This review is mainly related to the bar area and offeringa. Even though my colleague ordered food for late night eats. With respect to the cocktail offerings, they were predominantly centered around a beachy feel vibe. If you are not familiar with Goa, it is a beach city in India that used to be one of the prime destinations for Indians to visit. This is a prime reason for the beach vibes in their cocktails. I learned from the bartender, who was on her first day at the job BUT have bartended at the sister restaurants owned by the same owners, that there are similar drinks between the establishments with minor variances. all in all, the service was attentive quick, and always there to provide recommendations based off of particular taste. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Bar area - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was our first time here and it was decent. It was empty on a Monday night so we were promptly sit. The inside feels like you're at a beach club. It's fun, but since there was no one else the music was a bit loud for us. The food was fine, but likely won't return. read more

Tasty Indian food in the city that is definitely slept on! Came here with my wife after she tried the restaurant week set menu for lunch a few weeks ago, it was my first time and she said we have to try the saffron cheesecake dessert, but the whole dinner was great. The interior is a small but well designed, modern and clean but with a nice amount of decor honoring the Indian state of Goa which is the focus of the cuisine. The whole menu sounded good, and we started with the ghee roast aloo chaat, crisp roasted potato chunks in a delicious well balanced mix of yogurt/mint chutney/tamarind chutney/pomegranates. The chili cheese kulcha was big and fluffy, and tasted like cheddar and spicy chilis as expected, but didnt have quite the savory punch of the other dishes. Our mains were the Goan chicken curry and the Hyderabadi chicken biryani, both of which were delicious. The Goan chicken curry had a rich savory and slightly spicy flavor, naturally rich and creamy without needing the cream and heaviness of a butter chicken or tikka masala. The biryani was surprisingly tasty, with a generous layer of intensely flavorful caramelized onions on bottom and juicy well marinated chicken, and rice that was fluffy and savory without being too salty. To finish our meal, the saffron cheesecake was rich elevated with the combination of cardamom, pistachio crumbles, and white chocolate. I was too full at this point to really enjoy the ras malai but my wife really liked it. Overall, great Indian food with a mix of classic and modernized dishes to satisfy anyone's palate. read more

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We recently hosted a birthday party for about 20 guests at Bar Goa, and the entire experience was exceptional from start to finish. Everything was organized so thoughtfully and seamlessly. The team helped us curate the perfect menu for our group and even arranged personalized menu cards, which added such a special touch. The service was outstanding--attentive, warm, and professional throughout the evening. The food was absolutely delicious, and every single guest had a wonderful time. We're especially grateful to the owners, Manish and Reena, for their incredible attention to detail and for making the celebration feel so personal and memorable. Highly recommend Bar Goa for any special occasion or otherwise. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bar Goa was a bit of a letdown overall. We visited during Restaurant Week and unfortunately the service was quite slow, we didn't receive cutlery for a while, which may have been due to understaffing. On a positive note, the chicken kebab and shrimp Koliwada were flavorful and enjoyable. However, the main courses fell short. Both the Malwani fish curry and the butter chicken were average at best, and the naan was disappointing. The desserts were the highlight of the meal--the mango sorbet and saffron cheesecake were both very good and ended the experience on a better note. read more

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Went here because husband is Goan. We weren't super hungry. I don't know much, but husband said he was not very impressed with the menu (I guess not enough actual Goan dishes and just typical general Indian dishes). We ordered: * Dahi Puri (tamarind, mango, cilantro, chili chaat masala, yogurt mousse, potato) * Shrimp Kolidwada (goan style fried shrimp w/ roasted red pepper chutney) * mango lassi. The eats were really good and the shrimps were huge! The mango lassi was lacking in mango; we tasted more plain yogurt flavor rather than a mango flavor. I would go here again, but it isn't a first choice type of place. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Shrimp Kolidwada - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the peri peri fries, vada pav, butter chicken croquettes, and lamb vindaloo, and honestly all of it was really good. The vibes inside are immaculate, just maybe a little on the dark side depending on where you're sitting. Staff was super friendly and actually knew the menu, which made ordering easy. Definitely a place I'd go back to. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in for happy hour on a Friday night and the place was empty so we had no issues getting a table. This place is a solid 3.5, but I rounded up to a 4. Service was solid and so is the atmosphere. To drink, I had a Lychee 75 which was just fine. It didn't blow me away and there was no strong Lychee flavor. I also had the dashi puri which was also just fine. The butter chicken slide however was good! Then we split the lamb vindaloo and the butter chicken. The lamb vindaloo wasn't my favorite, but the butter chicken was very good. I do think the mains should come with rice but I digress. The garlic naan was tasty too. I'm not sure I'd return because I think there's better Indian food in the city for less but now I know! read more

We came here for a date night and it's such a great ambiance. They have two levels and we got seated on the first floor. The food here is a fusion of modern Indian but make it fancy. They have pani puri which came out really good and some paneer gravy. The drinks were really good and was presented very well. I really like how the staff are really attentive and make sure you are doing well. Wished the gravy had some more kick to it. read more

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Sadly, the amazing-ness of this place has passed. They seem to have changed their chef recently. Whether that is the reason or cost-cutting measures, the food is not prepared with the same degree of details. My paneer tikka had no marinade this time - it was just skewered and serve with mint chutney, which itself was bland. The marinade is the most essential part of a good kebab. The dahi puri, which was incredible each bite last time I had it, was soft from sitting out in the air too long and had a sweet yogurt on top, without any of the stuffings that come inside of it. Our server was patient and heard our feedback, sharing that others having been saying similar things. Also, the "happy hour" isn't really a great deal because for 1/2 the price, they simply serve you have the amounts. (See photos from last visit that wasn't HH and this visit, with only one skewer of paneer instead of two and fewer dahi puri pieces too. It's hard to see a place you really enjoyed lose its charm in cost-cutting measures. Speaking of, they do apply a 4% extra surcharge to the final bill. So you're charging more, delivering less, and not tasty anymore. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Happy hour paneer kebab - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ambiance is minimalist and clean-lined. Business casual for most people. Unique twists on Indian dishes, and nice touches like dried rose petals on th le mango sorbet. Service was competent and friendly. For restaurant week we had: Aloo chaat potatoes & shrimp kolidwada Butter chicken makhani & lamb vindaloo Mango sorbet & saffron rose cheesecake We are still eating leftovers of the generous portions. read more

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3.5/5 Not bad but not out of this world. It was an average meal and so if your starving you may enjoy it read more

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(G)o or no go - Go! Delicious food, pretty generous portions (W)ow - Fun decor, fast service, and in the heart of River North (A)mbiance - intimate, lots of couples (M)enu - amazing chili chicken, seemed like a fusion dish, great spice level. Creamy paneer, felt like eating a cloud! read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - **Paneer Makhani - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Patio allows dogs if open. So call them to confirm before showing up with ur pup. Only 2 tables for the patio but had umbrella on the top. Service was good. I went less crowded time on weekened with not many customers. Vegetarian food Non alcoholic ginger drink - 3/5 - Sweetness was over powering and less of ginger taste. Did not see much creativity Sabudana vada - 4/5 - good flavor Paneer chili - 3/5 - not the same indo Chinese flavor i am familiar with. Chilling cheese kulcha - 3/5 - not same as roop/rooh Too much cheese for my taste. Softness was missing Amritsari Kulcha - 3/5 - Good stuffing but chole was not that tasty. Too watery for me Mushroom rice - 3/5 - taste different this time than time out market one. Flavor was missing Paneer machining- 4/5 - great curry but I needed paneer to be more well cooked read more

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We visited this amazing Indian restaurant during our visit to Chicago. Like the name suggests this place serves food from Goa and the Konkan region, which makes up the western coastline of India. They serve variety of options that you can choose from and their serving sizes are perfect if you're dining by yourself. They deserve some good cocktails as well. I tried to Seabass, which definitely was a different kind of a fish that Seabass. But it tasted good. Their kebab platter was delicious as well. While they make decent breads I wouldn't say it is their strongest suit. Well, their ambience is good and they served us well. This makes up for a good spot if you're staying in Chicago North River side. read more

Bar Goa is more of an Indian bar fusion concept rather than a place to go if you are craving traditional Indian food. The dishes only have a hint of Indian flavors and do not feel very authentic. The portions were small and overall I was not a fan. If you go in expecting drinks with Indian-inspired appetizers rather than a real Indian meal, you might enjoy it more. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - **Butter Chicken Croquettes - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is amazing! The biryani is out of this world. So is dahi puri! I was in a rush for my flight and got naan and chicken curry and palak paneer to go and even cold, it was very very good. Great service- just music is extremely loud. read more

First time going here was an amazing experience! Went with a few friends for the brunch thali. It's an amazing deal for the $20 price. The service was quite nice. The plates came out quicker than we had expected. The manager even came over to ask us how we were and if we enjoyed the food. The restaurant has a nice vibe with some house music playing. We enjoyed it. All the food was incredible. The only small critique we had was that the coffee was not strong enough for usual filter coffee. I will definitely be coming back here again for more great food. read more

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Really good food, was a little worried as it reminded me of restaurants similar to NYC but the portions were much bigger here. Definitely recommend coming with reservations but we sat at the bar read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Chili chicken - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Highly recommend for happy hour! The food was delicious and a perfect mix of fancy plating and presentation mixed with subtle aroma and flavor Indian food is so well known for. Even during happy hour, the food is a bit expensive, however you immediately forget that upon the first bite. Would highly recommend the croquette and the read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - HH Butter Chicken Croquette - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Checked out the Happy Hour specials. Service was friendly, and ambiance was festive. Food was just too spicy for me with no respite. Even my cocktail had some heat! read more

My friends and I were celebrating our friends birthday. We reserved spot quite early on Saturday and place looked empty but quickly got filled up. Butter chicken croquettes were outstanding. I would go back just for those. The place inside gave very tiki place vibe. Overall good place for food and drink hang out. I want to experience the Bollywood DJ part - I heard it happens over weekend around 9 pm. read more

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Random find while walking around Chicago. What a great experience though! Early enough in the day where we didn't need a reservation for our big group, we just kinda mingled at the bar. We started with drinks and then had a few dishes to share. They had some interesting cocktails, with some Indian ingredients. The food smelled amazing! We had some beers for the guys and the girls tried the lychee 75 and I had the sea foam. Loved the presentation of this ! Sea foam on top for sure! Little sweet but a fun cocktail. Then We ordered the mushroom fried rice and the kebab platter. Wow that mushroom rice was awesome and so flavorful and I loved the fried egg on top. I could make a meal out of that dish for sure. So good. The platter was great too . So many choices on there. Little salad too. Food was definitely full on flavor and a lot of great options for veggies too. Loved the impromptu food and drink visit to this gem. Great fusion food and nice modern setting. Service was good too. They put up with our loud crowd! read more

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Went for Restaurant Week and had a great experience overall, especially as vegetarians. The menu had tons of solid veggie options. We started with the chili paneer and aloo chaat. The chili paneer was full of flavor, and the potatoes in the chaat were perfectly crispy. For mains, we ordered the paneer makhani and mushroom fried rice. The makhani was a bit too tomato-forward for our taste, but the mushroom fried rice was really enjoyable. We also got the mango sangria pitcher, which was an amazing deal--we poured almost six drinks from it. Definitely worth it. Overall, a fun Restaurant Week meal with great vegetarian options and excellent value. read more

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When I think of Goan bars, what comes to mind are the ramshackle spots for having a glass of feni - pictured in my mind under the heavy rains of monsoon season near Morjim. Bar Goa is the opposite of all these things - a chic spot in River North serving up excellent modern desi cuisine in swanky environs. I'm not sure why every hip desi spot has decided to have Amritsari kulchas on the menu, but I'm not complaining about it, as I loved the amul cheese version here. We were just here for apps, but it would be great to go with chole or other sabzis if here for a meal. The chili paneer was excellent - super-crispy and spicy, and definitely one of the better Indo-Chinese items I've had recently. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bar Goa is a great spot for vegetarians! It's one of the trendy restaurants in the River North area, so it's probably worth making a reservation especially for the weekend. They do have a patio for nicer weather. The food all came out very fast, which was great because I was starving. For apps, we ordered the ghee roast aloo chaat and the amritsari kulcha. Both were SO good. I loved all the toppings and flavors in the chaat. The kulcha came with a side of chickpea curry to put on top of it, but I recommend also adding the mint chutney because it paired so well! I was honestly already full from the apps, but I ordered dal makhani with a side of rice. Even though the dal was listed as a side, it was a portion that was enough to be a meal for me. It was sweet, spicy, and very creamy. All around a really good meal! read more

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Great vibes and food! We came here for brunch on Sunday. The music was on point and they had a great selection of options for food. The prefix lunch menu for $25 is also a great deal where you can choose an appetizer and an entree. We ordered the Gobi for an app and the paneer makhini and naan for the main. The paneer was absolutely amazing and would totally get it again! I thought the gobi appetizer was okay. We also tried the gunpowder masala dosa which was surprisingly really good! I do wish the dosa was a little crispier but the Sambhar and chutneys were really good! The mushroom fried rice was also amazing if you're craving an indochinese twist. It comes with a fried egg on top to mix in and also has a bit of a kick! read more

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Came here for Valentine's Day and it was such a good vibe. The food was great really enjoyed the pani puri which had a little twist to it. The drinks were so good. The ambiance and music gave it a little of its own vibe. I would say the service was a 10/10, our waiter made sure our food was good and kept checking in with use. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by the food here! The inside is very cute and vibey - love all of the seating options and ambiance. The chili chicken and shrimp are so delicious - they were definitely my favorite. The staff gave us free non-alcoholic "shots" which was a nice surprise and very refreshing! read more

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So although this review is literally for one dish that was takeout, I felt compelled to write this review and give it the 5 stars it deserved and here is why. I got America's favorite Indian dish - Butter Chicken / Chicken Tikka Masala to go. It'd be easy to say, so what, they all make it well. But no sir, no ma'am they certainly don't. What's different about Bar Goa's butter chicken, is that 1. They use thigh meat (not breast) and yes, it's not white meat but certainly makes it juicier. 2. The chicken was grilled in a tandoor and had the perfect balance of smoke , char and taste. 3. They were 4 large pieces of chicken, rather than shredded or small pieces from a skewer. 4. The sauce was creamy, smooth and flavorful Now I can't speak to the rest of their menu, but this dish was legit and I'll order again. read more

This restaurant presents a fusion Indian menu with interesting cocktails. The weekend dinners can be enjoyed with live DJ which creates a great vibe. I also went for brunch but was disappointed with service as there was only one person helping out and catching his attention was difficult. We got the butter chicken sliders but the chicken was undercooked. They addressed the issue and replaced it for us but overall it left a bad taste. With that said I would definitely give this place another chance. read more

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Overall good experience at Bar Goa. We were surprised how easy it was to get a day of res. The cocktails were really tasty and pretty strong. For apps, we tried all three Kulchas. The chili cheese one was good, but kinda just tasted like an open face cheese quesadilla. The other two, Amritsari and chicken were both really good and I especially liked the sauces that came with the Amritsari. They originally brought us two Amritsaris instead of the chicken so when we told them this they did bring out the chicken and took one Kulcha off the bill but picked a less expensive one which was a bit annoying. The Aloo Chaat was good, especially the sauce, but I had a hard time getting past the pomegranate seeds and leafy greens. The butter chicken croquettes are always a crowd favorite and did not disappoint. For mains, the saag paneer was a little disappointing and the spinach sauce was kind of spicy. The butter chicken was classic and yummy. The lamb was better and slightly bigger than expected. The biryani was also pretty good. Of course you have to get garlic naan. We got two but probably could've used a third. The daal was probably one of my favorite dishes of the night! read more

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Next time you're in River North you have to check out Bar Goa! It's such an aesthetic Indian restaurant/cocktail bar on Hubbard Street. We stopped by for happy hour on a weekday and received quick service. We loved their butter chicken sliders, crispy fried coriander chicken wings, sabudana vada, and butter chicken croquettes (the makhani sauce is ), and a mango-based dessert! Few fun facts: : Goa, India is known for their music and fun vibes - stop by Bar Goa between 9:30 PM and midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings to enjoy some electric beats : Their new brunch menu incorporates some popular South Indian items such as idli and dosa! : They do catering and also host in-restaurant private parties of up to 100 people : ALSO If you visit their website (bargoachicago.com) and sign up for marketing messages, you can get a $50 off of $150 coupon (restrictions apply)! read more

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Love the food! Try coming in at night to experience true Goan party vibes! Has a lot of similar food items to Roop but an amazing range on cocktails! read more

Enjoyed a lovely happy hour with a friend. Happy hour runs Mon- Thu: 5-6pm, Sun: 3-5pm. We ate outside on their small-ish patio of 3-4 tables so I cannot speak to the interior but overall good vibes. Staff was overall friendly, although our server could not really speak to the vegan items for my friend (which I wish she would have just went to verify with the kitchen). The food was all very good- I took advantage of all the happy hour items - $2 wings are a great deal and they were very crispy and the flavor was spot on with coriander! The $4 butter chicken croquettes were great, but the sauce is what stole the show in that dish! The fries were full of flavor! Definitely a dish to share, but be prepared to eat with a fork! I would definitely come back but probably only during happy hour. A normal $18 cocktail is still a little expensive if you have a few outside of happy hour ($10 during happy hour). read more

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This is such a fun, modern Indian restaurant/bar that's great for a happy hour (albeit slightly more expensive for a hh than other options). The hh foods are so tasty! I love the butter chicken croquettes. The butter chicken slider is a more filling option, and same with the fried coriander chicken wings. The drinks are great and strong! Mango sangria packed a punch and the global nomad II was smoky. Service was friendly and quick! A bit of a darker ambiance though, and it was hard to adjust my eyes a bit, but overall very hip and modern! read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Butter Chicken Croquette, chicken Fried Coriander Wings - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered delivery and all the dishes were off. Butter Chicken - this was the best of the lot, but the sauce was too basic.. no deep flavor. Dal Tadka - over salted Mushroom Fried Rice - way too spicy. The online menu had no indication that this would be so spicy that half the folks in our group couldn't eat more than a couple of bites. read more

During my recent visit to Bar Goa for restaurant week, I encountered a crucial issue that I believe is fundamental to any restaurant's operation: how they handle patrons' allergies. From what I've seen, this can really make or break a dining experience, reflecting on the restaurant's overall organization and the attentiveness of its staff, including waiters, kitchen crew, and especially the managers. Sadly, my experience at Bar Goa was far from satisfactory in this regard. Here's what went down: we had a major mix-up with the wait staff about the ingredients in one of our entrees, particularly concerning because of my friend's severe allergies. The information kept changing, even after my friend had already started eating. What baffled me was that the manager, who was right there near us, didn't step in or offer any help. When we tried to get some clarity from the manager about which dishes would be safe, he barely paid attention to my friend's specific allergies. He just told us to check the menu via a QR code, which wasn't exactly helpful after the misinformation we'd already been given. This was particularly disappointing to me, as I've noticed a commendable awareness about allergies in other Chicago restaurants since moving back to the city. Furthermore, the manager's promise to remove the charged dish from our bill, as compensation for the inconvenience caused, was not fulfilled. This was just another letdown in a series of service failures. As for the food, my experience with Indian cuisine, stemming from my Indian heritage, left me underwhelmed by Bar Goa's offerings. The Butter Chicken, a staple in Indian cuisine, was a letdown with its tough brown chicken pieces. Accompaniments like the Malabhi Parantha were disappointingly small, diminishing the overall enjoyment of the meal. Although the Payasam dessert was a highlight, it wasn't enough to offset the other shortcomings. Interestingly, my friends, who are not of Indian descent, enjoyed their meals. This leads me to believe that Bar Goa might be catering more to a tourist demographic with its non-authentic, overpriced Indian food. Most concerning, though, is the restaurant's apparent inability to handle dietary restrictions and allergies competently. I'd opt to skip this spot. As you can see in the comment from the restaurant staff below, they continue to not understand the allergies and recommends the dal with coconut milk. For someone with allergies to coconut, they cannot consume coconut milk either, and the restaurant's reassurance was extremely misguided and could have led to a serious anaphylactic episode. While Manish mentions we were not charged for the dal, the only reason that was the case is because I had to look over the entire receipt and ask our server to remove it as they told us they would. Only then were we not charged. This is an extremely careless and poorly run restaurant that reflects on a poor experience dining there. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Payasam - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I haven't had Goan food before and Bar Goa was a great entry into the cuisine. There seemed to be outside seating although it wasn't available given how cold it was so we sat inside. The interior was lively and the music was fun throwback songs which is always a good time. As for the food? Delicious. We went with a larger group so there were a variety of dishes on the table. For drinks, I got the Mango Sangria which was refreshing and fruity. For food, we got Paneer Makhani, Cauliflower 65, Ghee Roast Aloo Chat, and Goan Cauliflower Stew. The Cauliflower 65 and Paneer Makhani are classics that I get every time and this time was no different. Both were flavorful with just the right level of spice for the cauliflower 65. The real shocker for me was the Goan Cauliflower Stew. I hadn't heard of this dish before and so my expectations were moderate but it was fantastic! So creamy and rich but not too heavy with a good helping of vegetables. read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - **Paneer Makhani - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Looking for some eats at TimeOut Market, I stumbled upon Bar Goa and their daily special, the Dal Makhani served with a bowl of rice and a garlic naan. What a great meal! The dal makhani was deep and earthy, perfectly balanced, and made for a great topping to throw on the rice, or a nice dip for the naan. However we ate it, it tasted great and was gone in minutes! I vote for Bar Goa to put the Dal Makhani on their permanent regular menu. If it's available, I highly recommend it. Given how tasty the dal makhni was, I'm sure their other dishes taste great, too! read more

Bar Goa, an Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar - Dal makhani with rice and garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois