We came here for the first time during the week between Christmas and the New Year with some other couples after hearing many great things about Ananda over the last couple of years. The restaurant is located within the Maple Lawn community and our friends that live there are regulars. So with that, they were able to recommend their faves to us first timers. Ananda is an upscale restaurant as noted on their website as "Royal Indian Cuisine'. The decor is beautiful. To start we had the Palak Chaat (crispy spinach), Gobinda (cauliflower), and one of the lamb dishes. (I can't remember if we got the small plate or the Lamb Shank entreé to share as an appetizer but I believe it was the latter.) It was really good! To round out dinner there were a variety of entreés ordered from fish to lamb to shrimp. Along with two different flavors of naan. And great cocktails too. With our friends being known as the regulars they are the owner and bartender also stopped by the table. This was a great experience with excellent company and service all around. p.s. There is no sign on the bldg with the restaurant name. I guess IYKYK applies. No worries your GPS will get you there and it is certainly worth trying. read more

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we keep coming back because it is hands-down one of the best places in all of Howard County ! Anyone who says this food is bland, I have two things to say about that. First, you may have sinus issues? The moment you walk in this place, it smells wonderful. When they lay the plate of food under your face, the aroma is so unbelievably lovely! Second, you can request the heat level by way of spice in your food! I always order mine middle of the line. The ambience, is the absolute most exquisite of any restaurant around! There is not one that compares in the surrounding area. We've been to them all. I am so thankful for this place! Lastly, the staff is very attentive and willing to do whatever they need to make your experience happy. we've been to California, Sag Harbor, New York, Florida, the shore of Maryland, you name it... This place ranks up there! read more

Came here on a Thursday night and there were a good number of people. Ordered the chicken tikka masala for myself, and my husband got the lamb vindaloo. The tikka masala was good, but not amazing enough for me to make the trip out again. The lamb vindaloo was good enough for me to not gag because I DO NOT do lamb, mostly because of the smell and thought of eating a lamb. So that says something. Drinks were pretty good also. The vibe was nice and the food tasted good (not amazing though), and was a little overpriced for the portions and flavors I got. I've def had better Indian food. Honestly, I wouldn't take the time to come here again, unless a friend insisted, but it was good enough where I wasn't upset at the end. Try for yourself and determine whether it's worth your time. read more

Ananda - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

Every now and then I stumble across a gem and Ananda is worthy of that. Anand sits near the foot steps of my Alma Mater, John's Hopkins -APL campus. What a great experience to try upscale Indian Cuisine and to discover they are also have full bar with an extensive "global" bourbon and whiskey selection. Yes that's right, bourbon amd whiskey from around the world. From the time you walk in till the time you leave, there is nothing dissapointing about this place. While, I have to say, I could not find the name of this establishment on the outside of the building, I soon forgot I was looking once I walked into the front courtyard. I can say I did not dine outside because it was raining, but definitely a great place for drinks, appetizers, and great conversation. The inside is just as exciting with modern-worldly antique appearance. The bar staff were great. I only had apps but every was great. I enjoyed the lamb meatballs, spicy chicken, and samosa. By far, my best Indian dining experience in the US. I look forward to my next visit. read more

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Good food, I didn't go wow. To me this is expensive for what it is. Excellent ambiance. Is great for special occasions. read more

Great Indian food in the neighborhood. We went for a special occasion and had a nice times the ambiance is great, they had some nice decorations (maybe from Christmas) and amazing service. The best part is their food though. Their duck dish was from out of this world. It had Asian flavor to it and the duck was cooked perfectly. Chicken tikka masala was pretty solid - wish they gave you more curry to mix with the rice but it tasted great regardless. Forgot to take a picture of their palak shat but the appetizer dish was so delicious too! Very crispy and flavorful. They also gave us a side of rice for no additional cost which was a plus. It is on the pricier side, so don't expect your neighborhood Indian joint when it comes to your bill. But we really enjoyed every single dish and Ananda and recommend if you're willing to spend some $$$ for good Indian food & nice ambiance in the area! read more

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Excellent Indian cuisine. Delicious food, exceptional aviance, and service. However, menu items are quite pricey, and portions are normal to small. Naan doesn't come with any of the meals, and an order of samosa only includes one piece. It was a nice dinner out but not a place to come regularly....unless you want to spend $$$$. read more

Ananda - Chicken Jalfrezi - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

Date of visit 12/29/23 Rating 5/5 **Ambiance and clearness** Indulge in a culinary adventure at one of the many upscale Indian restaurants in the MD, VA, and DC area. This particular restaurant boasts an exquisite interior and exterior design, making it the perfect location for special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays. The restaurant has a bar area and multiple dining rooms, each with its own unique ambiance. During my prior visit, I was delighted to see that one of the dining areas was opened up (floor to ceiling door/windows) when the weather was favorable, creating an enchanting atmosphere. It's no wonder that this restaurant is a favorite among locals! **Food** Step into a world of exquisite Indian food at this restaurant! From the moment you enter, you are transported to a world of classic Indian flavors and aromas. I tried the berry smash non-alcoholic drink, and it was a refreshing start to my meal. For entrees, we ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Malai Kofta. The restaurant serves entrees as a portioned meal to each person in a plate alongside rice and dal. We also ordered Garlic Naan and Rosemary and Sea Salt Naan for the breads. The food is extremely delicious, but even though we ordered spicy, I felt like we were missing that extra spice kick. The owner noticed us and asked if we were missing anything, and offered us achar (India Pickle) which we loved. For dessert, we ordered Goji Berry and Cardamom Creme Brûlée which was absolutely fantastic! The staff and owners are extremely welcoming, go an extra mile to make sure you have everything you need and are comfortable making it an experience to remember. I highly recommend this restaurant for any special occasions or even when you just want really delicious Indian food. Its best to get a reservation read more

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The food and ambiance here is amazing. Overall the ambiance is very nice and would make for a great and potentially romantic date night. With a caveat that the restaurant can get loud. I've been twice and can highly recommend their menu and their bar, the last time I ate there I had some chicken tikka masala and a very, very good mojito. There is a five star (4 star?) rating for heat level when you order some of the dishes, which I found, well -generous. So a mid-level of heat was not very spicy at all at least to me. Overall I would highly recommend! read more

For the price point, the food definitely could have been better. We were there with 10 people and the bill was over $1,000, but the quality of food wasn't worth it. The naan was crunchy not fluffy, the chicken was in large chunks and rubbery, and the tiki masala and butter chicken tasted like an Italian vodka sauce. The service was fine, but honestly they were slightly rude. They scoffed at my REAL 26 year old Maryland ID, as if I was underage and pretending to be almost 30, as if. The resturant itself is super modern and hip and a nice place to dine, but in my opinion, there are much better places for Indian food, and for a bit cheaper. read more

Ananda - Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

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Beautiful ambiance, cozy fireplace, white gloves and tablecloths, but standard to mediocre fare with jacked up prices. Perfect for running up the company credit card. The appetizers are wonderful, however, as are the high end cocktails. It's a great place to impress a client or a random friend you met online. Definitely a sometimes restaurant. read more

This is not a traditional Indian restaurant. You might like it. I don't. The setting is beautiful. The service is good. But the food is bland. We had a delicious gobinda appetizer and very good spinach chat. But the main courses were not spicy. We shared lamb shank, chicken saag, malai kofta, Dahl tardka. Fir bread we had garlic naan and roti. Everything was mild. read more

I have a friend who is hesitant about trying new food. Ananda won over a new fan! We did 2 delicious dishes. Lamb biriyani and butter chicken. Plain naan to join in, and mild spice. She loved both dishes and said she would eat Indian food again now that she has 2 dishes to try. Service was impeccable. Food was served quickly and perfectly hot. The staff was attentive without being too much. Well done! read more

This restaurant is fantastic! Aside from a bit of a snafu when I called to change our party of 10 to a party of 12 (not allowed), everything was wonderful. The location is semi-hidden, but fortunately the bride-to-be knew exactly where we were headed, and the parking lot was roomy with plenty of free spaces. Inside, the restaurant was gorgeous, warm, and inviting, with lit fireplaces, and beautiful décor. We sat on the patio which also had multiple fireplaces roaring, gorgeous lightning, and a welcoming atmosphere. Our waiter was friendly, efficient and organized, and in no time we had our drink order and appetizer order of different naans placed. My Shrub Cocktail with ginger and bourbon, then garnished with a honeycrisp apple, was strong and delicious. I started with the beet and pear salad with goat cheese, which was fresh and flavorful. For my entrée I had the Crab Malabar, crab, corn, onions, lime, and spices and I was very pleased with the amount of fresh crabmeat. This dish was light and tasty, and very similar to a ceviche, I thought. Dessert was the molten lava cake with berries and cardamom ice cream, and the table agreed it was rich and decadent and worth the calories. The place was bustling on a Thursday night, and I could see why you must make reservations ahead of time. Our server was great, if a little too busy at times; we ended up flagging down anyone we saw when we needed things. Definitely more expensive than any other Indian restaurant I've ever been to, but the atmosphere, and food and beverage quality make it worth every penny. read more

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The food was delicious and portion sizes were pretty large, even though they look smaller on the plate. My boyfriend and I shared a butter chicken, extra side of rice, garlic naan, and tamil tuna and were pretty full. The waiter did say the butter chicken and entrees are portioned for 1 person - but if you don't have a huge appetite, it could be for 2. I also got an espresso martini which was delicious and pretty strong. My friend got the spicy mango cocktail which he liked, it was on the thicker side because of the mango puree. Walking into the restaurant, it was pretty humid but they eventually opened up the "walls" so it was just all open air and directly connected to the open patio outside. The service was great until the end. It took forever to get the bill, so after waiting for about 10 minutes, we just gave our card to one of the servers and he brought the bill. We noticed that they had charged for an extra naan (we cancelled 1 because it was never brought out). The bill already took so long to come out so we just subtracted it from the tip. But later, we realized they already added a 20% tip (we had a party of 6). I'm sure they weren't trying to be deceitful, and it may have been written on their menu or website - but we didn't see a disclaimer anywhere and our server didn't flag it either. So we ended up tipping about 40% for ok service. read more

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I recommend the lamb shank and the dharamshala duck. So delicious. Mo was also great service. read more

Ananda - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

We ate here a few nights ago. It was absolutely delicious! My wife had Chilean Sea Bass and I had Jingha Shrimp. Both dishes were excellent. For an appetizer we had the lamb meatballs and the fruit and nut naan bread. Delicious!! The server was polite, and was very attentive. The ambiance of the restaurant is excellent with a beautiful outdoor patio area and fireplaces inside. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Ananda is a truly fantastic dining experience. Given the size of our party and 5 small children, we decided on take-out. Two of our party had never eaten Indian food before and they were both immediate converts. We ordered their Duck, which is spectacular, Halibut, which was great, two meat Samosa, two seasonal vegetarian Samosas, a Roasted Broccoli app (fabulous), Gobinda (always amazing), a Shrimp Biryani, Murgh, some breads and more. Everything was delicious. This has become one of our family go-to places for special occasions. They have never disappointed. And, if you're in the mood for dessert and they have Cardamom Ice Cream, you must try it. read more

This amazing jewel is the absolute best place to not only visually soak in, the food is delicious. The aroma, the plating... it's all a wonderful experience! Hands down the best date night ever! The service is the best! Very attentive staff. read more

We are new to Maryland and was looking for a good Indian restaurant nearby. This is the second place we found so far and were excited to try out. But that was about it. On walking in , we figured it was mostly catering for western customers and not really an authentic Indian food place at all. The ambience was pretty good. But the food was just bland and tasteless. It's the first time in my life eating chicken biryani with broccoli in it. WTH. Lol. Chicken, broccoli, and a touch of rice(barely any) and they called it biryani. What a shame. Especially at this price range, they are merely using the name 'Indian' to attract clueless western customers. This would be our first and last visit to this place. We will stick with our regular which is nearby and caters much better food. Definitely won't recommend to anyone who is genuinely looking for real Indian cuisine. read more

Ananda - Chicken broccoli mix fake-ani. - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

Nice setting , excellent service, fusion Indian dishes, and extremely pricey. We had the Crab Khumbi - delish, also the butternut squash & carrot soup - excellent! The dharamshala duck had good flavor with no duck taste - for a minute thought it might be chicken :D The chilean sea bass was ok but I realized I did not like breaded sea bass , I think I prefer it baked or steamed - just my preference, so wasnt worth the $45. Garlic naan was as expected , goat cheese and cilantro naan could have beeb skipped. Would return to try other dishes but due to price point , would be a special occasion restaurant for us :) read more

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The food feels most certainly Americanized. Everything was tasty and the presentation was great. What was bothersome is that for the price you're paying for an entree, only certain ones come with a side of rice. You have to pay extra otherwise. This was not communicated by the server. It feels ridiculous given that the rice is included in other authentic Indian restaurants, and the food is so rich and creamy that you most certainly would need something else. The service was not that good. Our server couldn't be found for the longest time when we were ready for the check that one of us had to go up front to get it. read more

Ananda - a plate of food on a table - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

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Ananda served up a super sexy ambiance and some delicious Indian cuisine! First of all, get the naan. Get ALLLLL the naan. It was so delicious...I mean, "go back to the restaurant just for naan" delicious! We also tried the seasonal squash samosas and they were very tasty too. I went with the Shrimp Balchao for my entree and I was not disappointed! Indian isn't typically my go-to cuisine, so didn't know quite what to expect, but I truly enjoyed my dish. The shrimp were huge and cooked well and the spices on the veggies were really good with a little kick (I went easy on the spice selection). Suggestion - skip the salmon tikka. The molten lava cake was missing some lava, but still solid for the chocolate lovers. Overall, a great night at Ananda! read more

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The food at Ananda is as extraordinary as the setting! The service is pleasant, but could be a little more attentive given that everything else here is high end, including the expense. If you've been on Maple Lawn Boulevard, you've probably passed this large single story building without imagining that it is a beautiful fine, upscale Indian restaurant! The bar that greets you when you walk in is well stocked and as handsome as the rest of the interior, but we chose to eat on the veranda, which is in classic high end style as in India, and surrounded by a lush landscape that (thankfully) blocks any view of the uninteresting surrounding area. The paneer special appetizer featured great paneer, but the butter chicken-like sauce was good but uninteresting, so next time we'll try their palak paneer, or the Cilantro Lime Grilled Paneer. On the other hand, we'll probably have the incredible Tamil Tuna that we had every time that we return. The beautiful cubes of sashimi grade tuna belly surrounded by mint, mango, and avocado with a tamarind reduction and toasted sesame seeds is a perfect small plate that can be easily shared with a couple of people, but you won't want to. Ananda has an excellent selection of breads. The Keema Naan, which is stuffed with ground lamb, is authentic and delicious, and the garlic naan that accompanied Crab Malabar was as light, fresh, and moist as it was toothsome and tasty. The Crab Malabar itself is lightly seasoned au point individual pieces of lump crab with Vidalia onion, lime, and kernels of Sweet corn. Fantastic! Such an amazing experience wouldn't have been complete without the excellent challah bread pudding served with cardamom creme fraiche and roasted bananas that we shared, and the espresso that I had, and the chai that Crystal had, were perfect with it. Go for drinks, stay for dinner and dessert, we're looking forward to returning sooner than later. read more

Debated about there to do Friday night out. Have always wanted to try this place after many positive reviews. They quickly sat us even though we didn't have reservations. Our server was prompt and gave great recommendations. Food was unique though had classic Indian flavors. Would highly recommend and looking forward to our next visit. read more

One of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to. Atmosphere was very pleasant and up-scale. We had 2 shrimp dishes, 1 chicken and one lamb. I thought the shrimp dishes were the best, but everyone enjoyed everything. Try the Kashmiri naan; very different and fun. Service was very good. We'll be back. read more

This had to be the absolute worst Indian food we have ever had. It is also overpriced. For this price point I expect outstanding food. The chicken was overcooked and tough. The medium spice level was essentially no flavor at all. The $6 naan was not fully cooked and was also not freshly made. It looked as if it had been reheated in a pan. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. If you like traditional Indian food you will not like this place. read more

Ananda - Naan - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

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We came here because it was nearby the local baseball field, and we had no expectations about this establishment. We sat at the bar (for dinner) and immediately heard from a couple seated next to us that this is their favorite restaurant. They raved about the owner and how this is a family establishment- they treat all employees like family. We noticed the owner and waiters hugging various patrons, which only reinforced their statement. They have solid cocktails, a legitimate whiskey selection, and some decent (not great) wines. The food was great; we had several small plates and a bowl of soup. We also learned that they'll modify the menu and reportedly have an off-menu salad that is the bomb! Btw, they grow their own vegetables at a nearby farm and you can tell it when you bite into the food. Amazing. We'll definitely be back!!! read more

Great atmosphere, great staff, amazing food and drinks. Will definitely be going here again.

The food is fresh and fabulous. The drinks are excellent --try the gin and tonic. The service is attentive. We've been there five times, and it's consistent. read more

We've been dining at Ananda in Fulton since it opened in 2014. At that time, I wrote a very positive review of the restaurant and haven't really found the need to write another since Ananda has consistently delivered the best fine dining experience available in Howard County for 10+ years. However, our most recent visit made me change my mind, thus the updated review. From the moment we were greeted at the door to the time we said our goodbyes to our expert server, Said (who is the most welcoming and gracious human on planet Earth), the experience was extraordinary. First, Said brought us complimentary champagne to help us celebrate our anniversary. This was followed by the appetizer course, which included Kaddu (this year made with Delicata squash) and Kerala Cakes (flavorful lump crab cakes). Both were outstanding. Our entrees were also gastronomic delights; more exceptional than any other meal we have had at Ananda this year or anywhere else for that matter. These included the Dharmashala Duck and the wild-caught Halibut, both of which were masterfully prepared and bursting with flavor. If you have not been to Ananda, or haven't been back in a while, now is the time to experience Howard's preeminent restaurant. I really can't say enough good things about the elegant ambiance, the consistently delicious food, the gracious staff, and the always charming owner/host, Binda Singh. Simply the best. read more

Ambiance is gorgeous. Food was amazing and the service good too. 4 stars just because I find it strange that they don't have high chairs or booster seats. Very obvious small children aren't desired. As a mom of 2, this was inconvenient. It's also pricey and I would categorize this as Indian fusion. As an Indian, I can tell you it's certainly not authentic but delicious nonetheless. read more

Ananda - Lamb shank - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

*Quarantine Review* Ananda is filling take-out orders from 12-8pm Tues-Sun (they are always closed on Mondays. On Sunday, I ordered two meals and an order of Naan. They have reduced their prices just a tad bit to make up for not having the seated experience - super appreciated! The order taking was super simple. The time to get the food ready was a little longer than quoted, but not a big deal. The food was hot, packaged well, and all the deliciousness that we needed since we couldn't actually do sit-down with them. An added bonus - we had TONS of leftovers - apparently we don't eat as much at home haha. read more

Waited over 20 minutes and no server ever. We eventually left without ordering. poor service -- won't be coming back.

It was my birthday, and my bf went ALL out to make me feel loved! Ananda is one of my FAVORITE restaurants so I was thrilled he decided to treat me to a meal there. The food was truly spectacular (as always)! We started off with roasted zucchini and leek cakes! Made with their own oven roasted zucchini + herbed goat yogurt, spiced tamarind and date chutney, this starter is an absolute must! I also highly recommend their meat samosa! It's verrrry large, and they really stuff it with goodness. As for mains, the lamb shank was my fave. Just INCREDIBLE! It was herb roasted and served with chana masala, cauliflower and corn khichdi. Honestly, some of the best lamb I've ever had. Tender as can be, and the meat just fell off the bone. We were both shooketh by this masterpiece, lol. PRO TIP: request the patio if it's not too hot out! It's gorgeous, and it'll make you feel like you're in Secret Garden or something We ended up passing on dessert because I wanted to get ice cream somewhere else, but next time I'll have to indulge! For those of you looking to go all out, Ananda is a serious must. I promise you'll love it! Andddd you're welcome in advance. read more

I rarely leave reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience. The ambiance had potential, but I found the service a bit too hands-on for my comfort--personal space didn't seem to be a priority. As for the food, unfortunately, it didn't quite match the menu's promises. I left more unsettled than satisfied. As a woman I would never come back here read more

Friday 16 May 2025 - My mother and I experienced Ananda's excellent food, presented with aesthetic perfection. Sarah provided outstanding service and the setting was elegant and inviting. Ananda is a beautifully designed restaurant with a fabulous menu of their divine dishes. We have been dining here for years and they consistently deliver exceptional EVERYTHING ....don't forget to top off your meal with their rich fragrant chai. Exquisite in every way. Thank you. read more

High quality everywhere, with a price to match. Didn't realize it wasn't for a casual meet-up, but rather a more formal occasion, in my budget range, at least. read more

Oh. My. Gawd! Incredible experience. A must try for the area. Truly an elevated dining experience.

Very beautiful restaurant in Maple Lawn. Portions are pretty big and it's considered a pricey establishment. Their chai tea was good. We tried the meat samosas which were done well (one per order) and the fried spinach appetizer which was also delicious. I had the vegetable jalfreezi, side portion which was fine but very small for $15. The lamb shank was good and flavorful and we liked their soft naan bread too. Make a reservation in advance because they get very busy read more

Ananda - Indian Near Me - Fulton, Maryland

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