A small, bright yellow burst of color on the corner of North Van Buren Street, Turmeric Indian Cafe and Bar houses an atmosphere bursting with flavor and color inside and out. Walking into the dimly lit restaurant (which also provides outdoor seating), the mouthwatering smell of various Indian foods wafted through the air. Although it is a relatively small space, I never felt cramped as we were seated at a large, already set table and it wasn’t too busy. The staff was very accommodating when I changed both the number of people coming to the meal and the time not too long before we arrived. 

To begin, I ordered a mango lassi, a sweet mango beverage. It did not disappoint – my search for a bad mango lassi continues. It was the epitomal example of the classic drink, with the perfect balance of the sweet mango and the sour yogurt taste.  It also provided a relief from the high spice levels in later dishes. 11/10

We also got an order of veggie samosas, and, unable to contain myself, I just had to order the paneer naan I’d been eyeing for the entire five minutes we’d been deliberating on our menus.

The samosas were simply delectable. The exterior corners were crunchy yet soft, and the interior was an incredible mix of a potato base tossed with peas and various other vegetables. It was brought together with a plethora of spices mixed wonderfully, and plated with a sweet sauce on the side, giving a nice contrast to the little savory bites. My one complaint was that I felt the cumin flavor was a bit strong at points, earning a 9/10.

I also enjoyed the paneer naan extensively. I am probably the biggest paneer fan, and this satisfied my cravings perfectly. After a long day, I was beyond grateful to get to eat a melt-in-your-mouth, warm, not just cheesy but also garlicky naan. I genuinely got tears in my eyes as I devoured about three of them, and not because of spice. I also appreciated the naan later as I had leftover sauces and whatnot to soak up. 10/10

The main dish I ordered was the masala dosa, a delicate, crispy Indian crepe with a spicy potato filling. It was served with a hefty side of sambhar, a light, tomato-y stew in which the vegetables were seeped in flavor and so tender. My first few bites I only had dosa and none of the masala filling, and I was able to really savor the sambhar. Personally, it was a bit too tomatoey for my liking, but delicious nonetheless. When I got to the masala, I was nearing my spice limit. At this point, I got tears in my eyes again, but this time, it was because of the spice. 

However, I was glad I pushed through, because the masala dosa was amazing. The crispiness of the dosa complemented the softness of the potatoes; combined with a little bit of the sambhar, it was like a mini explosion in my mouth. 8.5/10. 

We also ordered the aloo gobi to share. Usually, I like the aloo (potato) part of aloo gobi, but this time, I found I enjoyed the cauliflower more, as it soaked up the spices very well and had a nice moist texture, clocking in at a 9.5/10.

Pira, who ordered the chili chicken, didn’t say much, but Cat, who ended up eating most of it, found it to be “the best chicken [she’s] ever had.” As a vegetarian who does not have much experience with chicken and also did not try the chicken, I can only take her word for it. The chicken was a perfect balance of a crispy skin, soft, tender chicken, and a spice that was flavorful but not overpowering. The chicken was superb, earning it a respectable 10/10.

We also ordered the chicken tikka masala. It came in a beautiful orange-red color, and was swirled with a light colored sauce on top. The chicken was perfectly cooked and very flavorful, earning it a rating of 9.5/10.

Our meal concluded with a sugary surprise. Because it was my birthday, they gave us complimentary gulab jamun for dessert, warm dough balls soaked in a sugary sweet syrup and drizzled with honey on top. I was ecstatic, giving the impromptu gulab jamun a 10/10.

Overall, I found Turmeric to be a delightful experience. Later, a few of my friends admitted to “holding it together” due to the spice levels, so if spice is an issue for you I’d recommend getting mild to medium levels. The service was excellent; as I mentioned before, there were no issues with pushing the reservation time back or changing the number of people coming. The food was incredible, as I’ve said and as this review has shown. I would totally recommend it, and I will likely be coming again.