Woodlands

[babka]

I'm curious to know what others make of this southern Indian chain. I've only been there twice now, both times to the New Hampshire Ave. strip mall oasis, and ate too much too happily both times. It's always been filled with Indian families--parents walking their children through the buffet, forcing carrots on them and assuring the three year old to try the Upami--you'll like it, I swear--older couples sitting over their plate for hours, and jeweled saris waiting patiently for the single ladies room to become available. We paint one large plate with dabs of everything the first time through, eat too much, and then go back for seconds of everything we liked...then try the desserts, wince, and grab a small third round of the really good stuff. We grab dosas when they become available and fill stainless bowls with bright soups and chutneys; of the buffet dishes, today's hit was a pumpkin masala; a vaguely-asian tasting cauliflower dish; fried chilis, and something beautiful and crimson that we never managed to identify--all for $8.95....

[DonRocks]

I have so many good things to say about Woodlands I don't know where to begin. I was last there six days ago for their Sunday lunch buffet, and once again I felt guilty when I left because it didn't cost enough. I have a dear Indian friend who moved to Berkeley, and whenever she comes back I get a call asking me to go with her to Woodlands, "the only type of Indian food I can't get at home," she says - "home" being her parents' house in Virginia - and then she proceeds to order a Special Onion Ravi Masala Dosa. I sometimes order that too, because it's cooked-to-order and is a phenomenal combination of taste and texture, but I also find myself drawn to the seemingly endless buffet while she noshes her dosa. The buffet, especially on weekends, is an amazing spread, ridiculously priced, and enough to make me think about going vegan, at least until later that afternoon. I've been to the Woodlands in Langley Park, but almost always frequent the one in Fairfax. In fact, I was going to write about it last week in the Desperately Seeking Strip Malls thread, as it's sandwiched directly in between a giant K-Mart and a Dairy Queen in what must be one of the ugliest, most disgustingly sterile strip malls around (and the competition for this honor runs deep and fierce). How much do I like Woodlands? Last year I spent eight days in London, and had lunch at the one there - many American tourists cheat and get a McDonald's fix; I cheated and got my Woodlands fix. This, even considering I was searching out the best and brightest Indian restaurants London had to offer. The combinations of vegetables, grains and breads are vast, impressive and humbling to someone (like me) without an in-depth knowledge of how these dishes are prepared, and while I can't always deconstruct or even correctly identify them, I am always shaking my head when I walk out, feeling how lucky I am that a restaurant such as this is available.

The weekend buffet at Fairfax Woodlands is precisely the place where a budget-minded eGullet get-together should be held, lack-of-access to Metro notwithstanding: it's dirt cheap, it's great, it's somewhat healthy, it's esoteric, and it's educational if you choose to let it be.

Cheers,

Rocks.

[bilrus]

That's pretty amazing because I've never seen more Indian restaurants, groceries and sari stores in one town than in Berkeley. Of course, I've never been to India.

[morda]

I meant to try Woodlands before I moved...alas. Where exactly is the Fairfax location? Is it in the Kamp Washington strip mall between 29 and 50? (or is it Main and 29?)

morda

[Monica Bhide]

This is one of my favorite places to eat. yum. Gosh I am getting hungry just thinking about it!!

[Mark Sommelier]

Rocks, do they have saris in my size???

[tryska]

unless your more than 3 yards wide mark, they most likely do.

i want a woodlands in Atlanta! i ate at this chain for the first time ever when i was in orlando, and the scene there is exactly as you describe the scene in DC.

hmm...i wonder if they've got franchise opportunities.

Edited April 14, 2004 by tryska (log)

[babka]

special onion rava masala dosa....the good mr rocks waxed wonderfully about this some time ago, I think, and it was on the tip of my tongue when I sat down for lunch today....then one of my friends noticed the coconut upami on the buffet and good intentions promptly lost--again--to a rainbow-plated meal, with spinach melted into a shimmering puree and the salad-like-crack I want Monica to teach me and okra swimming in yellow paint....and a bonus of mango ice cream from the grocer's next door, which we ate for dinner tonight.

[DonRocks]

and a bonus of mango ice cream from the grocer's next door, which we ate for dinner tonight.

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I'm seriously hoping you're talking about the Langley Park Woodlands here, otherwise that "grocer next door" is ... Dairy Queen (yuck!)