Explore West Loop’s Brilliant Modern Indian Restaurant Opening Thursday

Randolph Restaurant Row welcomes back Indian cuisine Thursday when Rooh opens its doors in the West Loop. This is the second iteration of Rooh, as the original opened in 2017 in San Francisco. Owners also opened a New York restaurant called Baar Baar in 2018. The restaurant specializes in contemporary Indian cuisine, and though there’s no tasting menu to start, the food carries plenty of fine dining touches.

The restaurant has a basement private dining room and second floor lounge inside the former Lunatic, The Lover, & The Poet space at 736 W. Randolph Street. The space has been redone, though not gutted. The space should be popular for private events, giving Chicago a place to celebrate with Indian food. It’s the type of Indian restaurant the city hasn’t seen. Restaurants like Rasika, Bombay Palace, and Bukhara have all closed leaving a void.

The husband-and-wife ownership team of Vikram and Anu Bhambri own several restaurants in India. The local owners are Manish and Rina Mallick. The goal is to give Chicagoans a glimpse of what’s popular in South Asia, not American spins. The team has also put a lot of work into the cocktails, mixing various Indian spices into drinks to give them a unique taste.

Take a look around below at one of 2019’s most anticipated restaurant openings in Chicago. Rooh opens on Thursday and reservations are available via Resy.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago