Leigh D.
Yelp
INTRODUCTION:
Continuing my photo series representing March is Jewel of India. So, fun fact my girlfriend likes me reading my Yelp reviews. She really enjoys Yelp stories I tell. She said after our Saturday, March 16 visit here, I can't wait until you get around to Jewel of India & that story, well now getting around to this review in late August 2024! Although she might not hear my Jewel of India review until 2025 as I've been reading them chronologically & only up to January 2019.
BACKGROUND TO MARCH 16 & WHY WE ENDED UP AT JEWEL OF INDIA FOR DINNER:
Earlier that day, we met up with group of friends at Wharf in DC for St. Patty's weekend event. One of our friends (certainly not a close friend to either of us) is known for inviting herself or just showing up to stuff she wasn't invited to but sees or hears about. She invited us to look at these cool cherry blossoms up by E St. Her boyfriend or her drove there, while my g/f & I took Metro. We were considering going with them but didn't care that much about cherry blossoms, which we saw some in the Wharf area & have seen cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin before & in MD. Plus, it would've been inconvenient to have to walk to some other Metro that wouldn't've been Green line back to Greenbelt where I was parked.
As we were walking to L'Enfant Metro, she calls my g/f to see what we were doing for dinner & in general. My g/f was too nice giving too much info & probably shouldn't answered call & let alone talked for over 10 minutes. Frankly, we hadn't fully decided what we were doing for dinner, but we wanted to get out of DC back to MD for dinner plus we had something else going on after dinner in MD too.
While on Metro, my g/f & I discussed various dinner options. Meanwhile, this friend is texting with my g/f to find out more info. I said let's try Jewel of India in Hillandale. It's only 9 minutes from Greenbelt Metro once we get to my car, & this place has excellent reviews on Yelp.
Now, we both assumed we were going to a place far enough away from downtown DC area, she lives somewhere in DC I think, & her boyfriend lives way down in Woodbridge, VA. So, I thought for sure she would say Hillandale is too far out of the way, but she said she will see us there. We were already near College Park on Metro at this point, & we were like she's going to be so far behind timewise. It'll take at least 45 minutes for her to trek to Jewel of India. We said she is derailing what was supposed to be a nice relaxing dinner for just two of us.
Worse, we left train at Greenbelt & fare gate, & I realized my Washington Capitals hat was gone. It must've fallen off somewhere on Metro without me realizing because I had it while waiting at L'Enfant. I told Metro attendant, he let me back in & ran up there. I tried to look in train car still there, but didn't see. I got info for Lost & Found. I was very upset losing this hat as my girlfriend got it for me as I had lost the Caps hat I had just 2 weeks earlier. The Metro Lost & Found never found it. The good news is that other hat I lost in early March I found in a weird corner in my car later.
RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE & UNPLANNED DOUBLE DATE:
Despondent with her inviting herself to what we was supposed to be our nice peaceful dinner & worse losing hat, we finally arrived. It had a beautiful entry with a bar area on left. It was fancy looking with nice tables/chairs & comfortable lighting. I told host it'd be 4, but the other 2 might be a lot later.
We were seated. Server was very nice & attentive getting us water, seeing if we wanted anything else, & how everything was. We were content with splitting appetizer & entree as I had lost my appetite somewhat due to how I was feeling night had been going. I know server would've gotten our food orders sooner, but because we were waiting on them, that delayed our eating. Thankfully, we weren't that hungry. Plus, we got samosas before they got there.
They arrived more than 30 minutes after we arrived! We got our food order quickly once they arrived. Besides friendliness of staff, entree & Garlic Naan we got was incredible, which a lamb one. The Samosas we had earlier were delicious too. I wish I took a pic of entree, but I was just ready to eat at that point.
But I did get a pic of dessert. We opted to get dessert as we asked about mango lassi & server said it's good but mango dessert is better. So we opted for that which was solid. Our double date got some ice cream one. They shared some (as did we), & honestly we liked theirs even more than ours.
CONCLUSION:
In spite of not looking forward to this unplanned double date, surprisingly, we had a very good time in spite of some circuitous rambling stories; it was still entertaining overall, were pleasant, & enjoyable. We felt better afterward, & we also talked about how great the food & service was and how it'd be good anniversary dinner or another time in general.