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    The Secret Kitchen

    3.3 (29 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 pm - 10:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Tandoor veggies
    Pooja P.

    New modern Indian restaurant in Schaumburg. Tried a mix of appetizers, mains, and dessert and overall it was a decent experience. The avocado dahi puri, parmesan pav bhaji, and onion garlic naan were the highlights for me. The mains were okay but didn't really stand out in terms of flavor. Nothing was bad, just not very memorable overall. I was expecting a bit more punch given the concept and presentation. Still a nice spot to try if you are in the area and want modern Indian dishes, but not somewhere I would go out of my way to return to.

    Vandana M.

    I really wanted to like this place but my experience was chaotic at best. My expectations were set high by limited reservation availability and the wall of award photos of the chef at the entrance. The service was bad. Our server barely paid any attention, even was looking in the other direction while I was trying to place an order. When I mentioned I am Gluten sensitive, she made a weird expression and said "everything we serve has gluten in it" which is not true. We ordered the Chef's special desert, which is $36 and quickly realized it was a big mistake when the server started constructing it table side and probably has zero training to do so. The ingredites of a desert that costs more than an entree were extremely poor. The ice cream was powdery, the chocolate probably was made in palm oil. Horrible! There were theatrics and drama in the presentation of all the food items, but it felt excessively performative since the food taste and quality was seriously lacking. My appetizer Paneer Thecha came out pretty, but cold. We got a dragon fruit slushee, which had multiple full icecubes in it. The bartender stopped by to ask for feedback and when we mentioned this, she said her blender has not been set up yet. Shouldn't they share this information while taking our drink order? Lesuni palak paneer was the only thing that I felt was good to eat here, but the bar had been set very low by the time our entree came out. The ambience was another source of over-stimulation. There were 4 birthdays celebrated in a span of 1 hr and every single time they played the happy birthday song on the speaker system. This place is utter chaos, I am never going back.

    Tomato Soup- must order starter
    Kristen S.

    My husband and I dined here tonight and loved the experience of trying a variety of dishes from the menu. We started with the paneer appetizer, which arrived beautifully presented on a skewer. It definitely has some heat to it, so just a heads up if you're sensitive to spice--I enjoyed the flavor, but found myself reaching for water quite a bit! I ordered the tomato soup, which was absolutely delicious. For our main dishes, we shared the butter chicken along with the green cheese butter masala with spinach and herbs--both were rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. I also ordered a mocktail made with pineapple juice, and it was stunning. The presentation felt like a little secret garden of flowers, and the bartender even came over to personally present it. Every detail, from the drinks to the dishes, was clearly thoughtful and elevated. Our server, Cristina, was attentive, friendly, and offered great recommendations. She really helped guide us through the menu and made the entire experience even more enjoyable. We also ordered the signature mystery dessert too and the presentation was fun to experience table-side. Hard chocolate shell with vanilla ice cream, spices, chocolate sauce, chocolate candies, and another drizzle of a sauce.

    Bollywood Khoya Kaju Masala
    Sharadha R.

    Finally got to celebrate at The Secret Kitchen! We'd been trying to get a reservation forever, so we just called and took a shot and they actually squeezed us in for 8:45 PM. They were super upfront about us possibly waiting since we didn't have a slot, which we appreciated. While we waited, they brought out complimentary drinks and apologized for the delay (they really didn't have to). Honestly, the whole service team just got it, the kind of hospitality that makes you want to come back. The entrance is artistic, picturesque, and perfect for photos whether you're solo or with a group. Everything's clean, well-spaced, and they handle both intimate dinners and big celebrations effortlessly. Definitely Indian restaurant goals for special occasions. The food though, we went a bit overboard with orders. Started with Dhokla fondue, Cheese tikki melt, Avocado dahi puri, and Parmesan pav bhaji. The cheese tikki melt and avocado dahi puri were my personal favourites. The dhokla itself was denser than I usually like, but that creamy cheesy fondue is delicious . The pav bhaji had this amazing croissant-shaped pav, soft and pillowy inside, just crispy enough outside. For mains we got Burrata Makhni, Bollywood Khoya Kaju masala, and a trio of breads (Chilli cheese naan, onion garlic naan, and kulcha). They absolutely nailed the breads, every single one was warm, soft, and light. The Burrata makhni was such a clever twist on the classic, and the khoya kaju masala was rich in all the right ways with loads of cashews. Presentation was beautiful too. We wanted the Chef's signature dessert but it was sold out, so we grabbed the sizzling brownie instead, still great. And then they brought out sparklers and a birthday cake for my husband. I'm usually skeptical about restaurant birthday cakes (they're often dry and forgettable), but this one reminded me of those vanilla cakes with buttercream I grew up with in India. Genuinely delicious. Will 100% be back. Already planning my next visit and clearing my calendar way in advance this time

    resh s.

    Great ambience and food ranged from good to very good. Drinks were cute. Service was a little slow. I enjoyed it but don't feel compelled to return again and again

    Peri peri paneer
    Naimisha M.

    Had a reservation for an 8:30 PM dinner on Sunday, but there was some wait time to be seated despite having a reservation wasn't ideal. The ambience, however, was great and made it a nice place for celebrations.The service was fast after being seated The appetizer selection was great. We tried the Thecha Paneer Tikka, which could have used a bit more sauce or seasoning. The Peri Peri Prawns were really good,flavorful without being too spicy. For the vegetarian main courses, most curry options are paneer based. We tried the Bollywood Khoya Kaju Masala and Sabz Bahar qalia with lacha paratha and onion garlic naan, but the curries tasted quite similar.

    Worst management and operations. I followed their reservation system and submitted a request 10 days in advance based on their availability calendar, but never received any response. When I tried to follow up, my call was disconnected without any explanation. I was initially excited to visit since it's in my neighborhood, but this experience has completely changed my impression. I will not be visiting and would not recommend it to others.

    Laccha paratha and Lucknowi matka paneer

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    2 months ago

    Amazing flavor for EVERY dish! Wonderful atmosphere and lovely staff! They have creative entrees and apps!!

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    2 months ago

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    1 month ago

    I would recommend this place. Attentive service. The avocado dahi puri dish was our favorite. Butter chicken was good too.

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    1 month ago

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    26 days ago

    We were impressed by the presentation, creative recipes, delicious food and lovely service!

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    1 month ago

    Excellent food , service and ambience . Will be visiting it again and recommending it to family and friends .

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    2 months ago

    Too much hype and price for normal food. Dessert was all show and no taste. Drinks were just ok.

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    2 months ago

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    Kritunga

    Kritunga

    4.1
    (58 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    This was my second time here. The ambiance and atmosphere is nice. The service is a bit slow and…read moresome food was lukewarm temperature when it came to our table, but the staff is incredibly nice! The food was good but it felt like it was missing some flavor. Overall it was decent though I am not sure that I would crave it enough to come back again.

    If you're considering dining at Kritunga Indian Restaurant in the northwest suburbs of Chicago,…read morethink again. My recent experience there was nothing short of a disaster, and I would strongly advise against visiting this establishment. Here's why: Firstly, the management of the restaurant is incredibly unprofessional. The place is run by a group of young individuals who seem to have no understanding of customer service or respect for their patrons. Upon arrival, it was clear that they prioritized larger parties over smaller groups like ours. Despite the restaurant being relatively new, it was evident that they had not taken the time to properly train their staff or understand the basics of running a successful business. Our dining experience started off poorly and only got worse. The staff barely acknowledged us and seemed disinterested in providing any sort of quality service. The lack of attention to smaller parties like ours was not just noticeable but blatant. We felt ignored and undervalued, which set a negative tone for the entire meal. The food, which is supposed to be the highlight of any dining experience, was utterly disappointing. We ordered several dishes, hoping to enjoy the rich flavors and spices that Indian cuisine is known for. However, each dish was tasteless and bland. It was as if no thought or care had been put into the preparation. The flavors were flat, and the textures were off. It was a complete waste of money, especially considering there are numerous other Indian restaurants in the area that offer far superior food. Adding to the misery was the state of the restaurant itself. The floor was slippery, making it hazardous to walk around. It was clear that cleanliness and safety were not priorities here. Both bathrooms were lacking basic amenities, such as tissues, which is unacceptable. Additionally, there was no salt and pepper in the shakers at our table, a small but significant detail that further highlighted the restaurant's lack of attention to basic customer needs. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was also lacking. Instead of feeling welcomed and comfortable, we felt neglected and uncomfortable. The staff's attitude was one of arrogance and indifference, which was reflected in the poor service and subpar food. It's truly a shame because the northwest suburbs of Chicago have a vibrant dining scene with many excellent Indian restaurants. Unfortunately, this place does not come close to meeting the standards set by its competitors. The combination of poor service, tasteless food, and an unclean environment makes this place a regrettable choice for anyone looking to enjoy a meal out. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. It was a thoroughly disappointing experience from start to finish. The management needs to seriously rethink their approach to running a restaurant and prioritize their customers' needs and satisfaction. Until significant improvements are made, I would suggest avoiding this place and opting for one of the many other decent Indian restaurants in the area. Save your money and your taste buds--do not dine here.

    Photos
    Lunch buffet Sunday 9-28-2025 (view from my table)
    Lunch buffet Sunday 9-28-2025 (view from my table)
    Chili Paneer
    Chili Paneer
    Ambiance

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    Ambiance
    Jay Bhavani

    Jay Bhavani

    2.8
    (32 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Jay Bhavani is a great spot for Mumbai and Gujarati street food. The entire menu is vegetarian, and…read moreevery dish we tried was packed with flavor. The Vada Pav was definitely my favorite--so flavorful and delicious. The restaurant has plenty of seating, a friendly staff, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're looking for a quick, satisfying meal, this is definitely a place worth considering.

    I was curious to try Jay Bhavani based on what I had seen on Instagram and that they serve Indian…read morevegetarian street food. My family and I went here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. Their were a couple of groups of people but the restaurant was not busy. The restaurant looked clean and inviting. The staff was friendly. The ordering was counter service style. We took our time ordering as they had a decent variety on the menu. The menu pricing was somewhere between moderate - pricey. We ordered one of their Vada Pav, one of their Pav Bhaji, one of the Sev Puri, and one of the Thandai milkshake. The food came out promptly. I had the Vada Pav first as there what I came to eat here. It was decent. It lacked the typical spicy flavor though. Then, I dug into the Pav Bhaji. The portion size was okay but could've been better for the price they charge. The buttered Pav (bun) was nicely toasted. The flavor of the bhaji, which had certain assorted vegetables, was just okay. It was mild in taste and could use better masala for the dish it is. Actually, my parent's preparation is much better. The Sev Puri was delicious and I liked it. It's a good filling snack. The best item was the Thandai milkshake. It was nicely sweet and perfect to wash down the spicy and savory meal. Thandai is usually made with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, poppy seeds, cardamom, saffron, milk and sugar. Overall, I had an okay experience. I wasn't really wowed by anything to rave about and go back anytime soon. Except for the Thandai drink which I have not had before, I have had all the items elsewhere which tasted better. If you are curious about certain type of Indian street food w/o worrying about curry and spices that can overwhelm you, then go check out Jay Bhavani.

    Photos
    Jay Bhavani
    Jay Bhavani
    Jay Bhavani

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    The Secret Kitchen - indpak - Updated July 2026

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