Ananda

“This was our first visit to Ananda. We have been Peerce's before though. The property is very appealing as is the interior. Plenty of parking. We arrived 15 minutes prior to our time, and we had to wait (which is ok) for the tables to be ready. As mentioned in the food section below, my guess that the restaurant was somewhat understaffed when we went. We were expecting to be underwhelmed but the dishes surprised us. They were different but excellent at the same time. We ordered Crab Kochi, Palak Chat and Burra Chicken for appetizers and each one was good, Burra chicken especially so. For the entree we ordered Dharamsala Duck, Garam Masala goat, Prawn Balchao, Jingha Karari and Halibut. They were all excellent. The restaurant was clearly struggling with staff stressed out. Three of us asked for Indian level of spicy. We got medium to low spice. Garam Masala goat was to be American Spicy. It came out as Indian spicy. There was also a large gap (almost an hour?) between serving of appetizers and entree. Wait staff kept us informed about the delay with apology. My guess is that Sunday evenings are not busy but being Sunday before Memorial day saw lot more footfall or may be a level of absenteeism or both. For desserts we ordered Cardamom Ice Cream, Gulab Jamun with Cardamom Ice Cream and Molten Lava Cake. They were all excellent. Clearly service was not up to the mark for an upscale restaurant like Ananda. But then every restaurant has an off day I suppose. Let me leave it there.”

“As always a superlative dining experience. One of the finest dining establishments in the Mid-Atlantic. A wonderful staff all the way around, friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating, personable. The dining rooms are spectacular, high ceilings, fire places, small and intimate. Dishes are delicious with great quality, inventiveness, and bursting with fresh creative flavors. All the tremendous reviews and fantastic accolades you hear about Ananda are true and very well deserved, very highly recommended. Alan and Melanie”

“I love this place. Have celebrated my birthday here a couple times. The decor is so warm and cozy...almost like a medieval castle. The staff is always welcoming and kind. The food is top notch. Delicious flavors and the portion sizes are decent. Nice variety of drinks. 10 out of 10!”

“5 stars all around! I’ve been a loyal customer of Ananda for several years (I work nearby and often grab dinner to-go), and I am always impressed—by the food, the service, and the luxurious ambiance. Today, we hosted our company luncheon here, and it was hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had in a very long time! From the moment you walk in, the warm, cozy, upscale décor welcomes you. The appetizers were a huge hit—Meat Samosas, Veggie Samosas, and the Crab Cake appetizer were all exceptional. My Lamb entrée was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. The Caramel Crunch ice cream was incredible, and the Cardamom ice cream was just as amazing. The entrées my coworkers ordered looked fantastic as well—Chicken Tikka Masala, Shrimp dishes, and the vegetarian plates all looked beautifully prepared. Every plate on the table was completely empty by the end… the ultimate sign of a phenomenal meal. Ananda is truly a gem in Howard County—perfect for business meetings, date nights, or a beautiful meal with family. If you're looking for delicious food, outstanding service, and a stunning atmosphere (complete with open fireplaces throughout the restaurant), this place will never disappoint!”

“I recently dined at Ananda and was impressed by the vibrant depth of flavors in their Salmon Tikka. It was beautifully seasoned and cooked to perfection. The spices were well balanced, and the presentation was elegant, reflecting the restaurant’s signature high standard of Indian cuisine. However, I was disappointed to find that the salmon served did not match the description on the menu. The dish was listed as Wild Salmon, but based on texture and flavor, it was clearly farm-raised. As someone familiar with the difference, this stood out immediately. While the preparation itself was excellent, accuracy and transparency on menu details are just as important, particularly for diners who value the quality of ingredients. Overall, Ananda continues to deliver exceptional flavor and ambiance, but I hope they will ensure menu descriptions accurately reflect what’s being served. It’s the kind of detail that matters in a fine dining experience. UPDATE: The salmon was a very pale pink in color and the size of the cut was evident of farm-raised salmon.”