Chai Pani completely blew me away and is easily going on my must-visit list every time I'm in DC…read more This was such a fun celebration of Indian street food, with every dish delivering incredible flavor. We ordered the sloppy jai (lamb sliders), lamb skewers, SPDP (sev puri/dahi puri), vada pav, chai with Parle-G biscuits, and jal jeera. Everything was fantastic, but the chai with Parle-G was pure nostalgia and brought back so many memories! The lamb dishes were flavorful and perfectly cooked, while the street food favorites were packed with the kind of bold flavors you'd expect from a great Indian chaat spot. Service was exceptional. The staff were attentive, friendly, and I especially appreciated that the servers actually pronounced the Indian dishes correctly--a small detail that made the experience even better. The vibe is lively, colorful, and incredibly welcoming. We went for lunch with a reservation, and I'd definitely recommend making one. They also have a pani puri stall on weekends, which is another reason to come back. Absolutely loved this place and can't wait to return the next time I'm in DC!

The beauty of all the decorations are captivating and then you walk in and see not only more…read moredesigns but you smell the food!!! Came in without a reservation and luckily it wasn't too busy and we were able to get a seat at the bar. Ordered several vegetarian options and when they came out I was not disappointed. If you are not into spicy foods, make sure to let them know for every dish you need if down a notch or just inquiry ask, some of the dishes are spicy. The spicy ketchup they have can also be spicy to some. Remember they also have hours that they close after a portion of linch time, and reopen around dinner time. All in all, I will be back again!!

I came here last Valentines Day and was so pleased. It was romantic, they handed out roses and…read moreballoons, and treated us with so much care. The food was incredible. Especially their palak chaat. Never had anything like it. They were so attentive and helped make my most-cynical holiday a lovely time.

Rasika is a restaurant I really wanted to love, especially given its reputation, and the food…read moredefinitely delivered--but unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired. We were a large group and ordered a wide variety of dishes including the lamb roll, lamb chops, palak chaat, paneer tikka, crab, shrimp curry, and the Everything Mango dessert. The food was delicious across the board, with plenty of bold flavors and beautifully prepared dishes. The downside is that it comes at a fairly high price, so I expected the overall experience to match the quality of the food. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest disappointment. We had made our reservation several days in advance for a large group, yet our server seemed to be rushing us from the moment we sat down. Even while choosing our wine, we were repeatedly pushed to make a decision rather than being given time to look through the options. It felt unnecessarily rushed and pushy, which really put a damper on what should have been a special group dinner. The atmosphere is lovely, with a sophisticated and ambient setting that works well for special occasions. Given the prices, though, I expected much more polished service. Great food, but the rushed service left a bad taste and unfortunately overshadowed an otherwise delicious meal.

Wow! We had such an amazing experience at Goat Room Indian Cuisine! Being from the Bay Area, where…read morewe have some incredible Indian food, I came in with high expectations--and this place completely exceeded them. Every dish was packed with rich, authentic flavors and perfectly balanced spices. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Korma, Shrimp Korma, garlic naan, cheese naan, plain naan, fragrant rice, and tea. The owner also recommended an appetizer, and we're so glad we listened because it was absolutely delicious! The service was just as outstanding as the food. The owner personally checked on us several times, made thoughtful recommendations, and made us feel so welcome. Our waiter was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. If you're looking for authentic, flavorful Indian cuisine with exceptional hospitality, this is the place. We loved every bite and can't wait to come back. Highly recommend!

Great service, delicious food, and a great central location. The GOAT Room looks to give you the…read moreGreatest Of All Time experience and their food will certainly have me coming back. The Palaak chaat was packed with flavor, lamb samosas were really tasty, and I also enjoyed the spinach rolls. They have a number of share and signature dishes and Indian-fusion cocktails. The outdoor patio was nestled near a beautiful garden and the interior was modern and chic. Looking forward to another visit and coming back with a larger appetite.

This place is so good!! When we walked in there was only one other table with customers, and I…read morewondered if I had made a mistake. However, by the time we left they were packed, and everyone there enjoyed the bright atmosphere, attentive waitstaff, and delicious food. We tried several dishes--we got the fried chili buff momos. I will definitely get. Them again, but steamed. Honestly, I think that I could make an entire meal of momos. We got veggie samosas--standard--crisp, plump, a little salty, and good. We also got a creamy chicken dish and an okra (bhindi) dish. Both were very good. The service was exemplary--there was a team of four or five dedicated staff who rotated through with dishes and takeaways. Oh! I almost forgot the garlic naan--some of the best I have had. Definitely stop in and give this place some love!!

We were actually looking for another restaurant in the area when we chanced upon this…read more This is not fast food. It may take awhile to get to the table but it was delicious. They tried to tone down some of the dishes as the hubster is a non-spicy person. The stuff still spicy , he stayed away from. We ordered a meal set for two to try a little bit of everything. We aren't experts in this type of cuisine, but there wasn't anything we didn't like. With the meal for 2 plus a side order of naan, we ended up making 2 lunch take out plates for us. I wasn't super hungry so that probably resulted in us taking more home. It was great, quiet and we'd come here again!

We ordered a Thali. Everything was delicious, and the service was very good. I can't wait to return.read more

So darn yummy! Food-…read morehonestly the best flavored Indian food takeout in dc. (I've never eaten inside) the food is flavorful and interesting. Inside- the decor is nice and appeared to be clean. Service- I ordered takeout and food was ready when they said. * I do feel like the portions got smaller and priced higher, but what you gonna do!

Had a wonderful time at Pappe for dinner the night before, service was on point and matched the…read moreoutstanding quality of food we had, will definitely return and will spread the word! This is a hidden gem in DC if you have a niche for Indian cuisine.

I went to Pappe in DC for happy hour with a friend and had such a great time. I originally wanted…read moreto go because I saw they had a $24 butter chicken meal deal that comes with a glass of wine or beer, and it definitely did not disappoint from 5-7. The butter chicken was AMAZING -- super flavorful, rich, and honestly a really generous portion. It was easily enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day, which made the deal even better. During happy hour they also have $3, $8, and $10 bites, and $10 margaritas, which is such a great value. I tried one of the $3 bites and it was so flavorful and well done. Honestly sooooo good! It was the vegetable Samosa and it's soooo good! The whole experience was great and the food had so much flavor. This was my first time coming here, but it definitely won't be my last. It honestly feels like a bit of a hidden gem for happy hour in DC.

Jab We Met remains a must try in DC Indian cuisine!…read more If you're on date night, catching up with friends, in a group or just looking for tasty take out, Jab We Met checks all the boxes. Lively atmosphere, with modern decor and great music at all times. Best of all the food is ever evolving with Indian favorites and inventive new plates!

This place is a solid high 3*, but I bumped it up to 4* because they have good customer service,…read moreoffer a lunch special, happy hour, and discounts on dinner during the week and takeout. Considering there is a 5* Indian restaurant across the street, it is difficult to not compare this restaurant to it. Jab We Met has your customary authentic Indian cuisine, however, in typical American fashion some of the flavor and heat is dialed down or inconsistent. The first time I visited, I was left wanting more in the flavor department. I asked for spicy, and although what I received would be considered spicy to some, it wasn't nearly as spicy as I expected for Indian cuisine. The depth of flavor can be inconsistent, although for American standards it is perfect. What I've experienced with some Indian restaurants is the flavor level depends on how close the batch is to almost empty. I've experienced some restaurants stretch their gravies by adding stock/water. Jab We Met seems to take pride in serving consistent gravy texture and consistency. The customer service is always good. The inside has an upscale decor, fitting for Capitol Hill and not your traditional Indian restaurant. There is a full size bar and window seating.The lunch special is perhaps the best value here. I'll continue to visit.

A pleasant lunch experience for a first visit! My childhood friend and I met there after the lunch…read morerush at 1pm. Ordering from the kiosk was easy and the staff was very helpful with answering questions and making suggestions too. I got the BahuBali burger and it was HUGE! This dish is bursting with flavor! My friend ordered a chicken wrap and he said it was really good but, could not finish it. I made sure to order some butter chicken to take home for my wife to enjoy! There is plenty of space to dine in and they are mindful to make sure you have everything you need if you have a takeout order. The vibe is relaxed and the orders look very much like the pictures. There is even a tv monitor on the wall for you to view how some of the popular dishes are prepared!

This food is awful. It's very water down lacks any real flavor. They don't even serve you a plate…read morebut a to go tray. Do not get the butter chicken. It's overpriced for the value and the taste.

I came here for dinner on Sunday. It turns out they have happy hour everyday so we got some happy…read morehour specials. Everything was great. For the side dal buratta, I don't think the buratta did much to add to the dish. Everything else was great though. My favorite was the scallops and bison momo. The service was great. It was quite crowded on the patio, so service was a little slow but the staff provided wonderful recommendations. The patio was also very comfortable and well-spaced. I would definitely come back to try more restaurants!

July 2026: My wife and I recently ordered takeout from Daru after not having been in a few years…read moreand were pleased to find that it was just as outstanding at it was three years ago. We shared the malai paneer lasagna, which was rich, creamy, and flavorful. I got the murgh makhani as my main dish and it was fantastic-perfectly cooked, great flavor, amazing portion size, and creamy. I highly recommend Daru and look forward to returning! February 2023: An absolutely outstanding experience from start to finish in every way. Daru is the rare restaurant to exceed the tremendous hype it has. My friend and my amazing experience started the day before, when Daru asked us if anyone in our party had any food restrictions, which my friend did. When we arrived for our weeknight reservation, we were seated immediately. What distinguishes Daru from almost anywhere I've been is that our server gave us a paper menu with the dishes my friend could eat based on the listed dietary restrictions starred-above and beyond service. The rest of our service was similarly excellent, with our server making some excellent recommendations that allowed us to try the dishes we wanted and additional dishes in the most cost-efficient way. Our dishes were delivered in a timely manner and the meal itself was extremely affordable. Daru adds an automatic 20% charge to all checks and tells you on the menu; our experience was worth all of that gratuity. The food itself was incredible-a modernist take on Indian cuisine. Everything my friend and I had was good and ranged from fine to incredible. I recommend sharing 4-5 small and large plates per two people like my friend and I did to enjoy as many dishes as possible. Black Dal Burrata-my least favorite dish of the evening, but still fine. The lentils could have had a bit more flavor and the dish needed a side of rice, but the burrata was rich and creamy. Bread basket: The za'atar naan was fine but no need to order it, as the garlic naan was outstanding. The parota was good but needed more butter or oil. Chutneys and sauces: My favorites were the sour cherry chutney, the chimichurri, and tomato-szechuan. I love spicy food but the habenero-kashimir chili overwhelmed overwhelmed any other flavors. Blue Cheese Reshmi Kebab-One of Daru's most recommended and unique dishes, it lives up to the hype. The chicken was well-cooked, the cashew provides crunch, the cheese umami, and the sour cherry sauce complemented everything perfectly. Striped Bass Paturi: Simply outstanding. Perfectly cooked fish with good spice, greens, and creaminess. Some of the best bass I've ever had. I highly recommend Daru for your next special occasion and make sure to book well in advance if you want a reservation between 6-9 PM-there are many reasons Daru is this popular! Things to note: 1. Daru is small and it can be hard to hear at times. 2. The surrounding neighborhood isn't the safest-I would recommend not coming alone at night and taking a rideshare after dark if possible (avoid public transit and parking nearby) 3. The lot next to Daru is currently a construction zone, so you may see a rat or two if you are at Daru after dark and sitting by the window. This is beyond Daru's control; something to note for the next few months if you go there.

This was my first experience at a Michelin star restaurant. I opted to try the chef's tasting menu!…read more Service was beyond my expectations. I don't eat pork, so they made reasonable accommodations. I saw online that they're know for the happy hour and fun drinks! I did try a mocktail that paired really well well my dinner. Let's get into the food. I tried tuna tartare for the first time. I was nervous before I had never eaten that type of food. LOVED IT. because I had so many courses, I'll speak on my favorites. The Lamb Kebab was superb! I'd over it again on Wednesday's when they have à la carte. The dessert, the chocolate tart, remarkable. I'd definitely eat that again! The restaurant itself was very clean! It would be great for a date night! I did go by myself to fully enjoy the experience, but I'd love to return with a special someone!

Went to Rania for my husbands birthday. He loves Indian food so I felt an upscale Indian experience…read morewould be fun. We did the chefs tasting course with the wine pairing. Every course was very well cooked and a wide variety of flavors, etc. However we were a bit perplexed by some of the courses feeling non Indian (tuna tartare for example) and hoped for more elevated classics from Indian cuisine. Overall the food was good! Unfortunately we were disappointed by the service. There were no aspects of it that represented a Michelin star level dining experience. After sitting it took a while to first be approached by our server, we were given incorrect food at one point, slow to clear our table and glassware (empty glasses and plates sat for longer than normal), table not wiped in between courses when crumbs, etc appeared. Some of things would be fine on a regular night, at a standard restaurant. But not acceptable for a Michelin rated restaurant and for the prices that we paid.