Have you heard that when it’s hot outside, you should eat spicy food? This is because compounds like capsaicin in chili peppers make you sweat, which cools your core temperature. That’s one of the reasons I thought it would be a great idea to try Curryish Tavern because this modern Indian restaurant is offering a delicious Summerlicious 2026 menu. I was invited by the restaurant, along with fellow content creator @inshaytiablyhungry, to sample the Summerlicious lunch menu on a hot Friday afternoon.
We were quickly seated in this decidedly modern tavern and offered glasses of water while we perused the menu.
We started with Tandoori Broccoli Pakora and Coconut Upama Fries. The pakora were delicious, and very spicy due to the added ajwain. I do love a lot of spice, just giving you a heads up! I also loved the Besan batter, which was extremely light since it was made from ground hulled brown chickpeas – perfect for my gluten-free diet.
I love Curryish Tavern’s modern mashup of fries: Coconut Upama Fries were a guilt free indulgence since they were made from couscous instead of potato. They were topped with a mild tomato ginger chutney that I would love to know how to make at home.
Chef Miheer Shete kindly sent us an order from the kitchen of Eggplant Tikka Tarts made with green chutney, toasted sesame and magic masala. I enjoyed the creamy consistency eggplant and tofu!
The beautifully decorated tavern features a summer vibe in the front section due to the open front window looking on to Queen Street. Sit at their elegant bar and watch FIFA World Cup games on their giant TV screen.
For entrees, we ordered Hakka Fried Chicken Sandwich and Chicken Biryani. The yummy sandwich has a satisfyingly crunchy batter – again, not overly heavy – and is accompanied by spicy Masala fries, schezwan mayo and pickled cabbage. The addition of the spicy mayo elevated this sandwich into something special. This is a must order Summerlicious dish!
The Chicken Biryani is a much milder tasting dish with grilled chicken pieces sitting on a bed of fragrant Basmati rice and a cooling sauce of hung yogurt and red chili powder. I would have liked a bit more chicken among the rice, but overall a tasty dish.
For dessert, we ordered Tender Coconut Pudding and Suji Halva Cake. The pudding, flavoured with cardamom, seasonal fruit and orange zest, had a creamy consistency and provided desired coolness after all of the heat from the appetizers and mains. The Suji Halva Cake had a sweet caramel sauce, and was topped with refreshing banana cream.
We really enjoyed the Summerlicious lunch menu at Curryish Tavern. The dishes were an innovative take on Indian cuisine. Thank you for inviting me!
Curryish Tavern is offering Summerlicious 2026 lunch for $34 plus tax and gratuity; dinner for $45 plus tax and gratuity.
Hours are Monday-Wednesday: Dinner 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday-Friday: Lunch 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday: Brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Dinner 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: Brunch 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Dinner 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Curryish Tavern, 783 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1G1
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