The Essence by JohnNNair,Indian Carryout

Great spot! Good prices, large portions, good customer service. Personally for me, the fish could have used more spices and salt but it had a homemade taste and was still quite good. Glad to have Indian food in the area.

Absolutely thrilled with The Essence carryout in the DC metro area! Their catering and takeout services are top-notch. The highlight of their menu is the authentic South Indian dishes, especially the lamb stew and fresh appam. The flavors are rich and satisfying, making every meal a delight.

Their service is exceptional, showcasing professionalism and a genuine passion. The staff is always courteous and attentive, ensuring a seamless experience from ordering to delivery. The pricing is excellent, offering great value for such high-quality food.

This carryout has become the go-to for all my catering needs, as well as for my friends'. Every order has been a hit, with guests raving about the delicious food. If you're looking for authentic South Indian food in the DC area, look no further. Highly recommended!

I recommend this place for Authentic Indian food. We ordered food for the Mother of Miracles, 25th Annual Celebrations at National Shrine on May 25 2024 for more than 300 people. The food was absolutely delicious, far exceeds our expectations and excellent service, (delivery etc.) at a reasonable price. Will recommend this place for all your catering needs. Love it👍👍👍👍👍

OMG thank you for finally bringing us healthy choices to the food swamp of District Heights. It is a very clean carry out with extremely pleasant and patient people to assist with your selections. If you like spicy and freshly cooked delicious food , this place is a must try. If you’re not into the spicy, they do offer mild versions of their dishes and a delectable handcrafted fresh mango drink made in house to cool down the heat of the spices. If you’re not into Indian cuisine, no worries they have American selections of chicken wings, nuggets, fried shrimp and burgers for you. The portions are big and the prices are very reasonable. Essence you’re new to the neighborhood, please continue the standard of excellence you began with to have great success.

I would first like to say this place has hands down the best customer service I have ever experienced. I called in my order and the lady on the phone was knowledgeable of the menu and able to explain the items I was curious about. She also explained that the food was made to order so it would be a 30 minute wait which I am fine with. I arrived to the restaurant about 10mins before my food was ready and was politely greeted. The lady at the front offered me some extra sauces which I appreciate. I really liked the spicy mayo and there was also a dark slightly sweet sauce that was really good. I’m not sure of the name. They provided utensils and napkins and even gave out a free sample of dessert which was tasty. Not my favorite texture but I definitely won’t complain.

Now the food. I ordered veggie samosas and 2 orders of the pompano fish. The fish was cooked to perfection! Perfectly seasoned, meaty, flavorful, and delicious! It was so good I forgot to take pictures. But I will definitely be back to try other things on the menu and will update with pics then.
I highly recommend anyone reading this review, if you’re on the fence. Just go!! You won’t be disappointed.