Veena was such a wonderful hostess and chef Rob's is the best ever! Such authentic and exotic food. It was so delicious. Incredible preparation. Some of the entrees that we had were recipes from the chef's grandmother! We've eaten tons of really good Indian food for decades but this was something extremely special. Black linen tablecloths, soothing music, easily accessible parking and location, just remarkable. The best we've ever had of South Asian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A C Nayak
Had an awesome lunch here. Got a taste of kerala cuisine after studying there ages ago! The chicken curry and parotta was good. Parotta was flaky as expected. The fish fry (upgraded to pomfret) was also pretty good. We also tried their egg roast. Service was friendly, casual and non intrusive. Prices were reasonable for a speciality restaurant. A must visit if you are looking for kerala cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Curry, Fish Fry, Egg Roast
Lionel Martis
If you're looking for a place to empty your wallet faster than you can say "overpriced," then this restaurant is the perfect spot! The portions are so small, you'll need a magnifying glass to find your food on the plate. But hey, at least the taste was decent, right?Now, let's talk about the real star of the show: the host. When we ordered a non-veg meal, they decided to surprise us with a veg meal instead. How thoughtful! When we pointed out the mistake, the host's brilliant solution was to slap a fish fry on top and call it a day. I mean, who needs accuracy when you can have a Frankenstein's monster of a meal?But wait, it gets better! When the bill arrived, we were in for a real treat. They charged us for the veg thali ($17.99) AND the price of the fried fish ($17.99), which, by the way, was tilapia masquerading as the advertised pomfret. So, instead of paying $18.99 for a non-veg meal, we were blessed with a $35.98 bill for a veg thali with a lonely piece of tilapia. Talk about a bargain!In summary, if you're looking for a place that excels in serving up disappointment and has a knack for creatively inflating bills, this restaurant is the place to be. But if you value integrity and fairness, you might want to steer clear. As for me, I won't be coming back for a second helping of this overpriced scam.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Savina Saldanha
Quantity is small for the price, food was good but I was not pleased with the host. We ordered a non veg meal instead they gave us a veg meal and when we asked her about it she said I will add a fish fry to this and make it non veg meal. I was ok with that. However they charged me for the veg thali 17.99as well as the price of fried fish 17.99$ ( they gave tilapia instead of pomfret that was advertised ) instead of charging me for just the non veg meal of 18.99. When the bill arrived I was charged 35.98 for just a veg thali with a piece of thilapia.Integrity is something that doesn’t lie with this restaurant. Won’t be coming back again
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Poornima Mohan
Amazing authentic Indian food! Loved the pothichoru and Hoar Biriyani..
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Fry
Becky Nevin
So I have no pictures because we DEVOURED our meals. I highly recommend “the meal” so you can sample a bunch of different dishes!! The pickled mango was so so good. The staff explained everything to us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fruit Custard, Fish Fry
Anthony Mazzeo
My EMT partner and I came in with a challenge for her to eat the same food I had, since my spice tolerance is really high. Well, I explained that to the staff here and said I want the spiciest food imaginable; they said that it would be best to have beef curry. It was the best beef curry I’ve ever had! My partner? Crying with a runny nose from the spice! She also said she’d happily eat here again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Curry
Paola Bigham
My first time eating Indian food. Love it . This place is vey unique and services is amazing.
This place is a rare find! The restaurant specializes in Kerala cuisine, so it's very regional and not your average Indian restaurant serving the same 10 dishes. The food was very tasty and the portions were good. Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic regional Indian food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rinchen Bhutia
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Black Pepper lounge and I must say, it was an absolutely delightful experience. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was inviting and warm. The staff were not only professional but also incredibly friendly, adding to the overall charm of the place.Now, let's talk about the food - it was simply outstanding! Each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. Every bite reminded me of the authentic flavors of Kerala, transporting me back to cherished memories of culinary adventures.I cannot praise the restaurant enough for their attention to detail and the care they put into every aspect of the dining experience. Needless to say, I am already looking forward to my next visit. If you're looking for exceptional food and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend giving Black Pepper lounge a try. You won't be disappointed!
Delicious food. Food made is fresh and like farm to table. The service was personal. Lakshmi was amazing in ensuring the food was what we want...Parking: Parking is right in front of the restaurantKid-friendliness: YesWheelchair accessibility: Yes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Palappam, Kerala Parotta
Maitreya Maitreyan
Please all malayalees in US who may pass through Illinois can stop here for a nostalgic Kerala food. You wouldn't be disappointed. I recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dhaivat Upadhyay
Delicious food. Very good service.Met with the chef. Had a great conversation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dosa, Kerala Parotta
Rajesh G
I had Kerala Parota with Beef Ularthiyathu . . Parota was flaky and soft and beef fry was awsome, Wonderful combination . . Ambience was great with wonderful staffs. Staffs are friendly and kind in suggesting the options. Great place for Kerala (State in southern part of India) cusine. Highly recommend this place, which is also very near to the Chicago Premium outlet Mall.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options available.Parking: Free parking space available.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Ularthiyathu, Kerala Parotta
Edward Lawrence
Great dine in experience with family and friend. The place has a cozy ambience and not crowded and noisy. We were a party of 15 (including kids) and it was extremely comfortable. The booths were comfortable too as some kids seated themselves there.The staff were very courteous and mindful of the order. We had requested spice levels in our orders and they made sure it was not crazy spicy. The food was very delicious and pleasant. The kids loved the food as well.The porrota’s were hot and tasty. They didn't taste like the store bought frozen one’s which you would normally get in other restaurants. The stew and beef curry were mind blowing themselves.Nice clean restaurant. Clean restrooms and amole parking. Would definitely recommend and go again.
Veena was such a wonderful hostess and chef Rob's is the best ever! Such authentic and exotic food. It was so delicious. Incredible preparation. Some of the entrees that we had were recipes from the chef's grandmother! We've eaten tons of really good Indian food for decades but this was something extremely special. Black linen tablecloths, soothing music, easily accessible parking and location, just remarkable. The best we've ever had of South Asian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had an awesome lunch here. Got a taste of kerala cuisine after studying there ages ago! The chicken curry and parotta was good. Parotta was flaky as expected. The fish fry (upgraded to pomfret) was also pretty good. We also tried their egg roast. Service was friendly, casual and non intrusive. Prices were reasonable for a speciality restaurant. A must visit if you are looking for kerala cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Curry, Fish Fry, Egg Roast
If you're looking for a place to empty your wallet faster than you can say "overpriced," then this restaurant is the perfect spot! The portions are so small, you'll need a magnifying glass to find your food on the plate. But hey, at least the taste was decent, right?Now, let's talk about the real star of the show: the host. When we ordered a non-veg meal, they decided to surprise us with a veg meal instead. How thoughtful! When we pointed out the mistake, the host's brilliant solution was to slap a fish fry on top and call it a day. I mean, who needs accuracy when you can have a Frankenstein's monster of a meal?But wait, it gets better! When the bill arrived, we were in for a real treat. They charged us for the veg thali ($17.99) AND the price of the fried fish ($17.99), which, by the way, was tilapia masquerading as the advertised pomfret. So, instead of paying $18.99 for a non-veg meal, we were blessed with a $35.98 bill for a veg thali with a lonely piece of tilapia. Talk about a bargain!In summary, if you're looking for a place that excels in serving up disappointment and has a knack for creatively inflating bills, this restaurant is the place to be. But if you value integrity and fairness, you might want to steer clear. As for me, I won't be coming back for a second helping of this overpriced scam.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Quantity is small for the price, food was good but I was not pleased with the host. We ordered a non veg meal instead they gave us a veg meal and when we asked her about it she said I will add a fish fry to this and make it non veg meal. I was ok with that. However they charged me for the veg thali 17.99as well as the price of fried fish 17.99$ ( they gave tilapia instead of pomfret that was advertised ) instead of charging me for just the non veg meal of 18.99. When the bill arrived I was charged 35.98 for just a veg thali with a piece of thilapia.Integrity is something that doesn’t lie with this restaurant. Won’t be coming back again
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Amazing authentic Indian food! Loved the pothichoru and Hoar Biriyani..
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Fry
So I have no pictures because we DEVOURED our meals. I highly recommend “the meal” so you can sample a bunch of different dishes!! The pickled mango was so so good. The staff explained everything to us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fruit Custard, Fish Fry
My EMT partner and I came in with a challenge for her to eat the same food I had, since my spice tolerance is really high. Well, I explained that to the staff here and said I want the spiciest food imaginable; they said that it would be best to have beef curry. It was the best beef curry I’ve ever had! My partner? Crying with a runny nose from the spice! She also said she’d happily eat here again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Curry
My first time eating Indian food. Love it . This place is vey unique and services is amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Ularthiyathu, Idiyappam, Goat Pepper Curry, Chicken Curry, Kerala Parotta, Chicken Fry
This place is a rare find! The restaurant specializes in Kerala cuisine, so it's very regional and not your average Indian restaurant serving the same 10 dishes. The food was very tasty and the portions were good. Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic regional Indian food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Black Pepper lounge and I must say, it was an absolutely delightful experience. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was inviting and warm. The staff were not only professional but also incredibly friendly, adding to the overall charm of the place.Now, let's talk about the food - it was simply outstanding! Each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. Every bite reminded me of the authentic flavors of Kerala, transporting me back to cherished memories of culinary adventures.I cannot praise the restaurant enough for their attention to detail and the care they put into every aspect of the dining experience. Needless to say, I am already looking forward to my next visit. If you're looking for exceptional food and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend giving Black Pepper lounge a try. You won't be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious food. Food made is fresh and like farm to table. The service was personal. Lakshmi was amazing in ensuring the food was what we want...Parking: Parking is right in front of the restaurantKid-friendliness: YesWheelchair accessibility: Yes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Palappam, Kerala Parotta
Please all malayalees in US who may pass through Illinois can stop here for a nostalgic Kerala food. You wouldn't be disappointed. I recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food. Very good service.Met with the chef. Had a great conversation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dosa, Kerala Parotta
I had Kerala Parota with Beef Ularthiyathu . . Parota was flaky and soft and beef fry was awsome, Wonderful combination . . Ambience was great with wonderful staffs. Staffs are friendly and kind in suggesting the options. Great place for Kerala (State in southern part of India) cusine. Highly recommend this place, which is also very near to the Chicago Premium outlet Mall.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian options available.Parking: Free parking space available.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Ularthiyathu, Kerala Parotta
Great dine in experience with family and friend. The place has a cozy ambience and not crowded and noisy. We were a party of 15 (including kids) and it was extremely comfortable. The booths were comfortable too as some kids seated themselves there.The staff were very courteous and mindful of the order. We had requested spice levels in our orders and they made sure it was not crazy spicy. The food was very delicious and pleasant. The kids loved the food as well.The porrota’s were hot and tasty. They didn't taste like the store bought frozen one’s which you would normally get in other restaurants. The stew and beef curry were mind blowing themselves.Nice clean restaurant. Clean restrooms and amole parking. Would definitely recommend and go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Ularthiyathu, Idiyappam, Chicken Stew, Chicken Curry, Kerala Parotta