Taste of Himalayas, St. Charles

Jagadish "Jack" Bhandari, owner of Taste of Himalayas, takes taste buds on culinary expeditions through India and Nepal with the help of his epicurean family and an arsenal of natural ingredients. Beneath exposed-brick walls, a menu pushes 15–20 favorite options forward onto a white-tablecloth-draped buffet. In the powerful heat of the tandoori clay oven, Jagadish's nephew preps dishes such as chicken tikka, tandoori shrimp, and freshly baked naan bread. Chef Krishna, Jagadish's cousin, relies on years' worth of experience as a kitchen maestro on a Carnival cruise ship to prepare elaborate dishes and predict sand castle property values.