Each week the Budget Epicureans select an eatery, take-out establishment, or recipe that we feel represents high quality and solid value. Bonus points are awarded for healthy options.

Perhaps because of its status as a tourist destination and college town, Wilmington boasts an unusually varied dining scene for a city of its comparatively small size. On a particular one-mile stretch of South College Road, for instance, one finds no fewer than three Indian restaurants. This past Sunday, the Epicureans took in dinner at Tandoori Bites, one of the more recent additions to Wilmington’s apparent love affair with India.

From the latest Bollywood videos playing silently on the big screen behind the bar to pleasant background sitar music, we decided that we liked the atmosphere. The décor leans toward the traditional, with drawings of sword-wielding Indian warriors and lovely dancing ladies beneath elephant-adorned paper lanterns suspended from the ceiling. Exposed brick on the interior walls, deep reds on the carpet and tablecloths aimed for the usual dark and soothing ambience. It was nice without going overboard.

For drinks, we passed on the array of domestic and Indian beers and opted for a freshly brewed chai tea that was worth the few minutes that we waited for it—aromatic and not too sweet. Unable to choose just one of India’s fabled breads, we opted to begin with a basket ($5.95) featuring garlic nan, prantha and poori, served fresh and hot with sides of an onion chutney and traditional yogurt. We were pleased with all, but the garlic nan was our favorite. It paired nicely with a yellow lentil soup featuring bits of carrot and spinach, creating a lovely texture to match the cumin-driven flavor and aroma.

For the main course, we chose shrimp vindaloo ($14.95) and vegetarian thali ($16.95). The former featured jumbo shrimp with potato and onion in a spicy, cilantro-laden tomato sauce served over white rice. For this one, we opted for the “as hot as you can” spice level available for all entrees, and, although we could have stood a bit more, weren’t disappointed. The vegetarian ensemble contained palak paneer (a spinach and cheese curry), dal makhni (cooked lentils with ginger and garlic), chana masala (spiced chickpeas), a samosa (deep-fried potato pastry) and a rice pudding dessert with a hint of ground cinnamon.

On the whole, we liked Tandoori Bites a lot. The service could have been quicker, but we concluded that this was their way of getting us to relax and stay a while. A typical dinner for two with drinks and an appetizer will generally run $40 to $60 plus tip, not an everyday college eating budget but not particularly daunting for a weekend out. Those looking for a bargain are better off with the daily lunch buffet at a painless $7.99. Like most Indian restaurants, Tandoori Bites features multiple vegetarian and some vegan options.

Tandoori Bites is located at 1620 S. College Rd., opposite Hugh MacRae Park. (910) 794-4545.