Reva Modern Indian Review – Delicious Indian in East Liberty

A Large Menu at Reva Modern Indian

The restaurant's space is bright and inviting with colorful walls and bench-style communal tables. The menu leans more toward North Indian dishes with curries, tandoori dishes, biryani, naan, chaat, and more making up the extensive offerings. And although we didn't try any drinks, there is even a cocktail menu – think classics with twists utilizing Indian flavors- as well as Indian beers and nonalcoholic options like mango lassis.

We started with a few appetizers, the jalapeno and cheddar samosas and the sweet potato chaat. The samosas were crispy on the outside with a savory, rich filling. The cilantro chutney and zippy tamarind chutney served on the side perfectly complemented the richness of the samosas.

We also tried the sweet potato chaat which was one of our favorite dishes of the meal. The potatoes were fried to ultra crispy perfection, the perfect vehicle for soaking up all the contrasting chutney and sauces on top – sweet, spicy, sour, and creamy. I would have been happy just eating an entire giant plate of this and calling it dinner, but nevertheless we had to press on toward entrees.

For entrees, there are plenty of meat focused options like their signature butter chicken, goat curry, and biryani, but of course plenty of vegetarian dishes grace the menu as well with the likes of dal tadka, paneer dishes, and chana masala.

Opting for a little of both worlds, we tried the lamb biryani and the palak paneer. The palak paneer with its smooth, creamy spinach was ultra comforting. The seasoning and spice level were perfect (we had asked for medium and it was just right for us), and crispy garlic and onion bits on top provided little punches of flavor.

The lamb biryani was another favorite, this one arriving in a pretty clay pot, overflowing with fluffy turmeric-colored rice. With a hard-boiled egg, tons of juicy and tender hunks of lamb, and spices like cardamom perfuming the whole dish, this was a meal in itself. The portion was huge, so needless to say we had to take some leftovers of this one.

We rounded out the meal with some garlic naan which was served hot with tons of buttery garlic flavor, slightly crispy on the outside. Other naan and bread options include things like rosemary naan, paratha, and roti.

Reva hit all the right notes for us with shareable portion sizes, delicious appetizer options, and comforting entrees bursting with flavor. Our only regret is that we didn't go with a huge group to order lots more – we'll save that for next time!

Reva is located at 220 N Highland Avenue in East Liberty.