Upscale, gourmet, Indian food I do not eat often. You have plenty of great places, in Curry Hill and Little India, with great food, for a great price. When I heard that the restaurant Tamarind, located on 22nd Street, was opening up an outpost in Tribeca, my interest peaked. It had gotten a good write-up in the Times, so I went last week to see if it was worth the hype.

The place is huge, modern, sleek, and definitely has a more upscale feel to it. Maybe that is why when I walked in alone on a Tuesday with no reservation, and asked the host for a table for one, he first stated, "Well, that might take a while, but you can sit at the bar." Obviously he did not recognize who I was, and obviously he must have been blind, for there were plenty of empty seats available for me. I was seated by a wiser manager a minute later though. (And I do apologize for using Twitter to call the host an "asshole"-you are not, you are just green. I love you.)

And then there is the food-my main concern when dining out!

Bataki Kosha ($10.50), duck with mustard, onion, garlic, ginger and garam masala, hand rolled in a rice crepe with black salt and tangerine chutney, was absolutely wonderful! A true delight. I loved all the flavor in this dish, as well as the crispiness of the crepe.

Hyderabadi Ghazala ($21), slow roasted lamb marinated in yogurt, mint, black mushroom, bay leaf and garam masala, was a lovely dish. It was not mind-blowing, and part of me craved a kick to the dish, but it was fine.

Broccoli and cheese Nan ($5) was a dandy Indian bread.

A dessert of yam mousse, ajwine pastry, and lychee gloss ($13), was unique, original, and a pleasant ending to a nice meal.

So, when you crave upscale Indian cuisine, in a modern and large setting in Tribeca, Tamarind Tribeca, is the place to go. Just make sure you have a reservation, I wouldn't want the host to not seat you.

Tamarind Tribeca
99 Hudson St. (bet. Franklin and Leonard)
New York, NY 10013
212-775-9000
www.tamarindtribeca.com