Experience authentic Keralan cuisine, where spices are ground daily for exceptional flavor [1]. Renowned for innovative dishes like crispy jackfruit and acclaimed lamb chops, it's a modern fine dining gem.
Kidilum brings authentic Keralan cuisine to Flatiron, offering a fine dining experience with a focus on deeply flavorful, spice-rich dishes. Chef Vinu Raveendran's expertise shines through in must-try items like crispy jackfruit and exquisite lamb chops, making it a destination for a memorable meal.
Kidilum offers an authentic South Indian Keralan fine dining experience, grinding its own spices daily to create deeply flavorful dishes [1]. Helmed by Chef Vinu Raveendran, the restaurant showcases modern techniques and artistic presentation, with standout dishes including crispy jackfruit balls and lamb chops considered among the best in NYC [1]. The establishment also boasts an inventive cocktail menu, making it a destination for a memorable meal.
Kidilum specializes in authentic Keralan and South Indian cuisine, with a unique focus on grinding spices daily in a dedicated spice room [1]. Highly recommended dishes include the crispy jackfruit balls served in a cashew sauce, lauded for their texture and spice, and the attu chaps (lamb chops) with a salted plum glaze, considered some of the best in NYC [1]. Other notable dishes include nandu curry (crab meat with dark roasted coconut) [2] and shrimp pollichathu (banana leaf-wrapped prawns) [2]. The restaurant also offers a well-curated cocktail menu with inventive drinks [1].
"Highly recommended dishes include the crispy jackfruit balls served in a cashew sauce and the attu chaps (lamb chops) with a salted plum glaze, which are considered among the best in NYC [1]. Other praised items include the nandu curry (crab meat with dark roasted coconut) and shrimp pollichathu (banana leaf-wrapped prawns) [2]."
Customers generally have a positive sentiment towards Kidilum, with many highlighting the unique and authentic flavors, innovative presentation, and overall exceptional dining experience [1, 2]. Some discussions compare it favorably to other South Indian restaurants, with one user finding it more innovative than Chatti [3, 4].
Important Note
One user noted that while they enjoyed Kidilum, their favorite among upscale Indian restaurants in NYC was Kanyakumari, suggesting Kidilum might not be outstanding for everyone [1]. Another user questioned if Kidilum serves authentic daily dishes as experienced in South India itself, implying a potential difference in style from traditional home cooking [2].
"This user, having experienced South Indian food in South India, contrasted it with NYC upscale Indian options, finding them worlds apart. While acknowledging some NYC places are great, they noted that the day-to-day food in South India is different. They expressed intent to try Kidilum but questioned if it serves authentic daily dishes."
Neutral"Responding to a comment comparing restaurants, the author mentioned that while they enjoyed Kanyakumari, Kidilum felt more refined in comparison."
Neutral"In a comparison of several upscale Indian restaurants in NYC, Kidilum was mentioned as one of several decent options, though not outstanding. The user's favorite among the listed restaurants was Kanyakumari."
Neutral"This user visited Kidilum a couple of weeks prior and found the experience to be incredible, noting that the restaurant appears to be striving for greatness."
Positive"A user expressed interest in trying Kidilum and thanked the original poster for recommendations regarding appetizers."
Neutral"The author visited Kidilum, a recently opened South Indian restaurant in NYC, and found the space to be beautiful, modern yet traditional. They ordered a crab curry and a fish curry, which tasted similar but were both delicious. They also tried a dosa and red matta rice, which paired well with the curries. The small plates offered more variety, with a lamb dish featuring spiced chops and a chakka (jackfruit smash) that was texturally interesting and spicy. Desserts included modern takes on halwa and pradhamam, with the halwa being a favorite."
Positive"Kidilum was recommended for its Keralan tasting menu style."
Positive"This user believes Chatti is much better than Kidilum, stating that Kidilum is not authentic Indian and seems to be a mix of various cuisines."
Negative"This user stated that Kidilum was significantly better than Chatti."
Positive"This user expressed excitement about visiting Kidilum after seeing a positive review."
Positive"The user had an amazing dining experience at Kidilum, finding it to be a different yet authentic approach to flavors and one of the best dining experiences they've had recently."
Positive"The user found Kidilum to have better flavors than Chatti and felt Kidilum was more focused on innovation, while Chatti focused on authenticity. They also felt portion sizes were less of an issue at Kidilum compared to Chatti."
Positive"In response to a question about Kidilum's comparison to Chatti, this user stated that Kidilum was definitely better flavor-wise and felt more innovative, whereas Chatti was more focused on authenticity. They noted that portion sizes were less of an issue at Kidilum than at Chatti."
Positive"The original poster visited Kidilum, a new Keralan restaurant, and thoroughly enjoyed their meal, highlighting the balanced and flavorful dishes. They noted that while sides like parotta and rice were a bit pricey, the overall experience was worth it."
Positive"The commenter mentions Kidilum, a new spot specializing in South Indian foods that has recently opened."
Neutral
