Nana’s great for simple, pocket-friendly, traditional Indian and Middle Eastern fare in a gritty atmosphere of neon, multiethnic crowds, busy sidewalks, dirty men and working girls. Well, that’s precisely what you’ll get at this rundown two-story corner restaurant. Alif Laila translates as “The Arabian Nights” but it’s owned by the people behind the Indian chain Bawarchi; welcome to melting pot central. Skip the depressing, one-toned indoor section and head straight for the tattered green chairs on the outdoor patio where you’ll rub shoulders with a large, predominately male, population of Middle Easterners and Africans. Ladies, be prepared to point out you don’t work in the neighborhood. When you’re ready to order, know that Alif Laila does a great job with its tandoori dishes. The chicken kebab-e-malai, tender pieces of chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and cooked in a tandoor, is simply delicious. The hummus and lamb dip comes with flavorful slices of meat but the chickpea paste is rather bland. Have the lamb with a healthy whole wheat tandoori roti or just a plain naan—they’re both crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. The curry dishes, such as the chicken masala and the butter chicken, don’t live up to what comes out of the tandoor: they tend to all look and taste the same. Alif Laila also fixes a long-lasting, good quality sheesha, which makes a great accompaniment to the Bollywood and Arabic songs blaring from the speakers. Ask your server to mix mint with the apple, grape or strawberry flavored tobacco for a fruity and fresh feel. Service is pretty quick, with managers constantly patrolling the aisle keeping an eye out for burned out coals or empty glasses of water. It’s a strange crowd, and this joint is no looker, but the cheap, authentic food make it well worth the effort. Corkage B300.