Mela, Boston

Aromas of sizzling meats fill Mela's dining room. Chefs prepare skewered meats and pillowy naan in a traditional tandoor oven and sautéing lentils and vegetables in a fragrant confetti of herbs and Indian spices. They tailor the amount of heat in each entree to accommodate each diner's preferences, preparing mild, savory dishes as well as meals with enough heat to vaporize an army of snowmen.

The dining room's floor-to-ceiling windows lend a soft touch to the stone flooring and walls lined in sheets of hammered copper.