Rasa, a new Indian restaurant opened by a group of four friends, quietly brightened Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square this spring and has not stayed a secret for long. The compact dining room at 2763 N. Milwaukee Ave. pairs terracotta-colored booths, big windows, and dark floors with a menu that mixes North and South Indian dishes. Chef-owner Antony Jessil, who grew up in Kerala and worked in Chicago and Boston kitchens for nearly two decades, runs the stove while co-owner Asish Shaji helps manage the front of house. The team says the place had already developed regulars by early May.
Chef’s journey and the team behind Rasa
Speaking with Block Club Chicago, chef-owner Antony Jessil called Rasa "my dream" and traced that dream through years of working in Indian restaurants in Chicago and Boston before finally opening his own spot. Owners told the outlet that Rasa is a partnership among four friends, and Jessil says he wanted to bring both the Kerala flavors he grew up with and broader North Indian techniques to a neighborhood menu. The team presents the restaurant as an accessible place for weekday lunches and casual dinners, not just a special-occasion splurge.
What’s on the menu and when it’s open
The menu leans into street-food-friendly comfort, with chaat plates and tandoor items including samosa chatt and banana fritter chatt alongside house tandoori chicken. Delivery listings show lunch service from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and the kitchen offers two curry lunch specials that come with bread and dessert, according to Uber Eats. Diners can order through delivery platforms or slide into a terracotta booth in the small dining room for neighborhood service.
Space, past tenants and plans for a patio
The storefront, which formerly housed the Basement Bar and Don Bucio’s Taqueria, was remodeled into a bright, terracotta-accented dining room with dark floors and big windows. Owners told Block Club Chicago they hope to add an outdoor patio and secure a liquor license as the place settles in. Early service has mostly been walk-ins and delivery, and the team says they plan to expand seating only after they lock down the license and test demand.
What Logan Square is getting
Rasa opened into a busy stretch of Milwaukee Avenue where restaurants turn over often, yet the spot has already drawn local interest and early regulars, per customer listings and reviews. Public inspection records aggregated on CleanPlate Chicago show the restaurant holds an active license with a passing inspection earlier this year. If the kitchen keeps delivering its blend of familiar tandoori dishes and South Indian flavors, owners say they expect Rasa to settle in as a steady neighborhood stop.
