In typical L.A. over-the-top fashion, Tantra owner Navraj Singh hired a studio design company to create an Indian restaurant unlike any you've ever seen. Hammered copper doors, iron and silk light fixtures, curtains of oxidized metals, murals of gender-fused beings, and black-and-white Ballywood movies shown on a giant plasma screen are just a few of the unorthodox props that vie for your attention. Part restaurant and nightclub, Tantra is one of L.A.'s new "in" destinations, though more for its scene than the cuisine. The gym-size building is equally divided: veer right at the foyer and join the eclectic Silver Lake hipsters sipping too-cool cocktails such as Tears of Ganesha and Shiva's Revenge while the DJ spins vinyl; veer left and behold Lord Ganesha, God of Prosperity, perched high above the temple-style dining room. A modern interpretation of classic Indian dishes, the kitchen eschews clarified butter (ghee) or heavy creams, relying instead on light use of olive oil. As a result, some dishes are overcooked and dry, while others -- such as the excellent tandoori salmon, lemon and chile scallops, and spicy black lentils -- benefit. Verdict? If you're under 40, and enjoy Indian food and being part of the scene, go.