Amin Indian Cuisine Inc

Montague Street, which ends at Montague Terrace with its gorgeous view of the Manhattan Skyline and its residents like Barbara Streisand, is Brooklyn's version of The Village. In fact, in the last decade, the area has become just as trendy - and just as expensive.

It's understandable, then, that this Indian restaurant is far from cheap. Its target market is mostly the upscale white residents of the area and lawyers and judges on their lunch breaks from the nearby Court Street.

The food, though not as authentic as a real connosseur of Desi food would prefer, is very good. Staple dishes like aloo gobi (which is particularly juicy), various masalas and biriyani, are very well prepared and full of flavor, though not as spicy as they would originally be.

The ambiance is beautiful. The second-floor restaurant looks out on the old street; the walls are lovingly painted, and the music is unassuming and quiet but adds to the mood.

If you are a real connosseur of Indian food, this restaurant might seem a bit too bland. But it's perfeft if you want to take out your less initiated friends and introduce them to ethnic foods: they will fall in love the flavors without being scared off by the fire-in-the-belly spiciness.

PROS: Great location, flavorful food, great service
CONS: A bit pricey; authenticity is toned down for American taste palate