Naan N Curry, San Francisco

Exotic aromas waft through the air at Naan -N- Curry, where flavor sculptors assemble a menu of authentic Indian and Pakistani cuisine from fresh ingredients and traditional recipes. Well-stocked buffets and individual entrees brim with lamb, chicken, and prawns dressed in Southeast Asia's world-renowned spices and inside-out tuxedos. Chefs enlist a clay oven to roast tandoori meats and adorn vegetarian options with spinach, eggplant, and house-made paneer cheese. Diners can tote along their own adult sippables to pair with six types of naan bread, which come stuffed with fillings such as meat, potatoes, or garlic. Colorful tapestries drape down from the O'Farrell Street location's ceiling, obscuring glowing overhead lights and other visitors' obtrusive thought bubbles.