Catonsville's Frederick Road is often visited to get a McFlurry late at night, to stop at one of its many music shops, or as a last resort to get gas when you can't make it all the way to Route-40. Tucked away next to a hair salon and a bank is a hidden gem, Indian Delight. If you are not looking for it the restaurant can be easy to pass by. Painted navy blue with small, closed-off windows, the facade of the restaurant does not give what you can find inside enough credit.

As my friend and I walked in around eight o'clock on a Tuesday, it was easy to see that we were the only people in the candle-lit dining room. The two waiters greeted us with warm smiles and jokes about finding a place to sit. One of the first things I noticed about the restaurant was the aromatic smell. The mix of ginger, cinnamon, and curry powder made the wait to get food intolerable. Indian Delight has a modest decor with crisp white tablecloths and bright red napkins adorning each seating place. Paintings of a variety of scenes adorn the walls, making it a far cry from other establishments on the same street.

Indian Delight, which has been family owned since 1992, boasts a menu that has many chicken, vegetarian, beef, lamb, and seafood options. To start, we had the vegetable samosas (2 of $3.25), which tasted fairly regular. However, we chose to have the coriander chutney ($1.95) as an accompaniment. To go along with any appetizer or meal there is a choice of cheap and flavorful accompaniments. You can choose from mango chutney, spicy chutney, spicy pickles (choice of mango, chili, lemon, or mixed), or raita which is a creamy yogurt blended with cucumber and tomatoes, which is like the Indian version of tzatziki. Another way to begin the meal is to get an order of the popular mulligatawny soup. This traditional soup is made out of chicken broth, lentils, and yogurt.

To drink I recommend the mango lassi, this creamy yogurt drink comes in mango, sweet, or salty flavors. Not being brave enough to try the salty option I went for the mango. Tasting like a thick smoothie with a distinct tanginess, I would recommend the drink as a way to sooth your taste buds when eating the spicy food.

For our main course my friend ordered chicken tikka masala and I ordered the saag wala. The tikka masala is Britain's most popular Indian dish for a good reason. The creamy tomato sauce is sweet but not overly so, making it a good dish for those getting Indian food for the first time. The saag wala is made with spinach and is a favorite of mine. I would recommend ordering it "medium" on the range of mild to spicy to get a lot of flavor but not overwhelmingly so. Another popular choice is the fish tikka, which is made with marinated salmon. Entrees run around $12.00 each but the portions, though served with minimal aesthetics, will more than fill you up.

For the brave (or just really hungry) there are platters called "combo delights". These run around twenty dollars and include rice, samosas, naan, kheer, and spice tea. There are four varieties of "delights" to order: tandoori, meat, seafood, and vegetable.

After being stuffed on one of these or another entrées, make sure to have room for dessert. I recommend kheer, a traditional rice pudding, and kulfi, pistachio ice cream. Both of these are cool and refreshing after a spicy meal.

Indian Delight is located at 622 Frederick Road in Catonsville. In case having a sit down meal doesn't strike your fancy, you can order take-out by calling them at (410) 744-4422. The restaurant is open from 11:30-2:30 for lunch and 5:00-9:30 for dinner on Monday to Thursday as well as Sunday, and a little later in the evening on Friday and Saturday.