Malgudi Opens in Heritage Asia Space in Glover Park, Offers “unique curries, dosas and uthappams of South India”

2400 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Lots of action at 2400 Wisconsin Avenue, NW – first we learned that Arcuri would be replacing Kavanagh’s Pizza Pub in the lower level and now Malgudi has replaced Heritage Asia. From a press release:

It is a celebrated day when writers and foodies alike have an opportunity to experience a cuisine that is rarely offered in their community. New restaurant Malgudi, named after a novel by renowned Indian author R.K. Narayan, is now serving authentic southern Indian food in Glover Park. Located beneath the flagship Heritage India at 2400 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC and owned by Sanjeev Tuli and his business partner and wife, Mitul, this restaurant offers D.C. a chance to taste a culinary culture that has been fairly absent within District borders.

Patrons are already impressed by Malgudi’s authenticity. Southern Indian food is different from the more globally renowned Tandoori and Moghlai foods, which are representative of north and northwest India.

Dishes at Malgudi draw inspiration from all states in southern India including Andhra, a state with a style often described as the spiciest in South India, with a very generous use of chili powder and hot and tangy flavor. Also important is the influence of the Karnataka state, known for its milder and largely vegetarian tradition, though the coastal cuisine has a wealth of seafood. Coconuts grow in abundance in the region and are a staple along with rice and millets. Southern India discovered and exported much of the spices that have long captivated the world such as cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

Malgudi guests will be served tiffin, small plates usually accompanied by coconut chutney and sambhar, a hearty seasoned lentil dish stewed with seasonal vegetables and tempered with the perfect mix of oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves and red chilies. Dosa, a type of tiffin, is fermented bread similar to a crepe made of rice and black lentils indigenous to the region. Malgudi serves several types of perfectly crisp but bendable dosa with fresh fillings including potato, cheese, and lamb. Another tiffin dish served at Malgudi is uthappams, also pancake like but with the toppings cooked right into the batter. Try the paneer uttapam topped with spiced cottage cheese or the onion chili uttapam. Malgudi pays further homage to Southern India with curry specialties, rice entrees and kothu poratta, a dish of bread in cut into strips and blended with your choice of meat, egg and spices.

Malgudi will be open for lunch Tuesday-Sunday from 11am to 2:30pm. Malgudi will be open for dinner from 5:30pm to 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and from 5:30pm to 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday night.

You can see Malgudi’s full menu here.