Jasdeep Mand is more than happy to talk about King Restaurant Indian Kitchen and Bar and the restaurant legacy of which she is a part.

She was our server and shared that the Mand family has several restaurants in Minnesota, among other locales. She, with her husband, brothers and father, played a role in creating the food reflective of the Punjab region of Northern India and serving vibrant dishes.

The menu is massive with numerous choices, including vegetarian, nonvegetarian, chef’s specials and much more. We needed advice on what to order. Mand wasn’t surprised and readily offered recommendations.

She indicated her favorites: paneer tikka masala ($17.99) and dal makhani ($15.99), and said the coconut lamb ($25.99) was popular.

By chance, we noticed the last page of the menu featured the lunch special ($16.99). This includes a choice of three entrees — one meat and two vegetarian — plus rice and naan. It is only available for lunch Monday through Friday.

This is the best way to try several items at once, which will make it easier to decide on a dinner entree on a return visit.

One order included the dal makhani, karara Balti with chicken and paneer tikka masala; the other order included butter chicken, paneer kadhal and vege jalfrazi.

We started with samosas ($5.99). Two to an order are served with mint chutney and tamarind chutney. Pear-shaped, vegetable-based pastry was stuffed with seasoned potatoes and peas before being lightly fried. They were an alluring way to start the meal and bode well for what was to come.

Karara balti was the favorite of everything sampled. Balti is a type of curry; at King Restaurant the karara features a coconut and onion base. The small pieces of chicken soaked up the creamy sauce and each bite teases with a hint of spice. Full disclosure, we did request mild because Mand acknowledged even medium has a jolt.

Paneeer tikka masala is classic Indian fare. Paneer, a nonmelting cheese made from buffalo milk, soaked up the tomato-base sauce enhanced by turmeric, garam masala, chile, ginger and more for an impressive depth of flavor. There’s a lot of pizzazz. The addition of onions and green peppers add color and texture. This is a must-have; the protein can be swapped for chicken, lamb or seafood — for an upcharge.

We opted for another standard: butter chicken. This, too, is tomato-based with cream and butter. Even though it pales in comparison to the tikka masala, it didn’t disappoint.

Dal makhani intrigued us thanks to its description: “black lentils cooked for over six hours in makhan and cream and mixed spices.” It’s typically reserved for special occasions. Makhan is white butter and the result is rich, but not the over-the-top dish we expected. By contrast, dal tarka, made with yellow lentils, is considered everyday food, but such standards have their place for a reason: They’re comforting and enticing.

The only disappointment was the crispy naan. I prefer fluffy and chewy. Still, it worked well for sopping up the many delectable sauces of our meal.

The warm, upscale decor and friendly staff contributed to a fully satisfying meal.

King Restaurant Indian Kitchen and Bar

Indian cuisine for fine dining in or carryout

Location: 5660 Barnes Rd., No. 300

Contact: 1-719-424-7645; kingrestaurantcos.com

Prices: $8.99-$25.99; $16.99 lunch special

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday–Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Details: Credit cards accepted. Alcohol. Wi-Fi.

Favorite dishes: Chicken karara Balti and paneer tikka masala.

Other: Gluten-free and vegan options available.