I've never been here for their lunch menu, so my review is just for their take out menu.
I have been addicted to biryani ever since high school when my friend's mom would cook it for us. When my friend moved away I would constantly look for the rice dish but I was never satisfied until I went here. This place makes amazing biryani. My favorite is the shrimp biryani, (I didn't even know shrimp was an option..I was so excited, it blew my mind) I also love their butter chicken. Some people say it's bland, I think you should try it once and tell them what your preferences are. I think the butter chicken tastes better when they don't add the ground cashews.
The best part about this place is their amazing customer service. They are very attentive about allergies and requests.
I love that they listen to the customer because it's hard getting food that caters to my whole family: my sister is allergic to nuts, my dad can't eat spicy food, and my mom hates chicken and cilantro. We're able to order something that satisfies everyone's taste.
Good but not great. Long wait for food despite only 3 other people in the restaurant early last Tuesday evening. Someone in the back (kitchen?) started a coughing fit (like bronchitis or pneumonia) shorty after I had ordered. I considered telling the waiter that I was leaving but he was with a takeout customer. The coughing finally stopped, they turned on music, I didn't hear any more coughing, and I got over the nervousness about the possibility of someone very ill preparing my food. I didn't get sick. Waiter/maître d' was very nice. I especially enjoyed the tea (chai), great on a very cold night. Not fair to compare to Rasika because it's more expensive, but so far the Indian places I've tried in Northern VA have made me wish I'd gone to Rasika instead. If I'm out in this area and hungry, I might go again, but I would not drive the 20-mile roundtrip just to go here. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd probably go occasionally. I guess the people talking about the blandness are referring to the buffet. I was there for dinner (no buffet) and the waiter asked me, on a scale of 1 to 5, how spicy I wanted each dish. Not an exact science, especially for my first time there, but I picked 3 and was pleased with the outcome (flavorful but not very peppery hot). I really liked the green pepper in the chicken tikka masala. It seems strange, but the three Northern VA Indian restaurants I've tried are not good as the Indian restaurants I frequented in Boston, MA and Mystic, CT. However, Samrat is MUCH better than the two Indian restaurants that I've tried in Arlington.
Review Source:LOVE-THIS-PLACE!! Â Samrat is awesome. Located in a small strip mall next to Red Hot and Blue in Kingstowne, it is very unassuming but well worth the visit. Â We have had plenty off the menu but the tandoori salmon and the chicken biryani are outstanding. Oh and the chicken tikka masala, and the naan. The waitstaff is exactly one guy and he is professional attentive and friendly. If you like Indian food or if you haven't taken the plunge yet Samrat is the place to go in NoVa!!
Review Source:I went for the lunch buffet today because I was in the neighborhood.
This is by far the blandest, most boring Indian food I have ever had. I didn't know it was possible for butter chicken to be so bland. I couldn't even tell the difference in the various dishes other than texture.
Even the naan was bad...it was spongy, not the crispy naan I'm used to. I see so many great reviews, so maybe they were having an off day, what whatever the cause, i won't be going back.
I was looking for something different to eat in one of the phone apps called the foodspotting and urban spoon. I didn't know what the Indian cuisine had to offer so I went here to try it out. To my surprise, their food was really good (buffet for about $9). It reminded me of Middle Eastern food but less oiler. My favorite was the spinach in cream sauce (I don't know what's its called) and their spicy chicken (maroon in color - again, sorry for my ignorance). I would definitely come back and update this review.
Review Source:I have only come here for the lunch buffet, and have heard that the dinner experience is VERY different. Just throwing that out there.
My husband introduced me to Samrat when we were dating many years ago. At the time, my experience with Indian was very limited. I took him to Haandi, in Falls Church, because I had heard good things and he told me in no uncertain terms that he knew a much better place. So we went off for lunch and now it is something I look forward to. I don't have a job that allows me to eat out for lunch very often, but I will go there pretty much every time I can go out for lunch. I always bring different coworkers and they all love it.
I love the butter chicken and naan, but by far my favorite part of lunch is dessert! They serve gulab jamoon, which they describe as dumplings fried to golden brown and dipped in sugar syrup. Delicious! There have been occasions I have come for lunch and they weren't available so I just asked someone for some and the server would bring me a small bowl.
Sadly, Samrat's lunch buffet seems to have slipped. Â Yes, I know. Â It's an Indian buffet. Â I shouldn't expect the food to be on par with some of the DMV's Indian fine dining establishments. Â Still, Indian food can and frequently does translate well to a buffet setting.
Samrat's food on the buffet line is still fresh and served hot without being steamed into submission. Â The selection of food, while not the widest variety, consists of a sampling of meat and vegetarian offerings. It's the execution that really misses the mark. Â The basmati rice was a bit dry. Â The Tandoori Chicken, while still reasonably moist, was lacking in flavor. Â The Butter Chicken possessed a far from subtle creamy sweetness that overwhelmed the chicken. Â The Palak Paneer was a gloppy mess. Â The Chicken Curry lacked the expected curry punch and the Tadka Daal lacked the lentils and curry. Â The only items that seemed to come close to expectations were the Channa Masala and naan. Â
I love Indian food and they do offer a very affordable lunch buffet under $10, which should be a win-win. Â Hopefully, this was a one-off for Samrat. Â However, I fear that it may be new normal.
I have loved Indian food as my #1 favorite food ever since I discovered it 16 years ago. One of the first things I do when I travel to a new place is start looking for Indian restaurants. They almost always have a lunch buffet, and more expensive, higher quality dinners.
Samrat excels at dinnertime. The lunch buffet is average-to-below-average, but they do fill you up with (typically) Chicken Makhni ("Butter Chicken") and perhaps Chicken Tikka Masala. You may see a beef dish in there as well.
My advice is to GO DURING DINNER and get the CHICKEN VINDALOO, INDIAN HOT. This will both satisfy and challenge uber-curryheads. I kid you not: they have mastered this dish. It comes out a deep red, and the chicken thigh meat and potatoes are always cooked perfectly. They crank up the heat extremely high, but do not lose the taste -- something Indian spices are very good at doing.
Also, take good care of the host / waiter. He's a college kid and he is extremely attentive and courteous. I eat here every single time I'm ever in town.
Went on a Saturday night around 7 pm and we were one of three occupied tables. There was a steady stream of takeout orders though.
The food was pretty standard Indian stuff. However, I felt the spice levels were toned down way too much. The butter chicken, saag paneer, and daal was just a little more bland than most Indian places around town. I would have preferred everything kicked up a notch, so to speak.
The saving grace is that there just aren't that many Indian restaurants in this part of the 'burbs. When there's no other choice around, you don't have to be a superstar I guess.
Bonus points for naan being fresh and hot and the Kingfisher being ice cold.
Unless you live near the area, you wouldn't even know this place existed. Â Tucked into a fairly nondescript strip mall, Samrat is a teeny tiny joint that primarily draws in business with its lunchtime buffet. Â Aside from the completely zero ambience and the annoying smell of incense wafting through the place, this is, hands down, the best Indian food I've ever had. Â Portions are generous, prices are super-cheap and I can't help but to sop up every last bit of curry with my naan, literally wiping my plate clean. Â I highly recommend the vindaloo, which I prefer to eat without rice, as it's thick and spicy tomato curry is enough to fill you up.
Review Source:Love this little gem in our neighborhood. The lunch buffet is awesome, but don't bring too many people with you. Â The chicken tikka masala is my favorite off of the menu, with butter chicken a close second. Â Service is always friendly. Â Best part is take out service with very reasonable turn around time following your phone order. Â On one occassion, the server gave me some of the incense that was burning when I asked about the scent. Â Unexpected, but much appreciated little place.
Review Source:I have been meaning to write a review about this great little restaurant for a while now... It is our neighborhood go-to place when we are craving Indian and/or don't feel like cooking. Although it is not spectacular and the ambiance leaves a bit to be desired, it is one of the better Indian restaurants around.
I particularly like the chicken tikka masala and their naan is great, but our favorite thing to order is the samosa chaat. Basically, it is a samosa cut into quarters and then doused with yogurt, chickpeas, and chutney (we ask them to leave off the raw onions). Delicious!
Sadly, they are almost always empty when we dine there. I hope they do a good lunch business, because I'm not sure how they can sustain their existance based on the dinner business.
We went to Samrat on a rainy Saturday afternoon for their lunch buffet. Â This was the first time we have eaten here because we just discovered it. Â We were pleasantly surprised! Â The buffet was excellent including many different chicken dishes as well as very good vegetarian dishes. Â They had the usual assortment of butter chicken and Tandori chicken, but the quality of everything was very good and fresh. Â The service staff was very pleasant and prompt and the restaurant was very clean. Â We definitely intend to return.
Review Source:went for the buffet ... not a big fan of indian food, but man, i enjoyed everything i had.. Â the food was a not piping hot like I like it, but the temp it was at did not ruin my experience.
10 bucks people, 10 bucks for a buffet with healthy, robust food.
the naan was killer and so was the green chutney ... i think it was mint. so good!
Not an expert on Indian food, but had a craving after seeing Samrat in a shopping center I was in. Ordered the chicken vindaloo (am a fan of spicy food) and it was delish! Â Forgot to ask if it was white all white meat (not a fan of thighs), but it seemed to be anyway. A few fatty pieces, but I just put those aside. GREAT flavor and heat! Â I had to ask for more napkins because the heat made my nose run! So many more things on the menu I want to try, so will definitely be back!
Server very attentive and very nice as well. All in all, a nice find, and glad I stopped in.
This was my first experience with Indian cuisine... it was not love at first sight, globs of green and yellow stuff. Â Upon tasting I knew I had just stepped out of my weird little bubble, this stuff is amazing! Â The green and yellow stuff could even get mixed together, still wonderful! Â I will try my scholarly best to learn the proper names for these dishes.
Review Source:Great hole in the wall place (in Landsdowne Center near Fort Belvoir Beulah gate) and I say this with love. Â It's a great place to eat! Â Go for lunch buffet and you'll come out full and happy! Â Great variety and excellent place for a vegetarian like me to eat but meat eaters will definitely enjoy it as well. Â Go, you won't be disappointed!
Review Source:I have only been here for the lunch buffet and I love it. I usually go for a plate of butter chicken, rice, and the stewed spinach thing they usually have out. I've noticed that they change the buffet items up from time to time and I usually am pleased with the new things they put out. It costs about $9 or so, and I think they give us gov't discount because they recognize my group when we go in. I couldn't think of one good reason to give this place any less than 5 stars.
Review Source:Nice little Indian spot... Tucked a minute away from Manchester Lakes
Service was good - Clean restaurant
Food -
I ordered the classic Chicken Tikka - Spiced well, sauce was the correct consistency (no watered down stuff), and chicken seemed to be fresh. Â My naan came out fresh also. Â I was happy with my food here!
I love the location simply b/c I live one minute from it. Small quaint Indian restaurant in the landsdowne shopping center. Â Stopped in for lunch, Â I didn't go for their lunch buffet, but tried one of their menu choices. Â I am a big fan of chicken tikka masala. Depending on what restaurant u go to, the chef will either prepare the sauce heavy with butter curry or red chili curry.
Here at samrat, the butter yellow curry was the choice. The portion is large, enough for two easily. Came w/ basmati rice, cooked well. I ordered a naan, and to my surprise it was drizzled with butter which made is really tasty.. Crispy on top and flaky and little chewy. Â
The chicken tikka masala was pretty good. Â The amount of chicken was great, and it's was nicely spiced w the butter sauce. Â
Definitely a nice little find.. will be back.
Once I try the other dishes, will post update and update rating as well.
I stumbled upon Samrat on my way to the Kingstowne library & I'm glad I found it!
The buffet is fantastic, prices super reasonable, and when I order off the menu I'm never disappointed. Spice level is just right (& I like it Indian spicy) & I love how they offer you rice or naan with your entry.
Plus they deliver sometimes
2 reasons why I'm not giving Samrat 5 stars (well mostly 1 reason): they never give you enough rice & lately they seem to be closed all the damned time!
Mos def try them out if you work or are around Telegraph Rd/Fort Belvoir
I've only been there twice for their lunch buffet. Â The food is sooo yummy. Â Normally i do not like peas, but it was sooo tasty. Â Their nan is so fluffy too. Â
It's a small restaurant, so hopefully it's not crowded when you go. Â Every time I've been all of the tables are full, so they must be doing something right.
My fiance and I love this place. It's only about a mile from our house. but I found it when a group from work went for the lunch buffet. I wasn't organizing, it was a HUGE group - much too big for that tiny restaurant - and the staff was SO accomodating.
We usually get take out but have come in to sit and eat a few times. I think they also deliver. The quality of service is very high and the food is consistently delicious. it's definitely not a fancy place, but for the quality and service, it can't be beat. We love having it so close!
I've only been there during the buffet lunch, and have enjoyed it.
The buffet has a selection of 10 or so items, including salad. Usually a few chicken dishes and curried vegetables, along with rice and naan bread. The food is not amazing but good, as is the service, and with the low cost and abundance it's a good deal; healthier and tastier than any fast food options in the area as well.
The place is small, maybe 10 or 15 tables for 4 people, and can get busy around noon.
I'm addicted to spicy curry--Punjab/Pakistan--no cream or coconut milk. I ordered the chicken curry "extra spicy, please" and waited (and waited and waited). I thought maybe they were making it to order (which would be crazy for the reasonable prices, but hey maybe--yummy, even better). Finally, the familar small entree bowl came out and I knew in an instant it was all wrong. I could tell it had yogurt or cream! Boooo. And when I tasted it, booooooo! It was bland, yogurt-y, almost room temperature, and I could tell it had been made days before in a vat! So why the hell was I waiting sooooo long. I'm not Indian, but I know my curry. It was actually Korma (sp?). Oh well.
But, I did see another table had ordered kabobs which looked delicious. And I know many folks don't like spice like I do. So, please take that into consideration.
But because I eat Indian cuisine solely for curry, I wouldn't go there again--too bad, it's so close to my home.
My girlfriend and I are regulars here. Â We have yet to experience the lunch buffet crowd, always opting instead for an early a la carte dinner where we have often been the only customers in the small dining room. Â The only dine-in customers that is...they are always doing a brisk take-out business while we eat.
Samrat is ultra-casual. Â There might not be a host to seat you the minute you walk in (he's in the kitchen), but it's well worth waiting for him to emerge and seat you and take your drink order. Â Their short list of wines change a lot, and even their beers. Â Last night I had my first Jhoom, "Special Beer from Himalayan melting water!!", 22 ounces of decent brew but I prefer Kingfisher which they have in large and regular bottles. Â We usually get an appetizer of Aloo Tiki, and we did again last night and it was excellent, but we also ALWAYS get the sublime Lamb Seekh Kabob (which you can also get in an entree portion). Â Last night we decided to just go all appetizers, so we added Assorted Appetizers, a combination of vegetable samosa, vegetable pakora and chicken pakora. Â There was only one excellent samosa, but we got both onion and spinach pakora on the plate, and they were both fantastic, perfectly crispy and not greasy in the slightest. Â The chicken pakora was also delicious. Â This combination was a new find that we'll go to again for sure.
Over many visits we've had all the spicy hot chickens ---Chicken Vindaloo, Chili Chicken and Khadai Chicken--- lots of the Tandoori dishes, many of the vegetable dishes, and all the naans. Â It's been consistently high quality across the board. Â Completely recommended with confidence.
One side note: I love the Landsdowne Center. Â There are so many restaurants clustered together here that the competition seems to lift the general quality of all. Â For instance and by way of a direct comparison, I've liked my Red, Hot and Blue experiences from here more than at other locations. Â Landsdowne Center is great for when you don't know exactly what you're hungry for....just drive there and then decide among Indian, Japanese, Greek Diner, Barbeque, Thai, Pho, etc., ... even Dairy Queen.
The shopping center that Samrat is in is a fun local center with lots of eating choices. Â Samrat itself is a small place, with a nice menu of choices and you can't beat the prices for the area. Â The food was good, the service however was something a little less impressive. Â With only 4 family in the restaurant, I would have thought more attention to detail was in order.
Review Source:I almost want to give this place a 1-star since it isn't that big of a place and can be tough to get a seat at lunch time. I don't want more people coming and making it impossible. Â Every time I have gone, I have had a wonderful lunch. The offerings change daily making it a slightly different experience each time. While I have only been there for the lunch buffet ($9.98 with tax and water), I bet ordering food off the menu is almost as good. Â This is a perfect place for lunch if you work near or on Ft. Belvoir.
Review Source:Samrat is about as fine an Indian restaurant as I've experienced. Â I went there recently with my husband. Â We ordered vegetable samosas, and we got the dinner (thaali) plates of chicken tikka masala and butter chicken. The curries and sides were delicious - excellent chana masala, fluffy naan, spicy samosas, tasty saag paneer and a decent dessert. The main dishes were very good and tasty, but so rich I couldn't quite finish mine - that's the only problem I had! I definitely recommend it. We'll definitely be trying out the lunch buffet.
Review Source:Tried this place a little while ago as it was part of the Entertainment Book. Â Â If you have one of these, don't miss Samrat! Â Despite the somewhat strange name, this place had some pretty decent Indian cuisine.
We came here on a Friday night, to a, you guessed it, empty restaurant. Â There were a lot of people coming in and out for takeout, so that was a good sign. Â Ordered the dosas, which were pretty good. Â We both ordered different types of curry, and they were both very flavorful and spicy. Â The staff was very friendly and helpful. Â We left pleasantly stuffed. Â
Despite it being somewhat out of the way, it is a pretty stellar Indian restaurant. Â I think I'm ready for another trip!
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