So, I’ve realized that even though the word “Maryland” appears in the title of this blog, I rarely write about Maryland. I guess, in a way, I don’t get out much. And my interests tend to focus outside of this country, despite how much I love it. So, to buck the trend, I will write about my favorite restaurant in Columbia, the Mango Grove.
Mango Grove (MG) serves southern style Indian food. That means dosai instead of curry. Having a crazy, Tamil friend is good for introducing one to the deliciousness that is dosai. And MG just so happens to make very delicious dosai. In fact, the best I’ve had, although since I’ve only had dosai at one other place, it may not make for the best comparison. Still a true statement, damnit! My personal favorite is the Butter Roast Masala Dosai (sounds healthy, don’t it?), although the Mysore Masala Dosai is also quite tasty. The only “flop” that I’ve had at MG was the Madras Rava Masala Dosai, but that was more it not being to my liking and not that it was of an inferior quality. MG, like every other Indian restaurant in America, also serves that embodiment of pure delight known as the mango lassi (forsooth, it is the avatar of Ganesh!). Truly, you can’t go wrong with this place. The dosai are light, the stuffing tasty and of proper proportion, and the chutneys perfect for dipping.
Now for the inedible aspects of one’s dining experience at MG. Like most Indian restaurants I have been to, the interior is rather bland. My suggestion would be to bring an attractive friend, so that you have something to look at aside from the tacky decor. The table cloths also look like they haven’t been washed since the Reagan administration, but that isn’t so important because you’ll be eating with your hands anyway. Unless you go on a Saturday night, you will mostly be one of the few people in the restaurant, so the service is very prompt. The waiters are friendly and attentive, so make sure to leave a nice tip. So, the ambiance of MG is not the best I have experienced, but the food is fantastic, and when I get home I remember the good feelings in my belly and not the stained table cloth.
To drive home how much I enjoy this place, my worst experience with MG happened to be when a friend and I tried going on a Tuesday, which happens to be the one day of the week it is closed. Disappointed, we headed to the hybrid Sino-Indian place next door, which was gawd awful. If you drive up to MG and it is closed, DO NOT GO NEXT DOOR! Can’t stress that enough.
So, if you happen to be a little weird like myself, like south Indian cuisine, and live within driving distance of Columbia, MD, head on over to the Mango Grove. The $12 you’ll throw down for a dosai and mango lassi is a steal, in my opinion.
