India Palace

The downtown location of India Palace may lack its sister restaurant’s aesthetic charm, but what it lacks in atmosphere it makes up for in flavor. The extensive menu is filled with classic Indian dishes such as the rich navratan korma and tangy chicken tikka masala. The lamb vindaloo is a must-try. Hunks of tender lamb are simmered in a spicy tomato sauce that is not for the faint of heart, but its potpourri of exotic spices make the dish multidimensional. The dark horse of the menu, however, is the aloo palak, a mix of skillet-fried potatoes, garlicky spinach, onions and coriander seeds. It’s such a simple dish, but its perfect execution make it magical. Monday through Saturday, India Palace puts on a respectable lunch buffet. The kitchen keeps the steam table filled with a rotation of its house specialties, giving diners a chance to sample a variety of the same dishes that it serves at night. It’s a great way for the uninitiated to sample a spectrum of items before flying blindly at dinner — or for those overwhelmed with too many excellent choices to have a taste of everything.