Barbed wire? These guys are serious!
Yesterday, the rest of the convenience store and the old Foong Lin restaurant were razed. Demolition continues today at the former shopping center located along Norfolk and Fairmont Avenues in downtown Bethesda.
That's the front door of Foong Lin in one of the photos.
Clark Construction is demolishing the structure to make way for a 17-story luxury apartment building by JBG.
Popular Bethesda Indian restaurant Haandi has changed its name to Kadhai. Menus now describe the kitchen's offerings as "Boutique Indian Cuisine." Now, before you panic, don't worry: all of your favorite dishes are still on the menu. But many new ones have also been added.
What does Kadhai mean?
It refers to an Indian and Pakistani wok. A kadhai is an iron or steel wok that is deeper, thicker and more bowl-like than a Chinese wok. If I recall correctly, Haandi actually had a Chicken Kadhai dish already on the menu.
But many new items have been added, and I thank a very helpful reader for compiling a complete list of the new dishes (and for sending a great side-by-side photo of the Haandi/Kadhai menu covers) that I would not have been able to myself!
So, here is the list:
Palak Chaat -appetizer with baby spinach, tomato, onion in yogurt & tamarind sauce
Goat Biryani -bone-in goat meat in spices, then layered with rice flavored with saffron and nuts
Daal Tadka -Yellow lentils in mild spices
Channa Masala -Chickpeas in north Indian spices
Bhindi Masala -Okra, onion, tomatoes, spices
Goat Kadhai -bone-in goat with tomatoes, green peppers, onions
Hariyali Tikka Tandoori -Chicken marinated in cilantro, and baby spinach sauce
Lasooni Kabab -Chicken marinated in garlic & onion sauce
Goan Shrimp Curry -Jumbo shrimp in chef's medium coconut -milk-based sauce
Goan Fish Curry -Salmon fillet in coconut-milk-based sauce
Goat Curry -Bone-in goat meat with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, green chilies, Indian spices
As you can tell, it will take many visits to try them all. So begin new dining adventures at Kadhai, 7905 Norfolk Avenue, in downtown Bethesda. Reservations: 301-718-0121.
Haandi has reopened on Norfolk Avenue after a long closure and move from its former Fairmont Avenue home. The Indian restaurant is a favorite among locals, and the new spot was once home to Uptown Deli.
Haandi, the much-missed Indian restaurant, will reopen in its new Bethesda location at the end of February.
This was confirmed by an employee at Haandi's Virginia location last evening.
Also last evening, the restaurant removed the paper from its windows that look out onto Norfolk Avenue. Revealed were the new interior design, bar area and gleaming kitchen door. Only about 9-10 days to go!
"The lights are on, but nobody's home."
The story was something like that last night at the new location of Haandi in Bethesda, on Norfolk Avenue. A popular Indian restaurant, Haandi was forced to relocate because its previous home, a Fairmont Avenue shopping center, is being demolished.
Some lights were on, but as you can see from these photos, the grand opening won't be immediate. There still appears to be work to do on the interior. The old Uptown Deli stencils remain on the windows, as well.
Readers often ask about the status of Haandi, so I thought I would post this update. Don't expect an opening this weekend, but at least we are getting some light at the end of the tunnel, and the restaurant is making progress towards opening.
 |
| Click photo to enlarge for detail |
 |
| A sad Post-it Note added to sign at Haandi |
