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Love this place! It's hidden but I like that about them. The service is always great! The food is delicious. During our last visit, our bartender, JR was amazing. He gave great suggestions and was very engaging. There's Sir Davis here! I had one of the best Manhattans I've ever had. Thanks JR! I will be back soon.
This was my first time back at Ananda since the pandemic. The last time I was here, I hosted my birthday dinner with a party of 10. This time it was a quiet solo dinner by the fireplace. This remains one of my favorite Indian restaurants. The service was impeccable. I usually get the whole Goa fish (visited Goa and loved the seafood), but I decided to try something different this time and ordered the Chilean sea bass with classic naan. I also ordered meat samosa and butternut squash and carrot soup as appetizers. My cocktail of the evening was the pomegranate martini. The sea bass was moist and flaky. It was accompanied by vegetable biriyani and cream spinach (I think). I didn't like the spinach. There was also a serving of what tasted like a sweet potato hash and it was delicious! The naan was warm, soft and fluffy. The meat samosa was different. It was tasty, but seemed more like a meat pie than a samosa. The butternut squash soup is always a favorite and it didn't disappoint - rich and flavorful. The pomegranate martini was sweet and smooth. Since I left happily stuffed, I had no room for dessert. I ordered the Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake to go. It was okay. I highly recommend dining here for an upscale dining experience. This place exudes old world charm, and the staff is very attentive.
We arrived just before 5:30pm and were quickly greeted, seated and brought water. We opted to dine inside; however, the beautiful shaded patio was open with live music. Every item was perfectly cooked, well seasoned and came out hot temperature wise. Loved our first experience here and we will definitely be back to explore the rest of the menu!
Overall: absolutely gorgeous restaurant, indoor, outdoor, and covered patio seating, delicious drinks, incredible food, huge menu, attentive service, multi-stall gendered restrooms, expensive, no happy hour What a perfect place for a nice date night. Every corner of this place is beautiful. I loved their plants and decor and there were so many cute and romantic places to sit. We were sat right away early on a Thursday. We tried four different cocktails- Warrior, cucumber detox, madras mojito, and the Parinda. All four were delicious, but the warrior definitely stood out. There were so many options on the food and drink menus that all sounded delicious. They even had mocktails. All of our food was stellar. It came out altogether. We got the garam masala goat, bengan bhartha, jingha karari, garlic naan, and aloo paratha. The meat was all tender and the flavors were balanced. It sounds like they have a farm which is really cool. The price was pretty hefty. It was a $200 dinner, so sadly we won't be able to frequent this place but I can definitely see us returning for a special date.
summary: a total vibe of a dining experience. Upscale and definitely expensive, but up there with some of the best Indian food I've ever had. A must-experience in the area if your budget allows. For context: we went for dinner around 4:30, so the restaurant was empty and just slowly starting to fill up. The decor is very unique and quite nice. There's a lot of covered seating with outdoor fans blowing everywhere (noise wasn't an issue). The service was plentiful and attentive. Side note: there was no sign or indicator from the outside that we were at Ananda (unless I totally missed it), so just bear that in mind if you're looking for it. It's not hard to find though especially if you use GPS - there's only one building in the lot. Drinks - we had a total of 4 signature cocktails (only one picture included) - all of the cocktails are priced at $15. This is how I knew we were in for a treat. The drinks were all delicious in a way where there was a perfect balance of ingredients and a level of depth/complexity where you immediately know the kitchen/bar knows exactly what they're doing. Food - Unsurprisingly, everything was delicious. Cooked perfectly with a perfect balance of seasoning. The shrimp dish had just the right amount of bounce to the meat and the goat was super tender. We were also provided with some rice and sauce to complement the dishes that went really well with the entrees. I honestly think you'll be fine ordering anything on the menu here and it coming out delicious. Price - I do think it warrants mentioning because the prices do feel a bit on the steep side. Small plates and apps were in the mid 10s and above. Entrees were in the mid 20s and many of them going into the 40s per plate. That being said, it was an elevated, upscale dining experience and I do feel like it was worth it. The ambiance and the food really took things to a different level compared to just some other restaurant. If your budget allows and you're looking for an incredible culinary experience, I would say that Ananda is a must check out.
I love the food here! My favorite dish is the Goa Fish. But everything I've ever had here is tasty. I love that everything taste different too. Huge selection of drinks: wine, cocktails, whatever you fancy. Service is amazing. We were the last table and had to wait for our Uber to come, but the waiter staff were patient with us and let us stay longer even though they were closing.
My husband and I came here for his birthday. The ambiance, food and service were all wonderful. You can taste the quality of the food. This is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to. We will definitely be back.
Dining at Ananda feels like stepping into one of those rare food-centered films where a meal quietly alters your internal state. At the first bite of their savory samosas--crisp, deeply spiced, and unmistakably fresh--it was immediately clear this was not a typical dining experience. The flavors felt grounded and intentional, as if the food knew exactly what it was meant to be. As the meal unfolds, you notice video imagery of the farm: the land, the harvest, the work behind the ingredients. Gradually, it dawns on you that the farmers are also the staff. You catch glimpses of family life--children interacting easily, a young boy riding alongside his father on the farm--and then, moments later, that same boy darts across the dining room with an impish smile. The realization lands quietly but powerfully: this is not a concept being presented, but a life being lived. The space reinforces that coherence. Fireplaces, warm lighting, and a calm, elegant atmosphere invite you to slow down and stay present. Nothing feels performative. Everything feels aligned. Ananda doesn't try to impress. It simply knows who it is. The result is a meal that feels quietly expansive--and lingers long after you leave.
Ananda has yet to disappoint me! One of my favorites! The roasted broccoli is 100/10. It was a perfect blend of sweet with the tamarind and savory with the cheese. The butternut squash and carrot soup was just delicious. The beef short rib was so flavorful, the beef was super tender with robust flavors and I especially loved the cauliflower and corn smash. My server was so kind and very attentive. The other staff and the manager were also very hospitable and kind.
Came to celebrate my friend's birthday here. This is probably one of the nicest decorated Indian restaurant in Howard county. It's located in a nice and safe community called Maple Lawn. Service is great. They are usually busy so I can see why some reviews say they feel rushed. Our server was pretty nice. Food is mostly great. I love their Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter chicken. We ordered lamb dish that I wouldn't get it next time. It had little too much of the lamb smell. When the lamb is marinated and cooked right, there shouldn't be any smell of it. Rice and naan were great. I wouldn't mind visiting on a special occasions but the price is little too high compare to the quality.
LOVE this place!! I come here often mainly for dinner--arriving into the complex, the parking lot is very dark and not well lit, but don't be fooled, once you get inside it's well lit and has a nice fancy vibe. Food is AMAZING! Top recommendations are the Chicken Tikka Masala/Butter Chicken, Lamb Shank, Garlic Naan or Goat Cheese Naan and Fish Curry! Their Butter Chicken is the best I've had in the DMV area--so delicious especially if you dip the naan bread in the masala sauce--I usually request for extra sauce on the side. The Lamb Vindaloo and Beef Tenderloin are good too! Portions are huge, so expect to get very full. Service is always great--love sitting at the bar because all the bartenders are super cool. They have a full bar and offer lot of the high end whiskey/scotch/bourbon that you don't see too often in other restaurants. The owner comes around too and always stops by to say hi to us.
We went here for Mother's Day and First the ambiance is great!!! Live jazz in the background soft pillows along the bankhead. The servers were all helpful and very nice! The place was not loud even with a good number of kids around. And the food was awesome!My first son had a tiki masala he said it was delightful my second son had lamb balls that he said was amazing! The seasoning on everything was evenly distributed and overall Mild.My wife had a Peach Bellini and I think she loved it because she ordered 2 of them! Overall this was a Dream restaurant!
Wow what a hidden gem in Maple Lawn! Great HH deals here. I came for bliss hour (4-6pm) and we sat in the lounge area in front of a cozy fireplace, which was perfect since it was a cold day. The decor was dark but warm and cozy. We sat away from the bar so noise levels were good for conversation. We ordered the small plates: Pulled Berkshire Pork: very flavorful and has a subtle heat that builds! Pairs nicely with the polenta it is served on top of. Reminded me of a squash purée, which helped with the heat. Squash SamOsa: flakey and buttery crust. Loved this one combined with the chickpeas and dipped in the sauces! Kulu Kofta: slightly disappointed with this one since the lamb meatball was a bit dry even though it was served with a great masala sauce Kerala Cake: fantastic version of a crab cake? Very unique and tasty - definitely recommend! Goat Cheese and cilantro naan: fragrant and flavorful. Great vessel for the masala sauce from the lamb dish. Drinks were pretty and tasty! (White sangria and Malabar Punch) The servers came by before HH ended and asked if we wanted anything, otherwise they were not over bearing and came by a few times to make sure wee were taken care of. I would definitely recommend for HH! Good food, service, and vibes! read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Binda S.
Thank you for joining us! We're so appreciative that you recognize…
2 years ago
Always in search of new culinary delights, I Yelped up reviews of a few different ethnic places to offer my friend. She was excited to come to Ananda, because her hubs doesn't like Indian food and she loves it! We were seated immediately, without a reservation; I'm told if you go on a weekend evening, forget that. The dining area filled up quite a bit during our mid-week, midday lunch! The service is good, although slow. Having said that, I believe this MIGHT be cultural, and I also think it wouldn't hurt us Yanks who are always in a rush, to slow down and enjoy dining! I ordered a Mumbai Mule and my friend asked for some tea infusion. Both of us were very happy with our choices. We like to share so we chose two small plates: Meat Samosa and Kerala (crab) cakes. She also insisted on some garlic naan and a small salad. The samosa and kerala cakes were beautifully presented and so tasty! The salad was fresh and perky, and my only (tiny) disappointment was not enough garlic on the naan. I mean, you can never have too much garlic! I can see why this restaurant would be packed on weekends. The service is truly good if you are willing to relax and take your time. The food is so very delectable! Plenty of free parking, too. The bill for two of us, including tip, was about $52. More than I usually do for lunch, since my limit is usually a bit less, but I felt like splurging on a $10 cocktail. To me this was in the higher moderate range, IMHO. read more
3 years ago
Food was very good. Ambience was nice. Started with the Avacado Salad and the Burrata Dish. For the entree, had the Lamb Shank & Butter Chicken Marsala. (Spicy) capped it off with lava cake. read more
3 years ago
10/10 on everything! The drinks, the service, and the food! This is quality amazing Indian food. I can eat here everyday. The restaurant is beautiful and elegant. It's great for date night, family dinner, meeting up with friends. It's very picturesque. I could recommend this place enough. Every single thing I have tried on the menu is yummy and I have been here if 6 times. read more
Amazing experience at Ananda for earlier this month. They had a ore fixe menu that night which was 3 courses and pretty cool because you get to try a couple things prior to entree. The place is definitely a special occasion place because yes it is pricier than any other Indian restaurant. However: 1. the level of service was just 5 star level (our waiter was so knowledgeable on all the drinks and menu items with such detail, pretty cool) 2. The decor and interior was 5 star (it's a really large space and nicely designed) 3. The food was definitely 5 star (we got the snapper & chicken tikka masala with garlic naan and goat cheese naan all of it was perfect. Enough spice but not overly spiced and the flavor and cooking of the fish (snapper) was perfect Would go here for any special occasion. Definitely can fit large groups read more
Stopped in on Sunday evening for dinner. Chose to sit at small table in bar area in front of fire place. Each got glass of Oregon Pinot Noir. We ordered everything to share. Started with Gobinda, roasted cauliflower tossed in a lime, chili, and tamarind sauce, then Grilled Paneer, which was coated in a lime, chili, and cilantro sauce. For main course, we shared a Goa Fish, a whole pan fried fish served with roasted garlic, tamarind sauce and scallions. This was accompanied by Basmati rice and a vegetable curry. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Binda S.
Thank you so much for your feedback, Pete. We are so glad that you…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Binda S.
Ava, thank you so much for letting us know that we missed the mark…
2 years ago
6 years ago
This was my 3rd visit to Ananda, and my last. Every time I have been disappointed with the food. It is a disgrace to indian cuisine. We got the palak chat for an appetizer and it just tasted like the oil it was fried in. As a spinach lover who has had palak chat many times outside this restaurant, the taste was very unpleasant and we didn't touch it at all after our first bite. After that, I ordered a safe entree and got shahi paneer with medium spice. The entree came out, and it barely had any heat to it at all, let alone medium spice. Along with the shahi paneer, a strange green sauce was also on the plate which was foul in taste. Only upside to the meal, my friend did enjoy her cardamom murgh. The ambiance is absolutely perfect and romantic. However, in all these years, they haven't improved their food, which is a pity. I really wanted to like this place. Additionally, I understand it's difficult in COVID times, but our table of 2 was right next to a table of 5, and they were definitely not at least 6 feet apart. The table on the other side was completely empty and they could have moved the table over. read more
4 years ago
Always amazing food and service. No matter what you order, it is always 5 star. Worth the travel. read more
2 years ago
Incredible food, service, and atmosphere! All around great place and will definitely be back. read more
The ambiance is the reason to go to this restaurant. Sitting outside with the fireplaces creates such a romantic mood. I do feel the food itself was rather bland and needs to be spiced up a bit. They didn't ask for a spice level and all of our meals came out mild. The presentation is lovey and each entree came served on a plate with rice and a side. This is good place to take someone who has never had Indian food before since the meals were all mild, but for someone who loves spice I would definitely ask for more fire next time. We also enjoyed the naan, especially the Rosemary sea salt naan. The desserts and Masala chai were also very good. read more
4 years ago
This is the third time that we've dined here and the food has always been really good! Pricey for Indian food but worth it as the menu offerings are better than your average Indian restaurant. We had the Goa Fish - good size whole fish crispy & delicious, Garam Masala Goat - tender chunks of goat meat on a bed of creamy polenta with squash - really good! We also had Lamb Vindaloo - the lamb was tender but the curry sauce with it was not as flavorful as at some other Indian restaurant and not spicy as the menu says. Quite disappointing. The Dharamshala Duck was although flavorful, I think it was roasted a bit too long because the meat was a little dry. Otherwise it was okay. Our daughter had made the reservations & notified them of the double celebrations (60th birthday & 30th wedding anniversary). Noone ( not the hostess, nor our server or perhaps a manager ) greeted us good wishes. This was highly disappointing!!! We were seated in their beautiful terrace area but our table was in the middle of a not so distant other tables. This experience was a let down , hence the 3 stars read more
2 years ago
When I'm on vacation I'm usually still craving butter chicken, so when one of my friends wanted to go try this place I said absolutely! Ananda has a really beautiful ambiance first of all, and has a half in/ outside type patio concept in which you feel you are outside with the garage doors open but you are actually inside and they have fans on in the summer. I really enjoyed the chaat appetizer and the paneer chili was nice but it was presented as a big block of cheese essentially. I would've liked to see if chopped and served instead as opposed to feeling bad eating a whole block of paneer! Lol. The butter chicken entree was ok but the sauce was not as creamy / the chicken was not as tasty as I've had it before. The garlic naan however was great. I do feel the ambiance here is ever so slightly better than the food but if you're here wanting a nicer Indian dining experience this place is definitely worth a try. Our server wanted to take our whole order at once as he claimed the kitchen was busy, which was a bit off putting as I don't always want to put in my entire order and feel rushed.... But regardless I would recommend this place to try! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
The Food, the Ambiance, and entire experience was fantastic. Our server, Said, was phenomenal. He walked us through the menu with expert knowledge of not only how the food was prepared but on its origins as well. The roasted broccoli is unforgettable and the lamb shank worthy of praise. My last course was a cup of hot chai! Hands down the best chai I've had outside of India. I cannot say enough good things about Ananda. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Business owner information
Binda S.
Mary, thank you for your feedback. We are taking this very…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Binda S.
Kelly, Thank you so much.
2 years ago
5 years ago
Would definitely recommend their keema naan! Other than that, it's a very beautiful dining area. The food is pretty average. I was able to try the chicken biryani, the daal, and the butter chicken. It is a nice lunch spot if you want to impress! read more
3 years ago
A first timer at this establishment. It is best to have reservations because it is very busy. They had a nice selection of drinks. After getting seated, our waiter was very attentive. All of our food selections were flavorful and the spices were plentiful. The garlic naan was tender, a slight crisp, and warm. Try the Cilantro Lime Grilled Paneer, it is amazing. The area that we dined in was comfortable and had a marvelous breeze with all of the walls open to the outside. Is more of a $$$ place, but great for a special night out. read more
2 years ago
9 years ago
What a nice restaurant!! First of all, the name of the restaurant isn't on the outside of the building. Even so, it's a beautiful building. The inside looks like an old library. I assume the Christmas lights stay up all year. The various fireplaces make it nice and cozy. Even the outside dining space has fire pits to sit around. I love it! This was my first visit. We went there to celebrate a few friends' birthdays for this month. Our service was excellent. The food was even better. I ordered the fish curry entrée , which was so good. It came with rice and spinach. For dessert, I ordered the apple, Asian pear and cardamom crisp. It came with a small scoop of ice cream. Now, that was delicious!! I love the little cast iron pot that it came in. I wish it was bigger. I could've eaten 2 orders of it. Everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their meals. We will definitely visit this restaurant again and again. read more
5 years ago
just imagine how humiliating to be told "people like you should not go out" by the owner. I dined in with my two toddlers, and in the middle of the meal my two LOs said they needed to use the restroom. I took them to the bathroom, and when I returned to our table, the waiter was clearing our food and drinks--we had not yet finished, and not even asked for a check yet. The manager/owner of the restaurant, Vinta, came over to our table and blamed us for not being at our table. He did not apologize for the mistake, but he was incredibly rude, especially because he said "people like you should not go out" to me--as if I were less than a human being. he was incredibly rude and demeaning to us. The experience was horrible read more
Beautifully done indian dishes. Beautiful restaurant. Love the fireplace. Service can be a bit slow but i agree on the cultural thing- just dont come if you're in a mad rush or u may be frustrated. But go, take your time, have a wonderful dining experience. Looks like there's an outdoor patio area.. cant wait for warm weather to utilize it! read more
I visited on 12/18/21. My parents took me here for a birthday celebration. We try to vary our palettes which landed us here. I must say I was impressed. The food items we selected were awesome. The temperature of the food was on point. The presentation, as you can see for yourself, was on point, too. Let's talk about the ambiance which was top notch. This is a restaurant you want to take a date, if you are trying to impress them. Would I go back? Absolutely! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
This place was really good! Ate here with my boyfriend for my birthday. The waiter was very nice and everything came out pretty fast. Definitely try the Lamb! it was so tender and delicious. Highly recommend this place! read more
Outstanding!!! This place was recommended by relatives and I can't say that I have had a meal that was more on point than this restaurant in a long time. Our waiter Greg had been at the restaurant for several years and you could tell just how much he enjoyed his job and the food in recommending the top dishes and he was right on the mark. The restaurant was super crowded when we got there and also when we left. The decor was nice, and made the restaurant seem cozy. There were fireplaces inside and also outside where nice tables make for outdoor seating during a warmer season! Asked for recommendations and we were told the Dharamshala Duck entree was the best thing on the menu, though mentioned everything is good. I asked about the Crab Malabar and the Shrimp Balchao and he told me both were excellent. His descriptions made me want to order both dishes, but I refrained! I ended up ordering the Crab Malabar as it sounded more of what I wanted. My entree didn't disappoint. It had HUGE lumps of crabmeat. Almost looked like they had used almost a pound of jumbo lump crabmeat in the dish. The indian spices and seasoning were just right and the vegetables and basmati rice were excellent. I started off with some garlic naan. I rarely have anything but plain naan because the Indian restaurants that I frequent don't have other flavors of naan. This restaurant has at least a half-dozen varieties from garlic to lamb to bacon and cheese to mint and chili and they were freshly made to order and warm. I could have had a field day with the different types of naan! The other two people I was dining with got the Chilean Sea Bass, and she complained it was too spicy, but I tasted it and it didn't have any spice whatsoever, but was flavorful and tasty. The other member of the party got Beef Tenderloin in light spices and enjoyed it. We got an Organic green salad to share and it came with this light and delicious mint dressing. It was subtle and perfect! For dessert, Greg recommended the Molten Lava Cake with a scoop of cardamom ice cream, chocolate pudding and chocolate sauce. Yum!! Yum!! Yum!! I inhaled it, but I love my chocolate and chocolate desserts and the waiter, Greg, said it was his favorite dessert. The others had rice pudding, which was good, but pretty soupy and a mango sorbet, which she felt was good. All it all, an outstanding meal and I will be back most definitely, especially since the restaurant is halfway between my home and family, who I visit regularly. Can't recommend this place enough and I highly encourage you to visit and taste their culinary delights!!! read more
2 years ago
More info about Ananda
7421 Maple Lawn Blvd
Fulton, MD 20759
Directions
(301) 725-4800
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Visit Website
http://anandarestaurant.net/
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Ask the Community - Ananda
Is it dressy or casual?
Its a gorgeous restaurant! I would recommend no flip flops or athletic wear (e.g., leggings, sweatshirts, t-shirts). Jeans are appropriate if paired with a nice top.
Can you order off the regular menu on the weekends during their lunch buffet?
We no longer offer buffets.
Is it halal?
Yes it is halal, we have asked many times before. Some of the meat options are not halal, but there are very few meat items on the menu that are not halal. Most if not all of the meat is halal.
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