Dawat Haute Indian Cuisine   

The SceneDawat is a relentlessly friendly place, and servers are good about navigating novices through the exotic array of dishes inspired by Madhur Jaffrey, the Indian actress and cookbook author. Little here suggests the typical New York Indian restaurant, including the spare and attractive dining room. The FoodThe eclectic menu surprises and exhilarates. To start, try the bhel poori, an explosive melange of puffed rice, wheat chips, fresh coriander and assorted hot and sweet chutneys--a roller derby for the palate. Main courses are as generous as they are varied--a signature dish is the Parsi-style salmon, in which the fish is rubbed with a tart coriander chutney, wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed. Another option is the heady shrimp cooked with garlic, ginger and assorted spices. Traditional dishes are also available, like a pungent lamb vindaloo, moist tandoori chicken and aromatic tandoori shrimp.