Samosas from Woodlands

By Akua Oppong, VRG Intern

I recently had the pleasure of visiting a Vegetarian Indian restaurant in Gaithersburg called Woodlands. The atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and calming, and the decor was elegant and colorful. Vegan options are indicated on the menu, and there are a variety of them

I went with my family and we all ordered samosas first, our go-to appetizer at Indian restaurants. Samosas are a light, triangle-shaped pastry filled with potatoes and peas. It was very satisfying, with a warm, soft inside and a crispy outside. Next, I ordered Chana Masala with white basmati rice and Onion Dosai, and my family ordered Vegetable Biryani and Kadai Bhindi.

Chana Masala is one of my favorite Indian foods. It consists of chickpeas cooked in a flavorful curry. The Chana Masala at Woodlands was delicious to eat with the rice and samosas. Onion Dosai is a thin, savory crepe that can be eaten with numerous sauces. The Onion Dosai I ordered was very large, which is perfect for sharing with others. It was also crispy and slightly sour, with both mild and spicy sauces to eat it with.

Vegetable Biryani is a colorful, mixed rice and vegetable dish, and Kadai Bhindi is an okra stew. The Vegetable Biryani was fun to eat because of the numerous colors in it, and my sister and I agreed that it was very light and fluffy. The Kadai Bhindi had a nice tomato taste to it, along with a touch of spices and roasted okra. My family and I all thought that it tasted similar to the Ghanaian okra stew that we eat at home. Overall, we all enjoyed our experience at Woodlands and would recommend it to vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking for great Indian food.

Woodlands Restaurant Website: https://woodlandsrestaurants.com/

Vegetarian Restaurant Guide: https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php