A little girl squirms in her seat, hand out reaching for a hot slice of naan bread to dip in her red dal. By her side, her gray-haired grandmother in a wrapped teal sari sits hunched over the table. Although frail, the grandmother picks up the basket of naan and slowly holds it out to her anxious granddaughter, affectionately eyeing her as she picks just the right piece.

At a neighboring table, a family savors a Saturday night dinner together. As the mother distracts her daughter, the father pulls a doll out of his bag, a big grin on his face. When he presents the doll she jumps up to give him a long and loving smooch on the cheek, squealing with excitement.

As students in Abu Dhabi, it can be rare to see family spaces, to be able to watch families interact with one another and appreciate their warmth in a welcoming restaurant. Salaam Bombay, a vegetarian Indian restaurant, offers both great food and a family atmosphere that many may long for in the halls of Sama Tower.

A long but worthwhile walk away, Salaam Bombay offers great Indian dishes that rival student favorites Al Ekram or Golden Spoon and offers sweets to finish off a great dinner. Try their butter paneer masala, a creamy dish perfect with paneer paratha, or their vegetable tawa, an assortment of fried vegetables. For those looking for an afternoon treat, try their mango lassi or the cold coffee with an ice cream scoop.

The desserts are both healthy and delicious. Try their kaju treats, made from crushed cashew nuts. They are like an Indian version of marzipan, colored to resemble apples or decorated to resemble little cakes. At just two dirhams a piece, they are a great, affordable snack. Get a few and enjoy them while finishing capstones or papers late at night.

Salaam Bombay is located down Electra Street toward Tourist Club, two superblocks away. It is between Fatima bin Mubarak Street and the Sheikh Zayed Tunnel, behind the Sharjah Islamic Bank and near the Honda Showroom on Electra, a good place of reference if you take a cab.