Looking to chow down on some authentic Indian fare? A new fast-casual spot near Public Square has you covered. Located at 2013 Ontario St. downtown, the fresh addition is called Desi 101.
The new halal restaurant, in the spot formerly occupied by Mirch Masala, is across the street from the Jack Cleveland Casino.
The lunch menu caters to nearby office workers, with three combo meals available depending on the size of your appetite. For dinner, look for a wide selection of vegetarian, biryani and tandoori dishes as well as chicken and goat curries, mutton sukha (mutton cooked with Khandeshi garam masala) and paneer butter masala (Indian cheese in a thick, tangy gravy). A buffet is available on weekends. (See full menu here.)
The fresh addition has garnered strong reviews thus far, with a five-star rating out of six reviews on Yelp.
Lily F., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on April 2, said, "Easily the best restaurant we went to in our short stay in Cleveland. I love Indian food and Desi really surprised me. The chicken in both the biryani and the tandoori were some of the most tender and juicy I've had in a long time. And when we sat down, the owner brought a fresh basket of straight-from-the-oven naan, dripping with butter. Definitely worth stopping in for!"
And Joseph T. said, "Great chicken tikka and fluffy garlic naan. Big portions (and) quick, friendly service. Great price, too, especially compared to the Indian food in surrounding neighborhoods. Can't wait to go back."
Head on over to check it out: Desi101 is open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed on Sunday.)
