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    Cheeni

    4.1 (59 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Cheeni Photos

    Business Info

    CHEENI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cheeni

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    Crab cake fried rice
    Andrea R.

    I'd heard great things about Cheeni and enjoyed our meal there with friends. The staff weee super kind, responsive, and helpful. The setting is homey and feels like you're at someone kitchen table, which was lovely. Our group agreed collectively that the food was good, but maybe a tad underwhelming from the hype. Everything smelled heavenly but I was expecting a little bit of a bigger punch of flavor. The standout item we tried was the garlic naan, which was terrific.

    Nikhil R.

    Unfortunately, this restaurant misses the Mark in terms of accuracy, price, and taste. I had checked with a waitress to make sure that they could do a proper substitution in one of the dishes where instead of beef, they would put chicken. They confirmed this was correct, and it even showed as documented on the receipt as correct. However, once I got the dish, I noticed that there was beef in it. Unfortunately, the restaurant was only willing to provide a 30% discount for the price of the dish rather than a full refund, even though the dish was not touched. Second, the price is quite a lot for the quantity you get. Portions are extremely small, and you are easily paying $20-30 per dish. Lastly, taste is seriously lacking. Everything has zero spice in it, and the dishes themselves are mild at best. They have some dishes that they claim are with crispy chicken, but it was definitely soggy. I don't recommend this place unless you want to be disappointed.

    Kerala Chaat
    Athavi J.

    Cheeni has an Anglo-Indian decor and ambience that houses a lot of tables without feeling crowded, along with an open kitchen. Service was great, with frequent check-ins and well-timed service of appetizers and entrées. The star of our order was the Kerala Chaat with the most beautifully dressed bitter gourd. I was pleasantly surprised and could've eaten a whole plate of it. The remainder of the food was underwhelming. I remember previously devouring the Muttakos Medallions on a different visit, but it came short of expectations this time around. The Mangalorean Chicken was average, and I wouldn't order that again. The Kasundi Fish in Banana Leaf was not edible -- the mustard was overwhelming and made it unpalatable. While the ambience and service were great, I won't be coming back for the food.

    Garlic naan
    J G.

    Cheeni is a 10/10! The service was immaculate! They were so patient considering Friday evening traffic and everyone was friendly. I even asked our server for recommendations which she enthusiastically gave suggestions. I also told our server we were celebrating a birthday and we received 4 complimentary mango lassi shots which were so delicious! We tried the veggies samosas. They were yummy- a solid 7.5/10. Next time I'll probably try the non veggie version Our dishes were really yummy and well spiced. The portion and prices were appropriate. The garlic naan was a show stopper! 20/10 recommend! So delicious. I would love to try their desserts next time!

    The Rani
    Andrea A.

    Such a great new Indian spot in Downtown Durham! First off, I love that they have food represented from so many different parts of India- it warmed my heart to see food from South India, which is usually never featured in most Indian restaurants! The ambiance is super aesthetic & homey-feeling. I loved all the little touches (the cool boxes all the cutlery & menus came in, the handwritten note from the head chef in the menu, the little placard with a cute monkey on it to get your server's attention, open kitchen, etc). We got: - The Rani: Truly the prettiest plate of food I've ever eaten in my life. While it didn't blow me away taste-wise, I appreciated the diversity of textures & flavors (eggplant puree, tandoori mushrooms, beetroot kabab, paneer tikkas, and parsnips with picked red onions and a beetroot raita). - Chicken Ishtu: A surprise to me, this was my favorite dish! Definitely stayed true to the essence of Malayali coconut milk-based stews, while somehow managing to feel & look elevated. Perfectly cooked chicken & veggies with a wonderfully creamy & savory gravy. Would recommend that you eat the Malabar paratha that comes with it fast because it tends to harden quickly. - Lamb Vindaloo: This was alright- a bit too vinegary and not sufficiently spicy for me. - Garlic Naan: Did you even go to an Indian restaurant if you didn't get naan? - Mango Lassi: Loved this! Definitely get it. So appreciated the strong cardamom & rosewater essence, which is not commonplace but should be~ Would suggest getting a reservation, esp on the weekends. Relatively fast service, wonderful ambiance. Free nearby parking in City of Durham garages on weekdays after 7pm and weekends. 8.5/10 would recommend!

    Dessert
    Vraj P.

    First time checking out Cheeni for brunch and I was pleasantly impressed. I got the chicken and waffles and have to say it was a very unique experience. It blended together a spicy chicken with a dosa like waffle. Probably my favorite item I had there. I also got their appetizer potato's which were very yummy. The chai was okay but goes well with brunch. The dessert was also very good. The service was great. We made a reservation beforehand and got seated quickly. The waiter was very friendly and helpful in finding things for various dietary restrictions. Prices for brunch were definitely on the higher end but for a restaurant at this level seemed justified. They do not have parking but if you go for Sunday brunch, there is free street parking. The inside was also very well crafted and I enjoyed the ambience. I definitely want to come back for brunch and try some of their other options. May try their dinner though I have heard mixed reviews. They are also in the process of making a cool speakeasy which I plan to check out when open!

    Meg L.

    A good place to go for elevated Indian food. The dishes were perfectly spicy- the chicken had a very nice kick to it! Overall, I think the food was good and the experience was close to fine dining. They have menus in a treasure box which I thought was unique.

    Fish Moilee
    Steve K.

    Stevie K Ceritified Legit...I love this place! Was a fan of the location in North Raleigh but this elevates the concept. Loved Garland too. You can't go wrong with anything Preeti Waas is associated with. She is a 2 time James Beard semifinalist and deserves the recognition...Be sure to read the menu descriptions in the back of the menu with her tales about the food and her connection to it. Highly recommend the chettinad-style chicken and the fish moilee. Excellent cocktail menu with lots of interesting creations. Service was also outstanding!

    Interior
    Glenn G.

    We were at a charity even where the Chef was participating and enjoyed her food (whether or not she was a James Beard Award nominee). They are located in downtown durham where Jack Tar and the Colonel's Daughter previously was. We made reservations for an early dinner on a Wednesday and were warmly welcomed by staff and seated at a table with a little box, which contains the menu and your dinnerware. Right away, we felt very comfortable. We enjoyed the baby brinjals (eggplant app), lamb vindaloo, dal, and garlic naan. We decided to take some of our meal home with us and left room for chai shots and what my wife said is probably the best chocolate chip cookie she ever ate. The server ended up being the chef's daughter, and we had a nice chat. We are looking forward to coming back for brunch and other meals.

    Lamb Vindaloo: lamb cooked with onions, vinegar, dried red chilies, and warm spices

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    2 years ago

    Excellent service, flavorful food - great dinner with great friends. We will be back ASAP!!!

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cheeni

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    Barsa New Indian

    Barsa New Indian

    4.8
    (65 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Ok, let me get this clear. Many people love this place and I now know why but I also don't want to…read moreunderstate my pure glee when trying this food. I'm a fairly practiced home cook that loves to make food-sciency dishes, Michelin inspired stuff, and true comfort food alike. Most places I've been I could now recreate the majority of the food on my own (including a variety of ethnic food, especially Indian). I think it would take me a few years to recreate ONE DISH from this place. I should seriously be spending time with my mother and grandmother but instead my head is currently buried in my phone while trying to envision the tastes that hit my tongue. Anyways, this place beat the brakes off my expectations, so let's get talking about food and service. First Impression: Upon walking into the restaurant, I was kindly greeted by the man working the front of house (Sonny) and he shook my hand after recognizing my voice. I called fifteen minutes prior to push our reservation and add a seat, but I did not expect to feel so welcomed and comfortable so quickly. Amazing hire and clearly keeps things running smoothly. No notes for the other staff either, they were all exceedingly kind, courteous, and responsive when we had questions. Ambiance: This greatly contributed to the fantastic meal we just had. They had flowers and balloons out for Mother's Day (which was not expected at all either), but also the whole place is filled with natural light and a simply great vibe when eating food. Music wasn't loud/distracting, acoustics never made me worry I was yelling either. The food also was so pretty that it just tied it all together organically. Appetizers: I think this place is pretty well known for its Gunpowder Lamb Chops. So I won't go into excessive detail, but yes it is just that fucking good that if you don't get it, you're probably not thinking straight. I will definitely be back for those because I wouldn't dare try to make it myself and ruin it. We also had this Chaat dish that was a more modern take and it was without a doubt the most creative Chaat I've ever tried. Excellent. Entrees and Sides: We ordered three entrees to share amongst 5 adults (although 2 are older folks) and had two small boxes of leftovers to argue over. The first thing that I tried was the Duck Vindaloo (9.8/10) - I knew immediately I would be writing my very first food review afterwards. I don't even know if putting duck in a vindaloo is conventional, but it's EPIC. My grandparents thought it was a touch sweet but I liked it better that way and it perfectly complemented the duck. Next was the Ember Lamb Shank Special (9.5/10) - which was of course amazing. I actually forgot to put the gravy on top for the first half of the lamb I ate, so the half point off is honestly my fault. Would've been a ten if I was locked in. We also got the Nustea Shrimp (10/10) - which I think you will have to try yourself to believe my rating. I won't even try to describe it other than the sorba (sauce) that we almost licked off the plate. Lastly, we had Naan (8.9/10), Chili-Garlic Naan (9.3/10), Raita (9.7/10), and a vegetable salad (9/10) on the side. I have always thought most Indian restaurants cheap out on the sides, but this one makes them expert level. I genuinely have no idea what the orange crunchy spheres in the raita were, but this was the only time I've ever had raita outside my home and liked it. Desserts and Beverages: We ordered the Kumbala Brulee (9.5/10, genius idea btw). The lovely staff ALSO gifted us some Raspberry cake (9.7/10) which was phenomenal. That was honestly the cherry on top that made me a true believer. Final Note: If you read this far and haven't made a reservation yet then unfortunately you didn't get the point... Go try this place ASAP I pinky promise you won't regret it. I even ordered a goat curry to go so my girlfriend could try the art they are calling food. Oh and did I somehow forget to add ALL THE MEAT IS HALAL??? What a way to put me in the running for favorite grandchild . And Sonny if you're reading this thanks for making this Mother's Day one of the best you're the man!!

    The hype is real! This restaurant deserves all the stars! The food, the service, the ambiance all…read more10/10! We had reservations for 7:30, but they were able to accommodate us earlier! This place gets packed! Reservations are highly recommended especially on weekends. We didn't order drinks this time, but we started with the Saffron malai Royal, it came out "smoking" & was presented nicely! The chicken was very juicy and tender. We shared the chicken tikka masala which was presented nicely as well. It came with a large portion of rice to share. We also ordered Chili garlic naan & butter roti. The roti was okay. The naan was the star! Garlicky and buttery. Did I taste any chili, no but the naan was still delicious! Best I've had. We ended the meal with dessert, their Burnt Butter Pannacotta is a MUST order! Not too sweet and the pannacotta set perfectly. It seemed to have Smacks (yes the old school cereal) on top with a delicious sponge cake and fruit! It all worked well together! Overall I recommend this spot for anyone who enjoys Indian food or is willing to try it! We will be back to try other items and their cocktails!

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Daal makhni
    Daal makhni
    Birthday Dessert (Complimentary)

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    Birthday Dessert (Complimentary)
    Anjappar

    Anjappar

    4.7
    (47 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I visit Anjappar at least once whenever in the Bull City for work, and am never disappointed. The…read morefood is always consistently delicious and full of flavor. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, and provided great service. I will definitely return here and recommend anyone seeking great tasting food for affordable prices that includes a nice, relaxing ambiance, Anjappar is a must visit. Food can get a bit pricey when dining for lunch ordering more than just an entrée.

    This restaurant has an interesting location, embedded in a criminal justice building with a snazzy…read morecorner location. It was not busy on a Sunday and I'm guess it's geared towards people that work in the area on weekdays. Walking to the bathroom and bypassing the vacant security desk for the building was a strange experience. The menu is South Indian; there were some differences in what was online and what I found on the printed menu, but it was a wide and interesting selection with abundant options for special dietary needs. I ordered a dosa and an appetizer, which were splendidly presented on banana leaves. I asked for my Indo-Chinese paneer extra spicy, and they seemed a bit skeptical, but it did deliver a heck of a spice kick and an abundance of leafy tropical flavor (full curry leaves are common in this cuisine). The dosa was large, extra thin, quite salty, and satisfying. A chai was small and unsweetened. I didn't get quite the bustling atmosphere that their other location (in Cary) possessed and the menu for some reason did not have the kottu paratha I wanted to try, but I would definitely recommend anyone seeking some South Indian food to come here.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Anjappar
    Scalp fry and their hospitality's

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    Scalp fry and their hospitality's
    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

    4.5
    (129 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    Vegetarian friendly
    Takes reservations

    Urban Turban has awesome decor and vibes, it's such a beautiful restaurant! I came for lunch and…read morethe service was great. The music seemed to be modern Indian music, which I enjoyed. I had a lunch special, the Non-Vegetarian Thali, which came with a Vegetable Samosa, Dal Bukhara, Butter Chicken, Butter Naan, Rice, Raita, and a Gulab Jamun. This is the first time I've had a Thali and the presentation was beautiful. Vegetable Samosa: Perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside. Mild spicy. Dal Bukhara: Delicious lentil curry! I've never had this before (I usually get Dal Makhani), and I now know I prefer Dal Bukhara because it has lentils only. Butter Chicken: Delicious curry. I loved the smoky flavor and char on the chicken. The curry was perfectly spicy (I ordered medium spicy). The butter naan, rice, and raita were all good in supporting the dish. Gulab Jamun: A delicious sweet doughnut in syrup, a nice little treat before leaving the restaurant. The lunch Non-Veg Thali is a great deal at $24, especially for the amount of food you get (I ended up with leftovers too). I can't wait to come back and try their dinner and bar offerings!

    We were at Urban Turban for a celebration and it did not disappoint at all. The place is bright…read morebeautiful and depicts rural Indian decor. We were seated immediately and ordered drinks which were out promptly. Jaljeera, wine and the cocktail urban turban special. I loved my jaljeera, perfect sweet and tangy spicy flavour. For starters we ordered chicken chapli kabab, tandoori fish tikka and dahi ke kabab. Dahi kebab was the winner, it was crispy and soft and went perfectly well with its sweet gravy which was good twist to this simple appetizer. My second favorite was the chapli kabab, it was so soft and juicy and very light on spice. Their fish dishes were a little disappointing, I guess the fish and preparation both were not impressive. For main course we ordered their malabar fish curry which again was a disappointment, punjabi chicken curry which was pretty good, but the daal bukhara stole our hearts, very well prepared and flavourful dish. We couldn't stop ourselves from ordering some desserts, so we ordered their balu shahi with Rabri and gulab jamun with icecream. Rabri was great, but balushahi was big, seemed undercooked and bland. It's very difficult to mess up gulab jamun so that was good. The service was fast and the people were so friendly. We paid tip over the bill that already had gratuity included since we dint know, and the person came back with money and returned it saying the gratuity is included. We loved the honesty and warm gesture of the people working there. I am really looking forward to visiting this place again soon and trying their other dishes.

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    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar
    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar
    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

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    Tandoori Bites

    Tandoori Bites

    4.2
    (138 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    Service: wonderful! They were quick and they were so sweet. We made a quick reservation online and…read moreby the time we arrived the table was set for us! Ambiance: perfect for a 1st date. It's a casual restaurant but all the decor and the modern touches with Indian influence gives it a great sultry vibe. Food: top notch. Thus far is our favorite Indian restaurant out there. The naan itself is freshly made and SOFT, thick, and has a nice chew. Best naan in the triangle area. Highly recommend the bread basket as you get a good variety of their different naans. The paneer pakora is crispy, piping hot, and has a great cumin and lightly salted taste. In the middle is mint chutney so it's has nice layers of flavors. The lamb palak was super tasty as well! The spinach was nice clay cooked where it was creamy with no bitter after taste. The lamb was fall apart tender! The lamb jalfrezi was also a show stopper, it was spiced, slight tomato sauce, and lambs again, super tender that can be broken up with just fingers. The malai chicken was good, but wasn't our favorite. The meat is tender, but I felt like the flavor wasn't hitting as much as the other two. It was lighter and even with the lemon it still felt like it was missing something. Overall: will definitely be coming back!

    Tandoori Bites is a solid, no-frills option if you're craving Indian food. We went on a weekday…read moreevening and ended up being the only ones dining in, but there was a steady stream of people coming through for takeout, so it seems like more of a grab-and-go spot. Service was friendly and attentive (probably helped that it was just us), and there was plenty of seating. The menu has all the classic Indian dishes you'd expect, and portions are decent. Food-wise, everything was good and hit the spot, but nothing really stood out. Overall, it's a reliable, standard choice--worth checking out if you're in the mood for Indian, especially for takeout!

    Photos
    Tandoori Bites
    Tandoori Bites
    Tandoori Bites

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    Cheeni - indpak - Updated July 2026

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