At a time where modern Indian cuisine often veers between reverential tradition and fusion confusion, Sherkaan, established 2019, charts its own path through the streets of urban India - almost literally, with bicycles suspended from its industrial ceiling.

The experience begins with a striking facade featuring the restaurant's namesake tiger, "Sher" in Hindi, alongside their playful tagline "totally bindaas." Inside, the space masterfully blends exposed historic red brick, vintage-industrial fixtures, and Edison bulbs with dramatic wall murals depicting Indian cultural motifs.

The menu delivers creative riffs on street food classics. Their Chaat Dog ($9) reimagines the classic hot dog with a vegetable seekh kebab, garnished with pomegranate and dry garlic chili chutney - add lamb seekh kebab for an additional $5 if you're feeling carnivorous. The garlic and cheese stuffed naan ($5) arrives pillowy and generously herb-flecked. The lamb seekh kebab ($15), while expertly spiced with a beautiful char, could benefit from a touch more moisture.

The surprise standout was their Chinese Cabbage Salad ($9) - a clever nod to India's own Chinese-inspired street food culture. The combination of green chili heat, crunchy cashews, and coconut shavings, all unified by a blood orange-ginger vinaigrette, creates a texture-rich dish that feels both novel and somehow traditional.

For more substantial fare, the Indo-Chinese Pork Ribs ($19) showcase the kitchen's ability to bridge cultures, with St. Louis style spare ribs getting a makeover via tamarind treacle glaze and crispy okra. The Dum Biryani ($19), sealed with naan dough in a cast iron pot, delivers aromatic rice layered with yogurt-marinated chicken, saffron, and kewra.

The portion sizes throughout are huge, making the lunch bill feel like a reasonable value proposition, especially considering the quality of ingredients and thoughtful preparation. A lunch for one, featuring a kebab, naan, and salad runs about $31.