Get Curried Away by New Flavors
By John DiGilio in Food on Jul 15, 2011 6:00PM
Some things were simply meant to go together. Take for instance, peaches and cream, gin and tonic, or even Starsky and Hutch. To quote the old Reese's commercial, they are "two great tastes that taste great together". But what about curry and pizza? It may not sound like a match made in heaven, but then again we neither eat with our ears nor our eyes. If this combination strikes you as even the least bit intriguing, then head on down to Curried in the Loop and get a little taste of something divine.
The folks at Curried are dedicated to cranking out delicious Indian food that is fast, fresh, and affordable - three things that were definitely meant to go together. Generously-portioned curry plates, featuring two entrees, rice and naan are only $7.99 each. Most a la carte dishes are even less and curry bowls start at under five dollars. It is biryani for the budget-conscious at Curried!
We stopped by recently to celebrate the restaurant's first month of business. The dish du jour was the Indian Pizza. Now we know you're thinking that paneer and pizza crust make for some odd bedfellows. But do yourself a favor and do not knock it until you've tried it. We had the mixed veggie pizza and were instantly enamored of the curried vegetables and cheese that were delicately layered on tikka sauce. We were equally as pleased with the savory flavor of the spinach and paneer that coated the top of the saag pie. Even just the plain paneer pizza was a treat. Every bite was full of flavor.
We had the chance to talk to the General Manager, Robert Magiet. When we asked him about the bold flavors and unconventional creations, he shared his philosophy with us. "Our goal here at Curried Restaurant is to make everyone's taste buds dance like they are in a Bollywood movie," he said. "When was the last time your taste buds danced? Our customers are often surprised that we have that ability." Surprised was an understatement in our case. Had we known Indian pizzas could be so good, we would have stopped in sooner. In fact, we already cannot wait to go back.
Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, or a straight-up carnivore, Curried has something for you. In addition to the pizzas and entrees, there are wraps, samosas, and even desserts. Their promise to have your food hot and ready in minutes is something the staff takes seriously and means you are in and out in no time. It is easy on your schedule and your wallet. So the next time you are looking for something quick and delicious, take your taste buds down to Wells and Lake and get curried away.
Curried is located at 171 North Wells Street.