Choolaah — Restaurant in Virginia

I love the big flavors of Indian cuisine and I especially love anything cooked in a tandoor, so naturally I'm a big fan of Choolaah. I personally go for the chicken barbecue with tikka masala. The chicken is always super tasty and tender, and the tikka masala is seasoned to perfection, I could probably finish an entire bucketful of tikka masala if I wanted to. The naan is perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside and makes the perfect instrument to scoop up all the tasty bits left on the plate. They also offer a variety of sauces and condiments like chopped jalapenos and onions, I always mix the mango, apple and tamarind, and fire sauces with the jalapeno and onion together for the ultimate sweet and spicy combo. The mango lassi is the perfect beverage to help quench both thirst and the spicy heat from the sauces. I've also had the chaat (awesome for a snack) and the mango ice cream (frozen solid when you get it but so worth it). Definitely my go-to place for a quick lunch as it's close to my work. It's also an awesome post-workout meal with all the balanced nutrition it provides.

PROTIP: use the fancy handwashing machine after you're done eating. Super fun to use and makes you feel clean!

PROS: delicious quick service Indian food, clean interior, quickly becomes a semi-outdoor eating area when the weather is perfect, vegetarian options are available, close to Route 28 and other shops and restaurants in Cascades Overlook.

CONS: salt lassi not for everyone (definitely an acquired taste), flavor explosion will probably...

Choolah serving just enough food for a choohah (rat).

Pros: The ambiance is modern The food quality is good. The lady at the counter was very friendly and helpful (name starts with T...)

Midway: Don't expect authentic Indian tastes here - this is more catered towards a western palette. That's not necessarily a bad thing if that is what you want.

Cons: a) The tables were not clean - just like Starbucks I guess, you'll see crumbs of what the last person ate, even though the decor looks modern. And if you think the table tops are dirty, look at the floor.

b) The food serving sizes are TINY for the price especially. I could easily clean 3 of their bowls before I'd even start feeling full. Think of it is a very light lunch or snack instead of a meal. When they handed me the food, I was like "That's it"? And then you realize that the bowl is not a bowl, it is a plate pretending to be a bowl. 2 spoons of rice, maybe 5 small pieces of chicken, 5-7 grilled veggies pieces (small) - for 14 bucks?~ 🤔 ..

c) There seems to be a reusable/eco-friendly ethos, like the forks are made of reusable plant starch, the plates looked compostable, separate recycle bins, yet they had AC running full blast with the wall-doors wide open, all lights on in bright sunlight .. :-/ ... like I said, just like Starbucks, paying lip service to ESG like things make you feel good, but in reality doing more damage than good. Much like the hummer EV.

TLDR; Spend like Starbucks, taste like Chipotle, feel hungry...

Second update: still nothing. Oh well...other places to eat.

Update: no one has returned my message.....after calling their cusotmer service line. Absolutley will not go back. Bad service is a sign of things to come.

Hint: never serve subpar indian good to someone of indian descent....we will call you out!

I actually truly loved this place until tonight. I ordered 2 samosa chaats to go. I live 30 miles away and come here twice a week for the chaat on my way home for work. The chaat was incomplete.....no tamarind sauce.....not enough yogurt or chutney..no crips......not enough chana.....what really prompted me to leave this review is the fact that you can not directly call the restaurant!!!!!! Ridiculous!!!!!! What kind of restaurants makes you leave a message. NEVER TAKE OUT THE HUMAN ASPECT!!!!!!! As a manager, a former business owner....I waa truly disappointed in Choolaah.

I guess I will have to wait for a call back!? Even McDonalds.....freaking McDonald's has live person you can talk to!!!!! Especially during business hours. I just gave them a good rating on their survey and some advice. Obvious issue with quality control. Take the order and pop it out. What a shame. I wish I could post a picture of this. This is for the...