North India Bar & Grill, Clovis

The sound of water burbling in a fountain greets patrons as they enter North India Bar & Grill. Further in, ornate chandeliers dangle from the ceiling, illuminating rows of plush, copper-colored banquettes. On select nights, part of this dining room transforms into a nightclub, where your can down an extra-spicy indian mary or spin around and around in circles before anybody notices you literally have two left feet.

As visitors let loose a few yards away, chefs buzz about the kitchen, pouring honey-cashew cream sauce over tender morsels of lamb and marinating chicken in authentic spices before roasting it in a 900-degree oven. They also concoct a selection of Indian-American fusion recipes including a flatbread wrap loaded with cream cheese and lamb and a tandoori-chicken pizza.