Sher E Punjab, a recognizable term often used by the abundant supply of restaurants throughout India. Translated it means “Lion of Punjab”, and also refers to a person from the same region. It quickly signifies the Shahi style of foods and tandoor cooked meats guests can expect to eat. Punjabi’s have a reputation for being neat and clean, hospitable cooks; qualities which have aided in their popularity within India while bringing fake competition from cooks looking to profit from a good name.

Mt Abu’s Sher-E Punjab Hotel is the real deal. Three dining rooms are situated among a lower level, a ground floor outdoor seating area, and finally the open air upper level. This is the place to be seated. From here, guests can watch the tandoor cook prepare and serve meats from his station posted in front of the restaurant. Consider it the ultimate calling card to walk past fresh meats coated with spices glistening under the street lights. You’ll have to either wait or sweet talk the host into being seated upstairs as tables are in short supply during the dinner rush.

A menu of traditional Indian food recipes gives more than enough choices for Veg or Non-Veg tourists of Mt Abu. Service is blazing fast and friendly, and although there is a bit of a language barrier, no is not in the vocabulary of servers. My order of baingan bharta sent one of the young Indian boys on staff running into the market to purchase fresh eggplant. That’s classic Sher-E Punjab.

Cost: Rs 259 Paneer Tikka Masala, Baingan Bharta, Garlic + Cheese Naan, Lime Soda

Location: Side street off the main road. Ask for directions.

#ShereMtAbu

Located just steps off the busy main road, guests have their choice of dining in the A/C hall or the main non-A/C hall just as you enter. We were shown to the A/C room thanks to our tourist status. That said, my travel companion and I both appreciated the coolness after a morning of sightseeing in the sun and heat of South India.

One menu was brought to the table and handed only to me. How quickly I had forgotten about the general rule of excluding the females from a menu. I tried to talk my companion out of ordering meat on her first day in India but she decided to be brave. Our order was brought quickly given we had a simple selection of veg biryani, non-veg thali and a sweet lassi.

The veg biryani was chock full of fresh vegetables and mild in spices. With some raita scooped over for added taste I was careful to stop myself from eating the entire serving. My companion’s thali was, however, quite spicy yet delicious. Mutton in a masala sauce, chicken from the tandoor, dal, rice and a potato dish were more than she could finish.

Hotel Empire is perfect for travelers looking for neat and clean, safe food and the A/C room was a nice touch. However, don’t expect to see any fellow tourists here. This is strictly a local joint catering to the nearby businessmen and the neighborhood families.

Total cost Rs 216 ($4.70), tip included.

Roti is one of those essential items for lunch and dinner along with say, a sliced red onion and chili peppers. It is the traditional flat bread served in millions of homes everyday across India. Baked in a tandoor (clay oven), the simple ingredients cook to a slight crunchy exterior.

Manjula’s Kitchen has a step by step video for making tandoori roti. Similar to naan, it’s great for eating meals without utensils or sopping up a well made masala gravy. If you like a bit of a crunch with your meal, check out Manjula’s recipe for Tandoori Roti.

The hotel name is slightly off-putting as haveli (meaning large home or mansion) conjures up a different image than this multi-story building. However, the exterior is nicely painted and maintained, and on a subsequent visit to Bikaner it would be on my short list of properties to stay. For dining we walked through the front gate and up the 3 flights of stairs to the terrace. Diners have an option of eating in the enclosed part of the rooftop or on a slightly higher level fully outside. My recommendation is to pick the open air terrace that offers perfect 360º views of Bikaner and the surrounding dessert. The only exception is for breakfast when the enclosed rooftop offers shade from the hot, pounding rising sun.

Service here is prompt and polite. Food is the usual Indian fare plus tandoori items, always a nice find. As the sun sets, subtle lighting marks the terrace so the sky views aren’t obstructed. A nice mix of foreign tourists sums up a majority of the dining crowd.

Our dinner meal was so tasty we agreed to visit again before leaving town. The next afternoon Rakesh and I stopped in for a coke and a card game. With the desert sun setting followed by cool breezes mixed with our peaceful perch atop the city , one coke turned into 2 and then dinner time. Our second meal was as good as the first. Earlier my travel partner and I had a disappointing breakfast experience at our hotel. With two good meals under our belt here, we made plans for a Harasar Haveli breakfast.

The next morning we arrived early to find even more eclectic mix of foreigners than the previous two dinner crowds. Most were waking up yet wiping the sleep from their eyes. The conversation overheard from our table consisted of many different languages but all around were smiles and laughter. This place was casual, carefree, clearly popular, and my new favorite place to eat in Bikaner.

Food here is traditional Rajasthani fare complete with a Tandoor. Feel free to watch orders cooked with the tandoor from behind a glass wall. Order the Paneer Tikka for a dinner entree. Squeeze fresh lime over this dry but spicy dish to bring out a taste treat for your mouth.  While you wait for your order, Rajasthani dancers and musicians entertain the crowd from a small stage area at one end of the courtyard. Be warned, the dancers will come into the crowd of diners and pull you up on stage. This makes for light-hearted laughs from the audience and further adds to the relaxed atmosphere.

Try the kulfi (ice cream) for dessert but be sure to ask for ice cream as the waiters often misunderstand it for coffee. It’s served in a small terracotta cup and oh so good.

You can’t go wrong with Indiana. The restaurant is neat and clean; add in the entertainment plus the outdoor seating and you’ll quickly see why this is a favorite among the tourist drivers.