If I can stereotype for a moment – I admire Indian people – and enjoy their food.

I’ve spent some time working with Indian engineers in the tech industry, and they are some of the most hardworking, good-natured, and polite people I know, with strong family values.

Like the French, Indian culture holds some qualities which America is relatively lacking in. Unlike the French (or Americans, for that matter), they would never be so rude as to point it out.

Since several of the Indian engineers I worked with were vegetarian, group lunches would more often than not wind up at an Indian Buffet, of which there are several in Silicon Valley. Fine with me. Set me up with some Vindaloo and mango soft-serve ice cream and I’m a happy camper.

Unfortunately, I have probably driven by ‘Chili Chicken‘ on Summer St. in Stamford several times without it ever occurring to me that it might be an Indian restaurant. Their sign doesn’t offer any clues as to this either. I mean, just look at it – how would anyone ever guess that this is anything but a very American restaurant?

It looks like some sort of third-tier chain that specializes in Chili made from Chicken. Seriously, who wants Chicken Chili? No one! That’s something you eat because you’re watching your weight, or there is a mad cow outbreak, or you pulled the wrong meat out of the freezer to defrost before leaving for work.

So, it’s Indian food – with an American logo – with clues that it serves American dishes of marginal interest at best.

Not good.

But that’s not half of Chili Chicken‘s marketing dilemma. You see, they are a Indian-Chinese restaurant – which for me, is twice as intriguing, if even less knowable.

Chili Chicken is named after their signature dish. Unfortunately, they dropped the ‘Hakka‘ from the front of the dish’s name – the only clue whatsoever as to its nature. I figured since they were so proud of this dish they were willing to cloak their restaurant’s identity in it, I had to at least try it.

Besides being far less American on the inside than their awning implies, Chili Chicken is also far more tasteful, even calming – befitting any good Indian restaurant. The staff was Indian, and only reinforced my stereotype of Indian hospitality and polite, friendly, demeanor.

The Chili Chicken arrived promptly with a generous portion of perfectly cooked Jasmine rice to bed it on. I would describe it as an better-than-average sesame chicken – but with the promised ‘Indian Twist‘ coming from the heat. It’s a nice, slow burn that builds over time rather than jolts at first bite. I cooled it off with a sweet Mango Lasse. Yum.

My only regret after eating at Chili Chicken was not having come with more people and dined family style so I could have sampled more of their menu, which is full of all kinds of interesting Chinese and Indian based-dishes that promised a little something special.

I will definitely be back again to check out more of what’s to offer at Chili Chicken, and glad to now be amongst the locals who know what really goes on under the misleading awning at Chili Chicken.