Masala Grill, Chicago

In the heart of Devon Avenue’s Little India, the chefs at Masala Grill offer a different take on the subcontinent’s cuisine by tackling the rich flavors of the northern regions that border Pakistan. Guests can indulge in a cross section of the regional recipes via the buffet, which the staff constantly refreshes with just-made portions of mutton biryani, chicken tikka, palak paneer, and crispy samosas stuffed with veggies. For a more intimate setting, diners can savor table service with such options as the Masala Grill platter, which combines two chicken entrees with two types of kebabs for a better overview of the menu than the chef's pile of self-authored Cliff's Notes. Crown meals with something sweet, such as honey-drizzled gulab jamun or the creamy beverage known as falooda.