Curry Mantra, Fairfax

You might momentarily forget your hunger when you step into Curry Mantra's striking dining room, where vivid Indian artwork speckles the warm orange and yellow walls. Your appetite is reawakened, however, when you peer into the large kitchen window and catch sight of juicy morsels of lamb, salmon, and chicken waiting to be cooked inside tandoori ovens.

These traditionally grilled meats, as well as a flavorful lineup of curries and biryani rice entrees, have garnered critical acclaim from the Washington Post's Tom Sietsema, Zagat, and Washingtonian magazine, to name just a few. Today, even though the restaurant's under new ownership, guests can still expect those same accolade-inspiring Indian dishes, as well as a brunch buffet featuring regional specialties from around the subcontinent.