RESTAURANT PEEK: Urban Village

Tandoori Chicken

URBAN VILLAGE Contemporary Indian Cuisine

By Joie Ha Photos by Annie VanDan

Asian fusion restaurants often get it wrong. In an attempt to modernize traditional flavors, this often means that the finished dishes lack the heart and depth of the original recipes. However, Urban Village does it right.

Chef Charles Mani combines his rigorous classical culinary training with his familiarity of Indian spices to create dishes that delight both individuals new to Indian cuisine, and customers who grew up eating similar foods. Chef Mani envisions introducing his guests to an entirely new perspective on Indian dining at Urban Village.

Public outlook of Indian cuisine has always been plagued by negative stereotypes that the food is greasy, heavy, and not suited for fine dining. Urban Village tackles these stereotypes head-on and provides an experience akin to fancy sit-down restaurants. With fresh ingredients, a staff of culinary experts, and a menu that tantalizes the most discerning of palates—Urban Village offers dishes that excite all guests.

The tasting menu, available for an affordable $39, changes depending on the season and availability of ingredients. For our visit, we went with the tasting menu to experience all that Urban Village had to offer. We started with the golgappa —a type of street snack that was minty and refreshing. The next dish, Kale Moong Dal Chaat, was a fried kale salad dish topped with a yogurt dressing. Despite being fried, the dish was not oily or greasy, and instead remained light and delicious with a satisfying crunch in each bite.

C H E F C H A R L E S M A N I

Golgappa Urban Cauliflower

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It was apparent that each dish was carefully crafted, with a focus on minute details from taste to texture. Next, came one of Chef Mani’s signature dishes, Urban Cauliflower. Inspired by General Tso’s chicken, the Urban Cauliflower is coated in a delectable sweet and sour sauce that leaves a lingering light heat. It is of no surprise that this dish won one of the coveted 2015 Best Dishes of Eater New York.

Similar to any other fine dining experience, finished plates were quickly removed and there was a short wait between each course. The main course was a platter filled with several curries and sides of rice, naan, and papadum. Each curry had a distinct flavor, yet melded wonderfully together. It was an absolute delight to taste each curry and embark on such a col

Urban Village

9234 Park Meadows Dr #700 | Lone Tree, CO 80124 Tel: 720.536.8150

urbanvillagerestaurant.com Follow on FB and IG: @urbanvillageindian

Open Hours Mon - Thur: 11am - 2:30pm | 5pm - 9pm Fri: 11am - 2:30pm | 5pm - 9:30pm Sat - Sun: 10:30am - 2pm | 5pm - 9:30pm Call for current hours.

orful, culinary adventure. To end the meal, Chef Mani served a homemade Cardamon Pistachio Kulfi ice cream—a whimsical finish to a grand meal.

It is without a doubt that much foresight was given to developing the menu at Urban Village where cooking is not just a hobby, but a skill and passion requiring advanced technical expertise. To continue this tradition, Chef Mani makes sure to only hire culinary graduates that are serious about elevating the dining experience and dedicated to pushing the envelope on fusion food.

Urban Village is a must visit in Lone Tree—there is truly nothing like it in Colorado. Enjoy the outdoor seating and a cocktail from the bar.