Mehfil Restaurant and Banquet Celebrates South Asian Cuisine

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MEHFIL RESTAURANT AND BANQUET Celebrates South Asian Cuisine

By Rena Malai

Adesi 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. 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.

“There are many ways to try us. Come in and have a meal, or order on Grub Hub and Door Dash,” Abbasi said. “We uphold all COVID-19 regulations in our dining space and food preparations.”

Celebration and Festivity

The name “Mehfil” means celebration, says Abbasi. So, it’s fitting that right next to the restaurant is a banquet room that can be reserved for just about anything, from engagement parties and bat mitzvahs to birthdays and anniversaries. With a capacity for 200 people, folks can just reserve the space, or go with a package which covers food, chairs, tables, linen and professional serving staff. Mehfil provides full-service catering for social events and assists guests in finding additional vendors if needed for food, decorations and music. “Our banquet hall has been reserved by any and everybody, all diversities, for a variety of celebrations,” Abbasi said. Mehfil Restaurant and Banquet Hall is located at 10820 Balls Ford Rd in Manassas, next to the Best Western hotel. Abbasi says the hotel is not affiliated with Mehfil. However, the hotel can be a recommendation given for out-of-town party goers who may be attending an event at Mehfil and need a place to stay. “Once you come here, you will feel like family,” Abbasi says. Visit mehfilva.com to view their full menu, order online for delivery, book a table or peruse their photo gallery. For those interested in the banquet facilities, call Abbasi on 571-519-8513.

Mehfil is approved as a Halal restaurant. Halal is a method of preparing meat and food stuffs in accordance with Muslim religious laws.

Rena Malai is a contributing writer for Prince William Living. She can be reached at rmalai@princewilliamliving.com.