A local Indian restaurant founded by an Old Town couple is celebrating the start of a new chapter in Alexandria.
After about 18 months of planning and renovations, Sundara Indian Restaurant & Cafe is reopening in a new space on the ground floor of 1320 Braddock Place in Suite 105. It’s a hard-earned milestone for the business, which grappled with unexpected delays and rising renovation costs to reopen after departing from an Arlington VFW post in summer 2024, following a zoning dispute.
The owners, husband-wife duo Mary Ardolino and Subheesh Manikoth, cut the ribbon on their new space at Braddock Metro Center alongside the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and City Councilwoman Jacinta Greene this morning (Wednesday).
“Thank you for coming out, guys,” Ardolino said through tears of joy, handling the giant scissors. “We’re so excited. We love this area.”
Sundara initially began as a small catering business before opening a carryout inside Arlington’s John Lyon VFW Post 3150 — but Ardolino and Manikoth, a longtime chef with previous stints at Cordelia Fishbar and the former Punjab Grill in D.C., had always dreamed of something bigger.
“We’re passionate about our business, we’re passionate about food, and we really like to help people give back to the community,” Ardolino said. “We want to be involved in Alexandria, you know, support the city and the community.”
The couple said their larger Alexandria kitchen will allow for an expanded menu. Manikoth intends to pull on influences from his hometown of Thalassery, a city on India’s southern Malabar Coast. Highlights include biryani made with kaima, an aromatic variety of short-grain rice from Kerala, India.
The new Sundara also plans to offer American and Northern Indian cuisine as well as fusion dishes. Breakfast and lunch menus will feature American and Indian cuisine, while dinner will spotlight Indian cooking.
A brunch menu and a bar with beers, wines and cocktails are also in development, Ardolino said, and Sundara takes custom catering orders across multiple cuisines, with options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
Officially opening on Saturday, Sundara is replacing a vacancy left by Mandi Mediterranean Bistro, on the ground floor of the facility that the U.S. Department of Agriculture previously announced plans to vacate. It’s also nestled close by to Alexandria City Public Schools’ Central Office at 1340 Braddock Place.
Ardolino and Manikoth said the restaurant can seat about 60 people inside across 3,975 square feet. In warmer days, they hope to introduce outdoor seating for about 50 guests.
The couple said co-owning a business has its ups and downs. Unexpected delays and “unavoidable increases in renovation and build-out costs” made reopening more financially difficult than they expected. A fundraiser for the business has raised over $400 of a $20,000 goal since late last month.
However, through everything, the couple say they always try to put the restaurant first. Its name means “beautiful” in Sanskrit, a compliment Ardolino said Manikoth gives her often.
Greene, who also works as an independent marketing consultant, said it’s important for the city to support small business owners, “making sure that they not only survive, but they thrive here.”
Sundara plans to open from 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. From Saturday to Wednesday, Feb. 18, in-person guests will be given a 10% discount to celebrate the opening.
“Our previous customers have really supported us and have been waiting for us to open, so we truly appreciate them,” Ardolino said.
