I visited Tandoor Restaurant (279 Powers Ferry Road, Marietta, 678-560-2038) three times before I actually had a meal there. Two visits were on Mondays when they are closed — the signage was slightly obscured — and the other was a quick stop to grab a menu after feasting elsewhere. The seductive aroma of charred bread, dreamy spices and seared meat wafting from the kitchen prompted me to plan my immediate return.

The restaurant sits in between a Halal butcher and a Dominican salon in a random mini-strip mall. The decor is as spartan as an institutional cafeteria: no art, tablecloths, linen napkins or metal flatware. But the complex and soulful food makes up for the missing ambiance. Owner Shamshad Karim lived in Behar, India, before his family moved to Karachi, Pakistan, when he was a child, so the menu showcases dishes from both countries. Click here to read the rest…