Ananda

Reviews 10

VA

Vasantha Rao

I took my daughter there for Sunday brunch to celebrate her birthday, not realizing how limited the selection of Indian dishes were at lunch time. We inquired if we could order from their dinner menu and that was a no go. I ordered the lamb Korma which came with rice and lentils on the side which was not evident on the menu. If this restaurant has any authenticity about it, it was not evident in the Korma which is made by slowly simmering lamb in a rich, spicy cream sauce. The lamb was precooked separately and, a very bland, cream sauce was poured over it and, garnished with raisins and, sliced, toasted almonds. The waitress offered a choice of mild, medium and spicy; I asked for medium. If what I had was medium, I cannot imagine what mild would be like. Food cannot be any more bland than that, no matter what cuisine one is writing about. The lamb, however, was tender but flavorless. The rice and lentils were fine but, nothing out of the ordinary. My daughter ordered the Malabar Omelette which was equally bland and devoid of much character. The one thing she enjoyed was the Bloody Mary with an Indian spice twist. Service was good. If one wants to eat like the British in India did a century ago, by all means give it a try. But, please dont mistake this for any thing close to what real Indian food is like! Shame on the food writer of the Washingtonian magazine for embellishing the review with superlatives that are barely deserved.

---

TE

Teri Pozniak

IN.CRED.IBLE. Best Indian food I have had yet! I visited for lunch with 3 other friends, and we shared all of the dishes that we ordered - 2 seasonal squash samosas, 2 meat samosas, goat cheese naan, rosemary naan, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, and lamb dhansak. Every single bite was outstanding. I wish I had room for dessert, but alas, I was stuffed! Service was stellar. Welcoming, friendly, and on-point. My only suggestion is to put up some signage! It doesnt give off a very welcoming vibe, for a guests first impression to be wondering if you are even at the right place. If I wasnt with my friend who had been before, there is no way I would have thought that building was a restaurant. The interior space is design-heaven. So many luxurious textures, and the details just felt so rich. We were seated on the veranda, with the garage doors opened to the breeze with a gentle fire going in the fireplace. At the entrance there was comfy seating and a fire pit, that looked straight out of an Italian veranda. I will definitely be looking for a reason to get back to the area for another fantastic meal at Ananda!

---

RA

Rachel Hoffberger

From the moment you walk in, you feel like youre somewhere else - on vacation, perhaps. It doesnt feel like Howard County, although its very convenient to the highways. The name of the restaurant, while you wont find it on the building, means "Bliss" in Sanskrit. And it lives up to its name. The food is amazing. Clean, fresh, and mostly local! The owners and chef are Punjabi, so you know youre getting the real thing! I am not huge on spicy food, so I love that I can specify that with my server. But my boyfriend LOVES spice. The hotter the better. He also appreciates that you can specify the spice intensity when you order your meal, so we are all happy! The cocktails are amazing and the homemade desserts are divine. But you wont want to miss the Munta (ravioli) and the Crab Malabar! Cant wait for the next date night at Ananda!

---

EL

Eleven Courses

Ananda is both absolutely gorgeous and delicious. There is no sign outside, which is so intriguing and well, super cool. Every detail has been carefully thought of from - picturesque landscaping, to the beautiful outdoor area with a huge fire-pit and courtyard, to the warm and inviting bar and lounge, to the unique event spaces, main indoor dining area - with so much character –to the stunning year round terrace. Ananda is so well designed; it feels like a privilege to walk inside. The menu was just as impressive. Every bite was memorable, the flavors were perfectly balanced – I feel like I could really taste every component of each dish. Spot on presentations and wonderful, attentive staff. Highly recommended.

---

MA

Maria Charalampous

Ive eaten at Ananda twice now. Once for a weekday lunch and the other for a weekend dinner celebrating our anniversary. Im not an expert on Indian cuisine, but I can say that the food is delicious. The thing that really sets Ananda apart, though is the overall experience. The service is amazing. Ive eaten at a lot of great restaurants, but Ive never had service like this. For our anniversary, they gave us two glasses of champagne on the house. A very nice touch. I never once had to ask for a refill of anything. I truly felt taken care of. The decor is beautiful and the patio is a wonderful place to dine.

---

JI

Jillian Aversa

This is hands down the best Indian food my husband and I have ever had! We just moved to the area and cant believe how lucky we are to be so close to the PERFECT date restaurant. The atmosphere is absolutely magical with lanterns, fireplaces, and peaceful scenery from the patio. It really is like being transported to a vacation destination the moment you step in... outstanding service, unbelievably tasty food, and the most relaxing ambience... all without feeling kitchy or over-the-top. "Ananda" is our new favorite spot, and we look forward to meals here for many years to come.

---

ER

Erin Quillen

Their lunch buffet is fantastic! Ive been here for dinner several times, and enjoyed it a lot as well. I recently went to the buffet to try more items off their menu and wasnt disappointed. Many lunch buffets stick with the basics, but Ananda had several of their appetizers including crab cakes out. They also had an omelette station, which is a nice touch. They had a variety of desserts as well, and not just one or two like most Indian places for lunch. While the price does reflect the quality and uniqueness, the $25/person is definitely worth it.

---

DR

Drew Farris

Ananda is a hidden gem in Maple Lawn. No signage, without hearing about the restaurant by word-of-mouth, I never would have realized it was there. Its great for a business lunch, a date or a family gathering. Outstanding service, exceptional food - and a large variety of Indian cuisine. Polished interior, tastefully styled. Well stocked bar, with a great beer selection. Great to visit in good weather when they have the doors open on the outdoor porch, which was still comfortable and pleasant when closed, on one of the hottest days last summer.

---

AR

Arvinder Uppal

Thank you for creating the best dining experience in maryland . This is not only the best Indian restaurant in the country it as a unique ambiance that must be experienced . there is no other restaurant like this . The decor is created based on open verandah experiences of eating outside in India . with large fieplaces and comfortable couches and living room experiences . The food is also not your cookie cutter indian resturant food but the recipes are unique and creative and flavorful . Be ready to experience flavor like never before .

---

CH

Charles Ware

I took my wife and two friends out to eat at this alleged "restaurant" last Saturday evening, April 4th, 2015. It was an unmitigatedly disastrous evening. Management was completely nonexistent, and the "staff" ( servers, hostess, etc.) was completely incompetent; and disrespectful to guests. Further, it appeared that few if any of the servers spoke English. Although the Goa fish was eatable, it seemed to contain more bones than ordinary for any fish ever imagined. I will never eat there again, nor recommend it to anyone.

---

---