Pippali

Named after the tongue-tingling long pepper, the 60-seat spot in Kips Bay offers modern Indian fare. Though you’ll find perennial favorites like vegetable samosas and bhajiya ($9 each) on the menu, Pippali serves more than just the standard takeout options. Try anjerri tikki, a pan-grilled beet and fig patty ($9), or tawa kanava, curried squid rings ($13) to start the meal. You could certainly order classic chicken tikka masala ($18), but more adventurous diners might want to sample the South Indian tandoori duck with tamarind rice ($25), lamb shanks cooked in a spicy tomato-onion sauce ($24) or kerala moilee, a combination of scallops, squid and mussels simmered in coconut milk curry ($24). Round out the meal with vegetarian jackfruit biryani ($19) and an order of chili cheese naan ($5).