Haveli Restaurant, Queens

Haveli Restaurant evokes its namesake Indian region through the flavors of its food and the methods the chefs use to prepare it. The two come together at the tandoors, which are behind glass for all to see, allowing diners to watch chefs grilling ginger-flavored lamb chops or broiling tender meats with coriander, fenugreek, and mint. In the dining room, a full bar is the focal point amid carved-wood chairs, ornate sculptures, and hanging lanterns, which provide visual echoes of the traditional spices and flavors wafting through the air.

Their menu features meaty specials, such as the Indo-Chinese-inspired chicken havlati tossed in caramelized onion sauce, as well as numerous vegetarian and vegan dishes. Gluten-free options, meanwhile, even spill over onto the roti bread menu, which offers among grilled and stuffed flatbreads a gluten-free pancake pan-fried with chickpea flour, onion, and coriander.