Persis Indian Grill in O'Fallon - St. Louis Area Restaurant Review -

Learn more about Persis Indian Grill, an authentic Indian restaurant located in O’Fallon, MO, a suburb of St Louis.

Persis Indian Grill serves up authentic Indian dishes for dine-in or carry out 6 days a week. Additionally, they offer catering & an events space.

Overview of Persis Indian Grill

Persis Indian Grill is an authentic Indian restaurant serving up flavorful cuisine that’s perfect for a quick lunch or a sit-down meal with family or friends. Located in O’Fallon, MO, just 2 miles from the Mastercard headquarters, Persis Indian Grill offers a huge selection of menu items that will satisfy meat eaters & vegetarians alike. You can expect the skilled chefs to create a symphony of flavor in each dish – including many variations of dum biriyani, curries, dosas, & tandoori cooked items.

Co-owner, Raghu Vamsi Lakkimsetty, and his partners took a leap of faith to open Persis Indian Grill in 2022, shying away from their day jobs to share their passion for Indian culture & cuisine. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Raghu to learn more about his favorite dishes and how he helps spread joy through food.

6 indian men and owners of Persis Indian grill are shown smiling in front of the cash register at their restaurant in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO. — Persis Indian Grill is owned by 6 friends who share a passion for sharing Indian culture & cuisine. Owners from left to right: Naresh, Anand, Meenu, Vamshi, Niketh, Raghu.

The Space & Vibe at Persis Indian Grill

Persis Indian Grill is a mid-sized restaurant with an updated, modern interior located in a strip plaza in O’Fallon, MO. Dine-in and enjoy waiter service at one of their many indoor booths for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or if you are looking for a quick lunch to grab & go, try their customizable lunch plate for only $9.99. Customer service is important & personal for co-owner Raghu, as his mission is to build loyal customers, “I make it a point to greet tables and ask for feedback on my nights in the restaurant”, Raghu explains, “We are always looking for ways to improve”. Raghu & his team have spent the last few years perfecting the cuisine & customer service and just recently, in Fall of 2024, invested in upgraded interiors. They added upscale touches – like large comfortable booths, new floors & decor to create an ambiance that’s inviting & modern.

I loved seeing the mixed crowd enjoying the establishment – from locals having a leisurely lunch, to Mastercard employees getting food to-go, to natives of India enjoying cuisine as they would back home – without utensils. The Indian pop music & dancing on TV add to the ambiance.

people dancing in dimly lit large room with multi colored lights. dj in front of room. — The banquet hall at Persis is available to book for private parties and events. Check out the removable dance floor!

Event Space

In addition to their main restaurant, Persis also has a large event space a few doors down that’s available for private & public events. From birthdays, to office parties, dance halls to charity events, Persis Indian Grill has all your events covered. Catering services are available as well. Call for more info & to schedule a tour.

What To Eat & Drink at Persis Indian Grill

Persis Indian Grill serves up breakfast, lunch & dinner 6 days a week. They offer a huge menu with lots of options including vegetarian dishes, & a kids menu. Indian cuisine is full of flavor & spice, be sure to share your desired spice level – it can easily be dialed up or down. Below are items that I’ve tasted and would recommend!

on left. natalie kalmar, woman with brown hair and a navy dress, sipping on freshly squeezed sugar cane juice a greenish yellow juice with a little froth. on right, a frosty mug of freshly poured Taj Mahal premium lager beer. — Try their freshly squeezed sugar cane juice for a sweet drink (left) or enjoy a beverage from their full bar, including Indian lager, Taj Mahal (right).

Drink

A full bar is available, including Indian beers. I enjoyed a light & refreshing Taj Mahal, which went perfect with our Indian feast.
Try a popular Mango Lassi – these fresh mango smoothies offer a nice cool down from any spicy dishes.
Enjoy a fresh-squeezed Sugar Cane Juice which uses the whole plant & therefore offers a whole host of health benefits. They add a squeeze of lemon to ensures it’s not overly sweet. I enjoyed this refreshing drink along with dessert.
Taste an Indian soda like Thums Up, its similar to Coke but stronger in flavor!

cone dosa, thin crispy crepe plated in a a cone or pyramid shape and served on a silver platter with 2 dipping sauces. The mild peanut sauce is beige and the spicy tomato is red — Enjoy a dosa, or thin savory crepe, anytime of day. This “cone” dosa is served with a mild peanut sauce & a zesty tomato sauce.

Breakfast

Try one of their many varieties of Dosa, a staple in Indian cuisine for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Enjoy these thin savory crepes, cooked from rice & lentils, plain, dip them in chutneys & sambar (flavorful sauces) or fill them with a variety of flavors like paneer, egg or onion. Each dosa variety is artfully served in a unique shape.

image showcasing several indian foods from view above, Several plates, bowls and serving dishes on a table with bright colored sauces. — Persis Indian Grill showcases a beautiful symphony of flavors in each dish they serve. Shown here: Shrimp Tikka (left), Chicken Tikka Masala with Rice (center front), Kadai Paneer (center back) and Cone Dosa with dipping sauces (right).

Lunch & Dinner

Shrimp Tikka – Perfect as an appetizer or as a main dish, these shrimp are marinated with yogurt and a blend of spices then grilled in the tandoor clay oven. Served sizzling hot over a bed of veggies and accompanied by a mint sauce, I absolutely loved this dish! The shrimp had beautifully crisp edges from the tandoor oven, were super flavorful and contained the perfect amount of heat. Don’t miss this one!
Baby Corn Manchurian – Crispy deep fried pieces of baby corn tossed in an array of spices. This is a great starter!
Kadai Paneer – This comforting curry dish features paneer (cubes of cheese) cooked with bell peppers and served in a brown, curry sauce.
Chicken Tikka Masala – This classic Indian dish is a staple on Persis’s lunch combo menu. The rich and creamy tomato sauce was delicious and not too spicy.
Pepper Chicken – This spicy dish is technically an appetizer, but certainly can fill you up as a main dish. Spicy & flavorful chunks of chicken in a peppery sauce.
Dum Biryani – This basmati rice dish started as a delicacy in in the royal kitchens of the Nizam of Hyderabad and has enthralled the Indian population for centuries. This tender & flavorful rice dish is available with your choice of meat or vegetable. I loved the Chicken Dum Biryani.
Garlic Naan – Served fresh from the tandoori oven with huge chunks of garlic, this flat bread is perfect to enjoy with any of their delicious curries or use it for scooping up Dum Biryani!

large black bowl filed with colorful yellow & orange basmati rice, topped with a lemon slice, red onion slices, a whole egg and green herbs. dipping sauces on the side. — Persis offers several types of Dum Biryani, a classic Indian rice dish served with a pepper gravy & yogurt raitha. *Shown Here: Chicken Dum Biryani.*

Dessert

Apricot Delight – A delicious moist cake topped with what tastes like vanilla pudding. Highly recommend!!
Gulab Jamun – These soft & delicious dumplings are made with fresh, condensed milk. They are similar to a donut but much more moist. Served in a sweet syrup.

Important Details – Location, Hours & Pricing

Location

Persis Indian Grill – 1617 Bryan Rd, O’Fallon, MO 63368

Hours

Closed on Mondays
Tues, Wed & Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm/5-9:30pm
Friday 11:30am-2:30pm/5-10pm
Sat 10am-3pm/5:30-10pm
Sun 10am-3pm/5:30-9pm

Pricing

$9.99 Lunch Combination Plate – includes one curry, one appetizer, naan & rice. This is a great option when you want to eat something quick & delicious. Take to-go or eat in. Menu options change daily.
$10-$20 breakfast, lunch and dinner options

clay cylindrical cooking device shown with flame and charcoals at the bottom. long poker took is being used to remove naan from the walls. — The tandoor oven is a staple in Indian cooking and used for bakes & roasts are variety of breads & meats. Shown here: Naan, aka Indian flatbread, cooking directly on the walls of the tandoor.

Fun Facts To Know About Indian Cuisine

In rural parts of India, meals are traditionally eaten on floor – using banana leaves instead of plates & eating with fingers instead of cutlery.
India has a largest number of vegetarian eaters in the world, due to religious and cultural reasons. Reports vary ranging from 20-39% of the population being non-meat eating. Persis Indian Grill’s menu offers many options for both meat eaters & vegetarians.
There are thousands of different types of Indian curries, each with their own taste and consistency. The flavors vary by region based on geography, ingredients, plus cultural and religious preferences.
Tandoori Cooking is a common & ancient Indian cooking technique. It involves marinating meat, seafood, or vegetables in yogurt and spices, then cooking them in a tandoor (a cylindrical clay oven). The high heat of the tandoor imparts a smoky flavor and tender texture to the food.
Many Indian dishes, like flavorful biryanis and rich curries, are cooked slowly over low heat. This method allows the ingredients to meld together, creating complex and layered flavors.

Final Thoughts

Persis Indian Grill is a go-to when your are craving authentic Indian food. Given the great food, interior upgrades & emphasis on customer service, I have faith that Raghu and his partners will continue to see their passion project blossom. I look forward to another visit soon to try more of their menu. If you love Indian food, or are up for an eating adventure, be sure to check out Persis Indian Grill in St. Louis!

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Persis Indian Grill in O’Fallon – St. Louis Area Restaurant Review

Overview of Persis Indian Grill