Bombay Grill

416 Semple St.

(412) 578–9778

$$

No Panther Funds

It’s late at… Bombay Grill

416 Semple St.

(412) 578–9778

$$

No Panther Funds

It’s late at night. You’re starving. You can’t bear to leave the house. You’ve had Chinese or pizza at every meal for the last month and another round, you think, just might kill you. It’s time for a change of pace. But what to do?

Thanks to Bombay Grill, a new Indian restaurant on Semple Street, there is an answer: Order some Indian food. Yes, now some delectable chicken makhni or lamb biryani can be delivered at no extra cost to your door until midnight, or you could do it the old-fashioned way and dine in at their comfortable and cozy location.

Bombay Grill’s huge menu offers all of the staples of Indian cuisine – curries, vegetarian dishes, chicken and lamb specialties, biryanis, samosas, varieties of roti and nan and delightful Indian specialty drinks such as lassis and tea.

There are also special combination dishes available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties, though not for takeout. And they even offer some specialties with beef, a true rarity for Indian restaurants.

-Daniel Richey

India Garden

328 Atwood St.

(412) 682-3000

$$

No Panther Funds

Oakland residents don’t need to book expensive plane tickets to experience India – they just need to take a hike down Atwood Street.

Bikkram “Bikki” Kochher, owner of India Garden, runs the restaurant with the help of his nephew. They are proud to serve “modern Indian” food, which is typical of what you would find in a city in northern India.

The menu is made up largely of different varieties of spiced vegetables, and the restaurant stays open until 1 a.m. every morning with a half-price menu after 11 p.m.

– Eric Miller

India Palace Cuisine

4519 Centre Ave.

(412) 687-0515

$

No Panther Funds

Maybe you live in North Oakland and you’re hungry. Or maybe you’re sick of loud pop music while you’re trying to eat your dinner. Either way, if you like Indian food, there’s a place for you right above Craig Street and Centre Avenue. India Palace is never too noisy or crowded. In fact, there’s always a relaxing hush, and the clientele is varied, from soccer moms to your lit professor.

The restaurant offers a good lunch buffet during the week and a versatile menu for dinner – and, like other Indian restaurants, India Palace operates on the one-to-10 spicy scale. It’s sparsely but neatly decorated, and the neon “open” sign in the window places it squarely in Oakland. Plus, they offer a 10-percent student discount. So, come on and give the pizza a rest already.

– Heather Bowlan

Indica Indian Bistro

257 N. Craig St.

(412) 605-0500

$$$

No Panther Funds

What’s better than an Indian bistro with family recipes? An Indian bistro with family recipes, housed in a 120-year-old residence.

Indica offers a cozy locale that matches the original dishes and unique atmosphere. You can order with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your waiter can differentiate between “spicy” and “I-can-no-longer-feel-my-lips hot.” And you can end your meal with cottage cheese dumplings soaked in rose-scented syrup.

If weekday lunching is your thing, you can sample an extensive lunch buffet for $8.99. If weekday lunching in your bedroom is your thing, you can grab a buffet in a takeout box for $6.99. And if ordering from a menu is your thing, well, it’s your lucky day; Indica offers a variety of scrumptious dishes that you may not find anywhere else. –J. Elizabeth Strohm

Natraj

261 Oakland Avenue

(412) 621-3932

$

No Panther Funds

Natraj offers traditional Indian food for the hungry student who wants a little change, and maybe charcoal-fired bread would be a good way to start. Poori, roti and the mainstay of naan for $1.95 offer both a delicious napkin and makeshift fork for any food you order.

They serve a variety of tandoori specialties as well, from chicken to lamb and even shrimp, all served on a sizzler with rice. It’s $9.95 for the chicken and $13.95 for the shrimp.

Vegetarians will, of course, not be disappointed in the matar paneer – homemade cheese with peas in a mildly spiced sauce – to Aloo Palak – potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. You can get either for $7.95.

But Natraj offers more than food. Their sign boasts numerous items for sale, from kids clothing to silver jewelry and even CDs and DVDs.

-Andy Medici

Prince of India

3614 Fifth Ave.

(412) 687-0888

$$

No Panther Funds

Pitt students seeking dinner rarely travel Fifth Avenue, except for the occasional fast food run. This is unfortunate, because one of Oakland’s culinary treasures, Prince of India, is located on Fifth, between Meyran and Atwood.

Always smelling of traditional Indian curries, Prince of India is a treat anyone who loves flavorful Indian food. The biryani, a fried rice dish by which Indian restaurants can be reliably judged, is moist and coated in delicious spices. Also excellent is the lamb pasanda, a nutty curry-like dish. And don’t miss the chicken makhini, with juicy pieces of chicken and a creamy tomato curry.

As an affordable all-you-can-eat treat, Prince of India offers an elaborate dinner buffet from 7 to 9:30 p.m., allowing a thrifty student to get a good dinner tucked in before nightly study time. And, in the middle of the day, Prince of India also offers a lunch buffet, for anyone with a noontime craving for great curry.

– Greg Heller-LaBelle

Star of India

412 S. Craig St.

(412) 681-5700

$$

No Panther Funds

The understated elegance of linen-covered tables, artfully folded napkins, burgundy decor and soft lights help make Star of India the swankiest Indian-cuisine restaurant in Oakland.

Star of India’s menu reflects the numerous cuisines of India, from shrimp biryani to chicken asharj. The wide selection of breads is wonderful as well. Many dishes are authentically prepared in a traditional tandoor. A hearty and tasty lamb and potato vindaloo can really beat the chill of a cool Pittsburgh evening.

The staff is helpful and knowledgeable about the dishes and keeps your water glass filled when you’ve ordered a spicy curry.

Star of India serves a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Alcohol is BYOB, and there is a minimal charge for extra glassware.

– Dawn Diehl