100 Very Best Restaurants 2017: Ananda

Cost:

Photo by Scott Suchman

About Ananda

Cost:

cuisines
Indian
Location(s)
7421 Maple Lawn Blvd
Fulton, MD 20759

The fireplace-accented dining room and garden veranda of this palatial Indian restaurant in Howard County are pleasant reminders that grandeur isn’t dead. Garlic-ginger jumbo shrimp and almond-crusted lamb chops are even better reminders that Indian food consists of more than heavy curries. Owners and brothers Keir and Binda Singh pride themselves on their relationships with local farms—they also operate one of their own about a mile from the restaurant—and traditional, healthy cooking techniques (tandoor ovens, less ghee, vegetables that aren’t cooked to mush). The result is contemporary, melodiously spiced food in a white-tablecloth setting fit for celebrations or a quiet visit with in-laws. Moderate.

Also great: Squash samosa; baby eggplant with tomato and yogurt; palak paneer; spicy fish curry; Kashmiri naan; mint-mango-avocado chutney.


Ann Limpert
Executive Food Editor/Critic

Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.

Jessica Sidman
Food Editor

Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.

Kristen Hinman
Articles Editor

Kristen Hinman has been editing Washingtonian’s features since 2014. She joined the magazine after editing politics & policy coverage for Bloomberg Businessweek and working as a staff writer for Voice Media Group/Riverfront Times.