Situated on the corner of High Street and University Avenue, and hidden behind a garden-like trellis, Junnoon, an upscale Indian restaurant, is thriving. Unlike my previous experiences with Indian cuisine, which all consisted of small buffets in the middle of nowhere, Junnoon offered a very different experience.

A thick, wooden door granted me entry into the candle-lit world of modern India. The burly owner greeted me at his podium and assigned a waitress to show me to my table. The menu featured a variety of breads including naan, a traditional Indian bread ranging from three to six dollars. They also offered a wide selection of entrees ranging from $14 to $23. And have no fear, vegetarians, a vegetarian trio dish ($18) of petite paneer cake, roasted eggplant crush and black lentils is also available. As I scanned the menu, I realized I had no clue what to pick.

My waiter immediately stepped in to help, recommending Rice-Flaked Sea Bass ($23), a pan-seared New Zealand Blue Nose sea bass with a rice flake crust that was served with ginger, fennel, tamarind sauce and braised vegetables. He also recommended the Tandoori Lamb Chops ($23), which he claimed most customers ordered.

The waiter brought a plate of white lentil crackers and peanut sambaan, a mixture of yogurt, peanuts and jalapenos, for me to snack on as I decided on my order. The crackers were strong in their salty flavor, while the sambaan was a slightly sweet counterbalance, a combination that was alien to my taste buds. The mixture was so bizarre and different from what I was used to eating, I immediately disliked it. Nonetheless I still couldn’t bring myself to stop nibbling on the snack. I noted that around the restaurant, the customers had opposite reactions to the dish, claiming it to be delicious. I guess I just have strange tastes.

I decided to order Old Delhi-Style Chicken ($19), Tamil Chicken ($19) and Tapioca Fritters ($7) for me and my friend. While waiting for my appetizer, I looked around in wonder at the modern-Oriental decorations that covered the walls. The customers around me were all talking heartily and laughing. The atmosphere was welcoming and invited conversation. After a decent wait, my waiter arrived with my appetizer, Tapioca Fritters. They rolled around on my plate as I chased them with my fork and finally catapulted it in my mouth with a soft crunch. The hot insides were filled with tapioca, which was coated with a fried mashed potato shell. The tapioca part was slightly bland at first, but finished off with a spicy aftertaste.

After a short wait, the waiter returned to place before me the Old Delhi-Style Chicken and Tamil Chicken with Rosemary Naan. I tore into the bread; its insides were warm from the oven. Both entrees had chicken, yet they had completely different flavors due to the spices. Although both pleased my palate, I needed the naan to balance out the strong flavors of the entrees. For the price I had to pay, I thought the dishes seemed rather small, but as the night wore on, the food proved to be surprisingly filling.

As I left the restaurant, satisfied with my now heavy stomach, I contemplated the time and money I had spent. The atmosphere was warm and mysterious, the waiters were friendly and helpful, and the food was both delectable and delicious. Although it is quite expensive, I would not hesitate to recommend Junnoon for the Homecoming dance or other special occasions.