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Dining out for a change or on a family occasion to celebrate is now passe with the diaspora population anywhere they are settled as eating and enjoying the fare laid out on the table hold their own lure for the Indians.
Whether they are techies or professionals like doctors settled here in a wonderful wilderness like Phoenix (Arizona), the place has multiple hotspots of tourist interests, particularly to their parents or relatives who visit them once in a while. So be it with me and my wife when we come here for a sojourn to bask in the affections of our dear and near and grandchildren! So, on my seventy-third birthday, we were out for a dinner to enjoy the evening and the choice of our Indian cuisines for a change here.
The decision fell on the recently launched ITLU Pure Indian Vegetarian restaurant in Chandler, serving traditional Indian dishes in a delectable fashion with a focus on rustic, bucolic-style cooking in this so-called desert city that has the richness of rural charm nestled against hills in the silhouette. The ambience within the sparsely decked-up eatery is not only pleasant but also homely with youthful bearers taking order from the visiting family or individuals. The items include a wide range of options from appetizers, dosas, tiffin, main courses and other popular ones like naan, Irani Chai and variegated paneer products that stimulate the tastes.
In dosas, the variety ranges from ghee roast and Mysore masala to Bombay Masala, tiffin like idli and vada and main courses such as Chana masala, paneer butter masala, and curry leaf gobi mildly roasted and rinsed in tasty cooking oil. As one gets immersed in the dishes, one gets to recall ITLU as a popular vegetarian chain of hotels in Hyderabad which has branched out a separate ITlU USA in Chandler, Arizona on the northeast corner of Dobson and Germann roads in December 2025.
Interestingly, the owner of the Chandelier location is not specifically named in the public profile as it is described as a new independent venture. ‘ITLU truly loves U’ is the signboard that one is greeted by on entry into the dining hall, which is veritably validated by the experience inside the fledgling restaurant.
ITLU in Telegu means “Yours Truly” and the menu items served here such as Idli (a traditional favorite items in all South Indian restaurants) with Podi (powdered with mirch and dal) and aromatic sambar and chutney (coconut and tomatoes).
ITLU carries the genuine “Telegu Kitchen” specialties popular in Andhra/Telangana sans the wonted hot spiciness, and each item one devours leaves a pleasant savor that lingers longer even as one gets out of the place. For gourmets and gourmandizers the place is worth converging to have an evening to enliven and get exhilarated by a plateful of one’s preferred cuisines.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.
