Amanda K.

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Ravi D.

DYNO-MITE!!! Great food and great desserts!!!

Jess L.

I came here for Restaurant Week with some friends, and all we could keep saying to each other was, "Wow, you have to try THIS!" Amazing dishes with unique flavors. You can't go wrong with this restaurant!

Mary E.

Richa A.

Caroline T.

Tammy Q.

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Ronald P.

Had dinner here last night. The night started off a little weird in that I couldn't quite connect with our server. I also didn't understand the prix fixe menus. At a place with an average entree price of $25 and appetizers from $10-$14, a $90 prix fixe should probably be for 2 people and not one but... Anyway, after some awkward communication which was probably on me, we settled in. My date and I had the following: - roasted red pepper lentil soup - some type of mango salad - crab/lobster cake - special empanadas - special ceviche - tamarind shrimp - blue corn crusted scallops - pani puri - tamarind ribs Every dish worked for us. I'm a big fan of Indian flavors and cooking and the fusion with Latin American flavors seemed to take the best of both worlds and wasn't forced. However, I'd caution against anyone coming here who isn't into spice or thicker sauces. My ribs, as an example, were covered in a sweet tamarind sauce (as advertised) which I really enjoyed but could also see others thinking the sauce was too much. The fried items (empanadas and pani puri) were done with a light hand. Empanadas, in particular, can leave me feeling overly stuffed but these were surprisingly light and airy. The scallops had a nice crisp crunch that I can still taste. The shrimp were fresh, reasonably sized and had a spiciness from the tamarind sauce that caused me to scarf them down with a sense of urgency! The crab/lobster cake was done well. I'm from the 'as little filling as possible' school when it comes to crab cakes and these met that requirement. However, the portion size for this plate needs to be thought through a bit more. At the price, you should probably get two and not one. Both the salad and soup were good values with great flavor and portion sizes! The soup, in particular, is a little filling so I'd caution against starting with it if you're in the mood to try different things. The bill was $133 after tax and before tip, which seemed fair. My advice to anyone - make sure you truly enjoy Indian flavors if you plan to dine here. This isn't a place at which you can 'just other a steak'. With that prerequisite met, you could be in for an exciting meal!

Shang S.

Save your pennies, Vermilion is pretty pricey, but for an Indian-Latin fusion experience, it is awesome. It is also fancy in decor, and so my boyfriend and I decided to dress up for the occasion. When they offer water, be aware that there is still, sparkling, and tap. We didn't hear the tap part and went for still water, which is Voss, which they charge you $6 a bottle for, c'est la vie. Vermilion's menu is divided into a couple of options - if you are exceptionally hungry and have deep pockets, there are various tasting menus (meat, seafood, vegetarian, or omnivore). Personally for the two of us, though we were hungry, we went for one tapas-style opening plate and two entrees. We did not have dessert and since I can't tolerate alcohol, can't comment on the drinks though it looked like drinks are quite popular at this place. Both my boyfriend and I love strong, flavorful, pungent dishes. That's where Vermilion's specialty lies. Our tapas was some kind of potato cake with chicken on top, it's not on the website's menu so I forget the name. I think the tapas was the one place where I was a bit indifferent. For entree, he had the red curry fish and I had the chimichurri new york strip steak. The fish: Holy spice batman! It is spicy (but according to bf, who lived abroad in Bangalore, still not authentically spicy). It is also authentic, he nods. The Chimichurri new york strip steak is much more palatable to those with American tastes. The sweet potato it comes with complements the dish well. Our service was prompt, attentive, helpful, (a bit over-selling on the prix fixe menu, obviously).

Anna B.

I just went to Vermilion today for lunch and I am still feeling it hours later. In fact, I haven't had an appetite since. The food was extremely subpar, scantly portioned, and the service was slow and unhelpful. I had major digestive issues after eating there and I had food that was pretty safe (slightly overdone blackened tilapia and dried out saffron rice). Everything was disappointing and it seems that every chance they get they try to confuse the consumer into paying more. We were also given the dinner price for the lunch prix fixe menu. When we brought it up with the waitress, she wouldn't budge. We asked kindly for the manager and he acknowledged the price difference almost like it's been happening all day. Either way, they did nothing to fix the problem except refund $70 to us (that's what I paid. For lunch.), probably in the hopes that people would continue to just go with the flow and pay the wrong amount for their food. I was incredibly insulted and I will never go back here. I would have given it 2 stars for decor, but frankly, it looks like every other relatively new restaurant downtown. Avoid this place. They're swindlers and your body might not agree with their fare.

Kelly S.

We were really excited to try Vermillion, but we were not at all excited when we left. I came for restaurant week lunch with a group of 8 friends, If I had come here and paid full price for this food, I would have been very upset. Overall, SPEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE. Especially during restaurant week. 1. The food was just meh and bland. I feel like I could get better latin and indian food elsewhere-- the fusion didn't really come through well in the food. I expected more from an Iron Chef. Part of this seems to be that they didn't give any of the food options that other yelpers have raved about. If you're going to participate in restaurant week, why don't you go all out and showcase your best food so people want to come back? In this case even what they did serve didn't even seem well executed.The best thing I ate was the Tandoor Chicken sandwich, and even that wasn't outstanding. 2. The drinks were good. The fusion came through well here. The decor is very cool. These were really the only saving graces. Unfortunately I don't choose where to dine solely based on the drinks and decorating... FOOD is kind of my main priority. 3. We went for restaurant week expecting typical lunch pricing as nothing else was listed on the website. It turned out their lunch menu was a 33 or 44 option, even though their sign outside advertised a "latin express" prix fixe lunch option for $24. We assumed this was the restaurant week menu option for lunch because they had displayed the exact menu we were given. It took and arm an a leg, but they finally gave us this price. If they hadn't I would have only given this place one star.

Patrick R.

We went to Vermilion for a day-before Valentine's Day date, and we loved it. The decor was cool, the staff helpful, and the food delicious. The Prix Fixe menu was made up of many of the regular menu items, which were interesting, creative and just plain tasty. Everyone raves about the chimmichurri steak (which was a perfect medium rare for me, and medium for my wife, and the sauce was unique and flavorful), but the best for us was the seafood stew -- amazing! The topper was the bread pudding in peanut sauce that made me want to pick the bowl. If you want very tasty food, a cool atmosphere and good wine selection -- you have to check this out.

Audre L.

The food here pleasantly surprised me in a great way. Came here on a Sunday night with a group of 6. It was slow given the fact that it was Sunday night - and therefore we got really good service. Our waitress was super sweet. Also, in terms of all the bad reviews of the food, I honestly think that for certain persons, Indian food and spices will naturally not sit well. For the people that also had bad reviews given the scene and service, I guess if I were coming here for a rowdy, in your face fun evening, this place would not be the choice. Choose something newer for that. But if you want good food with the company you go with, this place is a nice option. For me, the food was excellent. Had and Pani Puri - and my friend who is Indian said it was stellar. For my entree, I got the vegetarian Eggplant with a side of Coconut rice. Also very tasty! The spices were Indian - bold, spicy, tangy, sweet, sour all at once in a balanced way. I got to taste some of the meats my friends ordered and it was all executed very well. The decor is a little dated, and this place has been on Hubbard for a while, but that definintely says something - to have a restaurant in River North stick around for several years. Not sure what the scene and service is like on the weekends, but if you are looking for a nice meal on a quiet weekday, this place might be a good option if you're in the mood for Indian inspired dishes.

Elle M.

My boyfriend and I came here to use our 10 course Iron Chef Tasting Menu Groupon last night and overall our experience was good. Nothing mind-blowing, but good. First off, it's actually a 5 course tasting menu and each course has two components. Our server asked about our heat tolerance and, as I'm a little more of a wuss when it comes to spice, warned me about a couple of the courses that might be spicier. She said she'd bring yogurt and keep the spicy sauces on the side, which I appreciated. Honestly though, none of them were really that spicy. The first two courses were great. A little chicken tandoor on a naan circle paired with jicama, anchovy, citrus and cilantro- those two played off each other better than any other course. Then fried artichokes with duck vindaloo on a little corn cake- also delicious. The third course was a skewer of pickled cherry peppers stuffed with chorizo & goat cheese and grilled pieces of turkey with a garam masala rub. That was okay. The turkey was kind of dry and I didn't really taste any kind of rub. The fourth course, which is the main, was fine. The lobster in the coconut curry sauce was my favorite. The NY strip with potatoes were fine. Nothing exciting, but the (non-traditional) chimichurri was a little overly vinegar-y. The dessert is where I really get stuck. I still don't know how I feel about it. It's a weird quinoa milk reduction that reminded me a lot of horchata. And it's paired with a chocolate doughnut frittata? The texture completely stumped me. And the rum infused whipped cream they serve with it is nothing special. The quinoa horchata and whipped cream were WAY too sweet. I don't know. Honestly I'm still not done thinking about it. The drinks all looked great, but the ginger lime margarita I ordered first tasted like salt. Not ginger or lime. Our server sort of brought us both our second drink without our asking and the one she brought me wasn't something I would've ordered. I had a couple sips and gave it to my boyfriend. While it was really nice of her to do that, I would've preferred to order my own drink- and actually drink it. The service was really great and the food was interesting with some very nice flavors. Good ambiance. It was definitely a unique experience.

Sherrilyn B.

At Vermillion I ate one of the best meals I've ever had. My husband and I ordered the prix fixe, mine was vegetarian, his was vegan. I cannot imagine another restaurant providing better vegan food (most of my dishes were vegan). I also enjoyed their pear and jalapeno cocktail, and when I requested it be spicier, they did oblige. Highlights across the five courses were: my paneer appetizer with spicy coating, punjab chole, jicama salad, spicy eggplant, the curried-gobi entree, and the desserts (chocolate cake, mango flan, yummy sorbet, and a delicious sesame/poppy crisp). We also loved the little 'street food' style crisp. It was a little shell/bowl with a delicious filling, eaten after pouring the accompanying cucumber water inside. I also love eating at Vermillion because the service is so outstanding. And yes, it's expensive...but in my opinion, this sort of outstanding service and superbly-creative delicious food is worth every penny.

Rachel B.

Had a Groupon for this restaurant that gets you 2 appetizers and 2 entrees and used it tonight. We got there at 7:15 and got seated right away for our 7:30 reservation. The décor is nice, the pictures of the naked women in the bathroom were kind of weird and the music reminded me of a nightclub. For appetizers we ordered the blue corn crusted scallops and the Bombay frankie. About 15 minutes later we got the food. The scallops were pretty good, it was the first time I'd ever had scallops so I have nothing to compare them too. The Bombay frankie would have been delicious except that it came out warm and would have been a lot better if it were hot. For the main course I had the "pindi" butter chicken and my friend had the tandoori skirt steak. About 15/20 minutes later we got the food. The butter chicken was alright. I didn't love it enough to finish it. The naan it came with was so greasy; it looked like it was wearing lip gloss. It wasn't light and fluffy at all. I would prefer the chicken tikka masala at Gaylord Indian Restaurant off Michigan Ave any day of the week. I had a piece of my friend's tandoori skirt steak. I thought it was really good; the mint sauce on it was tasty. The problem was that she asked for it well-done and it came out a little rarer than medium. They even used the steak cooking to well done as an excuse as to why the food took so long, and it did take long. We decided to order dessert and ended up getting the sampler because the waitress suggested it would be good for sharing. It arrived about 15/20 minutes later. It was $16 and together I don't think the 3 samples would have added up to 1 dessert. It was pretty much of every dessert on the menu. The desserts were delicious, especially the chocolate cake, perfect with a little bit of heat. But I would have never gotten it if I knew that it was so little food for so much money. The waitress forgot that we had the groupon and gave us the check for the full amount of $101. This sucked because it took her about 10 minutes before she came back and we could correct the check. I wouldn't be surprised if she did it on purpose so that we knew the amount to tip her. When she came back with the corrected check she made a point to show us the original amount and where the groupon was added. I understand that maybe waiters get screwed by people not tipping on the full amount but I'm not dumb and don't need to be constantly reminded. We ended up paying about $55 with the tax, tip and dessert and that was honestly too much for what we got. The service was slow; we were there for 2 hours. It was overpriced and the portions were tiny! Some of the food was okay but not good enough for what you have to pay.

Marilyn R.

I'm extremely shocked by other yelper reviews. I'm in Chicago once a year and my husband and I LOVE Vermilion. I've been to 17 countries-most in the last 6 years, and have been to at least over a thousand restaurants (it's not an exaggeration), and Vermilion is still on the top of my list. I'm not sure if they change things up for November because of the conference (60,000 people attend), or if it's just a coincidence that we get amazing food and service each time! We decided to take a group of clients there and they absolutely loved it. I love the burst of flavors in each dish. I think that maybe some of the people that gave vermilion bad reviews probably just swallowed their food because you can definitely taste the fusion. Vermilion uses a lot of different spices and I think that unless you're a good cook at home or are use to fusion, your pallet won't appreciate the different flavors. Tip # 1- I wouldn't go based on Karan S. reviews as she only has 3 reviews- two of those being chinese and Japanese cuisines. Main ingredients - Soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, garlic, wasabi. She sounds like this person I know that said cream cheese tastes like goat cheese. REALLY??? I think you get my point. Tip #2- Don't expect to get your mothers traditional Indian cooking like Hirani's review because it's not Indian food. It's Indian Latin fusion! Reality check- It's not meant to taste like a typical Indian dish. Tip#3 - If you don't have an adventurous pallet or you don't know what fusion is about, then most likely you're not going to appreciate the food, nor the prices so start introducing your tongue to more flavors. Tip# 4- My husband ordered the dosa taco appetizer and he said it was bland. Well, he said this to me just today as I was writing the review. So what was the advice I gave my hubby? Next time send it back or say something!! When you don't like something, send it back to the kitchen and have it made again (ESPECIALLY with these prices). That's what I learn from Chef Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares show HAHAHAH. If you still want to try Vermilion- these are the dishes I've tried and have enjoyed VERY VERY much. I'm a fast eater, but at Vermilion, I take my time to taste all the spices and flavors that blend in so well. * artichoke pakoras - absolutely delicious *blue corn crusted scallops- soooo good *chicken kabab- yummy! I had the lobster portuguese & chimichurri new york strip and it was perfect. I loved the coconut rice on the side.

Dennis J.

Several years ago my wife and I had an amazing flawless meal here. I had lobster, she had filet mignon. The fusion of flavors was expert. Even our amuse-bouche and cocktails were superb. Unfortunately, our return trip was not so. Looks like Vermilion is sometimes outstanding but usually mediocre and not worth the price considering its inconsistency.

Parni S.

I was very excited to go to this place. Took my non-Indian friends convincing that this might be worth a try. Good things first: The ambience was good. They had a separate menu for vegetarians which was very nice. It was easy to book on open table and we did not have to wait to get a table. Now the negatives: I have tasted better food than this for sure. I was disappointed with the thali that I took. Except for the paneer dish, the dal and chana were very ordinary. My friends tried some seafood which apparently was not tasting that good. The desserts could have been much better. For the price we paid (about $35-50 per person), I would get great food at celebrity chef restaurants in places like NY.

N B.

Inventive cocktails. Try the Spice Sangria.

Heather H.

I've been dying to try Vermilion for years, and finally had a good opportunity to try it out. We came for dinner on a Sunday night, and as we walked from the South Loop to Hubbard, we passed tons of empty restaurants. I think the economy, and possibly the late bears game, really slows down business on Sundays. We picked Vermilion based on friend's reviews of the place from years ago. I've got to say, for once, I'm happy I didn't check the Yelp reviews first or I don't think we would have bothered to come. It does seem that our fantastic dinner was in the minority, and that's sad because this place has potential. The service was attentive (we were one of two tables occupied in the whole place, so really, it better be attentive!) and I thought the decor was sexy modern, yet fun. They have an all vegetarian menu, which upon walking in, we were asked about. They also are sure to understand any dietary restrictions you have. We started with cocktails, the husband a nice malbac, and I went for the Coconut Saffron Creme cocktail. It was sweet, but it really went well with the artichoke pakoras, which had a chili coconut dipping sauce that was freaking out of this world good (save it for later!) The husband had the Lobster Portuguese; stewed in a goan clove-garlic-cardamom gravy + coconut rice + eggplant chip. I opted for the veggie version, the Gobi Portuguese which replaces the lobster with cauliflower. Also got some fenugreek naan on the side. The dinners were spicy, not overly so, I would get this again, and in the Gobi version, there was plenty for me to take home so 2 meals in one for $20. While the Lobster version was good, not sure it's worth the $40 price tag. We still had wine in the bottle, so opted to go with the Vermilion Hedonism for dessert. Dark chocolate cake with chili powder and a side of fruit with blueberry sorbet. Outstanding, don't pass on this. Maybe it's the items we ordered, but I wasn't getting too much of the Indian Latin fusion, but just Indian. We were glad we tried it, and we got to expense this dinner. Although, if we had to pay, not sure it's worth the expensive price point.

Janet E.

How bizarre that my review for Vermilion had disappeared and it was only until I had to read someone else's review for this place that I finally noticed it went "missing". I remember a cucumber drink that they offered on their non-alcoholic drink menu. It was cucumber, mint, and lemon juice and very refreshing. We also ordered some lobster dish and scallop dish. The dishes were only okay. This place is extremely overpriced. I remembered not wanting to come back here. Too bad my previous review was deleted. Parking here was difficult. My friend had to valet her car with the hotel across the street.

N B.

The service here was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. We took her suggestions on what to order and everything was fantastic. We had the scallops, seafood stew and lobster. The food was probably a bit overpriced but overall I am a fan. The menu was interesting enough to make me want to go back and their veggie menu option is great! I see this place has some bad reviews but if the menu seems interesting to you and you are a fan of Indian food I would suggest to try it out for yourself. I agree that it is more Indian than Latin influenced.

Nick M.

God, even the sound of Vermillion sounds sexy! Say it with me Verrrrrmilllliooon, make sure you roll your "R's", try it again Verrrrmillllion. See sexy, like Ricardo Montalbán. I have to admit, I get super critical of places like this. One for the price and two, when a restaurant has an "idea" of which they promote themselves by, I want to see it, feel it, breath it, and touch it. Latin American/ Indian cuisine... that's bold! They are also very, very smart. They do not say so often that they are a fusion but more a medley of the two cultures and flavors of which, they most certainly are! I just going to jump into the food because it most certainly the star here. It's a strange thing to order Tapas when everything else seems more Indian in culture. Mostly it worked and when I say mostly it's just that a few weren't up to the same flavor explosions as the others but none the less good. Plating is very much an art at Vermillion, you almost feel bad destroying it but then again... you don't. I can't say anymore then deliciousness!! As for the rest, drinks are stiff, service is kind of spotty (not really friendly, more complacent then anything), and the decor is sexy I guess. It's modern, white linens and chairs, some white walls and some exposed brick. Lighting is mellow of course. But then black and white photo's of women. Don't get me wrong they are beautiful and classy but something about stuffing my face when I feel like the woman in the photo is watching me... not cool. Plus I understand that women can see the beauty in other woman but do you want to see that all night long? Plus the owners are two women. I just thought it was almost Playboy-ish. The rest is very nice. I will expect they will see me again at Verrrrmilllion.

Marta P.

I am speechless, and I don't even know where to begin. Worst restaurant meal ever. I just got back from dinner with two girlfriends and good thing we really had a lot to catch up on because we were there for over three hours. All three of us got the Open Table 60$ for the $120 tasting menu. The meal started out great but went downhill with each course. The main entree was a mix of cold horse food (salty and tasteless). I am pretty sure one of the dishes was Rice-a-Roni. It's a pretty sad night when 3 people agree that the white rice is their favorite dish. Just because you are on a reality TV show does not mean you should offer a tasting menu and charge $120 dollars for it. Don't get me wrong, I do not mind spending money on a great meal, but for that price we could have dined at many of the other fine dining restaurants in the city. The service was super slow and awkward. Our clean silverware was set down before the dirty stuff was picked up. Our waiter tried hard to make up the night by giving us some extra dishes, which we appreciated, but nothing could have erased what we had already experienced Even with the coupon we each ended up spending $120 dollars on a terrible meal, one glass of wine, tax and tip. Take your money somewhere else, this place is a hot mess.

Heidi R.

I came to Vermilion with my boyfriend for dinner Sunday night. The place was VERY nice and the atmosphere was exactly my taste - I loved the art on the walls and everything was red, black, grey or white. I am a big Indian food fan and he is not. My bad, BIG bad for bringing this hamburger and steak lover to an Indian restaurant. Anyways, we had a groupon which included 2 apps and 2 entrees. The server was cool and thankfully fixed our wobbly table right away but, of course, tried to sell us on getting the tasting menu and deducting the groupon ($38). The tasting menu was $90/person and for not even knowing if we liked the food we couldn't justify it. We both ordered a glass of wine, I had a Malbec and he had a Pinot Noir. Wine was expensive here, for the glass we paid $14 each. That's pricey considering most bottles cost less but its Chicago and this place was expensive altogether so it made sense. We ordered the scallops and 1 jumbo crab cake as our apps. The server informed us that there was a $5 upgrade charge for the crab cake - lame but it's what we wanted so we went ahead with it. For entrees, my boyfriend had the chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs because they were the most American sounding thing on the menu. I ordered the vermilion thali which is the chef's choice of two regional Indian entrees, daal makhani, naan, basmati rice, raita, papad. I loved it... the chicken dish was so good and everything was perfectly spicy. We ordered a basket of naan to go with everything and unfortunately coming away from Vermilion my boyfriend said his favorite part of the dinner was the naan. Sad face. On top of the groupon I think I ended up paying another $60 or so for the wine, upgrade, naan, tax & tip. So I would say this place is pricey considering the meal would have cost a lot more without the groupon. Not sure I'd return but if I do it won't be with my love... I think I'll stick to Hooters and Carsons with him.

Anuj S.

This place is a bit over-hyped. I heard so much about it that I took my wife. The food was pretty meh... rather bland I would say. They had issues with our reservation and we ended up waiting like 45 minutes. Especially for the price, I didn't think it was anything special. We've never been back... I gave them one extra star for the unique fries they always have at the Taste of Chicago.

Albert H.

As interlopers on the Chicago food scene - here for a week of eating - Vermillion was on our radar not so much due to stellar Yelp reviews, but due to a famous chef. That and a groupon for their iron chef tasting menu. Sunday at 8pm, the restaurant was far from crowded. We were seated immediately ... that's when the trouble started. We waited. And waited. And eventually started trying to guess just which server it was that was unaware that a party had been seated within their domain. After plaintively making eye contact with a few likely candidates, our server approached and was profusely apologetic: "You should have said something!". Well, no, lady. Not really. I mean, perhaps after only a day in your fair city, we were not in the proper midwestern mood, but where we come from, the responsibility for providing service lies squarely with the establishment, not the customer. Anyway, no problem. We're on vacation and in no hurry. After asking some questions about the menu, we ordered a couple of cocktails ... in particular the Pani Puri Margarita is something else; creative and actually well constructed. We also made our choices in the Iron Chef tasting - they call it a ten element tasting - basically five courses arranged in pairs with an Indian and a Latin element in each course. The fourth, main course allows one to choose independently two proteins, sauces and accompaniments to be cooked up mostly as you request - there were such things as fishes, lamb chops, eggplant and so on. Well, we ordered. We drank our drinks. We waited. And Waited. And eventually thought maybe we should ask if any actual *food* would be forthcoming. So we flagged down our server, who went to look into it. And wonder of wonders - suddenly food appeared, along with an apology for a "mix up in the kitchen". We enjoyed the bites - a watermelon/crab thing ( nominally the Indian side ) and an anchovy dish. In fact, the flavors were much better and clearer than we would have expected. The second course arrived on the heels of the first: fish tacos and a tandoori chicken sandwich. Again, wonderful flavors which we really enjoyed. There, there was a pause. About this time, there was apparently the understanding that something was not going quite as it should have been, because a nonalcoholic sampling of cocktails arrived with compliments from the bar. It was good. We enjoyed it. And we waited. And waited. And eventually thought to ask our server what, exactly, was up. Well ... our entrees should be out any minute. We inquired after the third, pre-entree course. The server was apparently under the misapprehension that we had received the third, pre-entree course. Which we had not. But which might have explained the delay. This is perhaps an artifact of the food runners not being in good contact with the server, but the whole situation was beginning to take on the character of a Monty Python sketch about cheese ... only with Indian food. As the entree course, prepared to our specifications, was at the ready, we allowed that perhaps it should be brought out, and the third course could come fourth. This was about the time that a manager ( hitherto unseen and unheard ) chose to stop by and ask how things were going. We tried to be charitable. Put a stiff upper lip on the whole fiasco. He retreated with a promise to "check into it" ... never to be seen again. The entrees were interesting, most of the marinades more heavily salted than we would have liked, but generally prepared as requested. The kitchen did seem to have chosen to add an element here and there ( an extra side ingredient ) to round the dishes out. Which I suppose is okay if you trust that you are not averse to any random ingredient they might choose to provide in your carefully orchestrated dish. The remainder of the dinner was less entertaining, which was perhaps a good thing. Our third course did arrive in good time, as did our desserts. Service remained friendly, though somewhat guilty as the restaurant cleared out. One goes into any higher end restaurant experience expecting to be able to relax, not to have to work to get what is advertised, and to be served by a staff which is in good communication. That the hostess, server, food runners and even manager did not seem to know what each other were doing to serve our party was disappointing. It's a very nice facility - sensually decorated and dimly lit. Seems set up as a good date place. The food is excellent and innovative, with clean clear flavors. The drinks menu is daring, with at least one stunning success. At least the night we were there, for our table, the service was a complete mess. I believe that it is quite possible to have a wonderful dinner at Vermillion, but given our experience, I would not trust them to provide it on any particular visit.

Jodi K.

I liked this place. Completely different take on food. Latin/Indian. I wondered going there if it was just another fusion gimmick, but the chefs really make it work. The flavors go together nicely. Enough of the familiar with some twists here an there. The drinks are equally as creative. Some are better than others. I love the Blueberry Cardamon Fizz. The cucumber mint martini goes well with the spicier dishes. It was a full five senses meal.

Vince T.

Some of the most exotic cocktails I've ever had!

Abby H.

I've been to Vermilion four times in the past three years and overall the place has not been consistent. The first time I was here I thought the place was great - fresh, interesting, at times unusual-in-a-good-way flavor combinations. The second time I thought it was mostly great but that the kitchen was a little off its game. The third time was disappointing because it involved very slow service and another off night in terms of the food. The fourth time, about a month ago, made me realize I can't give this place any more tries. Praise (based on most recent visit only): Good cocktails. Attentive service. Really nice wait staff. Criticism (based on most recent visit only): Slow kitchen. The food took a long time to come out and some of it was barely warm. The Brazilian stew, which I'd had before, had almost no seafood in it at all. On the whole the food seemed like nothing more than slightly gussied-up standard Indian food with different (not necessarily good) condiments. Something has gone awry with their fusion thing. I found myself thinking it would be more satisfying just to head up to Devon for a good Indian meal. Finally, the bill here adds up very quickly. For this price point, I'd much rather go to more consistent places like Avec, Publican, Graham Elliott.

Barry B.

My wife and I went to Vermillion early in the evening on a Tuesday. The restaurant was almost empty with only two other tables seated and we were sat next to one of the occupied tables. That table and the other table were getting service but we were ignored. After twenty minutes another table was sat and a couple of minutes later their order was taken. It was clear that we were ready to order because our menus were closed. For some reason the waitress was deliberately ignoring us. We couldn't even get drinks. After 25 minutes of being completely ignored we got up and left. On the way out the hostess thanked us and we told her we were leaving because no one would acknowledge we were there. She said, "oh, ok" and made no apology or attempt to remedy the situation. This was easily the worst service we've ever received and we will never return.

Annie T.

How have I lived in Chicago for THIS LONG and never been to Vermilion until this week? What a mistake! indian/latin american fusion.. YUM. I met friends for dinner this week on the 2nd night of Ramadan to BREAK THE FAST. Wait, I don't even celebrate Ramadan. I just like to eat and laugh. Vermilion was perfect for that. What we ordered for the table (family-styled, my favorite way to dine): -blue corn crusted scallops - the goat cheese puree was TDF -duck vindaloo arepa - delicious, but did not even COMPARE to the arepas i have had a caracas arepa bar in east village nyc -coconut chili mussels - the curry leaves/coconut infusion did it for me -artichoke pakoras - wow. where have i been all my life? crispy, delicious, flavorful. the coconut sauce killed it. -butter chicken - scrumdiddly. you can't enjoy an indian meal without some butter chicken. so creamy and delicious with naan -methi - sarson - palak - paneer - yeah, why don't you try saying that 3x's fast? if you can, i'll take you to vermilion for the meal of your life. but seriously, this was delicious. nothing like i've ever had before. so it may had looked like baby food, but goodness it was delicious-- pureed greens and cheese dipped with naan there you have it. if you need to break a fast, hit vermilion. their desserts were also ridiculous. the flan was my absolute favorite. i will certainly be back for more. great atmosphere and service. i loved the red accents and modern layout.

Vidya N.

The entire experience can be summed up in 1 word - yuck. I love food, I love trying new stuff, and was actually excited to go to Vermilion, especially after seeing the chef owner on Food Network. What a disappointment. We had a 9.00pm reservation and still had to wait 40 minutes to be seated. The place is an Indian-Latin fusion restaurant. The decor was confused, the music too loud & jarring. The service was spotty - the hostess was inattentive & didn't really try; the waitress was friendly. But, the worst part of the evening was the food. Completely uninspired and simply not tasty. In fact, my goat curry was foul-smelling and rank - I could not eat it, and I tried! The only dish that semi-worked was the tomatillo gazpacho soup. FIve people, 8 dishes, and just one OK? Why bother?

Emily G.

I went here a while ago with a group of friends for Chicago Restaurant Week. When looking through restaurants, the idea of Latin-Indian fusion sparked the interest of a few of the members of our group so we made a reservation. I personally was excited because I love spicy food and the reviews I had read online We had to remind the waitress a couple of times that it was Chicago Restaurant Week and that we wanted the special $33 menu which they did not seem very eager to honor. The menu included an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert and my friend and I also ordered a bottle of wine making the bill between us about $110. Each course they brought was absolutely delicious but was over in about 3 bites. We tried to share between the group to get to sample the other dishes but it was difficult given how small the portions were. I felt for $55 for food and wine, even if I was ordering off of a tasting menu, I should have left more full leaving the restaurant. Overall, the food was amazing but the portions were so small that I left the restaurant still very hungry and the service was just ok, nothing special.

T D.

This place is OK, just barely OK. I'd rate it 2-1/2 stars if I could. Vermilion is primarily an Indian restaurant, where they mix up the traditional dishes with nontraditional ingredients. (Steak tandoori.) Pretty clear that the owner pulled from the McKinsey consulting playbook for execution, style, and especially the marketing aspect and nailed those things. The big problem is that the place feels sort of hollow, and the dishes seem lacking of soul, heart, and passion. The Latin tie-in "fusion" fell flat - if you have to try to explain it to me... then it probably isn't working. The ribs were really good, super tender, recommended by our server, and a good pick. The fish stew was uninspiring (the famous Iron Chef one even), it was a LOAD of Indian vegetables and a sprinkling of seafood. I'm not thrilled to pay big bucks for a bowl of zucchini in fish stock. The broth by itself was not that great, so the stew built on top of it wasn't that great. We somehow expected more. "Tomato rice" sounded exotic but was a puck of standard rice with diced tomato on top. That really seemed to fall short, almost comically so. The appetizers/tapas we had were very good but were extra small portions that didn't justify the price (a single portabello taco for $12.) I can't fathom how they can sell a tasting menu where the prices are 5x for 1/5th the food. Went at 7 on a Saturday night and the place was less than half full. Every other place in the area was packed. So were we glad we tried the place? Yes. Would we go back? Hahahahahaha, No, never. There are just so many better Indian places, and many better Latin places that show their passion in the food.

Jessica D.

Such a disaster! I went with my entire family and BF, thinking there would be interesting food and a cool atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Rather than enjoying the food/atmosphere, we all rallied around how horrible the service was, how long it took for food and drinks to come, and how we would never, ever go back. After waiting around 10mins for the table to open (not too bad), we sat down in a noisy booth right next to the kitchen and proceeded to wait another 15mins for our server to come for the drink order. She (literally) ran up to our table and took our drink order, and after delivering them, ran back and grabbed my dad's drink out of his hand and took it away! No explanation given!!! We were stunned. It came back in another 5mins, still no explanation. Our food order came out just a slowly, to the point where we ordered naan just to get something in our stomachs. Even this was no simple task, and I eventually had to find someone who wasn't our server to give our order to (even though we were right next to the kitchen). Once the food arrived, it was good - but by no means great. Definitely not worth the wait/frustration. Even though we were clearly displeased with our experience, there was no apology/explanation given. Needless to say, we will not be going back. Next time we get together, we will be heading to India House 2 blocks away for a killer meal at 1/2 the price.

Aaron W.

The food was solid, but significantly overpriced. We came here on a groupon and at half off, it was a decent meal. Our waiter was attentive, but the food took quite awhile. The layout was cramped and noisy, even though it wasn't close to full. We probably wouldn't return to pay full price.

Di T.

Great Indian fusion, key word being fusion. If you want authentic Indian, this would not be it. Great service & definite must try for fusion foody lovers

Aditi M.

My girls and I only came in for the Pani Puri Margaritas b/c we'd heard so much hype around it. The drinks were ok...we ordered a round of 4 and each one of ours tasted slightly different. It's like they didn't get the ratio for the ingredients right - some of the drinks were too strong and some were just like water. It's a cool concept though and I'll definitely come back to try the food.

Tom E.

After reading some recent reviews that had me concerned there was some decline happening at Vermillion, my wife and I decided to return to see for ourselves. We were pleasantly reassured with excellent service and dishes with unique flavor combinations that we've come to expect. The jumbo lump crab-lobster cake was incredible, and our favorite prix-fix seared meat experience was a awesome as usual.. The tamarind ribs continue to be my absolute favorite. Not sure what happened to those with negative reviews, but ours could not have been much better.

Law S.

Overall atrocious. If I could give zero stars, I would. We showed up for our 7:30pm reservation to be told that our table would be ready shortly, so we decided to order a drink while waiting in the bar area (which was freezing due to the door constantly being opened and closed). At 8:15 the host came over to apologize that it was taking so long and that we would be next, the manager stated that the 6:30 reservations all showed up late so it pushed ours out, which is not how a reservation system works. If you are late, you lose your spot - not penalize the people who are on time. At 9pm we watched as "the next available table" went to another group of four that came in about 30 minutes after us. We talked to manager about it, who became heated and told us, "You go over and tell them that you were up next for the table, and you want them to move". As a person who has been a server and manager in restaurants I have never experienced such blatant disregard for customer service. After over 90 minutes of waiting past our reservation time, we were seated. We waited 25 minutes for our first round of drinks and then after they were delivered we waited an additional 15 minutes for our server to come back to place our order. As we looked around, we noticed no one had food on their tables. Once 60 minutes had elapsed after placing our order, the server told us our food would be up shortly, we could no longer wait. We had been in the restaurant for over 3 hours and had no food! The manager never came over, nothing was taken off our bill and we were starving! On a special night with out -of-town guests we all ended up eating McDonald's at 11:30pm. This place will not stay in business long with such a horrendous idea of what a "good restaurant experience" is. I am appalled by the management and disgusted that based on the other reviews this behavior toward clientele is commonplace.

Dan R.

Overpriced. Waitress was a little too cocky. too little food on my plate. The "piece" of steak was really good but the pieces of lobster ...eh, I've had better before. Drinks are good and exotic. That I liked. Service = REALLY SLOW. If anyone takes me there for dinner, maybe I will be glad... but won't spend my money to go there again. But it was worth the try, so food lovers should try it for sure.

Megan S.

I've wanted to try Vermilion for a very long time, ever since we had their fire chicken wings at Taste of Chicago. We finally had the right excuse to go someplace special, and I thought Vermilion would be the place. But then I checked the Yelp reviews - very mixed. Apparently Vermilion is not the place to go on Saturdays, but I thought I'd be okay with a 7:00 on a Friday night. Turns out it was all preparation and no H. My boyfriend was there just a little bit before seven and ordered a drink from the bar, a pear cocktail that was pretty good. There were customers there, but I wouldn't say it was busy. We went up to the hostess and got seated promptly. I would have expected someone to come up and say "Welcome to Vermilion, can I get you a drink?" But no one came. Not for a full forty minutes. Had I done something wrong? Was it that I used Open Table to make the reservation? Was I under-dressed? My boyfriend was in a suit. I looked around me - other tables were getting service. The servers actually were very engaged in the process. but no one was even looking at us. It was like we were in some sort of desert of service. I was really disappointed. I know from other reviews that their service could be spotty, but I couldn't help but take it personally. What kind of snobby manager thinks that he or she can deny service to someone and still stay in business? I felt like I was in sixth grade all over again. Since I was hurt, my boyfriend and I decided to leave and go to India House. It was delicious, inexpensive, and we had two servers doting on us like royalty. We were both pleasantly surprised by the menu and the wine list. So, if you're thinking about going to Vermilion, remember that India House is just a few blocks away.

Tina H.

It was restaurant week in Chicago. My boyfriend and I went to eat here with another couple. We were initially excited because a friend recommended the place. The ambiance and decor was excellent. Red, white, and almost candle lit glow. There is a distinct Indian twist to everything. I love it. But all is good until the service. The waitress seemed a bit upset that we were only interested in the restaurant week menu. But what was most disappointing was the food. The food was prettier than it actually tasted. I had the naan sandwich (appetizer), seafood stew (main dish), and mango flan (dessert). The seafood stew was in a really cool, slightly slanted metal bowl, which kept the stew warm til' the end of the meal. However, it was neither spicy or tasty. My boyfriend had the rib - which was much too spicy. Perhaps our visit was a case of over-hyping, and thus disappointing. At the end of the day, I wouldn't return. I expected more from a restaurant championing it's Iron Chef (tv show participating) Head Chef. Hope you like my review.

Jessica G.

So. We arrived at 8:30 for our reservation, a group of 4. We were seated almost immediately but when we got to our table, it only had 3 chairs and one setting was missing a napkin. It set the stage for a very long and disappointing evening. Our server arrived about 10 minutes after we sat down. She was friendly and took our orders right away. From that point on, things started going downhill. It took 30 minutes for the first course to arrive. I and another member of our party had the artichoke fritters and, truly, I was expecting more bread and less whole artichoke. Decent flavor and I really liked the pickled cherry pepper. DH's duck vindaloo was under-seasoned and another member of our party had the tandoori chicken naan sandwiches which were completely lacking in flavor. Each item was about 2 bites and done. After this, it took almost an hour to received our entrees so we were pretty hungry by that point. The waitress came over and apologized several times and brought out a small plate of naan along with a plate of these little flavorful puffs to tide us over. When the entrees arrived finally, we found a lot of inconsistency. Two people at our table had the skirt steak and it was a little strange that their food looked completely different. One was about 3/4" thick and the other was 1/4" thick and both were completely different colors even though they both asked for medium rare. I would go so far as to say they were not both skirt steaks and that the thicker one was maybe hanger steak. DH really liked his spinach with chorizo though I tasted it and thought it was flat and a little slimy. I'd ordered the paella and the portion was not unreasonable and the flavor was decent but the rice was not cooked properly. It's supposed to be a little crunchy in a paella but this was hard and dry. The mojito chicken seemed decent though the portion was pretty small in comparison to the other plates that came out. After we finished our entrees, the dessert came out fairly quickly, though we'd ordered coffee and it came as we were finishing dessert. The flan was all right but it had a texture more like pumpkin pie than flan should have. I did like the sauce and the candied fruit that came with it, though it seemed like the mango flavor was missing from the flan overall. I'm not sure if the issues we had were because it was Restaurant Week - that seemed to be the most likely excuse - but it seems like the people who run this restaurant could have been better prepared. Based on a comment our waitress made, it seemed like they ran out of dishes, hence the long waits for things. Why is that allowed to happen? Also either only offer the prix fixe or order from the menu only. Maybe too many choices caused additional confusion which made things take longer. I would note that our table was not the only one that waited for a long time to get their food. The food was basically ok though I think for the price it could have been a little better. Overall, I would rate as follows: Interior - Decor - 4 stars, though the tables fit somewhat awkwardly in the space. It is quite pretty inside with the red/ black/ white/ gray scheme. Interior - sound - 2 stars - way, way, way too loud. You can barely converse with the people at your table, it's so loud. Waitress - 4 stars. She was very friendly and also very apologetic for the fact that we had to wait. I think her name was Caitlin. I kind of felt bad for her. She was good, though. Food - flavor 3.5 stars, portion vs price - 2 stars. Timeliness - 1 star since the dessert came out on time. Consistency - 0 stars. The last two items are enough to turn this into a 2 star review for me. I had very high hopes and left disappointed. We actually hit White Castle on the way home. There is room for improvement and I hope it happens at Vermilion. There are some good concepts that need some tweaking and the place needs to work on timeliness before I would consider rating anything other than 2 stars.

Dee C.

I don't know how my reviews could be so different! Must be the groupon deal taking off the edge from the pricey meal here. Ordered the following from the vegetarian blue corn heart of palm with goat cheese-great...spices were all there! cilantro tamarind paneer jicama- very good also, loved the crunch from the jicama with the very tasty tamarind paneer. entree: squash red curry (don't really know what it was called): this was very spicy, but still tasted great. I had to order naan because it was so spicy. dessert: goat cheese cheesecake: very very good and you can see the fusion involved. service was great and attentive. Reservation was easy on a Thursday. Drinks were not worth it for us....but the food was all great! one star off for the crazy prices!!

Taryn T.

Full disclosure: I hate, hate, hate spicy foods! And yet I loved Vermilion. The butter chicken dish was only subtly spicy - score! And the lychee ginger martini was Taryn's perfect cocktail - under $15 and packed with enough booze to get a pleasant buzz going. I would have ordered another, but I was trying (ultimately unsuccessfully) to convince my date that I was a virtuous human being. The atmosphere is super swanky - this is a safe "date spot" option for sure. Couples were everywhere. A meal here can get expensive, especially if you order a few small plates to start ($10 each) and a main meal ($25) and a dessert ($15) and a drink or two ($15) - oi... Stick with a main course and a strong drink and you will be in a happy mood at the end of the night.

Robyn T.

It had been a while since I'd last been to Vermillion and I was oh so happy to come back to this subtly sexy restaurant. If you're looking to impress your date this is the perfect place to go. Unique cocktails and fusion fare lend themselves a certain quality that puts you in the mood. Of course I was there with a group of girlfriends, but I certainly felt that this would be an ideal date spot! As much as I enjoyed the food and the dining experience, I have to say the service was not good. It started off fine, but midway through it got to be a chore to flag down the waitress and when it came time for the check? Forget it couldn't get her attention at all. The others girls I dined with said they'd had similar experiences here in the past, so just know this isn't the spot to come to before you're trying to make a show! Now the menu? Wow. I am still thinking about the ribs here with their unique spices. They were falling off the bone good and definitely worth coming back for.

Louis G.

We came here for dinner and the service was great...but the food was less than great. They seem to be chasing a clientele and ambience more so than cuisine. Indian food I have had in the city is sometimes garnished with a side sauce like a chutney, and I have eaten in restaurants where they simply bring this to you gratis. They added an extra $4 on my bill for this which I found a bit excessive. I'm not sure we will be back, espcially with the number of options to choose from for great Indian dining options in Chicago.

Aurore L.

Sure, giving a restaurant a try for Christmas Day dinner is probably not the smartest move ever. And judging it by the prix fixe it offered for the occasion might not be fair game. At the same time - is it really fair to force every customer in the city to feast on a prix-fixe just because it's the holidays? I am not totally convinced. Oh well. Vermilion is sexy. Sparkly. Sassy. Anything cool that starts with an "s". Think of it as the love child of Padma Lakshmi and Eva Mendes. Or - more 'authentic' - of Rani Mukherjee ( tinyurl.com/37gayag ) and Leonor Varela ( tinyurl.com/2czv8yn ). (Gents, you are welcome) Entering this gorgeous space on a snowy night was quite a treat. Too bad it didn't last all night long. Because on top of Christmas we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, and the whole experience was quite a bit of a letdown despite the cute pink chocolate "Happy anniversary" written on our dessert plate. Nothing was bad per se but nothing stood out either. The crab and lobster cakes were overcooked and slightly burned and totolly overpowered by the tamarind sauce it came with. The empanada was just that, an empanada. The butternut and coconut soup was very tasty but the ham, the HAM!!!!!! we were served as a main dish was a big disappointment and was swimming in a spicy mango sauce. I liked the cranberry haricots verts it came with (even though I failed to see the Indo-Latin influence behind them) but was unimpressed by the rather dry yucca cake that was finishing off the plate. The two-folded dessert was so uninspired that I already forgot pretty much all about it..... A "six" course dinner, expedited in under 70 minutes. Yup, we basically ate non-stop, with hardly any time in between mouthfuls to sip on our drinks. I understand it's Christmas but people were there to enjoy and take their time. Such a pity that we couldn't really do that. Not seduced. Beguiled.

Kartik K.

Very expensive restaurant. The food wasn't great either

Aimee R.

My two favorite foods: Indian and Latin! It is heavier on the Indian side. Go crazy and get the Tasting - it's worth it! My date and I shared the "deep": seafood and "green": vegetarian 2 Yums Up! Where to begin? The basmati rice was so nice. Juhu ki pani puri, jumbo crab-lobster cake, artichoke pakoras, hot soup, shrimp, scallops were all delicious! Caldeirada de peixe was SO flavorful and I was afraid of it. Feel the fear and eat it anyway : ) I'm not big on mussels so can't give an accurate review. Though I love lobster, it was just so-so. The portuguese award-winning sauce was excellent though. Just not with the lobster. The dessert was amazing! Save room. I can't wait to go back!

Mary M.

Vermilion was more than disappointing. I went for restaurant week and was all around underwhelmed. The portions were extremely small, the food was not flavorful and the service was terrible. Our waitress acted as if we weren't real customers because we wanted to participate in the restaurant week menu. If you don't want customers to order off the restaurant week menu, then don't participate in restaurant week. We spent the remainder of the weekend telling people about our terrible experience and warning them to never go there. Go to Hema's Kitchen on Clark and Fullerton for way better food and service at a much cheaper price.

Char Y.

we came on a week day to a completely empty restaurant. The inside is absolutely beautiful with a pallet of red, white and black. The tables were all set with silverware and glasses, and the restaurant was definitely party ready. We ordered blue corn crusted scallops - very tender with a little spice. duck vindaloo arepa - at first bite, they seemed to be under seasoned due to lack of salt, but the spiciness quickly kicks in, and last a long time. artichoke pakoras - i don't like artichokes, but the dipping makes them irresistible. the sourness of the artichoke is incorporated into the whole taste, and all hit the taste buds at the same time. mysore lamb chops - amazingly juicy and tender. lamb shank gassi - gigantic shank with a ton of flavors. I thought the whole meal was wonderful. I appreciate the layering of flavors from all items, especially the spice level. The heat lingers without burning, and is just appropriate enough to make you want more. Our server, Patricia, attended to our every need, and we felt like VIP guests.

Caroline F.

We came here for my husband's birthday because he loves Indian food and he wanted to try something different. I made a reservation at 7:30 and we didn't sit down until 7:45. We waited at the bar for 15 min for our table and figured we would order a drink. There were only 6 people at the bar and no bar tender ever came up to us. Then they sat us and our waiter didn't show up until 8:00. I complained to the manager that we had been sitting here for 15 min and no one said hello. The food was not bad. We had the blue corn crusted scallops, artichoke pakoras and roasted butternut squash soup for appetizers and it was delish. They did bring an extra appetizer for free because we waited for so long. I had the lobster that I thought was a little tough and my husband got the skirt steak which he said was just ok. When we got the bill, they added a drink we didn't have that the bartenders said we got. The worst part of it all is that the service was so SLOW. We were there until 10:30 for a 7:30 reservation.

Andrea H.

NOOOO!!! Vermilion, you caved! The risks you took with spice and flavors used to be interesting, exciting. Now, they've been tamed. The watered down versions are just, well, common. The whole concept is lost when you can't taste the complexities of each dish/drink. I used to be your biggest fan. Now I'm just...disappointed. I know you're still in there somewhere. Come back. Please? I miss you! Love, Andrea

Ghoncheh G.

I had no idea what to expect when I went to Vermillion until the menu opened in front of me and boy was I surprised! I loved the fusion and the mix of food. My friend and shared a few plates and all of them were very satisfying and full of so much flavor. We had the lamb chops, the scallops (AMAZING!), the Shrimp Paella( not my favorite but the mussels were good!), and a couple other ones that I cannot remember at this particular moment. We had the dates and orange olive oil cake for dessert, which I highly recommend. The ambiance was nice but a bit loud that particular evening. We also had the special drink made with Jalapeño pepper, which had a good kick to it! Over all an excellent experience with a great wait staff.

Beryl C.

I really want to give this place a better review since I have had a high hope; however, the experience was just okay. It really ticks me off is that the restaurant's AC is not working properly for couple days (per manager) and nobody is bothered to call/e-mail us in advance. We would probably have walked out today but since we have a Groupon to kill which is going to expire in couple weeks. We decided to stay. We bought the 5 course tasting menu Groupon. The food is alrighty but interesting. The "Chopped" concept for entree is brilliant but it doesn't execute flawlessly though. Most of our food is overpowered with some sort of pepper infused oil aka super duper spicy. And the worst part is there is a piece of raw chicken in the entree. Yuck. They do give us a brand new portion of chicken but we barely touch it since it's EXTREMELY spicy. The first 3 courses are extremely small in portion. It definitely reminds me of the one bite challenge in the Extreme Chef. It is definitely not a fun and enjoyable experience when you have to dine at a restaurant with no AC while it's 90+ degrees outside. I usually dont drink much water during dinner but I at least drank about 3 to 4 glasses of water since I was constantly sweating. It also doesn't help much with an industrial size of fan blowing at you the entire time. The quality of the food and the value definitely don't add up. If it's not for the Groupon, I definitely will not pay full price ($120) for the tasting menu. However, it's still not a cheap eat after the Groupon discount. With the Groupon, tax and gratuity, it still comes up to over $100 a person. Will I go back? My answer is probably not if I am buying.

Jason P.

There is something just off about this place. Maybe my expectations were way too lofty as a restaurant whose chef is vying for the title of Iron Chef should have incredible food, but this just wasn't the case. The experience just started off on the wrong foot it seemed. We got there right as it opened as our reservation for 5 people was for 5:15. As we were waiting to be seated, I noticed that they had a separate vegetarian menu that the hostess offered to the two parties in front of us. It was our turn to be seated and she completely skipped even offering it to us. I had to flag her down and ask for it, which isn't a big deal, but for a fine dining establishment it is still odd. As I went thru the menu, I was all set to order the thali and call it a day, but I talked myself out of it in the interest of trying one of the fusion items that was their specialty. I decided to start off with the artichoke pakoras and go with an entree of chili glazed blackened eggplant. The artichoke pakoras were super salty to the point where that was pretty much the only spice that stood out. The chutney they served with it was a strange mixture of two different ones. Traditionally, pakoras are served with one sweet and one spicy chutney. They seemed to take the coconut chutney normally served with dosa and just added some sweetness to it and called it a day. It didn't work out too well. The thing that really sold me on my entree was that it came with avocado pakoras, which pretty much means breaded and fried pieces of avocado. This was by far the best part of the entire meal, even though it was little more than a garnish. I normally like eggplant dishes, but this one was just way too sweet. The flavor was just not that good. I was disappointed that this iron chef's spice rack seemed to contain little else than sugar and salt. I wouldn't recommend this place and won't be making a return trip.

Ami S.

We sorta stumbled upon this place our first night in Chi in 2008. It was cold and we were hungry. After walking around for awhile we finally decided to ask someone at a hotel about the nearest place to eat. Hence we ended up here. I was a bit hesitant because there was nobody inside I guess we were early? First impression, the decor was very nice! Being the only 4 in the restaurant felt sorta weird but by the time we got our appetizers the place started filling up. We each got a different drink, they all were uniquely delish. Drinks were very pricey from what I remember. Actually everything on the menu is $$$. We ordered a handful of appetizers and then an entree each- hey we were hungry! Good thing we ordered all that food because portions were extremely small. Overall food was good but if you want to save some money, I would just go for drinks and enjoy the ambiance.

Shradha A.

Quick Note: For the 2nd time ever, we had really good service (Jaron) My 4th review: Wow - this place is an epitome of inconsistency - I've been there 4 times now and every alternate experience is good and bad! Ventured here last night after gathering up the courage to do so (read previous visit's review to know why it took months to step in here again). The service was ok - Rohini I believe is in NYC these days looking after her new restaurant there - and naturally without any supervision the people here get a little immature and lax. The food matched our expectations on the upper end - although they've changed the menu around a bit. I miss the good appetizers they used to have; they now only have "fusion" appetizers. -- The chana is not "traditional," but still good. -- Dal Makhni was great! -- Paneer was a mix of tandoori-style paneer cooked in makhni style. -- Pudina paratha was too strongly flavored. -- And naan was stale and hard. -- Paan was interesting. The place is just such a random hit-or-miss, but we'll probably come back sooner next time because of the good experience this time. I hope they prove successful in breaking the one-bad-one-good pattern and I would love to become regulars if they can handle it! P.S. vegetarians - they have a separate menu with a lot more vegetarian dishes on it, but you need to ask them for the "vegetarian menu" - they don't offer it up on their own!

Tricia R.

my friend and i were strolling the streets of chicago on a recent wednesday evening trying to find a place to eat. being that we're both indecisive and i'm not from there, i thought that an indian+latin fusion sounded interesting... and he said the space used to be an old printing company he used to go to. ha. walking into the restaurant, i was pretty impressd by the decor... and by how dark and empty it was. i think we got there at about 7-730pm, so it did get more crowded throughout our meal but still lots of tables free. our server was extremely personable, funny, and friendly (and had great hair), and he made several recommendations, all of which we ordered, ha. the scallop starter was really good, but it seemed to be more room temperature than hot. that was... disarming. for the main courses, i got the seafood stew and my friend got the lamb shank which ended up being a HUGE piece of meat and bone. we tried each other's dishes... the sauce on his was pretty spicy in a very good way. my stew unfortunately was a bit bland. :( not really what i was expecting from indian/latin fusion!! we didn't have dessert, but my friend did have a taj mahal beer with dinner. it comes in a large bottle which our waiter even put on ice! they have a lot of variety on their menu, but i'm not sure i'd make it a point to return to this restaurant when i'm back in chicago.

Deeks K.

So let me describe the food a bit better. The cocktails are all good, perfectly balanced. The appetizers (we tried all the vegetarian and the meat tasting plate) about 50% of that menu tasted good. Maybe a couple stood out (nothing compared to say, graffiti in NJ or Indika in Houston). The entree had all meats undercooked or overcooked (not a single one out of 4 had a well cooked meat morsel). We tried the Kerala red curry which was sure spicy but totally flavorless ( all you can taste is just dry chilli spice and garam masala spice which destroys the tapioca underneath) also it had no salt. The gobi Portuguese was well prepared (relative to the rest of the junk served) we had the thaali which is supposed to be authentic Indian but was far from it. Naan was chewy and not fresh (it was cold And probably chewy from sitting out). North Indian curries (in the thaali) had tons of tamarind which is an ingredient that is NEVER used in north Indian food. If she was trying to fuse north with south, she failed miserably. The desserts were extremely ordinary and had little imagination. I'm not surprised this Chef was kicked out of the Iron Chef of America early on in the competition.

Katy O.

I came here with some friends a few weeks ago and was super-excited as I'd wanted to come for years. I gave up alcohol for Lent but everyone else was drinking and enjoyed the cocktails. Before we ordered, a menu that the waitress had placed on the table tipped over and knocked a glass of water all over my friend and I (and the table). They cleaned it up quickly but nobody apologized- maybe they thought we did it?? I started with the artichoke pakoras, which were delicious. I really wanted to try a "signature" dish so I got the flank steak. The waitress suggested I order it medium, which is what I normally get anyway. My steak came out rare, verging on still alive. The cut of meat was so chewy I only ate half of it. The flavors were good, but the meat was inedible. The spinach with chorizo was a good idea, but it was waaaaay over-salted. I passed my plate to my husband, a steak connoisseur, and he agreed that the meat was not cooked to medium- and not edible. About half of our group of 6 really enjoyed their food, the other half were terribly disappointed. I won't be back but I'm sad because I really wanted to like it!

Esra T.

90 minute wait with a reservation...Not what we expected! We went here with my hubby on a Saturday evening. Granted, it was Valentine's day weekend and the restaurant was probably more crowded than usual. However, we had an 8:30 reservation, and we were not seated until 9:40! We arrived early and waited at the bar, where no seats were available, so we had to stand for a total of 1.5 hours. That was pretty bad on its own. Plus, the hostess ladies kept telling us that our table would be ready in 10-15 minutes...for an HOUR! They kept accepting people who arrived much later than us, I don't know why. They didn't even apologize to us or anything. I think we were the ones who waited at the bar the longest. After an hour and a half wait, we were finally seated..Then the food took its time, and we could finally begin dinner way past 10:00 pm (which is too late for me!) We got two appetizers (the blue corn crusted scallops and spiced potatoes) and the main entree was the seafood stew. The food was decent but SO NOT WORTH the 90 minute wait. The ambiance wasn't bad but after all that waiting we couldn't even enjoy our dinner properly. I would say maybe go on a weekday when they're not too crowded.. Or if you don't want to wait, skip it, go somewhere else where you can enjoy dinner at your reservation time.

Gaby F.

Wednesday night and the restaurant was three quarters empty. The atmosphere was non-existent. Actually, if you want to be an Indian restaurant, great. Be a Latin restaurant, great. But please, don't try and sell me that "as the chef did when she went for the James Beard award" as suggesting it is correct or good. And do not ever serve seafood with cheese (aka scallops with cream cheese). That being said, the whiskey sour was delicious. They did a nice taste on the duck. The pakoras with artichoke were okay, but I've had better (on 6th street in NYC, and much better at Prashad in Bradford, UK). The papads (oh please..popadoms) were fine, but presented as if the chef invented them. I was eating better ones in London in 1971. The lamb was well cooked and worth it. The roti was, by far, better than the nan. The waiter was over-effusive about everything: "what is it on the menu you find delicious but have questions?" But service was very friendly (although the kitchen cooked a steak well when I asked for medium). One major issue: the Nobilo Icon sauvignon was $60 a bottle and it's $16 at Binny's. That is a rude mark-up. As an exercise in haute cuisine, at these prices, I would go ethnic and byob.

Julian G.

Waited for an hour for the food and pricey for just some decent food with OK portions

Stephanie V.

Beautiful red, white n black decor. Great staff and the indian latin dishes sound amazing! Most entrees are around $24. They also have tapas. We got the coconut chili mussels and duck arepas!

Leslie P.

I visited Vermilion after I bought a groupon. I had heard mixed reviews, but my boyfriend and I love Indian and Latin flavors, so we went for it. Overall, the food was good. The Groupon allowed us two appetizers and two entrees. My boyfriend likes spicy, so we ordered the spiciest item on the menu: the Duck Vindaloo. It was really good; duck and vindaloo sauce on a fried cracker. We also ordered the Blue Corn Crusted Scallops, also very good. Sometimes scallops have little flavor, but these did. After we finished our appetizers, we waited a good 35 - 40 minutes for our entrees. The table next to us actually complained about the slow service, and others looked a little annoyed too. It was 8pm on a Friday, but only about half full, so not sure what the wait was about. When we finally got our entrees, caldereirada de peixe seafood stew for me and red curry fish (Mahi) for him, we were pretty hungry. I dug right into my stew, and instantly burnt my tongue! It was extremellyyyy hot, even after I blew on it for a while. It seemed like they just took the stew out of the pot, and brought it out. They didn't even tell me that "it's very hot, so be careful!" My boyfriend tried it and also burnt his tongue. It took a good ten minutes before it was cool enough that I didn't have to blow on it first. On a side note, my boyfriend liked the spiciness of his fish. After using the Groupon, our bill still came to $50 for naan ($4), wine (I ordered the $10 glass of Sauvignon Blanc but she gave me the $15 glass), tax, and tip. The one plus was that they didn't add the drink my boyfriend got at the bar onto our bill. Overall, food was good, but the service and prices could have been better.

Killa K.

Took a date here a coupla weeks ago, and it seems like, contrary to a lotta review before me, we got lucky as far as service was concerned. If anything, it was rather smooth. Nothing extra special, but we were took in normally with our 7:00pm reservation. The food was good, as well. Had the Tandoori skirt steak, while my date had the butter chicken with naan (of course). She enjoyed her dish, as did I. Although the portions didn't match the prices of the dishes, they had a good selection of wine, which I enjoyed a lot. As far as decor, it was nice and a little fancy. The dim lighting gave the place a nice vibe as well. I'll check this place out again, and hopefully, I'll be lucky with the service or else I'll have to make an update!

Super L.

Sexy red curtains, cool Indian-esque club music. Pictures of Indian models, being sexy. Shades of red on grey. Sexy. It was like being in a nightclub... after they've turned all the lights up to kick everyone out for the night. I didn't like how they had the lights up so bright, it was like cafeteria lighting, but in a place with sexy mood decor. Well, that was an interior design splurge that was ruined. The bartender was super frazzled, we were worried she might spazz out at one point and just douse everyone with vodka. Maybe two bartenders on a busy night? They serve martinis in what looks like a tiny 3 oz glass. Noone wants to spend $14 on a tiny martini. Everything we ordered was super, duper spicy, which yeah we were in an Indian restaurant, but we couldn't taste our duck, our seafood, or anything, all we could taste was HOTNESS and spice. The naan was hard and not tasty. And the killer of it all was my beloved butter chicken tasted like Chef Boyardee meat sauce. Our server was big on upselling, but in a slightly misleading and agressive way, not subly suggestive. That made us unable to connect to her. Tone it down a little. The hosts were wonderful, however, and did not bat an eyelash when we requested a larger booth for a tiny party of two. With the concept, this place could be good. I'd suggest that they revamp the tastes they are going for, put some of those red curtains in between the host stand and the rest of the restaurant for intimacy and mystery, and gosh darnit, dim the lights.

Tripti S.

Food at Vermilion is Good. Everything we ordered was nice. Now the reasons for taking the 2 stars away. 1. Why would you charge $25 reservation fee per person?? Especially on a Sunday night when the whole restaurant is empty. 2. Our second order of breads came out in 30 min and it was COLD. Yes cold!! 3. One of our friends requested a drink without ice and she was told by the server that the glass will be only 3/4th full!!! Seriously!! Other than that the server was very nice and polite. 4. It is expensive $40 - $60 pp.

Rajan L.

Do not go here. I went here with 5 of my friends who were visiting from different cities and it was a big mistake. We went to some other restaurant first but the wait was just too long and saw that this place was close by and had no waiting time (ofcourse!). We were given some really bad tables which I think were the waiting tables. The prices are crazy for the place. I don't mind spending but for this place, the prices are just unfair. The most important part of the restaurant - food, was terrible. None of likes anything over there. The only good part was the very hospitable and cheerful hostess.

Jaison C.

A fusion of contemporary Indian and Latin American cuisines that just didn't work for me. I love pizza and ice cream, but if I were to fuse them together, it would probably be the mess that is the fusion of Latin and Indian tastes of Vermilion. I was able to try the lamb chops, artichoke pakora, and the seafood paella with heart of palms. The pakora was rubbery bland, the lamb chops were over seasoned and very chewy, and the paella was awfully salty with too much actual curry taste to it. I really wasn't able to taste anything in the paella except for curry and salt. The service, atmosphere, and ambiance and great. Our server shared great opinions and suggestions and was checking on us often. The decor is has a nice clash of rose red and bleach white. It works. The couple next to us started arguing and the gentleman left his date by herself until about 40 minutes later when her friend arrived to take his spot and she actually ate the rest of his meal. Funny. For what I paid for and received, it was not worth it at all. I am left more satisfied at generic Indian buffets. Thanks for reading.

Molly L.

I will never dine at Vermilion again, not because the food is awful, but because the service is bad and management is shady. I ate here for Restaurant Week with a group of 8 friends for lunch on President's Day. My ginger lime margarita was good, but the food was just OK. I had the Bombay corn soup, mojito mango chicken, and flan. Nothing I ate stood out, and it was all pretty bland. I really expected more from an Iron Chef. The fusion element that attracted me to Vermilion was severely lacking. The portions were pretty small, too. As I mentioned, we came to Vermilion for Restaurant Week. We had to specifically ask for the Restaurant Week menu, and the service seemed lacking because of that. We were the first party in the restaurant, but other tables had food before we even ordered. This was irritating, but the difficulty with the service escalated once we got our bill. The typical Restaurant Week lunch price is $22, however our bill reflected a $33 price. I asked the waitress and was told that their lunch menu was $33, even though this was not indicated on the menu on their website. We were annoyed, but paid up. Upon leaving the restaurant, we noticed a sign outside that advertised a prix fixe "Latin Express" lunch menu for $24 and a copy of the Restaurant Week menu. We turned around and spoke with the manager about it. He said that the Latin Express menu is their everyday special, and that the Restaurant Week menu has more options, which is why it's more expensive, but he understood how the sign could be confusing. Really? Then why did you put it up? And why aren't you going to take it down now? After a bit of back and forth, he finally agreed to refund us the $9 price difference per person. Between the hassle of dealing with the management and the lackluster food, I'd recommend against Vermilion. In fact, I did recommend against it when I saw a couple pondering the misleading sign out front. Your money is better spent elsewhere on much better (and bigger portions of) food.

Dessy D.

I think I should stop writing reviews about this place... Its the best restaurant in chicago.PERIOD. I am just beginning to get bored of the food because I tried absolutely everything., but when someone new comes to chicago., this is where I take them. And its so fun to see their reactions while they dig into the fantastic food that's served here..Love this place :)

Abhishek M.

So I am going to start by saying that I MAY have a bias writing this review since I personally know the Executive Chef. As a matter of fact we were in hotel school together. She , as is obvious, was a lot more talented than I and ended up going to the Culinary Inst. of America. She's been invited to cook by the James Beard Foundation on more than one occassion and has been at The Taste of Chicago twice now. Getting back to the review....Vermilion is a great date place, great place to explore Indian-Latin fusion, great place to celeberate any special occassion, or just eat some good food. The chef uses special ingredients on a regular basis...be it Tamarind and hence Tamarind Martinis or Tamarind marinated steak or Pomegrante (sp?). The ambience is really good with white table cloth and all servers are dressed in black. I personally prefer the Latin inspired food since I can get good Indian food elsewhere. If you're looking a good night out in the city, totally check out Vermilion. It also happens to be on Hubbard with a lot of bar options for after dinner drinks.

Andrea G.

I was intrigued by the restaurant concept since Latin food and Indian food are two of my favorites. I really enjoyed everything I ordered but my boyfriend wasn't as impressed with his selection. Highly recommend: lime pear and green chili cocktail, duck vindaloo appetizer, Sri lankan 16 spice whole fish, goat cheese cheesecake + their special occasion dessert. (it was my birthday). Not as highly recommended: margaritas, chimichurri NY strip steak- the steak itself was cooked very well but the rest of the dish was fairly uninspiring. We agreed that we would definitely come back for cocktails and dessert.

Helen H.

awesome! 1. ambiance- chic, love the colors and feel here. 2. service- excellent!! our server made sure that all my allergies and spice wussiness was taken care of. i literally can't take any spiciness. this is where Vermilion lost part of a star.. sometimes the courses came out too slowly; however, they were very attentive in terms of one person getting a 5-course meal and the other only getting one entree. it was a very nice eating balance.. i hate watching people eat when i'm hungry! 3. food- for the most part really good! i had the chicken.. which was amazingggg. i'm sory i forget the actual name but it came with a very rich tomato soup/ sauce.. i'm not entirely happy with my drink... not very much alcohol in it, and on the small side. my dining partner got the 10-course off-menu iron chef tasting.. it was hit or miss on some of the dishes. the duck and open-faced sandwich were the highlights, but the stuffed pickled peppers and other part of the 3rd course were def. not our favorites. the steak and lobster were great! but then we had another miss with the dessert. the milk? was just really weird tasting, but the chocolate dessert with mole was decent. 4. price- if you just get an entree- you can get a very good price/value for an evening of deliciousness, but i can see how ordering the small dishes can quickly add up to an expensive meal... plus drinks! the verdict on the off-menu- decent, probably around 3.5 stars, but we bump it up to 4 stars b/c of the groupon.. otherwise $100 for the tasting menu would've put us off by the hit or miss flavors. awesome tomato chicken thingy... beware, i will be back to eat you again!!!!!!

Lyndal K.

My husband and I were dying to try something new in the city during our "staycation" weekend. A friend recommended Vermilion and we thought that an Indian + Latin American fusion sounded sexy and exciting. So we were geared for an outstanding dining experience. Unfortunately, Vermilion did not meet my expectation. Here's a synopsis: - The atmosphere was swanky and exotic. I did like it, however, I felt that it was a bit too dark. - The worse part was the service. Our waitress checked in on us for a grand total of... 3 times that evening! Once to take our drink order, once to take our food order and once to take our dessert order. Funny enough, she wasn't the one who served our drinks, food OR dessert (yet we still had to tip her). She didn't really make any recommendations for us, nor did she explain the menu to us. I was also a little annoyed when the wine I wanted from the wine list was not available that evening. It's sad but I think I got better service at a Taco Bell drive through recently. - Similar to what others had said, we felt rushed - to order, to eat, to pay, and to leave. For example, the first time our waitress came to take our drink order, we hadn't even settled down or looked at the menus yet. - The food wasn't bad, but it was not "outstanding". It certainly was unique having steaks with an Indian flair, but that was about it in terms of the appeal of our entrees. Plus I don't consider a dish a "fusion dish" if all you do is pair a steak marinated in Indian spices with a Latin American side? I guess I expected more of a combustion of both flavors in every bite. In conclusion, we were slightly disappointed with our experience. It was OK. Should have kept my reservation at Ruth's Chris after all.

Nate H.

Latin-Indian fusion. Yes, it's possible. Everything about this place combines herbs and spice in new ways. Started with the duck vindaloo arepa. Note the Indian spice on a traditional latin corn pancake - service mini sized in three bites - very tasty, fresh lean duck shredded atop the arepas. Mmmm. Main entrée couldn't be anything but the chili glazed tamarind ribs, a chef specialty. And boy did they deliver. The meat just fell off the rib as promised by our server, and the bbq glaze was dark and rich, and was baked into the meat - no red sweet ketchup-like goo here! And the spice kept delivering as you continued to eat this semi sweet, spicey preparation. For desert, I thought I would calm down on the spice with a nice, hot chocolate I was wrong - it was thick, creamy...and spicy! Pepper and chocolate can be fun, but it was way too rich...I almost asked for warm milk to add to it to calm it down some. This went a bit too far. Heat is the attraction here, but be careful...it's hiding everywhere. The place is beautiful and a fun place for a group after work, or a couple drinks in the lounge area in the front.

Cesar G.

The food and cocktails were delicious, and the atmosphere was very comfortable. They have a vegetarian menu that we wouldn't have known about had I not asked whether one of the appetizers was vegetarian so be sure to ask for it.

Sundar V.

Oh, Brilliant! That's exactly how i felt after i took my first bite. The food was delicious. I had dinner here with a few friends on Diwali night and Vermilion made sure we felt that way. The special menu and diwali lamps created the perfect ambiance to the spend the festival night here. Loved it and will be back!

Michelle B.

akzidenz g.

Jackie R.

Tanya H.

Scott C.

I had high hopes for Vermillion - Indian + Latin should equal great flavors and interesting cuisine. The end result was a mixed dinner with some dishes showing the fusion of both cuisines that were fantastic and others that we so-so at best. We ate quite a few of the appetizers in order to get a sampling of the variety of flavors available in the different dishes. Some of the appetizers such as the shrimp and lamb were fantastic - great flavors that complimented the dish very nicely. Other appetizers such as the chicken and the scallops were so-so where the spices and sauces used with these dishes were somewhat bland (contrary to the description on the menu). We split a couple of the main courses among us - the pasta, skirt steak and Brazilian stew. The pasta was a big letdown - the menu hinted at a citrus flavor but it was overwhelmingly a lemon flavor that drawn out the rest of the flavors in the dish. The skirt steak was a good dish - the meat was tender and spiced nicely - giving you a slow burn after eating it. That was certainly one of the highlights of our meal. The service was attentive throughout the evening and they did a nice job of explaining the dishes when we had questions. They were also kind enough to not charge us for the pasta/shrimp dish that was really not good at all. I'm not sure if it was a bad night or if this was indicative of their typical fare here, but I would give them another chance. With the abundance of spices and flavors from an Indian and Latin mix - I think this place has a bunch of potential.

Mindy S.

4 stars for: service, a few dishes (see below), ambiance, speed at which food arrived 3 stars for: the rest of our food I'd give Vermilion 3.5 stars if I could, but I have to err on the side of 3 stars, because it overall was an "OK" place. Their menu consists of a good number of both small plates/tapas and entrées. We decided to go all tapas, since we wanted to try out many different dishes. We thought the dishes that stayed true to the Latin/Indian fusion were the lamp chops appetizer and juhu ki pani puri (potatoes inside flour shells). I highly recommend these tapas, as the flavor was explosive - really strong and very very tasty. The juhu ki pani puri come cold, fyi. The desserts were really amazing - especially the mango flan and the bread pudding. The rest of our food was either Latin or Indian, but not a fusion of both. Not to say it wasn't great, though. The roasted tomatillo gespacho was amazing, and spicy. I would definitely order this again. The blue corn crusted scallops were good, perhaps a bit chewy, and were more on the Indian side of the meal. I wasn't as impressed with them as many other Yelpers were. The duck vindaloo arepa (duck on little pieces of bread) was also middle-of-the-road. The duck seemed a little cold, and the flavors again were purely Indian. The sauce that came with the artichoke pakoras was a curry yogurt sauce - very good, but the artichokes were just ok. A bit salty for my tastes. I liked Vermilon. I definitely would not recommend for anybody to skip going there, but I think I will be trying out other restaurants in the city before heading back.

Caroline C.

Last year - on my way to my hotel, I walked pass this restaurant and thought that Indian and Latin fusion sounded interesting. So I decided to check it out... Not much to say here except that I was disappointed. I expected better, especially since it looked all nice and fancy inside, and the prices were on the high side. (Thankfully I was on a business trip). I was happy to see that they had two kinds of menus - regular (meaning ultra spicy) and "mild". "Mild" didn't mean anything b/c all of my dishes were still super spicy. I couldn't taste anything but spiciness. If you are into super spicy food and daring to try different concoctions, then this might be a place to check out. Otherwise, don't bother wasting your money.

Richard O.

I hate people who start reviews complaining about how much they wanted to love some place and then bitch about it like spoiled children but all the same I really want to love this place. It's such a great concept! It's a little sad that you have to explicitly ask for a vegetarian menu, but hey, they HAVE a vegetarian menu. Some of the stuff is pretty good but it tends to be kind of uneven and I can't say I've ever left this place feeling like it was worth what it cost. Still, I'm sure I'll be back a million times because one of my best friends lives and dies by their butter paneer even though I think India House is actually a more satisfying dining experience.

Sandy N.

Went to Vermilion during Restaurant Week this year with 3 other people. The decor is really nice, hip and classy at the same time. I had the duck vindaloo arepa, which was tasty but spicy (I'm a wimp). For the entree, I had the chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs (also spicy but delicious). Dessert was a creme brulee (though I forget the details). Everything was really tasty, and I would go again after landing a really well-paying job. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that the drinks are fabulous. Try one, or three!

A H.

I went here for a graduation party last night, and was looking forward to trying out Indian fusion cuisine in Chicago. Unfortunately, the food was incredibly bland and ordinary, not bad but nothing fusion about most of the dishes. The eggplant dish was overcooked and overly rich, and the vegetarian thalis were inferior to ones you can get at India house or gaylord for half the price. The spinach palak paneer was legitimately horrible, tasteless and lacking in flavor. The mint mango lassi was an interesting concept, but it was made so thick that it was impossible to drink with the provided straw! The drink turned out to be nothing special, like a slushee with a slight mojito flavor. Indian fusion is definitely hit or miss, this falls firmly into the latter category.

Sajna J.

Loved the food! Being a Keralite, was surprised to see some authentic sounding Kerala dishes on the menu (Red fish curry with tapioca, mutton/goat entree) and they did justice to the flavor too! The red fish curry was 'S'picy and very true to the style of preparation. The appetizers were yum too; and they had the non alcoholic versions of their drinks...mango with mint was soothing and smooth.

Kevin A.

LIKE A HIGH-PRICED CALL GIRL... Vermilion is sexy, scintillating, satisfying, and ultimately very expensive. Not that I've...um...ever paid for a call girl...um...but, you get the point. FOREPLAY: Amuse Bouche - Ooh..an amuse-bouche! Who doesn't love an amuse? It's an unexpected treat like a nooner or road head that never fails to put a smile on my face. Vermilion set the stage for a great meal with an amazing crisp pakora with a rich white chocolate cauliflower soup. In a word: amazing. I could've eaten this all night long. Appetizer Degustation - Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the French here? Who, but the French could turn the term pupu platter into something as sexy as 'degustation'? In any case, what followed was a mix of coconut chili mussels, fried artichokes, and tender lamb chops. All were good, but there were no stunners like the amuse. THE MAIN EVENT: Vermilion gives you a choice unusual in fusion restaurants. It lets you choose between fusion dishes (Indian and Latin American in this case) or simply Indian dishes (with a mix of Punjabi, Goan, and southern dishes). What do to? I went for the fusion and was glad I did. Based on my server's recommendation I went for the caldeirada de peixe, a Portuguese fish stew fused with Indian spices. Good. God. This dish was incredible. A huge portion, rich briny flavors, teeming with seafood, complex spices, subtle heat, and some naan to sop up all the succulent juices. This dish was intoxicating and is a must-try on your next visit. AFTERGLOW: I was exhausted, sweaty, discombobulated, and a hundred bucks and then some poorer. What just happened?!? How did I just pay $100+ for Indian food? Why did I like it so much? I still don't know how Vermilion seduced me, but I can't wait to go back for more.

Sunny B.

Cocktails were very good. Chicken kabob appetizer was good. Seafood stew was very good. Snapper was not seasoned lacked major flavor. Best part was the cocktails and the WORST part was the SERVICE. 2.5* out of 5*.

Sonya S.

I've been here several times now and absolutely adore Vermilion! The cocktails are fantastic, particularly the spiked lassi and pani puri margarita. I do like the small plates more than the entrees but the whole restaurant is very vegetarian - friendly. My favorite dish is the tamarind eggplant. Oh -- and do not forget to go for the shahi tukda (dessert), it'll change your life.

Amy L.

Overview: Indian-Latin fusion ... I just don't think that, fundamentally, these two flavors mix well. I would go once just to experience it, but wouldn't go again. Food: The food was almost TOO flavorful - very strong, heavily competing tastes in each dish. It was interesting ... but not good, necessarily. Atmosphere: The decor on the inside is sexy - flowing curtains amongst black, red, and white lacquered accents, a modern vibe - yet, the outer facade on the street makes it look like any other dinky Indian restaurant. The lighting was a little bright for an upscale restaurant ... the clientele was mostly mid-20's-30's. Service: Unmemorable.

Michael J.

If you like spicy food - go to this restaurant. I have also been to the one in NYC and loved dining at both. I would have rated this restaurant even higher but some of the dishes were oversalted.

Deepika B.

Thanks to groupon, my husband and I got a chance to taste the celebrity chef restaurant. After a walk at Navy Pier, we decided to dine here and had thus booked in advance. So, we reach here excitedly but ended up being a bit disappointed as the A/C was not working and we were really looking forward to beat the heat. Besides, the decor inside looked lovely. But despite the A/C not working, most tables were occupied. This meant the food would be very good. We finally decided to sit outside and actually enjoyed the experience. Service - The waitress was nice and explained everything well, but the service was a bit slow. Food - & yes the food turned out to be really good. We ordered the mango mojito and the lychee ginger (without the alcohol). Mojito was well made, but I couldn't taste the ginger in the lychee ginger drink. In the appetizer section, we ordered the chilli mussels dish (as we had already tasted the kabab at Taste of Chicago) and the dish turned out to be wonderful. The coconut broth reminded us of the south indian food we make back home in India. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Next were 2 entrees - the miris srilankan whole fish and the indian thali. Again, the broth in the fish dish was extremely well made, spicy and lovely. My husband had the fish while I had the broth with rice and it tasted yummy. In the thali, pindi butter chicken, chole and dal were well made, I liked the butter chicken as it wasn't overly sweet. I loved the mint chutney served with the papad. However, the naan was a bit disappointing. The fenugreek naan we ordered was well made though. Among the desserts, the chocolate hedonism is something one should try as the orange pieces are spiced up and the taste goes to another level totally. Even the shahi tukra was nice. The 4 star rating is because of the service and the not-so-great lychee ginger drink. Also, when we ordered only the tapas, the waitress informed that we would have to order even the entrees with the tapas because that was instructed by the chef. We were not so happy with this bit of instruction because it reflects poorly on the customer service. Overall, we loved the experience of sitting outside, had a great dinner time discussion and were at this place for almost 3 hours. The presentation was also great and was similar to what we see on Iron Chef. However, the service could have been faster. We would love going back and try other items on the menu, but not without a groupon. It is extremely expensive which is expected though.

Edouard M.

I went there a month ago, so my memories are not very fresh. Our large table shared the appetizers, which were perfectly fine, but not remarkable. My entree - ribs - were good, but many way cheaper bbq places have much better ribs. There was a feeling around the table that the food was fine, but not memorable, and surely not worth the high price. The restaurant was largely empty when we were there.

Yaw N.

Absolutely love this place. It has an incredibly cozy atmosphere and a ton of great food. For those unfamiliar with the restaurant, Vermillion offers a nice blend of Indian and South American dishes, which are often fused together to create beautifully complex dishes and flavors. The servers here are very friendly and do an excellent job of guiding you through the menu so use them as a crutch to get through the menu. Overall, this an excellent place for those looking for an adventurous new way to challenge their palette and dining experience. My guess is you'll walk away just as impressed as I was!

Eldiva S.

What happened to this place?? Is Maneet Chauhan not a associated with this place anymore! Vermillion USED TO BE amazing... My husband and I have been coming here since 2007 until we moved 2 years ago in 2011 and it was always consistently great! So we are in town visiting and dropped by last night to get their scallops and butter chicken, which we used to crave - but as soon as I walked in last night things didn't feel the right... It was totally empty except for 1 big table, but ok hey its Monday at 8pm, so benefit of he doubt.... The host was arrogant-annoying but whatever. BUT then the waiter with the broken hand, although polite, kept trying to upsell on EVERYTHING we ordered *NEWSFLASH WAITERDUDE- if I want any cocktails, sides, entrees, dessert or anything else I will be sure to let you know, now leave us alone, thanks!* And of course when I asked for recommendations on apps, they all seemed to hover around the $14 options...hmm - coincidence?! It just felt like the restaurant is hurting so badly that they just want/need to squeeze as much as they can out of you before you leave - not ok in a supposed upscale and pricey restaurant - the items should sell themselves... So at last we settle on 2 orders of the scallops, the lamb chops and the butter chicken with side of rice. Food comes - sadly, the scallops didnt have that crave factor anymore - though relatively well cooked, the crust was a burnt mess and the cheese was non existent with the puree being somewhat bland - what happened! This dish used to be awesome - sigh. Lamb chops - 2 out of 3 were meaty - 1 was literally all grisel and fat -very unappealing- don't even know how they allowed it to leave the kitchen-I point it out to the host guy, that apparently is doubling as a food runner"-hey is this supposed to be this fatty?" he says yes...my thoughts ok - but then when I take a knife to it vs the other meaty ones-can't eat any of it- so I tell the host and insist this can't be right -so he says they can replace it - please do I say....great. I eat the others while I wait - not bad-crust kept coming off, the pickled onions were very tasty...I get the last chop - the bastards gave me the same chop, but cooked it longer - really Vermillion?! At this point, I knew dessert was OUT of the question and I would never be coming back - despicable. Food-The butter chicken also did not make the grade- some chicken was well cooked, other pieces overcooked and dry and tough to eat...the sauce which used to be amazing, no longer was... :-( rice was rice, naan was dry....double sigh. Bill for 3 appetizers, 1 entree and a side of rice plus 20% tiip was $102. Had it been amazing as it once was - happy to spend it... BUT NOW, NO WAY IN HELLWE ARE COMING BACK FOR THIS GARBAGE. I wish I would have read reviews on this place last night before coming, but we just assumed it would still be phenomenal - lesson learned... Save your money and go to India House(though currently undergoing renovations) -hopefully they still have their cooking integrity...and if they do they are worth the wait!

Edward C.

What has happened to Vermilion? I came here in 2010 and discovered a restaurant that was vibrant, beautifully decorated and had food that was bursting with flavor and creativity. I returned three years later to find an empty shell, poor service, cold food, and bland dishes. The waiter was strange to say the least and each time he presented the cold food told us all to "indulge" and then stood by and watched us eat. The large space was empty on a Friday evening save for our party of three and one other table. This restaurant was once one reason among many to visit to Chicago. How it fell from those standards is a mystery to me.

Sarah S.

My parents watched Iron Chef a few weeks ago when Vermilion's chef was on and decided when they came to visit last week, that we had to try out this restaurant. I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard Latin and Indian infusion. I was pleasantly surprised. We started with the degustation of four appetizers and four kebabs. The artichoke pakoras were delightful. The beef kebab was my favorite. Everything was pretty spicy, but luckily, I like my food like that. We then tried the scallops...best scallop I believe i've ever had! It was cooked to perfection and practically melted in my mouth. We ordered the gumbo and skirt steak and split it between the four of us. The steak was a little chewy, but edible. The sauteed spinach and chorizo was very tasty. I thought the gumbo was delicious. I liked that they put the rice on the side, so you could portion it out yourself. The sangria was strong and satisfied my thirst. Upon recommendation by our server, we shared the chocolate molten cake for dessert. Each bite was rich and satisfied my sweet tooth.

Sandi R.

A few friends and I were looking for a place to come during Rest. Week. I have always walked past this place but never really had an interest to go in. Boy am I happy that we selected this place. From the moment we walked in I was in love with the place. The music, the beautiful vibrant colors and especially the cocktails. The concept of indian and latin is very interesting but it blended so well. Make sure to get the SCALLOPS, RIBS OR LAMB SHANK...Yum Yum Yum.Even though we had a FABULOUS dinner this is the kind of place that I would definitely go back to just sit at the bar drink their yummy cocktails and eat their delicious scallops. Oh and our server was Michael C. He was the perfect server! Very nice, explained the menu and gave wonderful suggestions.

Brian S.

Went for a birthday celebration; there were 2 of us for dinner. We had cocktails (Lime Ginger Margarita and Mango Mint Mojito). Both were very good. We decided on small plates to get the most variety (our normal). We had roasted tomatillo gazpacho, artichoke pakoras, duck vindaloo arepa, blue corn crusted scallops, juhu ki pani puri and mysore lamb chops. We both agreed that the pani puri and lamb chops were our favorites. The desserts were also really good. The space is well lit and not too loud. The tables are arranged so that you don't feel like you're in one giant dinning room. Our waiter was a bit over zealous and came off a bit pushy; I think he was just trying too hard. I'm not in a hurry to go back, but I wouldn't persuade someone else from trying it.

Jen H.

The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful.. the food is ... ok. I really liked the pindi butter chicken but honestly you could get a similar quality dish for half the price at an indian restaurant. The other food was interesting but the small portions and large price don't make it great for trying it for the first time. I would recommend this place for food enthusiasts who are looking for something really different. For a simple chicken girl like me it just doesn't make sense to pay $30 for a meal. If you do go get the red sangria- it has an interesting spice in it worth trying.

Taran S.

My wife and I went to Vermilion because we had bought a groupon. We had made reservations for 7:15 and weren't seated until about 7:45. The service was slow to say the least. We ordered drinks, though fantastic upon arrival, took about 10-15minutes to get to us. I had the Thali, which consisted of different Indian food, and for the most part it was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. My wife ordered the steak, and it was cooked so poorly that we had to send it back and order something else off the menu. The sweet potatoes in her meal also were overcooked and burnt upon arrival. All in all, it was not a great dining experience and we will not be returning to eat there. It is not worth the price that you pay.

Vince V.

This restaurant is going to give you an experience like no other in Chicago. The melding of Latin and Indian flavors is done very naturally and expertly. The experience can be sculpted to a light bite in the lounge or a full on five course extravaganza and anything in between. If you have not been in yet, you should definitely give it a shot.

Rayid G.

The indian/latin american fusion just didn't work for me. I loved the pani puri margarita but it got boring after that. The raw ingredients in the food were excellent which is what made the things I liked good. I would've almost preferred them without the fusion part. lamb chops: excellent lamb and my favorite food there but it was good because of the lamb and not the fusion. artichoke pakora: average papadum: average (just like everywhere else) scallops: again, like the lamb, the scallops themselves were good but the (fusion) spices didn't add anything. duck: a little bland compared to everything else The ny steak with chimichurri was ok steak and the chimichurri on top wasn't really that flavorful - lots of chilies in it but not much flavor. The sweet potato on the side was also a bit boring and bland. Overall, the food was fairly average given their focus on fusion and it didn't really work for me. I did love their drinks but wasn't very fond of the service. The waitress we had described things in detail but seemed a bit forgetful. I'm also not a big fan of the "have you dined with us" script. If yes, then "welcome back" , if not, just "welcome". Just skip that part...you're a restaurant like every other restaurant and you have a menu. Unless you really are different, i've dined in restaurants before and know how to follow the ordering process :)

beth w.

Came here for restaurant week (and for my boyfriend's birthday), and the prix fixe deal was a total scam to get you in the door (ie: we bought off the menu directly and ended up spending less $$. That being said, the food was delicious. We tried the duck vindaloo and artichoke pakoras appetizers and they were really tasty, particularly the chili/coconut sauce that we proceeded to dip our naan into. For our entree, we ordered the tandoori skirt steak. every item that came with that dinner (steak, chorizo spinach, and jicama citrus) was really tasty. Several other good things 1. the waiter knew we were going to be sharing, so they preemptively split our dish which was convenient 2. everything was spicy.... but not hot. I usually cant tolerate spicy hot things and my boyfriend eats wasabe by the tablespoon, yet the spiciness suited both of our palettes nicely Not as good things 1. Portions were small (albeit the display was A+) 2. It took a while for the food to come out Overall it was a nice place to go, though a bit pricey. This will definitely be reserved for special occasions only.

Steven H.

This is perhaps one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The reason it doesn't get 5 stars is the price. I'm a huge fan of their blue corn scallops and their goat cheese cheesecake. I have had the lobster Portuguese and the chimmichurri NY strip and both have been superb. The chimmichurri sauce on the steak is perhaps the best topping I've ever had to a steak and I crave the goat cheese cheesecake on a constant basis. I see people complain about the restaurant not being Indian enough or having too many spices, but it is Indian/Mexican fusion, if you want true Indian food go to Devon. The prices were a bit high, but you earn that right when you appear on the Food Network. I've never seen the restaurant packed and I believe you could get a table on most nights without a reservation. Overall this restaurant is a definite must for anyone who loves food, especially spicy foods.

Erin F.

Very disappointing! I'd have good things to say if the service wasn't so AWFUL. We were strongly urged to try the tasting menu, so we opted for the Omnivore tasting. After 2 hours only 3/5 courses had come out. We paid for our drinks and left hungry and annoyed. What we did taste was very good. There was no sense of urgency in the service, in fact we really didn't know who our server was. 4 different people randomly engaged with our table. There was no explanation for the poor and slow service, just apologies. We do not want apologies, just our food! A tad overpriced as well.

Kelly C.

I have to counter some of the highly negative reviews here. Not saying they're not legitimate, but we had a very good time. We had 7:45 reservations and were seated right on time. Our waitress, while a bit flighty, was very attentive and helpful, even suggesting we only order one of the artichoke appetizers (we'd ordered two for a group of four) as it was big enough to share (though we went ahead and ordered two). The blue corn crusted scallops were very good, and the lentil soup was subtly hot. Entrees were the Brazilian seafood stew (tangy), the flank steak (complex, and my favorite), butter chicken (rich), and the goat curry (ditto). No disappointments with the food. One complaint: I don't think they're taking the whole restaurant week thing seriously. As mentioned elsewhere, we had to request the RW menu, and then found (thanks to another review here) that, if we weren't planning to order dessert, we'd do better, price-wise, ordering off the regular menu. That's fine: it allowed us to try more things than we would have otherwise, and probably got us in the door, but it was very much an afterthought to them. That said, we'll be back for sure.

Kenneth C.

Holiday season being over, my dinner group went to Vermilion this month. I had a mango mint mojito as the before-dinner cocktail. I loved it, but you have to love mango. With the exception of one of us, we all chose to order every single tapas item on the menu, which for some reason shocked our waitress. They organized it into three courses for us. One off-menu amuse-bouche was a small pepper (I wish I knew what kind) with a couscous-esque puree inside, served with a broth of Jicama plus other stuff I sadly cannot recall in a small teacup. Perhaps it's because I'm a smoker and my sense of smell is reduced, or maybe I actually LIKED the seafood-y smell, but I thought that this was simply one of the most inventive, tasty amuse-bouches I've ever had. Certainly not a combination of tastes I've had before. The others who tasted it, though, were not as impressed with the broth, though the pepper was delicious. It did indeed have three stages as everyone noted, and I loved all three stages of taste. Our no-tapas companion instead went with: shrimp paella ancho tequilla marinated, indian flattened rice poha, shimp and mussels Politely, he let us have some bites of the paella, and WOW was that good. As to the rest of the meal, I don't use this term because I think it's pretty pretentious, but to me it really was revelatory. Brazilian/Indian fusion turns out to be nearly ideal for me, it seems! The other items we had (all very tastefully presented with a minimum of fuss): blue corn crusted scallops on a kali mirch latin calabasa goat cheese puree Even those at the table who aren't that into scallops agreed that this was a delight. The scallops were perfectly cooked, the blue corn crust was buttery and flavorful, and the puree made me want to lick my fork. duck vindaloo arepa brushed pomegranate molasses, curry leaf mango If we could have had an entire meal with nothing but the duck vindaloo arepa, I think we would have been happy. The vindaloo wasn't actually all that spicy, but it was very well-seasoned. The arepa itself was that perfect combination of crunchy and chewy - almost like having a duck macaron. coconut chili mussels s. indian coconut milk soup infused with curry leaves, mustard seeds I love mussels, but am not a giant fan of coconut milk; however, there was enough spice in the soup that it didn't go overboard on treacly sweetness, and the mussels were perfect. This is a great tapas item, because mussels are very small bites worth of food, and can be presented in a lovely way. cilantro tamarind shrimp on a cool white moong bean and daikon koshimbir I like tamarind in smallish doses, and on the shrimp, I found it to be a freakishly good sauce. The moong bean and daikon koshimbir I actually DID scrape off the plate and eat on its own. artichoke pakoras spain's favorite on an eggplant chili coconut sauce I love artichokes, and serving them as a pakora is a fantastic idea. Deep fried artichokes? Yes, please. The sauce they were served with was again a fantastic combination of lightly sweet and perfectly savory. I think I had too many of these. jumbo crab-lobster cake malabar seasoning, tamarind olive tartar "Jumbo" doesn't describe this well, but it was big enough. I actually found this to be the least of the dishes, though it was still quite good. The tamarind olive tartar was fantastic, though. juhu ki pani puri flour shells with spiced potatoes and a tangy fresh puree of chili mint I don't think this is the dish we had; instead, we had flour shells with a small dollop of tamarind in the center, which you poured a runny mint/lime sauce over. While that sounds inventive and interesting, I didn't really like it much. Still, I give them kudos for originality. hot soup - roasted three pepper lentil soup rich, south indian tones This soup was thick in consistency (as almost all lentil soups are), and at first I thought I didn't care for it much, but upon further bites, the cumulative spiciness really grew on me. It was never so hot that I disliked the spiciness, but it was a lovely surprise. hot soup - butternut squash This was a strikingly sweet soup, and while I don't generally like sweet soups -- or butternut squash, for that matter! -- I think I had half of the very large bowl we were served. It was that good. I dipped the naan we ordered in it as well, and the butteriness of the naan complemented the sweetness of the soup perfectly. mysore lamb chops seared in the tandoor over a minty red onion salad I did NOT like the "minty red onion salad", but I loved the lamb chops. I found the chop I had to be extremely tender and flavorful. It wasn't as good as the divine lamb chops I had at Mercat a la Planxa, but it was great lamb. chicken kabab delectable succulent smokey, chaat slaw This was another amazing dish; the chicken was surprisingly juicy, and each bite was spicy but not overbearing.

Alice L.

The fusion tapas are really good. The Indian food, however, is pretty standard and therefore not really worth the price. It's a nice place for a date -- in fact, my table was the ONLY table where no one was being romanced. I don't usually care that much about the service at a restaurant, but our waiter was kind of annoying. There ought be a balance between upselling your product versus acknowledging the customer when she says "No thank you" for the third time.

Karolina N.

The reason this review is only 2 stars is because I made a reservation for a birthday, and guess what they did not acknowledge or mention at all... way to drop the ball, Vermilion. I purchased a Groupon to try this place out. Additionally to the deal, we also ordered a bottle of wine (Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon) and dessert. The food was very good, I was pleased. Below is what I ordered: appetizer: blue corn crusted scallops - very good, we both really loved it main entree: caldeirada de peixe (traditional brazilian amazonian seasonal seafood & vegetable stew with an Indian kick+ tomato rice) - good, nothing absolutely amazing but I did enjoy it (my companion got the skirt steak... also good but nothing amazing) dessert: vermilion immoderation (a dessert sampler of three of our favorite decadent desserts) - the three desserts were delicious, though the portions were tinyyy. Overall, the service was very good. The wine was great. The food, overall good but not amazingly mind-blowing as I was expecting. I still walked away with disappointment due to them not acknowledging the birthday occasion, which ruins an experience easily.

D. K.

I liked the ambiance of this place--very different than other restaurants in this area. The concept of Latin/Indian fusion is great, but our meal had some hits and some misses. Hits: Artichoke pakoras and blue corn crusted scallops Misses: Tandoori skirt steak and Vermilion Thali I think I would go back here for appetizers only, but something about the entrees was just a little off. I didn't think the flavors blended well together. One last thing- the menu is kind of confusing to read... I think Latin/Indian fusion is kind of a novel concept to the average Joe, but it was hard to tell if certain sections of the menu were supposed to be Indian, some Latin, and some combined, or if everything was considered Latin/Indian...

Lauren G.

i came here for a work event...it was surprisingly delicious. high points: caldeirada de peixe - the seafood stew featured on top chef. i was a little bit leary because it is a seafood stew. it is unbelivably good. mine had mussels and shrimp. lychee ginger martini - they make their own ginger ale! very very tasty. dessert- their chocolate cake is unreal. i actually ate it and looked up and said "this is SO good". yes, i was that girl. but really it was, and i never say that. all in all. if not for dinner then definitely come here for after dinner drinks and dessert. i promise you will not be disappointed.

Mark S.

Was over hyped. I've had much better Indian compared to here. The artichoke app was cold. The nan was cold. The skirt steak was barely chew able. Very low quality. Though the butter chicken was decent. Would probably not return.

N N.

The food and drinks on the whole were good. The pani puri could have been better, and the pindi chole and dal makhani tasted like they came out of a pre cooked indian meal- was pretty bad. the bloody mary was good and deserts were great- esp the shahi tukra. food could have been better given the price, and the quantities a bit more.....not sure if i am coming back anytime soon.

Carrie G.

My last experience at Vermilion was on Valentine's Day of this year, but I'm still just as passionate about our horrible experience, so I thought I'd share. :) My hub and I had been to Vermilion once before and I LOVED the food and funky cocktails. So loving hub let me choose it for our romantical V-Day dinner. What a mistake. There was a set menu, but they did not tell him this when he made the reservation. We get there and there was already a line of people waiting on their reservations. So we were forced to wait at the bar, where I proceeded to order a drink for hub and me. The bartender appeared to forget about us b/c he seemed to be doing a lot of other things - i.e., NOT getting the drinks I just ordered. He finally makes my hub's drink, but for whatever reason, I'm still waiting on mine. Loving hub gets sat at our table, and I am still waiting on my drink. DO YOU KNOW HOW BADLY I NEEDED A DRINK AT THIS POINT?! :) Anyhoo, the drink finally gets sent over to our table, and it's not what I ordered. So that gets sent back and I finally get a cocktail after about an hour of being there. But that's not the worst of it. The food was a joke. Some teeny oyster as an appetizer, nasty COLD chocolate soup, and a COLD rubbery undercooked filet. What Indian restaurant serves filet!?!? Plus, they didn't even ask how we wanted it cooked (i.e., they were all made in advance). I should also mention the seating. There were TONS of extra tables/chairs set up in the back -- I'm talking folding chairs that you use at your grandma's family picnic. How tacky! We were all packed in like a herd of cows. What a joke. Here's the funniest part. They offered a regular set menu and then a version where they provide you w/ a wine pairing w/ each course. The dopes next to us ordered the wine version. So I start doing some investigations. I look up each of the wines on the wine menu and realize it would be cheaper if you just ordered a glass of each of the suggested wines vs. getting the wine pairing set menu. Isn't that ridiculous?! They were totally trying to take advantage of all the lovebirds on V-Day!!! :( I chatted w/ the manager as we were leaving and told him how miserable everything had been. He removed the charge for two drinks from our bill, but he didn't seem to care about my [constructive] feedback, and was honestly kind of an ass. Too bad, I loved this place. We will never, ever go back.

Swati B.

Came here on a Tuesday night, our reservation was at 7:30, so please tell me why we weren't seated until 8:15. Whats the point of a reservation? Oh and as far as parking goes, street is nearly impossible and valet is available, but i think i waited 15 minutes outside because the valet dude was running 3 different restaurant valet services. are u kidding me right now? This place was definitely crowded the night I was there. The drink menu is fantastic, and I absolutely loved my LYchee martini, delicious. We ordered the plantain chips..oh wait, they freaking ran out..seriously?? We had the paneer dish...very rich, it was pretty good. Loved that they had a vegetarian menu, but to be honest, being Indian...this menu had more indian stuff that fusion stuff or latin stuff. I mean are u telling me you can't be more creative for vegetarians with things like seitan and tempeh out there?? They also ran out of some of the dessert items that night. Service was really really slow. This place is also quite pricey fyi. I doubt i'll be back here for dinner. drinks maybe.

Priya S.

So I've heard a lot about this place from my husband and friends - mainly all foodies. The concept sounded interesting, an Indian/Latin fusion restaurant mainly because I'm of Indian origin but brought up in Spain so I'm a bit of a 'fusion' myself! The decor and ambience of the restaurant was very pleasant, I liked the dark tones, the black and white photos and the wooden furniture. It was dimly lit which gave it a more romantic feel. We ordered the blue corn crusted scallops to start our meal as I had read great reviews about it. I personally thought it was ok. The scallop was a good size and good quality but it was cold for my taste though it was well cooked. For mains we had the miris sri lankan whole fish and the shrimp paella. The fish was a whole fish with skin and bones with lemon and oranges decorated on top. On the side there was the broth and rice. The broth was probably the only thing I enjoyed though it was once again cold. The fish was cooked well but it lacked flavor and I found the skin and bones a hassle to remove. The rice was overcooked, and there were burnt bits in our serving. The paella was what I was most interested given my spanish background. They use indian flat rice (poha) instead of rice which I've had various times. I was curious to see how they could get the texture of paella given that poha cannot be cooked for a long time. I was disappointed with the poha as it didn't work together. We also found lots of uncooked turmeric powder in the poha, we had to send it back. I doubt the poha was cooked with the seafood as it didn't have that flavor. It felt like 2 separate dishes. The seafood was well cooked and flavorful. Overall I liked the ambience and the service was ok. The quality of the seafood was good, but the flavor was lacking and the fusion didn't work so well for me in the dishes we chose.

Jerrod K.

Who'da thunk it - saved by dessert! Food (Appetizers): 3/5 - Advise against getting the "sampler" - basically $24 for 8 mouth fulls. Each of the four dishes sampled were pretty good, though, with the duck vindaloo arepas being the clear winner. Food (Entree): 3.5/5 - One dish good, one dish not so much. The great thing about this particular type of fusion is you get to taste Indian spices with "forbidden" cuisine (ie: BEEF). The tandoori skirt steak was flavorful. The "Pindi" Butter Chicken, however, was less than impressive - very bland....as if the chef threw some chicken with a can of Campbell's Tomato Soup together and called it a day. Would highly discourage this one. Food (Dessert): 6/5 - YEAH!!! The "Vermillion Hedonism" turned the entire experience from "meh" into "good". Absolutely tremendous - have never had anything like their take on chocolate cake. And the fruit/sorbet combo that came with it was delicious. Service/Ambience/etc: 4/5 - Love the decor - beautiful red highlights accent the room. Service was good overall, but must say the waiter was a little pushy with the "up-sell". Value: 2.5/5 - If you order the wrong combinations of food, you could very well leave hungry. We had to order a pizza post-meal to supplement our dinner. Not a good sign, especially considering the $100 tab (no alcohol). Conclusion: Vermillion can either be a WOW or a BLEH simply depending upon what you order. Do your research beforehand. Up-scale customers would definitely appreciate this restaurant more than the bargain-hunting types.

Gina K.

This was the WORST dining experience I have ever had - both in the quality of the food and the service/execution. Two friends and I purchased an Open Table Spotlight deal for the tasting menu for $60 (normally $120). It was a pre-set menu with the exception of the "Chopped" course, where you pick certain proteins/sauces/sides and they create your entree. Service started out a bit slow, but we eventually got our wine and ordered our entree selections. The first two courses were decent, with the exception of the potato three ways, which lacked flavour. How can you screw up a potato?? Then everything really fell apart with the entree course. Everything was cold. Nothing was seasoned correctly. Everything was either coated in spicy sauce (I love spicy, but this was not really adding flavour, just masking the food with heat) or had zero flavour. The lamb was fatty, the spinach was a pile of salt and garlic, the rice was completely dry and the cauliflower had no taste. It was all awful. We spoke to our server and he apologized saying there was a problem in the kitchen and we were the fourth table with issues that night. He assured us he would make it up to us and asked if we wanted any more of anything we had tried so far. We definitely didn't want any of that entree mess, but my friend requested more of the kabobs that were part of the appetizer courses. He said he would bring it out immediately and would also do something special for dessert. After 15 minutes passed, he brought out some scallops for us to try. They were ok, but we were still waiting for the kabobs. Next he brought a side portion of the spinach made "the way it is supposed to be served". Totally different than the mess we had been served earlier. Then he brought us another dish (can't remember the name) that he said is great with naan. Of course, it took him 15 minutes to bring the naan, and, by that point, the dish was cold. He never brought the kabobs or the "special dessert". He tried to make things better, but giving us all the leftovers in the kitchen really doesn't help remedy the situation. The bill came - somehow three glasses of wine, tax and tip added another $168 to the bill (for which we had already paid $180 with the Open Table deal). So we each spent $116 for a horrible dinner that took over three hours. Complete waste of time, money and calories. He mentioned that "next time" we should ask for him and he would buy us our drinks. UMMMM, there will never be a next time.

Carolyn P.

This place was amazing. It redefined food for me and my husband. We were floored by the expertly interwoven flavors of Latin and Indian cuisines. Try the ginger martini. Also, the appetizer sampler was delicious. My husband had the Tamarind ribs and I had the tandoori steak. Both were beautifully flavored. We will be back.

Mala K.

Went here for dinner to celebrate a festive occasion with family. I would say that the service at Vermilion is decent, but could be better. That sort of colored my whole experience. Had some slight trouble initially booking a table via OpenTable, because no tables were available except for 15 minutes before our requested time. So I made sure to get part of our family there at the exact time, 15 minutes before the rest of the party was supposed to arrive from the suburbs. However, our table was not ready when we arrived, and the maitresse'd could not have been more aloof and supercilious. We waited in the lounge and ordered some pretty good cocktails. There we were served by a very friendly and helpful waitress. The maitresse'd didn't come over to let us know our table was ready, so after more than 20 minutes of waiting in the lounge, we had to go over and ask her ourselves. The place is not at all child-friendly. We asked for fruit juice for our niece, but the server brought it in a fragile wineglass, and we had to wait for over 20 minutes to find another server who would bring us drinking straws for her juice. Our main server overall clearly was too busy to be too attentive. I understand that it was a packed night for them that Friday, but they were clearly understaffed. One of the appetizers we'd ordered arrived more than a half hour after all the others had been eaten, and only after we finally managed to get our server to check in the kitchen. No word of apology from him for that either. I was very uncomfortable interacting with him throughout that night. The food was pretty decent, especially one of the seafood dishes that my cousin swears was cooked in a very authentic regional Indian style. The desserts are also pretty good and traditionally well made. Am not sure whether it was worth the high prices, though. Overall, I would go here only for a work-related meal, like a corporate event.

Kalyan M.

I again ventured into vermilion for our friend's send-off party. The food was as usual excellent. The service was borderline rude. Wait staff almost took the plates while we were still eating. They were moving furniture all over the place (apparently getting ready for next day setup). They should really rethink their wait staff.

Joshua F.

It's restaurant week, on a Saturday night. I understand that places get busy. But my experience last night at Vermillion was unforgivable. 8:15 reservation and our first round of drinks were served at 9:05! Our mains came out a full two hours after we were seated. No soap in the bathroom. In terms of the food: the chicken naan sandwich starter tasted like chicken salad on a stale piece of white bread. My ribs were delicious but I was too livid at that point to enjoy them. Two of the eight in our party left before dinner was served. When one of them complained to the manager before exiting, he was slightly apologetic.

Brandan J.

Came into Vermillion Friday night. Here's a quick rundown of the highlights. Cocktails? Incredible. Wait staff? Kind, friendly and very helpful. Must try? Caldeirada de peixe (seafood soup). The Indian - Latin fusion is dynamite, exploding with taste but not the too-hot spices I had feared.

G S.

There were good things and bad things about our dinner experience (we did pre-dinner drinks, appetizers, entrees, and deserts). In general, a fancy (pricey) place like this should not have as many bad things which mean I will likely not eat hear again. We ordered a few of their specialty Indian themed drinks which were different. I can't complain about not enjoying mine because coconut saffron drinks are not for everyone, but I wanted to try something different. I did not enjoy waiting 15 minutes to get noticed by the bartender despite being seated by the hostess there with my fiancee. Our waitress was friendly which was nice and the pace of service was relaxed (slow in a good way) so we were able to work through all of our courses without being rushed and without too much downtime. While eating my spicy entree I needed a soothing drink but not find our waitress or the guy with the water so I had to go to the bar with my glass. The hostess came over and suggested a lassi instead of water and they gave me one for free on the spot. Our appetizers were tasty. We got the duck vindaloo and the coconut chili muscles. I would have liked some nan or other bread for the broth, but the flavors were great on each dish. Dinner was the lamb shank for my fiancee which was super tender, very hearty, and sneaky-spicy which was a delight to eat. Each bite would cool the head from the prior bite and then build up again requiring another bite. My dish was the signature chimichurri new york strip and lobster Portuguese. The sauces on each were great, but both meats were overcooked and tough. With sauce they were tasty but without, I would have sent each back. This was disappointing as they were the signature dishes of an "Iron Chef" contestant and featured in USA Today as top ten entrees. In summary; not worth it for what you get. If it had been a neighborhood cafe or bistro I would have been very pleased. This was a top flight nice restaurant downtown with a lot of shortcomings that should not be present at fine dining establishments. I would seek this food out elsewhere, but I would not go back to Vermillion to get it.

Marie C.

Consistently outstanding food and waitstaff. The cornmeal-crusted heart of palm, artichoke pakoras, juhu ki pani puri NEVER disappoint. Three pepper lentil soup has just the right amount of heat, and the blending of flavors in all our favorite dishes is lovely. Drinks are flavorful, the chili-lime martini can be phenomenal, especially if you ask for extra chili and lime. And the coconut saffron martini is probably my favorite dessert drink of all time. Great wine list, as well, varietals that nicely complement the food, like Rhones and penedes. Only small quibble is that the bartender can occasionally get overwhelmed; it can sometimes take a while to get that first cocktail.

Robert B.

This was my first time having Indian food and I don't think I'll go back. My girlfriend and I went to Vermilion during restaurant week, and I loved my appetizer. I had a cucumber sandwich with chicken. For my entree I had the ribs and I think they over did it with the spice....I get it, it's Indian food, but it just wasn't for me. The decor was nice, and the service was great! We had a really nice server who was very patient with us and explained everything in detail, but justice wasn't served on that menu LOL. Even the sangria had 11 different spices in it! I can at least say I've had Indian

Andrea R.

My husband and I planned for a casual, light dinner after a movie last night, but somehow we ended up here. Actually I believe it was the nice smells and interesting menu that lured us inside. It was nothing like we had planned for: swanky, pricey, and the food was delicious!! The menu seems to be a combination of latin american and indian dishes so when it came to ordering we were both quite confused. Fortunately, our waiter helped us make some important alcohol and food decisions. Alcohol: A glass of wine for me that tasted like a sweeter sauvignon blanc. I loved it and unfortunately can't remember the name. Sigh. The pani puri margarita for my husband- it tasted like nothing I've ever tasted before, but was good. Food: We started with the blue corn crusted scallops as an appetizer. The portion was very small (just 2 little scallops), but the flavors were amazing. We also ordered a side of chutney and naan (mmm, huge naan fan) as a 2nd appetizer. We devoured the naan pretty quickly and then asked for some plantain chips to finish the tasty 3 chutneys (the green chutney was my personal fav!) As for our entrees I ordered the caldeirada de peixe, which is basically a seafood stew. When it first came out it was hot enough to burn my tongue off, but once it cooled down I couldn't get enough of it! A bit spicy too though, but the side of rice helped with that problem. And my husband ordered the lobster portuguese, which he is still raving about 12 hours later. While I loved my entree, I may need to jump on the lobster train next time. We both agreed that the food here deserves 5 stars, but a few things annoyed us when it came to the chutney (hence the 4 stars): 1) They really seem to nickle and dime you here. The chutney doesn't come with anything to eat it with and it's not like you can eat sauce without any naan or chips. Riiiggghhht? So you have to spend an additional $4 to order naan or chips when you order the chutney 2) The waiter brought out the chutney about 10 min before he brought out our naan to eat it with. We were starving and it didn't help that there was food in front of us that we couldn't eat without the naan. When I asked the waiter when our naan would be coming out he said "as soon as it is ready. I just wanted to get this chutney out of the kitchen for them." Um, last I checked...the customer was more important than people in the kitchen 3) When the check came my husband noticed they'd overcharged us for the chutney. He asked the waiter about it when giving him our credit card and the waiter said the price on the check was correct. Meanwhile, the menu said something different! When the waiter returned he said he had reduced the price of the chutney because he "wanted us to get our moneys worth." Um, couldn't he just admit that the customer was right? It was good the meal was now over because our waiter, while helpful at first, had struck a nerve. Despite our chutney problems we'll still be back for the food and atmosphere, but next time I think we'll skip the chutney and cross our fingers for a different waiter.

Laura R.

Incredibly, after writing the previous review below, it was apparently promptly removed from Yelp without ever attempting to contact me or address what I would find a very concerning experience if I were this restaurant's management. I also forgot the finale to that entire experience - they cancelled our OpenTable reservation so that we would not even get our points after showing up and waiting an hour. March 2013 Review - Everything about this experience was horrible. We were so excited to try this place. We showed up just on time for our 7:45 reservation and were told our table wasn't quite ready, so we went to the bar for a drink. It took nearly 20 minutes to get our overpriced drinks in glasses that smelled like fish. $35 later for two mediocre cocktails, our table still wasn't ready. By 8:30, when we hadn't been seated and the bartender hadn't even offered to get us a second drink (with only about 10 people at the bar), we inquired as to our reservation, at which time the host unapologetically told us that "sometimes people just stay longer on Saturday nights." No offer to buy us a drink, nothing. At 8:40, when we still hadn't been asked if we wanted a second drink at the bar, we told the host that if we weren't seated in the next 5 minutes, we were leaving. The host was once again completely unapologetic. At 8:45 we left - no offer to seat us immediately, no offer to comp our drinks, nothing. I have never been treated so poorly in any restaurant in the city, and I have never waited more than a half hour for a table with a reservation without at least being offered a complimentary drink. We hopped over to Epic for a delicious meal. There are way too many great restaurants in River North to waste your time on this place.

Mace W.

Food is okay, but not very different from other no fusion places. Just a higher price with the ambiance. The main complaint is the service, so slow all the time. Been 4 times now and am giving up. They are always so slow! They don't even recognize it.

Jon J.

Great food - set your expectations appropriately, though. Meaning - it's not an Indian restaurant. It's a fusion restaurant catering to a different crowd than Devon. You want top-class dal or masala? That's what your Bhabi's house is for. Don't come here expecting to be blown away with a transcendent Indian restaurant. What you can expect, though, is some EXCELLENT food with flavor combinations that leave you thinking, "why didn't I think of that"?? Great cocktail list - I recommend the Fresh Lime, Pear, and Jalapeno Drink - trust me, it's amazing. Sweet, and slightly spicy with only the flavor of jalapeno, not the burning. YUM. Pani Puri was great. The steak was great. Everything was great, now that I think of it. It was just a near-ideal blend of the flavors that I really enjoy, wrapped up into a well-staffed and comfortable restaurant. I will definitely be going back. I'm comfortable enough with Indian food to fulfill my craving for "authentic" up on Devon. But for less-experienced friends, or as a nice place out on the weekend - Vermillion is a great introduction to the basics of the Indian flavor palate, wrapped up with some interesting Latin influences. It's refreshing to see a kitchen really pushing themselves, and the diners being rewarded for their work. Yum!

Onur U.

First of all I think the fusion concept of this restaurant is pretty much misguided. It's essentially Indian flavors paired with non-Indian ingredients like artichoke pakoras or tandoori skirt steak. It still tasted like a pakora, it just had the sourness of an artichoke in it. And for what it's worth, this pakora was good, but I like chick pea pakoras better. It's really more of a concept/philosophy than it is a culinary experience. Why not bring out a plate with pakoras using different dipping sauces or pair tandoori chicken with sofrito rice, or do arroz con tandoori chicken. Why eff up a skirt steak with spices meant for chicken? At least then you'd have a skillful fusion that marries two cuisines rather than butchering one and essentially ignoring the other. I've been to a couple upscale Indian restaurants before, and I think it's a cuisine that lends itself better to the mid-tier restaurant atmosphere since you really need to get your hands dirty and sop up the sauce with bread to make the cuisine sing. Vermilion is definitely a fork and knife and white table cloth atmosphere that adds a formality to Indian dining it really doesn't need. And the price tag that goes along with it. Also I have to say I was turned off by the list of accolades that hang on the walls and are even on the menu. Who cares what the finanical times or usa today has to say about a restaurant? This place seems aimed at business people who are looking to blow their expense accounts on a meal that sounds like fun but really is just expensive. And to top it all off, the service was atrocious. Rude wait staff. Long waits between courses. Unhelpful recommendations. Brought out the wrong dish. The only thing they did right was charge the credit card. All that said, the food was ok. There aren't many Indian options in the area, so if you've got cash to blow and you want some Indian curry (even it has duck in it), Vermilion will serve your purposes.

Rei Y.

Great location and food! Definitely coming back for more.

Rachel A.

I bought a groupon and used it here last night. First, the good: the service was good. The waitress was professional, although she didn't really provide suggestions on the "good dishes" on the menu. Other waitstaff did a good job bringing new dishes, clean silverware, etc... The bad: The food. Ordered scallops. They were broughto out barely room temperature. We complained and they brought out a new batch, same temperature. It seems to be their method of cooking - and not good at all. Also ordered the mussels which had a fishy taste. Ordered a diff appetizer and decided to go with the salad bec its hard to mess up a salad. The salad was excellent. Also ordered naan which tasted like it'd been sitting around for a while and had random cut up pieces, making it seem like it wasn't fresh. At this point I was starving after substandard food and ate it. Entree: - ordered the butter chicken. This was a safer bet and was served at a notch above room temperature, and was very flavorful. Was served with a fresher batch of naan than the order I'd ordered. The other entree was the squash curry. It was disgusting, lacked flavor, etc. I couldn't eat more than one bite. I'd heard rave reviews and was very disappointed at the lack of quality in the food. I don't know how my friends who'd been had a fine dining experience - the place looks the part but does not merit a return by any means.

Cherie T.

Heaven. Vermilion gets it. I've never been more obliged to savor every bite.

Sarah Z.

I dined here on Thanksgiving and overall it was a good experience. I was not overly impressed, however, and I don't know that I would go back. Let's first talk about the decor: Very bright and lively. But kinda cheap and tacky looking. We were sat tucked away in the corner which might have put a damper on my impressions. I was made to stare at an ugly brick wall painted with spray paint all night long and to my right was a weird window to a semi private room for a table of 10 with an unsightly synthetic sheer hanging. But, the bar area seemed very interesting and I wonder if it attracts a nice crowd after work. On the upside, our Waiter recommended an excellent wine which I had never tried before - it was a Gessami Blanco Penedes from Spain and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it! Delicious! The other highlight of the meal was probably the finest variation I have ever had on traditional pumpkin pie. It was a sweet pudding with savory pumpkin seeds and absolutely yummy. Other standouts were the corn chowder, the fritter and meat stew which was very spicy and flavorful. However, my dining companion had several chunks of something inedible in her stew! We didn't say anything, but when the Waiter noticed, he did offer to bring her a new bowl. The downside? The turkey was on the dry side and I didn't finish it all. Also, overall the meal was very spicy. I think more flavor and less heat would have balanced it out nicely. So there you have it, kids! Some good and some bad. I think this place might be fun for groups or for people who like a lot of heat in their meal.

Payam Daniel A.

This place plain and simply was horrible. Prime location, fancy name, trendy decor and exaggerated prices compensate for its lack of taste, quality and service. Write it off as another failed attempt at food. Go to Bombay spice around the corner or klay oven, instead.

Jim G.

Terrible service, had a reservation and there wasn't a table. Very bad attitude from the hostess when we got there and the bartender while we were waiting. Ordered a bottle of wine and they gave us the wrong, more expensive bottle on purpose. Didn't end up drinking it anyway because there were foreign objects floating in everyone's glass. Overall a TERRIBLE experience, and I would never go back. I don't know about the food because we cancelled our reservation and went to a little friendly Thai place around the corner.

Crystal D.

The food at Vermilion is really amazing!! I love the dal (sp?) and buttered chicken and the ribs and all the appetizers, particularly the artichoke hearts, the pani puri and the scallops. The caldereida is an amazing seafood stew!! Oh and I love the Pani Puri Margarita but it's probably not for everyone. The pear jalapeno one is good too- an adventurous choice for those out there willing to try something new! Compliments to the chef!! And I've always had excellent service! I've brought many people here and all have been extremely pleased. I will definitely be back:)

M J.

LOVE VERMILION! Atmosphere is five star. Drinks - five star. Staff - five star (although we went for early dinner so I don't know how it is during busy time) Food - four and a half. My dishes were delicious (the tasing), my friends' also save for the butter chicken - hmmm, maybe I'm just not a butter chicken kind of a person. Eggplant was delicious eventhough it was done sweet and I hate anything sweet for dinner. Overall will go back!

E L.

Glorious! I love Indian and Latin and to me, this was the culmination of both into an explosion of flavors and textures. It was almost musical. + Amuse! Delicious little fritter like bite with a killer gazpacho to finish + duck vindaloo arepa: I love vindaloo and these bite size portions were incredible! the waifer like cracker went perfect to add a little crispiness and allow the spicy vindaloo to settle a little longer on your pallette + blue corn crusted scallops w/ a calabaza goat cheese puree!- UNREAL!!! One of the best items I've every ate. If I were on that show Food Network show, I'd introduce the world to this scallop!!!! + tandoori skirt steak - delicious. very tasty. I like tandoori and wish we ordered on a chicken where it fits better. the jicama citrus was delicious and nice change from the chimmichurri (which I love, but is everywhere). cooked to perfection. + lobster purtugese - hmmmm! the gravy was excellent. a great flavor mix. lobster was cooked nicely, borderline too much. + Drinks!!! The cocktails were amazing! Anyone that likes a little heat and enjoys Indian flavor profiles will have found one of the best meals of their life. I feel like I barely scracted the surface of the menu and can't wait to go back.

Joseph L.

Vermilion is Indian food for people who have never had Indian food. The bathrooms were disgusting The service was extremely slow and unorganized, long waits between courses. The food was just fair, and for the price I expected to be impressed. (WAS NOT IMPRESSED) The food was over seasoned , and in some cases the spices totally over powered the food. The fish taco was ok and the ny strip steak was delicious. Overall very inconsistent meal. The detail was pathetic - again based on how much you have to pay to sit down and eat at this place --- TOTAL LACK OF DETAIL. The coffee had grounds at the bottom of the cup = disgusting , the silverware was noticeably inconsistent, the bus staff was sloppy , the place was loud and chaotic. We attempted to order a bottle of whine at the bar while we waiting for our table and the bartender said that "IT WASN"T RECOMMENDED" were going to get off the soap box now , but leave you with one last recommendation - Don't waste your time or money at Vermillion!!

Michael M.

My review is qualified by the fact that it is based on a limited set of samples at the Taste of Chicago. That said, this limited experience was very good. I had two 'taste' portions: (1) 'Mango cumin dusted fries'. These were thick cut fries seasoned with cumin and dried mango and served with what I would describe as an Indian barbecue sauce. The sauce looked almost like mole but had a nice restrained sweetness. As someone who generally doesn't like the mixture of sweet into the field of savory foods, I was very pleased with how this dish came out. (2) Chimichurri masala chicken wings. Without question the best thing I sampled at the taste. Love the innovation here and the combination of flavors worked perfectly. These wings packed an immense depth of flavor and a legitimate spice. They are served with a small lime which added a cool level of acidity. Hard to describe the combination of flavors beyond the name of the dish because of the number of things going on but highly recommended. I definitely plan on giving the restaurant itself a try now.

Claire G.

Vermillion must be listening to some of the not-so-hot reviews it got on here because when I went there last Friday night, we just had a wonderful dining experience. It wasn't terribly crowded when we got there, and we had made a reservation, so that might have something to do with it. Service was great. Our waiter was polite and friendly and really seemed to know the menu. He made some good recommendations and even suggested that we save some of the sauce from the artichoke pakoras for our naan. Clever! The food was heavily seasoned and full of flavor, but not in the "omigod why would you do such a thing" kind of way. It was in the "omigod I had no idea that limes, jalapenos, and pears would go together" kind of way. We had a few of the starters - artichokes, shrimp, and pani puri - and thought the shrimp was particularly well cooked and tasty. Love me some tamarind, oh yes I do. We also had the kebob degustation and the sauces complemented the meat perfectly. Drinks were expensive, but they used high quality ingredients, so I didn't mind too much. Real ginger in my lychee ginger martini and very alcoholic. I didn't need more than one. Dessert was pretty good. We were in the mood for chocolate, and the lava cake never disappoints. I wish it would have had more of a kick to it - some curry spice or red pepper - but I suppose if you have to go mainstream somewhere, it might as well be with dessert. The decor was nice, I thought - but I don't really pay attention to that sort of thing. I go to restaurants for a culinary experience that I can't replicate at home, not for decoration ideas. But it was romantic with candles and dim lighting and sweepy curtain things. Whatever. Food wasn't cheap, but I wasn't expecting it to be and I left feeling very satisfied.

Aimee C.

Ok is definitely how I would refer to Vermillion. Would I go back, possibly. Did I love my dish. so so.. I guess if I were in the neighborhood and I didn't have any other options, it would be fine. The decor of Vermillion surprised me. It felt almost clinical inside. Maybe I'm more of a frilly, kitchy kind of girl (not) but the white walls against the red reminded me of the intro of Nip/Tuck where they marker outlines the white background. The Maitre d' was polite and helpful. Although since it was raining, I was confused, where was the valet? The food. Now, I will say that the presentation was beautiful. I had the goat curry, which was good enough to eat, and the naan was soft and fluffy, but I was expecting more. From the other reviews it looks like there's some spotty service/food. So, i'm looking foward to someone else choosing the restaurant and for my overall experience to be more accurately reflected. c'est la vie.

Fosca W.

You know it takes a lot for a restaurant to admit that they "goofed" - which is what happened on New Years eve at this local hot-spot. Several friends and I chose this restaurant for its yummy food, and decided to dine for New Years. We arrived at 9:00pm, were seated promptly and then had to wait for some friends to arrive. Unfortunately we didn't order until 10pm, and as a result of a kitchen a little behind, by midnight, we had only had two of our five courses. The food that did arrive was plated nicely, spectacularly flavored, and correctly seasoned. Management was very apologetic for the events of the evening and the delays we experienced. They comped us a number of drinks from the evening, and all of our dinner. Overall it made for an amazing night, and after we got up from the table, we ended up hanging out at the bar for another couple of hours. All-in-all, a Happy, if not a little hungry, New Years Eve.

nikki s.

Even though I hadn't been to Vermilion in over three years, the memory of my initial dining experience was a pleasant one, and this time was as well for both myself and my companion. I was forced out of my usual chicken tikka masala order and open to its twist on Indian cuisine. I'm big on great customer service so I was well pleased with how friendly the staff was as soon as we entered. We dined early Tuesday evening and the crowd was light. As the evening got later, the loungey music playing overhead evolved into more of that with Indian influence. We started with the blue corn crusted scallop appetizer (wow, only two? really?). The drizzled sauces did a dance in my mouth with the hints of pumpkin and indian spices. For our main entrees we did the tamarind spare ribs and the lamb shank. Both were spicy but not overwhelmingly so. The lamb meat fell off the bone and the spare ribs were more sweet and spicy. Both of us like sweet wine so we opted for a bottle of the Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett. Superb! Rarely do I drink more than a glass of wine, but I must say, we drained that bottle. Everything was stellar with the exception of the desserts. First of all, we couldn't interpret what the desserts were on the menu. That's a problem. After a hearty meal, you don't want to have to try and figure out that which is suppose to be sinfully delightful. Lucky for us, our waiter, Kenneth was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Anyway, post the dessert menu interpretation from him, we decided to be adventurous and picked two. I wouldn't say they were exactly nasty...they just had odd-i-don't-know-if-i-can-call-this-yummy flavors. Great presentation, though. We had the mango olive shrikhand which is a mix of sweet and savory. It's a scroll of mango sheets stuffed with olives and some kind of sweet custard and garnished with red mini tapioca balls. Off to the side was a nasty something with fennel off to the side. Think black licorice. We also had some dense cakey thing that looked like a moldy sawdust brownie but tasted like a funnel cake. I couldn't tell you what we were eating. And no, looking at the menu wouldn't help. I'm extremely visually stimulated by pretty things so I can't rave enough about the decor with its simple, classy style of rich red curtains and walls with the dark mahogany wood. What stands out for me is the enlarged black and white photography of India's leading fashion photographer Farrokh Chothia, on the walls; conversation pieces that are done beautifully. My eyes also kept falling on the whimsical floral arrangements in the 5ft vases sitting high on podiums. Vermilion definitely has swagger with a price tag to go with it. The flavors are interesting, the meals satisfy and I guess that's what keeps me coming back.

P R.

Positive experience: 1. Majority of the items were moderately good in taste and freshness 2. Waitress took the time to explain each item although we did not need the explanation 3. Creative presentation of Indian food Negative experience Squid was poorly cut and poorly cooked Strongly Negative Experience Instead of Naan, a basic Indian bread in Indian restaurants of which even mediocre restaurants do a fairly good job, we were given warmed up store-bought pita bread. This is completely inexcusable for a restaurant of this caliber. If they had to give warmed up store-bought bread, they could have chosen some decent brand. Considering how busy they were during dinnertime, I doubt they would care for an occasional unhappy customer.

Martha D.

I went to Vermilion last week for my birthday and I'm sad to say that it disappointed me. First off, we were the only big party in the restaurant (It's a date spot and was pretty much empty that night so it was really quiet). Waitress - snotty and kept mentioning how Padma from top chef eats loves their restaurant. I guess some people care about this. Red Sangria - really sweet and needs more alcohol. Small plates - very small and entirely too expensive Worst of all - my thoughtful friend Lisa brought dessert and they told us that we would be charged $5 per cupcake if we passed them out at the table...ridiculous. I did like the décor, my lamb dish and the Naan, but not enough to come back.

dj pie b.

mr.pie and i came here from California to celebrate our 11th anniversary. he had the vegetarian tasting menu and i had the mixed seafood/meat tasting. he got the "reserve" wine pairings and i had the "premium" one. our server was absolutely awesome, and gave us great information about the wines we were drinking and how they were meant to complement our food. one thing that we both really enjoyed was that the vegetarian items were really well-thought-out re-imaginings of the non-veggie food. the first 3 courses were all superb. * in particular, the blue corn-crusted scallop's veggie twin was a heart of palm prepared in exactly the same way, and they were both *perfectly* cooked and seasoned. good goddamn, i was so happy. * the tiny duck (or potato) vindaloo pooris with mint sauce to pour into them are wonderful and crispy. * the tiny mysore lamb chop was perfectly cooked and delicious * the crab-lobster cake was luscious and the sauces served with it were inspired. the 4th course was a litlte bit of a let-down; after the lightness and tastiness of the first 3 courses, my piece of chimichurri strip steak was tasty but too big and tough, and the lobster portuguese was just drowning in a far-too-rich sauce--delicious, but over the top and heavy. i didn't finish that course, and the eggplant/tomatillo dish mr.pie was served went unfinished as well. dessert was delicious, but not super memorable (but i'm not much of a sweets person, so my judgement here is suspect). we each had a trio of desserts--a cardamom bread pudding which was really nice, a lightly spiced flourless chocolate cake, and a mango flan, which was light and a good end to the meal. i'd definitely come here again.

Valerie B.

This restaurant's unique offering is the fusion of Indian and Latin cuisine. I have not always had good experiences with fusion food and have often wondered why people bothered to make a hybrid dish which didn't taste as good as the originals. However, I did choose from the Indian-Latin menu as this is their unique selling point. I must say that the fusion absolutely worked which is not usually the case. The food was something really unique and different from both the reference cuisines. The spicing was recognizable as Indian but was very refined while the form of the dishes appeared inspired by Latin American cuisine. I really enjoyed my meal which was different from anything I had eaten before. The restaurant decor is a pretty hard edged modernist style. If you are looking for a warm and cosy environment, this isn't it. Come prepared to spend a lot of money because this place is not cheap. However, it is worth it as you are paying for creativity and a menu you will not find anywhere else.

Sarah W.

Although it is true that it is a bit snotty and a bit pricey, I cannot deny the food. Serving sizes are above what I expected and the flavors are amazing. Unique dishes and a great beverage program. I love that they mix the coconut milk and rice table side, also especially useful since my husband hates coconut milk. The service is interesting. They treat you as if you have never had ethnic food in your life. It is very dumbed down, which may be useful to some folks? It is then mixed with a bit of "do you know how lucky you are to be sitting at my table tonight?" I cannot say it is not good service, just a bit like combining the Queen of England with a first grade teacher and throwing an apron on her. Still, good food in the end.

May S.

Based off the suggestions of our awesome waitor (I believe his name is Michael), we tried the blue corn crusted scallops, artichoke pakoras, mysore lamb chops, and coconut chili mussels...then for dinner, we tried the lobster portuguese, lamb shank gassi, and the chimichurri new york strip. Awesome dishes with unique flavors! Our waitor also had great suggestions on cocktails; but as a warning, they are super strong! (My husband's uncle was hurting a bit the next day - Haha!) Great waitstaff, amazing food = fantastic!

r. m.

Interesting idea to intermingle Indian and Mexican cuisine but Vermillion does it well in a very upscale environment. On a street more known for late night partying, who would think a vegan/vegetarian paradise exists. I highly recommend the tamarind appetizer and the butter paneer entreé. Also for mango lassi lovers, this establishment serves it with hidden extras that gives a unique but still enjoyable taste. Went with a friend but definitely date worthy experience here...but it ain't cheap, no sir. One

Bonnie L.

I'm polar on this one. On one hand, I loved the food. I had the tasting menu called Meat. Yes, it was simply, meat. And it was off the charts. In case you were wondering, it had alot of (you guessed it) meat. More veggies would've been nice but the description was pretty clear. You're getting meat. And it was fantastic. My favorites were the chimichurri NY strip and the chili-glazed tamarind ribs. I still dream about dem ribs. On the other hand, I wasn't happy about being put in an awkward situation. I was there for a birthday celebration and my friends had been excited about the tasting menu. The tasting menu is $80 so being on a budget, I wanted to get an entree. The waitress, who was friendly and attentive, then explained it's all or nothing. Either the whole table gets the tasting or no one can. Thanks to Vermillion, I'm eating ramen for the next 3 months.

Nirali S.

The service is too damn slow at this place. Clearly the owners are too cheap to hire more help, they were so busy on the Thursday night that we went and yet they had the minimal amount of staff working. If you are a restaurant who is banking, hire more people numnuts! The food is good here, for appetizers we had the artichoke pakoras, the juhu ki pani puri, and a paneer dish (off the vegetarian menu). I had the New York Chimichuri Strip Steak which was seasoned perfectly! We had the dessert sampler which had 3 different desserts, all pretty good. I wish the service wasn't so bad! Even their website is archaic. Get a clue!

Leang E.

Between my friend's company meal stipend and my groupon, we figured we could go to town for this meal. I love the idea of a Latin and Indian combination of food, and couldn't wait to see what was in store. We stepped inside a very chic and inviting place, and our waiter was fabulous! Everything he recommended, we got and plus some. I can't refuse a lychee martini when it's on a menu, and it was divine. It whetted my appetite for the appetizers - the scallops, lamb chops, and the artichokes. Yes, we had 3 and had every intention of moving forward with our indulgences in mind. The artichokes were the mildest of all the appetizers we had, so you have to appreciate spicyness if you are coming to this place. The lamb chops were very tender and juicy, and the flavor of the scallops were incredible. We had the seafood stew and the lobster and steak dish as our entrees, and I can see why the top chef had won out for the stew. It was so well seasoned, and had such a range of flavors. The steak was tender and cooked just right, and the lobster was very good too. Of course, we couldn't walk out without having dessert so we got the trio sampler and the blueberry goat cheesecake. The sampler had this decadent chocolate cake, a flan, and a bread pudding. I could definitely taste the Indian spices that influenced these desserts, and appreciate the creativity. The cheesecake was the one that takes the cake with the carmelized ceiling on top of the piece with the sweet sesame crackers that giving the soft tarte cheese and sweet crispy combination. I have to say that the place can get pricey if you choose to indulge as we did, but I think it's pretty comparable to other places downtown. I surely wouldn't pass this place up if someone were to suggest we meet here for a meal.

Karen H.

This restaurant was an absolute disaster of an experience. It started with a reservation at 7:30 but didn't get seated until 8 (who makes a reservation and then has to wait?!). Our waitress was a complete mess. We get the menus but she doesn't even offer the restaurant week menu option. Then when I do ask, she goes to get it and drops it off on our table without saying anything. When we order, she doesn't ask if we have questions, doesn't make recommendations, doesn't say a thing. When she brings out the plates, she un-gracefully drops it on the table and walks away - not a word. She then takes my date's plate away while he's still chewing. At the end, she brings dessert for me and my date (who didn't order it = waste of food) and then when another waiter took my finished plate, she came by, dropped off a spoon and came by with another dessert because she forgot she already gave me one. The table next to me got a comment card - I didn't even get offered one (go figure, she probably didn't care). On a side note, there was a guy who looked like the manager, walking back and forth around the restaurant but not checking in with his customers. As for the food. Well, my chicken came out half burnt and just tasting like chili pepper. The mussels in coconut milk were bland and lukewarm (as was the rest of our food). My date ordered off the regular menu and got the goat curry - he almost choked on all the bones that were in the curry. For the price I'm paying, I'd expect better food & better service. This was one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to - what a disgrace!

Rich W.

Vermillion is a hoppin Indian-Latin fusion restaurant in River North. One year prior, I was impressed by their booth at the Taste of Chicago. It's time to check out the restaurant itself. The cocktail list was electric - full of unique fusion concoctions. I had the coconut saffron creme. It was quite good and potent. The degustation of four tapas was a good deal. The panipuri was a great start. The crispy puri, the spiced potato, and the refreshing chili mint puree was a classic and delicious combination. The artichoke pakora was breaded and deep-fried beautifully. The breading was lighter and crispier from traditional pakoras, perhaps because there was no ground chickpeas in the batter. The chicken kabob was tender with a mild smoky sauce. The dish was enhanced by jalapeno and pickled shallots. Great contrast in balance in flavors and textures. The duck vindaloo arepa was great. The arepa was good, with a hint of sweetness. The pulled duck was tender and flavorful. There was a kick from the spices, though significantly milder than the vindaloo you'd get in Indian restaurants. There was also very little trace of vinegar. Instead, a side of mango chutney was served to create some balance. The dish didn't really match its namesake, but it was delicious nonetheless. The chimichurri New York Strip was very good (the description said it was bife de lomo, which was not the case and frankly quite misleading). The steak itself was cooked correctly to order. The chimichurri (supposedly made by a mixture of Mexican chili and Kashmiri chili) provided a great kick. The sweet potato and apple slaw on the side went well with the steak. The lobster Portuguese was also very good. The dish contained a full lobster, divided into three parts. It was presented beautifully and cooked perfectly - tender with a little give. The lobster was sauced with Goan curry (according to my quick Google research, Goa was colonized by Portugal for a long time; hence the name "lobster Portuguese"), which was nice but a bit too mild for my liking. The dish also came with a nice bowl of coconut rice. Desserts really sang. Pistachio ice cream with dates was the best scoop I've had in a long time. The date-wrapped goat cheese on the side was another successful combination. The goat-cheese cheesecake was out of this world - creamy and unctuous. The graham cracker didn't have much texture, but it was more than made up by the sesame brittle on the side. Service was pleasant and efficient. Decor was contemporary. With black, white, and saturated red as the color scheme, you know they are going for a "sexy" atmosphere. I think the concept of this place was well thought out, but the fusion tempered both Indian and Latin flavors into a mild gringo-fare. When I walked in, I was looking forward to a "tale of two spices." But everything was just a bit too mild and too subtle. Mild heat and subtlety could be great, but I guess my expectation was different. Don't get me wrong - the food was delicious; I just wish that flavor profile and the spice level were a bit bolder. That being said, if you have a friend who has been afraid to try Indian food because of the heat, Vermillion would be the perfect place to start.

Darlene L.

The service here is wonderful highlighted by a warm greeting and eager to please waitstaff. The entrees are hearty. The chicken in red cream sauce was flavorful, but the dark chicken chunks were a little tough. The ribs were poorly seasoned and fatty. Though the server lauded them, this is probably not a standout in Indian cuisine. Sides of naan and mango rice were good but added to a pricey tab. On the whole, this experience was mediocre.

Adam M.

After seeing the owner of this restaurant on Iron Chef making food that looked incredible, and I'm sure it was my wife and I were very excited to try it out. So on a trip to Chicago we went there for dinner. I was so let down with this restaurant that I actually took the time to call and email the manager to complain (I have NEVER done that, not the type to complain typically). Our waiter was arrogant and had absolutely no idea what he was serving us. We each ordered the meat tasting menu, flavors were descent but most of our meats were overcooked. I can look past this, but what bothered me was that the waiter (Erik) had no idea what he served us, he didnt even know what kind of meat he was serving. I have never been a waiter, but even I would know that I can walk back and ask the chef what I am about to serve or read the menu. He described every plate like this, " ummm, ahhh, ummm, well its spicy and has cumin and cilantro". Really? It is Indian fusion, of course it has cumin and cilantro. I will say that the owner of the restaurant was not cooking, nor was she there, but I am sure that if she was the food would have been prepared better. The food was not really the problem though, our waiter completely ruined our meal. Our waiter is better suited to work at the counter of a McDonalds. Honestly I dont think that he would have been able to cut it at a Denny's. After calling the manager and telling him about our bad experience he asked me to email a description of our experience. I did and never recieved a reply. I live in San Diego and told him that I was not looking for a hand out, but it would be nice to at least receive a response. We paid over $200 to eat here, that is what I expect at a fine dining establishment, but I also expect good service if I am going to pay that much. With so many amazing restaurants in Chicago to choose from it is a real shame that we went here. Oh yeah, I dont typically drink so I am a lightweight, I had 2 martinis and did not even feel slightly buzzed. Normally that would have me pretty faded. I wonder if there was even alchohol in my $18 drinks. Overall the worst "fine" dining experience of my entire life.

Paul M.

Really innovative and tasty food. Decor is a little sparse / industrial feeling. Terrific service. Kinda pricy... But this is downtown Chicago...

Roger G.

Although the food was awesome, Candance (server) and Azra (bartender) made our experience perfect.

Puja G.

Good service, Great ambience, delicious food! An amazing twist to indian cuisine. As a vegetarian, I loved all my dishes: 1) Heart of plam, artichoke pakoras and juhu ki pani puri for appetizers. Loved, loved, loved the spicy heart of palm 2) I oredered gobi portuguese with a side of coconut rice - Amazing!! 3)My favorite part of the meal was the dessert - Shahi Tukda. Its a very traditional indian dessert that you cannot even find in some of the more popular indian restaurants. The chefs at Vermilion reminded me of "Shahi Tukda" my grandma used to make in India. Please don't leave the restaurant without trying this dessert. Can't wait to go back again!

Melissa S.

Really tasty and inventive. I am not usually a fan of fusion, but they pull it off really well. I brought my mom visiting from out of town and a friend of hers for lunch. Both are big gourmets and both kept raving about the food. I was more relieved than anything else that the place passed their standards... thanks, Yelp! And the service was excellent. Ummm why four stars? I guess I just didn't really like the interior design very much. But if you can live with a bit of stock restaurant minimalist-pretension and some portraits of pretty Indian girls that make you look ugly all over the walls, it's all good.

Dane K.

I tried going here without a reservation with a friend... we asked if it would be possible (there were plenty of other options in the area if not) and told yes it would just be a few minutes... sit down, have a drink. About 45 minutes later we checked, it was apparently going to be just a few more minutes... 20 minutes later we asked again, they told us they didn't think they were going to be able to seat us. I really think they were just trying to extort us for the 2 or 3 martinis we drank. Not even trying to go back. Vermin!

Vincent C.

Dined here on a recent Thursday night and had an enjoyable time. I was a little apprehensive going in given the flak the service has taken on here, but experienced no problems. Our waiter was friendly and took the time to explain the dishes, our food arrived in a timely fashion, and we had the occasional unintrusive check-in. Just the way you would expect. As for the food, get ready for heat and spice. I like spicy food, but I was unprepared so it was a bit of a shock to the palate at first, but it was definitely refreshing to have so many bold flavors. I'm still jonesing for more of the artichoke pakoras. The lobster portuguese was delicious, especially that curried sauce it came with. In the case of the duck vindaloo arepa and chimichurri steak, I think the level of heat may have overwhelmed the meat, which is no small task when it comes to duck and beef. But the meat was perfectly cooked. I'm not usually one for designer cocktails, but Vermilion does a fine job of it. The mango mint mojito and lychee ginger martini were superb. Both actually held up well and provided a nice counterpoint to the spice and flavors of the food. The coriander pear martini missed the mark, tasting like neither of the ingredients in its name. Definitely worth a visit, especially for an explosion of flavors you wouldn't normally have.

Chelsea O.

We went to this restaurant on Mother's Day so the menu was prix fixe, but what we had was all spectacular. They have a way with making even the simplest dishes, like grilled vegetables, absolutely amazing. We can't wait to come back and more fully enjoy what they have to offer.

Alex S.

Went here for Christmas Day dinner. A five course meal that was satisfying but far from spectacular. Overall maybe slightly above average.

Whitney W.

The first time I ate here, it was my new best friend. The next visit, flavor just wasn't there. Third and most recent time, same, just lacking flavor or in particular any sort of fusion flavor, plus the hostess and server both seemed really put out by having to deal with the Groupon crowd, as the certificate was expiring the next day. Yeah... staff it or don't sell it. I don't really know what to make of the flavor thing though. Also somewhat Groupon induced? I guess I'd recommend staying away from the "Core Indian" portion of the menu since straight Indian food, you can get much cheaper and spicier elsewhere.

Mark W.

Been here for a couple meals recently and was very impressed. Had the steak the first time and the lamb chops the next. Both were great and would recommend to anyone that goes here. Also the service by the bartender Sara was excellent. She helped make the entire experience worth while.

Sonia B.

Vermillion has everything a good date restaurant should have: sexy decor and artwork, strong drinks, exotic food, and friendly staff. Good thing I went here for dinner with one my best girlfriends, haha. Overall though, I am a fan. We had a Groupon for the Iron Chef Battle Tastings, so we were lucky enough to try a majority of the menu. I must say, the fusion between Latin America and India could not be more delicious. It's a fabulous spot for a romantic date or even a night on the town with the gals. It's definitely pricey, so I'm not sure if I can come back often. Overall, I'm a fan.

Janeen A.

Worst restaurant experience ever without even getting to eat there! Although we had 7:30 pm reservations on opentable 3 weeks in advance for Valentine's Day, when we arrived at the restaurant on time, there was a line of about 15-20 people already in front of us in line who also had reservations. We had to wait over 30 minutes in a line to get to the host station to try to check in. At 8 p.m., while still standing in a line that snaked between tables at the front of the restaurant (around people eating), the host said they were a "little" behind and for us to go to bar (with the other people waiting). Meanwhile we stood for 15-20 more minutes at the bar but could not get service. The still growing line had 30 more people. By 8:45 we STILL had not been seated. We asked for our coats back from coat check and left, walking a block to Cantina Laredo, where we found lounge/bar seating by the fireplace within 10 minutes. Best decision! When we returned to Vermilion at 10:00 p.m to get our car from the valet, there were two disgruntled couples also waiting for their cars who were complaining about how awful their experiences were at Vermilion. One couple said they were seated at 6:45, but left at 10 pm without even getting their dessert in their 4-course fixed menu! The other couple said the food was not good except for the soup, and that it was the worst service ever. Another guy came out with his girlfriend, and was clearly angry...and he proceeded to physically fight with the valet guy. Very poor management and restaurant practice. The restaurant clearly could not handle the amount of patrons that they allowed reservations for. Even when we returned at 10:00 pm, there was still a long line of people trying to be seated. There is no way that this should have occurred, especially with a set menu. We will never go back. Thanks for a Valentine's Day dinner bust to many.

Sara H.

I came here after a rave review by a local. The menu descriptions were fairly mouthwatering, though I found it odd that there wasn't much of a smell of good food permeating the space. Our waiter was very, very heavy on the upsell which is pretty annoying at a supposedly upscale restaurant....not to mention that the wine list has three numbers after each wine, the first of which is the year, not the price. So you have a good chance of ordering a $10 glass of wine, drinking it in practically one gulp because the pour is so small, and then finding out that it was actually $13. Top it all off with mediocre food, particularly when considering the prices, and you have a really disappointing experience - made all the more so by the fact that I was only in Chicago for a few days and there are so many excellent restaurants there. End note, I'm pretty sure that my waiter probably threw out my comment card - why do they make waiters give and collect comment cards?

Sandhya N.

Crap. Whoever gave this establishment more than one star clearly does not know Indian food. I realize this is supposed to be 'fusion' cuisine but serving rajma as a dipping sauce or soup does not make your establishment cutting edge. I think I would have given this place a better rating if the owners did not charge so much for bland food masquerading as something inventive.

Sofia J.

Wooooow 2 words: Flavor Explosion Thank you restaurant week. Here we go: Blue corn crusted scallops.... unexpected and delicious Duck vindaloo arepas... WOW (as if the duck vindaloo wasnt amazing enough, there's pomegranate molasses on the side!!!) Mysore lamb chops - perfectly cooked and that spice rub + red onion salad leaves a delicious lingering flavor in your palette Chile-glazed blackened tamarind ribs - ohhhh yeahhh again perfectly cooked! Avocado pakora.. really? yeah! Fresh tomatillo pachadi is great to lighten the dark delicious meat up. Cardamom flan - ok ... normally im not a flan fan, kinda boring, but this... THIS was SOOOO GOOD. omg and the mango and the lychee!! Drinks: Garam Masala bloody mary is good but gets watered down towards the end and very spicy Coconut saffron martini smells HEAVENLY and tastes great but a little too strong so the alcohol overpowers the flavors. There's just way too much on the menu to only come here once, can't wait to try the rest!!! Unfortunately it's on the expensive side considering that the tapas part of the menu has really small portions if you're sharing... I think i've been to Spanish restaurants w/bigger tapas, but oh well... its totally worth checking out at least once.

Stephen B.

We were visiting Chicago recently from out of town. Five of us dined at Vermillion for the first time. It began as a great experience. The food was very good, as was the service. I was a little put off when, as we were browsing the wine list, the waitress highly recommended a white wine that turned out to be over $100/bottle, but we ordered a $40 sauvignon blanc that was nice. At the conclusion, they brought the check, we provided credit cards, signed and got up to leave. As we were standing up to go, I took a quick glance at the check (I know, we should have looked at it sooner). I noticed a $160 charge for wine. I called over the waitress and asked for an explanation. Her response: "Oh, they left that on. I told them about it and thought it was taken off." At that point, of course, they offered to take the charge off our credit cards. We waited and waited for this to happen. It took about 45 minutes, and they still hadn't processed the credit, saying there were computer problems. It would have been nice if they offered us a dessert or at least coffee, but no such thing. The extra wine charge eventually was removed. However, the experience left me with some concerns. Too bad, because the dinner was very enjoyable otherwise. I guess one lesson is to always review the check before paying. We almost paid $120 extra for this oversight. The rating is based on the problems--I would rate the food higher.

Rob S.

A ho-hum experience. The food was good, but not outstanding or memorable or even inspired. The so-called 'fusion' claim was misleading-- everything on the menu was either Indian or Latin, not a blend of the two. The decor felt like I was eating in a display room at Ikea. I had high hopes, but Vermillion ended up being overall ok-- and just ok. Not great, and definitely not worth the expense. Thank God I was there with two people I really like-- they saved the night for me. Had I been there with anyone else, my review might not be so kind.

Sarah L.

Is there a statue of limitations when it comes to reviews? I think even Stabler will even agree with me when I say 'absolutely not'. That being said, my visit has been within 5 years but definitely over 2. I went there on a Thursday with my mom. Whenever my mom is in town, we try to go to a different place each time. Blah blah this time it was Vermilion. My mother is over 50 so dinner time was about 6 which could explain why the place was empty. And when I say empty i mean staff were still showing up for their shifts. A little off setting but before we had anytime to dwell a beverage list was placed in front of us, well played V. Our waitress, who was very intimidated by my mother's and my personality, did her best to keep up. She recommended the Pear Cardamon Martinis. STOP! Right here. This is why this review is happening! I'm going to type it again slowly so you can get it down. PEAR - the fruit CARDAMON- the spice MARTINI- the drink Best drink I have ever had in my life! I am a beer girl. Oh wait a wine girl. No, a whiskey girl. Actually, a dirty martini (very lightly dirty- naughty) girl. Conclusion- I like my drinks. The martini is the perfect blend of spice and sweet (although I am not usually a fan of sweet). Pear Vodka, fresh cardamon and a little lime. After 2 years I still have cravings for this drink. Those of you that notice the time this review was written, you will notice it is 822 AM on a Tuesday. Yep- cravings. Hey- I can't control when they come. All I know is that when they come I need to do the best I can to appease the need. Honestly... this review is pretty much to solely pay tribute to this drink however I will very briefly tell the rest of the culinary tale. The space is dark and modern, a bit on the chilly side so bring a sweater, coat, wrap, ascot, diner's choice. Service was great- nothing to really say. Food- awesome. Vermilion is a mixture of Latin and India. The menu offers selections from both side as well as a few hybrids of the flavors. Think plantains, curry, cardamon, steak, tofu. My mom likes to eat vegetarian and I only eat meat, if I can help it, and V had a great selection for both eaters. I got a chimchurri steak with plantains and mom got paneer. Conclusion 2- Go to this place, if not solely to try the martinis, then to get some yummy fun food.

Amy W.

My friend took me here recently for dinner to use her Groupon. I loved the decor -- the red curtains, the dark gray walls and the paintings. Gorgeous, and definitely very classy! Our waitress was probably the most enthusiastic and intense waitress I've ever had, though. I didn't know whether she had been a professional cheerleader in some past career or had done a line of coke in the back. My friend and I had several appetizers as opposed to ordering entrees because we wanted to try and share as many things as possible. The blue corn crusted scallops were good, albeit a teensy on the overdone side. The mysore lamb chops were also great and I loved the onion salad it came with. The crab-lobster cake was unfortunately my least favorite; the sauce ended up just leaving a sour aftertaste in my mouth. We also ordered a side of naan and mango rice. I was really looking forward to the naan (which I usually love), but unfortunately it was merely mediocre. I had a decent experience here and wouldn't mind coming back, but for some reason Vermilion just hasn't made it to my favorites list.

Brij V.

I went back to Vermilion after years on a groupon deal...things have certainly changed thus the 1 extra star! I got the chef's special tasting menu & man, I was impressed! My wife is veg & ordered from the veg menu. All the dishes from the tasting & veg menu were delicious! Wayy better than what I remember the last time I came here. Service was great, our waitress explained all the dishes to us n she was extremely courteous. I am surprised to hear so many yelpers having a bad experience with service at this restaurant, it certainly wasn't the case with us. Also, the drinks were unique & creative...overall, I would recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting to try something new. It is definitely a bit on the pricier side & the Latin/Indian fusion fare may not impress some ppl but its worth a try.

Narmda K.

My bf and I went for my birthday dinner last week and we don't normally try new places on the fly. We were taken by surprise! The service, the ambiance the decor was AMAZING. We had the most delicious, unusual drinks that we have had in our life and they were the best decision ever made. The food was good if you love spice spice spice! All in all a great experience. Definitely order their lychee and ginger martini as well as the jalapeño martini, sound unusual but you will not be disappointed. Mikey was our server and words can not express how much we enjoyed ourselves because of him. Right from entering the restaurant to leaving, we did not want to leave because of his exceptional service! Although it is pricey its definitely worth it because of the exceptional service!!! We can not wait to go back with a big group of our friends for drinks and the service!

Anish Z.

This was the second time I've been here. I went there about ... gosh about 5 yrs ago... when it opened on New Years eve. Being Indian and loving "fusion" food i thought this place would be a total score. I think the location is fantastic and the decor and service was a hit (My friend commented how she loved all the gay men and how "fab" they all were). but the food was sub par. They had a variety of very novel drink's that were both tasty and strong. (I'd never had a pani puri margarita and they had the taste dead on - though I wasn't a fan of drinking pani puri. I didn't exactly get the "fusion" aspect of the food. I tasted like indian food made blander to suit an more American palate and I never tasted the "latin" elements. Overall try the drinks, avoid the food... stick to Devon on got to Priya in Schaumberg for indian.

Jose G.

As always, it is difficult for me to give four stars to a place I can't possibly afford, but I summoned the courage, and there they are. Vermillion leans heavily on South Asian food, but with some Latin American dishes and touches. And, much to my joint excitement and indecisive dismay, they have an all-vegetarian menu. Oh lord, but I like narrower numbers of options. The service was great, the drinks tasty (though the mojito was definitely on the smallish side, not right for its price), and the food amazing, though not im portions up to my standards.

MJ B.

More expensive than it should be. Cocktails are less than impressive, and very pricey. Three of our plates, including a $40+ lobster, came out cold and we had to send back. The lamb shank and butter chicken are both really good. The scallop app is pretty good. The duck app is not. Atmosphere is nice but loud, and waiters are persuasive.

David B.

Went to Vermilion recently on a Saturday to take advantage of their recent groupon. The Groupon reduced their 10-Element tasting menu down to $50. Overall, the tasting was really good. The tasting is divided into 5 courses, with each course having two elements. For the most part, I liked the sequence of course and elements, normally, the elements really complimented each other. The tastes were outstanding and I loved how much spice was present in the food. Drinks were outstanding as well. The only true downside of the night was the service. It wasn't bad at all, but it was EXTREMELY operational. First off, they seated all the customers using Groupon tastings against one wall. Felt a bit odd like we were being shunned and needed to be away from the real customers. They obviously didn't do that on purpose, they did it for operations. Because the rest of the way very functional. Without any explanation of how the tasting worked, they just started to bring out food. The first 3 courses are small bites and you get through them quick. The fourth course gets into large plates (steak and lobster) and the last course is a dessert. The downside of the tasting is their service. Immediately when you're done or close to being done, employees are hovering your table trying to get rid of the plates. I know in many restaurants employees are trained to get rid of empty plates fast. But for a tasting menu, that really shouldn't be the case. You need to be a bit slower, otherwise, the customer will feel like they are being pushed out. Additionally, its only to the restaurants benefit to be slower, especially if the customer is ordering drinks. My wife and I would of ordered 1-2 more drinks each if we the had the time. But they rushed us so fast that we could only get through 1 drink. Vermilion is a pricey place, and when a customer pays that much, I think its important that special emphasis is placed on service. The quick operations of this place reminded me of some experiences I have had at the thai restaurants near by house. The biggest caveat to our experience was the Groupon. I think I would of rated my experience 3 stars if we did not have that. The tasting, while very good, was not worth $100 (price without groupon). I've experienced quite a few tastings for similar prices and this one, by comparison, falls way short. Now with that said, I'd certainly comeback to Vermilion to try their regular menu. The flavors there are fantastic.

Derrick F.

I tried out the Sri Lankan 18 Spice Fish. I was not a fan. It was a huge fish (a snapper). The side sauce is extremely spicy, but does make the fish taste better. The fish itself, although big doesnt absorb the sauce (even though their braise it with the sauce according to the manager) so its a little tasteless. They did have an amazing app, with a white chocolate soup.

John L.

Great food, love the mango ice cream

Vanessa V.

Vermilion was so totally average that I actually like it less in retrospect than I did while I was there. There's nothing wrong with it, except that it's thoroughly unexciting. And that it kind of looks like a cross between a hotel lobby and a pretentious strip mall hair salon. I'm talking about you, giant photographs of sultry Indian women. We were seated promptly on our reservation--at a table with dirty silverware, which is not exactly a promising sign. Our server was almost *too* polite and helpful, but certainly attentive and pleasant. We had the degustation to start and it was fine. I wanted to try a genuine Latin/Indian fusion so I went with the tandoori skirt steak, which was about the only thing that seemed to truly incorporate elements of both cuisines, and it was cooked correctly and tasted okay but was in no way exciting or memorable. My husband had a whole fish and couldn't even think about eating it all, although he reported that it too tasted fine. That's the thing: the whole experience is, really, just fine as opposed to memorable or good. For the price, there are much better choices--and ones that don't have a giant cardboard cutout with a Food Network advertisement directly inside the door. I'll leave this one to the tourists.

Katie C.

I went here for a business lunch today. The food, service and ambiance were fabulous! I discovered that Vermillion has a regular menu, vegetarian menu, and a "mild menu" for pussies like me who cannot handle Latin and Indian flavors, however much I try!! I ordered the tandorri (with a LITTLE tandoori) skirt steak and it was cooked perfectly. Desserts were great, and I cannot wait to go back and have another try of whatever their "water of the day" is - (cucumber mint in today's case). On a hot day, SO refreshing! The prices did look to me like a special occasion place, but I wasn't footing the bill. Next time I want to try the seafood stew... it looked amazing and all 8 people at our table cleaned their plates! Service was polite, attentive - but not obtrusive. I really liked this restaurant and would definitely recommend to someone. I would like to try more things off their menu, the Exec Chef seems to know what she is doing!

kat c.

The food was awesome and enjoyed the curried lamb. Along with that we order a fish platter which was amazing. However, our server wasn't quite fully versed in her menu of items. Everything seemed great and didn't really give any type of suggestions at all???!! The jalepeno drinks really hit the spot for me. It is a great concept to have Latin/ Indian infused cuisine. I would go back.

Laura L.

I had the straight Indian food here and was disappointed. You can get much better Indian food up the street at India House at half the price. Also, my friend and I got the chocolate cake and it was so dry, we sent it back. I don't think dessert is their thing either. I will give it another chance, though, because I want to try more of their fusion menu (their specialty) and their cocktails!

Kelly W.

After trying their delicious french fries at the Taste of Chicago last year, my roommate and I made reservations soon after to give the actual restaurant a try. We went on a weeknight and the place was pretty quiet. Naturally, we requested the dish that was at the Taste. The waiter looked at us as if we were idiots and said that they created those dishes strictly for the Taste and they weren't available at the restaurant (now tell me, what is the point of that)! We tried a few different things and nothing was really all that good, maybe just ok but definitely not worth the price! Our waiter never really came to check on us and was a pretty big jerk. I also felt that the "ambiance" was very exclusive/snooty. If you didn't have a much older man paying for your dinner, you were an outsider. Definitely not a place for "girls night out" or to kick back and chill. I felt the food was very overpriced considering what we got but then again we did have our heart set on those french fries... In conclusion, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone!

Aneesh N.

Finally decided to go in and use my Groupon. Really nice looking place. Service was pretty good, waitress was very helpful (and could pronounce everything pretty well, which was impressive). My table was wobbly though. Had Duck Vindaloo Arepa, Caldeirada de Peixe, and the Tandoori Skirt Steak. The flavor in the duck dish was pretty good. The steak came with plantain chips that I didn't really care for, but there was some really good spinach with chorizo with it. The steak had pretty good texture and tasted pretty good as well. The Caldeirada de Peixe was good, but it didn't come with nearly enough rice to go with the stew, and the flavor was dominated a bit much by the coconut milk. All in all, good experience, but nothing particularly impressive considering the price. While the food tasted good, none of it was too original or special in my opinion.

Huy T.

Went for Restaurant Week a while back, but just posting now. I don't know if things have changed, but from the other reviews, it doesn't look like it. I wasn't wowed. Went again to see if my opinion would change and the impression didn't change. It's simply overpriced, uninspiring Indian/Latin fusion food. Had the Pani Puri Margarita and that was pretty good though, but that's about all I can say. I thought the food was pretty bland for such an establishment. Would not go back.

Meagan L.

Food was definitely good, but so not worth the hefty price tag. I can get same quality Indian food on Devon for 1/4 of the price. I know their menu is a fusion of sorts, but honestly they don't offer anything too different. Our waitress was way too intrusive and talked to us about the menu for like 5 minutes recommending all her "favorite" dishes which also happened to be the most expensive items on the menu. Kind of annoying. The manager was super accommodating though and let me print my opentable certificate on his printer when I told them I forgot to print it myself. I'd probably only come back with another 50% off deal.

Bre S.

Tried Vermilion for my husband's birthday. Drinks were good, the food was good but a bit over priced for what they gave you. My husband's lobster was tough. My skirt steak with the cilantro yogurt sauce was very good. The best part of our experience was the trio of desserts. Service was good and our waiter knew his stuff. This restaurant can get loud due to the open layout.

Maricar A.

Vermillion, You have such a nice decor inside, awesome setting, great photographs outside the main dining room and bathroom, but I have to say, I was pretty disappointed w/ the food. I bought a groupon for the Iron Chef tasting menu and I was enjoying everything from the start until we came across the main meal. The steak was smothered with some sauce, dont even know what it was, but it was tangy, tarty and spicy at the same time, but it wasnt so much about the sauce, but the steak was SOOOOOOOOO overcooked! i almost felt like eating beef jerky. by the way, our waitress recommended this that its their "best seller". i did enjoy anything that had "morimoto" in it. its truly an iron chef meal!!!!!!!!! vermillion is a cross between indian and latin fusion. to me this place just didn't cut it to be what they made it to be, was not impressed w/ the food. if you like fu-fu places that leave you hanging and hungry for more food, this place is for you. i did not get full w/ the amount of food that we received at this place and for what we paid for. high end, but mediocre food. not worth the price you are splurging at this place. surprisingly, we were seated on time, our waitress was pretty good at explaining the menu, but the recommendation she made, was just not so good!

Candace D.

Almost 4 star, just a tad under. Good but not great. Staff very attentive, including a man at end who came to ask how we enjoyed our meal. Though the food was good, it wasn't a WOW. Had a tasting menu, and some was good, some okay--but no WOWs. Reason for the limited starred review. For the money, would have liked more Wow.

Puja D.

It looks like this place has very mixed reviews. Here is my opinion: 1. this place is not your traditional indian restaurant, neither is it your traditional latin restaurant - its a unique blend of the two. 2. the food is not cheap, but it is very good. We were vegetarian, and they have a seperate vegetarian menu. Everything we ordered was so creatively presented, and definetly hit the spot every time. The chef's definetly tried their best to take the everyday indian food one step further. Juhu ki pani puri were so perfectly spiced, alloo vindaloo just hit the spot. My fav was the gobi, altho the pistacio crusted paneer was a fun take on the typical paneer tikka. 3. My drink was very tastey. I had the ginger lychee martini, and altho sweet - it was perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy. I really liked it. 4. The service was excellent and very attentive. 5. the only down side in my opinion was that it was really loud. the tables were very close to each other and everyone could hear everyone's conversations. I didnt really like that... Would i go there again - yes definetly. great for vegetarians!

Daniel P.

I'm really surprised at the mix of reviews of this place. It's not cheap, for sure... but the garam masala filet mignon I had there is one of the best steaks I can remember ever eating. I'd never had a filet mignon crusted with indian spices before, but the combination of flavors was incredible and memorable. The cocktails were very tasty as well - though I didn't like the fact that martinis were served in stainless steel martini glasses. We started out sitting at a table in their outdoor seating area in front of the restaurant since it was a nice night. However, after swatting mosquitos for 25 minutes (seriously - I've never seen that many mosquitos in Chicago before), we asked the server to move us indoors, which she kindly did. The decor inside the restaurant is a little cold for my tastes - and doesn't seem to go with the spicy heat of the latin/indian inspired cuisine. And I will agree with the other reviewers who mentioned the lack of privacy you feel with the tables being so close together. But I'm telling you - that filet mignon is AWESOME. That steak, and the service we received that night, is the reason I'm rounding my "3.5" review up to a 4.

Emily Q.

Went to vermilion tonight and it was delicious! Lots of exciting flavors. We did small plates. Duck arepas had a nice heat to them that went well with the corn cracker underneath. Scallops were big and sweet-never had indian style scallops before but the sauce went really well with them and didn't overpower the scallop flavor. Pakoras and shrimp were also quite good. The lamb was tender and seasoned well though a little too much fat on it for my taste, but you can cut that off and that does help keep the meat moist. Finally the mussels were amazing and we even ordered naan last minute to soak up the broth which was reminiscent of thai coconut lemongrass soup. Bloody mary and pear lime pepper cocktails were tasty but overpriced. Service was good (waitress was enthusiastic and had some nice recommendations) though the wait was long at some points. That being said it's nice to not be rushed through a meal if you don't want to be. The place is not cheap, there is definitely a premium for the celebrity chef but I was not disappointed by the flavors. Glad I had the 30 for 60 open table coupon which allowed me to not feel so guilty about getting a 14 dollar drink. Would definitely go back, especially if I had a visitor in town who was into these kind of bold flavors! Lots of bad reviews of this place lately but maybe they have stepped up their game?

Jessica W.

Came here with a big group for a friend's birthday. My friend and I split the $55 duo of lobster portugese and chimichurri new york strip, thinking that it'd be longer than the normal entree. (The entrees are all $20-30). But no... it looked about the same size as everyone else's, and after we finished it, we were still hungry. I wish we could gotten large portions for what we paid (only two tiny pieces of lobster?), but the food was good, so I can't complain too much.

Reginald M.

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a very long time but they will never get my business again. My wife and I had a6:45 reservation on a Friday night. while the main dining room was not even 1/2 full with lots of open tables for 2, the hostess decided to seat us in another section that was totally empty behind a curtain. AND she sat us at the only table in the entire place that was right by the kitchen door! Are you kidding me?? I wore a suit coat and pants (not jeans) and my wife was beautifly dressed as always so why were we sat away from everyone else and by the kitchen when the restauant had plenty of seating in the main dining room? I have my theory but let's move on. We ordered the scallops for an appetizer. they were ok but nothing to write home about. the 2 scallops came with 3 sauces that had a nice flavor. We then both ordered the shrimp paella. Now I've had delicious paella in a lot of different restaurants and this, my friends was no paella. It was more like really mushy rice and 3 shrimp drenched in lime juice or some other citrus juice. It was the worst paella we ever had and pretty much the worst food we've ever had. We were so fed up we just asked them to wrap the food (after we took about 3 bites each) and give us the check. We didn't even feel like sending it back to try something else. I guess the noise from the kitchen was getting on our nerves. Why did we bring the leftovers home? habit I guess. I predict it will sit in the fridge for 2 or 3 days then find its way to the trash. The restaurant does get one star, though, because the server was efficient and nice. Oh- later that evening we grabbed some fast-food which tasted like heaven when compared to a meal at the Vermilion.

Bill M.

This is a fusion restaurant that serves tasty and beautifully presented food, but it's quite expensive if you want to leave full. Most of the food is Indian, with a twist of Latin influence in the recipes. The tapas and main dishes emphasize spices rather than spiciness. The upbeat Indian music along with the black & white fashion photos are cool, and so are the cozy booths along the walls.

Tom T.

Pretty good food and service but this place comes off as a little try-hard. It's as if they're trying to fit in with high-end dining (all the rage these days). Honestly I prefer the buffet at India House.

Katie B.

I took my boyfriend to Vermilion for Valentine's Day this year, so this review is based on the special Valentine's Day menu. If I had seen this menu before making the reservations, I probably would have selected another restaurant -- but that would have been a mistake! The evening got off to a slightly rocky start because our table wasn't ready and we had trouble getting service at the bar. When I finally did succeed in snagging the bartender, he only fixed one of the two drinks we requested. I'm willing to totally excuse the mediocre service at the bar, though, because I could see how swamped this poor guy was. The first course was tuna tartare and oysters with a cute/cheesy twist of choosing your date's garnish. Our second course was white chocolate-cauliflower soup that was so good I really had to restrain myself from licking my bowl. (I was skeptical of the flavor combination when I saw it on the menu but ... omg, so good.) The entree was steak with avocado fritters. I don't really do steak, but I really enjoyed it. Since I'm not much of a steak eater, I can't really describe it appropriately, but it was cooked just the perfect amount and flavorful. Our dessert was this chunk of spice-pistachio cake (but not really cake-like) with a caramel sauce, and it was amazing. I had thought last year's chocolate fondue (at Tizi Melloul) would reign as the best Valentine's Day dessert for at least another couple of years, but this cake totally wins. I'm definitely going to come back sometime and try the regular menu.

Leslie R.

So Vermilion was pretty cool, I went for restaurant week so I had a pre-fixe menu, but I was still impressed. The vegetarian dish was a paella, which usually I'm not into a whole lot, but it was pretty good. The food was overall slightly above average. I gave extra stars for the atmosphere - and the dishes around us that weren't pre-fixe seemed really good. They have Iron Chef menu items too!

Tanushree B.

Great food in ridiculous portion sizes, to the point where Vermillion seriously came across as being cheap. Imagine getting a dessert which is a square inch piece on a plate that is the size of a medium pizza, so you are kind of paying for what's not there (the empty space) instead of the minuscule bird dropping size of the dessert! Seriously??......

Anna F.

So, I was a bit wary of going here (having gotten a Groupon) after reading the reviews (got the Groupon prior to reading the reviews b/c I remembered hearing good things about the place). I have to say, I think the criticisms are not merited. We had a really excellent meal, the service was good (if a bit overbearing), and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Perhaps the overbearing service was in response to the poor service critiques? Our only criticism was that they checked in too much and that they pushed us to order (but I can totally understand this if their kitchen tends to get backed up--our party was running late for our reservation time). We stuck to small plates mostly and the fab cocktails! I was more than pleased with the spice level on the lamb--good and spicy (and I am a spice lover). I got the pani puri cocktail which was really good, if weird (but I like weird) and a wonderful olive green color which might be offputting to some, and the fresh lime, pear, green chili cocktail (which I asked for extra spicy) and it was great and very spicy to my taste. Anyway, I would totally go back, without a Groupon, even though it might be uneven. We had such a nice meal, I'd totally gamble on that!

Kate C.

DON'T GO HERE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY. I'm sure the restaurant has some amazing food, but don't buy into their fixed price V-Day menu. BLECH. I'd been talking about going here for a long time because the concept sounded so delicious. My husband booked us reservations for Valentine's Day, but failed to mention that there was a fixed menu. We walk in and are seated in the FURTHEST table from anything, crammed less than a foot away from the couple next to us, with the wall on the other side. Our waiter actually had to lean over the other couple to take our order. We were in out-door plastic folding chairs and could barely move, forced to listen to the other people's conversation or feel like we were interrupting with our own. I took one look at the menu and felt like crying. None of the things that I had wanted based on the menu online were listed. Instead they went for bland, "this will please lots of people" fare. Course 1: Oysters. YAWN. No interesting prep--could have been at any restaurant. Course 2: White-Chocolate Cauliflower soup. DELICIOUS. I tried to recreate it at home...so yummy--by far the highlight of the evening. Course 3: The tiniest filet in the world. SO SMALL. Maybe three bites. Course 4: Dessert plus a blueberry fizz drink thing. BORING BORING BORING. This place needs to remember what it is when holidays roll around. I still want to go back on a 'normal' menu night, but I'm definitely hesitant. Plus we paid over $80 per person for that non-filling, bland, boring menu. Plus the drinks to get us over the horrible atmosphere. Not quite a ruined Valentine's Day, but very very close.

D J.

Tis the morning after - the pangs of guilt are setting in, as I chew over the $$ frittered away, for a re-acculturization excursion for me. The promise - a festive desi party at Vermilion to serenade the start of Spring (it's an Indian tradition called Holi) - the kind that I try to avoid, due to my inherent abhorrence of everything typically Indian! The reality - after paying a hefty cover, stepped into a practically empty space; neither the cliched Bollywood tunes nor the overpriced cocktails packed any punch, and while neither was a deterrent for those determined to party,it had quite a few of us planning our next steps(and not on the dance floor!) The verdict - bad marketing of the event, terrible execution, thoroughly overpriced, Vermilion was a huge disappointment. Unless you're craving an expensive overdose of ethnicity for your next spring frolic, skip a trip to Vermilion - for my part, I think I'll be putting my traditional garb back to rest!

Kathy A.

Vermilion is no longer the fantastic place it used to be. We had lunch there last week and the service was indifferent, the steak over cooked, the rice old and stale. Another small detail that I found especially irksome was the iced tea was weak and tepid. Both times it was served with a hunk of lemon with 7+ seeds in it. A small detail, but really, who serves iced tea that's tepid with tons of seeds? When I wrote to them I was told I should have told them my preference for iced tea and lemons. (? really, people ask for lemons with seeds?) I dined there two years ago and it was heavenly -- it's a has been now. Oh, and its pricey. (btw - later that day we had a snack/light dinner at Rick Bayless' XOCO - divine! so fresh & tasty. excellent service too!)

Amanda A.

I, too, heard about this place from the Taste -- the turkey burger was divine, so my friend and I went there on Friday night. I found the service to be great -- they had a lot of good recommendations, didn't push the wine list, and were quite good at filling up my water (I had a fierce hangover). Though they say that one small plate and one entree are the right size for each person, I find that we could have split a small plate and been fine with our entree or gotten 3 small plates and split an entree. My friend got the tandoori skirt steak. She's super skinny and she finished the whole thing! I got the seafood stew, and I thought the flavors mixed together in a really delightful way. It's definitely on the expensive side, but it's worth it to try something unusual. :)

z d.

A group of my friends stumbled into this restaurant whilst looking for food in Chicago. Vermillion is what we would call a modern fusion restaurant, in the hip and trendy style. If you are looking for a bang for your buck, a giant juicy steak, you are in the wrong place. The food is impeccable, the chef extremely dedicated to his craft. One of our starters, a lentil soup, was cooked to perfection. It is easily comparable to some of the 4 and 5 star restaurants in lower Manhattan. Our party had a mix of dishes such as the lobster and filet mignon, which were extremely good. The server was extremely knowledgeable about their menu, taking the time to recommend and suggest dishes for everyone. However, the place also has its downsides. The food comes out when it is the "freshest" right after it is finished, not necessarily in any particular order that expedites your party's ordering. Side dishes (such as Naan) come out right after they leave the chef's hands. In addition, the pace of the meal is definitely slow-paced, don't go to this place if you need to be somewhere within several hours. Finally, if you're going in, expect more of the fusion and less of the Indian, as the food is barely Indian at its best. Pros: Amazing Food, Excellent Service, Very Interesting Flavor Combinations Cons: Slow Service, Price

Jasbir S.

As a full blooded Indian, I have to say I was a bit skeptical about Vermillion. I've now been twice and the purely Indian food is great. I am still unsold on the Indian-Latin American fusion part though. Let's break it down: 1. Mysore Lamb Chops - incredible. Tender, spicy, and everything these should be. I'm not sure why they are called "Mysore" though because the spicing is more Rajasthani, but when you have Mexican waiters serving Indian-Latin fusion food to bedazzled Midwesterners whose last fancy meal involved unmarinated slabs of meat you shouldn't expect perfection. 2. Butter Chicken / Murg Makani - I know the chef is Punjabi but this dish is an art form to itself. Not everyone can get it right and the chef came close but alas, it's not like it tastes in the homeland. The only real butter chicken in Chicago is at India House. Still, it was pretty good. Just consider it Chicken Tikka Masala with a little cream and you'll be fine. 3. Dal Makhani (lentils) - really awesome. Tangy and just right. 4. Chole (chickpeas) - a little undercooked. Still spicy and pretty tasty. 5. Paneer jalfrezi (spicy Punjabi-style cottage cheese) - unbelievable. So spicy, so good, so right. Wow. I almost had to drink water. 6. Papad (sorry, don't know how to describe this but it's like a wafer and it's spicy) - great. Eat it. Be happy. 7. Sopa de peixe (Brazilian fish and vegetable stew with "Indian kick") - there was no Indian kick and the soup was pretty bland. I've had plenty of stews in my life and they all usually end with the feeling that you've consumed a lot of worthless calories and paid a bit too much for it. Service - really top notch. The table was uneven and the waiter came and fixed it right away. When we asked for extra naan, it was brought to us right away. It's a little bit of a shock to pay $4 for one extra naan, but I promised in my India House review not to complain about high priced Indian food and it was all worth it. Ambience - sexy environment. I really wish the guy who looked like a busted version of Keanu Reaves and couldn't stop talking with a pompous 80-year-old Harvard Law School professor voice would just shut up but I felt sorrier for the people who actually had to sit with him. Bathrooms - gents, be careful, the water is VERY VERY cold. It's not enough to have to deal with weather that makes most native Indian people fear that their last moment might be that 5 minutes they wait trying to hail a cab at -5 degrees F. We have to deal with awfully cold water in men's restrooms here and at Grand Lux. Someone please turn up the temperature. Overall this is a great restaurant. You know I'm a tough critic, especially of Indian food so thumbs up Vermillion.

Steve H.

My girlfriend has always wanted to go to Vermilion due to its booth at the taste, so finally on her birthday this year we decided to go. I made a reservation with open table, so we walked in on Saturday at 7:00pm without a hitch - very nice! First we ordered drinks, I got a lime-ginger margarita and she got the lime pear green chili cocktail. I thought the salt on mine was a bit much so I wiped it off, but otherwise it was good. Hers was pretty good, until the pepper got infused in the drink and it became too peppery for me. But she loved it, so I guess you just got to love peppers like she does. We ordered the duck vindaloo arepa as an apetizer and it was Amazing! It was spiced very well, but not a hot spice, it was juicy, and served with a curry mango salsa and pomegranite molasses, just delicious. For dinner, she ordered miris sri lankan whole fish and I ordered the chimichurri new york strip (primarily due to all the raving reviews on this site about it). We also ordered a side of the chorizo spinach. The fish is served whole and they forgot to chop the head off, they don't if you don't ask but we did, so we just put an orange slice over it. I'm not a huge fan of fish by any means, and this time was no exception. The fish tasted like fish. But the sauce it was in, delicious. We eneded up pouring the excess of it over the rice that came with dinner. The steak was cooked perfectly to order, and once again, the sauce was spectacular. I like my food to have a good kick, and this did - not for the wusses out there. The Chorizo spinach side was interesting mainly due to the abundance of garlic and lack of chorizo (they must have gotten our order wrong or something). We ordered the goat cheese cake and because it was her birthday we got the "special occasion gelato" that isn't on the menu. Both were out of this world! Creamy, sweet, just perfect. Over all I'd say its amazing sauces over food you would expect in the city. In retrospect I suppose its our fault for ordering the boring dishes because there were many options on the menu, but still the food was average underneath the decadent sauces. I would consider going again, but at these prices not for your average Saturday night. I would agree with the "overpriced" sentiment that others share. We both agreed that this would be a fine place to grab a drink and a desert at the bar at the end of an evening, but dinner is a but much.

Lisa K.

Gino W.

Among several of the high-priced restaurants in Chicago, Vermilion is one that I have found to be worthy of returns. The portions are not grand, but if you order something substantial like a dish with beans or potatoes, you will fill up nicely. Refreshing cucumber martini. A flight of appetizers. A flight of Indian dishes. Nothing like sitting outside enjoying a great meal and watching the variety of individuals strolling down the street. Be forewarned that Indian and Latin flavours can be a bit of a duel with each other. You may have to request that the dishes be prepared such that one flavour stands out more than the other. Else, it is definitely all good.

Cheryl B.

Recommended by a local bartender at a chic mid-range hotel, we were rather skeptical when the restaurant had only one party dining at 7:30pm. Our skepticism was completely unfounded! Amazing wait staff and some of the most innovative and flavorful cuisine we have ever had the pleasure of sampling! Wow! New Mgmt & Chef are in it to win it! Definitely more Indian in flavor, but the meld with some Latin flavors like jalapeño, make it a glorious mix! Lest you think I am a neophyte to Indian cuisine, I have dined at some impressive Indian restaurants in New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco. We were completely delighted and marveled by the various chutneys (sun dried tomato!) and our dinners. I forgot I was in Chicago and ordered the lobster. Normally, inland I would never do that! So happy I did! The lobster was succulent, not over cooked and savory! Hubby played it safe and enjoyed his butter chicken. Fabulous meal with a staff that cares in a beautiful atmosphere! What more could we want? Absolutely nothing!

Susan S.

After 22 years of living in Chicago, I had the worst dining experience ever. Seated inches from the foyer on a 10-degree night. The panipuri was clearly made hours in advance of serving with the sauce dried out. The entree course of mushrooms and sweet potatoes were cold. The hostess shouting out over our heads to seat new guests. Guests from the bar had their bottoms in my glass of wine. The worst meal that I've ever had in Chicago.

Chris G.

Reading Vermillion's Yelp Reviews helped me to brace for the worst experience. But if their service and food truly does wildly swing from awful to extremely good as noted on this site, then I feel fortunate. Let's get right to the food highlights, as we tasted a number of different items. ==Spanish olive boquerones (white anchovies), jicama citrus roll: This was a great way to start the meal as fresh anchovies makes u wanna ban that crap some pizza places top their pies with. Hints of tangerine worked well with the almost juicy, green pear-like, crisp jicama. It's a very nice combo. ==Kabob dog with chicken, feta cheese.: We truly enjoyed the kabob dog as the meat had a great texture and beautiful, pinkish color with dark spices speckling. It was smokey and had a little heat that pleasurably crept up on you--like the wonderful finish of a fine red wine--about 4 seconds after you bit down. I could definitely see Hot Doug's offering these as complimentary rewards for those who brave his ridiculously-long lines. ==Blue corn crusted scallops: Our server and your Yelp reviews rated this highly. We received two fat ass scallops with a kali mirch Latin calabasa and goat cheese puree. These scallops were obese! I seriously didn't expect them to be so insanely tender and chunky. There are a lot of curry flavors going on here and they work quite well together. My only complaint is I wish that the dish was a little warmer... but not if that means over-cooking the scallops in this setting. The crushed blue corn chips drove the mouth feel over the top, in a good way. ==Coconut Chili Mussels: Indian coconut milk soup infused with curry leaves, mustard seeds It was like these fresh and tender mussels were drenched in a great Thai Thom Ka soup... and this really worked well together. There were both sliced Serrano peppers and dried red chiles in the dish. We should have ordered our side of Naan earlier just to dip this broth! ==Chocolate coffee doughnut frittata, chocolate mole. ==Avocado beignet, wild berry reduction. Not sure if this was a different pasty/dessert chef, but this is where things got very interesting again as these treats were truly exceptional. The beignet is true ambrosia as it's so light and delicate. I'd use less berry reduction as it's a bit sweet for my own tastes, but probably fine for most people. Using avocado in a dessert here is quite bold and THIS kind of culinary mastery is what i expected from all of the menu items. The frittata is nice and the white creamy mousse-like topping was out of this world. Here's a quick rundown of the rest... the crab-topped watermelon was interesting but the sweetness overtook the tender, tasty crab. The potato 3 ways was just plain bland, boring and should never be served again. It was like an impotent Pierogi that fell apart and didn't give a damn. The roasted three pepper lentil soup was pretty nice with the papadum but would have been stellar if it was thicker like a bisque. We even topped the special rice dishes with it and brought them to life. The tilapia was fresh but we never should have picked the Indian spice rub. Try it with the cilantro and mint instead, me thinks. And NEVER serve a hot beverage in a stainless steel cup without rim protection! Looks pretty, but burnt lips. Though I found them just OK, my friend loved the Naan tandoori sandwich with chicken and mint cucumber. And he liked the fish papadum tacos, spiced yogurt sauce. We were pleasantly and promptly greeted upon entering and quickly shown to a table by our friendly, patient and attentive server. Not that there's anything wrong with it... but because I've eaten a fair bit of traditional Indo/Paki food elsewhere, it was cute to see an African-American lady serving us in this setting. My colleague purchased a Groupon $60 tasting menu and I chose a few plates from the tapas menu. You pick two meats, two spices and two sides. We really felt that the Chef should have chosen the spices and added more sauce and toppings to the special rice items, as they were lacking. Even though I've eaten at a plethora of fine dining spots and divy, comfort food spots also, it's still challenging to write this review of Vermillion. It's hard for me to rate them 4 stars because though they offered up forward-looking dishes, it feels as if it will take them a while longer to really hit their stride with this culinary style and I truly hope that they get there. We ordered a decent bottle of Pinot Gris and along with the Groupon dscount, we paid about $70 each. And really, this is the River North area with expensive rent and where the well-heeled crowd hangs out so don't expect upscale places to be cheaply-priced like your neighborhood greasy spoon diner. ------UPDATE: Confession. A few days after eating here, we went back to nearby lunch buffet at India House. I think their crew was on a cloud because it was the best I've tasted there. $17 is a great bargain, sorry Vermilion.

Suresh S.

We visited on Monday 31 March 2014. We had made reservations for 7pm but showed up a touch early, and this was no cause for concern. The service at the entrance was superb, stylish, and understated, and we were escorted to our 'booth', a quaint term for a curved seating area. The guide showed up, sharp as tack, and with just that touch of superciliousness which is tolerable, and just, informed us of the choices; we had a long conversation with her about sizes, quantity, and taste, and she came across as remarkably well informed. I ordered Pisco whilst the wife ordered the fresh passionfruit juice. For our appetisers, we asked for the coconut shrimp and the cilantro tamarind paneer. The Pisco that I had ordered was perfect, and the passionfruit just enough ice to make it cold but not dilute it. Then, disaster struck....as the food arrived. The wife, who is a stickler for food, took a bite of the shrimp and pronounced it 'marvelous', and then I looked at my Paneer, which seemed awash in a thick tamarind sauce. I took a bite, and the Paneer itself was just perfect, but the sauce was atrociously sweet! There was no hint of cilantro, and the more I tasted it, the more I was reminded of an Indian dessert which is soaked in a sugar reduction. Not good at all. Still, 50% is not bad for starters, and we ordered our mains with renewed vigor. The wife, the Cauliflower curry, and I the Chole. It was only when the orders came through that the realisation set in; this is not for an unsophisticated Indian palate. This food is for that person who has never sampled Indian food, and is likely to be taken in by something sweet and tart, and not much else! So, the cauliflower, presented beautifully, tasted awful, and the Chole...the less said about it the better. It was an extension of the Paneer in that it too was sweet, and so to mask the taste I had to ask for some lemons and onion, and then do some surgical repair work to make it edible. The Roti that came with the Chole was rubbery, and the tomato rice that we ordered had unspluttered mustard seeds and a proliferation of Kalaunji (onion seeds), which killed any taste the dish may have had. The wife's coconut rice though was very good. The lady showed up and asked us for dessert, and we felt, 'how ironic is that?' It would have been par for the course to have ordered something and then got a dish that was tart, but we desisted. I realise as I pass through the country sampling the so-called Indian cuisine that for the most part, there seems to have been a compromise with good taste. I do not mind the reduction in heat as the UK seems to have done, keeping in mind the palate of its patrons, but what I quibble about is the disruption in taste, as there seems to be a general consensus that sweet and sour means Indian. Establishments like Vermilion who have pretensions of grandeur must make full disclosure, 'we serve a palate which is not for the uncultured Indian', and our aim is to only serve the Indian cuisine virgin. They then will be overwhelmed with the sweetness of the dishes and promptly pronounce the food 'divine'. But this is not Indian, and it is not even Bangladeshi; what is provided in Vermilion is a travesty masquerading in the name of fusion cuisine. It is an abomination. Can I mark it any lower? I definitely could, but YELP would not let me!

Robert S.

Hadn't been there in years. The food has nicely evolved, remains fine job of fusion. If you go, sit at the bar and enjoy the delightful mixologist Sara. She's all about service, making you feel at home and knows here trade!

Katie S.

I caution you to re-evaluate where you would like to go in Chicago if this restaurant is on your list. All courses ordered were bland and service is less than stellar. The waitress (Candace) didn't check on our food at any point. The restaurant was about 10% full yet - I heard one of the other tables' complaining about lack of service as well. With that said - I obviously wouldn't waste your time here when Chicago has some of the best food in the nation. This place doesn't come close.

Ishan P.

Ridiculously expensive. The butter paneer had so many artificial flavors. It looked like it was made from ready to eat packets! The portions were ridiculously small. The only good part of the meal were the drinks and the snacks. If you're looking for authentic Indian food.. Trust me this is NOT the place to go.

Samantha B.

I made a reservation several months in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner at 8 p.m. We arrived in anticipation of a delicious meal but instead were greeted by a herd of people at the entrance of the restaurant. To our surprise, there was a line of 20 people in order to merely check into our reservation. Around 8:20, we finally reached the front of the line and were able to speak to the hostess. He informed us that they were severely over-booked and that there were at least 7 parties in front of us. He suggested it would be at least an hour to be seated for our reservation. As we looked around the restaurant at the 30 or so people also waiting to be seated, we knew this estimate was far too optimistic. We chatted with another couple who had been waiting 30 minutes for their reservation. They said the host had told them there were 8 groups in front of them. Clearly, it was going to be at least 9:30-10pm before we were seated for our 8pm Valentine's Day reservation. We decided that even once we were seated, whenever that would be, there would be a mob of angry guests looking over our shoulder as we ate, since the dining room is quite tight. Unwilling to huddle in a cramped mob of disgruntled couples for at least another hour with the hopes of being seated for dinner, we decided to leave and find an alternative spot for Valentine's Day. This was arguably difficult since most couples, like us, booked reservations months in advance. Vermilion had absolutely no respect for their guests and were completely ill-prepared for a big holiday. They also showed no remorse for over-booking and did not try to make the situation better by offering free drinks or a discount for the wait. Thank you, Vermilion, for ruining my anticipated Valentine's Day plans.

Paul W.

Azra is amazing waitress ... From Yugoslavia (Macedonia) if she challenges you!! She is awesome, food lovely

Abishek M.

Make no mistake... This is an expensive restaurant. A meal for two will set you back about $100. That said, I absolutely enjoyed the food. The fusion of flavors is seamless and the results are lip smacking! Every dish we ordered from the appetizers to the entrees to the dessert was delicious. The Groupon I used helped soften the blow when the check arrived. If not for the steep prices, I might actually have considered going back. RATINGS: Beef Kebabs: 3/5 Artichoke Pakoras: 4/5 Butter Chicken: 5/5 Chocolate cake: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambience: 4/5

Priya R.

We had the worst experience at Vermilion on Valentine's day. They had completely over booked the place and had no idea of handling the crowd. Even after making reservations, we had to wait in line just to check in and put our names on another list. We ended up waiting for 1.5 hours in total. The people at the front desk (a lady and a guy) were very unorganized and unprofessional. Customers who were complaining more often than others were being seated by these guys just to calm them, while making us wait for extra time even though their reservation was after ours. It also took them 20-30 mins to clean and prep the table for the next customer. It was supposed to be a 5-course dinner, as mentioned on the website, but it turned out to be a 4-course menu just because they couldn't cater to the huge crowd coming in that night. They had combined the first and second course into one item, because apparently their kitchen was backed up! The quality of food was average and the portions were tiny. It was definitely not worth the our time or our money.

Sonia B.

Honestly, Vermilion has changed in the last couple of years. I originally gave it a 5 star review and now I think it deserves a 2 or 3 star review. I was a big fan of the restaurant and told many friends/family about it. It was always my go-to restaurant when someone asked for a great dining experience in River North. I probably won't recommend it again. I'm big on good customer service and Vermilion failed during my recent trip. The décor/ambiance was still nice, but the service not so much and I didn't enjoy my meal as much. Don't get the ribs...I LOVE tamarind, but the tamarind sauce on the ribs was so overpowering and the ribs were all fat! The best thing I had that night was the duck appetizer and my dessert. I received a gift certificate for Vermiliion because I was such a big fan. Now, the gift certificate was a bit unusual...it was a sheet of paper with about a whole page of wording...more like a letter. The issue date was highlighted...and that's about it. At the end of our recent dining experience, I presented my gift certificate and the server came back saying that it was expired. I was so sad because in the midst of all the wording, there was an expiration date...and it should've been highlighted! OK, so I did a bad job of reading a whole page...but, I requested that I be contacted by management and never was. I filled out a comment card at the restaurant and requested to be contacted via Open Table (where I made my reservations). It's been a good 3 weeks or so and I still haven't received a call/email. All I wanted to do was give them a tip to revise their gift certificate. Highlight the issue and expiration dates! And don't have so much written on the paper...it's a gift certificate, not a letter!!!! I think it's very sad when the management of an establishment doesn't contact you back when you've brought up a concern. Had they contacted me back, I would still be willing to go back to the restaurant. I do not think I will be taking my business back there and probably won't be recommending it anymore either. Pretty sad. :(

Divya N.

I have been to this place before and loved the food! However this time I disliked the food. There was no flavor to the food, no value for money I did not like their service either. The waitress was rude we asked a change of waiter and got another one. I feel in an upscale restaurant service should be excellent it was not upto mark. Will not go back that's for sure.

Jeremy C.

The good... The artichoke tapas things... Oh man that was good. It's basically a artichoke tempura with a tasty spicy sauce. Ribs - mmmm yummy. The ribs are very good but heartburn city! Strip Steak - delicious. The spices they use on this steak make it so good! It was cooked perfectly. I was very happy with this choice. If it were not for this steak, I'D RATE THIS PLACE 2 STARS IF NOT FOR THIS STEAK. The ehhh... Service was good, nothing to boast about. Suggestions came after we placed our order (weird). Walked out in front of 2 hostesses who were talking to each other, did not thank us or acknowledge us. The sides and tapas we had at our table were all interesting but I didn't find anything else really amazing to mention. The ugly... The naan. For a place that's upscale Indian, it was quite possibly the worst naan I've ever had. I mean the worst. It was tough, dry, just plain not good. Now I don't know if that's the way it's supposed to be (I'm a white guy) but the naan I get from other cheaper Indian joints and even the trader joes frozen naan is tremendously better. I feel almost as though it had been made a long time ago and sat out, wasn't even warm. I agree with their prix fixe menu... It's odd that the price points are so high considering their menu price points. I don't understand why anybody would order it????

Robin F.

Food was excellent. Service was wonderful. each bite of of food was an explosion on my tongue

Andy M.

To make a long story short, Vermillion was fabulous. This fancy eatery is the kind of place I usually don't like. Fancy decor, high prices and stuffy vibe. But the food blew me away. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the wonderful odors coming out of the kitchen. I really wasn't hungry when I walked in, but the aroma of charred meat put me in the mood for some grub. For my entree, I opted for a hunk of steak. I ordered the tandoori skirt steak . This lovely hunk of meat was covered with a hot sauce and served with delicious sweet potato's. The steak was spicy, it had the roof of my mouth burning, but for some reason the combination worked. It didn't ruin the taste of the steak. It actually enhanced it. Well worth the hefty price tag. It was a different take on steak that I really enjoyed. Here's the delicious, bottom line: If you are looking for a different kind of dining experience, filled with spice, heat and flavor, add Vermillion to your list of places to visit. The food was tasty, the service was wonderful and it's well worth the price tag. My wife and I had a fabulous time and we can't wait to go back.

Katie C.

Very disappointing! I picked this restaurant for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend due to the extensive vegetarian menu. We should have known what we had gotten in to when we walked in at 8 pm on a Friday night and the restaurant was almost empty. We waited for a bit before the hostess acknowledged us. We ordered a couple tapas and some entrees..the flavor was really lacking and the price points were that of a much more upscale restaurant. Every time we asked for recommendations the waitress just suggested the most expensive item and without much subtlety. I understand for a restaurant that dead on a Friday night she was probably desperate for tips. I ordered one of the dishes she suggested..it was cold by the time i got it. we just really felt ripped off. The bill was over 100 for two people and I would have been much more satisfied with the Indian fast food restaurant in my neighborhood for a fraction of the cost. We wont be back

Lisse C.

This place was horrible! The food and the service were far below what you would expect even at a fast food restaurant. When your server comes to the table and uses "So do you want something to drink?" as an introduction you know it's going to be downhill from there! The decor was nice, great place for a romantic dinner if it didn't suck so much. To make a very long story short we waited 54 minutes between appetizers (soup and salad) to get the rest of our food. When I asked our ever elusive waiter about the food he said "Well you didn't tell me you were in a hurry." Come on guy! 54 minutes is being in a hurry!?! It would have been different if we had something to drink on the table, or if the place was busy, or even if you had said sorry food is taking a little longer this evening. We had to wave down a bus boy to go find our waiter and cancel our order. Just as the waiter was letting me know it was my fault for not telling him we needed a rush order (less than 54 minutes), the food arrived. A heavy set lady with blond hair was standing over our shoulder looking at the table, a manager I assume. She never said a word even though she was aware we were displeased. You are standing right there lady, say something..anything! The food was mediocre at best. It had real potential to be great but fell far from the marker. There are much better places to go so I suggest skipping Vermillion and going anywhere else!

Chris A.

Exciting flavor combinations! I love the fusion here. Our staff exp was just fantastic. Only FOUR stars bc very $$ for not a lot of food. I had shrimp curry, the shrimp were in the sauce but the tails had been left on. So I had clumsily remove them. But it was great overall.

LARRY k.

This is a very good example of a place that is what it says it is. I had tandoori skirt steak and cardamom flan, both fusion dishes and both were excellent. Others had more traditional Indian dishes such as a veg thali and spinach paneer which were not too oily as sometimes Indian food is. Overall we had an excellent meal. I would have liked it more if the atmosphere was quieter. It got pretty loud as the ceilings are low and the tables are close together. The service was as you would expect for a restaurant in this location and price range. The bill with drinks and desserts came to about $60.00 pp.

Tom L.

I've gone to Vermilion a few times through the years and count it as one of my favorite Chicago date spots. Decor and ambiance is always cool and sound level in the restaurant never gets to high. Vermilion is a large space with a good amount of room between tables and lends it self to a very intimate atmosphere. I echo everyone here when I saw the service with phenomenal. The front of house manager, our waitress and the rest of the staff are all great and touch your table just the right amount of times and always are making great suggestions. The beer menu is limited, the cocktails are ok (the drinks are on the weaker side and egg whites out of the carton were used in my Pisco Sour, come on guys!) The food is weighted heavily on the Indian side of the fusion. While some ingredients and preparation may be South American, the Indian taste really comes through. I've always enjoyed the dishes I've ordered, the portions are ideal for the price/style of food. The only draw back I've ever had was my girlfriend ordered a fish dish and the kitchen had run out of whitefish for the night and substituted it with the more overpowering salmon, which threw off the taste of her dish. In all, you don't see too many Indian/Latin Fusion restaurants but I feel they do a great job blending the concepts. Service is great, the space is neat and Vermilion makes for a casual but romantic night.

Cielo S.

OMG- do NOT come here! The service was TERRIBLE. The cucumber mint martini SUCKED. The appetizers didn't arrive until an HOUR after we had ordered them. The "calderaida" has bones-- the kind that can choke you! The entire experience felt like we were being punked. Even the manager couldn't keep a straight face. And it was very overpriced: $70 for one drink, one appetizer, and one entree. Seriously-- if you come, you'll regret it.

Shelley B.

I had a friend in from out of town and took him to Vermilion knowing the cuisine would be a good fit. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful experience. Sara Paulson was working at the bar that evening. She went above and beyond to insure we had an amazing experience. Sara was really knowledgable about the entire menu which and made the perfect suggestions given my dietary restrictions. She is also a Sommelier and knows her wines. I highly recommend Vermilion and will certainly return. I will also sit at the bar as long as Sara is there.

Burt L.

Chicago! Go support this place! It's really, really, really good! My wife and I were visiting Chicago and arrived several hours before our friends. Vermilion was just around the block from our hotel so we stepped in for a nice lunch. The lunch we got wasn't just nice -- it was mind-blowingly good. I had tandoori skirt steak and the mixture of the Latin and Indian tastes was just perfect. Our waiter was attentive to the level of heat that I was comfortable with and the dish that resulted met my desire for assertive but not overwhelming heat perfectly. The cocktails we had with our lunch were as creative and delicious as the food. Contrary to another reviewer, we felt we had exactly the right level of service: our waiter made pleasant conversation and helpful menu suggestions, but mainly left us alone to enjoy our meal and the window seat looking out on the street life of the city. Sadly, no one else was there for lunch -- we had the place all to ourselves. I can't understand this, as I thought Chicago has a thriving restaurant culture and this place provides everything a hungry, sophisticated Chicagoan could possibly want: delicious and interesting food, an upscale ambiance, a good location, strong booze, and good service.

Vanessa K.

Fantastic food, though I never would have considered this mash up before: Indian and Latin American. The tandoori skirt steak was perfection--I salivate just thinking about this dish. We also tried the caldeirada de peixe, a soupy dish that was really flavorful and delicious. The last dish we got was not on the typical menu--a paella dish with Indian flavors, which was interesting but not my favorite iteration of paella. Lastly, the desserts were fantastic (I'd recommend the cumin ice cream for an interesting flavor, or the dessert sampler, which was perfect portion sizes). We got wine by the bottle, and the whole meal was well-priced for a great experience. The ambiance is a little romantic and modern. I love the wood beams on the ceilings.

Yvonne B.

Vermilion effortlessly merges Indian and Latin American flavors in contemporary presentations. As adventurous as I am in my diet, I usually dislike Indian food; however, when Groupon offered a deal for Vermilion I decided to try it out. Scott and I secured the first dinner reservation on Christmas Eve. Scott wore slacks and a button-up shirt and I wore nice jeans and a fancy sweater. The host was wearing a classic suit and our server (Ashra) was sleek in all black. There was a bar on the front left wall and tables and secluded booths throughout. Large black and white photography demurely donned the walls. The square tables were draped in white cloths but the black plastic chairs were surprisingly simple, but matching nonetheless. I had a blueberry fizz cocktail that was served in a champagne flute, a dollop of sorbet and topped with a red rose petal. The flavor was mature and refreshing - not sweet as expected. Scott and I started with the duck arepa and artichokes. The arepas were open-faced and bite-sized and spicy. I loved the texture combinations. The sauce served with the deep-fried artichokes was a necessary addition. It truly completed the plate. Both dishes were beautifully presented like works of art. In comparison, the entrees were more simple and far less impressive. Scott got the skirt steak and I had the lamp shank. Both were good, but nothing like the small plates. Scott hated the sauce that came with his steak and the rolled up thing on the side was not to his taste. My lamb shank was very tender (I could cut it with a fork). I loved the rice and the other small side that came with it. I ordered rice pudding to go and had it a couple of days later. It was WAY too sweet for my liking. It was a generous portion and took two days to eat. What also took two days to eat was my left over lamb. Vermilion has a beautiful setting (perfect for a date) and a unique dining experience. I think that it's a good place when someone isn't sold on Indian (or Latin) foods since it has options. The service is also terrific. I could tell that they were extremely interested in pleasing their customers.

Jade T.

Their Chili-Glazed Tamarind Eggplant. STAY AWAY. DON'T ORDER IT. I returned to Vermilion for a romantic date, and I had one of the most disgusting things I've ever eaten. It was overwhelmingly sweet and sour due to the tamarind ingredient. I'm no stranger to tamarind. In fact, I like tamarind, but think of the chili-glazed eggplant as tamarind overload. Tamarind concentrate. It just kills your palate. I drank so much water to get rid of the sour taste. Our waitress was unapologetic. (Why is it that the busboys and food runners are always friendlier?) This was my last visit to Vermilion.

M L.

Went there for Restaurant Week. We quickly realized, though, that it was cheaper to just order off the regular menu. We got the seafood stew and ribs. The stew was very good. The ribs were fine but nothing special -- and I would have expected more sides than just a few pieces of cucumber in yogurt sauce. The decor was nice, but the service was lacking, our table was wobbly, and the restaurant was loud. It's not bad, but it's not great -- and there are better places to spend that kind of money.

Antaash U.

It took 2 years to make it here and boy was it worth the wait. Being Indian and all, I am very partial and quite critical of Indian food. I am one of those people blessed with a mother who has magical powers in the kitchen, so it is rare that I venture into an Indian restaurant. However, what made Vermilion interesting is that it is fused with Latin cuisine. I love Latin food and the idea of it blending with Indian flavors definitely whet my palate. My BF and I were celebrating his big promotion and thought we needed to do it in style. We couldn't have picked a better place. From our greeting at the door to the final moments of our meal, everything was wonderful. The menu is pretty extensive and we just were unsure where we wanted to start since everything looked so good. Thank god for their prix fixe menu. They had 3 options: carnivore, omnivore and vegetarian. Truly something for everyone. My BF opted for the carnivore (he was thoroughly stuffed and happy by the end of his meal) and I opted for the omnivore since there were so many seafood options I wanted to try. Just be warned that should you opt in for this, be prepared for no less than a 2.5hr dining experience. Most of the appetizers come small plate style except for the entree and dessert that come in a standard portion. I would say that every single thing I had was scrumptious from the Mysore lamb chops, Kerala shrimp pattie, pani puri, Chimichurri New York Strip to the main course of Lobster Portuguese stewed in a goan gravy + coconut rice + eggplant chip. WOW! If there was ever an excuse to return to Vermilion, it would be for this dish alone. It truly knocked my socks off and reminded of what comes out my grandmothers kitchen in Goa. It was so good that I am actually excited to bring my mother here so she can have a taste of her childhood that is not only authentic but memorable. Vermilion is a winner in my book.

Kevin K.

The cocktail creations are exceptional but very pricey, starter plates tend to be very flavorful with a heavy hand towards the heat, main dishes get more traditional Indian curry influence but tend to get lost in the heat. Wait staff was excellent. Final analysis; too hot, too $$$.

Adam M.

I'll cut right to the chase, this place is very nice but it's very expensive for food that I just did not enjoy. I ordered the following: Tapas - blue corn crusted scallops on a kali mirch latin calabasa goat cheese puree - jumbo crab-lobster cake malabar seasoning, tamarind olive tartar Main Course - chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs (an indian export to americas - tamarind/imli glaze + avocado pakoras, tomatillo pachadi) Good thing I ordered the Naan and some Pinot Noir to wash down the other food. I guess I should have gone to a cheaper place for my first Indian food experience.

Cira N.

OMG, tonight was the worst corporate event ever! Our company hosted 40 people at this restaurant. It was a 90+ degree day and when we got there at 6:15 it was very hot In the place. They said the windows were broke and were almost fixed and then we would feel the air conditioning. It only got hotter and when we finally got the manager to be honest with us, she said the air had been broken all day and someone was working on it. How about giving us a choice to be miserable, instead of letting greed override honesty....totally unacceptable. It's a no integrity kind of place.....the food and service didn't even help ease the discomfort. All in all terrible!

Yvonne O.

I came here for a group event and was excited to try the food because the husband is not a fan of anything with any real flavour, so he had been protesting our going. I won't comment on the issues invloving the handling of the group since I was not "in charge" of the contract and the typical person on Yelp is not really interested in their ability to handle 200 people at once. One thing I would say is that they were totally unfamiliar with buy-outs as they couldn't even put a sign on the door saying it was closed for a private event -I watched countless people wander in and look confused when they realized there were no tables for walk-ins. The food was done in a three course set meal, with everyone receiving the same three starters, a choice of entree between 4 items and a choice of dessert between two. I had the skirt steak with some sort of cold green sauce and while it was tasty, the meat was realy hard to cut with the butter knife they left me. The appetizers were good, but the sauce for the open-samosa came very late and half our table had eaten them already! I liked the artichoke item best, the chicken was just spicy and luke-warm. The dessert was awful. I got some kind of gooey chocolate mess with indian spices on top. Yuck. Not a good thing like the chocolate chipotle things I have had elsewhere - should have gone with the flan. The drinks were interesting - very watered down, even on the soda, but I guess they make their money this way. Sangria was okay (again, watery.) I can't say I will be back - maybe it is different in a non-event type setting, but the management and their interaction with us doesn't make me want to give them another try.

Carol W.

We came to Vermillion on a very snowy Monday night and were the only ones there. The place wsa recommended by my sister who is a vegetarian. We had the appetizer sampler which was two pieces of 4 different appetizers. The blue corn crusted scallops and the duck vindaloo arepas were our favorites. Neither of us liked the artichoke pakoras and the juhu ki pani puri was just ok... would have been better without the mint water. For an entree, I had the Butter Chicken, which was delicious. It was served with a side of Naan which was good, but very greasy. It would have been nice to have been served rice along with the butter chicken. You would think for $24 that rice would come with. We ended up ordering a side of rice. My guest ordered the Shrimp Curry and neither of us was impressed. The tamarind gave it a very odd... not at all curry-like flavor to it that was a little off putting. It was very soupy and was served with a very small side of rice. For desert, I ordered the Mango Flan which was delicious. My guest ordered the pumpkin sweet potato donut which was raw in the middle. We had to send it back. The next one they brought out was better, but rather tough. The flavor was good though. All in all, a good meal but I don't think we will be going back

Melissa M.

Amazing gluten-free options and the service was impeccable. Short ribs were so tender!

Jourdan S.

I had the paella. Not only was it bad, the rice was obviously not fresh and a few days old. The menu says it comes with squid, tilapia, clams, and mussels. That was a lie. It came with 2 shrimp, and 3 mussels. I brought this up to the server who was apologetic. Keep in mind I was having lunch with 2 others and the only other party in the whole place was one couple. The server alluded to rectifying the issue with desert but I was pressed for time and I told her I wasn't into sweets. Her back up was a round of drinks. I made it clear I wasn't interested in that either as I was headed back to a meeting. 2 minutes later, I'm presented with a round of drinks. Champange flutes with some red slurry and a wilted rose petal. Yelch. The interior design of this place looks like my bubbey from Boca Raton Florida, consulted a nouveau riche coke dealer from miami and the two of them went back to 1992.

George D.

Had dinner last night with a large group of friends and everything was outstanding. The shrimp, artichoke and scallop appetizers were very tasty, washed them down with one of their herb and spice drinks, great! The lobster main course was spot on, and the Indian nut cake and Peruvian donut made for a nice finish. Kudos to the chef, who clearly knows how to meld the tastes of India with Latin America. We'll be back.

Karan S.

This is the second time I've been here (neither on my own accord). Food is decent, nothing to brag about. I found the ambiance and the decor pretty sub standard for the type of restaurant they're projecting themselves to be. The 2 reasons I have such a low rating is 1) The food is ok, definitely not worth what they're charging. 2) We went in for a friends birthday and my buddy (who had organized the dinner) was told that the charge for cutting the cake (whether we do it or they do it) would be $70 (10 slices @ $7 a slice) for a cake that cost $50. Seriously !!!! This place is just not worth the effort.

Priyanka P.

One of my favorite places in Chicago. Beautiful blend of Indo-Latin cuisine. Satisfies all your taste buds. Separate meat and veggie menus- so many options to choose from! And, don't forget to try the shahi tukra for dessert!!!

Marc V.

This place was recommended to me by a client as a trendy yet authentic Indian restaurant! Since Im a big lover of Indian food, I had to give it a try! So I took the girlfriend over there last week on a thursday night. My 1st impression was, wow this restaurant really has a unique decor that I would not expect from an indian restaurant! We got rapidly seated since we had a reservation (Glad I took the time to make a reservation since the place was quite busy) Our server was really nice and answered all our questions about the menu in a very professional yet friendly manner. We started with the crab lobster cake to share and that was just unreal!! Then I had the Chimichurri NY strip and here again Vermillion did no disappoint! The meat was tender and tasty and that Chimichurri made the whole difference. I recommend that dish to any Ny Strip lover!!!! Overall an amazing experience at Vermillion, they also have a location in NYC I believe so I ll make sure to check it out during my next trip to the big apple! Thanks for the delicious food and the great atmosphere! We'll be back!!!

Jessica N.

I'm in between a 3 and a 4 here. I've been here 3 times and my most recent visit left me leaning towards the 3. Overall, the ambience is strange here. Almost everytime I'm here it is EMPTY. It makes for an awkward meal when you feel like you are the only ones in the restaurant. Where are all the people! And the service has always been a little awkward I've really liked most dishes I've had here, mostly because I love spice! If you don't like spicy food do NOT come here. Most of their entrees are delicious but my fav is the seafood soup/stew. Lamb shank good, NY strip good and spicy chimichurri! Their ribs were on the dry side so skip those. Also skip the mussel appetizer was very medium...mussels were bland. They poured the sauce tableside, but the mussels needed to be cooked IN the sauce to really get the flavor. No matter what you MUST try the chocolate lava cake. Dark chocolate + blackberry sorbet should be a regular. I love the fusion here. I hope they can get more people in the door to help the ambience and up the service a little!

Shaun K.

Love the food! (And that is coming from an Indian!) The flavors were rich and full of layers. The flavors and spice in the Butter Chicken were phenomenal and the dessert, which was full of nuts and cloves was awesome! The service was great and very attentive. Definitely will come here again!

Kat L.

Went here on a groupon. Reservation for 8:00. Finding parking was terrible. So we walked in about 8:12. Our table was given up. Fine. We sat to wait in the lounge area. Not so lounge-y. Oversized metal chairs with no cushion. Can't lay back and can't sit up straight. Really atrocious. no comfort at all for diners waiting to be seated. After 30 minutes (thanks to my kindle to keep me waiting).... hostess finally gives us a menu to order drinkings. 15 minutes later, drinks come. 10 minutes later, hostess says, " oh you're table's ready but we can't seat you until your tab is finished at the bar. Girl serving drinks takes our credit card for payment. then checks on another group of people in the lounge. then another group. then another group. and another. THEN takes the credit card to the machine to swipe our payment. Really, vermillion? it takes an hour to seat your guests on a reservation and you make people wait in crappy chairs and refuse to sit them when their table is ready b/c YOU can't get your act together we bought the Chopped tasting. $80 a piece or $160 for the both of us. Without a groupon, would have been $320. The food was okay. Most dishes were very spiced to the point of distraction. Very hit or miss. Some were salty. Nothing was that memorable. We were seated at 9 and out past 11. Didn't expect to be spending forever and a half there. With the deal, yes we paid $160. But if i were to spend that money anywhere, I'd expect some better service and better food. There's other places for fine dining.

Kris L.

Ambience: elegant, dark, lots of deep red decor Food: AMAZING flavors, definitely priced on the high end. I ate more of the Indian influenced flavor items and they were all amazing. Worth the cost: possibly? I'll only be coming here on special occasions...or with a groupon!

David M.

Just had the best dinner at Vermilion here in Chicago. Out of this world cuisine. A fusion of Indian food and Latin tapas. Every dish was a masterpiece of flavors. Server was impeccable, knowledgeable, and fun. The artichoke dish was my favorite.

Richie D.

If this picky Yelper deems that Vermilion is one of the GREATEST dining options in Chicago ... It must be pretty darn good! If you go, have the best experience possible by allowing the waiter named Michael serve you. He will take care of you with his sweet humor and attuned attentiveness. I think he knows the menu and ingredients better than the chef does! The ambiance is pleasantly decorated with all black, white and [go figure] ... VERMILION (reddish-orange) lounge take on things. Vermilion has combined two of my favorite cuisines: Nuevo Latino flair with Indian flavors. Don't turn away if you're not into spicy food or have food allergies, leave it all up to them to take care of you. I had to go with the 5-course, 10 element Pre-Fixe which was an abundance of food, yet just the right amount to still be able to clean off each plate. I went with the Seared Meat Pre-Fixe, but if you're not into meat there are a different Seafood and Vegetarian Pre-Fixe menus too! Looking in retrospect, the same dishes to make me goo-goo gaa-gaa as I glanced over the menu were all my favorites. -Chili-Glazed Tamarind Ribs (#1 choice of mine, and Padma from Top Chef agrees!) -Wild Boar Jibarito with Pear-Guajillo Chutney (gotta love plantains) -Duck Vindaloo Arepa brushed with Pomegranate Molasses (corn and duck together, genius!) -Seekh Kabob (similar to a Mediterranean meatball) -Flourless Chocolate Cake (accomadated perfectly with an Abuelita Hot Chocolate) ... And don't stop there and miss out on their strong, unique cocktails! Their cocktail menu is split up in a Herb&Spice and MoreSpice categories. If you like jalapenos, go for the Fresh Lime Pear+Green Chili Cocktail ... although a simple Mojito is also deliciously refreshing. Heads up though, the Cilantro Watermelon martini was not all that exciting :(. My one recommendation as a public health worker: Move the garbage in the Men's bathroom near the door so you can open the door with the towel and avoid any germs. Rich people get the flu too. Otherwise STELLAR!!

Dhara S.

Hubby and I went to Vermilion on our date-night. We arrived early, but our table was ready. The server was very friendly and knowledgeable. She gave us good suggestions. The Pani puri margarita was amazing. The food was highly okay - nothing great. Dessert was pretty bad. Prices are definitely on the higher end. Might go back - but only for drinks.

Luan N.

Tasting menu. Applaud their attempt to fusionize Latin and Indian. You would think the marriage between Latin and Indian would conceive the most beautiful dishes. But Vermillion is just one of those babies that come out ugly, and once she matures and hits adolescence, she is Miss Universe worthy. So keep experimenting and find that balance. One drink that peaked my palate was the coconut saffron creme cocktail. Never had anything like it. The pani puri margarita was also interesting with the combination of tamarind. Bluberry cardomonn fizz not so much. PIcs: yelp.com/biz_photos/woIo… yelp.com/biz_photos/woIo… yelp.com/biz_photos/woIo…

Jav P.

Diego G.

Antonia R.

Stephen P.

Monica Q.

Remember that this is not an Indian restaurant, but a fusion restaurant. With my party of five, we started off with some naan and another kind of bread. Neither were seasoned perfectly: the naan was way too salty and the other was not enough. I was disappointed by how mediocre the bread was considering I have gotten amazing naan at much cheaper Indian restaurants. The entres were much better. I got the shrimp curry and the waiter was very courteous in explaining to me which entrees had dairy and how it could be taken out. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and at the best tenderness, but I do not think it was worth the $26 price tag. Overall, the vibe of the place was very hip and the drinks had great presentation. However, I do not think the food is anything extra special and I do not think I will be returning here in the future. For this caliber of a restaurant, I can only give it 3 stars when at a different price I might have given it an extra.

Mahsa T.

Hubbard Street. Thursday night. Vermilion seemed awfully empty compared to all of the other restaurants in the area that were packed. Our server was not very knowledgeable about the menu. My dining companion and I decided that none of the entrees were particularly exciting so we ordered a few appetizers to go with our wine. The food is definitely more Indian than Latin. Some flavors overwhelmed the food, others were better balanced. The scallops and artichoke were good, the shrimp was decent, the chicken kabab was undercooked and my least favorite. Pricey for the small portions. Decor in here is at first striking but on second look, a bit gaudy. I had higher expectatios coming in because I had really liked a few things I ate at the Vermilion booth at the Taste of Chicago. All in all, Vermilion was a huge let down. That explains why it was empty.

Rich V.

We had 8:30 reservations and were seated around 9:00, despite there being open tables that were not the ones we reserved. Then the zaftig greeter copped the biggest attitude with us and left us there after our table was ready, because they had to "resize" the table, as our reservation dropped from 6 to 5...it was a round table. She had to take away, a plate, a wine glass and silver service. The food was hit and miss. This is supposed to be Indian and Latino fusion, though it was more like a mixed menu. The gazpacho is good but the Indian dishes are poor: butter chicken was terrible, more like a chicken tikka masala but the balance of flavors was thrown off, such that the complex mixture of curries was gone and instead you got red pepper. I also had the strip steak, which was a terrible cut of meat. I ended up sending it back. But the flavor was no fusion of anything. Slow service service on the drinks. It took over 10 minutes to get our drinks and then they never asked about a second round. The waiter was slow and lazy but nice. All in all this is a terribly managed business. We never saw the floor manager, which is probably why the hostesses were so poorly managing their table turn. Also, the bar was understaffed, as the two ladies behind the bar could not keep up with just the table service requests. In a good restaurant city like Chicago, this place should be out of business. Terribly managed and bad execution on the culinary side.

Nolan R.

Chicago is a fantastic city (among my top 5) with some of the best food I have had to-date. In fact, we never had bad service or a bad meal.. until we went to Vermilion. Up until that point, we had only experienced friendly hosts, incredible food, knowledgeable and attentive servers, and professional, charismatic management. When we walked into Vermilion, we were met with a sullen faced host/manager (?we couldn't tell) who seemed disinterested in speaking with, or engaging us, in any positive way. While our server seemed quite promising at first (knowledge of the menu was impressive), her service, and the overall quality of our night, deteriorated quickly. Appetizers may have been the only good thing about this place, but even then, "good" is largely a relative term, as everything else was so bad. Drinks took a long time (~10-15 mins), quality checks were sparse, and the food runners auctioned off our orders (Denny's style) and actually came to our table twice with the wrong food. The tandoori steak was bad, just awful; to say it was bland does not even scratch the surface. The prawn curry dish I ordered was mediocre at best, and served with rice that had sour, mushy patches in it (tasty right?). As soon as we were done eating, even though it was readily apparent that we were in the mood to keep drinking (half of us had full drinks), inexplicably, the server came out of nowhere and attempted to have us clear up! She would also ask us questions and literally leave either before we had answered OR AS WE WERE speaking with her. I am typically quite sympathetic with servers, but this was truly bad form. I was warned by a local that Vermilion was not the best option, I wish we had listened. I truly regret that this was one of our dining experiences when there were so many other great options in Chicago.

Stuart M.

As a visitor from out of town, I found Vermillion through Yelp, and what a great tip it was too. Well at least for the food. I found the ambiance of the restaurant a bit sterile and eerily quiet (was a Sunday night mind you). Service was a tad slow and not exactly what you would call overly interested. Not rude mind you, just kind of blase. The four stars though is for the food. Who would have know a fusion of Indian and South American would work so well. But it does! The meal began with an amuse which was a nice suprise. We then ordered the artichoke pakoras, cilantro tamarind shrimp, caldeirada de peixe (a take on bouillabaisse) and a lobster special of the evening. Everything was fantastic, the flavours were spot on, I couldn't fault a thing. I tried a couple of their specialty cocktails too which were also great. For the caliber of restaurant, in a popular Chicago tourist area, I was happy with the prices too. Very reasonable, we left content and happy. Will definitely return if in the area.

Bart V.

Tiny portions, both for the tapas and the mains, food lukewarm upon arrival and spotty service. Wasted $76 here and left hungry.

Lu H.

I give this place a 3 star because the food was decent and their dessert Shahi Tukda blew me away! BUT, if I didn't have the groupon, the bill would've been over $100 for two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert--I don't think the price was justified by the actual food delivered. Don't get me wrong, my fiance and I have been to Alinea/Next/Charlie Trotter etc., in my mind, the meals were worth the money at those restaurants. However, Vermillion was not there. We had duck vindaloo/artichoke for appetizers, Brazilian seafood stew and red fish curry for entree. They were yummy, but that seafood stew tasted like some thai dish I've had at some thai restaurant. The fish curry was very spicy, I like spicy food, but I think the spice was overpowering the actual flavors of the food, not enhancing it. The only thing on the menu that I think was worth the price is the Shahi Tukda. OMG that cake was sooooo good. If you happen to go to Vermillion, you have to order the dessert.

R K.

Latin Indian fusion is a great idea, but this place is much much much more Indian than Latin. It's also a bit too expensive for what you get, but the quality is good.

Mary Ann C.

Groupon in hand, my sister and I headed to Vermillion last night before a show! We were greeted warmly at the door and promptly asked whether we wanted the veggie or regular menu. My sister asked for both and I asked for the regular menu. When we were seated, I was presented with the veggie menu, my sister the regular, and rather than a drink menu, we were given a dessert menu! This was, luckily, the only flaw of the meal, but more attention to detail would be better when seating patrons. The restaurant was sleek with black, white, and red. Michael C. was our waiter, and he was AMAZING! He immediately took back the dessert menus, without our prompting, and went into great detail about the drinks. He highlighted all of the specialty drinks in great gusto. I especially enjoyed my cucumber mint martini! For appetizers, we had the artichokes and hearts of palm. Stunning! Both were complicated and delicious. He also said the scallops were amazing, but my sister does not eat fish (will save this for my next visit). For entrees, Michael was very, very helpful and steered me toward the fish stew, and this was a hit for me. A variety of fish and veggies in a broth! Yumm. My sister had a cauliflower vegetarian entree which was also delicious, based on the bite I swiped when she wasn't looking! My sister was not up for dessert, so I will also give this a shot on my next trip. This place was fabulous, and I cannot wait to return!

Lance R.

In order of goodness on appetizers: Duck vindelos- pomegranate spicy crunchy goodness. Chicken kabobs-tender and juicy Artichoke pagodas incredible Scallops crusted in blue corn -wow Cocunut chili mussels - drink the soup Main courses chimichuri ny strip steak rocks- very spicy Lobster was creamy and good.

Adwait K.

I really had high hopes for this place after everything I had heard and all the hype surrounding its famous chef-owner. When we got there around 8:30 on a saturday night the place was almost empty. The server was extremely friendly and gave us great tips for ordering from a menu that looked a little strange to us coz of the all the weird fusion stuff going on. So we were off to a good start. For drinks we had a lychee ginger martini, a cucumber mint martini and mango mint mohito. The drinks were definitely top-notch and extremely delicious!!! So 5 stars there for sure! For the appetizers we shared the "degustation of 4 appetizers" which includes about two bites of 4 different dishes that the chef chooses. On this day there was a duck appetizer, which neither of us are fans of, so we got the chicken doubled and we had two other different vegetarian dishes. One was pani puri and the other was artichoke something. These were all awesome! The main course is where things started to go downhill. We ordered butter chicken and the goat mutton. The butter chicken was great, but lets get real, butter chicken is very hard to screw up (even if you try it at home, its pretty easy. Takes forever, but still easy). The goat mutton was not so great. It was way too spicy (even for indians), some pieces of the mutton were overcooked, some were undercooked. Even the pieces that were nicely cooked were very unsatisfying. I ended up not eating most of it and just ate the butter chicken. Both these entrees came with naan, which was also extremely disappointing. It really didn't have that fresh naan feel or taste to it. The dessert was the worst part. There was actually a chocolate cake on the menu with some type of chili masala. Are you kidding me???? More spice? I think by the time we get to the dessert most people have had enough spice. None of the other items on the menu looked appealing at all. Once look at the dessert menu and we just asked for the check. Even without the dessert, we had spent wayyy too much money. I dont think we would come back here. Definitely not with a group, coz you'll end up paying a small fortune to feed more than 4 people. Its a nice place if you want to try something new. But if you're going here to satisfy your craving for 'modern' indian food, you will probably leave unsatisfied. If you're from the suburbs its definitely NOT worth the trek downtown. There are much better options in the burbs, in every burb. Heck, there are much better options downtown as well.

Dee C.

Went last night, part of Restaurant week..Menu was a bit underwhelming. 3 of the 4 of us went for the $44 menu. This restaurant wasn't my pick but I was super excited to try it.. All the yelps that I saw mentioned said they were over charged. guess what......we were too. SHADY. Oh, the music was awful, didn't suit the nice decor, felt like I was in a Lincoln Park Bar at 2am.

E T.

Not worth the price! Long wait to get food/bill, the portion of food was small and the server overcharged us at the end of the night. I don't mind small portions if the food is truly amazing, but 5 small chunks of chicken in a 24 dollar dish is ridiculous. Ordered the nut cake dessert - $9 for a tiny square, if I'm paying that much think it should come with ice cream or something. Wished I just went to forever frozen around the corner. You can get way better indian food on west devon at a fraction of the price. Hostess was also in a foul mood. Music was horrible and the decor was pretty whack (naked photos of women in the bathroom?) So glad I used a groupon - otherwise I'd be kicking myself. Really not worth the wait or the price!

Harini P.

What a joke! As a south Indian, I was raised on the most delicious succulent food imaginable. I remember being a small child and sitting on the counter as my mother made fragrant dishes and always coming back to sneak bites when she was in the pantry. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday because it combined two of my favorite cuisines- Indian and Latin. It was a disappointing beyond belief. I know that the chef is Indian and a huge Food Network star but I really don't understand why. We started our dinner off with scallops. They were perfectly cooked but the flavor was off, it tasted sour and not good. I ordered the lamb shank gassi. Let me start off by saying that I love lamb, I am totally and utterly obsessed with lamb. This lamb was dry and there was no flavor. The spices were very 1 dimensional. It tasted like the lamb had been cooking forever in the spices that were old. There wasn't enough salt, heat or flavor. It was just lacking all around. I wanted to complain about the food but that would require the servers to ever walk around. Since they never bothered to come around, we just ate, paid and left a very poor tip. As a previous service employee, this hurt me deeply. I do not blieve in leaving bad tips but this service required it. My boyfriend ordered the lobster portuguese MP. The only thing on the plate that was decent was the rice. The lobster was overpowered by the spices that were again under salted and the lobster was chewy. What a total and utter disappointment! What upset us even more? When we left, the next day were were both fighting for the bathroom and the only common meal we shared was at Vermillion. So, I called the manager to report it (I worked in F&B and ran 10 bars and 4 restaurants) in hopes they would catch the bad item and stop serving it. I was told that I was wrong and talked to like I was an idiot by the rude manager who apparently has no customer service experience. He kept bragging about the restaurant instead of apologizing and promising to look into it. How dissapointing! I love supporting my fellow Indiana, when they success it helps the rest of us but this is a huge disappointment and embarrassment for all Indians, everywhere! I had to say, the menu isn't really creative. In India we have pani puri sold on every street corner by every cart vendor. What is so special about it here? Nothing, especially nothing worth paying $8 for when it cost them less than $.50. Save your money, go somewhere where they know how to cook.

Ashley C.

We came here when we purchased a Groupon deal one weeknight to break up the work week. I was excited to try the place since we've seen the chef on Chopped. The food was very good, however, this just isn't going to be a "spot" of mine. For appetizers, we had the blue corn crusted scallops (loved the sauce and they were cooked perfectly), the crab cake, and the shrimp. The scallops were my favorite. For dinner, we got the tandoori skirt steak and the butter chicken (which I knew as chicken tiki masala). Both were very, very good and I loved the chicken's sauce, which was perfect with the naan bread. The service was okay. Our server was friendly, but a bit slow. She was also training someone and the trainee just wasn't very pleasant. She gave off an "unfriendly" vibe and looked annoyed to be there. The environment was nice, but they need to bump the AC - it was warm in there (enough to be distracting). With the groupon, it was a good value, but I just don't think I'd pay regular price for the food. There are other places I'd rather go.

Brian F.

Very strange evening. The restaurant itself is just ugly. I can't imagine who came up with the decorating scheme but it just doesn't work and it seemed unfinished. For a Friday night at 7:30pm it was no where near capacity but did fill mostly by the time we left. From the hostess to many of the servers we encountered we also had a feeling of being unfinished. Lack of training or management maybe, but when a server comes to your table to explain what's on your plate and cannot, there is a problem there. Our assigned waitress, on the other hand, was professional, friendly and attentive. Luckily we were dining on the Open Table coupon for $60 off the $120 "Chopped, Next Iron Chef & Iron Chef Tasting Menu". It was kind of a cool concept with 3 appetizer courses, a 2-course "mystery basket" entree, and a dessert course. Standouts were the yummy fish papdum tacos, naan tandoor sandwich, and kabab dog chicken. Losers were the crab-watermelon steak (bad flavor combo) and the potato 3-way ravioli which had a delicious sauce but the ravioli was so small I couldn't taste anything. My choices of scallops and rack of lamb for the "mystery basket" were excellent. Both were perfectly cooked. The scallops were served with a tamarind sauces and the lamb with a spicy, brown, Indian sauce (can't remember the name). My wife chose the same sauces with Paneer and Cauliflower. The cauliflower was overcooked and the paneer was undercooked having a chalky texture in the middle. We sent the paneer back and it came back much better. The final dessert course was the best of all. The Avocado Beignet was spectacular and, since I got the wine tasting accompaniment, a blueberry cardamom fizz. OMG that was really good! For $60 per plate the meal was very satisfying but I would have felt cheated if I had paid the full $120 per plate. I would definitely come back here to try some of the other dishes.

Rui L.

Came here last night for friends birthday. The restaurant was half empty which was unusual for restaurants around this area, then later the food explains everything. My friends and I sat there for a while before the waitress finally greets us and bring more menus over. As we were trying to order, the waitress could never hear any questions we asked, basically we had to repeat the question once if not more. We ordered 2 bottles of wine, so didn't get to try any of their cocktails. For appetizer, I ordered chicken bombay frankie, which was highly recommended by a friend, and chimichurri new york strip for entree. Bombay frankie was such a disappointment, the flavors were no different from a chicken wrap burrito people can order from a fast food restaurant, and with the price i'm paying, I am expecting a lot more flavors. The new york strip was a little on the dry side, had the spiciness from the chimichurri sauce, but other than the spiciness, there wasnt much other flavors from it, sweet potato that came with the steak was really dry, and flavorless. I also got to try the butter chicken from a friend...although it was a good dish, but definitely could get it else where for a lot cheaper price. Indian and Latin american fusion should go very well together since they use a lot of similar spices, but I don't think Vermillion pulled it off. I guess there is a reason why the restaurant was half empty at 730pm on a Friday night.

Marki V.

. X X LL II II X X LL II II Super Bowl X LL II II X X LL II II X X LLLLLL II II BBBBB OOOO OOOO BB B O O O O BBBBB O O O O BB B O O O O BBBBB OOOO OOOO No, I am not a Patriots fan. Heck, I don't even understand the game. But I hate Superbowl! I ended up working the Superbowl weekend in Schaumburg area and I decided to checkout Vermilion as the Latin-Indian fusion sounded fantastic. So after making the drive and finding a perfect parking at Hubbard & State, I walked over to Vermilion but only to find that they were closed for Superbowl Sunday...urrrrrrgh! Superbowl sucks! I should be booed for this UN-Useful, UN-Funny, UN-Cool review!

Chad D.

A little overpriced. I'm pretty sure this was the first place where I ate a five-course meal, so that whole experience was new and exciting to me, but the food didn't seem to be worth three or four times as much as I could have paid at a less snobby place. Their predetermined combination dinners are probably the way to go if you haven't been here before. My overall conclusion is that you could get better and cheaper Indian and Latin foods separately elsewhere. Maybe someday someone will realize that they, too, can fuse these two cuisines, but charge half the price (even in downtown Chicago!) and have a good shot at putting Vermilion out of business.

Deanne K.

I'd been to Vermilion several years back, and although I never thought it was an amazing restaurant, I recall that the food was quite good - and certainly good enough to test it out again on a Groupon. How wrong I was. The experience was a huge disappointment, and if I could give it a half-star, I'd rate Vermilion a 1.5. So that this review isn't a total downer, let me start with some positives -- the restaurant is in a really fun area of town, making it really convenient to walk to some great places before or after for a cocktail. There seemed to be a pretty good vibe going on inside, and I also really like the Indian-Latin fusion concept. Creative stuff. However...the bottom line with Vermilion is that the food is way below average, and the service is only OK. Both of these things are unacceptable - especially when you're looking at entrees between $20 and $35. A few things to point out that figured into my rating: - My husband ordered a cocktail, which turned out to be just a glass of ice with maybe a splash of alcohol (and a "splash" might be being generous) - For appetizers we tried the blue corn crusted scallops (claimed by our server to be the best appie on the menu) and the juhu ki pani puri. Both of these items came out in less than 5 minutes after we ordered them. Based on that strangely short prep time and the quality of the food, I'd argue that they had these items prepped hours in advance. The scallops were luke-warm and rubbery...the juhu ki pani puri was like a really bad appetizer you'd get at a wedding. Just bad food, guys,. - For dinner we got the vermilion thali and caldeirada de peixe (seafood stew). While eating these entrees (which, by the way, came out in a mere 10 minutes!) I kept daydreaming that I was at one of my favorite Indian spots on Devon (for about 1/4th of the cost). My guess is that Vermilion will stick around for a little longer because of it's location and the fact that the concept intrigues; however, I hope that others catch on soon. This restaurant is a far cry from the 3.5 star average it's currently getting on Yelp...I don't get it.

Erika G.

Gorgeous, original restaurant. The concept - a fusion of Latin and Indian flavors is a great idea. They had versions of Indian street food that I was intrigued by, as I love street food. Everything we had was delicious - and the bluebarry mojitos - YUM! Very swank place, so "Mr. Big + Carrie on a date" - so stylish. I didn't find it too-too terribly expensive, either. I love this restaurant, really need to work up a hot date to come here with!

Kelly B.

Amazing! I went on recommendation from the Trump concierge with my significant other. As he is Indian and I always enjoy Indian cuisine, we were excited to try it. We received excellent service and liked every dish, even though it was all at least slightly different from most things we had ever tasted. It was a great food experience with multiple pleasant surprises to indulge the palate. We will likely return.

Harpreet K.

I'm not gonna front like this is some jumpin' off, crazy hip scene. It's not. I got there at 6:30 on a Thursday and it was like death warmed up, so that raised an initial red flag. But, BIG BUT, the food/service delivered, and the place eventually filled up. The Lobster Portuguese is indeed delish, but I REALLY loved the shrimp served with a spicy red sauce over coconut rice, the scallops w/ blue corn crust, the lamb kebab (dyemm boyeeee!), the FANTASTIC mixed-fruit drinks, and the slick white leather booths. Our waitress was calm, cool, and collected; seemed to be cultivating some kind of internal zen garden. lucky bitch. Minus two stars b/c it was way overpriced; could only afford it b/c my loaded and generous cousin was in town to foot the bill.

J O.

worth a trip: interesting cocktails, great tapas, good use of spices and meats. Service is Chicago-friendly, dress is office causal or a little fancier, prices are NYC reasonable

kurosh d.

We went here twice. The first time was on Valentine's Day. It took us an hour to be seated, but it was perfect after that. The service was great and everything on the Vday prix fixe was awesome. It was so good that when we were in the area and free, we decided to go a second time. It took 10 minutes for someone to greet us at the door. 15 minutes after being seated, the waitress asked if we wanted a drink and then hurried away without saying another word. At this point, we still had no water. I flagged her down 10 minutes, to order, as she left a neighboring table the same way. It took 45 minutes after that for our appetizer to arrive. 2 minutes after the appetizer, our steaks arrived, luke warm. For the first time ever, I complained to the manager. He said he would "take care of us." This consisted of comping a $15 dessert. The bill was $150 with the comp - hardly taking care of anything. I have never experienced such poor service at a high end restaurant. My stomach was extremely upset afterwards and my girlfriend's still is the next day. I'll let you guys know if she has food poisoning.

Manya T.

The vegetarian menu (available by special request) was a dream. The blue corn encrusted hearts of palm with goat cheese was outstanding. I got the Cauliflower Goan, which I thought was incredible. Dessert didn't disappoint either- the goat cheese cheesecake was light and amazing; the fennel oil cake with pistachio ice crea was also a delight. A vegetarian dream (and many of the veggie items are also vegan). Try it out!

Todd W.

We used the groupon for the 5 course tasting and it was outstanding. A real treat. I know there have been mixed reviews, but we were very pleased and still talking about it two days later. Sure, it's pricey, but we treated ourselves and we were not disappointed (yes, the groupon helped). Our waiter, Jaron, was awesome. I noticed tables near us weren't treated to the same attention Jaron provided us, but our experience with him was perfect. He took the time to describe each course, including suggestions on a pre-meal drink and a bottle of wine.

Jennifer L.

Interesting menu, good food, questionable service. Our waitress was so strange. Whenever she recited her spiel she was pleasant, but then as soon as we asked her a question, she became rude. For instance: We look at the menus for about 8 minutes, then she comes by to take our drink orders. We place them. She then says "Ok, I'll just give you a few minutes to look at the menu" One of us pipes up "Actually, I think we're ready to order now." "Oh." Blink, blink. "Well, um, ok." Sigh. ...and so it went, all evening. I don't know....maybe she's just new and we interrupted her rhythm with our questions about the possibility of having a steak knife, getting wine WITH the main course (not before), etc.. Still, I'd try Vermilion again. If I see her working, I'll just ask to be seated in a different section.

Amy R.

Never thought you could mix Latin and Indian together and get something tasty, but I also came in here with an aversion to the latter (due to some unpleasant prior experiences). The atmosphere somewhat resembles a sleek bachelor pad: red, white, and black, with curtains to break up the starkness of the room. We caught a girl asleep in a guy's arms on one of the leather couches as we left, so it must have been cozy! Our waitress was pleasant and helpful, recommending her favorites and not-so-favorites off the menu - she picked out a wonderful South American wine and recommended her top appetizers and entrees. For apps, I had the plantains (texture seemed off, but they were still delicious) and the ceviche, which was tasty. For me entree, I ordered the tandoori skirt steak with plantain chips, which I think it would have been better if it weren't so fatty. I must have had a bad cut of meat, because everyone else who ordered the same thing enjoyed theirs. I also tried someone's mussels, which tasted slightly fishy, but I think that might have been attributed to the stew, and not the mussels themselves. The chocolate molten cake was perfectly moist, and had a good balance of berries and a mole that gave it a nice kick. The naan (which I never liked before) was also perfectly baked. The prices seemed a bit exorbitant for what you were served, but the wine looked like it was a steal.

Tina T.

Actually 3.5 stars for this unique restaurant. I have to admit that I am not a fan of Indian food, although I've been experimenting with it more over the past year. But I loooove Latin American food, so when we were searching for a different type of restaurant to celebrate our anniversary, Vermillion seemed like an interesting mix of exotic flavors and cultures. The decor was really sleek, very modern with lots of red , black and concrete. Lots of comfortable couches in the bar area, and a full service bar. They do specialty cocktails, with a variety of herb and spice martinis; they also offer the typical Latin cocktails, which we ordered. We shared a couple of different appetizers and entrees. I will agree with one of the previous comments that the food is probably more Indian with a Latin spice to it. There are several specialties which are actually fusion dishes; then there are about 8 different Indian dishes. There are several seafood entrees and a couple of vegetarian dishes as well. Of particular note was the goat stew with nan; I tasted it and the gravy was really delicious. I also enjoyed the scallops appetizer; it was in a goat cheese curry sauce, which was delectably good. Delicious sides included radishes in a yogurt sauce. Food portions were not huge, although I suspect that the portions they served were truer to the actual size than what we would normally serve in America. My husband had recently been to India on business, and he said the food was good at Vermilion, but not quite as spicy. Probably more aiming to American tastes; I thought it was very spicy and pungent! It was definitely pricey, with entrees averaging around $28, and cocktails around $11 each. Service was good, although we were not able to get a table for a long time, so we ended up eating at the bar, which was fine and comfortable. All in all, Vermillion is an interesting fusion restaurant that is worth trying once. I don't know that I would go back again though, as the combination of prices and portions and food was not outstanding enough to warrant another visit.

Jeremy M.

Went back for dinner and had a great experience. There are great options for small plates, traditional three-course, or tasting menu. The originality was still the shining moment. That said, it was a heavy cardamom night. The duck arepas that were so good before were a little too strong of cardamom. Then when it reappeared repeatedly later on, it got a little tiring. But I think this was simply a feature of the vagaries of the night, not a systematic problem. For the price, it is still a great, original meal.

Anthony Z.

Overpriced and mediocre at best. Okay, the scallop appetizer was pretty good, and the concept of joining Indian and Hispanic cuisine does work, but the prices are out of whack for what you get, and the whole decor, while initially inviting, seems a little cheap and thrown together. And despite all the red in this place, nothing is really painted vermilion, which is sort of irritating. Also notable is that this seems to be a place past its prime. Arriving at 730, there were very few table occupied. It did fill in later, though. Hostess was a hot mess, but service was outstanding!

M E.

Was not too impressed by the food. The mix of Indian and Latin was eh at best. However, the scallops with whatever rub were amazing. Only saving grace for the meal. They held a special Bollywood event with dancers that was entertaining. Overall - go somewhere else.

K C.

We came on a Sunday for dinner during Restaurant Week and ordered off the RW menu, so my review pertains to that food. Food: Excellent - Appetizers: We had the duck and the tandoori chicken "Next Iron Chef" selections. The chicken was our favorite - delicious. - Entrees: We had the ginger-mojito chicken and chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs. Both were melt in your mouth and so flavorful. - Dessert: Mango flan topped with coconut whip - so rich and tasty! Atmosphere: Modern and trendy - We liked the mood and general atmosphere. My husband had a slight issue being seated so close to the other tables (we could have stolen bites of their food), but it wasn't a problem for me. (Plus, I like to eavesdrop, so that was fun.) Service: No complaints - Our server was very knowledgeable about the entire menu and answered all our questions. - Very attentive, never waited too long for the next course or refills. Overall, we really like Vermillion. It's a little pricey to go to often, but we might go back again for a special occasion.

aneel u.

I've been here 3 times total now..2 times we've ordered off the regular menu, and this past weekend, my husband and I went for the Groupon special "Iron Chef" menu... The first two times here were AMAZING. I'm Indian, and I've had my share of Indian food, but the "fusion" aspect of the menu is really fantastic. The flavors, the textures, everything was spot on. Prices are somewhat high, but they're on par with finer dining in Chicago. So...the groupon tasting menu advertised itself as a half-off deal for ten courses that the chef either created on her Iron Chef America battle, or that she had created while in competition to be the Next Iron Chef....here's where it starts to get weird. First off, it wasn't 10 "courses" so much as it was 3 courses with 2 bites each, a main course, and a dessert course. That's fine, 10 courses is way too much food, and for $50 bucks, what we got was completely fairly priced (wayyyy too overpriced if you are paying $100/pp though). Secondly, I'm not sure what the deal was, but we had reservations for 7 pm on a Saturday night. After being seated promptly, each plate was RUSHED out for us. We got through the first 3 plates in about 15 minutes. I'm not sure why they were trying to rush us out. I understand they are probably taking a hit with the Groupon deal, but we ordered drinks, so it wasn't as though we were complete mooches. We were not pleased with leaving dinner at 8:15. The 10 "courses"...some were actually things we had seen her make during the battles or on Next Iron Chef, but about half were things that are on the regular menu every night. That wasn't such a bad thing, as we love the Lobster Portuguese and artichoke pakoras anyway, but still a bit misleading. In short, the Iron Chef/Groupon thing kind of soured us on this place. I'm sure we'll come back for the regular menu at some point (particularly if someone else is paying), but it'll be a while.

K B.

Let me start by saying the food was absolutely delicious. However, interior and setting also play an important part of the dining experience. And unfortunately, in that respect, Vermilion is somewhat lacking. The decor needs to be updated and the ambiance feels confused.. like it's doesn't know if it wants to convey fine dining or a trendy lounge. The prices reflect a very elevated fine dining experience, but the restaurant, as is, doesn't quite provide that. The food is there, but everything else.. not quite. And at that level, it needs to be a complete experience.

Josh E.

First, let me get something off my chest: They spelled the name of the restaurant wrong, right? I mean, normal rules of spelling would indicate that there are, in fact, two L's in the word. Or maybe it's just my twitchy typing fingers that insist on the two L rule... Went out to Vermilion last night with a team of coworkers. We were greeted by a humorous and laid back waiter who kept the drinks coming and instructed the chef of our needs excellently. He really took care of us. We started with an assortment of appetizers, chosen by the waiter and chef. My favorite was the pani puri...little puffed shells filled with a drop of spiced potatoes. Yuuum. The waiter told us that some of the appetizers have as many as 35-45 ingredients. That's impressive...but I don't see how all those ingredients would fit into such tiny appetizers. ;-) (I kid, I kid.) The main course was excellent. Our waiter recommended the Caldeirada de Peixe, and I obliged. It was excellent. Great mix of seafood and plenty of spice. The bowl that it came in was a little strange...it was tipped sideways, so a little spillage happened at first. Still, the meal was great. A lot of people at the table chose the special, which was a mixture of the Tapenade Crusted Filet Mignon and Lobster Portuguese. That also looked quite tasty. We followed up with a spread of desserts. My fave was the molten chocolate cake. Yum. Great drinks too. Nice ambiance. Good stuff.

Julia K.

Thanks to our server, Mr. Up-Sell, I got to sample a wide variety of Vermilion's dishes and cocktails. In return, Vermilion got a large chunk of the cash in my wallet. We had a table for 9 people and the bill came out to be about $750 people (=$80/person) which included entrees, drinks, appetizers and tip. Everyone left satisfied with the food, but that final price dampered the mood. Part of the problem were the tini-tiny $12 drinks. Paying $8 for a virgin martini (juice) was also cute. Given all that, the food was pretty darn good. Our table got plaintain croquettes, Pani puri, mussels and artichoke pakoras for appetizers. All were tasty. For entrees, I split an Amazonian seafood stew and a Tandoori Paneer. I really liked the stew, but I think if I ordered the Paneer on its own, it would not have been very filling. Also, if I ordered the stew to split, it would've been enough, but Mr. Up-Sell would have none of that! Ok, overall, if you go here just for 1 entree and a glass of wine, it would probably be a good deal. However, if you want an entire meal to sample several things on the menu, prepare to pay big bucks.

Ryan C.

I like the Indian/Latin fusion idea, but didn't really get that excited about it when I saw the menu. It was definitely different, and good experience, but I'm not rushing to go back. The service was great. We had some strange flour shells that you poured some mint concoction into before you ate. Those were just ok...fun to eat, that's about it. That's all. Definitely go and try it if you're looking for something unique.

Matthew S.

An interesting fusion restaurant as a 'less-touristy' alternative than the garbage within a 4 block radius. While fusion has been done a little better at other places (Le Lan, Opera) I really did enjoy most of the food here. For me , the cocktail menu was a welcome departure from unimaginative, bandwagon attempts at creativity. Of the four I shared with some friends, almost all were less sweet and more challenging than a majority of the 'apple martini type' options elsewhere. The atmosphere and decor was fairly modern and a bit over the top (read the very top of their menu for their 'inspiration'), but liked the look of the place. What they got right: Our server was awesome, very attentive and passionate about the restaurant without going overboard selling us Extreme Fajitas at Flingers. She knew the wine list, was quick to offer suggestions tailored to each person, and was up front about how long different parts of the meal took to prepare. My food was pretty good overall. I had one tapas plate, the blue corn crusted scallops + goat cheese which was excellent. Very nice combo of flavors and textures. For the main course, I went with a pistachio crusted veal chop. While very good, another yelper accurately described it as a bit fatty on the edges. The curry and flavors across the entire plate were great, though. The wine selection by the glass was excellent, with enough variety for my table to mix it up a little with dinner (Try the Salentein Cab - big fan). My gripes: The one bartender we had before we sat for our meal was 'not quite with it'. Drinks took forever and the place was empty, he forgot one of the drinks ON the order, and then he dumped my credit card into the sink (accident, no big deal - icing on the cake, though). Prices were a bit higher than they should have been across the board, but no surprise given the neighborhood. Would have given it 4 stars for the food (probably 5 in our case for our server) if the value had been a bit better. I will go back, so I guess that's the important part.

Olga L.

Went here with Hubby during one of our Restaurant Hopping adventures. Decor is beautiful and we really liked the bar area. The food, however, was hit or miss. I think they try and do all this over-the-top stuff and it doesn't quite hit the mark. We had a croquette thing that really was unidentifiable and my Hubby still shudders to this day just remembering what that tasted like. Needless to say, we never went back. Permanently on the Must Miss List...

v m.

you know, i'm on the fence between a 2 and a 3 for this. mainly because yelp goes "meh i've experienced better" (2) vs "a-ok" (3) for the most part i enjoyed the experience but i think that was more because of the company...when we first tried to make reservations, the manager was nice - but almost too nice. a bit fake really. then we called several times, receiving voicemail and even sent an email. nothing. i had to stop by the restaurant and ask them if the number and email address were correct, with the excuse being, "sorry we're so busy" - i dont mind and that's great. but don't tell someone to use email/phone if you aren't going to be diligent about it, right? anyhow, our waiter was very talkative but also very forgetful. in fact, we ended up getting an extra order and because the folks i was with were very accommodating we ended up eating (and obviously paying) for a dish we didn't order. had to send back one of the dishes because it was cold and the paneer didn't taste fresh. otherwise, the food was really pretty decent. appetizers were especially good (i just switched my review to a 3) ...but in the end, the service, for a place of this "caliber" (based on other reviews) was just ok. and the bill did not match up to the experience, altho, as i will say again - i did have a great time because of the company.

Chris B.

Went to Vermilion on a Saturday night, and got a table right away, we did have a reservation but got there about 45 mins early and they were happy to accommodate us. Right off the bat I was very impressed by the the decor and art work on the walls. Soft electronic music played in the back ground that really tied the experience together. Our server showed up promptly and offered us complementary Voss sparkling water. He was very knowledgable of all the elements on the menu. we had a groupon for there Iron Chef & Next Iron Chef Battles off menu Indian-Latin dinner. We also ordered off of there Pre-fixe five course tasting menu, both were exceptional. Our server explained in detail each item on both of the dishes as each corse came out. I would recommend this place to anyone who isn't afraid of a spicy food because most dishes contain a heat element.

A.S. V.

I was excited to see this unique idea, a fusion of Indian and Latin American flavors, two of my favorite cuisines. I'm afraid it won't do so well, however, since this is the Midwest, and people are frightened to try anything remotely adventurous, particularly in tourist-heavy Streeterville. I avoided the tapas and went straight for the vindaloo. Wonderful mixes of spices and chutneys, everything tasted and smelled delicious. The molten chocolate cake might just be one of the best I ever had.

Julia K.

I went there for a business dinner in 2007 with a large group of coworkers, because it was a favorite of my boss at the time. I have to say, I was completely impressed. I love Latin American food, but not Indian, but the fusion totally worked for me nonetheless. Duck vindaloo arepa was my favorite of the appetizers. Also highly impressive was the dessert we had. I cannot remember what it was, but I remember sweetness, heat, and avocado flavor. It was intense and amazing.

Patti B.

We were looking forward to trying Vermilion ever since my boyfriend heard that an alum of his company started it. Unfortunately, our experience wasn't the best and for that price we'd rather go back to one of our favorites instead. We decided to get the five course meat option since we wanted to try a bit of everything, but we also wanted to try the lobster so we asked if we could have a bit during the meal. We started off with an amuse bouche consisting of a tiny glass of red soup and a bite of minty shaved ice. The balance was nice, but the ice didn't prepare us at all for the spiciness of our first course, which was a lamb shank paired with some pickled veggies and something else I can't remember. The sauce was really spicy and the lamb was overcooked with a charred crust. I normally like my meat slightly on the cooked side but this was a little much even for me, so it wasn't the best start. After this first (tiny) course, we waited for over 45 minutes before our second course came. By this time, we were really hungry, my boyfriend was on his second drink, and we didn't have any bread or naan to munch on. When our second course finally arrived, my boyfriend not-so-jokingly asked if the next course would be quicker, and after that service sped up dramatically. I think our waitress felt bad because we ended up receiving an extra course from the seafood option, which was the ceviche and tamarind shrimp, as well as little plates of plantain chips and dip and glasses of rose champagne at the end. Highlights of the meal were: the tamarind ribs that Padma loves (delicious sauce and very tender), the duck vindaloo (as well as the other thing on the plate, but I can't remember what it was sadly), and the channa saag that came with the veal (again, the meat was overcooked, but everything else on the plate was yummy). We also liked the "soup" third of our dessert trio - I think it was the cardamom saffron coconut cocktail, but I'm not sure. In the end, I'm glad we got the five course option because I think otherwise we would have been hungry, but I would have been happier if the meat was consistently well cooked and the service had been great to start off with. The music was too loud and it was difficult to hear each other, too, although that may be because we didn't get one of the cozy booths along the sides. [3.5 stars] I'm rounding down on Yelp because I simply can't give a 4 for the whole experience, although I do think I'd come back for the ribs and the duck

Nate S.

Indian and Latin food are perhaps my two favorite cuisines so naturally you'd think that I'd like Vermillion ... and I do! The sort of place that's easy to forget about but is a great alternative when you have friends or 'rents in from out of town or are stuck in the Loop for whatever reason. Vermilion is not equal parts Latin and Indian; both the menu and the flavor profiles of the food favor the Indian side by at least a 3:1 ratio. The important part is that it works; the flavors are aggressive but the chef has a good enough tongue to keep everything in balance. It doesn't get five stars because it can be a little inconsistent on a number of different fronts: I went one time when the air conditioning was out, for example, and they tend to overcook (and overprice) their lobster, and the service is sometimes fantastic and sometimes kind of meh. But at its best it can be one of the better dining experiences in the city (your experience *has* to end with the Vermilion hedonism, by the way). Generally worth the gamble.

Julie A.

We went to Vermilion for Valentines, our first choice was booked and they seated us right away. We were unaware of the prefix menu (vegetarian or Carnivor choice). However we were glad we didn't have to make any decisions, being that we were not familiar with an indian latin fusion style meal. We were very happy with our dinner. If I didn't like something, it was not due to chefs cooking, just personal taste (it was just the beets in the salad and some peppers from a side dish..no biggie). Hey you cannot please everybody! We asked if we could see the regular menu, it too looked fabulous! We will be returning. Pleasant staff and a nice atmosphere. Will return again! P.S. My hubby gave the waiter a gift for me and he brought it out with my dessert!

Abby K.

The atmosphere and service are great. The food is pretty good -- you really have to like this kind of food ... lots of spice, flavor and curry.

Loncy M.

I went to Vermillion on a Friday night. The restaurant was fairly busy and the service was TERRIBLE. We sat for about 20 minutes until the waiter finally came to get our drink order. After we place our drink order, he took another 20 minutes to bring out the drinks. There was 6 of us and only 3 of us order cocktails. Every time we would order a drink they would take 15-20 minutes to bring them to us. When we order the food, he didn't seem very knowledgeable of the menu. For a couple of us, it was our first time at the restaurant and we weren't familiar with some of the ingredients. He was not helpful at all!! The music was way too loud which made it impossible to hold a conversation unless you screamed at each other. The music was good, but it's an Indian restaurant don't be fooled by the "Latin" fusion part of the restaurant. How do I know? I'm Latina! And nothing that we tried had Latin flavors. They did have a Latin cocktail list so maybe that's were they get their Latin fix on. I don't think I would go back, I can find better Indian food with better service elsewhere.

Molly O.

Ate at Vermillion on Saturday night. Reservation was for 8 p.m., dinner was for a friend's birthday. We were meeting other friends for drinks after dinner. We were not seated until 9:10 pm., although every 10 minutes, the hostess would tell us that a 'table is just leaving' and we would be seated next. Then, they would suggest we buy drinks at the bar. They finally ended up setting up a new table right outside the kitchen doors. The cooks left the outside doors open, so every time the kitchen doors opened, we got a blast of cold air. Once we sat down, we noticed that not one of the 20+ tables had any food on them. Our waitress came to our table and said, 'I just want to tell you, it's been a real night here. The kitchen is very backed up, and your food is going to take a long time. People have been complaining all night.' She went on to explain that the owner and managers are extremely greedy, and don't turn down any reservation requests, so that the restaurant is almost always overbooked, and is definitely overbooked on weekends. So, eat there at your own risk, and only if you are not hungry or in a hurry. Everyone there was aware of how long we (and others) waited for our meals. Nothing was comped, not a drink, not an appetizer - for anyone there.

Yb W.

While this place claims both latin and indian influences, the indian component predominates. I dined here as part of a large work related function with several of my colleagues. I would like to say first that the service from the waitstaff was excellent. The food, though, had some hits and misses. I really liked our seafood stew, which was mildly curried. We also tried a melange of appetizers, which included a perfectly cooked lamb chop, scallop, and crispy fried chicken. My favorite was the flour shell with spiced potato. My main course, the shrimp paella, was a miss. The portion was small for the price, but that didn't really matter since I didn't care for either the texture or flavor of the rice. For dessert, we had a really pretty goat cheese cheesecake. It tasted very strongly of goat cheese, which is better if you are a big fan of goat cheese. In the end, the bill was disturbingly hefty. In a city with so many great restaurants, I think the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

Jeff J.

We had always wanted to try Vermilion, so my wife got us a reservation there. In summary, take a pass. Upside: -The ambience was great (aside from it being dead inside). -The service was good. Downside: -The food was mediocre at best - I was really disappointed as I was confronted with some great smells when we walked in the door. -The food was terribly overpriced Save yourself some money, and head to Devon street or Essence of India in Lincoln Square. If you really must have the fusion concept, head to Marigold in Uptown.

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Daniel S.

fairly tasty, although somehow disappointing. I went there on a date, so I wasnt necessarily as focused on the food as I usually try to be. It is a good date spot, particularly if you are with a vegetarian (as they have extensive offerings)... the decor is nice, the servers are friendly, and the wine is decent... However, when it comes to the food, its just a bit flat.

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Sandhya N.

Crap. Whoever gave this establishment more than one star clearly does not know Indian food. I realize this is supposed to be 'fusion' cuisine but serving rajma as a dipping sauce or soup does not make your establishment cutting edge. I think I would have given this place a better rating if the owners did not charge so much for bland food masquerading as something inventive.

Jessica W.

Came here with a big group for a friend's birthday. My friend and I split the $55 duo of lobster portugese and chimichurri new york strip, thinking that it'd be longer than the normal entree. (The entrees are all $20-30). But no... it looked about the same size as everyone else's, and after we finished it, we were still hungry. I wish we could gotten large portions for what we paid (only two tiny pieces of lobster?), but the food was good, so I can't complain too much.

Suresh S.

We visited on Monday 31 March 2014. We had made reservations for 7pm but showed up a touch early, and this was no cause for concern. The service at the entrance was superb, stylish, and understated, and we were escorted to our 'booth', a quaint term for a curved seating area. The guide showed up, sharp as tack, and with just that touch of superciliousness which is tolerable, and just, informed us of the choices; we had a long conversation with her about sizes, quantity, and taste, and she came across as remarkably well informed. I ordered Pisco whilst the wife ordered the fresh passionfruit juice. For our appetisers, we asked for the coconut shrimp and the cilantro tamarind paneer. The Pisco that I had ordered was perfect, and the passionfruit just enough ice to make it cold but not dilute it. Then, disaster struck....as the food arrived. The wife, who is a stickler for food, took a bite of the shrimp and pronounced it 'marvelous', and then I looked at my Paneer, which seemed awash in a thick tamarind sauce. I took a bite, and the Paneer itself was just perfect, but the sauce was atrociously sweet! There was no hint of cilantro, and the more I tasted it, the more I was reminded of an Indian dessert which is soaked in a sugar reduction. Not good at all. Still, 50% is not bad for starters, and we ordered our mains with renewed vigor. The wife, the Cauliflower curry, and I the Chole. It was only when the orders came through that the realisation set in; this is not for an unsophisticated Indian palate. This food is for that person who has never sampled Indian food, and is likely to be taken in by something sweet and tart, and not much else! So, the cauliflower, presented beautifully, tasted awful, and the Chole...the less said about it the better. It was an extension of the Paneer in that it too was sweet, and so to mask the taste I had to ask for some lemons and onion, and then do some surgical repair work to make it edible. The Roti that came with the Chole was rubbery, and the tomato rice that we ordered had unspluttered mustard seeds and a proliferation of Kalaunji (onion seeds), which killed any taste the dish may have had. The wife's coconut rice though was very good. The lady showed up and asked us for dessert, and we felt, 'how ironic is that?' It would have been par for the course to have ordered something and then got a dish that was tart, but we desisted. I realise as I pass through the country sampling the so-called Indian cuisine that for the most part, there seems to have been a compromise with good taste. I do not mind the reduction in heat as the UK seems to have done, keeping in mind the palate of its patrons, but what I quibble about is the disruption in taste, as there seems to be a general consensus that sweet and sour means Indian. Establishments like Vermilion who have pretensions of grandeur must make full disclosure, 'we serve a palate which is not for the uncultured Indian', and our aim is to only serve the Indian cuisine virgin. They then will be overwhelmed with the sweetness of the dishes and promptly pronounce the food 'divine'. But this is not Indian, and it is not even Bangladeshi; what is provided in Vermilion is a travesty masquerading in the name of fusion cuisine. It is an abomination. Can I mark it any lower? I definitely could, but YELP would not let me!

Robert S.

Hadn't been there in years. The food has nicely evolved, remains fine job of fusion. If you go, sit at the bar and enjoy the delightful mixologist Sara. She's all about service, making you feel at home and knows here trade!

Gino W.

Among several of the high-priced restaurants in Chicago, Vermilion is one that I have found to be worthy of returns. The portions are not grand, but if you order something substantial like a dish with beans or potatoes, you will fill up nicely. Refreshing cucumber martini. A flight of appetizers. A flight of Indian dishes. Nothing like sitting outside enjoying a great meal and watching the variety of individuals strolling down the street. Be forewarned that Indian and Latin flavours can be a bit of a duel with each other. You may have to request that the dishes be prepared such that one flavour stands out more than the other. Else, it is definitely all good.

Cheryl B.

Recommended by a local bartender at a chic mid-range hotel, we were rather skeptical when the restaurant had only one party dining at 7:30pm. Our skepticism was completely unfounded! Amazing wait staff and some of the most innovative and flavorful cuisine we have ever had the pleasure of sampling! Wow! New Mgmt & Chef are in it to win it! Definitely more Indian in flavor, but the meld with some Latin flavors like jalapeño, make it a glorious mix! Lest you think I am a neophyte to Indian cuisine, I have dined at some impressive Indian restaurants in New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco. We were completely delighted and marveled by the various chutneys (sun dried tomato!) and our dinners. I forgot I was in Chicago and ordered the lobster. Normally, inland I would never do that! So happy I did! The lobster was succulent, not over cooked and savory! Hubby played it safe and enjoyed his butter chicken. Fabulous meal with a staff that cares in a beautiful atmosphere! What more could we want? Absolutely nothing!

Susan S.

After 22 years of living in Chicago, I had the worst dining experience ever. Seated inches from the foyer on a 10-degree night. The panipuri was clearly made hours in advance of serving with the sauce dried out. The entree course of mushrooms and sweet potatoes were cold. The hostess shouting out over our heads to seat new guests. Guests from the bar had their bottoms in my glass of wine. The worst meal that I've ever had in Chicago.

Chris G.

Reading Vermillion's Yelp Reviews helped me to brace for the worst experience. But if their service and food truly does wildly swing from awful to extremely good as noted on this site, then I feel fortunate. Let's get right to the food highlights, as we tasted a number of different items. ==Spanish olive boquerones (white anchovies), jicama citrus roll: This was a great way to start the meal as fresh anchovies makes u wanna ban that crap some pizza places top their pies with. Hints of tangerine worked well with the almost juicy, green pear-like, crisp jicama. It's a very nice combo. ==Kabob dog with chicken, feta cheese.: We truly enjoyed the kabob dog as the meat had a great texture and beautiful, pinkish color with dark spices speckling. It was smokey and had a little heat that pleasurably crept up on you--like the wonderful finish of a fine red wine--about 4 seconds after you bit down. I could definitely see Hot Doug's offering these as complimentary rewards for those who brave his ridiculously-long lines. ==Blue corn crusted scallops: Our server and your Yelp reviews rated this highly. We received two fat ass scallops with a kali mirch Latin calabasa and goat cheese puree. These scallops were obese! I seriously didn't expect them to be so insanely tender and chunky. There are a lot of curry flavors going on here and they work quite well together. My only complaint is I wish that the dish was a little warmer... but not if that means over-cooking the scallops in this setting. The crushed blue corn chips drove the mouth feel over the top, in a good way. ==Coconut Chili Mussels: Indian coconut milk soup infused with curry leaves, mustard seeds It was like these fresh and tender mussels were drenched in a great Thai Thom Ka soup... and this really worked well together. There were both sliced Serrano peppers and dried red chiles in the dish. We should have ordered our side of Naan earlier just to dip this broth! ==Chocolate coffee doughnut frittata, chocolate mole. ==Avocado beignet, wild berry reduction. Not sure if this was a different pasty/dessert chef, but this is where things got very interesting again as these treats were truly exceptional. The beignet is true ambrosia as it's so light and delicate. I'd use less berry reduction as it's a bit sweet for my own tastes, but probably fine for most people. Using avocado in a dessert here is quite bold and THIS kind of culinary mastery is what i expected from all of the menu items. The frittata is nice and the white creamy mousse-like topping was out of this world. Here's a quick rundown of the rest... the crab-topped watermelon was interesting but the sweetness overtook the tender, tasty crab. The potato 3 ways was just plain bland, boring and should never be served again. It was like an impotent Pierogi that fell apart and didn't give a damn. The roasted three pepper lentil soup was pretty nice with the papadum but would have been stellar if it was thicker like a bisque. We even topped the special rice dishes with it and brought them to life. The tilapia was fresh but we never should have picked the Indian spice rub. Try it with the cilantro and mint instead, me thinks. And NEVER serve a hot beverage in a stainless steel cup without rim protection! Looks pretty, but burnt lips. Though I found them just OK, my friend loved the Naan tandoori sandwich with chicken and mint cucumber. And he liked the fish papadum tacos, spiced yogurt sauce. We were pleasantly and promptly greeted upon entering and quickly shown to a table by our friendly, patient and attentive server. Not that there's anything wrong with it... but because I've eaten a fair bit of traditional Indo/Paki food elsewhere, it was cute to see an African-American lady serving us in this setting. My colleague purchased a Groupon $60 tasting menu and I chose a few plates from the tapas menu. You pick two meats, two spices and two sides. We really felt that the Chef should have chosen the spices and added more sauce and toppings to the special rice items, as they were lacking. Even though I've eaten at a plethora of fine dining spots and divy, comfort food spots also, it's still challenging to write this review of Vermillion. It's hard for me to rate them 4 stars because though they offered up forward-looking dishes, it feels as if it will take them a while longer to really hit their stride with this culinary style and I truly hope that they get there. We ordered a decent bottle of Pinot Gris and along with the Groupon dscount, we paid about $70 each. And really, this is the River North area with expensive rent and where the well-heeled crowd hangs out so don't expect upscale places to be cheaply-priced like your neighborhood greasy spoon diner. ------UPDATE: Confession. A few days after eating here, we went back to nearby lunch buffet at India House. I think their crew was on a cloud because it was the best I've tasted there. $17 is a great bargain, sorry Vermilion.

Katie S.

I caution you to re-evaluate where you would like to go in Chicago if this restaurant is on your list. All courses ordered were bland and service is less than stellar. The waitress (Candace) didn't check on our food at any point. The restaurant was about 10% full yet - I heard one of the other tables' complaining about lack of service as well. With that said - I obviously wouldn't waste your time here when Chicago has some of the best food in the nation. This place doesn't come close.

Ishan P.

Ridiculously expensive. The butter paneer had so many artificial flavors. It looked like it was made from ready to eat packets! The portions were ridiculously small. The only good part of the meal were the drinks and the snacks. If you're looking for authentic Indian food.. Trust me this is NOT the place to go.

Samantha B.

I made a reservation several months in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner at 8 p.m. We arrived in anticipation of a delicious meal but instead were greeted by a herd of people at the entrance of the restaurant. To our surprise, there was a line of 20 people in order to merely check into our reservation. Around 8:20, we finally reached the front of the line and were able to speak to the hostess. He informed us that they were severely over-booked and that there were at least 7 parties in front of us. He suggested it would be at least an hour to be seated for our reservation. As we looked around the restaurant at the 30 or so people also waiting to be seated, we knew this estimate was far too optimistic. We chatted with another couple who had been waiting 30 minutes for their reservation. They said the host had told them there were 8 groups in front of them. Clearly, it was going to be at least 9:30-10pm before we were seated for our 8pm Valentine's Day reservation. We decided that even once we were seated, whenever that would be, there would be a mob of angry guests looking over our shoulder as we ate, since the dining room is quite tight. Unwilling to huddle in a cramped mob of disgruntled couples for at least another hour with the hopes of being seated for dinner, we decided to leave and find an alternative spot for Valentine's Day. This was arguably difficult since most couples, like us, booked reservations months in advance. Vermilion had absolutely no respect for their guests and were completely ill-prepared for a big holiday. They also showed no remorse for over-booking and did not try to make the situation better by offering free drinks or a discount for the wait. Thank you, Vermilion, for ruining my anticipated Valentine's Day plans.

Priya R.

We had the worst experience at Vermilion on Valentine's day. They had completely over booked the place and had no idea of handling the crowd. Even after making reservations, we had to wait in line just to check in and put our names on another list. We ended up waiting for 1.5 hours in total. The people at the front desk (a lady and a guy) were very unorganized and unprofessional. Customers who were complaining more often than others were being seated by these guys just to calm them, while making us wait for extra time even though their reservation was after ours. It also took them 20-30 mins to clean and prep the table for the next customer. It was supposed to be a 5-course dinner, as mentioned on the website, but it turned out to be a 4-course menu just because they couldn't cater to the huge crowd coming in that night. They had combined the first and second course into one item, because apparently their kitchen was backed up! The quality of food was average and the portions were tiny. It was definitely not worth the our time or our money.

Adam M.

I'll cut right to the chase, this place is very nice but it's very expensive for food that I just did not enjoy. I ordered the following: Tapas - blue corn crusted scallops on a kali mirch latin calabasa goat cheese puree - jumbo crab-lobster cake malabar seasoning, tamarind olive tartar Main Course - chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs (an indian export to americas - tamarind/imli glaze + avocado pakoras, tomatillo pachadi) Good thing I ordered the Naan and some Pinot Noir to wash down the other food. I guess I should have gone to a cheaper place for my first Indian food experience.

Sonia B.

Honestly, Vermilion has changed in the last couple of years. I originally gave it a 5 star review and now I think it deserves a 2 or 3 star review. I was a big fan of the restaurant and told many friends/family about it. It was always my go-to restaurant when someone asked for a great dining experience in River North. I probably won't recommend it again. I'm big on good customer service and Vermilion failed during my recent trip. The décor/ambiance was still nice, but the service not so much and I didn't enjoy my meal as much. Don't get the ribs...I LOVE tamarind, but the tamarind sauce on the ribs was so overpowering and the ribs were all fat! The best thing I had that night was the duck appetizer and my dessert. I received a gift certificate for Vermiliion because I was such a big fan. Now, the gift certificate was a bit unusual...it was a sheet of paper with about a whole page of wording...more like a letter. The issue date was highlighted...and that's about it. At the end of our recent dining experience, I presented my gift certificate and the server came back saying that it was expired. I was so sad because in the midst of all the wording, there was an expiration date...and it should've been highlighted! OK, so I did a bad job of reading a whole page...but, I requested that I be contacted by management and never was. I filled out a comment card at the restaurant and requested to be contacted via Open Table (where I made my reservations). It's been a good 3 weeks or so and I still haven't received a call/email. All I wanted to do was give them a tip to revise their gift certificate. Highlight the issue and expiration dates! And don't have so much written on the paper...it's a gift certificate, not a letter!!!! I think it's very sad when the management of an establishment doesn't contact you back when you've brought up a concern. Had they contacted me back, I would still be willing to go back to the restaurant. I do not think I will be taking my business back there and probably won't be recommending it anymore either. Pretty sad. :(

Divya N.

I have been to this place before and loved the food! However this time I disliked the food. There was no flavor to the food, no value for money I did not like their service either. The waitress was rude we asked a change of waiter and got another one. I feel in an upscale restaurant service should be excellent it was not upto mark. Will not go back that's for sure.

Abishek M.

Make no mistake... This is an expensive restaurant. A meal for two will set you back about $100. That said, I absolutely enjoyed the food. The fusion of flavors is seamless and the results are lip smacking! Every dish we ordered from the appetizers to the entrees to the dessert was delicious. The Groupon I used helped soften the blow when the check arrived. If not for the steep prices, I might actually have considered going back. RATINGS: Beef Kebabs: 3/5 Artichoke Pakoras: 4/5 Butter Chicken: 5/5 Chocolate cake: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambience: 4/5

Jeremy C.

The good... The artichoke tapas things... Oh man that was good. It's basically a artichoke tempura with a tasty spicy sauce. Ribs - mmmm yummy. The ribs are very good but heartburn city! Strip Steak - delicious. The spices they use on this steak make it so good! It was cooked perfectly. I was very happy with this choice. If it were not for this steak, I'D RATE THIS PLACE 2 STARS IF NOT FOR THIS STEAK. The ehhh... Service was good, nothing to boast about. Suggestions came after we placed our order (weird). Walked out in front of 2 hostesses who were talking to each other, did not thank us or acknowledge us. The sides and tapas we had at our table were all interesting but I didn't find anything else really amazing to mention. The ugly... The naan. For a place that's upscale Indian, it was quite possibly the worst naan I've ever had. I mean the worst. It was tough, dry, just plain not good. Now I don't know if that's the way it's supposed to be (I'm a white guy) but the naan I get from other cheaper Indian joints and even the trader joes frozen naan is tremendously better. I feel almost as though it had been made a long time ago and sat out, wasn't even warm. I agree with their prix fixe menu... It's odd that the price points are so high considering their menu price points. I don't understand why anybody would order it????

Robin F.

Food was excellent. Service was wonderful. each bite of of food was an explosion on my tongue

Andy M.

To make a long story short, Vermillion was fabulous. This fancy eatery is the kind of place I usually don't like. Fancy decor, high prices and stuffy vibe. But the food blew me away. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the wonderful odors coming out of the kitchen. I really wasn't hungry when I walked in, but the aroma of charred meat put me in the mood for some grub. For my entree, I opted for a hunk of steak. I ordered the tandoori skirt steak . This lovely hunk of meat was covered with a hot sauce and served with delicious sweet potato's. The steak was spicy, it had the roof of my mouth burning, but for some reason the combination worked. It didn't ruin the taste of the steak. It actually enhanced it. Well worth the hefty price tag. It was a different take on steak that I really enjoyed. Here's the delicious, bottom line: If you are looking for a different kind of dining experience, filled with spice, heat and flavor, add Vermillion to your list of places to visit. The food was tasty, the service was wonderful and it's well worth the price tag. My wife and I had a fabulous time and we can't wait to go back.

Katie C.

Very disappointing! I picked this restaurant for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend due to the extensive vegetarian menu. We should have known what we had gotten in to when we walked in at 8 pm on a Friday night and the restaurant was almost empty. We waited for a bit before the hostess acknowledged us. We ordered a couple tapas and some entrees..the flavor was really lacking and the price points were that of a much more upscale restaurant. Every time we asked for recommendations the waitress just suggested the most expensive item and without much subtlety. I understand for a restaurant that dead on a Friday night she was probably desperate for tips. I ordered one of the dishes she suggested..it was cold by the time i got it. we just really felt ripped off. The bill was over 100 for two people and I would have been much more satisfied with the Indian fast food restaurant in my neighborhood for a fraction of the cost. We wont be back

Antaash U.

It took 2 years to make it here and boy was it worth the wait. Being Indian and all, I am very partial and quite critical of Indian food. I am one of those people blessed with a mother who has magical powers in the kitchen, so it is rare that I venture into an Indian restaurant. However, what made Vermilion interesting is that it is fused with Latin cuisine. I love Latin food and the idea of it blending with Indian flavors definitely whet my palate. My BF and I were celebrating his big promotion and thought we needed to do it in style. We couldn't have picked a better place. From our greeting at the door to the final moments of our meal, everything was wonderful. The menu is pretty extensive and we just were unsure where we wanted to start since everything looked so good. Thank god for their prix fixe menu. They had 3 options: carnivore, omnivore and vegetarian. Truly something for everyone. My BF opted for the carnivore (he was thoroughly stuffed and happy by the end of his meal) and I opted for the omnivore since there were so many seafood options I wanted to try. Just be warned that should you opt in for this, be prepared for no less than a 2.5hr dining experience. Most of the appetizers come small plate style except for the entree and dessert that come in a standard portion. I would say that every single thing I had was scrumptious from the Mysore lamb chops, Kerala shrimp pattie, pani puri, Chimichurri New York Strip to the main course of Lobster Portuguese stewed in a goan gravy + coconut rice + eggplant chip. WOW! If there was ever an excuse to return to Vermilion, it would be for this dish alone. It truly knocked my socks off and reminded of what comes out my grandmothers kitchen in Goa. It was so good that I am actually excited to bring my mother here so she can have a taste of her childhood that is not only authentic but memorable. Vermilion is a winner in my book.

Kevin K.

The cocktail creations are exceptional but very pricey, starter plates tend to be very flavorful with a heavy hand towards the heat, main dishes get more traditional Indian curry influence but tend to get lost in the heat. Wait staff was excellent. Final analysis; too hot, too $$$.

Cira N.

OMG, tonight was the worst corporate event ever! Our company hosted 40 people at this restaurant. It was a 90+ degree day and when we got there at 6:15 it was very hot In the place. They said the windows were broke and were almost fixed and then we would feel the air conditioning. It only got hotter and when we finally got the manager to be honest with us, she said the air had been broken all day and someone was working on it. How about giving us a choice to be miserable, instead of letting greed override honesty....totally unacceptable. It's a no integrity kind of place.....the food and service didn't even help ease the discomfort. All in all terrible!

Kris L.

Ambience: elegant, dark, lots of deep red decor Food: AMAZING flavors, definitely priced on the high end. I ate more of the Indian influenced flavor items and they were all amazing. Worth the cost: possibly? I'll only be coming here on special occasions...or with a groupon!

David M.

Just had the best dinner at Vermilion here in Chicago. Out of this world cuisine. A fusion of Indian food and Latin tapas. Every dish was a masterpiece of flavors. Server was impeccable, knowledgeable, and fun. The artichoke dish was my favorite.

Yvonne O.

I came here for a group event and was excited to try the food because the husband is not a fan of anything with any real flavour, so he had been protesting our going. I won't comment on the issues invloving the handling of the group since I was not "in charge" of the contract and the typical person on Yelp is not really interested in their ability to handle 200 people at once. One thing I would say is that they were totally unfamiliar with buy-outs as they couldn't even put a sign on the door saying it was closed for a private event -I watched countless people wander in and look confused when they realized there were no tables for walk-ins. The food was done in a three course set meal, with everyone receiving the same three starters, a choice of entree between 4 items and a choice of dessert between two. I had the skirt steak with some sort of cold green sauce and while it was tasty, the meat was realy hard to cut with the butter knife they left me. The appetizers were good, but the sauce for the open-samosa came very late and half our table had eaten them already! I liked the artichoke item best, the chicken was just spicy and luke-warm. The dessert was awful. I got some kind of gooey chocolate mess with indian spices on top. Yuck. Not a good thing like the chocolate chipotle things I have had elsewhere - should have gone with the flan. The drinks were interesting - very watered down, even on the soda, but I guess they make their money this way. Sangria was okay (again, watery.) I can't say I will be back - maybe it is different in a non-event type setting, but the management and their interaction with us doesn't make me want to give them another try.

Carol W.

We came to Vermillion on a very snowy Monday night and were the only ones there. The place wsa recommended by my sister who is a vegetarian. We had the appetizer sampler which was two pieces of 4 different appetizers. The blue corn crusted scallops and the duck vindaloo arepas were our favorites. Neither of us liked the artichoke pakoras and the juhu ki pani puri was just ok... would have been better without the mint water. For an entree, I had the Butter Chicken, which was delicious. It was served with a side of Naan which was good, but very greasy. It would have been nice to have been served rice along with the butter chicken. You would think for $24 that rice would come with. We ended up ordering a side of rice. My guest ordered the Shrimp Curry and neither of us was impressed. The tamarind gave it a very odd... not at all curry-like flavor to it that was a little off putting. It was very soupy and was served with a very small side of rice. For desert, I ordered the Mango Flan which was delicious. My guest ordered the pumpkin sweet potato donut which was raw in the middle. We had to send it back. The next one they brought out was better, but rather tough. The flavor was good though. All in all, a good meal but I don't think we will be going back

Melissa M.

Amazing gluten-free options and the service was impeccable. Short ribs were so tender!

Jourdan S.

I had the paella. Not only was it bad, the rice was obviously not fresh and a few days old. The menu says it comes with squid, tilapia, clams, and mussels. That was a lie. It came with 2 shrimp, and 3 mussels. I brought this up to the server who was apologetic. Keep in mind I was having lunch with 2 others and the only other party in the whole place was one couple. The server alluded to rectifying the issue with desert but I was pressed for time and I told her I wasn't into sweets. Her back up was a round of drinks. I made it clear I wasn't interested in that either as I was headed back to a meeting. 2 minutes later, I'm presented with a round of drinks. Champange flutes with some red slurry and a wilted rose petal. Yelch. The interior design of this place looks like my bubbey from Boca Raton Florida, consulted a nouveau riche coke dealer from miami and the two of them went back to 1992.

George D.

Had dinner last night with a large group of friends and everything was outstanding. The shrimp, artichoke and scallop appetizers were very tasty, washed them down with one of their herb and spice drinks, great! The lobster main course was spot on, and the Indian nut cake and Peruvian donut made for a nice finish. Kudos to the chef, who clearly knows how to meld the tastes of India with Latin America. We'll be back.

Karan S.

This is the second time I've been here (neither on my own accord). Food is decent, nothing to brag about. I found the ambiance and the decor pretty sub standard for the type of restaurant they're projecting themselves to be. The 2 reasons I have such a low rating is 1) The food is ok, definitely not worth what they're charging. 2) We went in for a friends birthday and my buddy (who had organized the dinner) was told that the charge for cutting the cake (whether we do it or they do it) would be $70 (10 slices @ $7 a slice) for a cake that cost $50. Seriously !!!! This place is just not worth the effort.

Priyanka P.

One of my favorite places in Chicago. Beautiful blend of Indo-Latin cuisine. Satisfies all your taste buds. Separate meat and veggie menus- so many options to choose from! And, don't forget to try the shahi tukra for dessert!!!

Marc V.

This place was recommended to me by a client as a trendy yet authentic Indian restaurant! Since Im a big lover of Indian food, I had to give it a try! So I took the girlfriend over there last week on a thursday night. My 1st impression was, wow this restaurant really has a unique decor that I would not expect from an indian restaurant! We got rapidly seated since we had a reservation (Glad I took the time to make a reservation since the place was quite busy) Our server was really nice and answered all our questions about the menu in a very professional yet friendly manner. We started with the crab lobster cake to share and that was just unreal!! Then I had the Chimichurri NY strip and here again Vermillion did no disappoint! The meat was tender and tasty and that Chimichurri made the whole difference. I recommend that dish to any Ny Strip lover!!!! Overall an amazing experience at Vermillion, they also have a location in NYC I believe so I ll make sure to check it out during my next trip to the big apple! Thanks for the delicious food and the great atmosphere! We'll be back!!!

Jessica N.

I'm in between a 3 and a 4 here. I've been here 3 times and my most recent visit left me leaning towards the 3. Overall, the ambience is strange here. Almost everytime I'm here it is EMPTY. It makes for an awkward meal when you feel like you are the only ones in the restaurant. Where are all the people! And the service has always been a little awkward I've really liked most dishes I've had here, mostly because I love spice! If you don't like spicy food do NOT come here. Most of their entrees are delicious but my fav is the seafood soup/stew. Lamb shank good, NY strip good and spicy chimichurri! Their ribs were on the dry side so skip those. Also skip the mussel appetizer was very medium...mussels were bland. They poured the sauce tableside, but the mussels needed to be cooked IN the sauce to really get the flavor. No matter what you MUST try the chocolate lava cake. Dark chocolate + blackberry sorbet should be a regular. I love the fusion here. I hope they can get more people in the door to help the ambience and up the service a little!

Shaun K.

Love the food! (And that is coming from an Indian!) The flavors were rich and full of layers. The flavors and spice in the Butter Chicken were phenomenal and the dessert, which was full of nuts and cloves was awesome! The service was great and very attentive. Definitely will come here again!

Kat L.

Went here on a groupon. Reservation for 8:00. Finding parking was terrible. So we walked in about 8:12. Our table was given up. Fine. We sat to wait in the lounge area. Not so lounge-y. Oversized metal chairs with no cushion. Can't lay back and can't sit up straight. Really atrocious. no comfort at all for diners waiting to be seated. After 30 minutes (thanks to my kindle to keep me waiting).... hostess finally gives us a menu to order drinkings. 15 minutes later, drinks come. 10 minutes later, hostess says, " oh you're table's ready but we can't seat you until your tab is finished at the bar. Girl serving drinks takes our credit card for payment. then checks on another group of people in the lounge. then another group. then another group. and another. THEN takes the credit card to the machine to swipe our payment. Really, vermillion? it takes an hour to seat your guests on a reservation and you make people wait in crappy chairs and refuse to sit them when their table is ready b/c YOU can't get your act together we bought the Chopped tasting. $80 a piece or $160 for the both of us. Without a groupon, would have been $320. The food was okay. Most dishes were very spiced to the point of distraction. Very hit or miss. Some were salty. Nothing was that memorable. We were seated at 9 and out past 11. Didn't expect to be spending forever and a half there. With the deal, yes we paid $160. But if i were to spend that money anywhere, I'd expect some better service and better food. There's other places for fine dining.

Jade T.

Their Chili-Glazed Tamarind Eggplant. STAY AWAY. DON'T ORDER IT. I returned to Vermilion for a romantic date, and I had one of the most disgusting things I've ever eaten. It was overwhelmingly sweet and sour due to the tamarind ingredient. I'm no stranger to tamarind. In fact, I like tamarind, but think of the chili-glazed eggplant as tamarind overload. Tamarind concentrate. It just kills your palate. I drank so much water to get rid of the sour taste. Our waitress was unapologetic. (Why is it that the busboys and food runners are always friendlier?) This was my last visit to Vermilion.

Richie D.

If this picky Yelper deems that Vermilion is one of the GREATEST dining options in Chicago ... It must be pretty darn good! If you go, have the best experience possible by allowing the waiter named Michael serve you. He will take care of you with his sweet humor and attuned attentiveness. I think he knows the menu and ingredients better than the chef does! The ambiance is pleasantly decorated with all black, white and [go figure] ... VERMILION (reddish-orange) lounge take on things. Vermilion has combined two of my favorite cuisines: Nuevo Latino flair with Indian flavors. Don't turn away if you're not into spicy food or have food allergies, leave it all up to them to take care of you. I had to go with the 5-course, 10 element Pre-Fixe which was an abundance of food, yet just the right amount to still be able to clean off each plate. I went with the Seared Meat Pre-Fixe, but if you're not into meat there are a different Seafood and Vegetarian Pre-Fixe menus too! Looking in retrospect, the same dishes to make me goo-goo gaa-gaa as I glanced over the menu were all my favorites. -Chili-Glazed Tamarind Ribs (#1 choice of mine, and Padma from Top Chef agrees!) -Wild Boar Jibarito with Pear-Guajillo Chutney (gotta love plantains) -Duck Vindaloo Arepa brushed with Pomegranate Molasses (corn and duck together, genius!) -Seekh Kabob (similar to a Mediterranean meatball) -Flourless Chocolate Cake (accomadated perfectly with an Abuelita Hot Chocolate) ... And don't stop there and miss out on their strong, unique cocktails! Their cocktail menu is split up in a Herb&Spice and MoreSpice categories. If you like jalapenos, go for the Fresh Lime Pear+Green Chili Cocktail ... although a simple Mojito is also deliciously refreshing. Heads up though, the Cilantro Watermelon martini was not all that exciting :(. My one recommendation as a public health worker: Move the garbage in the Men's bathroom near the door so you can open the door with the towel and avoid any germs. Rich people get the flu too. Otherwise STELLAR!!

Dhara S.

Hubby and I went to Vermilion on our date-night. We arrived early, but our table was ready. The server was very friendly and knowledgeable. She gave us good suggestions. The Pani puri margarita was amazing. The food was highly okay - nothing great. Dessert was pretty bad. Prices are definitely on the higher end. Might go back - but only for drinks.

Luan N.

Tasting menu. Applaud their attempt to fusionize Latin and Indian. You would think the marriage between Latin and Indian would conceive the most beautiful dishes. But Vermillion is just one of those babies that come out ugly, and once she matures and hits adolescence, she is Miss Universe worthy. So keep experimenting and find that balance. One drink that peaked my palate was the coconut saffron creme cocktail. Never had anything like it. The pani puri margarita was also interesting with the combination of tamarind. Bluberry cardomonn fizz not so much. PIcs: yelp.com/biz_photos/woIo… yelp.com/biz_photos/woIo… yelp.com/biz_photos/woIo…

Monica Q.

Remember that this is not an Indian restaurant, but a fusion restaurant. With my party of five, we started off with some naan and another kind of bread. Neither were seasoned perfectly: the naan was way too salty and the other was not enough. I was disappointed by how mediocre the bread was considering I have gotten amazing naan at much cheaper Indian restaurants. The entres were much better. I got the shrimp curry and the waiter was very courteous in explaining to me which entrees had dairy and how it could be taken out. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and at the best tenderness, but I do not think it was worth the $26 price tag. Overall, the vibe of the place was very hip and the drinks had great presentation. However, I do not think the food is anything extra special and I do not think I will be returning here in the future. For this caliber of a restaurant, I can only give it 3 stars when at a different price I might have given it an extra.

Mahsa T.

Hubbard Street. Thursday night. Vermilion seemed awfully empty compared to all of the other restaurants in the area that were packed. Our server was not very knowledgeable about the menu. My dining companion and I decided that none of the entrees were particularly exciting so we ordered a few appetizers to go with our wine. The food is definitely more Indian than Latin. Some flavors overwhelmed the food, others were better balanced. The scallops and artichoke were good, the shrimp was decent, the chicken kabab was undercooked and my least favorite. Pricey for the small portions. Decor in here is at first striking but on second look, a bit gaudy. I had higher expectatios coming in because I had really liked a few things I ate at the Vermilion booth at the Taste of Chicago. All in all, Vermilion was a huge let down. That explains why it was empty.

Rich V.

We had 8:30 reservations and were seated around 9:00, despite there being open tables that were not the ones we reserved. Then the zaftig greeter copped the biggest attitude with us and left us there after our table was ready, because they had to "resize" the table, as our reservation dropped from 6 to 5...it was a round table. She had to take away, a plate, a wine glass and silver service. The food was hit and miss. This is supposed to be Indian and Latino fusion, though it was more like a mixed menu. The gazpacho is good but the Indian dishes are poor: butter chicken was terrible, more like a chicken tikka masala but the balance of flavors was thrown off, such that the complex mixture of curries was gone and instead you got red pepper. I also had the strip steak, which was a terrible cut of meat. I ended up sending it back. But the flavor was no fusion of anything. Slow service service on the drinks. It took over 10 minutes to get our drinks and then they never asked about a second round. The waiter was slow and lazy but nice. All in all this is a terribly managed business. We never saw the floor manager, which is probably why the hostesses were so poorly managing their table turn. Also, the bar was understaffed, as the two ladies behind the bar could not keep up with just the table service requests. In a good restaurant city like Chicago, this place should be out of business. Terribly managed and bad execution on the culinary side.

Nolan R.

Chicago is a fantastic city (among my top 5) with some of the best food I have had to-date. In fact, we never had bad service or a bad meal.. until we went to Vermilion. Up until that point, we had only experienced friendly hosts, incredible food, knowledgeable and attentive servers, and professional, charismatic management. When we walked into Vermilion, we were met with a sullen faced host/manager (?we couldn't tell) who seemed disinterested in speaking with, or engaging us, in any positive way. While our server seemed quite promising at first (knowledge of the menu was impressive), her service, and the overall quality of our night, deteriorated quickly. Appetizers may have been the only good thing about this place, but even then, "good" is largely a relative term, as everything else was so bad. Drinks took a long time (~10-15 mins), quality checks were sparse, and the food runners auctioned off our orders (Denny's style) and actually came to our table twice with the wrong food. The tandoori steak was bad, just awful; to say it was bland does not even scratch the surface. The prawn curry dish I ordered was mediocre at best, and served with rice that had sour, mushy patches in it (tasty right?). As soon as we were done eating, even though it was readily apparent that we were in the mood to keep drinking (half of us had full drinks), inexplicably, the server came out of nowhere and attempted to have us clear up! She would also ask us questions and literally leave either before we had answered OR AS WE WERE speaking with her. I am typically quite sympathetic with servers, but this was truly bad form. I was warned by a local that Vermilion was not the best option, I wish we had listened. I truly regret that this was one of our dining experiences when there were so many other great options in Chicago.

Stuart M.

As a visitor from out of town, I found Vermillion through Yelp, and what a great tip it was too. Well at least for the food. I found the ambiance of the restaurant a bit sterile and eerily quiet (was a Sunday night mind you). Service was a tad slow and not exactly what you would call overly interested. Not rude mind you, just kind of blase. The four stars though is for the food. Who would have know a fusion of Indian and South American would work so well. But it does! The meal began with an amuse which was a nice suprise. We then ordered the artichoke pakoras, cilantro tamarind shrimp, caldeirada de peixe (a take on bouillabaisse) and a lobster special of the evening. Everything was fantastic, the flavours were spot on, I couldn't fault a thing. I tried a couple of their specialty cocktails too which were also great. For the caliber of restaurant, in a popular Chicago tourist area, I was happy with the prices too. Very reasonable, we left content and happy. Will definitely return if in the area.

Bart V.

Tiny portions, both for the tapas and the mains, food lukewarm upon arrival and spotty service. Wasted $76 here and left hungry.

Lu H.

I give this place a 3 star because the food was decent and their dessert Shahi Tukda blew me away! BUT, if I didn't have the groupon, the bill would've been over $100 for two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert--I don't think the price was justified by the actual food delivered. Don't get me wrong, my fiance and I have been to Alinea/Next/Charlie Trotter etc., in my mind, the meals were worth the money at those restaurants. However, Vermillion was not there. We had duck vindaloo/artichoke for appetizers, Brazilian seafood stew and red fish curry for entree. They were yummy, but that seafood stew tasted like some thai dish I've had at some thai restaurant. The fish curry was very spicy, I like spicy food, but I think the spice was overpowering the actual flavors of the food, not enhancing it. The only thing on the menu that I think was worth the price is the Shahi Tukda. OMG that cake was sooooo good. If you happen to go to Vermillion, you have to order the dessert.

R K.

Latin Indian fusion is a great idea, but this place is much much much more Indian than Latin. It's also a bit too expensive for what you get, but the quality is good.

Mary Ann C.

Groupon in hand, my sister and I headed to Vermillion last night before a show! We were greeted warmly at the door and promptly asked whether we wanted the veggie or regular menu. My sister asked for both and I asked for the regular menu. When we were seated, I was presented with the veggie menu, my sister the regular, and rather than a drink menu, we were given a dessert menu! This was, luckily, the only flaw of the meal, but more attention to detail would be better when seating patrons. The restaurant was sleek with black, white, and red. Michael C. was our waiter, and he was AMAZING! He immediately took back the dessert menus, without our prompting, and went into great detail about the drinks. He highlighted all of the specialty drinks in great gusto. I especially enjoyed my cucumber mint martini! For appetizers, we had the artichokes and hearts of palm. Stunning! Both were complicated and delicious. He also said the scallops were amazing, but my sister does not eat fish (will save this for my next visit). For entrees, Michael was very, very helpful and steered me toward the fish stew, and this was a hit for me. A variety of fish and veggies in a broth! Yumm. My sister had a cauliflower vegetarian entree which was also delicious, based on the bite I swiped when she wasn't looking! My sister was not up for dessert, so I will also give this a shot on my next trip. This place was fabulous, and I cannot wait to return!

Lance R.

In order of goodness on appetizers: Duck vindelos- pomegranate spicy crunchy goodness. Chicken kabobs-tender and juicy Artichoke pagodas incredible Scallops crusted in blue corn -wow Cocunut chili mussels - drink the soup Main courses chimichuri ny strip steak rocks- very spicy Lobster was creamy and good.

Adwait K.

I really had high hopes for this place after everything I had heard and all the hype surrounding its famous chef-owner. When we got there around 8:30 on a saturday night the place was almost empty. The server was extremely friendly and gave us great tips for ordering from a menu that looked a little strange to us coz of the all the weird fusion stuff going on. So we were off to a good start. For drinks we had a lychee ginger martini, a cucumber mint martini and mango mint mohito. The drinks were definitely top-notch and extremely delicious!!! So 5 stars there for sure! For the appetizers we shared the "degustation of 4 appetizers" which includes about two bites of 4 different dishes that the chef chooses. On this day there was a duck appetizer, which neither of us are fans of, so we got the chicken doubled and we had two other different vegetarian dishes. One was pani puri and the other was artichoke something. These were all awesome! The main course is where things started to go downhill. We ordered butter chicken and the goat mutton. The butter chicken was great, but lets get real, butter chicken is very hard to screw up (even if you try it at home, its pretty easy. Takes forever, but still easy). The goat mutton was not so great. It was way too spicy (even for indians), some pieces of the mutton were overcooked, some were undercooked. Even the pieces that were nicely cooked were very unsatisfying. I ended up not eating most of it and just ate the butter chicken. Both these entrees came with naan, which was also extremely disappointing. It really didn't have that fresh naan feel or taste to it. The dessert was the worst part. There was actually a chocolate cake on the menu with some type of chili masala. Are you kidding me???? More spice? I think by the time we get to the dessert most people have had enough spice. None of the other items on the menu looked appealing at all. Once look at the dessert menu and we just asked for the check. Even without the dessert, we had spent wayyy too much money. I dont think we would come back here. Definitely not with a group, coz you'll end up paying a small fortune to feed more than 4 people. Its a nice place if you want to try something new. But if you're going here to satisfy your craving for 'modern' indian food, you will probably leave unsatisfied. If you're from the suburbs its definitely NOT worth the trek downtown. There are much better options in the burbs, in every burb. Heck, there are much better options downtown as well.

Amy L.

Overview: Indian-Latin fusion ... I just don't think that, fundamentally, these two flavors mix well. I would go once just to experience it, but wouldn't go again. Food: The food was almost TOO flavorful - very strong, heavily competing tastes in each dish. It was interesting ... but not good, necessarily. Atmosphere: The decor on the inside is sexy - flowing curtains amongst black, red, and white lacquered accents, a modern vibe - yet, the outer facade on the street makes it look like any other dinky Indian restaurant. The lighting was a little bright for an upscale restaurant ... the clientele was mostly mid-20's-30's. Service: Unmemorable.

Michael J.

If you like spicy food - go to this restaurant. I have also been to the one in NYC and loved dining at both. I would have rated this restaurant even higher but some of the dishes were oversalted.

Harini P.

What a joke! As a south Indian, I was raised on the most delicious succulent food imaginable. I remember being a small child and sitting on the counter as my mother made fragrant dishes and always coming back to sneak bites when she was in the pantry. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday because it combined two of my favorite cuisines- Indian and Latin. It was a disappointing beyond belief. I know that the chef is Indian and a huge Food Network star but I really don't understand why. We started our dinner off with scallops. They were perfectly cooked but the flavor was off, it tasted sour and not good. I ordered the lamb shank gassi. Let me start off by saying that I love lamb, I am totally and utterly obsessed with lamb. This lamb was dry and there was no flavor. The spices were very 1 dimensional. It tasted like the lamb had been cooking forever in the spices that were old. There wasn't enough salt, heat or flavor. It was just lacking all around. I wanted to complain about the food but that would require the servers to ever walk around. Since they never bothered to come around, we just ate, paid and left a very poor tip. As a previous service employee, this hurt me deeply. I do not blieve in leaving bad tips but this service required it. My boyfriend ordered the lobster portuguese MP. The only thing on the plate that was decent was the rice. The lobster was overpowered by the spices that were again under salted and the lobster was chewy. What a total and utter disappointment! What upset us even more? When we left, the next day were were both fighting for the bathroom and the only common meal we shared was at Vermillion. So, I called the manager to report it (I worked in F&B and ran 10 bars and 4 restaurants) in hopes they would catch the bad item and stop serving it. I was told that I was wrong and talked to like I was an idiot by the rude manager who apparently has no customer service experience. He kept bragging about the restaurant instead of apologizing and promising to look into it. How dissapointing! I love supporting my fellow Indiana, when they success it helps the rest of us but this is a huge disappointment and embarrassment for all Indians, everywhere! I had to say, the menu isn't really creative. In India we have pani puri sold on every street corner by every cart vendor. What is so special about it here? Nothing, especially nothing worth paying $8 for when it cost them less than $.50. Save your money, go somewhere where they know how to cook.

Ashley C.

We came here when we purchased a Groupon deal one weeknight to break up the work week. I was excited to try the place since we've seen the chef on Chopped. The food was very good, however, this just isn't going to be a "spot" of mine. For appetizers, we had the blue corn crusted scallops (loved the sauce and they were cooked perfectly), the crab cake, and the shrimp. The scallops were my favorite. For dinner, we got the tandoori skirt steak and the butter chicken (which I knew as chicken tiki masala). Both were very, very good and I loved the chicken's sauce, which was perfect with the naan bread. The service was okay. Our server was friendly, but a bit slow. She was also training someone and the trainee just wasn't very pleasant. She gave off an "unfriendly" vibe and looked annoyed to be there. The environment was nice, but they need to bump the AC - it was warm in there (enough to be distracting). With the groupon, it was a good value, but I just don't think I'd pay regular price for the food. There are other places I'd rather go.

Brian F.

Very strange evening. The restaurant itself is just ugly. I can't imagine who came up with the decorating scheme but it just doesn't work and it seemed unfinished. For a Friday night at 7:30pm it was no where near capacity but did fill mostly by the time we left. From the hostess to many of the servers we encountered we also had a feeling of being unfinished. Lack of training or management maybe, but when a server comes to your table to explain what's on your plate and cannot, there is a problem there. Our assigned waitress, on the other hand, was professional, friendly and attentive. Luckily we were dining on the Open Table coupon for $60 off the $120 "Chopped, Next Iron Chef & Iron Chef Tasting Menu". It was kind of a cool concept with 3 appetizer courses, a 2-course "mystery basket" entree, and a dessert course. Standouts were the yummy fish papdum tacos, naan tandoor sandwich, and kabab dog chicken. Losers were the crab-watermelon steak (bad flavor combo) and the potato 3-way ravioli which had a delicious sauce but the ravioli was so small I couldn't taste anything. My choices of scallops and rack of lamb for the "mystery basket" were excellent. Both were perfectly cooked. The scallops were served with a tamarind sauces and the lamb with a spicy, brown, Indian sauce (can't remember the name). My wife chose the same sauces with Paneer and Cauliflower. The cauliflower was overcooked and the paneer was undercooked having a chalky texture in the middle. We sent the paneer back and it came back much better. The final dessert course was the best of all. The Avocado Beignet was spectacular and, since I got the wine tasting accompaniment, a blueberry cardamom fizz. OMG that was really good! For $60 per plate the meal was very satisfying but I would have felt cheated if I had paid the full $120 per plate. I would definitely come back here to try some of the other dishes.

Rui L.

Came here last night for friends birthday. The restaurant was half empty which was unusual for restaurants around this area, then later the food explains everything. My friends and I sat there for a while before the waitress finally greets us and bring more menus over. As we were trying to order, the waitress could never hear any questions we asked, basically we had to repeat the question once if not more. We ordered 2 bottles of wine, so didn't get to try any of their cocktails. For appetizer, I ordered chicken bombay frankie, which was highly recommended by a friend, and chimichurri new york strip for entree. Bombay frankie was such a disappointment, the flavors were no different from a chicken wrap burrito people can order from a fast food restaurant, and with the price i'm paying, I am expecting a lot more flavors. The new york strip was a little on the dry side, had the spiciness from the chimichurri sauce, but other than the spiciness, there wasnt much other flavors from it, sweet potato that came with the steak was really dry, and flavorless. I also got to try the butter chicken from a friend...although it was a good dish, but definitely could get it else where for a lot cheaper price. Indian and Latin american fusion should go very well together since they use a lot of similar spices, but I don't think Vermillion pulled it off. I guess there is a reason why the restaurant was half empty at 730pm on a Friday night.

Vincent C.

Dined here on a recent Thursday night and had an enjoyable time. I was a little apprehensive going in given the flak the service has taken on here, but experienced no problems. Our waiter was friendly and took the time to explain the dishes, our food arrived in a timely fashion, and we had the occasional unintrusive check-in. Just the way you would expect. As for the food, get ready for heat and spice. I like spicy food, but I was unprepared so it was a bit of a shock to the palate at first, but it was definitely refreshing to have so many bold flavors. I'm still jonesing for more of the artichoke pakoras. The lobster portuguese was delicious, especially that curried sauce it came with. In the case of the duck vindaloo arepa and chimichurri steak, I think the level of heat may have overwhelmed the meat, which is no small task when it comes to duck and beef. But the meat was perfectly cooked. I'm not usually one for designer cocktails, but Vermilion does a fine job of it. The mango mint mojito and lychee ginger martini were superb. Both actually held up well and provided a nice counterpoint to the spice and flavors of the food. The coriander pear martini missed the mark, tasting like neither of the ingredients in its name. Definitely worth a visit, especially for an explosion of flavors you wouldn't normally have.

Chelsea O.

We went to this restaurant on Mother's Day so the menu was prix fixe, but what we had was all spectacular. They have a way with making even the simplest dishes, like grilled vegetables, absolutely amazing. We can't wait to come back and more fully enjoy what they have to offer.

Alex S.

Went here for Christmas Day dinner. A five course meal that was satisfying but far from spectacular. Overall maybe slightly above average.

Whitney W.

The first time I ate here, it was my new best friend. The next visit, flavor just wasn't there. Third and most recent time, same, just lacking flavor or in particular any sort of fusion flavor, plus the hostess and server both seemed really put out by having to deal with the Groupon crowd, as the certificate was expiring the next day. Yeah... staff it or don't sell it. I don't really know what to make of the flavor thing though. Also somewhat Groupon induced? I guess I'd recommend staying away from the "Core Indian" portion of the menu since straight Indian food, you can get much cheaper and spicier elsewhere.

LARRY k.

This is a very good example of a place that is what it says it is. I had tandoori skirt steak and cardamom flan, both fusion dishes and both were excellent. Others had more traditional Indian dishes such as a veg thali and spinach paneer which were not too oily as sometimes Indian food is. Overall we had an excellent meal. I would have liked it more if the atmosphere was quieter. It got pretty loud as the ceilings are low and the tables are close together. The service was as you would expect for a restaurant in this location and price range. The bill with drinks and desserts came to about $60.00 pp.

Janeen A.

Worst restaurant experience ever without even getting to eat there! Although we had 7:30 pm reservations on opentable 3 weeks in advance for Valentine's Day, when we arrived at the restaurant on time, there was a line of about 15-20 people already in front of us in line who also had reservations. We had to wait over 30 minutes in a line to get to the host station to try to check in. At 8 p.m., while still standing in a line that snaked between tables at the front of the restaurant (around people eating), the host said they were a "little" behind and for us to go to bar (with the other people waiting). Meanwhile we stood for 15-20 more minutes at the bar but could not get service. The still growing line had 30 more people. By 8:45 we STILL had not been seated. We asked for our coats back from coat check and left, walking a block to Cantina Laredo, where we found lounge/bar seating by the fireplace within 10 minutes. Best decision! When we returned to Vermilion at 10:00 p.m to get our car from the valet, there were two disgruntled couples also waiting for their cars who were complaining about how awful their experiences were at Vermilion. One couple said they were seated at 6:45, but left at 10 pm without even getting their dessert in their 4-course fixed menu! The other couple said the food was not good except for the soup, and that it was the worst service ever. Another guy came out with his girlfriend, and was clearly angry...and he proceeded to physically fight with the valet guy. Very poor management and restaurant practice. The restaurant clearly could not handle the amount of patrons that they allowed reservations for. Even when we returned at 10:00 pm, there was still a long line of people trying to be seated. There is no way that this should have occurred, especially with a set menu. We will never go back. Thanks for a Valentine's Day dinner bust to many.

Sara H.

I came here after a rave review by a local. The menu descriptions were fairly mouthwatering, though I found it odd that there wasn't much of a smell of good food permeating the space. Our waiter was very, very heavy on the upsell which is pretty annoying at a supposedly upscale restaurant....not to mention that the wine list has three numbers after each wine, the first of which is the year, not the price. So you have a good chance of ordering a $10 glass of wine, drinking it in practically one gulp because the pour is so small, and then finding out that it was actually $13. Top it all off with mediocre food, particularly when considering the prices, and you have a really disappointing experience - made all the more so by the fact that I was only in Chicago for a few days and there are so many excellent restaurants there. End note, I'm pretty sure that my waiter probably threw out my comment card - why do they make waiters give and collect comment cards?

Chad D.

A little overpriced. I'm pretty sure this was the first place where I ate a five-course meal, so that whole experience was new and exciting to me, but the food didn't seem to be worth three or four times as much as I could have paid at a less snobby place. Their predetermined combination dinners are probably the way to go if you haven't been here before. My overall conclusion is that you could get better and cheaper Indian and Latin foods separately elsewhere. Maybe someday someone will realize that they, too, can fuse these two cuisines, but charge half the price (even in downtown Chicago!) and have a good shot at putting Vermilion out of business.

Sofia J.

Wooooow 2 words: Flavor Explosion Thank you restaurant week. Here we go: Blue corn crusted scallops.... unexpected and delicious Duck vindaloo arepas... WOW (as if the duck vindaloo wasnt amazing enough, there's pomegranate molasses on the side!!!) Mysore lamb chops - perfectly cooked and that spice rub + red onion salad leaves a delicious lingering flavor in your palette Chile-glazed blackened tamarind ribs - ohhhh yeahhh again perfectly cooked! Avocado pakora.. really? yeah! Fresh tomatillo pachadi is great to lighten the dark delicious meat up. Cardamom flan - ok ... normally im not a flan fan, kinda boring, but this... THIS was SOOOO GOOD. omg and the mango and the lychee!! Drinks: Garam Masala bloody mary is good but gets watered down towards the end and very spicy Coconut saffron martini smells HEAVENLY and tastes great but a little too strong so the alcohol overpowers the flavors. There's just way too much on the menu to only come here once, can't wait to try the rest!!! Unfortunately it's on the expensive side considering that the tapas part of the menu has really small portions if you're sharing... I think i've been to Spanish restaurants w/bigger tapas, but oh well... its totally worth checking out at least once.

Stephen B.

We were visiting Chicago recently from out of town. Five of us dined at Vermillion for the first time. It began as a great experience. The food was very good, as was the service. I was a little put off when, as we were browsing the wine list, the waitress highly recommended a white wine that turned out to be over $100/bottle, but we ordered a $40 sauvignon blanc that was nice. At the conclusion, they brought the check, we provided credit cards, signed and got up to leave. As we were standing up to go, I took a quick glance at the check (I know, we should have looked at it sooner). I noticed a $160 charge for wine. I called over the waitress and asked for an explanation. Her response: "Oh, they left that on. I told them about it and thought it was taken off." At that point, of course, they offered to take the charge off our credit cards. We waited and waited for this to happen. It took about 45 minutes, and they still hadn't processed the credit, saying there were computer problems. It would have been nice if they offered us a dessert or at least coffee, but no such thing. The extra wine charge eventually was removed. However, the experience left me with some concerns. Too bad, because the dinner was very enjoyable otherwise. I guess one lesson is to always review the check before paying. We almost paid $120 extra for this oversight. The rating is based on the problems--I would rate the food higher.

Mary M.

Vermilion was more than disappointing. I went for restaurant week and was all around underwhelmed. The portions were extremely small, the food was not flavorful and the service was terrible. Our waitress acted as if we weren't real customers because we wanted to participate in the restaurant week menu. If you don't want customers to order off the restaurant week menu, then don't participate in restaurant week. We spent the remainder of the weekend telling people about our terrible experience and warning them to never go there. Go to Hema's Kitchen on Clark and Fullerton for way better food and service at a much cheaper price.

Sarah L.

Is there a statue of limitations when it comes to reviews? I think even Stabler will even agree with me when I say 'absolutely not'. That being said, my visit has been within 5 years but definitely over 2. I went there on a Thursday with my mom. Whenever my mom is in town, we try to go to a different place each time. Blah blah this time it was Vermilion. My mother is over 50 so dinner time was about 6 which could explain why the place was empty. And when I say empty i mean staff were still showing up for their shifts. A little off setting but before we had anytime to dwell a beverage list was placed in front of us, well played V. Our waitress, who was very intimidated by my mother's and my personality, did her best to keep up. She recommended the Pear Cardamon Martinis. STOP! Right here. This is why this review is happening! I'm going to type it again slowly so you can get it down. PEAR - the fruit CARDAMON- the spice MARTINI- the drink Best drink I have ever had in my life! I am a beer girl. Oh wait a wine girl. No, a whiskey girl. Actually, a dirty martini (very lightly dirty- naughty) girl. Conclusion- I like my drinks. The martini is the perfect blend of spice and sweet (although I am not usually a fan of sweet). Pear Vodka, fresh cardamon and a little lime. After 2 years I still have cravings for this drink. Those of you that notice the time this review was written, you will notice it is 822 AM on a Tuesday. Yep- cravings. Hey- I can't control when they come. All I know is that when they come I need to do the best I can to appease the need. Honestly... this review is pretty much to solely pay tribute to this drink however I will very briefly tell the rest of the culinary tale. The space is dark and modern, a bit on the chilly side so bring a sweater, coat, wrap, ascot, diner's choice. Service was great- nothing to really say. Food- awesome. Vermilion is a mixture of Latin and India. The menu offers selections from both side as well as a few hybrids of the flavors. Think plantains, curry, cardamon, steak, tofu. My mom likes to eat vegetarian and I only eat meat, if I can help it, and V had a great selection for both eaters. I got a chimchurri steak with plantains and mom got paneer. Conclusion 2- Go to this place, if not solely to try the martinis, then to get some yummy fun food.

Amy W.

My friend took me here recently for dinner to use her Groupon. I loved the decor -- the red curtains, the dark gray walls and the paintings. Gorgeous, and definitely very classy! Our waitress was probably the most enthusiastic and intense waitress I've ever had, though. I didn't know whether she had been a professional cheerleader in some past career or had done a line of coke in the back. My friend and I had several appetizers as opposed to ordering entrees because we wanted to try and share as many things as possible. The blue corn crusted scallops were good, albeit a teensy on the overdone side. The mysore lamb chops were also great and I loved the onion salad it came with. The crab-lobster cake was unfortunately my least favorite; the sauce ended up just leaving a sour aftertaste in my mouth. We also ordered a side of naan and mango rice. I was really looking forward to the naan (which I usually love), but unfortunately it was merely mediocre. I had a decent experience here and wouldn't mind coming back, but for some reason Vermilion just hasn't made it to my favorites list.

Ronald P.

Had dinner here last night. The night started off a little weird in that I couldn't quite connect with our server. I also didn't understand the prix fixe menus. At a place with an average entree price of $25 and appetizers from $10-$14, a $90 prix fixe should probably be for 2 people and not one but... Anyway, after some awkward communication which was probably on me, we settled in. My date and I had the following: - roasted red pepper lentil soup - some type of mango salad - crab/lobster cake - special empanadas - special ceviche - tamarind shrimp - blue corn crusted scallops - pani puri - tamarind ribs Every dish worked for us. I'm a big fan of Indian flavors and cooking and the fusion with Latin American flavors seemed to take the best of both worlds and wasn't forced. However, I'd caution against anyone coming here who isn't into spice or thicker sauces. My ribs, as an example, were covered in a sweet tamarind sauce (as advertised) which I really enjoyed but could also see others thinking the sauce was too much. The fried items (empanadas and pani puri) were done with a light hand. Empanadas, in particular, can leave me feeling overly stuffed but these were surprisingly light and airy. The scallops had a nice crisp crunch that I can still taste. The shrimp were fresh, reasonably sized and had a spiciness from the tamarind sauce that caused me to scarf them down with a sense of urgency! The crab/lobster cake was done well. I'm from the 'as little filling as possible' school when it comes to crab cakes and these met that requirement. However, the portion size for this plate needs to be thought through a bit more. At the price, you should probably get two and not one. Both the salad and soup were good values with great flavor and portion sizes! The soup, in particular, is a little filling so I'd caution against starting with it if you're in the mood to try different things. The bill was $133 after tax and before tip, which seemed fair. My advice to anyone - make sure you truly enjoy Indian flavors if you plan to dine here. This isn't a place at which you can 'just other a steak'. With that prerequisite met, you could be in for an exciting meal!

Shang S.

Save your pennies, Vermilion is pretty pricey, but for an Indian-Latin fusion experience, it is awesome. It is also fancy in decor, and so my boyfriend and I decided to dress up for the occasion. When they offer water, be aware that there is still, sparkling, and tap. We didn't hear the tap part and went for still water, which is Voss, which they charge you $6 a bottle for, c'est la vie. Vermilion's menu is divided into a couple of options - if you are exceptionally hungry and have deep pockets, there are various tasting menus (meat, seafood, vegetarian, or omnivore). Personally for the two of us, though we were hungry, we went for one tapas-style opening plate and two entrees. We did not have dessert and since I can't tolerate alcohol, can't comment on the drinks though it looked like drinks are quite popular at this place. Both my boyfriend and I love strong, flavorful, pungent dishes. That's where Vermilion's specialty lies. Our tapas was some kind of potato cake with chicken on top, it's not on the website's menu so I forget the name. I think the tapas was the one place where I was a bit indifferent. For entree, he had the red curry fish and I had the chimichurri new york strip steak. The fish: Holy spice batman! It is spicy (but according to bf, who lived abroad in Bangalore, still not authentically spicy). It is also authentic, he nods. The Chimichurri new york strip steak is much more palatable to those with American tastes. The sweet potato it comes with complements the dish well. Our service was prompt, attentive, helpful, (a bit over-selling on the prix fixe menu, obviously).

Anna B.

I just went to Vermilion today for lunch and I am still feeling it hours later. In fact, I haven't had an appetite since. The food was extremely subpar, scantly portioned, and the service was slow and unhelpful. I had major digestive issues after eating there and I had food that was pretty safe (slightly overdone blackened tilapia and dried out saffron rice). Everything was disappointing and it seems that every chance they get they try to confuse the consumer into paying more. We were also given the dinner price for the lunch prix fixe menu. When we brought it up with the waitress, she wouldn't budge. We asked kindly for the manager and he acknowledged the price difference almost like it's been happening all day. Either way, they did nothing to fix the problem except refund $70 to us (that's what I paid. For lunch.), probably in the hopes that people would continue to just go with the flow and pay the wrong amount for their food. I was incredibly insulted and I will never go back here. I would have given it 2 stars for decor, but frankly, it looks like every other relatively new restaurant downtown. Avoid this place. They're swindlers and your body might not agree with their fare.

Paul W.

Azra is amazing waitress ... From Yugoslavia (Macedonia) if she challenges you!! She is awesome, food lovely

Lisse C.

This place was horrible! The food and the service were far below what you would expect even at a fast food restaurant. When your server comes to the table and uses "So do you want something to drink?" as an introduction you know it's going to be downhill from there! The decor was nice, great place for a romantic dinner if it didn't suck so much. To make a very long story short we waited 54 minutes between appetizers (soup and salad) to get the rest of our food. When I asked our ever elusive waiter about the food he said "Well you didn't tell me you were in a hurry." Come on guy! 54 minutes is being in a hurry!?! It would have been different if we had something to drink on the table, or if the place was busy, or even if you had said sorry food is taking a little longer this evening. We had to wave down a bus boy to go find our waiter and cancel our order. Just as the waiter was letting me know it was my fault for not telling him we needed a rush order (less than 54 minutes), the food arrived. A heavy set lady with blond hair was standing over our shoulder looking at the table, a manager I assume. She never said a word even though she was aware we were displeased. You are standing right there lady, say something..anything! The food was mediocre at best. It had real potential to be great but fell far from the marker. There are much better places to go so I suggest skipping Vermillion and going anywhere else!

Chris A.

Exciting flavor combinations! I love the fusion here. Our staff exp was just fantastic. Only FOUR stars bc very $$ for not a lot of food. I had shrimp curry, the shrimp were in the sauce but the tails had been left on. So I had clumsily remove them. But it was great overall.

Tom L.

I've gone to Vermilion a few times through the years and count it as one of my favorite Chicago date spots. Decor and ambiance is always cool and sound level in the restaurant never gets to high. Vermilion is a large space with a good amount of room between tables and lends it self to a very intimate atmosphere. I echo everyone here when I saw the service with phenomenal. The front of house manager, our waitress and the rest of the staff are all great and touch your table just the right amount of times and always are making great suggestions. The beer menu is limited, the cocktails are ok (the drinks are on the weaker side and egg whites out of the carton were used in my Pisco Sour, come on guys!) The food is weighted heavily on the Indian side of the fusion. While some ingredients and preparation may be South American, the Indian taste really comes through. I've always enjoyed the dishes I've ordered, the portions are ideal for the price/style of food. The only draw back I've ever had was my girlfriend ordered a fish dish and the kitchen had run out of whitefish for the night and substituted it with the more overpowering salmon, which threw off the taste of her dish. In all, you don't see too many Indian/Latin Fusion restaurants but I feel they do a great job blending the concepts. Service is great, the space is neat and Vermilion makes for a casual but romantic night.

Cielo S.

OMG- do NOT come here! The service was TERRIBLE. The cucumber mint martini SUCKED. The appetizers didn't arrive until an HOUR after we had ordered them. The "calderaida" has bones-- the kind that can choke you! The entire experience felt like we were being punked. Even the manager couldn't keep a straight face. And it was very overpriced: $70 for one drink, one appetizer, and one entree. Seriously-- if you come, you'll regret it.

Shelley B.

I had a friend in from out of town and took him to Vermilion knowing the cuisine would be a good fit. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful experience. Sara Paulson was working at the bar that evening. She went above and beyond to insure we had an amazing experience. Sara was really knowledgable about the entire menu which and made the perfect suggestions given my dietary restrictions. She is also a Sommelier and knows her wines. I highly recommend Vermilion and will certainly return. I will also sit at the bar as long as Sara is there.

N B.

The service here was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. We took her suggestions on what to order and everything was fantastic. We had the scallops, seafood stew and lobster. The food was probably a bit overpriced but overall I am a fan. The menu was interesting enough to make me want to go back and their veggie menu option is great! I see this place has some bad reviews but if the menu seems interesting to you and you are a fan of Indian food I would suggest to try it out for yourself. I agree that it is more Indian than Latin influenced.

Burt L.

Chicago! Go support this place! It's really, really, really good! My wife and I were visiting Chicago and arrived several hours before our friends. Vermilion was just around the block from our hotel so we stepped in for a nice lunch. The lunch we got wasn't just nice -- it was mind-blowingly good. I had tandoori skirt steak and the mixture of the Latin and Indian tastes was just perfect. Our waiter was attentive to the level of heat that I was comfortable with and the dish that resulted met my desire for assertive but not overwhelming heat perfectly. The cocktails we had with our lunch were as creative and delicious as the food. Contrary to another reviewer, we felt we had exactly the right level of service: our waiter made pleasant conversation and helpful menu suggestions, but mainly left us alone to enjoy our meal and the window seat looking out on the street life of the city. Sadly, no one else was there for lunch -- we had the place all to ourselves. I can't understand this, as I thought Chicago has a thriving restaurant culture and this place provides everything a hungry, sophisticated Chicagoan could possibly want: delicious and interesting food, an upscale ambiance, a good location, strong booze, and good service.

Vanessa K.

Fantastic food, though I never would have considered this mash up before: Indian and Latin American. The tandoori skirt steak was perfection--I salivate just thinking about this dish. We also tried the caldeirada de peixe, a soupy dish that was really flavorful and delicious. The last dish we got was not on the typical menu--a paella dish with Indian flavors, which was interesting but not my favorite iteration of paella. Lastly, the desserts were fantastic (I'd recommend the cumin ice cream for an interesting flavor, or the dessert sampler, which was perfect portion sizes). We got wine by the bottle, and the whole meal was well-priced for a great experience. The ambiance is a little romantic and modern. I love the wood beams on the ceilings.

Yvonne B.

Vermilion effortlessly merges Indian and Latin American flavors in contemporary presentations. As adventurous as I am in my diet, I usually dislike Indian food; however, when Groupon offered a deal for Vermilion I decided to try it out. Scott and I secured the first dinner reservation on Christmas Eve. Scott wore slacks and a button-up shirt and I wore nice jeans and a fancy sweater. The host was wearing a classic suit and our server (Ashra) was sleek in all black. There was a bar on the front left wall and tables and secluded booths throughout. Large black and white photography demurely donned the walls. The square tables were draped in white cloths but the black plastic chairs were surprisingly simple, but matching nonetheless. I had a blueberry fizz cocktail that was served in a champagne flute, a dollop of sorbet and topped with a red rose petal. The flavor was mature and refreshing - not sweet as expected. Scott and I started with the duck arepa and artichokes. The arepas were open-faced and bite-sized and spicy. I loved the texture combinations. The sauce served with the deep-fried artichokes was a necessary addition. It truly completed the plate. Both dishes were beautifully presented like works of art. In comparison, the entrees were more simple and far less impressive. Scott got the skirt steak and I had the lamp shank. Both were good, but nothing like the small plates. Scott hated the sauce that came with his steak and the rolled up thing on the side was not to his taste. My lamb shank was very tender (I could cut it with a fork). I loved the rice and the other small side that came with it. I ordered rice pudding to go and had it a couple of days later. It was WAY too sweet for my liking. It was a generous portion and took two days to eat. What also took two days to eat was my left over lamb. Vermilion has a beautiful setting (perfect for a date) and a unique dining experience. I think that it's a good place when someone isn't sold on Indian (or Latin) foods since it has options. The service is also terrific. I could tell that they were extremely interested in pleasing their customers.

Sonia B.

Vermillion has everything a good date restaurant should have: sexy decor and artwork, strong drinks, exotic food, and friendly staff. Good thing I went here for dinner with one my best girlfriends, haha. Overall though, I am a fan. We had a Groupon for the Iron Chef Battle Tastings, so we were lucky enough to try a majority of the menu. I must say, the fusion between Latin America and India could not be more delicious. It's a fabulous spot for a romantic date or even a night on the town with the gals. It's definitely pricey, so I'm not sure if I can come back often. Overall, I'm a fan.

Sherrilyn B.

At Vermillion I ate one of the best meals I've ever had. My husband and I ordered the prix fixe, mine was vegetarian, his was vegan. I cannot imagine another restaurant providing better vegan food (most of my dishes were vegan). I also enjoyed their pear and jalapeno cocktail, and when I requested it be spicier, they did oblige. Highlights across the five courses were: my paneer appetizer with spicy coating, punjab chole, jicama salad, spicy eggplant, the curried-gobi entree, and the desserts (chocolate cake, mango flan, yummy sorbet, and a delicious sesame/poppy crisp). We also loved the little 'street food' style crisp. It was a little shell/bowl with a delicious filling, eaten after pouring the accompanying cucumber water inside. I also love eating at Vermillion because the service is so outstanding. And yes, it's expensive...but in my opinion, this sort of outstanding service and superbly-creative delicious food is worth every penny.

Rachel B.

Had a Groupon for this restaurant that gets you 2 appetizers and 2 entrees and used it tonight. We got there at 7:15 and got seated right away for our 7:30 reservation. The décor is nice, the pictures of the naked women in the bathroom were kind of weird and the music reminded me of a nightclub. For appetizers we ordered the blue corn crusted scallops and the Bombay frankie. About 15 minutes later we got the food. The scallops were pretty good, it was the first time I'd ever had scallops so I have nothing to compare them too. The Bombay frankie would have been delicious except that it came out warm and would have been a lot better if it were hot. For the main course I had the "pindi" butter chicken and my friend had the tandoori skirt steak. About 15/20 minutes later we got the food. The butter chicken was alright. I didn't love it enough to finish it. The naan it came with was so greasy; it looked like it was wearing lip gloss. It wasn't light and fluffy at all. I would prefer the chicken tikka masala at Gaylord Indian Restaurant off Michigan Ave any day of the week. I had a piece of my friend's tandoori skirt steak. I thought it was really good; the mint sauce on it was tasty. The problem was that she asked for it well-done and it came out a little rarer than medium. They even used the steak cooking to well done as an excuse as to why the food took so long, and it did take long. We decided to order dessert and ended up getting the sampler because the waitress suggested it would be good for sharing. It arrived about 15/20 minutes later. It was $16 and together I don't think the 3 samples would have added up to 1 dessert. It was pretty much of every dessert on the menu. The desserts were delicious, especially the chocolate cake, perfect with a little bit of heat. But I would have never gotten it if I knew that it was so little food for so much money. The waitress forgot that we had the groupon and gave us the check for the full amount of $101. This sucked because it took her about 10 minutes before she came back and we could correct the check. I wouldn't be surprised if she did it on purpose so that we knew the amount to tip her. When she came back with the corrected check she made a point to show us the original amount and where the groupon was added. I understand that maybe waiters get screwed by people not tipping on the full amount but I'm not dumb and don't need to be constantly reminded. We ended up paying about $55 with the tax, tip and dessert and that was honestly too much for what we got. The service was slow; we were there for 2 hours. It was overpriced and the portions were tiny! Some of the food was okay but not good enough for what you have to pay.

Ravi D.

DYNO-MITE!!! Great food and great desserts!!!

Jess L.

I came here for Restaurant Week with some friends, and all we could keep saying to each other was, "Wow, you have to try THIS!" Amazing dishes with unique flavors. You can't go wrong with this restaurant!

Dee C.

Went last night, part of Restaurant week..Menu was a bit underwhelming. 3 of the 4 of us went for the $44 menu. This restaurant wasn't my pick but I was super excited to try it.. All the yelps that I saw mentioned said they were over charged. guess what......we were too. SHADY. Oh, the music was awful, didn't suit the nice decor, felt like I was in a Lincoln Park Bar at 2am.

E T.

Not worth the price! Long wait to get food/bill, the portion of food was small and the server overcharged us at the end of the night. I don't mind small portions if the food is truly amazing, but 5 small chunks of chicken in a 24 dollar dish is ridiculous. Ordered the nut cake dessert - $9 for a tiny square, if I'm paying that much think it should come with ice cream or something. Wished I just went to forever frozen around the corner. You can get way better indian food on west devon at a fraction of the price. Hostess was also in a foul mood. Music was horrible and the decor was pretty whack (naked photos of women in the bathroom?) So glad I used a groupon - otherwise I'd be kicking myself. Really not worth the wait or the price!

Marilyn R.

I'm extremely shocked by other yelper reviews. I'm in Chicago once a year and my husband and I LOVE Vermilion. I've been to 17 countries-most in the last 6 years, and have been to at least over a thousand restaurants (it's not an exaggeration), and Vermilion is still on the top of my list. I'm not sure if they change things up for November because of the conference (60,000 people attend), or if it's just a coincidence that we get amazing food and service each time! We decided to take a group of clients there and they absolutely loved it. I love the burst of flavors in each dish. I think that maybe some of the people that gave vermilion bad reviews probably just swallowed their food because you can definitely taste the fusion. Vermilion uses a lot of different spices and I think that unless you're a good cook at home or are use to fusion, your pallet won't appreciate the different flavors. Tip # 1- I wouldn't go based on Karan S. reviews as she only has 3 reviews- two of those being chinese and Japanese cuisines. Main ingredients - Soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, garlic, wasabi. She sounds like this person I know that said cream cheese tastes like goat cheese. REALLY??? I think you get my point. Tip #2- Don't expect to get your mothers traditional Indian cooking like Hirani's review because it's not Indian food. It's Indian Latin fusion! Reality check- It's not meant to taste like a typical Indian dish. Tip#3 - If you don't have an adventurous pallet or you don't know what fusion is about, then most likely you're not going to appreciate the food, nor the prices so start introducing your tongue to more flavors. Tip# 4- My husband ordered the dosa taco appetizer and he said it was bland. Well, he said this to me just today as I was writing the review. So what was the advice I gave my hubby? Next time send it back or say something!! When you don't like something, send it back to the kitchen and have it made again (ESPECIALLY with these prices). That's what I learn from Chef Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares show HAHAHAH. If you still want to try Vermilion- these are the dishes I've tried and have enjoyed VERY VERY much. I'm a fast eater, but at Vermilion, I take my time to taste all the spices and flavors that blend in so well. * artichoke pakoras - absolutely delicious *blue corn crusted scallops- soooo good *chicken kabab- yummy! I had the lobster portuguese & chimichurri new york strip and it was perfect. I loved the coconut rice on the side.

Dennis J.

Several years ago my wife and I had an amazing flawless meal here. I had lobster, she had filet mignon. The fusion of flavors was expert. Even our amuse-bouche and cocktails were superb. Unfortunately, our return trip was not so. Looks like Vermilion is sometimes outstanding but usually mediocre and not worth the price considering its inconsistency.

Parni S.

I was very excited to go to this place. Took my non-Indian friends convincing that this might be worth a try. Good things first: The ambience was good. They had a separate menu for vegetarians which was very nice. It was easy to book on open table and we did not have to wait to get a table. Now the negatives: I have tasted better food than this for sure. I was disappointed with the thali that I took. Except for the paneer dish, the dal and chana were very ordinary. My friends tried some seafood which apparently was not tasting that good. The desserts could have been much better. For the price we paid (about $35-50 per person), I would get great food at celebrity chef restaurants in places like NY.

N B.

Inventive cocktails. Try the Spice Sangria.

Heather H.

I've been dying to try Vermilion for years, and finally had a good opportunity to try it out. We came for dinner on a Sunday night, and as we walked from the South Loop to Hubbard, we passed tons of empty restaurants. I think the economy, and possibly the late bears game, really slows down business on Sundays. We picked Vermilion based on friend's reviews of the place from years ago. I've got to say, for once, I'm happy I didn't check the Yelp reviews first or I don't think we would have bothered to come. It does seem that our fantastic dinner was in the minority, and that's sad because this place has potential. The service was attentive (we were one of two tables occupied in the whole place, so really, it better be attentive!) and I thought the decor was sexy modern, yet fun. They have an all vegetarian menu, which upon walking in, we were asked about. They also are sure to understand any dietary restrictions you have. We started with cocktails, the husband a nice malbac, and I went for the Coconut Saffron Creme cocktail. It was sweet, but it really went well with the artichoke pakoras, which had a chili coconut dipping sauce that was freaking out of this world good (save it for later!) The husband had the Lobster Portuguese; stewed in a goan clove-garlic-cardamom gravy + coconut rice + eggplant chip. I opted for the veggie version, the Gobi Portuguese which replaces the lobster with cauliflower. Also got some fenugreek naan on the side. The dinners were spicy, not overly so, I would get this again, and in the Gobi version, there was plenty for me to take home so 2 meals in one for $20. While the Lobster version was good, not sure it's worth the $40 price tag. We still had wine in the bottle, so opted to go with the Vermilion Hedonism for dessert. Dark chocolate cake with chili powder and a side of fruit with blueberry sorbet. Outstanding, don't pass on this. Maybe it's the items we ordered, but I wasn't getting too much of the Indian Latin fusion, but just Indian. We were glad we tried it, and we got to expense this dinner. Although, if we had to pay, not sure it's worth the expensive price point.

Janet E.

How bizarre that my review for Vermilion had disappeared and it was only until I had to read someone else's review for this place that I finally noticed it went "missing". I remember a cucumber drink that they offered on their non-alcoholic drink menu. It was cucumber, mint, and lemon juice and very refreshing. We also ordered some lobster dish and scallop dish. The dishes were only okay. This place is extremely overpriced. I remembered not wanting to come back here. Too bad my previous review was deleted. Parking here was difficult. My friend had to valet her car with the hotel across the street.

Nick M.

God, even the sound of Vermillion sounds sexy! Say it with me Verrrrrmilllliooon, make sure you roll your "R's", try it again Verrrrmillllion. See sexy, like Ricardo Montalbán. I have to admit, I get super critical of places like this. One for the price and two, when a restaurant has an "idea" of which they promote themselves by, I want to see it, feel it, breath it, and touch it. Latin American/ Indian cuisine... that's bold! They are also very, very smart. They do not say so often that they are a fusion but more a medley of the two cultures and flavors of which, they most certainly are! I just going to jump into the food because it most certainly the star here. It's a strange thing to order Tapas when everything else seems more Indian in culture. Mostly it worked and when I say mostly it's just that a few weren't up to the same flavor explosions as the others but none the less good. Plating is very much an art at Vermillion, you almost feel bad destroying it but then again... you don't. I can't say anymore then deliciousness!! As for the rest, drinks are stiff, service is kind of spotty (not really friendly, more complacent then anything), and the decor is sexy I guess. It's modern, white linens and chairs, some white walls and some exposed brick. Lighting is mellow of course. But then black and white photo's of women. Don't get me wrong they are beautiful and classy but something about stuffing my face when I feel like the woman in the photo is watching me... not cool. Plus I understand that women can see the beauty in other woman but do you want to see that all night long? Plus the owners are two women. I just thought it was almost Playboy-ish. The rest is very nice. I will expect they will see me again at Verrrrmilllion.

Marta P.

I am speechless, and I don't even know where to begin. Worst restaurant meal ever. I just got back from dinner with two girlfriends and good thing we really had a lot to catch up on because we were there for over three hours. All three of us got the Open Table 60$ for the $120 tasting menu. The meal started out great but went downhill with each course. The main entree was a mix of cold horse food (salty and tasteless). I am pretty sure one of the dishes was Rice-a-Roni. It's a pretty sad night when 3 people agree that the white rice is their favorite dish. Just because you are on a reality TV show does not mean you should offer a tasting menu and charge $120 dollars for it. Don't get me wrong, I do not mind spending money on a great meal, but for that price we could have dined at many of the other fine dining restaurants in the city. The service was super slow and awkward. Our clean silverware was set down before the dirty stuff was picked up. Our waiter tried hard to make up the night by giving us some extra dishes, which we appreciated, but nothing could have erased what we had already experienced Even with the coupon we each ended up spending $120 dollars on a terrible meal, one glass of wine, tax and tip. Take your money somewhere else, this place is a hot mess.

Heidi R.

I came to Vermilion with my boyfriend for dinner Sunday night. The place was VERY nice and the atmosphere was exactly my taste - I loved the art on the walls and everything was red, black, grey or white. I am a big Indian food fan and he is not. My bad, BIG bad for bringing this hamburger and steak lover to an Indian restaurant. Anyways, we had a groupon which included 2 apps and 2 entrees. The server was cool and thankfully fixed our wobbly table right away but, of course, tried to sell us on getting the tasting menu and deducting the groupon ($38). The tasting menu was $90/person and for not even knowing if we liked the food we couldn't justify it. We both ordered a glass of wine, I had a Malbec and he had a Pinot Noir. Wine was expensive here, for the glass we paid $14 each. That's pricey considering most bottles cost less but its Chicago and this place was expensive altogether so it made sense. We ordered the scallops and 1 jumbo crab cake as our apps. The server informed us that there was a $5 upgrade charge for the crab cake - lame but it's what we wanted so we went ahead with it. For entrees, my boyfriend had the chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs because they were the most American sounding thing on the menu. I ordered the vermilion thali which is the chef's choice of two regional Indian entrees, daal makhani, naan, basmati rice, raita, papad. I loved it... the chicken dish was so good and everything was perfectly spicy. We ordered a basket of naan to go with everything and unfortunately coming away from Vermilion my boyfriend said his favorite part of the dinner was the naan. Sad face. On top of the groupon I think I ended up paying another $60 or so for the wine, upgrade, naan, tax & tip. So I would say this place is pricey considering the meal would have cost a lot more without the groupon. Not sure I'd return but if I do it won't be with my love... I think I'll stick to Hooters and Carsons with him.

Anuj S.

This place is a bit over-hyped. I heard so much about it that I took my wife. The food was pretty meh... rather bland I would say. They had issues with our reservation and we ended up waiting like 45 minutes. Especially for the price, I didn't think it was anything special. We've never been back... I gave them one extra star for the unique fries they always have at the Taste of Chicago.

Albert H.

As interlopers on the Chicago food scene - here for a week of eating - Vermillion was on our radar not so much due to stellar Yelp reviews, but due to a famous chef. That and a groupon for their iron chef tasting menu. Sunday at 8pm, the restaurant was far from crowded. We were seated immediately ... that's when the trouble started. We waited. And waited. And eventually started trying to guess just which server it was that was unaware that a party had been seated within their domain. After plaintively making eye contact with a few likely candidates, our server approached and was profusely apologetic: "You should have said something!". Well, no, lady. Not really. I mean, perhaps after only a day in your fair city, we were not in the proper midwestern mood, but where we come from, the responsibility for providing service lies squarely with the establishment, not the customer. Anyway, no problem. We're on vacation and in no hurry. After asking some questions about the menu, we ordered a couple of cocktails ... in particular the Pani Puri Margarita is something else; creative and actually well constructed. We also made our choices in the Iron Chef tasting - they call it a ten element tasting - basically five courses arranged in pairs with an Indian and a Latin element in each course. The fourth, main course allows one to choose independently two proteins, sauces and accompaniments to be cooked up mostly as you request - there were such things as fishes, lamb chops, eggplant and so on. Well, we ordered. We drank our drinks. We waited. And Waited. And eventually thought maybe we should ask if any actual *food* would be forthcoming. So we flagged down our server, who went to look into it. And wonder of wonders - suddenly food appeared, along with an apology for a "mix up in the kitchen". We enjoyed the bites - a watermelon/crab thing ( nominally the Indian side ) and an anchovy dish. In fact, the flavors were much better and clearer than we would have expected. The second course arrived on the heels of the first: fish tacos and a tandoori chicken sandwich. Again, wonderful flavors which we really enjoyed. There, there was a pause. About this time, there was apparently the understanding that something was not going quite as it should have been, because a nonalcoholic sampling of cocktails arrived with compliments from the bar. It was good. We enjoyed it. And we waited. And waited. And eventually thought to ask our server what, exactly, was up. Well ... our entrees should be out any minute. We inquired after the third, pre-entree course. The server was apparently under the misapprehension that we had received the third, pre-entree course. Which we had not. But which might have explained the delay. This is perhaps an artifact of the food runners not being in good contact with the server, but the whole situation was beginning to take on the character of a Monty Python sketch about cheese ... only with Indian food. As the entree course, prepared to our specifications, was at the ready, we allowed that perhaps it should be brought out, and the third course could come fourth. This was about the time that a manager ( hitherto unseen and unheard ) chose to stop by and ask how things were going. We tried to be charitable. Put a stiff upper lip on the whole fiasco. He retreated with a promise to "check into it" ... never to be seen again. The entrees were interesting, most of the marinades more heavily salted than we would have liked, but generally prepared as requested. The kitchen did seem to have chosen to add an element here and there ( an extra side ingredient ) to round the dishes out. Which I suppose is okay if you trust that you are not averse to any random ingredient they might choose to provide in your carefully orchestrated dish. The remainder of the dinner was less entertaining, which was perhaps a good thing. Our third course did arrive in good time, as did our desserts. Service remained friendly, though somewhat guilty as the restaurant cleared out. One goes into any higher end restaurant experience expecting to be able to relax, not to have to work to get what is advertised, and to be served by a staff which is in good communication. That the hostess, server, food runners and even manager did not seem to know what each other were doing to serve our party was disappointing. It's a very nice facility - sensually decorated and dimly lit. Seems set up as a good date place. The food is excellent and innovative, with clean clear flavors. The drinks menu is daring, with at least one stunning success. At least the night we were there, for our table, the service was a complete mess. I believe that it is quite possible to have a wonderful dinner at Vermillion, but given our experience, I would not trust them to provide it on any particular visit.

Tom E.

After reading some recent reviews that had me concerned there was some decline happening at Vermillion, my wife and I decided to return to see for ourselves. We were pleasantly reassured with excellent service and dishes with unique flavor combinations that we've come to expect. The jumbo lump crab-lobster cake was incredible, and our favorite prix-fix seared meat experience was a awesome as usual.. The tamarind ribs continue to be my absolute favorite. Not sure what happened to those with negative reviews, but ours could not have been much better.

Abby H.

I've been to Vermilion four times in the past three years and overall the place has not been consistent. The first time I was here I thought the place was great - fresh, interesting, at times unusual-in-a-good-way flavor combinations. The second time I thought it was mostly great but that the kitchen was a little off its game. The third time was disappointing because it involved very slow service and another off night in terms of the food. The fourth time, about a month ago, made me realize I can't give this place any more tries. Praise (based on most recent visit only): Good cocktails. Attentive service. Really nice wait staff. Criticism (based on most recent visit only): Slow kitchen. The food took a long time to come out and some of it was barely warm. The Brazilian stew, which I'd had before, had almost no seafood in it at all. On the whole the food seemed like nothing more than slightly gussied-up standard Indian food with different (not necessarily good) condiments. Something has gone awry with their fusion thing. I found myself thinking it would be more satisfying just to head up to Devon for a good Indian meal. Finally, the bill here adds up very quickly. For this price point, I'd much rather go to more consistent places like Avec, Publican, Graham Elliott.

Barry B.

My wife and I went to Vermillion early in the evening on a Tuesday. The restaurant was almost empty with only two other tables seated and we were sat next to one of the occupied tables. That table and the other table were getting service but we were ignored. After twenty minutes another table was sat and a couple of minutes later their order was taken. It was clear that we were ready to order because our menus were closed. For some reason the waitress was deliberately ignoring us. We couldn't even get drinks. After 25 minutes of being completely ignored we got up and left. On the way out the hostess thanked us and we told her we were leaving because no one would acknowledge we were there. She said, "oh, ok" and made no apology or attempt to remedy the situation. This was easily the worst service we've ever received and we will never return.

Annie T.

How have I lived in Chicago for THIS LONG and never been to Vermilion until this week? What a mistake! indian/latin american fusion.. YUM. I met friends for dinner this week on the 2nd night of Ramadan to BREAK THE FAST. Wait, I don't even celebrate Ramadan. I just like to eat and laugh. Vermilion was perfect for that. What we ordered for the table (family-styled, my favorite way to dine): -blue corn crusted scallops - the goat cheese puree was TDF -duck vindaloo arepa - delicious, but did not even COMPARE to the arepas i have had a caracas arepa bar in east village nyc -coconut chili mussels - the curry leaves/coconut infusion did it for me -artichoke pakoras - wow. where have i been all my life? crispy, delicious, flavorful. the coconut sauce killed it. -butter chicken - scrumdiddly. you can't enjoy an indian meal without some butter chicken. so creamy and delicious with naan -methi - sarson - palak - paneer - yeah, why don't you try saying that 3x's fast? if you can, i'll take you to vermilion for the meal of your life. but seriously, this was delicious. nothing like i've ever had before. so it may had looked like baby food, but goodness it was delicious-- pureed greens and cheese dipped with naan there you have it. if you need to break a fast, hit vermilion. their desserts were also ridiculous. the flan was my absolute favorite. i will certainly be back for more. great atmosphere and service. i loved the red accents and modern layout.

Vidya N.

The entire experience can be summed up in 1 word - yuck. I love food, I love trying new stuff, and was actually excited to go to Vermilion, especially after seeing the chef owner on Food Network. What a disappointment. We had a 9.00pm reservation and still had to wait 40 minutes to be seated. The place is an Indian-Latin fusion restaurant. The decor was confused, the music too loud & jarring. The service was spotty - the hostess was inattentive & didn't really try; the waitress was friendly. But, the worst part of the evening was the food. Completely uninspired and simply not tasty. In fact, my goat curry was foul-smelling and rank - I could not eat it, and I tried! The only dish that semi-worked was the tomatillo gazpacho soup. FIve people, 8 dishes, and just one OK? Why bother?

Emily G.

I went here a while ago with a group of friends for Chicago Restaurant Week. When looking through restaurants, the idea of Latin-Indian fusion sparked the interest of a few of the members of our group so we made a reservation. I personally was excited because I love spicy food and the reviews I had read online We had to remind the waitress a couple of times that it was Chicago Restaurant Week and that we wanted the special $33 menu which they did not seem very eager to honor. The menu included an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert and my friend and I also ordered a bottle of wine making the bill between us about $110. Each course they brought was absolutely delicious but was over in about 3 bites. We tried to share between the group to get to sample the other dishes but it was difficult given how small the portions were. I felt for $55 for food and wine, even if I was ordering off of a tasting menu, I should have left more full leaving the restaurant. Overall, the food was amazing but the portions were so small that I left the restaurant still very hungry and the service was just ok, nothing special.

T D.

This place is OK, just barely OK. I'd rate it 2-1/2 stars if I could. Vermilion is primarily an Indian restaurant, where they mix up the traditional dishes with nontraditional ingredients. (Steak tandoori.) Pretty clear that the owner pulled from the McKinsey consulting playbook for execution, style, and especially the marketing aspect and nailed those things. The big problem is that the place feels sort of hollow, and the dishes seem lacking of soul, heart, and passion. The Latin tie-in "fusion" fell flat - if you have to try to explain it to me... then it probably isn't working. The ribs were really good, super tender, recommended by our server, and a good pick. The fish stew was uninspiring (the famous Iron Chef one even), it was a LOAD of Indian vegetables and a sprinkling of seafood. I'm not thrilled to pay big bucks for a bowl of zucchini in fish stock. The broth by itself was not that great, so the stew built on top of it wasn't that great. We somehow expected more. "Tomato rice" sounded exotic but was a puck of standard rice with diced tomato on top. That really seemed to fall short, almost comically so. The appetizers/tapas we had were very good but were extra small portions that didn't justify the price (a single portabello taco for $12.) I can't fathom how they can sell a tasting menu where the prices are 5x for 1/5th the food. Went at 7 on a Saturday night and the place was less than half full. Every other place in the area was packed. So were we glad we tried the place? Yes. Would we go back? Hahahahahaha, No, never. There are just so many better Indian places, and many better Latin places that show their passion in the food.

Jessica D.

Such a disaster! I went with my entire family and BF, thinking there would be interesting food and a cool atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Rather than enjoying the food/atmosphere, we all rallied around how horrible the service was, how long it took for food and drinks to come, and how we would never, ever go back. After waiting around 10mins for the table to open (not too bad), we sat down in a noisy booth right next to the kitchen and proceeded to wait another 15mins for our server to come for the drink order. She (literally) ran up to our table and took our drink order, and after delivering them, ran back and grabbed my dad's drink out of his hand and took it away! No explanation given!!! We were stunned. It came back in another 5mins, still no explanation. Our food order came out just a slowly, to the point where we ordered naan just to get something in our stomachs. Even this was no simple task, and I eventually had to find someone who wasn't our server to give our order to (even though we were right next to the kitchen). Once the food arrived, it was good - but by no means great. Definitely not worth the wait/frustration. Even though we were clearly displeased with our experience, there was no apology/explanation given. Needless to say, we will not be going back. Next time we get together, we will be heading to India House 2 blocks away for a killer meal at 1/2 the price.

Aaron W.

The food was solid, but significantly overpriced. We came here on a groupon and at half off, it was a decent meal. Our waiter was attentive, but the food took quite awhile. The layout was cramped and noisy, even though it wasn't close to full. We probably wouldn't return to pay full price.

Di T.

Great Indian fusion, key word being fusion. If you want authentic Indian, this would not be it. Great service & definite must try for fusion foody lovers

Aditi M.

My girls and I only came in for the Pani Puri Margaritas b/c we'd heard so much hype around it. The drinks were ok...we ordered a round of 4 and each one of ours tasted slightly different. It's like they didn't get the ratio for the ingredients right - some of the drinks were too strong and some were just like water. It's a cool concept though and I'll definitely come back to try the food.

Rob S.

A ho-hum experience. The food was good, but not outstanding or memorable or even inspired. The so-called 'fusion' claim was misleading-- everything on the menu was either Indian or Latin, not a blend of the two. The decor felt like I was eating in a display room at Ikea. I had high hopes, but Vermillion ended up being overall ok-- and just ok. Not great, and definitely not worth the expense. Thank God I was there with two people I really like-- they saved the night for me. Had I been there with anyone else, my review might not be so kind.

Law S.

Overall atrocious. If I could give zero stars, I would. We showed up for our 7:30pm reservation to be told that our table would be ready shortly, so we decided to order a drink while waiting in the bar area (which was freezing due to the door constantly being opened and closed). At 8:15 the host came over to apologize that it was taking so long and that we would be next, the manager stated that the 6:30 reservations all showed up late so it pushed ours out, which is not how a reservation system works. If you are late, you lose your spot - not penalize the people who are on time. At 9pm we watched as "the next available table" went to another group of four that came in about 30 minutes after us. We talked to manager about it, who became heated and told us, "You go over and tell them that you were up next for the table, and you want them to move". As a person who has been a server and manager in restaurants I have never experienced such blatant disregard for customer service. After over 90 minutes of waiting past our reservation time, we were seated. We waited 25 minutes for our first round of drinks and then after they were delivered we waited an additional 15 minutes for our server to come back to place our order. As we looked around, we noticed no one had food on their tables. Once 60 minutes had elapsed after placing our order, the server told us our food would be up shortly, we could no longer wait. We had been in the restaurant for over 3 hours and had no food! The manager never came over, nothing was taken off our bill and we were starving! On a special night with out -of-town guests we all ended up eating McDonald's at 11:30pm. This place will not stay in business long with such a horrendous idea of what a "good restaurant experience" is. I am appalled by the management and disgusted that based on the other reviews this behavior toward clientele is commonplace.

Dan R.

Overpriced. Waitress was a little too cocky. too little food on my plate. The "piece" of steak was really good but the pieces of lobster ...eh, I've had better before. Drinks are good and exotic. That I liked. Service = REALLY SLOW. If anyone takes me there for dinner, maybe I will be glad... but won't spend my money to go there again. But it was worth the try, so food lovers should try it for sure.

Mark W.

Been here for a couple meals recently and was very impressed. Had the steak the first time and the lamb chops the next. Both were great and would recommend to anyone that goes here. Also the service by the bartender Sara was excellent. She helped make the entire experience worth while.

Aimee R.

My two favorite foods: Indian and Latin! It is heavier on the Indian side. Go crazy and get the Tasting - it's worth it! My date and I shared the "deep": seafood and "green": vegetarian 2 Yums Up! Where to begin? The basmati rice was so nice. Juhu ki pani puri, jumbo crab-lobster cake, artichoke pakoras, hot soup, shrimp, scallops were all delicious! Caldeirada de peixe was SO flavorful and I was afraid of it. Feel the fear and eat it anyway : ) I'm not big on mussels so can't give an accurate review. Though I love lobster, it was just so-so. The portuguese award-winning sauce was excellent though. Just not with the lobster. The dessert was amazing! Save room. I can't wait to go back!

Megan S.

I've wanted to try Vermilion for a very long time, ever since we had their fire chicken wings at Taste of Chicago. We finally had the right excuse to go someplace special, and I thought Vermilion would be the place. But then I checked the Yelp reviews - very mixed. Apparently Vermilion is not the place to go on Saturdays, but I thought I'd be okay with a 7:00 on a Friday night. Turns out it was all preparation and no H. My boyfriend was there just a little bit before seven and ordered a drink from the bar, a pear cocktail that was pretty good. There were customers there, but I wouldn't say it was busy. We went up to the hostess and got seated promptly. I would have expected someone to come up and say "Welcome to Vermilion, can I get you a drink?" But no one came. Not for a full forty minutes. Had I done something wrong? Was it that I used Open Table to make the reservation? Was I under-dressed? My boyfriend was in a suit. I looked around me - other tables were getting service. The servers actually were very engaged in the process. but no one was even looking at us. It was like we were in some sort of desert of service. I was really disappointed. I know from other reviews that their service could be spotty, but I couldn't help but take it personally. What kind of snobby manager thinks that he or she can deny service to someone and still stay in business? I felt like I was in sixth grade all over again. Since I was hurt, my boyfriend and I decided to leave and go to India House. It was delicious, inexpensive, and we had two servers doting on us like royalty. We were both pleasantly surprised by the menu and the wine list. So, if you're thinking about going to Vermilion, remember that India House is just a few blocks away.

Tina H.

It was restaurant week in Chicago. My boyfriend and I went to eat here with another couple. We were initially excited because a friend recommended the place. The ambiance and decor was excellent. Red, white, and almost candle lit glow. There is a distinct Indian twist to everything. I love it. But all is good until the service. The waitress seemed a bit upset that we were only interested in the restaurant week menu. But what was most disappointing was the food. The food was prettier than it actually tasted. I had the naan sandwich (appetizer), seafood stew (main dish), and mango flan (dessert). The seafood stew was in a really cool, slightly slanted metal bowl, which kept the stew warm til' the end of the meal. However, it was neither spicy or tasty. My boyfriend had the rib - which was much too spicy. Perhaps our visit was a case of over-hyping, and thus disappointing. At the end of the day, I wouldn't return. I expected more from a restaurant championing it's Iron Chef (tv show participating) Head Chef. Hope you like my review.

Jessica G.

So. We arrived at 8:30 for our reservation, a group of 4. We were seated almost immediately but when we got to our table, it only had 3 chairs and one setting was missing a napkin. It set the stage for a very long and disappointing evening. Our server arrived about 10 minutes after we sat down. She was friendly and took our orders right away. From that point on, things started going downhill. It took 30 minutes for the first course to arrive. I and another member of our party had the artichoke fritters and, truly, I was expecting more bread and less whole artichoke. Decent flavor and I really liked the pickled cherry pepper. DH's duck vindaloo was under-seasoned and another member of our party had the tandoori chicken naan sandwiches which were completely lacking in flavor. Each item was about 2 bites and done. After this, it took almost an hour to received our entrees so we were pretty hungry by that point. The waitress came over and apologized several times and brought out a small plate of naan along with a plate of these little flavorful puffs to tide us over. When the entrees arrived finally, we found a lot of inconsistency. Two people at our table had the skirt steak and it was a little strange that their food looked completely different. One was about 3/4" thick and the other was 1/4" thick and both were completely different colors even though they both asked for medium rare. I would go so far as to say they were not both skirt steaks and that the thicker one was maybe hanger steak. DH really liked his spinach with chorizo though I tasted it and thought it was flat and a little slimy. I'd ordered the paella and the portion was not unreasonable and the flavor was decent but the rice was not cooked properly. It's supposed to be a little crunchy in a paella but this was hard and dry. The mojito chicken seemed decent though the portion was pretty small in comparison to the other plates that came out. After we finished our entrees, the dessert came out fairly quickly, though we'd ordered coffee and it came as we were finishing dessert. The flan was all right but it had a texture more like pumpkin pie than flan should have. I did like the sauce and the candied fruit that came with it, though it seemed like the mango flavor was missing from the flan overall. I'm not sure if the issues we had were because it was Restaurant Week - that seemed to be the most likely excuse - but it seems like the people who run this restaurant could have been better prepared. Based on a comment our waitress made, it seemed like they ran out of dishes, hence the long waits for things. Why is that allowed to happen? Also either only offer the prix fixe or order from the menu only. Maybe too many choices caused additional confusion which made things take longer. I would note that our table was not the only one that waited for a long time to get their food. The food was basically ok though I think for the price it could have been a little better. Overall, I would rate as follows: Interior - Decor - 4 stars, though the tables fit somewhat awkwardly in the space. It is quite pretty inside with the red/ black/ white/ gray scheme. Interior - sound - 2 stars - way, way, way too loud. You can barely converse with the people at your table, it's so loud. Waitress - 4 stars. She was very friendly and also very apologetic for the fact that we had to wait. I think her name was Caitlin. I kind of felt bad for her. She was good, though. Food - flavor 3.5 stars, portion vs price - 2 stars. Timeliness - 1 star since the dessert came out on time. Consistency - 0 stars. The last two items are enough to turn this into a 2 star review for me. I had very high hopes and left disappointed. We actually hit White Castle on the way home. There is room for improvement and I hope it happens at Vermilion. There are some good concepts that need some tweaking and the place needs to work on timeliness before I would consider rating anything other than 2 stars.

Dee C.

I don't know how my reviews could be so different! Must be the groupon deal taking off the edge from the pricey meal here. Ordered the following from the vegetarian blue corn heart of palm with goat cheese-great...spices were all there! cilantro tamarind paneer jicama- very good also, loved the crunch from the jicama with the very tasty tamarind paneer. entree: squash red curry (don't really know what it was called): this was very spicy, but still tasted great. I had to order naan because it was so spicy. dessert: goat cheese cheesecake: very very good and you can see the fusion involved. service was great and attentive. Reservation was easy on a Thursday. Drinks were not worth it for us....but the food was all great! one star off for the crazy prices!!

Taryn T.

Full disclosure: I hate, hate, hate spicy foods! And yet I loved Vermilion. The butter chicken dish was only subtly spicy - score! And the lychee ginger martini was Taryn's perfect cocktail - under $15 and packed with enough booze to get a pleasant buzz going. I would have ordered another, but I was trying (ultimately unsuccessfully) to convince my date that I was a virtuous human being. The atmosphere is super swanky - this is a safe "date spot" option for sure. Couples were everywhere. A meal here can get expensive, especially if you order a few small plates to start ($10 each) and a main meal ($25) and a dessert ($15) and a drink or two ($15) - oi... Stick with a main course and a strong drink and you will be in a happy mood at the end of the night.

Robyn T.

It had been a while since I'd last been to Vermillion and I was oh so happy to come back to this subtly sexy restaurant. If you're looking to impress your date this is the perfect place to go. Unique cocktails and fusion fare lend themselves a certain quality that puts you in the mood. Of course I was there with a group of girlfriends, but I certainly felt that this would be an ideal date spot! As much as I enjoyed the food and the dining experience, I have to say the service was not good. It started off fine, but midway through it got to be a chore to flag down the waitress and when it came time for the check? Forget it couldn't get her attention at all. The others girls I dined with said they'd had similar experiences here in the past, so just know this isn't the spot to come to before you're trying to make a show! Now the menu? Wow. I am still thinking about the ribs here with their unique spices. They were falling off the bone good and definitely worth coming back for.

Louis G.

We came here for dinner and the service was great...but the food was less than great. They seem to be chasing a clientele and ambience more so than cuisine. Indian food I have had in the city is sometimes garnished with a side sauce like a chutney, and I have eaten in restaurants where they simply bring this to you gratis. They added an extra $4 on my bill for this which I found a bit excessive. I'm not sure we will be back, espcially with the number of options to choose from for great Indian dining options in Chicago.

Aurore L.

Sure, giving a restaurant a try for Christmas Day dinner is probably not the smartest move ever. And judging it by the prix fixe it offered for the occasion might not be fair game. At the same time - is it really fair to force every customer in the city to feast on a prix-fixe just because it's the holidays? I am not totally convinced. Oh well. Vermilion is sexy. Sparkly. Sassy. Anything cool that starts with an "s". Think of it as the love child of Padma Lakshmi and Eva Mendes. Or - more 'authentic' - of Rani Mukherjee ( tinyurl.com/37gayag ) and Leonor Varela ( tinyurl.com/2czv8yn ). (Gents, you are welcome) Entering this gorgeous space on a snowy night was quite a treat. Too bad it didn't last all night long. Because on top of Christmas we were celebrating our wedding anniversary, and the whole experience was quite a bit of a letdown despite the cute pink chocolate "Happy anniversary" written on our dessert plate. Nothing was bad per se but nothing stood out either. The crab and lobster cakes were overcooked and slightly burned and totolly overpowered by the tamarind sauce it came with. The empanada was just that, an empanada. The butternut and coconut soup was very tasty but the ham, the HAM!!!!!! we were served as a main dish was a big disappointment and was swimming in a spicy mango sauce. I liked the cranberry haricots verts it came with (even though I failed to see the Indo-Latin influence behind them) but was unimpressed by the rather dry yucca cake that was finishing off the plate. The two-folded dessert was so uninspired that I already forgot pretty much all about it..... A "six" course dinner, expedited in under 70 minutes. Yup, we basically ate non-stop, with hardly any time in between mouthfuls to sip on our drinks. I understand it's Christmas but people were there to enjoy and take their time. Such a pity that we couldn't really do that. Not seduced. Beguiled.

Kartik K.

Very expensive restaurant. The food wasn't great either

Kelly S.

We were really excited to try Vermillion, but we were not at all excited when we left. I came for restaurant week lunch with a group of 8 friends, If I had come here and paid full price for this food, I would have been very upset. Overall, SPEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE. Especially during restaurant week. 1. The food was just meh and bland. I feel like I could get better latin and indian food elsewhere-- the fusion didn't really come through well in the food. I expected more from an Iron Chef. Part of this seems to be that they didn't give any of the food options that other yelpers have raved about. If you're going to participate in restaurant week, why don't you go all out and showcase your best food so people want to come back? In this case even what they did serve didn't even seem well executed.The best thing I ate was the Tandoor Chicken sandwich, and even that wasn't outstanding. 2. The drinks were good. The fusion came through well here. The decor is very cool. These were really the only saving graces. Unfortunately I don't choose where to dine solely based on the drinks and decorating... FOOD is kind of my main priority. 3. We went for restaurant week expecting typical lunch pricing as nothing else was listed on the website. It turned out their lunch menu was a 33 or 44 option, even though their sign outside advertised a "latin express" prix fixe lunch option for $24. We assumed this was the restaurant week menu option for lunch because they had displayed the exact menu we were given. It took and arm an a leg, but they finally gave us this price. If they hadn't I would have only given this place one star.

Audre L.

The food here pleasantly surprised me in a great way. Came here on a Sunday night with a group of 6. It was slow given the fact that it was Sunday night - and therefore we got really good service. Our waitress was super sweet. Also, in terms of all the bad reviews of the food, I honestly think that for certain persons, Indian food and spices will naturally not sit well. For the people that also had bad reviews given the scene and service, I guess if I were coming here for a rowdy, in your face fun evening, this place would not be the choice. Choose something newer for that. But if you want good food with the company you go with, this place is a nice option. For me, the food was excellent. Had and Pani Puri - and my friend who is Indian said it was stellar. For my entree, I got the vegetarian Eggplant with a side of Coconut rice. Also very tasty! The spices were Indian - bold, spicy, tangy, sweet, sour all at once in a balanced way. I got to taste some of the meats my friends ordered and it was all executed very well. The decor is a little dated, and this place has been on Hubbard for a while, but that definintely says something - to have a restaurant in River North stick around for several years. Not sure what the scene and service is like on the weekends, but if you are looking for a nice meal on a quiet weekday, this place might be a good option if you're in the mood for Indian inspired dishes.

Elle M.

My boyfriend and I came here to use our 10 course Iron Chef Tasting Menu Groupon last night and overall our experience was good. Nothing mind-blowing, but good. First off, it's actually a 5 course tasting menu and each course has two components. Our server asked about our heat tolerance and, as I'm a little more of a wuss when it comes to spice, warned me about a couple of the courses that might be spicier. She said she'd bring yogurt and keep the spicy sauces on the side, which I appreciated. Honestly though, none of them were really that spicy. The first two courses were great. A little chicken tandoor on a naan circle paired with jicama, anchovy, citrus and cilantro- those two played off each other better than any other course. Then fried artichokes with duck vindaloo on a little corn cake- also delicious. The third course was a skewer of pickled cherry peppers stuffed with chorizo & goat cheese and grilled pieces of turkey with a garam masala rub. That was okay. The turkey was kind of dry and I didn't really taste any kind of rub. The fourth course, which is the main, was fine. The lobster in the coconut curry sauce was my favorite. The NY strip with potatoes were fine. Nothing exciting, but the (non-traditional) chimichurri was a little overly vinegar-y. The dessert is where I really get stuck. I still don't know how I feel about it. It's a weird quinoa milk reduction that reminded me a lot of horchata. And it's paired with a chocolate doughnut frittata? The texture completely stumped me. And the rum infused whipped cream they serve with it is nothing special. The quinoa horchata and whipped cream were WAY too sweet. I don't know. Honestly I'm still not done thinking about it. The drinks all looked great, but the ginger lime margarita I ordered first tasted like salt. Not ginger or lime. Our server sort of brought us both our second drink without our asking and the one she brought me wasn't something I would've ordered. I had a couple sips and gave it to my boyfriend. While it was really nice of her to do that, I would've preferred to order my own drink- and actually drink it. The service was really great and the food was interesting with some very nice flavors. Good ambiance. It was definitely a unique experience.

Char Y.

we came on a week day to a completely empty restaurant. The inside is absolutely beautiful with a pallet of red, white and black. The tables were all set with silverware and glasses, and the restaurant was definitely party ready. We ordered blue corn crusted scallops - very tender with a little spice. duck vindaloo arepa - at first bite, they seemed to be under seasoned due to lack of salt, but the spiciness quickly kicks in, and last a long time. artichoke pakoras - i don't like artichokes, but the dipping makes them irresistible. the sourness of the artichoke is incorporated into the whole taste, and all hit the taste buds at the same time. mysore lamb chops - amazingly juicy and tender. lamb shank gassi - gigantic shank with a ton of flavors. I thought the whole meal was wonderful. I appreciate the layering of flavors from all items, especially the spice level. The heat lingers without burning, and is just appropriate enough to make you want more. Our server, Patricia, attended to our every need, and we felt like VIP guests.

Caroline F.

We came here for my husband's birthday because he loves Indian food and he wanted to try something different. I made a reservation at 7:30 and we didn't sit down until 7:45. We waited at the bar for 15 min for our table and figured we would order a drink. There were only 6 people at the bar and no bar tender ever came up to us. Then they sat us and our waiter didn't show up until 8:00. I complained to the manager that we had been sitting here for 15 min and no one said hello. The food was not bad. We had the blue corn crusted scallops, artichoke pakoras and roasted butternut squash soup for appetizers and it was delish. They did bring an extra appetizer for free because we waited for so long. I had the lobster that I thought was a little tough and my husband got the skirt steak which he said was just ok. When we got the bill, they added a drink we didn't have that the bartenders said we got. The worst part of it all is that the service was so SLOW. We were there until 10:30 for a 7:30 reservation.

Andrea H.

NOOOO!!! Vermilion, you caved! The risks you took with spice and flavors used to be interesting, exciting. Now, they've been tamed. The watered down versions are just, well, common. The whole concept is lost when you can't taste the complexities of each dish/drink. I used to be your biggest fan. Now I'm just...disappointed. I know you're still in there somewhere. Come back. Please? I miss you! Love, Andrea

Ghoncheh G.

I had no idea what to expect when I went to Vermillion until the menu opened in front of me and boy was I surprised! I loved the fusion and the mix of food. My friend and shared a few plates and all of them were very satisfying and full of so much flavor. We had the lamb chops, the scallops (AMAZING!), the Shrimp Paella( not my favorite but the mussels were good!), and a couple other ones that I cannot remember at this particular moment. We had the dates and orange olive oil cake for dessert, which I highly recommend. The ambiance was nice but a bit loud that particular evening. We also had the special drink made with Jalapeño pepper, which had a good kick to it! Over all an excellent experience with a great wait staff.

Beryl C.

I really want to give this place a better review since I have had a high hope; however, the experience was just okay. It really ticks me off is that the restaurant's AC is not working properly for couple days (per manager) and nobody is bothered to call/e-mail us in advance. We would probably have walked out today but since we have a Groupon to kill which is going to expire in couple weeks. We decided to stay. We bought the 5 course tasting menu Groupon. The food is alrighty but interesting. The "Chopped" concept for entree is brilliant but it doesn't execute flawlessly though. Most of our food is overpowered with some sort of pepper infused oil aka super duper spicy. And the worst part is there is a piece of raw chicken in the entree. Yuck. They do give us a brand new portion of chicken but we barely touch it since it's EXTREMELY spicy. The first 3 courses are extremely small in portion. It definitely reminds me of the one bite challenge in the Extreme Chef. It is definitely not a fun and enjoyable experience when you have to dine at a restaurant with no AC while it's 90+ degrees outside. I usually dont drink much water during dinner but I at least drank about 3 to 4 glasses of water since I was constantly sweating. It also doesn't help much with an industrial size of fan blowing at you the entire time. The quality of the food and the value definitely don't add up. If it's not for the Groupon, I definitely will not pay full price ($120) for the tasting menu. However, it's still not a cheap eat after the Groupon discount. With the Groupon, tax and gratuity, it still comes up to over $100 a person. Will I go back? My answer is probably not if I am buying.

Jason P.

There is something just off about this place. Maybe my expectations were way too lofty as a restaurant whose chef is vying for the title of Iron Chef should have incredible food, but this just wasn't the case. The experience just started off on the wrong foot it seemed. We got there right as it opened as our reservation for 5 people was for 5:15. As we were waiting to be seated, I noticed that they had a separate vegetarian menu that the hostess offered to the two parties in front of us. It was our turn to be seated and she completely skipped even offering it to us. I had to flag her down and ask for it, which isn't a big deal, but for a fine dining establishment it is still odd. As I went thru the menu, I was all set to order the thali and call it a day, but I talked myself out of it in the interest of trying one of the fusion items that was their specialty. I decided to start off with the artichoke pakoras and go with an entree of chili glazed blackened eggplant. The artichoke pakoras were super salty to the point where that was pretty much the only spice that stood out. The chutney they served with it was a strange mixture of two different ones. Traditionally, pakoras are served with one sweet and one spicy chutney. They seemed to take the coconut chutney normally served with dosa and just added some sweetness to it and called it a day. It didn't work out too well. The thing that really sold me on my entree was that it came with avocado pakoras, which pretty much means breaded and fried pieces of avocado. This was by far the best part of the entire meal, even though it was little more than a garnish. I normally like eggplant dishes, but this one was just way too sweet. The flavor was just not that good. I was disappointed that this iron chef's spice rack seemed to contain little else than sugar and salt. I wouldn't recommend this place and won't be making a return trip.

Ami S.

We sorta stumbled upon this place our first night in Chi in 2008. It was cold and we were hungry. After walking around for awhile we finally decided to ask someone at a hotel about the nearest place to eat. Hence we ended up here. I was a bit hesitant because there was nobody inside I guess we were early? First impression, the decor was very nice! Being the only 4 in the restaurant felt sorta weird but by the time we got our appetizers the place started filling up. We each got a different drink, they all were uniquely delish. Drinks were very pricey from what I remember. Actually everything on the menu is $$$. We ordered a handful of appetizers and then an entree each- hey we were hungry! Good thing we ordered all that food because portions were extremely small. Overall food was good but if you want to save some money, I would just go for drinks and enjoy the ambiance.

Shradha A.

Quick Note: For the 2nd time ever, we had really good service (Jaron) My 4th review: Wow - this place is an epitome of inconsistency - I've been there 4 times now and every alternate experience is good and bad! Ventured here last night after gathering up the courage to do so (read previous visit's review to know why it took months to step in here again). The service was ok - Rohini I believe is in NYC these days looking after her new restaurant there - and naturally without any supervision the people here get a little immature and lax. The food matched our expectations on the upper end - although they've changed the menu around a bit. I miss the good appetizers they used to have; they now only have "fusion" appetizers. -- The chana is not "traditional," but still good. -- Dal Makhni was great! -- Paneer was a mix of tandoori-style paneer cooked in makhni style. -- Pudina paratha was too strongly flavored. -- And naan was stale and hard. -- Paan was interesting. The place is just such a random hit-or-miss, but we'll probably come back sooner next time because of the good experience this time. I hope they prove successful in breaking the one-bad-one-good pattern and I would love to become regulars if they can handle it! P.S. vegetarians - they have a separate menu with a lot more vegetarian dishes on it, but you need to ask them for the "vegetarian menu" - they don't offer it up on their own!

Tricia R.

my friend and i were strolling the streets of chicago on a recent wednesday evening trying to find a place to eat. being that we're both indecisive and i'm not from there, i thought that an indian+latin fusion sounded interesting... and he said the space used to be an old printing company he used to go to. ha. walking into the restaurant, i was pretty impressd by the decor... and by how dark and empty it was. i think we got there at about 7-730pm, so it did get more crowded throughout our meal but still lots of tables free. our server was extremely personable, funny, and friendly (and had great hair), and he made several recommendations, all of which we ordered, ha. the scallop starter was really good, but it seemed to be more room temperature than hot. that was... disarming. for the main courses, i got the seafood stew and my friend got the lamb shank which ended up being a HUGE piece of meat and bone. we tried each other's dishes... the sauce on his was pretty spicy in a very good way. my stew unfortunately was a bit bland. :( not really what i was expecting from indian/latin fusion!! we didn't have dessert, but my friend did have a taj mahal beer with dinner. it comes in a large bottle which our waiter even put on ice! they have a lot of variety on their menu, but i'm not sure i'd make it a point to return to this restaurant when i'm back in chicago.

Deeks K.

So let me describe the food a bit better. The cocktails are all good, perfectly balanced. The appetizers (we tried all the vegetarian and the meat tasting plate) about 50% of that menu tasted good. Maybe a couple stood out (nothing compared to say, graffiti in NJ or Indika in Houston). The entree had all meats undercooked or overcooked (not a single one out of 4 had a well cooked meat morsel). We tried the Kerala red curry which was sure spicy but totally flavorless ( all you can taste is just dry chilli spice and garam masala spice which destroys the tapioca underneath) also it had no salt. The gobi Portuguese was well prepared (relative to the rest of the junk served) we had the thaali which is supposed to be authentic Indian but was far from it. Naan was chewy and not fresh (it was cold And probably chewy from sitting out). North Indian curries (in the thaali) had tons of tamarind which is an ingredient that is NEVER used in north Indian food. If she was trying to fuse north with south, she failed miserably. The desserts were extremely ordinary and had little imagination. I'm not surprised this Chef was kicked out of the Iron Chef of America early on in the competition.

Katy O.

I came here with some friends a few weeks ago and was super-excited as I'd wanted to come for years. I gave up alcohol for Lent but everyone else was drinking and enjoyed the cocktails. Before we ordered, a menu that the waitress had placed on the table tipped over and knocked a glass of water all over my friend and I (and the table). They cleaned it up quickly but nobody apologized- maybe they thought we did it?? I started with the artichoke pakoras, which were delicious. I really wanted to try a "signature" dish so I got the flank steak. The waitress suggested I order it medium, which is what I normally get anyway. My steak came out rare, verging on still alive. The cut of meat was so chewy I only ate half of it. The flavors were good, but the meat was inedible. The spinach with chorizo was a good idea, but it was waaaaay over-salted. I passed my plate to my husband, a steak connoisseur, and he agreed that the meat was not cooked to medium- and not edible. About half of our group of 6 really enjoyed their food, the other half were terribly disappointed. I won't be back but I'm sad because I really wanted to like it!

Esra T.

90 minute wait with a reservation...Not what we expected! We went here with my hubby on a Saturday evening. Granted, it was Valentine's day weekend and the restaurant was probably more crowded than usual. However, we had an 8:30 reservation, and we were not seated until 9:40! We arrived early and waited at the bar, where no seats were available, so we had to stand for a total of 1.5 hours. That was pretty bad on its own. Plus, the hostess ladies kept telling us that our table would be ready in 10-15 minutes...for an HOUR! They kept accepting people who arrived much later than us, I don't know why. They didn't even apologize to us or anything. I think we were the ones who waited at the bar the longest. After an hour and a half wait, we were finally seated..Then the food took its time, and we could finally begin dinner way past 10:00 pm (which is too late for me!) We got two appetizers (the blue corn crusted scallops and spiced potatoes) and the main entree was the seafood stew. The food was decent but SO NOT WORTH the 90 minute wait. The ambiance wasn't bad but after all that waiting we couldn't even enjoy our dinner properly. I would say maybe go on a weekday when they're not too crowded.. Or if you don't want to wait, skip it, go somewhere else where you can enjoy dinner at your reservation time.

Gaby F.

Wednesday night and the restaurant was three quarters empty. The atmosphere was non-existent. Actually, if you want to be an Indian restaurant, great. Be a Latin restaurant, great. But please, don't try and sell me that "as the chef did when she went for the James Beard award" as suggesting it is correct or good. And do not ever serve seafood with cheese (aka scallops with cream cheese). That being said, the whiskey sour was delicious. They did a nice taste on the duck. The pakoras with artichoke were okay, but I've had better (on 6th street in NYC, and much better at Prashad in Bradford, UK). The papads (oh please..popadoms) were fine, but presented as if the chef invented them. I was eating better ones in London in 1971. The lamb was well cooked and worth it. The roti was, by far, better than the nan. The waiter was over-effusive about everything: "what is it on the menu you find delicious but have questions?" But service was very friendly (although the kitchen cooked a steak well when I asked for medium). One major issue: the Nobilo Icon sauvignon was $60 a bottle and it's $16 at Binny's. That is a rude mark-up. As an exercise in haute cuisine, at these prices, I would go ethnic and byob.

Julian G.

Waited for an hour for the food and pricey for just some decent food with OK portions

Stephanie V.

Beautiful red, white n black decor. Great staff and the indian latin dishes sound amazing! Most entrees are around $24. They also have tapas. We got the coconut chili mussels and duck arepas!

Leslie P.

I visited Vermilion after I bought a groupon. I had heard mixed reviews, but my boyfriend and I love Indian and Latin flavors, so we went for it. Overall, the food was good. The Groupon allowed us two appetizers and two entrees. My boyfriend likes spicy, so we ordered the spiciest item on the menu: the Duck Vindaloo. It was really good; duck and vindaloo sauce on a fried cracker. We also ordered the Blue Corn Crusted Scallops, also very good. Sometimes scallops have little flavor, but these did. After we finished our appetizers, we waited a good 35 - 40 minutes for our entrees. The table next to us actually complained about the slow service, and others looked a little annoyed too. It was 8pm on a Friday, but only about half full, so not sure what the wait was about. When we finally got our entrees, caldereirada de peixe seafood stew for me and red curry fish (Mahi) for him, we were pretty hungry. I dug right into my stew, and instantly burnt my tongue! It was extremellyyyy hot, even after I blew on it for a while. It seemed like they just took the stew out of the pot, and brought it out. They didn't even tell me that "it's very hot, so be careful!" My boyfriend tried it and also burnt his tongue. It took a good ten minutes before it was cool enough that I didn't have to blow on it first. On a side note, my boyfriend liked the spiciness of his fish. After using the Groupon, our bill still came to $50 for naan ($4), wine (I ordered the $10 glass of Sauvignon Blanc but she gave me the $15 glass), tax, and tip. The one plus was that they didn't add the drink my boyfriend got at the bar onto our bill. Overall, food was good, but the service and prices could have been better.

Killa K.

Took a date here a coupla weeks ago, and it seems like, contrary to a lotta review before me, we got lucky as far as service was concerned. If anything, it was rather smooth. Nothing extra special, but we were took in normally with our 7:00pm reservation. The food was good, as well. Had the Tandoori skirt steak, while my date had the butter chicken with naan (of course). She enjoyed her dish, as did I. Although the portions didn't match the prices of the dishes, they had a good selection of wine, which I enjoyed a lot. As far as decor, it was nice and a little fancy. The dim lighting gave the place a nice vibe as well. I'll check this place out again, and hopefully, I'll be lucky with the service or else I'll have to make an update!

Super L.

Sexy red curtains, cool Indian-esque club music. Pictures of Indian models, being sexy. Shades of red on grey. Sexy. It was like being in a nightclub... after they've turned all the lights up to kick everyone out for the night. I didn't like how they had the lights up so bright, it was like cafeteria lighting, but in a place with sexy mood decor. Well, that was an interior design splurge that was ruined. The bartender was super frazzled, we were worried she might spazz out at one point and just douse everyone with vodka. Maybe two bartenders on a busy night? They serve martinis in what looks like a tiny 3 oz glass. Noone wants to spend $14 on a tiny martini. Everything we ordered was super, duper spicy, which yeah we were in an Indian restaurant, but we couldn't taste our duck, our seafood, or anything, all we could taste was HOTNESS and spice. The naan was hard and not tasty. And the killer of it all was my beloved butter chicken tasted like Chef Boyardee meat sauce. Our server was big on upselling, but in a slightly misleading and agressive way, not subly suggestive. That made us unable to connect to her. Tone it down a little. The hosts were wonderful, however, and did not bat an eyelash when we requested a larger booth for a tiny party of two. With the concept, this place could be good. I'd suggest that they revamp the tastes they are going for, put some of those red curtains in between the host stand and the rest of the restaurant for intimacy and mystery, and gosh darnit, dim the lights.

Tripti S.

Food at Vermilion is Good. Everything we ordered was nice. Now the reasons for taking the 2 stars away. 1. Why would you charge $25 reservation fee per person?? Especially on a Sunday night when the whole restaurant is empty. 2. Our second order of breads came out in 30 min and it was COLD. Yes cold!! 3. One of our friends requested a drink without ice and she was told by the server that the glass will be only 3/4th full!!! Seriously!! Other than that the server was very nice and polite. 4. It is expensive $40 - $60 pp.

Rajan L.

Do not go here. I went here with 5 of my friends who were visiting from different cities and it was a big mistake. We went to some other restaurant first but the wait was just too long and saw that this place was close by and had no waiting time (ofcourse!). We were given some really bad tables which I think were the waiting tables. The prices are crazy for the place. I don't mind spending but for this place, the prices are just unfair. The most important part of the restaurant - food, was terrible. None of likes anything over there. The only good part was the very hospitable and cheerful hostess.

Jaison C.

A fusion of contemporary Indian and Latin American cuisines that just didn't work for me. I love pizza and ice cream, but if I were to fuse them together, it would probably be the mess that is the fusion of Latin and Indian tastes of Vermilion. I was able to try the lamb chops, artichoke pakora, and the seafood paella with heart of palms. The pakora was rubbery bland, the lamb chops were over seasoned and very chewy, and the paella was awfully salty with too much actual curry taste to it. I really wasn't able to taste anything in the paella except for curry and salt. The service, atmosphere, and ambiance and great. Our server shared great opinions and suggestions and was checking on us often. The decor is has a nice clash of rose red and bleach white. It works. The couple next to us started arguing and the gentleman left his date by herself until about 40 minutes later when her friend arrived to take his spot and she actually ate the rest of his meal. Funny. For what I paid for and received, it was not worth it at all. I am left more satisfied at generic Indian buffets. Thanks for reading.

Molly L.

I will never dine at Vermilion again, not because the food is awful, but because the service is bad and management is shady. I ate here for Restaurant Week with a group of 8 friends for lunch on President's Day. My ginger lime margarita was good, but the food was just OK. I had the Bombay corn soup, mojito mango chicken, and flan. Nothing I ate stood out, and it was all pretty bland. I really expected more from an Iron Chef. The fusion element that attracted me to Vermilion was severely lacking. The portions were pretty small, too. As I mentioned, we came to Vermilion for Restaurant Week. We had to specifically ask for the Restaurant Week menu, and the service seemed lacking because of that. We were the first party in the restaurant, but other tables had food before we even ordered. This was irritating, but the difficulty with the service escalated once we got our bill. The typical Restaurant Week lunch price is $22, however our bill reflected a $33 price. I asked the waitress and was told that their lunch menu was $33, even though this was not indicated on the menu on their website. We were annoyed, but paid up. Upon leaving the restaurant, we noticed a sign outside that advertised a prix fixe "Latin Express" lunch menu for $24 and a copy of the Restaurant Week menu. We turned around and spoke with the manager about it. He said that the Latin Express menu is their everyday special, and that the Restaurant Week menu has more options, which is why it's more expensive, but he understood how the sign could be confusing. Really? Then why did you put it up? And why aren't you going to take it down now? After a bit of back and forth, he finally agreed to refund us the $9 price difference per person. Between the hassle of dealing with the management and the lackluster food, I'd recommend against Vermilion. In fact, I did recommend against it when I saw a couple pondering the misleading sign out front. Your money is better spent elsewhere on much better (and bigger portions of) food.

Dessy D.

I think I should stop writing reviews about this place... Its the best restaurant in chicago.PERIOD. I am just beginning to get bored of the food because I tried absolutely everything., but when someone new comes to chicago., this is where I take them. And its so fun to see their reactions while they dig into the fantastic food that's served here..Love this place :)