This neighborhood Indian cafe seduces diners with exotic spices, refined dishes and sweet service.

The Scene
Shabby chic prevails with turmeric-yellow walls and basic wooden tables and an old-fashioned wooden bar in one corner. Friendly waitresses guide confused gastronomic explorers through the menu, so don't be shy.

The Food
Owner Neela Paniz's crew dishes out refined renditions of subcontinent street food and country cuisine, seducing diners with exotic spices and newfangled flavors. Break away from curry to sample Indian chat (snacks) like bhel puri (puffed rice with cilantro, crushed puris and chutney), a frankie (a ''tortilla'' stuffed with sweet-sour lamb masala) or the trio of homemade chutneys. Mains like the tantalizing Goan shrimp curry (whitepoppy seeds, fresh coconut and cilantro) and freshly made palak paneer (cubes of Indian cheese in pureed spinach leaves with cumin, ginger and garlic) are sublime. If you order one dish, make it the Sindhi chicken, a half chicken steeped in green chilies, dried mango powder, coriander and cayenne.