Chicago | Michelin-Starred Chef's New Indian Gem — NADU​​

Indienne was Chicago's ​​only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant​​ ✨, but Chef recently decided to ditch the fine-dining vibe for something more ​​approachable​​—enter ​​NADU​​! 🦀 ​​Signature Dish: Spicy Crab​​ A ​​fiery black pepper curry​​ from South India, starring a ​​whole Dungeness crab​​ (yes, ​​live crab​​ cooked to order!). The meat is ​​sweet and succulent​​, but the real magic happens when dipped in that ​​spice-packed gravy​​. Fair warning: This dish isn't "American-friendly"—you’ll need to ​​get hands-on with shell-cracking​​! Pro tip: Call ahead to reserve your crab. 🍚 ​​Crab’s Perfect Partner: Fragrant Basmati Rice​​ Studded with ​​crispy fried onions and cashews​​—nutty, aromatic, and ​​miles better​​ than the dry rice at typical Indian spots. 🫓 ​​South Indian "Pancake" (Dosa)​​ A ​​crispy fermented crepe​​ stuffed with spiced potatoes, served with ​​two chutneys​​: ​​Coconut​​: Creamy, subtly sweet ​​Tomato​​: Tangy, bright Even after finishing the dosa, you’ll want to ​​dunk your naan​​ in these! 🧄 ​​Garlic Naan​​ No free refills here (unlike some North Indian joints), but ​​worth every penny​​. Fluffy, blistered, and—​​blessedly​​—​​no cilantro​​ in sight! 🥹 🍗 ​​Slow-Cooked Chicken Curry​​ Rich but not overpowering, with ​​fall-off-the-bone tender chicken​​. Comes with naan for ​​maximum sauce-sopping​​. 🏛️ ​​Vibes​​ NADU took over OONA’s old space, keeping the ​​crystal chandeliers and soaring ceilings​​ but adding ​​Indian-inspired touches​​. Fun detail: Every dish on the menu ​​lists its regional origin​​—a mini culinary tour of India! 📍 ​​NADU​​ 2518 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 ​​Why It’s #1​​: All the ​​precision of a Michelin kitchen​​, but with ​​down-to-earth prices​​ and ​​bold, unforgettable flavors​​. Sorry, Devon Street—​​there’s a new king of Chicago Indian food​​. 👑 #CurryLover #ChicagoEats #MichelinMadeAffordable #IndianFood #SpiceQuest #GlobalFlavors #MustTryChicago