Indienne *

Kira Jabri
Oct 29
2 min read

We’ve had Indienne on our radar for quite some time a restaurant that beautifully redefines Indian fine dining. Helmed by Chef Sujan Sarkar, this Michelin-starred gem in Chicago delivers a culinary experience that is both deeply rooted in heritage and unapologetically modern.

From the moment we stepped inside, we were struck by the elegance of the space warm, contemporary, and quietly luxurious. Indienne offers a range of tasting menus to suit every palate: vegetarian, non-vegetarian, pescatarian, and vegan. Naturally, we chose the non-vegetarian menu with the Reserve pairing.

Service at Indienne is where the magic happens. The team moves in perfect harmony attentive, knowledgeable, and working as a unified team. Every detail, from pacing to presentation, felt intentional without ever being formal or stiff. Emma especially loved how included she was throughout the meal, with servers explaining each dish to her as thoughtfully as they did to us. It was a beautiful reminder of why we bring her along for these culinary adventures.

We definitely recommend adding both of the supplemental courses: the Lobster Ghee Roast comprised of prawn ela ada, sunchoke, and mango was rich, buttery, and deeply satisfying, while the Chili Cheese Kulcha served alongside the Lamb Kebab was pure joy. Let’s be honest, who would ever pass up perfectly baked bread for $6? One of the highlights of the evening was learning more about Dal, a humble staple of Indian cuisine. At Indienne, even this comforting classic was elevated into something refined and memorable.

The Reserve wine pairing was phenomenal. Each glass was chosen with precision, complementing the complex flavors and varying temperatures of the dishes. A standout was the Rioja Gran Reserva, described amusingly as “peaches and burnt tires.” Odd as it sounds, that description couldn’t have been more accurate and it was one of Kira’s favorites of the night. Carmine was equally delighted by the Jurançon pairing, where noble rot met savory in an unexpected but masterful way. You know Carmine loves his Botrytis.

Indienne is an immersion into modern India, filtered through the elegance of Michelin-level technique. It’s a restaurant that celebrates tradition while fearlessly embracing innovation leaving behind not just the memory of an exquisite meal, but the feeling of warmth, hospitality, and connection that defines truly great dining.

Our menu for the evening:

NON-VEGETARIAN TASTING MENU

DHOKLA - Curry Leaf, Mustard

PANI PURI - Passion Fruit, Green Apple, Buckwheat

AVOCADO BHEL - Tamarind, Black Rice

YOGURT CHAAT - Mint, Rhubarb, Raspberry

SCALLOP CAFREAL - Squid, Young Garlic, Cauliflower, Golden Kaluga Caviar

LOBSTER GHEE ROAST - Prawn Ela Ada, Sunchoke, Mango (Supplemental Course - $24)

LAMB KEBAB - Shami, Ribs, Endive, Pickled Jicama (Supplemental Bread- Chili Cheese Kulcha- $6)

CHICKEN MAKHNI - Red Pepper Makhni, Fenugreek Black Dairy Dal, Garlic Naan

BAL MITHAI - Dulcey, Orange Murrabba, Milk Ice Cream

TREATS