Thattu — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I am super excited to write this review. I'm giving it 4 stars because of very minute details but overall, I think this has been added to my regular places to go for sure.

None of us have had any experience with Keralan food so this was a first but nothing to compare it to.

The fried chicken. HANDS DOWN, some of the BEST fried chicken I've had. Mildly spiced, crispy to just the right amount on the outside to give it a light crunch but JUICY on the inside. The flavor and texture was AMAAAAAAAZING. I joked to my wife telling her, watch out, I might be out for an affair with this chick LOL

The egg curry was heavenly. Lightly spiced so the flavors were really coming out. The appam that came with it was so delicate yet so flavorful. We ended up ordering this dish twice, we liked it so much.

We got 1 parippu vada. The 3 out of the 4 people loved it. I liked the flavor but I felt the exterior could be about 10% less crispy but that's 1 against 4.

The chaater tots were probably the least liked. It felt like regular tater tots with hardly any masala on it and the beet dip didn't do it. There is a LOT of potential for this side but it's not there yet in my opinion.

We also ordered a vegetarian thali. While we knew the chick peas curry would be made of tamarind, we didn't expect it to be this tart. (The sour/tart flavor is probably the only flavor profile I have a tough time with so for me, this was an absolute no no). 2 of the 4 people usually like tart things but this was tart for their liking too.

The egg appam. WOW.

The kaapi.. Again, nothing not to look about it.

Now the experience. This was a little different/modern experience for the process and I thought it was SO COOL.

With the exception to the staff bringing out the food and clearing the table, for the most part everything else is self service. You get your own water (Indian style in steel glasses.....I LOVED IT), get your own silverware, etc.

You PLACE YOUR OWN order by scanning the QR code at the table specific to your table. Super easy way to just split the bills....each person can scan their own code and place their own order. No fuss. And check this. THEY DO NOT ACCEPT TIPS.

I thought this was an absolutely BRILLIANT idea. It works. While the place was about a half full, I think there were only 2 people who were actually bringing the food out so this method definitely does bring the efficiency into place.

While I have mixed feelings about the fact that there is no person taking the actual order (no way to really ask questions per se, know more about the restaurant, etc.....no human interaction), I think the new system works. I just have to get used to it (and honestly am glad to).

The menu needs work. There was a little inconsistencies in the printed menu we got vs what they had online where we had to order. Menu consistency is important.

I think Thattu is a well thought out concept for a casual dining experience that while with inflation having taken place does have slightly higher prices than I am used to (I'm talking 3 to 5 years ago prices), I will happily come again for various reasons:

While there is no formal order taking, the staff did come to greet us, help us since this was the first time, answered questions, gave suggestions, etc.

The no tipping policy. Guys, I'm in no way a cheap stake but am human. I've seen $10 things go up to $20 and then places add a 3 to 5% charge on top of that with tiny print saying things like 'this pays for the health insurance needs for staff', etc. which is just BS in my opinion and then ask you to pay a tip (now a days 18% start is standard and some shameless joints go as high as 35%).....I'm a bit tired. Plus Thattu just removed the fact that I have to 'think' of how much to tip.

No sneaky way of coming up with the machine to take your card and then ask for a tip (which by the way some places doing that calculate the tip for the whole bill! INCLUDING the tax)

Lastly, I wish I was able to 'rent' 2 more stomachs as I wanted to try...

A Taste of Kerala in Chicago!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Thattu, a delightful restaurant located at 2601 W Fletcher St in Chicago, IL. As a Keralite, I was particularly excited to try this place after stumbling upon it on Instagram. The ambience was fantastic, with tasteful decorations that beautifully captured the essence of Kerala.

Getting to Thattu was a breeze using Google Maps/Apple Maps, and I was pleased to find street parking available nearby. However, I highly recommend making a reservation in advance, especially for larger parties, as the seating options are primarily designed for smaller groups. I especially appreciated the open seating area, which bathed the restaurant in natural light. Thattu offers different menus for lunch and dinner. If you're interested in exploring more dishes, opting for the lunch menu is recommended as it provides a greater selection. Thattu has limited vegetarian options, so it's worth noting if you have specific dietary preferences. Kappa Bonda: Although I'm not typically a fan of tapioca, Thattu's Kappa Bonda won me over with its delicious flavors. I only wished the portions were a bit more generous. Beet Puff: The innovative concept of using beetroot as a filling in a puff pastry worked surprisingly well. The sweet notes intertwined with the spiciness of the beetroot mixture, creating a unique flavor profile. Kerala Fried Chicken Bites: The flavor of the chicken bites was good, but I found that the larger pieces lacked adequate absorption of the masala, resulting in a somewhat bland interior. Eggplant Theeyal: This dish reminded me of the authentic Kerala preparation, with flavorful eggplant. However, the sauce leaned towards a tangy and sour profile. Kadala Curry: A basic dish done right, the Kadala Curry was satisfyingly prepared and offered a taste reminiscent of home. Chicken Ishtu: Tender chicken combined with a flavorful stew made for a delightful culinary experience. Malabar Chicken Biryani: While lacking in spiciness, the well-cooked chicken compensated for the milder flavor profile. Meen Pollichathu: The dish was enjoyable, although the choice of Tilapia fish deviated from the traditional preparation. The serving size was generous, making it one of the standout items on the menu. Appam: I had eagerly anticipated this dish, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The preparation method on a flat pan resulted in misshapen appams that tended to stick to the plate. Additionally, the sweetness of the appam puzzled me, as it differs from my previous experiences. During the meal, I indulged in the Malabar Ginger Cooler, a refreshingly balanced beverage, and concluded with a strong and satisfying cup of Kaapi. Overall, Thattu provided an enjoyable dining experience, though on the pricey side with a bill totaling around $200 for our party of four. While I wouldn't consider it an everyday dining spot, it's certainly worth visiting for special occasions or when craving unique...

Very good!! Food was really impressive / delicious and their business model is remarkable.

First, for context, most Americans (including me) are used to a carryout-style Indian restaurant with some kind of butter chicken over rice, chicken jalfrazi, naan, fried samosas appetizer, etc. You will not find that type of meal here. Instead, this is a version of Indian food with more emphasis on seafood. It is based around cuisine from the southern tip of India near Sri Lanka. My wife and I split a beet pastry, eggplant appetizer, mussels, and a banana peel-wrapped tilapia-like fish. It was all seasoned extremely well and comforting. Mussels were so tasty and came with some really carmelized onions and the fish meal had a coconut flavor mixed in with a lemony rice and all the spices. Almost reminded me of Thai curry flavors a bit. Definitely a first for me, but my wife and I were so impressed we'll definitely be return customers.

In terms of their business model, what I liked is the owner greeted us and told us about their 'no-tip and no service-charge' policy. However, I want to emphasize the service is still good. People come around and check on you. It's NOT a fast casual model. They also can have this policy because they pay their workers a livable wage first and foremost. Definitely a refreshing policy in Chicago where, for example, at Daisies you expect pretty reasonable prices and then get charged a 20% service fee with no warning. I'm all for supporting service industry workers, and it is nice to know up front that this business values its employees. Much respect to the owner for breaking the mold on restaurant tip policies.

Overall, good food and good business. Wife and I were impressed and will definitely throw this restaurant into...