Though Namaskar is a bit hard to find — it’s located on the top corner of a nondescript mini shopping center at a major intersection in Hatfield — it’s surprisingly grand once you enter. Two brass elephants greet you at the massive double doors, after which you proceed down shiny tiled floors inlaid with traditional Indian patterns and designs, past brass lions, into an elegant and spacious dining room. Huge picture windows look out over the city, and soft lights give the restaurant a warm glow.

If only the food were as inviting. The wide-ranging menu offers a bit of everything you’d expect in an restaurant specializing in northern Indian cuisine, from curries to naan to breyani to roti, (plus many vegetarian choices), but I found it all a bit average. My lamb korma, though served in an elegant silver serving bowl, was runny, not very orange, and lacking in actual curry flavor. Perhaps this is just their way of preparing it, but I was not impressed. The chicken tikka masala my husband had was similarly bland, but better than my korma. The garlic naan was alright, though not particularly garlicky. And when we asked for tap water, we were told that only bottled was available. What????

One thing that sets this restaurant apart is the selection of “Indo-Chinese” food, such as hot and sour vegetable soup, Manchurian chicken, and paneer Szechwan. If I returned I would probably try one of these dishes, but Namaskar is not a place I would choose again of my own accord, unless I was invited with a group.

Service by the wait staff was decent, but the owner’s repeated visits to our table to make sure everything was OK were a bit overkill and not welcome after the second instance. The prices were also a little steep for what you get, and they charge extra for sharing (again, whaaaat??).