LA Restaurants

Anarkali has been a mainstay on Melrose for Indian-food lovers since 1983. It's a great place for a date--quiet and far removed from the neon of its neighbors. Specialties include chicken tandoori marinated in yogurt ($6.95-$9.95) and lamb bhuna, cooked with ground spices, tomato, bell pepper, and a thick curry sauce ($8.95). During the week, the executive lunch for two ($14.95) includes soup or salad, chicken tandoori, a choice of meat and veggie curry, rice and naan. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner seven nights. Beer and wine; takeout; delivery; catering; banquet facilities; valet parking; reservations suggested. AE, MC, V.

India's Tandoori offers an extensive menu of northern Indian specialties for dining in or takeout. Cooked in the traditional clay tandoor oven, the tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt, is both crisp and tender ($6.50 half, $10.85 whole). A tempting assortment of fragrant vegetarian specialties include gobhi alu, fresh cauliflower and spicy potato curry ($5.25) and bengan bhartha, roasted eggplant cooked curry style with tomatoes ($5.50). Don't miss the Sunday champagne brunch featuring curries, vegetables and delectable Indian flatbreads ($8.95). Lunch and dinner seven days, brunch Sun. Beer and wine; takeout; catering; parking. AE, DIS, MC, V.