Upon being seated, you are immediately greeted by wonderfully attentive servers. Ask to start with a popular native lager or a glass of wine from their personally selected list. Sample the Samosa appetizer and enjoy a rich mixture of potatoes and spices blanketed in a crispy pastry shell. Or try the Chicken Tikka: marinated chicken, skewered and barbecued over a charcoal fire. These delicious appetizers come with savory accompaniments: cilantro-chile yogurt sauce, a spicy tamarind, marinated sweet onions and a lemon-carrot chutney. The intricate blend of exotic herbs and spices dances in your mouth, leaving you eager to see where the chef will take your taste buds next.

Ramanand Bhatt, a classically trained Indian chef has devoted 45 years to his art in restaurants all over the world, including Madrid, Spain. Bhatt has been in Washington, D.C. for 15 years creating fine Indian cuisine and was honored with the America's 2000 award given by the Chefs in America Association. This prestigious award grants certification from the organization and a position as one of North America's outstanding

chefs. The sous chef, Sohan Singh, hails from India's finest hotel and brings 25 years of his personal experience to Dishes of India. Restaurant owners, Bamaveda Aryal and Naresh Bhatt insisted on having the finest chefs to ensure the quality and authenticity of their genuine Indian cuisine. "There can be no guess work," explains Mr. Aryal. "The chef must create a balance between the spices to achieve perfection in the food."

There are hundreds of herbs and spices used in Indian cooking, some of which are extremely expensive. Dishes of India also prepares everything from scratch each day using fresh vegetables and the finest quality meats. Yet the prices on Dishes' menu will leave your wallet as full as your stomach. Lunch entrees start at $5.95, dinner at $6.95. How is this possible? Cutting unnecessary overhead costs and hard work on everyone's part enables them to provide sheer quality without sheering your pocketbook. Dishes of India's mission is simple: to provide upscale, authentic Indian food at an affordable price. "We think the customer will respond to this."

As the guest at Dishes, you become the boss. "We respect what the customers say and we are sensitive to their opinions," says Aryal. So important is your opinion to these restaurateurs that they request your comments on a card that is placed on every table. Not surprisingly, feedback has been positive. "We have wished for a convenient Tandoori restaurant for a long time," wrote one Alexandria resident. Another gentleman commented that Dishes of India has "the best Indian food in the D.C. area!" And there are plenty of well-wishers who "hope the business thrives" and "promise to bring friends and family."

Special preparation requests are graciously received. Aryal compares their cooking to tailoring

a fine, custom-made suit: the dishes are prepared to fit the customers' tastes. For those with health concerns, choose a specialty from the Tandoori -- an egg-shaped clay oven that is charcoal-fired to an intensely hot temperature. Lamb, chicken, even salmon that has been marinated for 24 hours in a homemade yogurt and spice blend, is skewered and gently held over the heat until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the excess fat has fallen into the fire. A low-fat, full-flavor dish results.

The vegetarian specialties abound and are deliciously interesting. Vegetable Bhajhee is a mixture of fresh vegetables stir - fried in ginger, garlic, tomatoes and a fresh herb sauce. And a selection of traditional flat breads is cooked in the Tandoori oven and offered with your choice of unique condiments.

Authentic desserts, such as Indian rice pudding, create the perfect ending to a delightful meal. Or perhaps a Mango Lassi drink blended with sweet churned yogurt and mango sounds appealing. "In ancient Indian Sanskrit," explains Aryal, "mango is considered to be the best fruit because of the flavor of the juice and the high nutrient content."

To complement your dining experience, Dishes of India is a non-smoking restaurant with a full-service bar. The restaurant serves lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00. If you need to have a quick business lunch, you can count on being finished and satisfied within twenty minutes of your arrival time. Or if it's dinner at home, carryout is fast, efficient and just as delicious as if you were dining at one of the linen-clothed tables.

One recent comment card reads: "I have experienced much fine food lately in Boston and Washington, D.C., and this was the finest meal I've had in months! Thank you." Based on the response of its already loyal following, this young restaurant promises to grow into a valued addition to the Alexandria community. Visit Dishes of India at 1510 Belleview Boulevard in Alexandria's Belle View Shopping Center. Call 660-6085 to place carryout orders and make reservations. Experience truly enlightened dining.