McNair/Reston: Masti Indian Restaurant Opens, Cricket Ground Faces Development Review
Two developments are drawing attention in the South Asian community of Northern Virginia: a celebrated restaurateur has opened a new Indian restaurant in the heart of Reston, and Fairfax County supervisors have begun evaluating whether the area's most-used cricket ground could be redeveloped for housing.
Masti Indian Restaurant Brings Fun and Flavor to Reston Town Center
A new South Asian-owned restaurant is making its mark on Northern Virginia's dining scene. Masti Indian Restaurant has opened at 1825 Discovery St. in the heart of Reston Town Center, housed within the Hyatt Hotel and offering views of the center's covered plaza and seasonal ice skating rink. The name Masti, which translates to fun in Hindi, reflects the restaurant's convivial spirit and intention to provide a lively dining experience for the region's large South Asian community. Masti is the latest venture from Chef Ram Thapa, the restaurateur behind two Indochen restaurants in Alexandria. For this project, Thapa has partnered with co-owner Kumar KC, who is heading day-to-day operations. Together they bring years of experience serving the region's sizable Indian-American community alongside a broader Northern Virginia clientele that has developed a strong appetite for authentic Indian cuisine. The restaurant's arrival is significant for the McNair and Loudoun-Fairfax corridor, where a large Indian-American tech workforce has built deep roots over the past two decades. Masti joins a growing collection of Indian dining establishments that reflect the diaspora community's expanding culinary influence across NoVA. By situating itself in a high-traffic Reston Town Center hotel location, the new venture is positioned to serve both long-time South Asian diners seeking familiar flavors and newcomers eager to explore Indian cuisine. [1]
Dulles Greene Cricket Ground Faces Possible Conversion to Affordable Housing
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a proposal to evaluate whether the Dulles Greene Cricket Ground could be redeveloped as an affordable housing site, raising concerns among the South Asian cricket community that has long depended on the field. Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust introduced the measure at a board meeting, describing the 9.63-acre county-owned parcel at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive as an opportunity for transit-oriented affordable housing. The cricket ground has served as a crucial recreational and cultural gathering space for the area's large South Asian community, particularly the Indian-American population centered in nearby McNair, Ashburn, and the broader Loudoun County technology corridor. Cricket is deeply embedded in the cultural identity of the diaspora, and the Dulles Greene field has provided a key venue for leagues and casual players alike. The proposal does not guarantee redevelopment; Fairfax County must still conduct a full study of the site's suitability for housing. However, the possibility has focused community attention on the tension between the county's affordable housing needs and the recreational and cultural spaces that South Asian and other immigrant communities rely upon. The outcome of this review could have significant implications for cricket players, community organizers, and civic leaders across the greater McNair and Herndon area. [2]