I got the craving this afternoon for Indian food and leveraged my Chat GPT to hone in on what I hoped would be a great meal and dining experience. I absorbed the feedback on countless places within a short drive of home and decided to give Neer, on Main Street in Madison, a try. OMG am I ever so glad I chose this place!
The first pleasant discovery was learning the eatery is a BYO. Thankfully I had an ice-filled cooler in the car stocked with my favorite adult beverages. This was a fabulous feature given the heat and humidity of the day, allowing me to rehydrate fully without racking up a huge bar bill.
The menu at Neer is amazing and it is a real challenge deciding between all the fabulous dishes. I started off with the Tandoori Broccoli and, MY GOD, this was one of the most delicious and memorable dishes I've ever eaten!!!!!! It was served sizzling in a cast iron skillet and the smells and the taste of the dish and its seasonings and sauce fully permeated my senses. If I had stopped there I would have already had an awesome experience, but, of course, I didn't,
I followed up with the Chicken Vindaloo, with medium spice, and an order of Garlic Naan. The chicken dish, served with basmati rice, was deep and rich in color and taste. It was the PERFECT amount of heat and the light, airy Naan was an amazing addition for dipping into the heavenly sauce and for absorbing the flavorful heat. The portions of the various dishes were VERY generous and I forced myself to pack some leftovers for home in order to keep room for dessert.
I almost went in for the Gulab Jamun, traditionally one of my favorites, but in the end I succumbed to the allure of the saffron-infused ice cream with pistachios. This was the ideal finishing touch to cool my palate and add a little sweetness to contrast with the residual heat.
I can't remember the last time I had such a tremendous meal from start to finish. In fact the entire experience was at the same level. Don't plan to come for dinner and run in and out. Because all the dishes are made fresh, it does take some time to make all this MAGIC happen! Come prepared with enough time to relax and absorb the full experience.
The service here is impeccable! The total commitment to delivering an outstanding experience to the customer is quite conspicuous and so refreshing. Every one of the staff takes OWNERSHIP of getting it right every step of the way!
This may sound crazy but after one meal this has solidly become my favorite Indian restaurant and is right in the mix to challenge for my fave eatery of ANY type!
Decor - 10 out of 10
Ambience - 10 out of 10
Service - 10 out of 10
Food quality - 10 out of 10
Value - 10 out of 10
I'm already planning my next visit and am already zeroing in on the specific dish lol. If you are looking for an unforgettably stellar dining experience that leaves you dying to return quickly then make this your next stop. You will absolutely thank me for the recommendation!!!!! read more