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I walked in - literally, as all the roads were blocked from the Grand Prix - and loved the decor and the vibe. I wasn't sure what to expect as I love Indian food but don't associate it with fancy. I was wrong. The food was gorgeous and flavorful. The service was matter of fact - maybe a bit abrupt at points - but efficient. We didn't do the chefs tasting - thank goodness! We were stuffed with the 4 courses. My favorite was honestly the amuse bouche fritter with some sort of chutney and roe and the sides that came with our main. The basmati rice was so flavorful and we loved the crispy breads. Delicious!
My bestie treated me to a beautiful four-course dinner service here for my birthday. The first thing that hit us about our experience was the impeccable service. Every staff member greeted us kindly and the manager who led our service made sure we felt at home. The interior was beautiful as well - ornate without being overwhelming. We got settled in and ordered cocktails, which as another reviewer said were experiences in and of themselves! We moved on to selecting our dinner options. For our first courses we had to try to gobhi Manchurian, and the murruku chat. For the second we tried the lamb cheela, delicious and served in a crepe, and tried the Chana masala panisse, a French take (I think) on a traditional dish. For mains we couldn't pass up the house-made paneer, and the beef short rib. For dessert we were lucky enough to taste all of them as my birthday gift. I loved our time at Rania and am looking forward to another occasion to go and try more dishes. The food is really lovely, with plenty of dishes I think many are familiar with though they are doing elevated takes and incorporating some other (French?) culinary influences.
Food was pretty good but it didn't have the authentic Indian flavoring that we had expected. The food was all served at the appropriate temperatures and we enjoyed everything that we ate. At the 3rd course, all meals come with rice and naan. Service was good although i felt like the servers really pushed for you to buy the expensive items on the menu instead of how the items tasted. I was thoroughly impressed with the presentation of everything. The ambiance was very elegant and romantic. Although the bathrooms were dirty and needed cleaned and updated. The one bathroom had waterlines exposed. Both were out of paper towels.
We did the 7 course chefs tasting menu with wine pairing. What a fantastic time! Food was great! Edwin our server was amazing!
This Michelin star indian restaurant has been on my bucket list for so long!! Getting reservations was easy, we tried a week ahead of time and there were many spots for a Saturday night. We opted for the 4 course menu ($90) or you can do the chefs tasting menu ($175) Each course had a vegetarian option which I loved. We were started off with Amouse bouche, sabudana vada which was mind blowing! Some of our favorite dishes were Gobhi Manchurian, shrimp Koliwada, Chana masala panisse, beef short rib with saffron nihari. For Dessert we had kesari mango and chocolate tart with masala chai ice cream, both were great. My only concern is that the staff needs to be trained in explaining the dish when it is brought to us. There seemed a language barrier, they explained very quickly and left before we could ask any questions. Our main server just took the order and got my wine. He never came to explain any food. We ordered masala chai, but it never came despite reminders. Parking can be hard, there are 2 garages, one closes at 10 pm. The other one is open until later but it's quite a walk and we paid $25 to park for 2 hours.
Stopped in for their restaurant week brunch special with a group of friends and had a mostly delightful experience. A few things we enjoyed; - the decor and ambiance is really lovely! - our server was great! Made sure those doing the bottomless mimosa option were never without. Also offered great recommendations. - most of the dishes on the brunch restaurant week menu were GREAT! The Daal stole the show! The shrimp Koliwada was our 2nd favorite and the lamb dish was the third. A few duds, but overall, food was a solid 4. Reason for 4 and not 5: wasn't in love with everything, a few dishes fell flat. Toward the end of our meal...JUST after we finished our dessert, we were told they needed the table despite there being MULTIPLE open 4 tops in the restaurant. Overall, I'm looking forward to returning to try more of the menu!
We've come to Rania probably half a dozen times since it opened, but last night was the first time we tried the full chef's tasting menu. Holy. Smokes. Certainly the best meal I've had in DC in years, which includes meals at Jont and P&P in the past several months. Unquestionably the best Indian meal I've had on Earth. The parade of dishes does not have a low point, which is incredible given the range of "mains" from chicken, to sable fish, to lamb taco, to pork cheek. Each dish shows clear French influence - we had most of the five sauces at least once - but with clear, vibrant warmth from Indian spices. Even at places like Eleven Madison and Le Bernardin, there's usually a miss or two. Not last night. Which brings me to the question: why not two Stars? Three? I think some of the answer comes back to ambiance and service. The chef's tasting does not have a dedicated space, flow, or timing. The rhythm of it can be somewhat offbeat with the constant arrival of over-the-top cocktails at the tables around you. And also, it has honestly felt like many of the waitstaff were "in training" on each of our recent visits. I know staff turnover is real and constant, and the staff last night were all perfectly kind, but I think there's a level of consistent experience - "worth a detour" - that has to elevate even perfect food beyond itself to garner the higher levels. Anyway, never mind that. And don't change a thing about the food or presentations. World class.
Two of us went for dinner on a Tuesday night a couple weeks before Christmas. Could have made a reservation but we weren't sure if we wanted to do the set menu or order a la carte (the latter only being served at the bar) so we wanted the option. After looking at the menus we decided on eating at the bar. Food was great -interesting ingredients and combinations, flavors were amazing. I especially enjoyed the fried rice and the lamb shank which was easily enjoyed with a fork (no knife needed!). The Michelin star seems well deserved!
Rania is a Michelin Star Indian restaurant and my experience here lets me know that it was well deserved. We came here for our anniversary and booked the Chef's Menu dinner experience. Our server was exceptionally nice & patient with us as this was our first time there. They do as for any food accommodations, which is nice. I'm not sure if they can adjust menu items completely (non veg to veg). We opted out of the wine pairing and ordered cocktails- highly recommend as their drinks are curated beautifully and tastefully. The food portions are perfect! They kept you content until the next item. We absolutely loved each plate and the Chef's play with known Indian spices and styles of cooking and making it modern. The ambiance is very stylishly done. There's a bar with bar seating, a private dining area/space that can be booked. Towards the back the restaurant opens up to a cozy dining area with lots of seating. If you're wondering if the Chef's Menu is worth it, I'm here to tell you it is. The dishes are carefully made to be packed with different levels of intensity and flavor, they pair well with one another and you leave feeling quite full. We were told that this menu was the icing on the cake for obtaining their star.
Easy to get reservations online. The interior ambiance is high end, super beautiful clean with the stone decorations on the walls, the marble like tables. There's areas for small groups and large groups and private rooms if needed The most affordable One Star Michelin Experience I've ever had. There the 4 course pre-fix meal at $90 per person. This is way cheaper than any other one Star Michelin Experience. The service was top notch. Drinks and cocktails were so good. Probably some of the best I've ever had. Exceptional food presentation. Curry kick $12- fresh tangerine juice with club soda. Super super good, refreshing. Sweet with hint of tart. Kharbooza $12- honeydew juice with wasabi foam- you don't taste the wasabi I think it helps give the color. This super good. Sea pear serpent $20- excellent presentation, it comes out with dry ice and incense. The drink is very subtle with the gin, not too sweet. Golden mantra $25- whisky but has karat gold flakes. Make me famous- angel envy whiskey. Comes with this cool incense smoke. Prince Edward Island Oysters- 6 oysters with hollandaise sauce. A little salty, cooked oysters. Nargisi kafta, quail egg, truffle cream- the cream sauce was good. The kafta and quail egg was a good combination. Lamb cheela- very interesting concept, light, multilayer flavors. The meat flavor was good. Diver scallops with curry- scallops cooked perfectly. The curry super good The naan- acceptable. I like that they were thin. The rice and lentil side dish- this was the best dish. The lentil side dish was super super good, it was creamy, tomatoes like flavor with some sour cream. I would get this again. Beef short rib- average short rib. Meat was t that soft. I wish it was more soft. The sauce was okay.. Lamb shank- the meat was super soft and cooked well. The sauce was odd a little bitter for my taste. I didn't like this dish. Kesari mangle with the brittle was super good- multiple textures. Mango was tart. Shirkhand mousse- a little sweet. There's a layer of sugar you can break. Very unique. I would get this again.
Innovative cocktails that come out with a show, delicious prefixe four course meal, thoughtful wine pairings for a reasonable price given the caliber of service and food quality! Oh and did I mention this is Indian cuisine? A 10/10 experience for a special night out. Highly recommend.
Dinner at Rania was such a unique experience that allows you to experience Indian cuisine in a different way than the classic dishes that are typically served. My friend and I came here on a Saturday night and started with a cocktail. When I tell you we were UNPREPARED for the drink delivery I am not exaggerating. It was such an unexpected bit of whimsy and we loved it! The entire tasting menu was so exquisitely done and delicious. I don't think there was a single item that we didn't like. Unexpectedly, the Duck was one of our favorite dishes of the night, which we almost didn't even order! My one down side was at the time of our visit, the sommelier had recently left so they had no one on staff to discuss wines. Typically this is fine - we'd make due.. but our waiter was very insistent and overly confident about what we'd like can kept opening bottles telling us this is what we wanted. He was very wrong multiple times and eventually we just had to ask him to stop to google the wine list ourselves. Overall this was still an amazing dinner and we'll 100% come back.
Rania was a delightful experience. The well-thought out flavors was an elevated twist to the typical Indian dishes and a experience for my taste buds. The service was quick, and the ambiance very romantic with intimate candlelight.
This was a wonderful place to celebrate our anniversary. The interiors are beautiful and set the vibe right when you walk in. If you are expecting the classic Indian spread presented in the classic Indian way you will be disappointed. This isn't that place, and that's ok! This is Indian with modern spin, so go in expecting the same keep an open mind. For the drinks, you whiskey people will like the make me famous: the flavor profile is as if an old fashioned and Manhattan had a baby. Just keep in mind it's not a lot for the size of the glass. Still worth it because of the unique flavor profile If you prefer a lighter drink, try the Sakura zen zen: very floral. Not too sweet but also not overwhelmingly ... alcoholish. The Laccha aloo chaat is a highlight for sure. Beautiful presentation but you still get those classic chaat flavors. Same for the Gobi Manchurian. That quintessential smell/aroma hits as the plate is placed in front of you. Sauce is delicious and I really enjoyed that the cauliflower wasn't battered and fried. The Chana masala pannise is not your typical Chana masala but it is really good, whatever it was! Crunchy sev, spicy chutney, a base that I think was made with chick pea flour (besan). Hubby decided to try the Oysters which he said was totally unique and he slurped it all down in less than 3 minutes, without even stopping. The Tandoori paneer used high quality paneer for sure, but the flavor profile was more sweet than anything which was disappointing. Needed some heat and depth/complexity. Per my husband the Lamb Rogan Josh was fantastic, top notch, and best he has had in a long time outside of India. Tender meat, good spice profile, went well with the pulao. The Daal comes as a side but is so delicious hubby made me mention it. Smoky, spicy, but also creamy. Totally comforting. We actually argued over who would finish it, and my husband is the type to generally leave the daal alone, even at home. The Naan was soft and just perfect garlic naan. SO good with daal. Your best bet for dessert is the Shrikhand mousse: WOW. Showstopper. Not a traditional Shrikhand but so good. Just all kinds of lovely flavors and textures going on. It doesn't taste just like my mom's but that's ok because it's a delicious new way of eating something I've been enjoying my entire life. Thumbs down on the Mango sorbet: cute idea to top with sesame chikki. Other than that jfs basically exactly as it sounds. Do the Shrikhand instead. Service is wonderful, they really know how to pace things out for a prix fixe meal like this and just so pleasant and professional. Go in with the right frame of mind and expectations and you won't be disappointed! read more
We ate here to celebrate our milestone anniversary...it was our first time at a Michelin star restaurant. It was uncrowded and quite dark in the restaurant. The servers were all attentive and they had even left us a card. Based on their recommendation, we decided to try their Layla Majanu drink. It was a big presentation, but the drinks themselves were quite ordinary and disappointing...and it was $45 so that was even more annoying! We started with the shrimp appetizer and gobhi manchurian and both were very good, but nothing impressive. For the second course we got the scallops and the channa masala dishes. Again, both very good but nothing unique. And for the third course, we got the short ribs and the paneer. Same experience. I will say the dal and naan that accompanied the third course were delicious! But for a Michelin star restaurant and the price ($90/person), I expected the presentation and the flavor profile to be mind blowing. The short ribs looked like something I would order in any other American restaurant. For dessert we ordered the chocolate tart and the kesar mango, and they nicely brought out the third dessert as an anniversary gift (Shrikand Mousse). The chocolate tart was great with the masala chai ice cream being the superstar! The mango dessert wasn't very good, but the shrikand mousse was very rich and flavorful without being overpowering (I'm not usually a shrikand fan). So overall, I was disappointed with the food and drink experience since I had high expectations of a Michelin restaurant. It was definitely good food, but as another reviewer said, it wasn't extraordinary or something you couldn't get at another Indian restaurant. The service was great. I had planned on bringing my parents here but I doubt I would do that now. read more
10 months ago
Easy 5, from the food, to the service and the atmosphere! I went for RW Summer 2023 and got to choose a 3 course meal for $55. Truly some of the most unique and amazing flavors I've ever had. The shrimp for the first course blew me away immediately, it was so crispy and the sauce was divine. All three courses exceeded my expectations and the amazing and attentive service amplified my experience. I will be thinking about this meal until the next time I can stop by. read more
1 year ago
I dined at the bar at Rania last night and had a great experience. The ambiance is pretty cool and I'm guessing more Indian traditional than contemporary. My one pet peeve about the bar is how close it is to the ball when you enter the bar area. I can see the seats against the wall being hard to navigate behind people, especially overweight people. I say opt for a seat facing away from the window if you value space and don't mind not looking outside. The food and drinks were great here. It was nice seeing Tony (Bar Manager) who I know from way back in the day at Del Campo. I think I got hooked up with 1-3 free drinks so kudos to him for taking care of me. The drinks are outrageous with all the smoke and cool stuff they do. The Rang Birange display is absolutely nuts with all the snake and box. The Make Me Famous was also good. I forget the 3rd drink I had but all were great. At a price point of around $19 per drink, the presentation made up for it. I opted for the $90 Prix-fixe menu and it didn't disappoint. You better bring your appetite as course 3 is huge with the Naan and Rice on the side. I started with the Shrimp Koliwada which was very spicy and tasty. The second course was Chana Masala Panisse, which was also very good. The Hay Aged Pork Loin was also very good but I had no room left after the first two courses and all the Naan and Rice that was on the side. For dessert, I opted for the Chocolate Tart, which was light and delicious. The service here was great and almost too attentive, but that's a Michelin star experience for you. I can see myself being a regular here but will opt for the a la carte menu at the bar unless I'm starving and can handle the prix-fixe. read more
10 months ago
The food was excellent and the service was exceptional. Our waiter Aram took good care of us and explained the whole menu. My friend and I have dietary restriction and he was able to substitute easily for Chef's tasting menu. The dessert was 10/10. I will definitely recommend this restaurant to vegeterian and meat eaters as well. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
To be honest, the food was incredible. It was a culinary journey throughout the 4 courses. My favorite, which to this day I still think about, is not the main dishes but the Smoked Black Dal side. It was out of this world delicious. Service and ambiance is just what you would expect. However, it does come with a very premium price and small portions. Go for your special occassion. read more
Booking a table for Valentine's Day, my wife spent an evening at Rania and walked out impressed. Located in Penn Quarter, the space is beautifully designed with a glowing bar in the front and dining rooms in the back. Service was friendly and mastered the art of timing. Each dish reached our table in perfectly timed intervals. Every dish was excellent, but the standout plates were the oysters and chaat. They take tradition Indian items and add a little twist to it. The cocktails were excellent and the menu offers something for everyone. read more
First time to this newly minted Michelin starred Indian restaurant. To say a unique dining experience is a disservice...it truly stands above the other offerings in town. Though it's a fixed price menu, there are still a number of options per course. Service is excellent...friendly, knowledgeable ( just learned that vindaloo is actually based on a Portuguese recipe...not what we think of !). Well appointed dining area, bright and energetic. Though a number of tables were occupied it was remarkably quiet. Being in DC, the $90/person tab was still a value, based on quality, presentation and portion. Won't go into a lengthy description of our dishes, just to say it's not your typical industrial Indian cuisine. Worth the splurge! read more
Had a wonderful dining experience at Rania this past weekend! Located in Penn Quarter, Rania is the only Michelin starred Indian restaurant in D.C. The restaurant itself is a large space with an opulent interior. We made reservations a week out from our visit, but seems that walk-ins are definitely possible, especially earlier in the evening. We were seated quickly and started off with drinks and the amuse bouche. The restaurant has a $90 prix fixe 4 course menu with an additional dal, rice, and bread course served with the main course. I'm vegetarian and opted for the aloo chat, chana masala panisse, paneer tikka, and shrikhand mousse. The aloo chat and Chana panisse really capture the essence of Indian street food. The shrikhand is a creamy mousse/ice cream texture. It was a very unique flavor and not commonly found in Indian restaurants. The paneer was the only dish I wasn't impressed by. The paneer is soft but lacks the smokiness of paneer tikka and didn't compare to the rest of the meal for me. The black dal, rice, garlic naan, and roti were delicious and some of the best dal I've ever had in a restaurant! The service itself is impeccable and flows well. The servers were extremely attentive to our table and transitioned between courses seamlessly without feeling rushed. Overall, a memorable Indian fine dining experience in D.C.! Worth it for a special occasion! read more
1 year ago
They nailed the idea of Indian contemporary from the decor to the drinks to the table service. This was one of the best wine parings. read more
1 year ago
I wanted not to like Rainia. Really--I came in ready to be unimpressed. The lobby was oddly cold, like they'd accidentally left the front door open. The bathrooms weren't as clean as I expected for a Michelin-starred spot. And the hostess's uniform had a noticeable stain that made me pause. I even exchanged a look with my dinner guest like, this might be one of those places... But then--the food. Oh my god, the food took over. Like a full-stage production that starts slow and then knocks the wind out of you. We did the chef's tasting menu, and every course built on the last like chapters in a novel you don't want to end. The amuse-bouche was some kind of whipped trout roe on a warm potato puff with fermented ramp oil--I could have cried. And that was just the introduction. Course after course came out like a revelation: A saffron-scented crab bisque with a single perfect basil blossom. A duck confit tartlet with a delicate yuzu glaze. Wagyu with a bone marrow bordelaise that I think rewired my brain. There was a palate cleanser that tasted like citrus snow falling on an herb garden. I'm not kidding--it was transcendent. The service? Almost hilariously attentive. I joked at one point that if I dropped a fork, three people might dive to catch it before it hit the table. Water glasses never dipped below half-full. Napkins were refolded when you left for the restroom (which, yes, still needed cleaning, but at that point, who cared?). At one moment I thought, this might be a little much, but then another perfect plate arrived, and I stopped caring completely. This is one of those rare places where the food doesn't just speak for itself--it sings, lectures, and occasionally screams at you in delight. Chef is clearly working on a different level. Rainia may not have impressed me at first glance, but by the end of the meal, I was a convert. A believer. A devotee. I'm already plotting my return read more
They delivered on their promise of Indian food with a twist. My favorite Indian restaurant is Rasika, who I think does lentils as they always should be done and has some amazing fish dishes... BUT... I would consider this a close second after dining here just once. I LOVE aloo gobi and just about any paneer dish, so it might not be too surprising that two of my dishes out of the 3-course prix fixe meal were... you guessed it, cauliflower and cheese :) Sauces, textures, spices and a gentle heat that builds through the course -- it was the perfect twist on classics and an incredible meal. To be honest, I was so engaged in the symphony of flavors happening on my dishes that I wasn't really paying attention to what my fellow tablemates were eating, but the consensus was a round 5-stars for our dining experience :) Besides the food, the ambience is romantic with low-lighting and some sort of fire stick on the table (maybe not the wisest choice, we almost set our menus on fire!). I am not sure I entirely understand the difference between the two dining rooms either, but then again I didn't wander around the restaurant on my visit, but the main dining room was well appointed. In terms of drinks, they were well-crafted and I liked the added touch of the lighted coasters underneath that made them glow. Some would probably say they are gimmicky, but hey, I am a fan of the theatrics and love the idea of a little show during my meal :) Bottom line, I am looking forward to a return visit! read more
Very nice experience at Rania, the first Michelin Indian restaurant in DC. The interior is beautiful and immaculate--a good blend of modern but classic Indian decor. The service is also impeccable and our waters were always full and tables were wiped clean between each course. The course menu had some interesting choices. The amuse bouche was quite good--a fried fritter with roe and avocado. I had the gobi Manchurian (fried cauliflower), which was flavorful and good but spicy. My partner thought the shrimp was okay but nothing special. For the second course, we had the oysters (okay but didn't feel Indian at all) and the scallop and mussels dish (very good but also seemed not Indian). For our mains, I got the charred cabbage in curry (I enjoyed it but the Massaman curry is Thai so I was confused to see it on the menu) and my partner got the beef short rib, which was also good. It came with nice classic Indian side dishes like garlic naan, saffron rice, and dal. The dal was amazing and we loved it. Dessert, they brought us all three options since we were celebrating a birthday. The chocolate tart was very rich but the chai flavor was a nice accent. I thought the mango sorbet was a little too strong and the rhubarb saffron pudding was okay but not spectacular. Overall, I thought the meal was worth the price and had a good experience. However, I feel that the food was a little bit confusing because I was expecting more Indian influence but didn't see as much of it in the dishes. read more
In recent memory, this has been one of my favorite dining experiences! From start to finish, the culinary journey, ambiance, and service were impeccable. Since the menu is prix-fixe, highly recommend grabbing a friend or two so that you get to try more of the menu. We had a group of 4 and were able to rotate our dishes and taste everything we wanted to. My rankings of each course are as follows - First course: Aloo Chaat, Gobhi, Shrimp, Chicken Kofta Second course: Northpoint Oysters, Lamb, Chana Masala Third course*: Lamb Shank, Beef Shortrib Dessert**: Keasari Mango, Chocolate Tart, Shrikhand Mousse Note: my rankings are not reflective of the rest of my group and in now way is a dish ranked low a bad dish - rather a preference or subject to opinion. For example, most of my group LOVED LOVED the Chicken Kofta but I just love cauliflower (the Gobhi Tomato) and shrimp more than meatballs *shrugs*. *We only ordered 2 options from the third course - everyone wanted their own shortrib so definitely not as well rounded of a sampling as previous courses; also did not order any of the vegetarian options from the third course and I wish we could've ordered a few a-la-carte to try. **Some miscellaneous comments about dessert: the plating of the the mousse was by FAR the most fun and interesting of the options, however the flavors were only okay to me. I thought the sesame brittle accompanying the Mango dessert was not only texturally pleasing but aromatic. Chocolate Tart was very solid and paired well with the earthy barley ice cream. My TLDR; Run! With their new Michelin star, I'm sure it'll become harder to snag a reservation. We had a great time at Rania and I highly recommend a visit. read more
Overall, Rania was a fine experience and worth it for a prix fixe $25 meal during restaurant week, but not for the normal $75 given food quality and portion size. Rania is more like a 3.5 rather than a 4-rounding up. Rania's ambiance is beautiful-meant to look like an Indian palace with servers wearing black-tie attire, cut-glassware, and inlayed tiled walls and tables. The service was mixed. My friend and I had a brunch reservation during restaurant week and arrived at 11 AM but were not seated until 11:15 (the restaurant was almost empty at that point) due to Rania thinking we were a party of 11 and even then only once I asked the bartender about our table status. Once we were seated, the service was excellent until we got our check, which took a while to receive. However, when I asked our server to ask the manager if they'd be willing to take off the basmati rice or the malabar parota from our check as an acknowledgement of the seating delay, they took off both plus a coffee I ordered. This is above and beyond doing right by one's customers when a restaurant makes an avoidable mistake and Rania deserves special kudos for this. The food overall was good but could have been better, especially for fine dining. My friend and I each got an appetizer, main, and dessert, basmati rice, a malabar parota, and coffee, and shared everything. Appetizers: Ash Roasted Sweet Potato Chaat: Great spice, smoke, and texture with a perfectly fine taste but nothing special. Chicken Kofta: The cream sauce was one of the best I've ever had. There was the right amount of creaminess and not too salty with a great spice level on the back note of the sauce. The mushrooms had excellent umami and texture. However, the meatball itself tasted rubbery and may have been slightly undercooked in the center (albeit safe to eat). Main: Wild Mushroom Uttapam: The mushrooms provided good umami, but nothing else notable about this dish. Parsi Chicken: This dish strangely had a ground beef texture which was fine. I liked the spice and Rania presented this dish beautifully, but tasted average. Sides: Basmati Rice: Perfectly cooked, in retrospect not necessary for either dish we ordered. Malabar Parota: Outstanding-buttery, flaky, a nice blend of dense and light layers. Dessert: Mango Sorbet: Delicious sorbet but the fennel gratin didn't add anything to dish. Mishti Doi: This dish seemed to be Rania trying to be unnecessarily innovative and falling short. It was a slightly elevated fruit salad, with something topping the dish resembling astronaut ice cream. I'm glad I tried Rania, especially at an affordable $25, but not sure I could be willing to pay $75 for a three-course meal here. read more
3 years ago
Excellent! From the decor, to the customer service, to the food and drinks, everything was executed magnificently. I came here for dinner with a couple of my coworkers. We had an incredible meal. Tip: Don't order the same things. There will be plenty to share. I definitely want to come back with my husband. read more
Wow. This dining experience was truly phenomenal. I went to rania on a Thu evening with my husband. The two of us got a cute comfy booth table - excellent date night spot and vibes. I had just recovered from a cold, so went with a NA option. It was quite good, but I'm def curious about their cocktails next time :) For food, the amuse bouche at the beginning was a sign of good things to come. We shared all courses and chose 1. kofta and shrimp, 2. dosa and oysters, 3. Lamb and monkfish 4. Cheesecake and gelato. Each dish was the perfect combo of acid, spices, and tenderness. There was not a miss. The third course came with bread and rice as well, so it was all perfectly filling. My favorite was probably the monkfish and my husbands was the lamb. But I'm sure you can't go wrong. A truly splurgeworthy meal that has me wanting to go back. Put it on the list! read more
Food, service and drinks were all on point. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal! We sat at the high top tables near the bar and ordered a La carte. MVPs of the night we're the Chicken kofta and the chaat for apps and the Parsi chicken for the entree. The cachaca cocktail was also delicious and the skrikhand mousse dessert - served very artistically - was splendid! read more
3 years ago
The food and service at this newly Michelin starred restaurant is definitely worth a visit. As a bonafide super white lady, I was worried that the Indian spices might be too much for me, but was so pleased that flavor and heat aren't one and the same here. Yes, there was spice, but it was intentional and nuanced with other delightful flavors. I did a wine pairing that was charming, but the stars of the beverage show are definitely their cocktail selections. As a single diner, I appreciated being seated along a banquet in the main dining area and enjoyed the decor. The chairs with shelves for handbags were a thoughtful touch. Bathrooms are convenient and well maintained. I will note that the volume of the dining room (7:30pm reservation on a Friday) was a robust 107 decibels. At times I had difficulty hearing my server and the sommelier. I can't imagine the difficulty nearby couples had maintaining a conversation without shouting. Also of note, I had a drink at the bar before my dinner seating. Definitely consider doing this as the cocktails have exciting presentation and fun ingredients. However, as a person of size, the bar seats were not large enough for me to sit in comfortable. Think about your comfort before planning to eat at the bar. read more
This is a gorgeous place with such beautiful decor even the bathroom is pleasant to look at! My friend and I sat in the Passage to India dining room where there are a few booths with the choice of a 3 course or 4 course menu where our waiter took great care of us. We loved the Lavender Bliss drink. The garlic naan is just incredible--! Really loved the kick of the shrimp offered in the first course selection as well. My friend enjoyed her beef cutlet and pork belly dishes but weren't blown away. She said the sauce of the pork belly reminded her of a Spanish sauce she makes. :) These dishes are small-- you won't be going home with leftovers. It was a lovely experience with interesting flavors of food but for a higher price tag, it is only a place I would try out once. read more
Loved my experience here. Food is served in a nice timely manner. It's $90 for four courses but you have the option to add additional dishes for different prices for each section of the course. The price is very fair. The definite stand outs for me was the oysters, lamb, and beetroot. I think the oysters were #1 for me bc I've never had oysters served with this sauce. It's amazing and warm. The beetroot chop was nice and crispy with fresh veggies that made it refreshing. And I just love the lamb and the sauce with crispy almonds on top. Everything else was perfectly cooked. Like the short ribs melted like butter, so freaking tender. Everything else was just delicious but nothing that I'd die to come right back for. Overall, high recommend trying this spot out. Great for dates. read more
wonderful meal recently at rania. the food was great, starters were the favorites. can't complain about service, they were attentive and dishes came quickly. The cocktails we sampled were delicious with fun presentations for firsts, both shrimp koliwada and chicken kofta were delicious. for seconds, the lamb cheela and oysters were delicious, the beet dish was pretty good as well. We tried all the breads, the garlic naan was the favorite - fluffy and delicious. for the entrees, we tried the pork loin and short ribs - both were great dishes overall, with the weak spots being the actual proteins for me. Skipped dessert but it looked good. read more
3 years ago
Visited for lunch during restaurant week. I was not impressed with the dishes because the portion sizes were small. I expected the entrees to be slightly bigger than the appetizer, but they were pretty equal. The service was excellent and the ambiance was perfect! read more
2 years ago
The ambiance was 10/10 and the service was nice as well. I absolutely loved the lamb taco but the butter chicken was watery and not as flavorful. Overall good experience. read more
3 years ago
Every bite is an explosion in your mouth (in the best possible Way) you cannot eat Quickly (inhale your food) at this venue... every bite is an exquisite experience. The service is gracious and attentive. You are never left feeling ignored... and never have to seek out a server... they are always on top of things... from the sommelier to the waiters to the bus people everyone is enthusiastic, friendly, and knowledgeable about the food. The restaurant itself is Indian elegance... sophisticated... Lovely Indian electronic trance music plays in the background which serves the chilled out atmosphere perfectly. Currently this is my favorite restaurant in the world! read more
2 years ago
Excellent service with delicious food made for a delightful dining experience. Definitely worth a visit! read more
Maybe closer to a 3.5. What I got off the tasting menu: - Shrimp koliwada (3.5/5) - Shrimp were well cooked and there was an explosion of flavor, but it was a little on the salty side. - Lamb cheela (3/5) - Kinda reminded me of a lamb birria taco. Decent but not amazing - Pork vindaloo (3.5/5) - Large, nicely cooked pieces of pork belly in a pretty tasty curry, but I dunno how this could be called vindaloo without any spiciness. - Mishti doi (3/5) - I don't remember too much about this dessert. - Cocktails (4/5) The service was super attentive, and the restaurant had a nice vibe to it. But ultimately I think I'd prefer to go to Daru (or even Indigo) for Indian food in DC. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Came here for lunch during Summer restaurant week and this place did not disappoint. Due to it being restaurant week the three course meal was perfect and left us full. I am curious how it would be if you ordered entree during non RW. Started meal off with Lavender bliss drink and ordered cauliflower manuchurin for first course, chicken parsi as second course and mango yogurt for dessert. I will say I am use to getting rice and/or Naan and was surprised that we had to order this separately. The Gobhi (cauliflower) was delicious and had a bit of kick to it. The Chicken Parsi was good but it was more of a ground chicken but the flavors were on point. I also enjoyed the mango yogurt which was mango ice cream with yogurt on the side. My friends and I enjoyed our experience here. The decor and service were exceptional as waiters attended to our needs and the manager walked around to make sure we were fine. read more
3 years ago
Vegetarian variety: 8/10. Each section of the three-course menu had two vegetarian options, one of which was dairy-free. Each table also gets three small sides to share, all of which were vegetarian. Taste: 8/10. My first two courses were terrific - textured, creative riffs on familiar chaat dishes with intentional flavors and really pretty plating. I would have happily enjoyed another plate of each! In comparison, my main dish of tandoori paneer felt a little flat and heavy, though still tasty with the shared sides and rice that came with it. Ambiance: 8/10. Comfortable chairs you could sink into, wide tables, accents of gold without going overboard - what's not to like? Price: 8/10. $90 per person for a Michelin-starred three courses plus dessert was very reasonable. read more
At Rainia, the dishes were artful. They were both beautiful and delicious and the whole meal was a delightful celebration. From the first bite of the offered amuse bouche that exploded with flavor and texture, we knew we were in for a treat. Everything was so well done from the food to the service which was attentive and graceful. Each dish was so pretty to look at and then tasted so good. Articles have mentioned sitting in the special RR dining car but we actually liked the main dining room better. There was more space and it was very gracious. Rania made our birthday dinner worth waiting a year for and, if we get to come back again next year, we won't even mind getting a year older! read more
More info about Rania
427 11th St NW
Washington, DC 20004
Directions
(202) 804-6434
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Visit Website
http://www.raniadc.com
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Ask the Community - Rania
Based on the pics it looks like another Indian "fine dining" place with overpriced dishes and tiny helpings. Is it so?
Definitely a big ole' yes on the tiny helpings however definitely one of the cheaper fine dining meals I've seen.
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8 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Rania - wine_bars - Updated August 2026
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