not to have seconds.
They are BYOB, which is always a plus.
I would definitely eat here again, but not for a while. I can’t over eat like that too often!

This is close to my apartment but we never tried it until we got a big group together for our weekly BYOB outings. Looked on their website and on Unilocal to discover that not only was it BYOB (and no corkage fee!), but it was $ 13.99 for buffet! I had no problems calling them the day of and requesting a reservation for 9 people.
The food was delicious, and the service was amazing. The staff is incredibly friendly and they always ask if you want more naan and bring around other things to try. The mango lassi at the end was delicious as well. Living in the city, sometimes it feels like there aren’t any restaurants left with a nice, friendly staff and good service, but this was a refreshing experience. We will definitely be going back again!

So I came here on a Friday night. The wait was not too horrible but the service non-​existent. After sitting down at a table, the waitress never came. I never received a menu during my whole dinner experience here. Do they have a menu aside from the buffet? I do not know. So after staring for some time at my companion and around the restaurant we figured that we should serve ourselves and get up and go to the buffet. But again our dilemma was where do we get plates from do we tell someone we are having the buffet.
The buffet was made up of about 7 Indian dished. One that kind a stood out was the dish with cabbage. I did not know cabbage was one of Indian specialties.
Needless to say after just one plate of the food my stomach felt like it was going to explode. It was the most painful experience. My stomach expended to some unnatural size and I was in pain. I so wanted the food out.
The waitress did finally come and took our drink orders. I ordered the Indian tea from the top of my head as there was no menu. The waitress brought me ice tea. Are you serious, Indian tea to me means Chi Masala not ice tea.
The waitress also dropped of some naan and somosas, small, little filling lots of dough.
I am not sure if you can order here anything other than the buffet. But the buffet is pretty horrific.
I would not recommend this place to my family and friends. I would suggest other Indian placed like Mt. Everest in Evanston, Indian Garden or Viceroy on Devon.

Very authentic, quality food at very reasonable prices. It’s great that they have free parking available in the back.
We stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night, but chose to order off the menu rather than indulge in the buffet. We may have erred going down this path as the kitchen was most likely not prepared for ala carte order, which ended up taking much longer than expected, but we were extremely pleased by how good the food tasted.
Spicy Cabbage — A recommendation by the owner and our server. Delicious vegetarian dish. Lightly spiced, buttery cabbage, in a lovely sauce. This dish practically melts in your mouth.
Chana Masla — I thought this was very good. Spicy garlic, cumin and tomato sauce with a slightly sour bite. Chickpeas were dense and flavorful.
Chicken Tikka Masala — Also recommended by our server. Fantastic dish, very creamy sauce, just the right amount of cream and healthy chunks of chicken. Our favorite dish of the night.
Lamb Vindaloo — A dark, thick, and spicy sauce. Reminded me of Mexican mole. Delicious. The lamb was tender and well marinated. Very enjoyable.
Overall we thought they did an excellent job. The food tasted fresh and prepared with care and attention to detail. The owner was very thoughtful and stopped by at our table on several occasions to chat and explain how our food was prepared. I’d give them 5 stars, but knocked it down one because the food took a quite a bit longer than expected, and we had to wait quite a while for our check as well. Other than that, the food was excellent, service friendly, and using the Groupon was easy. We will definitely be heading back there again soon.