Clay Pit

Diploma In Hotel Management from Schiller International University, Engelberg, Switzerland.

Know Before You Go: Chef Maqbool Ahmed earned his stripes at the upscale Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi. His emphasis lies on traditional Indian food, but he also makes a foray into contemporary fare with dishes such as curried crab cakes and coriander calamari.

On the Menu: Try the Deci Cucumber Salad from the "Soup and Salad" section! It's light, fresh, and has just the right amount of spice.

Do yourself a favor and order the curry mussels

A great dining experience no matter what the occasion.

This Downtowner has been pleasing crowds of politicos, students, families and couples with "outstanding" Indian lunch buffets and a la carte dishes, including "lots of vegetarian and vegan options", for nearly two decades; it's "warm and inviting" (and sometimes a tad bit "loud") in the "beautiful" old brick building, especially in the romantic, cavelike basement.

Housed in the softly lit landmark Bertram building with whitewashed limestone walls, The Clay Pit is destination dining for Austinites hungry for subcontinental cuisine. Launch your meal with an order of coriander calamari and palak paneer naan, supple warm flatbread stuffed with sweet spinach purée and tangy cottage cheese. The signature goat saag (halal goat meat with stewed spinach, ginger...

Set in an attractive stone building, Clay Pit serves mostly North Indian food. The chef Maqbool Ahmed is the real McCoy, having served a stint at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi, and has brought his panache for the tandoor to Austin. A must eat at this restaurant is the tandoori platter bedecked with chicken, lamb, broccoli, tomatoes and even zucchini. As always, Indian restaurants are a haven...

Contemporary Indian Cuisine housed in historic Bertram's building.