Restaurants in Redmond

The perfumes of curry spices permeate the air at Tandoori Fire Bar & Grill along with the lilting sounds of Indian music. Chef Alex, who according to the staff was named 1 of Seattle’s top 10 chefs by Seattle Times food critics, earned his chops in Greece before sharpening his Indian-fare skills in California, where he opened the original location of Tandoori Fire Bar & Grill in 2004. His menu includes classic Indian dishes such as curried mussels, as well as fusion plates of murg-bahar-battered calamari and tandoori-chicken-alfredo pasta.

Garam Masala is traditionally a mix of Indian and Pakistani seasonings. In homage to its name, the restaurant incorporates authentic spice mixtures and halal meats into its menu, earning the distinction as Seattle’s best Indian restaurant in the Best of Citysearch 2011 competition. The kitchen staffers have held onto the traditional recipes of their homeland, abstaining from serving up popular Americanized versions that call for footlong hot dogs in place of kebab skewers. These Old World flavors surface in selections such as the lamb dopiaza, draped in 21 spices, and the roster of hot-to-buttery curries. A 2009 review in Seattle Weekly praises the chefs' devotion to custom by likening the eggplant bharta dish to "a baba ghanouj dressed up to hit the Emmys."

The flavors of the Old World are never far away at Taverna Mazi, where tender lamb, imported Greek cheeses, and pungent garlic populate a menu of inventive Mediterranean eats. A diverse array of small plates encourages sharing and sampling of drunken prawns drowned in an ouzo-tomato-and-cream sauce or garlicky fries sprinkled with ample heaps of feta and oregano. Patrons can also dunk pitas into dips including caper skordalia—greek yogurt blended with parsley, garlic, and capers—or a pot of feta whipped with mint and peppers and topped with a black-cherry reduction. A roster of larger plates features a braised lamb shank in orzo and tomatoes that Seattle Weekly designated “the standout entree,” opining that “the lamb would probably fall off the bone if a gentle gust of wind blew through the dining room.” The Weekly also praised the fizzy Eos Lemon cocktail on Mazi's drink menu, which also features greek margaritas that replace limes with cucumbers and affectionate cheek-pinches from Yia Yia.

Mirrors flank Taverna Mazi's walls, reflecting cheerful ochre hues, deep-blue tablecloths, and urns of statuesque palm fronds. On the ceiling, strings of party lights fan out from a chandelier, which curls its wrought-iron tendrils into complicated curlicues that grasp small candle-like lights.

Chefs ready the blasting heat of Mehak Indian Cuisine's clay oven for a smorgasbord of authentic Indian curries, breads, and baked meat and veggies. The tandoor's fire rages seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., searing pillowy naan, lamb boti masala, and chicken goa curry. The chef carefully balances spices and flavors to create recipes far more refined than the hastily prepared meals found in the roadrunner’s tiffins.

Owner Mike Salimi mans the counter at Nova Restaurant most days, opening and closing the cash-register drawer and handing over pizzas, homestyle burgers, sandwiches, and seafood to hungry customers. He has finely tuned his pizza recipe throughout the past 20 years, using trial and error to arrive at his current series of steps: hand-making pizza dough, homemade sauce, and toppings that are purchased each day. He also whips together an array of seafood dishes, including oysters, prawns, and Irish-style fish 'n' chips made with halibut or cod and coated in a specialty batter. He hangs colorful abstract paintings on the eatery's yellow walls, which is the closest humankind will ever get to decorating the sun.