Before the high-end Indian-fusion restaurants arrived in the Bay Area, Amber India showed diners what a refined dining experience Indian food could be. Don't let its location in a suburban strip mall fool you. My Indian friends agree that Amber serves some of the best Indian food in the Bay Area.

The menu is extensive. My absolute favorite dish is the fish tikka, sea bass marinated in lemon and served on a sizzling platter. Although a little too sweet for me, a lot of my friends also like the frontier naan, which takes the proverbial naan to a different level with nuts and raisin paste.

Cuisine:	Indian / Vegetarian-Friendly
Price:	Entrees are $10-25, with most being in the $15-20 range.
Dress:	Chic casual and up. Sevens and Diesels are OK, faded 501s and shorts aren’t.
Noise:	The restaurant has multiple rooms with nooks and crannies, so not a problem.
Reservations:	Recommended.
Payment:	Cash and credit cards.
Parking:	Plenty of free parking is available.
Date place?	Yes, if your date is an Indian food lover and can overlook the strip mall location. Otherwise, go to the newer Santana Row location.
Homepage:	www.amber-india.com