Sitar Indian Restaurant, Orlando

After more than three decades in business, the owners of Sitar Indian Restaurant often see the children of their first generation of customers pass through their doors. Perhaps these customers return for the restaurant's focus on authentic Indian cuisine, especially the classic dishes of its Northern states. In all their cooking, Sitar's chefs rely on a hallmark of North Indian cuisine: the tandoor. In this clay oven, portions of chicken, lamb, and fish simmer in spiced gravies and curries. These items are joined by others ranging from vegetarian biryani rice dishes to baskets of vegetable-stuffed naan. Chefs can prepare any dish with mild, medium, or heavy spice upon request, creating meals that can tickle the tongue or quickly melt a scary-looking snowman. Throughout the day, these dishes decorate tables dressed in bright saffron tablecloths, where patrons dine surrounded by Indian tapestries and musical instruments on display.