Pista House Indian Cuisine - Reston

I visited this restaurant for Haleem after a 45-minute drive, but I was disappointed. The taste and portion size didn't justify the price. Even the fried onions seemed pre-packaged, as they weren't properly fried. I would rate the Haleem a 2.5 out of 5. Next, I tried the Chicken 65, and it was a mixed bag—half of it was overcooked while the other half was undercooked, and the flavor was lacking. Finally, I ordered the Chicken Dum Biryani, but it didn't have the authentic "dum" cooking technique. Overall, it was not a great experience.

I had an absolutely fantastic experience! The lunch buffet was unique because it wasn’t self-serve; instead, it was served directly to our table from large family-style bowls. The meal consisted of dinner-sized portions that were continuously brought out, almost like enjoying a ten-course gourmet dinner. You could pick and choose your favorites, and if you wanted more of a particular dish, you could easily request it. This was, without a doubt, the best dining experience I've ever had! A special thanks to Krishna, our server!

We were seated in the corner by the window, and unfortunately, there was barely any air circulation. Although we requested a fan, it still didn't provide much relief. Overall, the food was good, but we couldn't fully enjoy our meal because of the lack of air conditioning.

This is based on a egg biryani order, sumptuous meal. The melange of dry spices, fried onion shone through while the rice was balanced soft yet firm. The coriander leaves, red masala played out in the background. Best part was the shallow fried eggs, extra star for giving 3 eggs. Either the chef took the reviews seriously or they improved their game.

I came all the way from Maryland and hoped this restaurant would be great. But I ordered 3 biryani's one tasted like Sambar rice, the other two didn't even have biryani smell or taste. I took Pepsi which was at room temperature. Totally disappointed.