Sundara Indian Restaurant Opens in Alexandria
Sundara Indian Restaurant & Cafe has celebrated its grand opening at Braddock Metro Center. The new establishment is owned by a couple from Old Town. The restaurant's opening adds a new Indian cuisine option for residents and commuters in the area.
- The restaurant is a significant expansion for owners Mary Ardolino and Subheesh Manikoth, who previously operated Sundara as a catering business and then as a carryout inside an Arlington VFW post. - Chef Manikoth will draw on culinary influences from his hometown of Thalassery, a city on the Malabar Coast of Southern India. - The menu will feature a mix of Northern and Southern Indian cuisine, as well as American and fusion dishes, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. A signature dish will be biryani made with kaima, a specific variety of short-grain rice from Kerala. - Prior to opening Sundara, Chef Manikoth worked at the former Punjab Grill in D.C. and Cordelia Fishbar. - The new 3,975-square-foot restaurant has indoor seating for approximately 60 guests, with plans for an outdoor patio to accommodate about 50 more. - The restaurant is located in a space formerly occupied by Mandi Mediterranean Bistro. - The opening comes after about 18 months of planning and renovations, which faced unexpected delays and increased costs.
