ell, here it is. It may have taken forever, but brothers Kam and Neil Dhillon have annexed the old Dairy Queen space on 8th Avenue SW, creating a full-fledged, sit-down Indian restaurant with table service, white Zinfandel, and all.

After what seems like an eternity of construction delays, Mango Shiva -- a new incarnation of the popular Indian joint -- is indeed ready for public consumption, albeit with a slightly shaky foundation: the menu is a truncated version of the original. The setting is gorgeous and the service suitable, but you’re there for the Indian flavours, which are hot, well-seasoned and, if you order correctly, fairly filling.

The stellar space, imagined and executed by McKinley Dang Burkhart Design Group, takes advantage of historical aesthetics with an abundance of dark, polished woods and a scattering of mirrors to temper and brighten it.

As for the menu, skip the western-style starter line-up of calamari and chicken wings -- if you want pub fare, go to a pub; instead, opt for veggie samosas with a soothing yoghurt sauce. Small dishes get an assist from a variety of sauces which add flirtatious flavours to rice and flatbreads. For best tongue-pleasing results, head straight to the entrée items that were well known at the previous location. A great curry bowl, the pork vindaloo ($12) brings together boneless pork and chunks of potato and onion in a deeply spicy chili sauce, augmenting the concoction with a sharp dose of vinegar and vegetables. While the surprising absence of chicken vindaloo cloys slightly -- it was a former staple -- other curry bowls, like the tikka, coconut, and Kashmiri, all served over basmati, fill the void.

In hefty, signature plate territory, try the tandoori butter chicken served with an abundance of absorbent vegetables and naan ($19). Another great choice, the tandoori arctic char ($19) comes with wild rice, mango chutney, and a fennel salad. Dishes can be ordered mild, medium, or hot, and we found the hot vindaloo beyond sweat inducing; even the brave will need to surreptitiously hit the Kleenex box.