Chauhan Ale And Masala House - Review - The Gulch - Nashville - The Infatuation

"Chauhan is a restaurant serving Indian-Southern cooking mashups that somehow work and have worked for over 10 years. And while the menu is no longer the edgiest and most experimental concept on the block, it’s still consistently great. This will be a dinner (or brunch) that’s meant to be shared with groups. Dishes like a creamy whipped paneer, creamy saag mac and cheese, and the very group-friendly gol guppa shots are solid. There’s a good reason for that. The menu hasn’t changed much in a decade, so the team has had more than enough time to perfect the lineup. That also holds true for the cocktails, like the Bollywood Breeze made with tequila, genepy, and falernum that is just as light as the name suggests. Let’s talk about the dining room for a second. The rich red drapery, warm mosaics, and ornate glass lanterns are hard at work creating some serious atmosphere. Add to that the warm brick walls and simple wood tables and booths, and you’ve got a good option for a low-key but special-feeling group dinner in the Gulch. photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks photo credit: Kelli Dirks Pause Unmute RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Gol Guppa Shots This is the appetizer you call on to get the party started. Little cups of crunchy semolina puffs come stuffed with garbanzo and potato and are piled on a plate with a carafe of mint cilantro water in the center. Pour the water into your cup and shoot it like those Buttery Nipples from that spring break dive bar. photo credit: Kelli Dirks Whipped Paneer A play on the classic whipped feta that has the whole entire South in a chokehold. The whipped paneer at Chauhan blends feta, parmesan, and lime pickle honey that hits all the taste receptors. Saag Mac And Cheese This mac and cheese gets a dose of Indian flavors from the saag, chili-spiced cheddar, fenugreek, and masala bread crumbs. The ribbed elbow pasta really maximizes the amount of sauce in each punchy bite. Braised Pork Shank This melt-off-the-fork pork is a solid choice for a main course. Braised for maximum tenderness, the pork shank sits on a pool of vindaloo curry sauce that adds a nice hit of spice." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones