Rooh is a stylish Indian restaurant located in Chicago, Rooh, that offers modern flourishes in its dishes and drinks. Rooh, which means “soul” in Hindi, is known for its progressive take on Indian cuisine, featuring bold and innovative flavors that are a far cry from the traditional Indian dishes that most Americans are familiar with. The restaurant’s menu is a reflection of the diverse culinary landscape of India, drawing inspiration from the country’s many regional cuisines, as well as the latest trends in global gastronomy.
The self-described “progressive Indian” eatery is breaking away from the traditional Indian restaurant mold and offering creative, multinational flavors that will blow away the expectations of local diners. Rooh has well-received siblings in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, and it’s providing adventurous diners unafraid to spend some cash with several good reasons to combat Short North parking hassles.
The eatery offers multiple distinct dining areas variously equipped with plush blue or peach-colored booths, tile flooring, pretty wallpaper, decorative plates, and a large, snazzy bar that shakes inspired cocktails. The drinks are priced at $13, and they are worth every penny. The Patna Fizz, which contains egg whites, gin, lychee, and truffle salt, is a delightfully creamy-and-foamy beverage whose mushroom aroma leads to bright, citrusy flavors. The refreshingly acidic and spicy Pink City conjures a margarita with an Indian twist.
The creative and delicious small plates are also a highlight at Rooh. They include pork belly, sashimi-style tuna, cauliflower Koliwada, and potato tikki. The pork belly ($18) evokes spicy, attractively presented barbecue ribs with shaved radishes, little chicharrones, and candied tamarind. The dish with sashimi-style tuna is a dynamic cross between an upscale chaat and a poke bowl sprinkled with Japanese chili powder. The cauliflower Koliwada ($14) ups the ante on a trendy appetizer with a crushed peanut crust, sweet notes playing off a raita-like garnish, and a molecular-gastronomy flourish of a light-as-air “curd rice mousse.” An airy yogurt mousse joins a potato cake, tamarind gel, “broken raspberry,” and crinkly kale tempura in the nifty, chaat-like potato tikki ($14).
Rooh’s large plates offer fewer bells and whistles, aren’t exactly huge, and are served a la carte. You will pay extra for good Indian bread and okay rice. Therefore, assembling a tapas-style, group meal out of small plates is a strong strategy. However, the butter chicken ($24) merits its “signature dish” status. It is extremely tender meat swamped in a velvety, rich, and addictive sauce sweetened with roasted red peppers. The same dairy-heavy sauce enriches the smaller but innovative, flavorful, and meat-free paneer pinwheels ($24), made with two sheets of supple cheese wrapped in jelly-roll fashion. A robust but equally rich-and-smooth sauce plus fall-off-the-bone meat elevate the lusty, cardamom-scented lamb shank nihari ($30), which echoes the classic dish called rogan josh.
The service at Rooh is knowledgeable and accommodating, but the progression between courses can be frustratingly slow, and some dishes may arrive lukewarm. Nonetheless, don’t let this deter you from ordering dessert, because Rooh’s confections are worth a wait. The kheer-inspired, cardamom-brightened phirni mousse, a marshmallow-cream-textured mound garnished with pleasantly chewy cashew-praline cake, terrific saffron-honey ice cream, and a crispy black-rice wafer, had the reviewer thinking about a reimagined, elegant s’more. The moist, two-toned carrot halwa cake with pistachios, honey-saffron gelato, and a brittle milk crisp is also wonderful. Both desserts cost $10 to $11.
Rooh Chicago is a modern Indian restaurant located in the West Loop area of Chicago. They offer a unique and contemporary take on Indian cuisine, with dishes such as smoked eggplant bharta and tandoori lamb chops. They also have a well-curated cocktail program, with drinks inspired by Indian spices and flavors.
Rooh is a restaurant that should be on every foodie’s radar. Its creative and modern take on Indian cuisine is a breath of fresh air, and its cocktail program is unmatched in the city. From the small plates to the large plates to the desserts, every dish at Rooh is a work of art. So if you’re looking for a memorable dining experience that will transport you to India and beyond, make a reservation at Rooh today.
