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MEHFIL RESTAURANT AND BANQUET Celebrates South Asian Cuisine By Rena Malai
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desi chef — someone trained in serving up authentic South Asian fare — is at the heart of any Indian restaurant worth its salt.
At Mehfil Restaurant and Banquet in Manassas, manager Umair Ahmed Abbasi says their desi chefs serve up South Asian favorites that meet Mehfil’s high standards of quality. “Everything we serve is prepared fresh every day. That’s what real South Asian food is all about,” Abbasi said.
Restaurant Fare Diners can find traditional South Asian plates like biryani — an aromatic rice dish — and palak paneer — homemade cheese and spinach curry — at Mehfil. But the Prince William establishment also serves up other items like mild curries and Spanish fare like paella. “If someone wants to have something that’s not on our menu, we will do whatever we can to accommodate the request,” Abbasi said.
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The ambience at Mehfil is designed so people can have a quiet dining experience. Soft yellow lighting, a hushed dining room and attentive staff are what makes people come back for a relaxing meal, according to Abbasi. “Our dining space is very welcoming, and we pay special attention to our lighting and the atmosphere. It’s not very loud, our staff is very welcoming and you can enjoy a relaxed dinner,” he said. As far as what to eat, Abbasi recommends butter chicken, biryani and maybe the Gulab Jamun for dessert — a traditional Indian sweet made of delicately fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup and flavored with cardamom. “Gulab means ‘rose’ in Hindi, and this dessert should melt in your mouth,” Abbasi says. “You will enjoy every single bite.” In addition, Mehfil is one of the main restaurants in the area that is approved as a Halal restaurant, says Abbasi. Halal is a method of preparing meat and food stuffs in accordance with Muslim religious laws.
