Grand Haveli

Here is my full review on Grand Haveli, located out in Verona, Wisconsin. It had just opened when I went, and it has that classic Indian restaurant vibe. One large open room with lots of seating, and that is exactly what you are getting. Let's get right into the food.

The Lowdown

• City: Verona, WI
• Address: 1039 N Edge Trail, Verona, WI 53593
• Phone: (608) 497-2262
• Website: grandhaveliverona.com
• Closed Mondays. Tuesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM

What I ordered

They bring out papadum with a trio of chutneys, tamarind, onion, and mint. For appetizers we ordered garlic naan and shrimp pakora. For entrees I got the chicken tikka masala and my in-laws got shrimp saag. I also got a mango lassi.

My thoughts on the food

I am not a big fan of papadum, but I really do love trying chutneys at different Indian restaurants. These were okay. Not bad, not great, just fine.

This was my first time getting shrimp pakora and it had a great seasoning to it. The perfect amount of saltiness, and the breading was not overly thick. It was this light, crunchy breading. The only thing I would change is having some sort of sauce on the side to dip it in. Flavor was great, crunch was great, all of it was really good.

The garlic naan had the perfect amount of garlic. Really garlicky, and that is how I prefer my garlic naan or else I just get regular naan. It was more on the thin and soft side. I would have had it cooked a little longer to get that slight crunch on the undercarriage, but it was still great naan.

For the chicken tikka masala I got spice level 3 out of 5, and from a spice perspective it was nailed perfectly for me. My wife wished it had a little more spice, so maybe go 4 out of 5 if you like heat. The flavor, the aroma, and the way the chicken easily melts in your mouth, I thought it was all really good. My in-laws said the shrimp saag was delicious. I did not try it, so I cannot speak for it.

The mango lassi was more on the liquidy side, less thick than other mango lassis I have had. Still had some thickness to it, the mango was great, and it was not too much yogurt. Taste was good, so I cannot complain.

The vibe

They were extremely friendly, especially to my kids, and they made sure our waters were always filled up. All the good stuff you want in a good service restaurant. Price was not bad either. Four adults and two kids, and we spent right around $100 for all of that food, including two orders of naan.

The verdict

Overall I think Grand Haveli is an incredible addition to the Indian food scene in the Madison area. The food was really good, the value was great, and the service was great. If you have not been yet, or you are looking to try a new Indian place, make your way out to Verona and let me know what you think.