Nestled next to Chipotle at Tysons Corner Mall, a new Indian fusion restaurant, Dum N Grill, just opened, and it does not disappoint. Among so many tempting choices at the mall, this counter service restaurant truly shines with spicy Indian fusion food and an inviting atmosphere that will have you keep coming back.

In vivid contrast with the rest of the mall, Dum N Grill’s exterior is a bold, bright yellow with highlighting black accents. Inside the restaurant is equally colorful with bright yellow walls, mismatched seat colors, and wall art of different dishes offered at the restaurant. The staff there are extremely friendly and work hard to help customers with food accommodations and recommendations. While the tables weren’t the cleanest and the restaurant was more designed for takeout, overall the restaurant offered a pleasant dining environment.

Vijayawada Special Chicken Biryani – 8.5/10

Visually, this dish was one of the most appealing of the dishes I ordered. Topped with sliced onion, cilantro, and a lemon, the biryani had a nice dimension to it. Flavor wise the dish really delivered. It had a strong spicy kick, with aromatic spices singing throughout the dish. The chicken was tender and retained lots of delicious flavor. Accompanying the biryani, there were an array of sauces which added nice tart and earthy notes to the dish. The biryani was definitely on the larger side, so I recommend sharing it with a few people or buying one for fantastic leftovers.

Garlic Naan – 6.5/10

Presentation wise, the naan was stunning with fire singed edges and a buttery garlic glaze on top of it, however how it tasted was another story. While the quality of the naan was great with a fantastic texture and flavor, the garlic, cilantro, and butter topping wasn’t the most appealing. The garlic tasted overly biting like it hadn’t been properly cooked, taking away from the otherwise fantastic flavor.

Butter Chicken – 7/10

All in all, the butter chicken was OK. It included seasonal vegetables in it, which were nice, and it incorporated a large selection of spices. However, the chicken didn’t have the same heat as the biryani to amplify the flavor. The portion size was also relatively small compared to the biryani, which could be purchased for a similar price. While it was enjoyable to eat, I would probably pass on this next time and get one of the spicier, more complex dishes that offer a lot more bang for buck.

Overall Dum N Grill offers great service and good food, making it a worthwhile lunch or dinner stop at the mall. While it isn’t the best for dining in, the food is definitely worth trying, and could be a favorite for those who love an extra kick of spice in every meal.