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Aditi Indian Dining
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
5926 Kingstowne Towne CtrSte 150
Alexandria, VA 22315
(703) 922-6111
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
101 reviews for Aditi Indian Dining
Review Highlights
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"I would love to go there during their lunch buffet." In 13 reviews -
"My favorite has been the butter chicken." In 12 reviews -
"Naan was warm, toasty, and all parts yum." In 30 reviews
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101 reviews in English
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Review from Stacie J.
Arlington, VA
3/27/2012
I'd like to reiterate what Nacho C. has said about the atmosphere and the servers. This has quickly become my favorite restaurant in NoVA since moving to the area. The atmosphere is very cozy and classy. I love how they decorate for the different holidays (even Valentine's Day) to keep the place fresh.
The servers make you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. They are genuinely warm, attentive, and make a concerted effort to accommodate your needs.
The food is delicious. I've tried a wide array of their dinner items, in addition to the lunch buffet they offer. The only reason I've ever disliked an item is due to personal taste preference. However, I can safely say I've thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the dishes I've eaten.
If you are even slightly hesitant to try this place, I would say to visit during their lunch buffet hours (which I believe is somewhere between 11 and 2:30, but I would call for exact hours). The items they have to offer are always changing, with the exception of certain staple items like the Makhani (butter) chicken, that seems to be there every time we've visited. (And with good reason -- their Makhani chicken is delicious!) You can't beat their selection for $10 a person. If you go for dinner, try their Samosas as an appetizer -- (I get the "plain" version, not the Samosa Chat, because I don't like chickpeas). If you like variety, definitely try the Tandoori Platter at least once.
Overall -- this place is outstanding in its service, atmosphere, and food. We try to get there as often as our infant will let us, and are always greeted with warm, friendly smiles and conversation. We hope this place stays in business for a very long time. -
Review from Rebecca S.
Washington, DC
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Another stop on the tour of Kingstowne, now that we're a little closer to the neighborhood. Boyfriend had never had Indian food at a restaurant (just at the home of an Indian friend as a kid), and I hadn't had it in a little too long.
One of the first things we noticed was that it seemed like a good number of the people in the restaurant were regulars. The manager was chatting with customers about their families, servers knew people's regular orders, and the whole place just gave off a good vibe.
We started with some tandoori chicken wings, which were cooked perfectly and seasoned even better. For entrees, boyfriend had a shrimp coconut curry and I had the cauliflower and potato. Mine was excellent, but his was definitely the winner of the night. And it was just as good the next day when he ate the leftovers for lunch.
We finished the night with the recommended dessert of some fried dumplings soaked in honey and topped with vanilla ice cream. It wasn't what we expected, but it was really good. It was really small, though.
All in all, we were really impressed with Aditi. The menu is diverse, and we really can't wait to go back and try more of it. -
Review from Nacho C.
Alexandria, VA
3/16/2012
This is my fav Indian restaurant in NOVA.
Service: The waiters' service is awesome! They are so down to earth, friendly, and honest. The service seems consistent. And they smile! I don't see very many places around in NOVA where the servers smile genuinely. On Friday night, I placed an order online. Went to pick it up (the place was PACKED and all the waiters were working like a bee!), it wasn't ready (it was supposed to be), and I ended up waiting for about 20 minutes. Everybody is not perfect and make mistakes, but not many can make up for a mess up. Aditi did very well to make up for it. I left there with a big smile.
Food: Oh yuuuuuum! I love their curry and naan. I'm not very adventurous so I'm sticking with chicken masala and original naan every Indian place I go, which is my measurement to see if the food is good. And they are GREAT!
Price: Not bad for what you get. One curry dish is very rich, it can fill up two people's tummy.
Atmosphere: Nice and cosy, but like others said, it's kind of small. -
Review from Kyle O.
Lorton, VA
5/12/2012
Went on a Friday night with my mom for a pre-mother's day dinner. Kingstowne is always a madhouse on Fridays, so we weren't shocked when we had to wait 15 minutes. We sat at the bar and the extremely friendly bartender made our drinks. I am only 20, but my mom had a cosmo (or 2) and really enjoyed it.
We were then seated at a 2-person table in the cozy dining room. The service was prompt and efficient. We ordered the Chili Paneer as an appetizer and it was INCREDIBLE. The heat was complex, yet not overpowering. We devoured the dish and even contemplated ordering another, but ultimately decided to just wait for our main dishes.
I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and my mom had the Chicken Vepudu. The Tikka Masala was rich and comforting. Our two orders of hot and fresh plain naan soaked the sauce right up. My mom loved the Vepudu since the sauce is more on the dry side. I didn't care for it as much as the Masala, but it was still great. The rice that came with the dishes was enough for us, but if you're a big rice eater you may want to order more.
The prices were great considering the area and compared to other Indian restaurants in the area. Both my mom and I could not believe we had not tried Aditi earlier, and we cannot wait to go back! -
Review from Simran C.
Springfield, VA
5/14/2012
This is definitely the best (truly) Indian restaurant in the Springfield area. Everything I've had has been flavorful and fresh. Everyone is nice and if you have a reservation, there is no wait. The restaurant is nice and it's overall a great experience.
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Review from Ursula Maria P.
Alexandria, VA
5/6/2012
VERY GOOD! I was pleasantly surprised. It was my first time there. I had the samosa appetizer (I was there to nibble and eat with hungry friends) - it was large and delicious. The passion-tini was TO DIE FOR. I had to compliment the lady bartender before I left. I will definitely go back. Would rate it a 5, but my sample was so small. My friends were dazzled, some are regulars. Ambiance was cozy. Clean looking place.
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Review from Minnetta O.
Stafford, VA
5/2/2012
Great service. Our waiter was fantastic and the food is spicy and tasty. Their presentations are lovely and the staff is polite and cheerful.
They are now a permanent fixture in the rotation. -
Review from Bill D.
Updated - 2/16/2012 13 Check-ins Here
Naturally I'm updating my review, and it's consistently excellent. If you think it's easy to be an outstanding restaurant in Kingstowne, well try being an excellent restaurant with gluten free options.
We had gone to another restaurant that looked promising, and we'll go back. It's just not "date night" material. So, we came running back to Aditi. Coming here to me is like finding family, friends - people you wish you'd run into. Look around. Who do you see? Well, sure. They're people from Kerala, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. it's a remarkably cosmopolitan restaurant which is well reflected in the menu and by the staff.
Talking with Renu, he mentioned the Pappad were gluten-free. I'm pretty risk averse but I tried them and they were crisp, peppery and wonderful. Since he never steers me wrong, it's just a delight to enjoy something crispy and fiery before dinner.
I'm still in Mango Margarita mode from vacation in Mexico. The Aditi version is more colorful and stylized. It's a more sophisticated approach and a bit less "Club Tropicana". Very nice. I had two. Dean had two. Obviously, we deplored them.
The Tawa Shrimp were delicate, just enough fire to put you on notice, but not so much to threaten you with culinary deportation. The presentation emphasizes the organic with fresh peppers and onions.
Having previously humiliated myself with dishes beyond my abilities, I went for a simple chicken biriani tonight. Really very nice. While this is described as fried rice, it's not as you'd see (and properly fear) in a chinese-american restaurant. This was light, flavorful and quite jasmine basmati. The raita was perfect with it and the chicken and whole egg inside. The spices and flavors were exactly what I hoped for - the strong sense of lemon, saffron and peppers. My only concern was the vast amount of food. Dean and I could easily have split this entree and been satisfied. Considering the options of Chicken, Lamb, Shrimp or Vegetable - it's a bargain meal.
For dessert, we tried the pistachio ice cream which was light, cleverly display in slices and a surprisingly elegant touch on a spicy meal.
We consistently experience incredibly personalized service with excellent food. Now that I know the Pappad are gluten free? Oh dear. I'll have to commit many more hours in the gym. But it's so worthwhile for proper Indian cuisineListed in: Muffin Tops, Rumble in the Tumble (or…
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/22/2011
Wow. Thursday night is *the* night to go. It's really quiet, very easy going and a complete change… Read more »
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Review from Emily J.
Alexandria, VA
4/30/2012
For a first-time Indian food visit, this was pretty good.
Was here with a group for a friend's birthday. The staff was very accommodating with people coming in late and waiting for us. The menu is extensive, so there should be something for everyone. I am not a fan of super spicy food, and there was still plenty for me to choose from. I ordered the basmati rice with lamb, which had a kick to it without being overbearingly spicy and drowning out the other flavors. It was very good and a ginormous portion, enough for lunch and dinner the next day.
The downside, however, was that the server/bartender/jack of all trades didn't quite known how to bartend. I guess he probably doesn't get gaggles of girls wanting chilled patron and lemon drops very often. He didn't chill any of the liquor, even when we asked, and I saw him remake my friend's martini twice. But he tried!
They were willing to split the bill for us by seat, which was nice. And they let us stay past closing time at 10. We didn't quite realize they closed that early until about 10:15, but they let us stay and hang out. Looking forward to going back and trying some other dishes on the menu, and their brunch buffett! -
Review from Ashley V.
Alexandria, VA
2/25/2012
Aditi was my first experience with Indian in the States. Previously, I had it while in Scotland, and loved it! I took along my husband so that he could also try Indian.
The restaurant is in a strip mall, and is very modern inside. The seating is a little closer than I would have liked, however. Our server was very attentive, and did a fabulous job.
We both ordered drinks to start. He had a gin and tonic, and I went with the more adventurous Curry Leaf Martini. The Curry Leaf Martini was the highlight of our trip there. It was spicy, yet sweet - very bizarre. We will back again just for this! I highly recommend ordering this while you're there.
The food was probably our least favorite part, unfortunately. My husband ordered the Tandoori Chicken, and I had the Vegetable Kadai. The reason I give it three stars, despite not enjoying our food, is because I fear that we have just ordered the wrong thing. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying the Chicken Tikka Masala around us. The Vegetable Kadai was rather mushy, and just not very tasty. I should have stuck with the traditional vegetarian curry. My husband didn't like the bones in the chicken and didn't find the meal filling. Again, I really think this may have been just a matter of us ordering the wrong things.
The garlic naan wasn't the best I've had. It was rather crunchy, and a little burnt on one side. I like my naan to be fluffy.
Again, service was fabulous, and the martini was good. We may be back in the future to try something else. All in all, for our two meals and drinks, it was around $50. -
Review from kris l.
Washington, DC
2/11/2012
I went here on a Saturday around noon -- ample seating and very helpful and responsive staff. Friend had samosas and remarked that they were likely the best she'd ever had!
Here's the rub: I like spicy food. Love jalapenos, hot sauce, sriracha, the works. I ordered the veggie vindaloo here and it wasn't just spicy -- it was nuclear. It was so hot that the flavor was overpowered. What I could taste was divine, but the spice. THE SPICE.
Would try again but might order something different. Or ask for something to cut. that. heat.
Extra pro: LOTS OF PARKING. -
Review from Rachel L.
Coronado, CA
4/22/2012
Delicious curry. Can't beat the weekend buffet price.
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Review from melissa b.
Arlington, VA
5/4/2012
Aditi is by far the best indian restaurant in the area. The food is excellent- very authentic, the staff is attentive, and the atmosphere is pleasant. The menu is very diverse and the portions are quite large.
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Review from D. K.
Vienna, VA
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ate here for dinner after a few rounds at Top Golf across the street. Quaint, modern atmosphere and prices are reasonable. We waited long for our food, but I'm sure it's because they make everything to order. I would rather wait a few extra minutes than eat uncooked chicken.
Ordered the basics. Tandoori Chicken was flavorful. There was something different about the marinade and the breast meat was tender. Garlic naan came fresh, right out of the clay oven. Raita (Yogurt/Cucumber), was too watery for my liking but flavor was decent. Baingan Bharta (Eggplant), was delish. Some places mash the eggplant to a paste, but Aditi leaves chucks of eggplant for the eye to see. We had one more dish, but I can't remember what it was. If I can't remember, then it probably isn't worth writing about.
If I lived closer, I would eat here again. -
Review from vanessa g.
Washington, DC
11/29/2011
Hands down the place EVER! It's got everything you want. Fantastic service, amazing food, nice atmosphere, and reasonable price. I have been going here over a year now & never have I been disappointed . The waiters know me by name already (kinda sad because i'm sure i'm putting their kids through college), I never have to wait for a table even on a busy weekend, and their menu is delectable.
Let me start off with the lunch buffet. This is perfect for those trying to get acquainted with indian fare. This is much better quality buffet than most other places i've been. It usually includes several meats with varying spice levels, plenty of rice and bread and there is always a vegetarian option. Often there will be salad & dessert.
For an appetizer I usually get their samosa chaat, which is a hearty mixture of smaosa chunks paired with a flavorful chickpea salad. The regular samosa is a safe bet. My favorite appetizer is the mushroom tandoori, it is warm and drizzled in a cilantro sauce that will have you licking the plate.
For the entree I am a true believer of the Paneer (cheese cubes) Makhani. It is bathing in a tomatoey sauce of goodness with fenugreek and a slight hint of spiciness. This is perfect to dip naan bread in. The paneer masala is very similar except not spicy at all. My husband always gets the lamb rogan josh which is tender chunks of lamb served with al the basmati rice you could want. I've also tried the chicken Korma, not bad at all.
For dessert, the kheer (rice pudding) makes my heart skip a beat. I don't care how full I am after a meal, I must have this. It is served cold with a bit of cardamom and garnished with nuts. I would do anything for that rice pudding.
Service is outstanding. No matter how busy it has been I can rest assure that my meal will arrive without much wait, my glass is always full and the courtesy is exceptional.
Price: for 2 people including an appetizer, 2 sides of naan AND a smal dessert it's about $36, thats pretty fantastic.
I absolutely love this place and if you try it there is no way you will be disappointed. -
Review from Will C.
11/11/2011
Positive:
- Lamb Korma was delicious.
- Naan was warm, toasty, and all parts yum
Negative:
- My clothes smell like curry
- Service was kind of spotty
I would definitely come back. Some of the best Indian food I've ever had. -
Review from Mere M.
Falls Church, VA
8/28/2011
I'm giving the place a one because the foods is just mediocre. All of the basic outlines of indian food are there- basmati rice, naan, curries, chickens, kabobs, etc etc.
Lamb was hard not tender.
Basmati rice was regular commercialized basmati rice. zero flavor.
Calamari was mushy and not crispy.
Tiger Prawn Shrimpy- PUNY. Tiger prawns are supposed to be GIANT shrimp that too was flavorless and mushy.
Everything was bland and virtually tasteless.
The service was good, drink menu extensive, decor interesting but food poor. I wish I could find something good to say but there isn't much beyond that.
Bombay Curry Company is the TAKER for Indian food in Alexandria,Va
( And no I'm not a BCC worker or manager) Just a lover of quality Indian Cuisine.
I wouldn't waste my money here again.
As my father said, "The food tasted like microwaves leftovers." -
Review from Razberry B.
Washington, DC
11/22/2011
As a person of South Asian background I am extremely picky about my Indian food, but never the less we decided to give Aditi a chance based on a recommendation from a friend. We were not disappointed.
The atmosphere is modern and looks like they renovated the restaurant space to make it look more trendy vs the standard Indian restaurant.
For a Sunday night dinner the restaurant was not full, but had a steady crowd of people (looked like quite a few regulars) that kept on coming in and out.
For food we started off with Kerala Mojitos that were great not too sweet or strong, samosa chaat that was perfectly spiced and well cooked chick peas, and then for dinner we did the Tandoori platter (meat sampler) and the chicken biryani. I am not a big fan of tandoori chicken, but this chicken was well seasoned, moist, and probably one of the best I have ever had, and so was the kabob for an Indian restaurant. The biryani was good in that it had egg, cashews and was not the same old rice dish and was well cooked.
The only drawback of the dining experience was the wait to be seated, this restaurant really needs to put a hostess at the front of the restaurant because the waiters can't see you when you enter. -
Review from Lyn L.
Springfield, VA
9/4/2011
Everything was wonderful about our dining experience! We came for an early dinner and service and food quality exceeded our expectations. We had a combination of carnivores and vegetarians as part of our group. The servers were very patient and attentive. Instead of samosa chat, we asked for full samosas and they were quite tasty and filling. The carnivores enjoyed the aditi meat platter! Dinner included butter chicken, saag with paneer, cauliflower with potatoe, and of course the meat dish! The raiti was excellent and they gave us a big bowl with dinner.
Definitely recommend the place! -
Review from Bien H.
Springfield, VA
12/3/2011 1 photo
Their best dish is the Goat Curry and the Chicken Appetizer.
Portion is huge, meat is soft and you can dipping the bread/rice into the curry sauce..yum!
However, their vegetarian curry is meh. My aunt ordered it and she gave up the whole dish because it was so bad.
The Beef Curry was so so to me, very meaty but flavorless, but my uncle thought it was good so might be it was just not my taste.
Their service is good too. -
Review from Kat S.
Springfield, VA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food is amazing.
Staff is amazing.
Drinks are amazing.
'Nuff said. -
Review from Toni V.
Alexandria, VA
1/17/2012
The atmosphere was trendy, but the service was friendly and buffet was on point with flavor and the variety of what they offered. Loved their lentils, goat curry, and butter chicken.. Tried a few of the indian buffets in the NOVA area and so far this is my #1.
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Review from Amy P.
Alexandria, VA
7/13/2011
By far, my favorite place to eat in Kingstowne.
The food is always amazing. Tried almost every appetizer and have yet to be disappointed. The samosa chat is my fav - I love cheese!
Tried many of their main dishes from Chicken tikka masala, vindaloo and lamb rogan josh - all amazing.
The naan is delish and my meal is always accompanied by the mumbai ginger crush. Never thought I'd love curry in my martini.
Great setting, friendly service and never a long wait. Aditi is a must try. -
Review from Jarret K.
Alexandria, VA
11/30/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Overall this is a good place in Kingstown to grab some Indian food. The naan bread was the thinnest naan I've ever eaten though. Not chewy at all and didn't hold up well for scooping up some curry or anything else on mine or my fiance's plate! Taste was good, and they had a nice garlic version too.
Decor is nice - simple, you're always going to walk into an Indian place and be slightly overwhelmed by the scents of the strong spices. Place looked clean and didn't feel like a candidate for restaurant impossible any time soon.
The curry she had was great, simple red curry, nice and spicy, lots of bold flavor.
I had a tandoori sampler platter of sorts which was a great way to sample a little of their main tandoori dishes. My only wish would've been a larger bowl of lentils!
The customer service was good. We did sit for bit before someone came to take our drink order, but after that service was very well executed. Dinner was prompt, our bottle of white wine was nice and chilly, and overall we had a very enjoyable experience.
This place is located directly across from the movie theatre in Kingstowne and parking is pretty abundant. I'd imagine this would be a great lunch spot if you worked close enough... -
Review from Jen O.
Alexandria, VA
8/15/2011
I've gone here at least 6 times, for lunch and dinner. There aren't too many Indian places in the Kingstowne area, this would be my preference out of the local places. Nice decor and the servers are friendly.
Things I've tried...the lamb curry (the lamb was a little dry but the sauce was good), goat curry (good), chicken tikka masala (not the best I've ever had but very good), tandoori chicken (very good), butter chicken (very good), and several creamy vegetable dishes that I can't remember the name of but they are also very good (spinach, cauliflower, etc). Sometimes the chicken is a little dry, sometimes it's not. The naan is good.
If you are going for the first time and want to try it, try going for the lunch buffet. For about $12 (something like that), it's a nice bargain. It's not a ton of variety but they usually have a nice selection - chicken tikka masala or butter chicken, lamb or goat or something, some vegetable dishes, and a dessert (carrot pudding or something). I liked all of it. -
Review from Raj N.
Alexandria, VA
2/5/2012
Great Indian food at an affordable price! Great food--try the Chicken Makhani and the garlic naan.
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Review from JOHN C.
Alexandria, VA
7/19/2011
OK so let me just say the only reason why i didn't give them 5 stars is because the fucking tables are so fucking close to each other. like damn i can fucking reach to the next table and eat there fucking food.
went there once weeks ago and ordered from there menu and it was hella good.
went there this Saturday and had there buffet. shit wasn't much to pick from but i gotta say hands down was the best Indian i ever had. there chicken and goat was the shit.
will go back again . again . again . -
Review from Lia M.
5/24/2011
I was not really expecting much from Aditi, but it was quite delicious - 3.5 stars. Very modern inside, with dim lighting and lively Indian music. Service was friendly, though we did have to wait about ten minutes before our server came by. I found the two-tops a bit crowded for two people and I cannot understand why Aditi insists on stuffing tables where there should be a bit of space - you are definitely closer to your neighbor than you need to be, which made for awkward serving. If they take reservations or call-ahead, you should do so, otherwise there will be a wait.
We shared naan, chicken tikka masala, and a lamb and lentil dish. Both entrée dishes were medium spicy, but we could have gone for the hot. Chicken tikka masala was fine, and as usual, I enjoy dipping my naan in the sauce (overall, it is not really my favorite dish though). The lamb and lentil dish was flavorful, and the lamb was tender. Naan was good as well. I did not see any pappadum on the menu, which is too bad, because I love it with the tamarind sauce. My cardamom tea was fine, though it did require the addition of a sugar packet, and I would have preferred chai, but they do not offer it. The adult beverages looked good, but we did not partake. Perhaps another time. -
Review from Marivic L.
Alexandria, VA
6/11/2011 5 Check-ins Here
My co-workers and I are always searching for new places to add to our lunch list.
Aditi was a nice surprise. This place is really nicely decorated, especially since it has a buffet at lunch. I know, I know, I shouldn't make assumptions.
Anyway, it the selection was all about quality, not quantity - as it is not a huge buffet. I tried quite a few things, but the butter chicken was my fave - perfectly cooked chicken and the best sauce. I think I could subsist on the sauce and garlic naan for quite a few days. Aditi gets extra points for the attentive waitstaff.
If you're near the Kingstowne/Springfield area, do yourself a favor and stop by Aditi for great food at a surprisingly low price. -
Review from Chris K.
Alexandria, VA
1/2/2012
The chicken Korma curry is outstanding! I highly recommend adding some naan to dip in the curry sauce. The restaurant has an upper scale appearance to it, which was initially unexpected comparing to other Indian restaurants.
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Review from Jason P.
Alexandria, VA
3/29/2012
Came here on a recommendation from a friend from Kerala. Their strong suit is the cuisine from Kerala-ask the waiter what dishes are available from that region. Some of the best Indian food I've had in the area.
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Review from Cheryl T.
Washington, DC
6/2/2011
Let me start by saying that in my old neighborhood, there was a little Indian restaurant that had the best northern Indian food at ridiculously low prices ($10 feeds 2 people - 2 curries, rice, samosas). I wanted to cry when I moved away because where would I ever find such good, cheap Indian food ever again?
Hello Aditi.
The curries here are so flavorful and rich. First taste and it was over. O(ral)gasm with a capital "O". Th only reason Aditi gets 4 stars is because it's not as reasonably priced as my old curry house and the basmati rice is not spiced (previous place cooked their rice with cloves and bay leaves - sooooo much more aromatic). But the service was impeccable and the complex layering of flavors in the curries and samosas - phenomenal. Yay! I'm truly a fan.
** Ordered the saag paneer (which is usually a rather "bland" dish so for me to say uber tasty and flavorful means a lot). Also ordered the chicken korma.... creamy and rich and tasty... Mmmmmmm!!! -
Review from Brian H.
Fairfax, VA
5/28/2011
Came here tonight with my Wife, and we enjoyed ourselfves here! I ordered the Lamb Biriani, and my Wife ordered the Baked Eggplant. We also ordered two side of the Garlic Naan Bread which we could not stop eating, it was that good!
Our food arrived, and everything looked wonderful! Even though I said that the Biriani be mild, it was still spicy for me. Still have some left over for dinner tomorrow night which will be gobbled up!
As one Yelper said though, the two party tables could use some more spacing. Also, someone's little girl looked around the corner at us, and we both smiled at her. She was cute!
Will have to come here again to try some of the other dishes that they have here soon. -
Review from Marianne L.
Alexandria, VA
I ATE LUNCH WITH A FISH!
No you read that right. I didn't have fish for lunch. This otherwise solid 3-star Indian lunch buffet got instantly bumped to 4 stars when the waiter brought over a goldfish to keep me company at lunch today. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
AWESOME!
As for the buffet... 2 types of rice, onion ring pakodas, yellow lentils, aloo muttar (curried peas & potatoes), goat curry, butter chicken, tandoori chicken and a few other dishes. I sampled just about everything offered. While some were not to my personal liking, everything was prepared and flavored well and only the dry tandoori chicken was a let down.
The butter chicken had a pronounced tomato flavor and the chicken and sauce complemented each other well, but when I went back for a bit more it was mostly for the sauce. The onion ring pakodas were like someone crossed my favorite bar food with my favorite Indian appetizer. Yelper Sank explained what "pakoda" was to me once - but I've since forgotten and now just know in my "Indian buffet vocabulary" it translates to "yummy fried thing". These were no exception.
Aditi's naan was excellent. Delivered to the table still hot from the oven, I had to restrain myself from consuming basket upon basket of the fluffy triangles.
Pleasantly completing my meal was the Gulab Jamun - a dish up until now I've struggled to see the allure of. I get it now. Perhaps that Aditi's take on them is to make the balls a bit smaller than I've had before so that they cook properly and you don't feel like you ate a brick of flour. Whatever it is they're doing, I'm a fan of the sweet little dumplings and their light syrup.
Aditi's got some room for improvement. The music was way too loud and I was actually glad when it stopped for a bit - but sadly it was just so they could put in a different CD. I'd hate to have been trying to carry on a conversation with someone. The menu proudly proclaims that the buffet has been voted #1 in NoVA by local diners - that's all well and good, but no where is there a price for the buffet listed. Both minor things that are simple to correct and shouldn't deter anyone from stopping in here for some really good food.
At $10.95 (+ tip & tax) for the buffet, its a very reasonable price. Though there are other Indian buffets near home that I prefer, Aditi is right across from the Kingstowne cinema and I've no doubt since I see a fair number of flicks there, I'll be sampling more of the fare here.
I only wish I could have taken my cute calico dining companion home with me.Listed in: Did you Yelp?, $10 and a Craving for Curry
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Review from B G.
Arlington, VA
7/20/2011
I've been here several times for both the lunch buffet and dinner. It seems wherever I go, the lunch buffet is much different than the dinners. And the same holds true here at Aditi.
My most recent visit was for dinner. I went with my brother who ordered butter chicken and I got the chicken tikka curry. We both also ordered garlic naan and their wing appetizer.
Service is generally great but this night it was a little slow. The wings arrived and were exceptional. They had a zesty taste and a crispy texture. When our entrees arrived the server mixed our orders and didn't know which was which but I sorted it out. The tikka was ok but really nothing awesome. Compared to my brother's dish, I got much less chicken. So they aren't very consistent. The naan was some of the best I've had. It was a nice thick and soft texture and came out warm.
The lunch buffet is good but again nothing special. Their naan isn't as good as the dinner either. OVerall Aditi is pretty good but I've had better. -
Review from Brett P.
Alexandria, VA
7/22/2011
The food has always been good, but I stay away from going outside of the dinner menu. The pre-dinner menu is much more limited and I can't quite get the variety I want then.
The staff is great, the bread is wonderful, and this is my indian restaurant go-to. -
Review from Darren G.
Reston, VA
11/13/2011
Love this place! The lunch buffet is to die for! Excellent selection, high quality, fair price, and friendly service in a nice dining environment. It's a top notch Indian restaurant without the top notch price.
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Review from Venkatesh B.
Rochester, MN
3/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So, my sister, my wife and I all went here last night based on other yelpers gleeful posting of it and here are our thoughts...
This place is our new favorite routine Indian food restaurant in the area!
The place is located in what looks like an outdoor mall with plenty of other eateries nearby. Once you enter inside the decor is extremely well done and I was most captured by the interesting walls that have carved out areas...very cool. The music is funky indian, chinese background music that fit very well.
In our first experience, we were seated promptly and the same person who seated us became our server. He was very good about getting all the details right.
We had a feast of many different things so I won't list them all for you but will give you the highlights. Oh, and note that the food did take a little longer to cook than other restaurants we have visited have taken, but not unreasonable and definitely worth the wait.
My family truly cooed over the Samosa Chat as a starter dish. It is a relatively small portion but can easily be shared by two people...if three or four very hungry people may need more.
We loved the main dishes we ordered which were
the Cochin Shrimp Curry which was ordered by my wife (the only non-indian at the table). She loved the dish and found the medium spice level to be quite right. She has a milder palate so if you are a spice-o-phile you will probably want to crank it up a notch or so...your call
I got the Chicken Korma which was delicious. It is not a spicy dish by any means. It instead will wow you with the flavors of cashews and almonds along with the chicken. Fantastic dish.
My sister got the Paneer Tikka Masala and she really enjoyed it. There was plenty left to take home. (also not spicy for anyone interested).
As far as breads go, the garlic naan is magnificent and you can smell the garlic coming off of it before you bite into it, but don't worry its not overly garlicy in taste.
The puri is very large and delicious traditional indian bread. My favorite.
I personally can't wait to go back and feast....fantastic!Listed in: Absolute Favorite Restaurants
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Review from Balraj B.
Alexandria, VA
6/27/2011
Lunch Buffet on a Monday. Small selection( not a bad thing) with solid dishes. The Goat curry, my favorite, was very homey and authentic, as was the peas and potato dish, the cabbage n yellow lentil foogath and the tempered yellow lentils. The tandoori chicken and the butter chicken were OK.
Did not care much for the carrot dessert or the chicken salad.
Saw some interesting stuff on the menu, will return for dinner. -
Review from Krissy M.
11/6/2010
Very good lunch buffet!
Hubs and I stopped in today, after making an ABOUT FACE from the crowds at Panera. Since I am experimenting with vegetarianism, I believed there would be a fair amount of things I could eat here.
We were seated very promptly at a window table and I really liked the way the restaurant was decorated. Hubs headed to the buffet right away, while I waited a moment and enjoyed the mango juice I ordered...it was amazing!
Up at the buffet, I found plenty of yumminess - a chickpea salad, veg saag, lentils and some sort of fried onion item that was good...but the real superstar was the naan! We requested a second basket and I *might* have snuck a few in my purse for later. Hahah.
Of course, after we left, I realized how much of the items I had actually contained milk (so deceiving - including the naan!) so it was a veggie win and a vegan fail, but altogether, it was a wonderful meal - I'll have hubs eat that naan; I know he won't mind!!Listed in: Kingstowne…
