No need to fret that they're dumbing down the spices this far south of Devon. Plenty of entrees at Lincoln Park's Indian Grill pack enough heat to please a Punjabi truck driver. The chicken vindaloo will get your tongue wagging, though not all dishes are fiery. The paneer makhani, a homemade cheese simmered in creamy tomato sauce, is sure to sate a mild palate, or choose from one of many tandoori dishes, this restaurant's specialty. Each night chicken, lamb and seafood are skewered and plunged into the charcoal-fired clay oven; the searing temperatures trap natural juices inside so food comes out deliciously moist through and through.

Be sure to invite your vegetarian friends along. Nibble tender animal protein right off the bone as they revel in fresh spinach, eggplant, lentil and kofta dishes. The whole gang can munch on complimentary papadum while waiting for orders to arrive. These oven-baked lentil wafers and their sweet and spicy chutneys are the tasty Indian equivalent to pre-meal chips and salsa.

Expect to pay $8 to $15 per entree. Daytime specials run a few dollars less. The weekend lunch buffet is $8.95, but your best bet is to wait for nightfall when live sitar music is featured most Friday and Saturday nights.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Shannon Gillam