Sai Saravana Bhavan is an Indian Restaurant which is INSIDE THE LOTTE in Herndon at Elden St. When…read moreyou go inside Lotte, stick to the left and you'll see it sooner than later They have quite an extensive menu and everything I've had so far is awesome! I would personally recommend the Chili Paneer and Singapore Style Noodles. They're truly fantastic you don't even notice it's vegetarian because it's that good The staff is friendly, service is quick and efficient - call ahead and just go pick it up, couldn't be any easier. Especially if you're already planning on shopping at Lotte. This is a hidden gem!

This is really an amazing carryout/pickup restaurant that has a unique and tasty approach to Indian…read morecuisine. The cuisine spans all of India and even includes Indo-Chinese. The location is within the grocery store Lotte. There's no seating area, it's literally just a counter with a kitchen in the back. Yet, out of that small, humble, and clean kitchen they prepare some of the best Indian cuisine I've had. The pictures I took really don't do the food justice. The food was hot and visually appealing; unlike the pics I took. The colors of the food were actually vibrant; the palak paneer being a brighter green. The malai kofta was in a yellow gravy not the beige that my camera captured. The naan was steaming, moist and adorned w/fresh cilantro and garlic. The Aloo (potato) had a perfect peppery crust garnished with cuts of green onion. And the mushroom mafia had mushrooms and capsicum blended into a tasty Masala gravy. Everything was prepared and packaged well. You can order online, by phone or through any of the popular food delivery services. Don't think twice, this place is great at what they do and it's shockingly economical. They have some great bulk ordering options like the Family Package and a daily/weekly tiffin bundle. I hope they always stay true to their values, truly amazing food!

Our friends love this place and we finally tried it ourselves last evening. Absolutely delicious…read moreassortment of Rajasthani food in one big platter. It's all you can eat. There's a lot of different vegetarian food in this Thali. I haven't had the North Indian food forever. Glad I went there as I was able to try many items. I don't think I could a single item as my favorite as everything was very delicious. I got puri and roti to start my meal. It went so well with various curries in the platter (palak paneer, paneer masala, Chana masala, vegetable curry), the simple bowl of daal tadka went so well with the jeera rice. They also have kitchdi, so do not forget to ask for their Kitchdi. It's so good. Kitchdi is a lentil rice mix with lots of cumin. It's one of the comforting foods in north India. The ambiance was great as well. The manager just informed us they are going to start offering some South Indian food starting December 2025. I am stoked. Highly recommend this place.

This place is temporarily closed for renovations and rebranding. They expect to reopen in April…read more2026.

Our 2nd visit and a happier memory! Siri was our server, and we got seated on a comfortable table…read morein-spite of being late by a few mins. The place was busy on a Fri night, so highly recommend making reservations. Order included Bison Momo ($16), Blue Cheese Reshmi Kebab ($14), Spicy Nawabi Duck Kebab ($16) which indeed had a subtle enjoyable spice kick to it! Meen Pollichathu ($28) came with a very delicious Khichdi, and the Wild Mushroom Biryani ($24) continues to be a top dish at this place. Gulab Jamun ($10) was a very comforting dessert and a perfect way to end the night! Service was excellent, and food arrived within 15-mins of placing the order. Noise levels on the average end, including a rather loud table next to us where the dude was definitely buzzed. Will continue to be one of our favorite places whenever we are in DC!

Went to Daru on Tuesday, April 21 and caught their all-night happy hour. I was still able to order…read morehappy hour items at 8 PM, which already felt like a win, but the real surprise was how good the deals were. The chicken tikka masala with naan for $10 was an absolute steal. My friend loved the scallops, and I grabbed a tea for $4 to go with everything. Altogether, I had an amazing meal for under $15, which almost never happens. They also have a heated patio that's really cute, making it a great option even on cooler nights. Service was a little slow with fewer check-ins than we would have liked, but the space is cozy and the overall vibe feels more laid back. I didn't even know this place existed before, but I'll definitely be back. Such a great, low key dinner spot to check out with friends. Super cute and cozy and romantic place!

Great food and a friendly stylish updated Indian restaurant. The biryani was excellent as was…read morepretty much everything we tried. I recommend getting a reservation, but we walked in and only had to wait about 10 minutes on a Friday night so it was packed, but we still managed to get in. Nothing but good things to say

I've been debating for awhile whether to review this place when I personally had such a negative…read moreexperience that I left before ordering. I do think this review could be beneficial for others with a number of severe food allergies, but I want to be clear about how the restaurant tried to rectify the situation because my bad experience wouldn't necessarily reflect the experience of others. The reservation site requires you to input any allergies ahead of time so that they can accommodate you. I've used this many times before at other restaurants and never had an issue. In my experience, restaurants will be prepared with the allergy ticket at arrival. I have also eaten at numerous Indian restaurants before without issue, and I had a friend with me who had suggested this place because Indian restaurants are usually accommodating, in their experience. When I sat down at our table and mentioned my allergies, the waiter immediately said that I chose the wrong restaurant. This struck me as quite rude, and I was shocked because I have eaten at so many restaurants in my life and have never been told that. It left a bad taste in my mouth, but we continued to try to work something out. They were unaware of my allergens, so they went to print the allergen ticket and discuss with the chef. When they returned, they pointed to 2 items on the menu. Both of those had my worst allergens in them. At this point I was starting to get concerned for my safety if I were to eat what they prepared. After identifying those allergens on the pre-written reservation ticket, they spoke with the chef again and said they could make a dish from scratch. To be fair, they were doing their due diligence to rectify the issue, however, at this point I was concerned about the attitude toward my allergies and their mistake in suggesting what would be safe to eat. We decided to leave and went to Chef Geoff's down the street. I recommend you compare my experiences at these two restaurants if you have food allergies. Overall I was honestly shocked and mortified because I have never had an issue like this at any restaurant in my entire allergy-ridden life.

What an awesome restaurant... the food is absolutely delicious! Everything we ordered was…read moredelicious. Recommend starting with the Ragda Pattice and your main dish butter or tandori chicken. If they are serving scallops, order it! Whatever main dish you order, you have to order one of their house made chutneys. We really enjoyed the mango chutney. Also, don't forget the naan! We like plain or garlic. They are about a 5-7 min walk from the Capital One Arena. So, it is best to make reservations just in case you are trying to dine here when there is an event at Capital One. It gets crowded! Notable is the service. Our server was super friendly and. attentive. He made some very good recommendations, to include a glass of champagne that enhanced the meal.

Came here over 10 years ago with my parents and it left a strong impression on us back then as some…read moreof the best Indian food we've had. Was pleased to see that the restaurant is still around (and super busy). No reservations, but we were lucky enough that there were enough seats at the bar, otherwise I don't think we would've been able to eat here at all. So hard to choose from a menu where everything sounded so good. We got the palak chaat, bhindi ka lonj, gobhi mattar, mint paratha, vegetable pulao, gujarati lasagne, and chili and olive oil naan. Standouts were the palak chaat and mint paratha. The palak chaat was the most well-balanced dish that satisfied every part of the flavor wheel: crispy spinach fritters, some tang from the yogurt and tamarind, sweetness from the date, and a lovely savoriness. The mint paratha was wonderfully flaky and herbaceous. The other dishes were good, but not particularly exciting. For desserts, we had the mango rasmalai and gulab jamun. Generally love ordering gulab jamun whenever I can, and it really hit the spot. The cardamom ice cream was the perfect pairing for it. I can kind of see where they were going with the mango rasmalai and the different textures/presenations of mango, but personally did not find it to be that memorable. Overall, not as mind-blowing as I remember but still enjoyed the meal. Definitely recommend making reservations if you want a table.

I went to Pappe in DC for happy hour with a friend and had such a great time. I originally wanted…read moreto go because I saw they had a $24 butter chicken meal deal that comes with a glass of wine or beer, and it definitely did not disappoint from 5-7. The butter chicken was AMAZING -- super flavorful, rich, and honestly a really generous portion. It was easily enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day, which made the deal even better. During happy hour they also have $3, $8, and $10 bites, and $10 margaritas, which is such a great value. I tried one of the $3 bites and it was so flavorful and well done. Honestly sooooo good! It was the vegetable Samosa and it's soooo good! The whole experience was great and the food had so much flavor. This was my first time coming here, but it definitely won't be my last. It honestly feels like a bit of a hidden gem for happy hour in DC.

A true gem on 14th street!…read more My dining experience here was nothing short of magical. There is something special about a restaurant whose decor tells a story of culture and beauty. This place brings South Asian culture to DC and the evidence of that is the beautiful black and white portrait collections with DC sprinkled throughout it. See if you can spot it in the image I posted! I loved it Next, their hospitality was excellent!!!!!! From the time that you walked through the doors, you're immediately greeted. Then, as soon as you sit at the table, the wait staff is attentive to your needs and uses such care to keep your water glass refilled and your table cleared between meals. Thank you! Drinks: we were there for the happy hour so we both wanted to try something special. I ordered the Chai espresso martini and my boyfriend ordered the Pili margarita. The Chai espresso martini was GOLDEN! If this drink were to go up for cocktail of the year, it would come out on top. Might I say that chai is something that you can mess up and I've had encounters where it was watered down, not the case here. I tasted the fresh and real chai and the richly brewed espresso. This drink wasn't just a martini, it warranted deep conversation with each sip. My boyfriend raved about his Pili margarita and talked about how excellent it was to taste fresh mangoes, a burst of citrus, and spiciness. A beautiful culinary combination Safe to say that both drinks were our favs!!! I also had a glass of their white wine and it was dry and refreshing. Well done! Food: we ordered several dishes from the happy hour menu. Please note that they aren't shy of providing excellent portions. Manchurian wings: a star dish! The fry on the wings were perfect but the seasoning puts this dish over the top. Highly recommended! Vegetable samosa: flaky dough with the most delectable sautéed vegetables. You'd definitely want to try a few of these! Gobi manchurian: a beautiful dish for non-meat eaters and meat eaters. Similarly to the wings, these cauliflowers were perfectly fried and seasoned to perfection. Actually, at one point, I thought that I was eating a meat dish because it was so tender and juicy inside. Please don't miss ordering these! Spicy chicken tikka: the dish that makes you ask "what spices are in this? They're EXCELLENT!" Such a juicy and tender cut with the perfect blend of flavors. Order, order, order! I think it's safe to say that we enjoyed ALL of our selections and appreciated the modern twist on Indian food classics. They didn't stray too far from the beauty of these dishes but added just enough personality to win you over. Lastly, we ordered dessert! We originally went with their bread pudding which came with cardamom ice cream but the amazing host, Dave, surprised us with their special Gulab jamun. The cardamom ice cream was AHHH-MAY-ZIN (spelled how I need you to say it!) it was amazing! But let's get into this bread pudding. I have so many questions: who is the pastry chef? How did they master such perfect bread pudding? Also, why is this dessert SO GOOD?! Best bread pudding and ice cream EVER! And I don't say that often about much bread puddings. The Gulab jamun was also my favorite because it wasn't sweet as the others and I felt so satisfied taking bites of this with the beautiful ice cream they placed on top. It's a no brainer that I'm coming back soon and that I'm going to try their dinner menu next. Please make the reservations and go support this spot, you won't regret it!

What an experience!!! This restaurant is tucked away in Fulton. From the moment you walk under the…read morepergola and through the front doors, you are overwhelmed by the low overhead lights and candle lit tables. The patio dining area has multiple fireplaces and the garage style window makes for an indoor/outdoor feel, though it was a rainy day the windows made the room feel very open. The food!!!! Couldn't even take a picture of the Kerala Cakes because they were devoured immediately. The naan came out hot. The bacon and cheese naan was amazing and even had a nice cheese pull. The lamb vindaloo was very tender. Server was very attentive. She was able to answer all questions. Multiple people refilled water glasses. Being that this restaurant is farm-to-table, then even sell eggs, both chicken and eggs. Can't wait to go back!

I had never been to Ananda before. I went for a girls night and was excited because it's known as…read moreone of the best in Howard county for Indian food. When I walked in, it is gorgeous! I don't even have words to describe how amazing of an ambiance it is. It's Disney like with how magical is it. That is what I was most impressed by at the restaurant. The service was interesting. While my drink was never less than half full and the service was well timed for a nice dinner, the waitress would not let us order appetizers before ordering entrees. We weren't prepared and the she came back 30 minutes later. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and accommodating for a dietary restriction at our table, but felt pressured ordering. The food itself was ok. The appetizers were great. I especially loved the palak chaat. However the entrees felt small and average in taste. I did love my chai and ordered 3 of them, keeping myself up till midnight.

A delicious and delightful lunch at Commonwealth. I ordered the Butter Chicken Lunch Combo and it…read morewas a great amount of food: A portion of white rice, one garlic naan (cut into quarters), a bowl of daal (lentils, a bit spicy), the butter chicken (not spicy) and the avocado mango salad. The chicken was juicy and delicious in the velvety smooth creamy curry. I also loved the zesty salad and the luxuriously creamy and flavorful daal. My husband had the Yellow Crab Curry ($22.99). It contained a very generous portion of lumped crab and the curry was smooth and creamy as well. The curry came with rice and we had the option of ordering additional naan, if needed. The restaurant was very quiet for lunch and service was very attentive by the waiter and the Maître d' The restaurant itself is beautiful and has a nice amount of seating, especially for large events. The waiter advised me the restaurant served about 300 people for their Mother's Day brunch! I thought that was amazing. I also thought I couldn't imagine how difficult it would have been to go to the bathroom during such an event. The women's room had two stalls (and the accessible stall had a diaper changing table), but only one sink! Luckily that was not a concern during our lunch visit. Heads up, the wait staff will ask if you'd like a paper bag to carry out any leftovers, and they are $0.10/bag due to the bag tax.

Our started with spinach chaat. The spinach was crispy as it should be, and pomegranate and mango…read moreadded nice contrast. We got naan but the plain naan was betty than the garlic. For entrees one got the chicken vindaloo. He loves heat, but this dish overwhelmed him. Along with his sputtering, his checks had a nice rosy red glow. Our crab curry was a nice change. I don't see crab on alot of Indian restaurant menus. It was blue crab, albeit from Louisiana. Tasted fine though. Our other dishes were butter chicken, and chicken tikka marsala. Both were fine, but most Indian restaurants have that down. We got good service, enjoyed the ambience, and recommend you give it a try.

Went there for lunch - excellent array of dishes, each one with a unique flavour. The desserts were…read morealso one of a kind and exceptional. It is more expensive compared to other Indian restaurants in the Northern Virginia area, but you get what you pay for. Kudos to the chef (he stopped by to greet us) and the very customer service-oriented staff. Will definitely be back.

Bombay Velvet is a beautiful gem that is located in Reston. Upon entry, it is easy to immediately…read moreexperience the encounter that Bombay Velvet's creators intended for each customer, which in my opinion is an intimate, nice, and upscale feel. The decor at Bombay Velvet was absolutely beautiful. Then the setting of the light... it definitely prompts the feel that is often paired with a nice atmosphere/outing. As it pertains to our service, Rana made sure that our birthday girl felt that she was at the RIGHT establishment to celebrate life. He was patient, thorough, and kind, seeming to go above and beyond. The food, the food, the FOOD.... I was beyond pleased with all the flavors and spices that made up my delicious dish (the chicken tikka masala). It had the right level of spice, flavor, and juiciness that allowed me to devour my entire plate, very quickly. Then, the garlic naan... umm my mouth just waters thinking about it. I also sampled the nutty corn kebab which I thoroughly enjoyed. This first encounter with Bombay Velvet definitely made me a fan.

This was a fun treasure to find. Jalsa is located inside a gas station off of Route 40, in between…read moreEllicott City and Catonsville line. The restaurant is in the back of the building and has a few tables. I'm not sure if it's a sit-down and order type of place, but I ordered at the counter and also picked up my food at said counter. I had stopped for gas and saw the Indian place was just opening for the day. I wanted to try something from this place, even though I already had lunch plans. So I ordered a little snack of Papdi Chaat (as people affectionately call it the Indian nachos). It was refreshing and flavorful. Pretty hearty for a small treat. I am looking forward to going back and trying more dishes.

Hidden Gem for Gujarati Street Food!…read more Situated inside a grocery store, it may look random, but it serves great homestyle food. It was recommended by a friend--otherwise, we'd have never crossed paths. A must-try for Gujarati street food! We ordered the Gujarati thali and loved it. The chapatis were incredibly soft, and the bhindi and gawar fali were absolutely delicious. I just wish there was a bit more kadhi or gravy to go with the rice--to help balance out the carb load (I know, it's a lot to ask!). We also tried the dhokla, which was excellent--light, fluffy, and flavorful. Will definitely order that again. Ended up getting khichdi and eggplant curry to go, and I'm really looking forward to trying those. Next on the list: some of their fried savory snacks! Bonus: They also serve Indian-Chinese and Punjabi food if you're in the mood for something different. A warm, comforting meal that truly feels like home-cooked food--definitely worth a visit! Note: I would've loved to see the kitchen open--it's always comforting in small places like this.