Minerva Express

I've been coming to Minerva Express and the adjacent grocery store here for a few years now. The grocery store part is solid--everything I've needed for Indian groceries is here. The fresh refrigerator section is great and I've loved getting the fresh okra, fresh eggplant, fresh cilantro, etc. here. My other favorite is the shelf with the selection of different kinds of mixture--mmm love Indian mixture. It is a small store with a lot crammed in so it can be challenging to maneuver the aisles. Luckily when people come in here, they're grabbing what they need and are coming in and out quickly, so you're never on top of anyone for too long. The adjacent restaurant is overall decent. I've ordered a bunch of times from here and the food can be hit or miss. The idly sambar and vada sambar are solid and there's no one else in the Arlington area where you can find those (or I haven't yet...) so whenever my South Indian tastebuds get their craving, I know I can satisfy here. I called in a large carryout order today for $90 worth and was sad to come home to see 1 of the sambars missing and all of the rices that were supposed to accompany the chicken 65, bindi masala, and channa masala missing. Also the chicken biriyani was off--it seemed like it wasn't cooked thoroughly and tasted stale. Also the chicken 65 is nothing like how it's made in India--it was kind to be in a gravy, instead of little fried chicken pieces which is what the menu described. I ordered everything to be mild but some of the items were really spicy. When Indian food is spicy and done right, the flavors come through bold and delicious, but when it's not done right, it's just not enjoyable. Normally I'd just eat a little more raita/yogurt and move on, but part of the meal was supposed to be for my kids who are not spice tolerant. I called the manager who surprisingly was awesome and understanding, and processed a refund for me immediately and apologizing for the issue a few times. Because of the great customer service, I'd continue coming back here.

This place is so good! It's definitely a hole in the wall - don't take a date here if you're looking to impress with aesthetics. I don't recommend eating the place - it's not the most comfortable setting. You walk in (currently the restaurant entrance is closed off) through the grocery store and it's a tight space between the shelves and the countertop. I would suggest calling in your order and then you can take them all home when you come pick up. One thing to note that I did not realize - each order of naan is 1 piece so order accordingly. We got 1 order of garlic naan and 1 regular and only got 1 garlic but 4 regular (assuming because each entree we ordered came with a naan and we ordered 3 entrees).Give this place a try - don't judge it by it's outward appearance!

A hole in the wall Indian restaurant with authentic tasty food! I got the butter chicken and it was phenomenal the flavors were super vibrant and worked well together! There is also a small grocery store next to it that is definitely a must stop on the way out!

Great Indian food near DC. This place is a hole in the wall but the food is outstanding. Do NOT expect 5 star service or ambiance but you can expect amazing indian food. We have tried biriyani from all over the world and Minerva's lamb biriyani is one of the best.They also have a nice little grocery store where you can get all your Indian groceries.

always the very best butter chicken. My go to at least once a week. If you want good food that's ready when they say it will be this is the place.

On those days that I really don't want to make my own meal and I really don't want to spend a couple of Benjamins at Rasika, this is my go-to Indian carryout. I could live off chickpeas and lentils from here.I'd give it another star if parking weren't so challenging. The grocery store really highlights the fact that I need to up my cooking game.

I'm new to this part of Arlington and wanted to find a replacement for my go-to Indian takeout. I was pleasantly surprised by the grocery selection and thought the quantity of food I received in my order was generous. I got a chicken tikka masala which I really enjoyed and had a lot of flavor and really nice meaty chunks and fresh peppers. The lamb biryani wasn't as pleasant - the meat had a lot of gristle - but had excellent flavor, and I'll admit that I'm particularly picky about fatty meat. I probably wouldn't order that particular dish again, but I WILL be returning to try other choices!

Terrible sauce. Picked up food myself. 20 percent more expensive for pick up than on the public menu. Very limited selection. Crowded grocery store. Not everyone wearing a mask. Ripoff. Take out food is 50 percent too expensive. Avoid. A disappointment!

We have been loyal customers for 10 years and loved the food. Something has changed! Are there new owners? Change of chef? Penny pinching? I don't know but the food is NOT as good and we've decided to stop eating there. It's a shame because we want to but it's no longer a good option for us. Both times the Palak Paneer has been watery and bland tasting. Also, no chutneys were included in the to-go bag with the food. When my husband was ordered Chicken Vindaloo the guy behind the counter didn't seem to understand what he was ordering. Oh well...it's been a good run.

Good hole-in-the-wall. It's a small counter restaurant inside of an Indian grocery store. I saw shoppers both times, so it has community support. Tables are tiny and not the most inviting, but you don't seek out these places for ambience. You seek it out for a shot at well-priced, authentic Indian food and this place delivers:The Good-All flavors and spices on point. I did medium spice for everything, and it had the proper Indian style heat with the spices and chili heat cooked into the food throughout the process. Tastes great, the kind of built-in spiced heat that wrecks my stomach every time. Worth it once in a while ;) -20 min. to cook for a large order, no complaints on time-Biryani is very good-Chiken tikka masala and chili chicken are very good-Samosa chaat is EXCELLENT-Naan and rotis were good, but I could see how they might not be unless super fresh. Mine always were. -Dosa was large, fresh, and well made. The Bad-The little man behind the counter is helpful enough...but, ahem, picks himself in various places casually. I get its a cultural thing that I've seen in other parts of the world, but kind of gross when he's handling your food and what not. -Dosa was good and large, but could have been just a bit more crispy to my liking. I'm nitpicking, but that's only because the quality was so good.An Indian friend mentioned the butter chicken is also great here and I believe it. Worth the 10 min. drive for me when I'm craving no-frills Indian!