When I say Indian Restaurant, what comes to your mind? Scarcely lit and plain looking place with traditional Indian artifacts adorning walls covered with beige wall paper, right? Think again with Aditi Bistro. Indian-American community is re-entering the Indian Restaurant business with an ultra modern second generation that is still in touch with its roots yet, worldly.

This transformation has already taken place in London and New York and it is finally hitting the Northern Virginia suburbs with Aditi Bistro. Located in an unassuming strip mall, Aditi Bistro is Pret-A-Manger meets Chipotle. It has the almost surgical look of Pret-A-Manger combined with traditional Indian delicacies served in wraps a la Chipotle style. Even the way you order your food reminded us of the simplicity of Metro Cafes in New York City. How you ask?

If you live in Northern Virginia, chances are you have eaten from European or even Korean bakeries, but the chances are you have never eaten at an Indian bakery. I am certain that this bakery is well known and very popular to our region’s grow ing Indian population.

Tucked away in an ordinary strip mall, Hot Breads is anything but ordinary. As you can expect from an India bakery, they offer a rich variety of Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian delicacies. I recently dropped by for a quick late afternoon snack and sampled Vegetable stuffed Croissant, Chicken Tikka Bun and Nankhatai Cookies with Almond. I washed them down with small bottle of Mango Juice.