A Sizzling Spectalce: Glenview's The Clove Pioneers Interactive Culinary Theater with Monthly Cooking Shows

GLENVIEW, Ill. – The Clove Indian and Nepali Cuisine restaurant once again breaks new ground and adds to the restaurant history in Glenview.
They are currently the only restaurant in the Chicago suburbs to offer cooking demonstrations with a complete meal according to the Illinois Restaurant Association. Once a month the Cloves chefs fire up the burners and cook a complete meal including an appetizer, salad, dinner, with patrons directly watching up close and on two giant monitors. Wednesday September 24, 2025 was the restaurant’s first live cooking show.
Head chef Kuldip Singh and Indo-Chinese chef Rajesh Bhandari wearing microphones explain each step in the cooking process including each ingredient added to a cheering crowd. After each dish was created the crowd erupted in applause.
The two chefs created a meal that included an appetizer, soup, salad, dinner, and desert at a cost of $50.00. As each dish was prepared, servers quickly hustled out the hot food to customers.
One Glenview resident said it was the best dining experience they had in their life. There has never been anything like this in Glenview before. Another patron from Glenview said she really enjoyed the show and cooks some of the meals that the restaurant serves but not all of them and is eager to learn. “You can smell the food as they are cooking it” said one customer.” I am bringing my family next month.”
The restaurant first made history on September 4 by having the first belly dancer performance at a Glenview restaurant since 1928.
Co-owner Ankur Sharma said, “Many of our guests are curious about the ingredients and preparation behind each dish, so we wanted to create an opportunity to educate them and let them experience firsthand how their favorite dishes are made.”
The next live cooking show is on Wednesday October 22, 2025. Each month the cooking show menu will be unique. The next event will be stand up comedy on October 1, 2025 at 8pm.
The restaurant regularly updates their menu by introducing new dishes and rotating out items that are less popular, added Sharma. “This helps us keep things fresh and exciting for our guests.”
The Clove, which opened on May 7, 2025, at 1827 Waukegan Road, aims to be more than just a restaurant. With an elegant 30-table dining room on one side and a spacious bar area on the other, all adorned with culturally inspired décor, it positions itself as a vibrant dining and entertainment destination.
The restaurant’s community-focused mission is shared by co-owner Ramakant Kharel, who brings over 30 years of restaurant experience. “Customers are the heart of the restaurant,” Kharel said. “We are here to serve them.”
The Clove is listed as a five star restaurant on Google with 148 reviews. And also has a five star listing on Yelp with 65 reviews. One reviewer on Google said The Clove has quickly become the best restaurant in Glenview and another commenter who just returned from vacation in India said the food at the Clove is extremely authentic. “I thought I was back in India” said the reviewer.
The Clove located at1827 Waukegan Road is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lunch special starts at $15.00 which includes two vegetable entrees, naan, rice, samosa and salad. You can add chicken for $2.00 or lamb for $4.00, according to Sharma. Follow The Clove Glenview on Facebook or Instagram for updates.
Photo top left: Head chef Kuldip Singh and Indo-Chinese chef Rajesh Bhandari.
Photo bottom left: Co-owner Ramakant Kharel introduces the chefs.