Best of Boston

2007 Best Indian Restaurant

India Samraat

While lachha paratha, kadahi paneer, and the other spice-redolent dishes at this 17-year-old Back Bay outpost may be a challenge to pronounce, none are a struggle to polish off. Saffron basmati rice and steaming onion naan accompany curried meat and vegetable dishes; the tandoori chicken, often too dry elsewhere, is packed with savory juices. The gilded decor is a tad kitschy, so if an abundance of drapes and mirrors isn’t exactly your thing, there’s the option of delivery. Just remember to order early, as weekend nights bring wait times of up to an hour and a half.

51A Massachusetts Ave., Boston, 617-247-0718, indiasamraat.com