Nirvana

Is it an Indian restaurant with a nightclub or a Bollywood-themed lounge that serves Indian food? It’s hard to tell, but if the goal is an altered state of bliss, you may not reach it here. As for the décor, Buddha features prominently and there are covered daybeds for lounging, moody, deep-yellow lighting and an odd path of glass above a tiny river-cum-koi pond that leads through the dining room. Unlike Tanzore, another nearby Indian with loads of atmosphere, the menu is somewhat of an afterthought, featuring typical Indian fare like spicy curries, kebabs, tandooris and paneers. The appetizers turn out to be better than the mains, with tasty spinach potato cakes and a tandoori kebab sampler. The overtly sensual theme, as evidenced by headers on the menu like “Foreplay” and “Loss of Innocence,” aims to get you in the mood, but you might be better off relying on the cocktails for that.

TIPS: Money can’t buy happiness, but still, you’ll need quite a bit of it here, where drinks and food tend toward pricey. Go during Happy Hour, Monday to Friday 5 to 7 p.m., when cocktails and appetizers are $6.