My family has never been much for Indian food. We are not sure what to order and, though I enjoy the strong smells and flavors, I feared my sons would literally turn up their noses. But after hearing several friends sing the praises of Kama Indian Bistro in west suburban La Grange, we decided to give it a shot.
Tucked into a small storefront next to the train tracks, Kama Bistro’s exterior doesn’t do the restaurant justice. We entered to find a cozy haven of pillowed benches and beautiful artwork, delicious aromas and friendly service. Although it’s a small space, several large families were seated comfortably among couples and foursomes.
As expected, I was immediately overwhelmed by the menu so I put us into our server’s hands. She asked questions about what we like and pointed out that every dish on the menu is made to order, so you can choose any protein, fish or vegetarian option. She even provided a special “kid-friendly” menu with everything from naan PB&J and cinnamon sugar bread to veggie fritters and chicken masala.
With delicious naan and dipping sauces to begin our meal, we sampled samosas, mulligatawny soup and a Kama exclusive-chilly crispy potatoes. Everything was tasty, but we couldn’t stop eating the potatoes, which our server described as the chef’s version of Indian French fries.
Everything at Kama Bistro is meant to be shared, so for entrees we decided to sample a few dishes. The chicken lemon tadka was outstanding. The kids enjoyed its creamy lemon flavor and the meat was cooked perfectly. We also enjoyed chicken tikka masala and lamb/okra bhindi. It was a good combination of flavors and cooking styles, giving my sons an overview of what Indian food is like.
