Akbar in Columbia has closed and may reopen as a different Indian restaurant, according to some folks with reliable information.
Plus, no one answers the phone during the middle of dinner service. The Akbar on Snowden River Parkway was a little sibling to the Baltimore restaurant of the same name. It was a nice place, but there are so many great Indian restaurants in Columbia that I don't think we had eaten there in four or five years.
Does anyone know the plan for the space? Nichi Bei Kei also closed in the same shopping center, and they're aiming to reopen near the Columbia Mall. The Akbar folks still have their other restaurants. Does anyone know if someone will really re-open the Columbia space as an Indian restaurant.
Honestly, Indian kitchens have some tough competition. I can think of five other good Indian restaurants in Columbia -- House of India, Mango Grove, Royal Taj, Flavors of India, and Nepalese-Indian Curry & Kabob -- plus quick service Tandoor Grill on Johns Hopkins Road and the Polo Club opening soon in Fulton.
Click here for all the posts about Indian restaurants. What do you recommend on the local Indian scene? Any places? Any special dishes? Hat tip to my brother in neurology research.
10 comments:
I'm heartbroken to hear this. Akbar Columbia is where I first tried Indian and I've enjoyed many lovely meals there over the last 20 years. (Royal Taj, btw, may have tasty food but the place is filthy!)
They had a sign on the door at the end of November saying they were closing for renovations on December 1st. They did not have any re-opening date listed. I hope they are coming back.
The signs on the door say that a new restaurant called "Chatni" is coming to the space. Other signs on the windows also spell it "Chutney". Assume the pronunciation is about the same. Not sure whether this is the creation of a new identity by the same owners and management or if it's truly a new place. I wish them luck, but agree that there are lots of similar Indian restaurants within a short drive (or even walk). So, hopefully they'll be bringing something different than the standard northern Indian fare that sets them apart.
Rangoli in Hanover at Arundel Preserves is my go-to Indian restaurant in the area. Best Butter Chicken I've had in a very long time. Good lunch buffet too.
It will be a new Indian restaurant named Chutney
it is scheduled to open early January .
I raise a glass of mango lassi to Akbar, the first Indian restaurant I ever went to. You were good, but House of India and Mango Grove captured my heart. I look forward to trying your successor.
~kam
We had dinner at Pho Dat Thanh and saw a sign outside of Nichi Ben Kai that said a Japanese Buffet was coming soon. No dates though.
I dine at Royal Taj regularly and don't understand the comment above that describes the place as filthy. Maybe I've missed something? I was there last week, and they are in the process of redecorating but still open for business. Spectacular dessert: a Punjabi carrot pudding made with carrot puree, almonds and milk. It's either new on the menu or I had passed over it before, mistakenly thinking that carrot pudding wouldn't be so nice.
I don't understand how anyone can think Akbar had only standard Indian fare when it featured the best non-standard Indian dish me and my husband have ever had - lamb xiacutti. It is a dish from Goa that you do not find in most places and it was absolutely wonderful.
Chutney is apparently no relation to Akbar. The owner/manager of the Columbia Akbar location was ready to retire, and no one was interested in assuming control of that location, so they closed it. Akbar on Charles Street in Baltimore is still there.
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