The golden elephants out front say it all — Maharani Palace Fine Indian Cuisine and Lounge will be a journey to the subcontinent. The new upscale Indian restaurant and banquet hall will open on Thursday, September 12, at 1030 Elden St., Herndon, in the space formerly occupied by the Mellow Mushroom.
The new venture from chef-owner Neel Kamal transports diners to India with elevated traditional dishes. Maharani Palace’s chefs celebrate regional Indian cuisine with signature dishes like murg sharab khana — kabobs simmered in a fragrant sauce served on a hot plate, flambeed with Old Monk rum. Indo-Chinese dishes like chicken manchurian join the cast of culinary delights, as do authentic tandoori kebabs.
“Seeing is believing,” says Vijay Joshi from the Maharani Palace team. “We are bringing authentic North Indian food. This is a new restaurant, and we see a lot of people from that diaspora — Indian demographics, Pakistan demographics, Bangladeshis, Nepalis — in this region of Northern Virginia.”
The ornate interior emulates the elegance of royal Indian palaces.
“Its design, the décor, the ambiance is done based on the state in India called Rajasthan, which has lots of food and palaces and castles,” Joshi says.
Spice Holdings, a multicuisine restaurant group with six Maryland restaurants, is behind the new venture. This is the group’s first Virginia location. The restaurant team hopes the sophisticated décor, tranquil atmosphere and Indian culinary dishes will be a winning combination.
1030 Elden St., Herndon
Feature image courtesy Maharani Palace
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