When your internal call to curry can no longer be ignored, India Palace comes to the rescue, bringing the perfumed cuisine of India inside the loop to Preston Valley Shopping Center in North Dallas. Locals have adored India-native Pardeep Sharma's upscale-casual ethnic establishment for more than 20 years. Servers in crisp, white shirts and black bow ties scurry across paisley-carpeted floors past white linen tablecloths. The atmosphere remains unrushed, though, as low lighting and golden walls (gentler than the former, infamously pink scheme) capture the rich romance and exoticism of the Far East. India Palace's menu shows a typical selection of authentic cuisine but adds several delicacies. Standards are solid: The naan (grilled pita-like bread) is as fluffy as ever; vegetable samosas boast crispy crusts chock-full of chunky potatoes and green peas; and the popular chicken tikka masala offers diced tandoori chicken in a creamy tomato, onion and herb sauce. Nightly specials such as fish bahar (a tandoor-smoked salmon filet with onions and squash over saffron rice) are as delicious as they are creative. The selection of balti-style dishes (served directly from the cooking pot in plenty of spices such as ginger, cumin and cinnamon) ably represents their northwestern Indian heritage. A few words of warning: When India Palace says something's spicy, it means it. More sensitive palates should opt for one of the less intense dishes. Voted Best Indian Restaurant in 2007 Dallas Observer readers poll. Imported Indian beer is available, as well as wine and a full bar. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Sun brunch 11:30 am–3 pm.