Red Chili
Newly opened Red Chili is inside the parking lot complex at the Chesterfield Mall. The interior, once a Macaroni Grill, is cavernous. Like the space, the menu is also huge with sections like Tandoor appetizers, small plates, dal, dosa, main courses and the list goes on with over 100 items. Look for fusion dishes like the Afghani chicken or the gobi Manchurian – from the Indo-Chinese section of the menu. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Andhra chicken curry, a tangy and spicy sauce with big chunks of tender chicken best eaten with their butter naan.
963 Chesterfield Center, Chesterfield, 636.812.2179, redchilliresturant.com
Aaha! Restaurant
This new, woman-owned restaurant inside the former food court at the Chesterfield Mall is a hidden gem. Here, the dishes hail from the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and they taste like authentic, home-cooked South Indian food. Find dishes like their aviyal, a coconut- and yogurt-based vegetable stew loaded with vegetables including carrots, squash and green beans. It’s got a little tropical flavor from the coconut and just enough heat to keep you on your toes. Don’t miss their masala dosa, a thin crepe made from a fermented rice batter that’s fried to a lacy crisp and served with a mildly spiced potato mixture and coconut and tomato chutneys for dipping.
150 Chesterfield Center, Chesterfield, 636.893.35866, aahastl.com
Black Salt
A strong start would be to order the samosa chaat, with its potato samosas that get sauced up from a lashing of sweet and tangy tamarind chutney and a fresh and spicy blast of mint chutney. A cool drizzle of plain yogurt works to chill the underlying heat of the samosa’s potato filling, which is laden with chiles and cumin. The breads here are fabulous: If you’re feeling adventurous, try the garlic truffle naan or the chili garlic naan, which were standouts. The assorted bread basket came with garlic and plain naan and also a flaky paratha, which were a more neutral option that easily went with saucy main dishes like ajwaini bhindi, a sauteed okra glazed in a tomato-based sauce or a rich rogan josh made with lamb.
1709 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield, 636.204.6441, blacksaltstl.com
This article appears in July 2023.
