Pub Royale combines English cocktails with Indian food
CHICAGO (WLS) -- With a name like Pub Royale, you'd be forgiven if you thought this Wicker Park bar was simply a place to grab a drink. Sure, the list is vast and the cocktails are strategically chosen, like an excellent Pimm's Cup swizzled with pebbled ice. But don't overlook the intriguing menu, leaning heavily toward India.
"It's basically an homage from Anglo-Indian fare as well as beer, cider and Anglo-Indian drink," said Beverage Director Michael McAvena.
Fried cauliflower is dusted in sesame, cashews and a sweet-spicy sauce, while an assertive eggplant curry has both chilies, but also cooling coconut milk, plus crispy shallots and garlic chips for added crunch. For this kind of food, you need a beer.
"We found that cider was really the best pairing, more so than beer, so we kind of anchored ourself with a good amount of traditional, really fun, unique cider," said McAvena.
Their chicken tikka kati roll is essentially an Indian chicken curry, but given a twist with cotija and chihuahua cheeses, plus red onions, fresh ginger and cilantro, rolled up into homemade, whole wheat paratha and served with a trio of excellent sauces, including mint chutney. If you fancy a mango lassi, don't expect the Devon Avenue version with simply mango and yogurt.
"This is definitely not it; it's booze-a-fied, it's in a slushy machine," he said.
So at its core, Pub Royale is simply a bar that happens to have a stellar beer list that also happens to go extremely well with its assertive Indian food.
Some of the food can be pretty spicy, so be sure to ask about heat levels first. And if you want to try one of those ciders on tap first, the staff is more than willing to offer a taste.
Pub Royale
2049 W. Division St.
(773) 661-6874
