Check Please, wttw Nov. 2009

Two video segments
1. Watch the conversation
2. See the restaurant

(click on the titles under Watch Video on the right side of page)

RIVAAJ Magazine August 28, 2009

Veerasway - Chicago

Veerasway is a modern Indian restaurant with an upscale yet casual atmosphere that features fresh and approachable Indian Food. Veerasway bridges the gap between Indian cuisine and American culture making it the perfect place to try Indian food for the first time.

Those who have experience with Indian Food will love the modern approach to everything from the food to the décor. The menu is inspired by the streets of India, Organic Salads, In-Tradition, Rice and Naan, and then their more creative and unique dishes they call “Indo-American Creations”.. < read full article >

Chicago Magazine May 2009

Best New Restaurants 2009
by Denniz Ray Wheaton

"What with its minimalist look and exotically spiced cocktails, Veerasway flts in perfectly on Randolph Street, a.k.a. Chicago's dining weathervane. Angela Lee scored with Sushi Wabi next door and De Cero down the block. Now she's got Steven Hubbie, her new executive chef, doing terdflc street snacks like fried slivered okra tangled around hotsour chat masala spices, and organic green papaya and mango salad invigorated with tamarind-lime dressing and methi (fenugreek) chutney. Veerasway's delicious excursions into Indo-American territory-chili-rubbed and tandoor- braised vindaloo pork ribsare so spicy you'll keep the soothing charred pineapple topping close by, '. all while looking forward to the next flery bite."

Chicago Tribune April 02, 2009

Hip take on Indian fare, Randolph Street style
by Phil Vettel

"Angela Hepler-Lee has a habit of turning the exotic into the approachable. With Susan Thompson, she opened Sushi Wabi, featuring a Sushi 101 menu and urban-chic decor, along the Randolph Street restaurant corridor in 1999. Five years later, the duo unveiled De Cero, a simple but not simplistic, casual-hip Mexican concept, a few doors east of their first concept. And now there is Veerasway, a modern Indian restaurant that sits next door to Sushi Wabi. Which makes Hepler-Lee, arguably, the Queen of Randolph Street..." < read full article >

Fete Select TV November 17, 2008

by D.C. Crenshaw

"Veerasway brings a fresh take on Indian cuisine, adding some spice along Restaurant Row on West Randolph Street in Chicago."

City Search

EDITORIAL REVIEW
by Jennifer Olvera

"Folks behind Sushi Wabi and de Cero expand their scope at this sleek, minimalist spot with yellow-green and slatted wood walls and views into the tandoor oven. Blond wood seating encourages getting cozy with neighbors, while lantern-like fixtures cast an inviting glow. Although traditional dishes like chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh can be found on the menu, plenty of others are tweaked. There's also a section honoring Indian street foods where samosas and chicken drumsticks get play. Among the more unique creations is grilled salmon swimming in turmeric-infused cucumber broth. Likewise, drinks like the rummy coconut lassi martini surprise."

Chicago Social August 2008

BOLLYWOOD BITE
Fresh Indian fare sets a subtle scene on Randolph Street

"...To many restaurateurs, West Randolph Street is a source of inspiration. Maybe it’s the old-school butcher shops or the 100-year-old buildings, but there’s something about the gritty street that often prompts—hmm, how do we say it nicely?—over-the-top design. Th ankfully, restaurateur Angela Hepler-Lee (De Cero, Sushi Wabi) decided to go in the opposite direction with her latest endeavor, Veerasway. Understated, minimalist and simply sophisticated, the subtle interior allows the creative food its chance to shine....." < read full article >

Chicago Social June 2008

NEWS YOU CAN MUNCH ON...
Here’s our take on the hottest culinary happenings in Chicago this month

"...For menu inspiration, Lee traveled to London where she became enamored with the European-style Indian food of a chef named Veera and decided to do something similar (“Veera’s way”: Get it?). Labeling the food as “fresh Indian,” Lee describes it as a blending of Indian spices and cooking methods with American food sensibilities. On the compact but varied menu (“I like my restaurants to be really simple and user friendly,” says Lee) diners can opt for traditional dishes—think chicken tikka masala and garlic-mashed-potato naan—or more modern ones, such as cumin rib-eye steak kabob and crispy chicken drumsticks with a dill raita..." < read full article >

abc7 News 06/19/2008

Two new Indian spots in Chicago
by Steve Dolinsky

"Up until recently, if you wanted to sample a taste of India, you had to travel up to Devon Avenue in Rogers Park.

But two new restaurants in different neighborhoods are exposing this exotic cuisine to a wider audience.

Finally, the complexity and nuance of Indian food hits the masses. Far from Devon Avenue, on a busy stretch of West Randolph, the brand new Veerasway beckons with modern decor, spice-laden cocktails and fresh ingredients..." < read full article >

Crains Business 06/02/2008

Veerasway riffs on Indian cuisine
by Alison Neumer Lara

"Small plates for sharing are nothing new to Indian cuisine. What's different at Veerasway is a fresh, modern approach that offers space, all on one menu, for street snacks, traditional dishes and contemporary cooking in a stylish, accessible, Indian-inspired setting."

"At Veerasway, the concept works even better because most diners are generally less familiar with Indian cooking. Don't compare it to eateries on Devon Avenue. In this form — not too spicy and with just enough of a twist — Veerasway's Indian becomes an exciting and hip business lunch excursion that still appeals to the less adventurous. It helps that service is swift and competent, while a light midday crowd keeps noise levels comfortable for conversation..."