Dining Pick of the Week: Shalimar

PICK OF THE WEEK:

SHALIMAR

Renaissance Center West, 4001 S. Decatur Blvd. at West Flamingo Road, 702-202-0333

There is Indian food, and there is Pakistani food, and Shalimar serves both of them. For instance, murgh tikka lahori, murgh boti tandoori and seekh kabab mughlai are prepared in the tandoori, a traditional clay oven where chicken and beef are blended with herbs and spices and then barbecued. Among the specials are chicken karahi from the Himalayan region and nihari, a North Indian delicacy where the fat is removed from the beef shank and cooked in spices with ginger, pepper and cilantro. There are curries that can be blended to your taste, including murghi korma shahi (chicken with saffron in yogurt), saag gosht (lamb with spinach), chicken kofta (meatballs) and traditional prawns masala with Northern spices, herbs and tomatoes. Delicious naan breads include onion, garlic and whole wheat. Among the vegetarian entrees are mutter paneer (peas and cubed cheese), bengen bhujia (eggplant, onions, tomatoes) and palak aloo methi, a combination of spinach and young potatoes that is a favorite in the Punjabi farmland. Lamb biriyani is Shalimar's own basmati rice with lamb, spices and mint. Specials begin at $7.50, and curries start at $9.50. Shalimar is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. - Jack Bulavsky