Annapurna Cafe was started by Roshita Sharma, a native Nepalese herself and today has become a neighborhood staple for Indian and Nepalese cuisine. An intimate and casual ambiance resonates through the ornately decorated dining room, creating the perfect atmosphere to enjoy family affairs, friendly night-outs and special occasions. The well-laid out menu features a variety of specialties like calamari pakoras, lamb kofta, chicken tikka masala, lhasa curry and kathmandu noodle soup. Post-dining patrons can relax in the bar area with cocktails, beers and decent wines. Walk-ins are welcomed.

Open since 2008, Spinasse has gained a popular following for its cuisine inspired by the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. Menu items include roasted cauliflower flan, prosciutto di Parma, hand-cut pasta and braised pork belly. The restaurant also offers a 10-course meal served at the chef's table on Friday and Saturday nights, where diners can look into the kitchen and watch the chef prepare their dishes. Chef's Table seating available for groups of 2 or 4 and by reservation only.

An ethnically decorated dining room and a smiling staff meet the eye and enticing aromas set the mood for a casual dining affair at ROTI restaurant. Tucked on a restaurant stretch in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, this quaint restaurant is a perfect place to sample some of the tastiest and authentic Indian dishes like Tandoori Chicken, Malai Kabab, Prawn Vindaloo and Chicken Tikka Masala. Lunch is served buffet-style so come only after you've built up an appetite, for the food is filling and delicious at the same time.

Located in tastefully renovated Wallingford Center, Chutneys Bistro is one of three Chutneys in Seattle. The interior is casual yet tasteful with Indian accents throughout. The crowd comes from the neighborhood and nearby University of Washington. Authentic tandoori dishes come from a traditional clay oven. Curries with chicken, lamb and shrimp are cooked to perfection. Kothmir Chicken, cooked in a coconut curry sauce, is excellent. The soft warm naan bread helps diffuse the spicy heat.

Jewel of India is located in the heart of the University District. Exuding a comfortable atmosphere, it serves some of the best and most exotic Indian food to entice your palate. Be it the sumptuous lunch buffet or the well put together dinner combinations, if good Indian food is what you are looking for, then this might be your best bet. Gorge on the maharajah dinner for a full meal which includes an appetizer, entree, dal, rice, naan, a non-alcoholic beverage and dessert or try their chicken curries, tandoori dishes and lamb creations. Vegans can sample the chole baturey, saag or masala dosa. Reasonably priced food served in generous portions is what makes this place a favorite.

Mohammed Arfan Bhatti, son of Mohammed Bhatti - the man behind Northgate's Saffron Grill, brings the same flair and passion for Indian cooking to University District. Taste of India is in fact, one of the best places in the area to experience a lovely ambiance and authentic Indian cuisine. On the menu you will find traditional specialties like Tandoori Chicken, Jaipur Masala, Coconut Curry and Tikka Masala. And those who've already dined at Saffron Grill will not be left feeling disappointed, as the same signature Mediterranean dishes are served here. Beer and wines complement the offerings as do the rich desserts. The overall experience certainly makes this restaurant worth a visit.

Chef Muhammad Uddin has put the considerable experience he gained at Moghul Palace and India Express to work in his own restaurant called the Bengal Tiger at the north end of the University District. Uddin works the tandoor oven with a gifted touch, with the chicken coming out juicy and hot. He also brought his mussel curry recipe from Moghul Palace, reputedly a favorite of Bill Gates. The samosas are also excellent.

The aromas alone will draw you into this richly colored restaurant called the India Bistro. The food is traditional Indian cuisine, which includes tandoori chicken, lamb, seafood, chutneys, Kashmiri chicken and more, all seasoned to your liking. Try the naan, which is a warm, soft flat bread, perfect for dousing the heat of spicy curry dishes. This smoke-free restaurant also has an outdoor dining area.

No one can cook up an Indian and Mediterranean fusion as good as Mohammed Bhatti, and to experience some of the greatest dishes from his kitchen you will have to come down to Safron Grill. Located in the Northgate tenement, this restaurant is easily recognizable with its vibrant red facade and is a local favorite. Be sure to try their signature dish, the famed butter chicken which is simmered in a rich tomato butter-cream-sauce. Other remarkable dishes on the menu include the traditional tikka masala, jaipuri masala and shish taouk. The dining experience is even more pleasurable thanks to the handpicked libations, perfect to wash down the flavorful and spicy entrees.