The Spice Room

The food at this casual BYOB spot in Logan Square is hit-or-miss, but since the Spice Room’s long menu doesn’t change, you don’t need to worry about them getting rid of the hits. Some things, like the chicken chettinad or gobi manchurian are appropriately spicy with the right balance of chili and vinegar. Others, like the butter chicken and bhindi masala, are flavorless or too oily. But most dishes end up snatching defeat from the jaws of culinary victory. The samosas come with a crispy dough that’s wonderfully light and flaky, but the potato and pea filling is bland. Similarly, the chicken tikka and malai tikka taste good but are too dry, the tandoori chicken is tender but lacks the expected smoky flavor, and the dal makhani is hearty but way too salty. All that being said, you won’t have a truly bad meal here, and the flaws are tempered by the friendly service and warm atmosphere.