Chicago One-Michelin-Star Indienne – Miles Ahead of Its Peels ✨🍽️

Finally tried this much-talked-about spot, and wow — it truly lives up to the hype! Compared to other local one-stars I've visited recently, Indienne stands out significantly. Flawless execution, and I honestly couldn’t even pick a favorite dish of the night. The Indian flavors and elements are authentic yet refined — without the heaviness or oiliness often found in traditional Indian cuisine. By cutting back on excess oil, every spice and ingredient shines brighter. It’s not just high fidelity — it’s elevated. No overloading, just pure, highlighted flavors. Brilliant. 👏 Indienne means “Indian” in French, and the cooking here leans French in technique. One hallmark of French cuisine is sauces — but sauces can often feel heavy or muddy. Not here. Every sauce played perfect supporting role (100/10), never overpowering. Shoutout to Elske and Sepia — I respect them, but Elske sometimes adds flavorless foams/sauces that feel more decorative than delicious, and Sepia’s sauces can get monotonously seafood-heavy. Indienne outperforms both. The main course Chicken Makhani (butter chicken) was insane — the charred notes in the sauce were perfectly balanced with butter and spices. Harmony in a bowl. I added the lobster — possibly the best I’ve ever had 🦞. Cooked just under-done, tender and bursting with freshness, not chewy like the overcooked versions you often find. Their technical skill is also top-tier. The pani puri and the coffee-chocolate dessert both held pure liquid inside solid forms — impressive culinary craft. The whole meal flowed seamlessly — each dish distinct yet smoothly transitioned, keeping the experience fresh and exciting. I opted for the non-alcoholic pairing, which was delicious (though slightly less varied than Elske’s, still excellent). I also appreciate how accessible the flavors are. Unlike somewhere like Schwa — which I respect as a molecular pioneer — where I sometimes feel I’m only grasping 60–80% of what’s intended, at Indienne, everything landed clearly and beautifully. Of the four one-stars I’ve tried locally, Indienne gets my strongest recommendation 👐💯. The others are good, but at their price point, I wanted more. Indienne? Worth every penny — and then some. #ChicagoEats #MichelinStar #Chicago #ChicagoRestaurants #WeekendVibes #FineDining