Cheap Eats 2008: Minerva Indian Cuisine

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Dave McIntyre , Rina Rapuano

Minerva Indian Cuisine - Chantilly

14513-B Lee Jackson Memorial Highway
Chantilly, VA
Phone: 703-378-7778

Cuisines:
Indian, Vegetarian/Vegan

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Nearby Metro Stops:
None nearby

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
N/A

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Paneer pakora, fried fritters of paneer cheese in a lightly spiced lentil coating; sambar, a tangy Tamil tamarind soup that accompanies dosas and other southern dishes; lakhnavi methi kheema, ground lamb in a sauce laced with fenugreek leaves; masala dosa, a rice crepe stuffed with curried potatoes; multilayer dosa, a folded version spiced with various chutneys.

Price Details:
Appetizers $3.95 to $7.95; entrées $8.95 to $13.95; buffet $8.95 weekdays, $10.95 weekends. Open daily for lunch and dinner.


 

Reader's Rating:
No Reader Reviews

Why go: A dizzying parade of Indian cooking unspools at these large, banquet-hall-style dining rooms—from smoky tandoori meats from the north to southern dosas, all complexly spiced and served to Bollywood music videos on flat-panel TVs.

What to get: Paneer pakora, fried fritters of paneer cheese in a lightly spiced lentil coating; sambar, a tangy Tamil tamarind soup that accompanies dosas and other southern dishes; lakhnavi methi kheema, ground lamb in a sauce laced with fenugreek leaves; masala dosa, a rice crepe stuffed with curried potatoes; multilayer dosa, a folded version spiced with various chutneys.

Best for: Exploring a multifaceted cuisine that the word “curry” oversimplifies.

Insider tip: While many Indian lunch buffets round up the usual suspects, Minerva offers a wide variety of selections. There’s no better buffet in the region.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

See all Cheap Eats 2008 restaurants