Adda Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

UPDATE: I am uncertain “why” this Review shows I posted it only yesterday- in fact, it was written shortly after this place opened.

I will emphatically restate- NOT worthwhile- Their Menu Misrepresents/ Disrespects South Indian cuisine .

We (1-Keralite,her partner/+ 1American, unfamiliar with Indian cuisine) went on a Sunday night, entering a moderately full room. Due to the way the new owners have laid-out-seating (versus Mia Francesca’s - the restaurant there for many years b4-Covid) in the room there are LESS seats available.

No more high-tops in The Bar-area. (Adda also does NOT have a Liquor-License-so it’s BYOB) Too many Booths, also reduce the available #’s they can offer a table to.🧐

The servers do NOT “know” Indian Food. If a South-Indian Guest, at ANY Indian Restaurant, requests “Pickle”, a very typical Indian condiment (to accompany the Pappadam they offer); and The Server cocks their head like a Parakeet-asked-a-Question/repeating the word-“Pickle”-it’s a dead giveaway their Indian Food I.Q.-isn’t.

We wanted to “softly” introduce Indian food to our friend, by ordering an Indian classic- “Tandoori Chicken”. “We’re out of that!” 😔 OK- “ give us a minute-please”? We were excited to try some of their South Indian dishes on the menu from Goan Shrimp to Kerala Fish Curry (w/Mahi-Mahi)- Both described (and typically prepared) as a “dry”-dish ( not swimming-in-a-bowl of sauce, with less than 3 ounces. of protein)

Three 4” diameter bowls of “slop” were served-each looking very much the same. Lots of “sauce” /teeny-bits-of-Protein. That is so very typical of North Indian Restaurant cooking- NOT SOUTH INDIAN. We’d requested our two dishes to be “HOT” ( not temperature/HEAT-from-Chilie peppers) ( we both ❤️ spicy food) Neither were spicy.

After the hostess came by to ask how everything was we explained the food did not match the menu and that we had asked for spicy dishes and they had no heat to them.

She offered to modify them by bringing a small plate with an onion slice and a Chili Pepper-dusted with Chili Powder. Really?!🙄 The same hostess offered to comp-a carrot halwa dessert -but that, albeit a gracious gesture-could NOT possibly outweigh an expensive, waste of a meal.

To spend close to $100.00 for a meal for 3 diners-& NO DRINKS (-1sprite) is an insult. “Siri”( a much better Indian Restaurant on Taylor St.- near Ashland)-we are sorry we “cheated-on-you”, by trying a new place on Taylor Street, but I for one cannot understand how they will EVER succeed.🤷🏽‍♂️😤

NOTE-any Restauranteur who battles a paying customer, is only going to lose, by showing their lack of class and Professionalism in The hospitality Industry.

My review stands. It is honest, direct and accurate. Any insulting comment by Adda Staff is not to be believed...

Picked up a $124.51 order on 9/3/21. Once home, discovered that one item ($14.99) was missing and immediately called the restaurant. The bizarre conversation that followed went, in brief, something like this: Hi, item is missing--Please hold while I check--Check what?--Please just hold while I check--short pause...--Sir, can you please recheck to see if you have it?--Recheck what? It's a single bag of food. It's not there.--The kitchen camera shows that the item was added.--What? I don't know what to tell you, I don't have it.--Yes, but camera shows it was included. Blahblah...--What do you want me to do about that?--More blahblah--Please refund the item cost to my card.--For that you will have to return to the restaurant.--I can't do that, I need to feed my daughter right now. Will take care of it online later. Bye.

A few key points to take away:

That is a truly incredible kitchen camera setup that can track every added item so accurately and then be replayed in just a couple of minutes, while the customer is on hold, to verify that a particular item in a nondescript box was added. Which I'm apparently unable to see with my own eyes. I am very jealous of Adda's spectacular imaging equipment and the sources of funding they must have for it.

Unclear if I was being accused of being senile, blind, or a liar. Perhaps all three. I should work on my 'con strategy', because trying to steal a 14.99 item from a 124.51 total order seems like an odd way to spend my time.

I have the receipt, on which all other entrees are checked off while this one isn't. So, perhaps, just perhaps, the amazing kitchen camera didn't get it right.

Is this really an argument worth having with a customer? Over 14.99+tax? Particularly a repeat customer who, for several months, has tolerated the always-late orders and cumulatively brought in at least $700 of business?

I'm not in the habit of leaving angry reviews and complaints, but this is terrible behavior. I'm still out my 14.99+tax (payment taken for product not provided, so that seems criminal), and the restaurant has not returned two messages (via Clover and their own website). They must really want that cash... perhaps for a kitchen camera upgrade.

Stay away. There are other Indian restaurants nearby that...

Rip-off 20% service charge with bad management:

I had been avoiding this restaurant seeing the bad reviews for a while, finally I thought, let’s give it a try.

The woman manager welcomed us by saying ‘how can we help you?’

Well…

Obviously by saying ‘welcome to our restaurant’, maybe?

Anyway, Thanks for such a beautiful welcome!?

The waiters were very gentle and humble. The food was tasty with a very small portion size. But considering their decoration I justified the high price. I considered giving a generous tip to the waiters as well.

… but when the bill came, I see that they added a 20% service charge!! I thought to ask the lady manager the reason for such unwanted charge. She said as their restaurant is unique, they have such a unique policy to add up 20% service charge!

Anyway thanks for such rip-off.

Last time I had such a bitter experience was in a Chinese restaurant. I will consciously avoid Indian restaurants too.

Reply to the owner: If only asking about the sneaky 20% service charge is rude, then consider not to rip-off people’s pocket. Or at least be transparent about your policy and mention about the unexpected charge before people start ordering foods.

Charging money without prior notice is a steal, do you not get that?

When you provide halal options, you must consider muslim people visiting your place. We thanked from the bottom of the heart for arranging a place of prayer.

We try to put our honest google rating so that the management can take steps and resolve the issues. However, in your case, your reply sadly proves my point of ‘bad management’...