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Archives-Navy Mem'l (Green, Yellow)
Judiciary Sq (Red)
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Wow. Pricy but has some of the best dishes and varieties of bread and variations on staples that it is so worth the price. Even if you don't like spinach, try the paluk chauk.... It's the most original presentation of spinach that I have ever tasted. I also really recommend the potato pomegranate bread.
Really, I don't think you could go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu.
I finally got to come back to Rasika and had a great experience (of course). We had to wait 20ish minutes for a table, which would ordinarily grate on my nerves, but nothing instills patience like working at a restaurant yourself.
LISTEN UP, DINERS: You attract more flies with honey than vinegar. It does you absolutely no good to throw a tantrum if you have to wait for a table. The reason why you're waiting isn't because the restaurant hates you, it's because people with earlier reservations are taking longer than the restaurant anticipated. Trust me... Patience is rewarded.
So once we were seated, we enjoyed a bunch of delicious dishes. I wanted to avoid the normal Indian options, but was dining with my boyfriend who's "mildly" weary of the unfamiliar. I thought we were veering off course, however it turns out the Chicken Makhani is pretty much Chicken Tikka Masala. It was a terrific surprise for my boyfriend and a minor disappointment to me.
Other than that, the lamb korma with morels was tasty albeit milder than I expected. The morels were chopped up, making them hard to distinguish. The palak chaat was fabulous as always. Our breads (garlic naan & laccha) were off the hook, but if you only get one, I'd try the laccha as it's more unique than the naan.
At this point, our stomachs were so distended I felt ill. Happy, but ill. And then, for some reason we're still not sure of, our waiter brought over 2 desserts and coffee. It was loud so I couldn't hear the conversation and at first I thought it was a mistake, but it wasn't. They just wanted to give us free dessert! (honey not vinegar...)
Naturally, we didn't turn it down; we just ignored the neural messages from our stomach that were crying, "Enough already!" We had the bread pudding, which tasted like a partially baked chocolate chip cookie with a muffin texture. I think the other dessert was the Gulab Jamun with cardamom ice cream. The little balls were tasty, but the ice cream was perfection.
Overall, I continue to be impressed by Rasika. We overheard the couple next to us complaining about being rushed, but our service was fine. Nothing bribes a diner quite like gratis. By the end of the meal, we could barely remember our longish wait for a table.
My final tip: If you hate waits and want a more relaxed atmosphere, I'd try Rasika for lunch. It's a totally different vibe during the day and perhaps preferable to the inevitable chaos of the evening.
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Don't eat here unless you want it to haunt your dreams forever. I'm warning you...
Because you can…
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For months I've planned on writing a long elaborate review on Rasika. But now that I'm looking at all of the other posts, I've realized that I'd just be repeating what everyone else has said.
So instead I'll leave just two short comments.
If you've been here, I'm happy to share the joy of amazing Indian food with you.
If you haven't been to Rasika yet, I have two things to say to you. 1. What are you waiting for? 2. Go, the food and drinks are delicious, you won't be let down.
Great meal. Palak chaat and black cod were incredible. Would not recommend the clams. A hiccup with the dessert course was resolved with panache. Incredible value.
So this is where all the experienced waiters are in DC. They were so professional, I felt like I should sit up straighter. What an elegant experience of delicious Indian food.
I left so stuffed, so happy :D The consensus on Rasika's positive points seem to be pretty solid, so nuf said
People thought this was:
Rasika's is (still) its fabulous self. Each dish has layers of distinctive flavors that linger after each bite. Especially memorable: the crispy spinach, the eggplant appetizer, the silky cod, and the chicken tikka masala (called something else). Honestly, I ate the food as slowly as possible because I didn't want to finish it. Wanted every last drop. A few tips I learned: they have a $30 prix fixe for the pre-theater crowd (appetizer, entree, dessert); and they were awarded the best wine list in D.C. - interestingly. A note about the dessert: v. good coconut sorbet and a lovely birthday sampler (for my date).
People thought this was:
My friend and I ate at Rasika last night and it was superb! We ordered several appetizers so that we… Read more »
Great food and wonderful service. I love the kispy spinich.
Hands down the best Indian that I have had. Fabulous service, knowledgeable staff and sommelier. Highly recommend the tasting menu with wine pairing.
The service is wonderful, the food is wonderful, heck, everything is wonderful.
What we ate:
Palak chaat (a lightly fried spinach appetizer)
Chicken Tikka Masala
Black cod
Naan basket
The verdict:
More expensive that many Indian restaurants, but totally worth it.
I decided to try Rasika during RW and I was not disappointed. Pretty much everything we ordered was delicious and perfectly prepared, especially the appetizers and the entrees. Desserts were enjoyable but not as memorable, sort of seeming like after thoughts in comparison to the savory choices. The most remarkable part of my meal was the Palak Chaat (spinach salad): the spinach was fried until crispy, and topped with yogurt and tamarind and date chutney, resulting in both flavorful and textural ecstasy. One of the most delicious salads I've ever had (it is fried after all, it has to be good). Service was also very pleasant - and when you factor in the fact that it was RW, that's even more impressive. I'll most certainly be going back for more.
People thought this was:
This is the best Indian food I have ever tried. No doubt. No Hesitation.
+
The tastiest homemade Chutneys
Black Cod: unlike anything I've ever had!
Perfect portion size
Well thought wine selection
Great service
Minimal, romantic ambiance
Tips:
Do dinner. The decor looks beautiful at night!
*4.5 stars*
Yes, Rasika most certainly lives up to its reputation. It's probably one of the finest Indian restaurants I've ever been to - definitely in terms of its beautiful interior and its beautifully presented and equally delicious dishes.
We started out with the garlic naan and onion uttapam (rice lentil pancake) which were both decent but forgettable. The lamb gucchi korma was very tender and succulent. My friend's tandoori salmon was perhaps one of the best and tastiest prepared salmon dishes...ever. And I mean it.
Reservations are highly recommended but there are several banquette tables for walk ins. We arrived right before they opened (5:30pm) and the restaurant was already bustling. By the time we left, the dining area was full. Service, thankfully, was on the mark this evening.
I'm firmly putting Rasika right up there among the best of DC eats. It offers a tantalizing full menu, beautiful ambiance and excellent service. And for the price, it's an excellent value. Oh yeah, that salmon is damn freakin' good!!
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Me = Bearded Marky Mark and George Clooney
Palak Chaat = Massive Tidal Wave of Taste
Rasika for birthday dinner = The Perfect Storm
You should go to experience your own Perfect Storm of deliciousness.
People thought this was:
There is not much that I can add that hasn't been said. I came for restaurant week, I left with an new obsession: palak chaat. Get it, it is as good as you want it to be. The palak paneer is also some of the best I have ever tried. The gulab jamun was delicious and a great way to end a meal, with the overwhelming sweetness of Indian desserts.
Also, for restaurant week, you get rice, naan, and paratha with your meal. And the portions aren't decreased at all. Food Overload or Food Heaven, you decide.
People thought this was:
Rasika will get five stars from me - just not this review. But hopefully the next time I visit, and there will be a next time.
So after wanting to try Rasika for a few months, restaurant week came along and gave me an opportunity. In first-visit-yet-unoriginal form, palak chaat was ordered as the appetizers. I had been told this was good, but it went beyond my expectations. Could this be the start of one of my best meals in years? alas - no.
Wine and entrees came out. Black cod (of course), lamb roganjosh, and lamb korma. Cod was excellent, and I liked the lamb I tasted off a friend's plate, but I didnt think "wow" for either. Wine; however, was not the recommendation we had been expecting. Really dry. Also, the naan got backed up and we received the herb naan by mistake and late, then much later the ordered truffle naan, but never saw the bread basket. eh, not too big a deal especially considering the craziness of restaurant week, but still.
Finally, dessert. Skip it, in our opinion. Lychee sorbet had a sharp taste while the gulab jamum & cardamon ice cream was good but not special. Maybe the desserts outside of restaurant week are better?
Regardless of the small mishaps, we had a great evening and will return to Rasika. Perhaps in the chaos of restaurant week was just a little overwhelming.
People thought this was:
Fully aware of the awesomeness that is Rasika, we decided to have our rehearsal dinner here and show our friends and family how awesome DC could be. After emailing and talking on the phone with Atul, one of the managers, I knew that our event would run smoothly.
We reserved the semi-private room and fit 24 people at four tables. I believe the maximum capacity for the semi-private space is 28. It was a bustling Friday night, and our party was unfortunately quite late getting there, but that didn't seem to be too big of a problem.
The set menu they have for private events is fantaaaastic. It includes the palak chaat, three different kinds of curries, dessert (beignet with cardamom ice cream), and tons of other things I can't remember. Our guests left the dinner completely satisfied. Even our vegetarian guest was well catered to; They even brought out extra dishes just for him!
It was really great hearing our guests say, "I didn't know Indian food could be like this!" And even some of our very very Korean adults who think cobb salad is exotic really enjoyed themselves.
My one complaint was the amount of time between courses - it could've been a bit shorter. But the food, once it got to the table, made us forget all about the waiting part -- seriously.
Please consider Rasika for your private event or just for dinner. This place is truly fantastic and well-run.
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Palak chaat! Palak chaat!
Don't be surprised if you see me going into Indian restaurants chanting the…
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I was fortunate enough to be in the District on a weekday, and I decided that it would be a disservice to myself not to try out this Indian-fusion restaurant. So I called up my friend working in this part of town and persuaded her to look beyond the nauseating webpage menu navigation and try out this place.
Ambiance is modern yet inviting. Dark woods and interesting wall hangings though I wasn't impressed with the cheap plastic chandelier pendants chained into a curtain formation separating the bar/lounge from the main dining room. The saffron, terra cotta and tumeric/mustard colored walls triggered thoughts of being in the spice mill in which the master chef/artist would use to blend the flavors of each masterfully crafted dish.
I convinced my friend to share several small plates/appetizers in order to assess the range of skill and variety of flavor combinations each dish could offer in a complete gatronomical experience. And I am so glad we did.
Do listen to me and other Yelpers and order the palak chaat (crispy spinach with yogurt and spices). My lunch partner and I were impressed with the balance of flavors from the cool, creamy yogurt, the salty-crispy yet light textures of the spinach and the addition of spices and fresh chopped veggies. We were also amazed at how they made the spinach crispy yet light with little oil or other fat. Other impressive dishes include the kheema pao (minced spiced lamb patties sandwiched between custardy egg layers), ragda patties (like the filling of a samosa made into patty form), mango shrimp and truffle naan. All were well-seasoned and overall delicious. Above and beyond the standard Indian fare.
Highly recommended to experience for any occasion in any shape or form. My lunch partner applauded my lunch choice and is actively pursuing a return visit.
Overall five stars for the food, ambiance and the attentive of staff. Unfortunately I have to dock off one star for the aloofness of the host when I came in for lunch. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how popular this place was (even for lunch) and failed to make reservations. The host told me that the dining room was full and that I would have to grab a seat either in the low-seating lunch tables or the bar.
With the attitude and responsiveness of my request for a seat for my lunch partner and I, the host gave me the impression that despite the relatively emptiness of the restaurant at the time it would be filled up within a half hour and that it might be impossible for me to find a seat. While this attitude disheartened me, giving me the impression that they my business was not good enough for them, I looked passed that in hopes that my friend would arrive for me to ask forgiveness from the host and be granted a seat at the bar. Luck had it that the circumstances leaned towards my favor for this dining experience.
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I was scared. I didn't think this was going to live up to all the praise I had heard. The food delivered and then some. This is the best Indian restaurant I have ever visited, and is certainly one of my favorite restaurants overall.
Each appetizer we tried was delicious. The Crispy Spinach has a wonderful dried seaweed-like crispiness and is drizzled with a sweet, spicy and creamy sauces. The Mango Shrimp was fresh and tender.
The Grilled Chicken with Mint Sauce had a nice smoky flavor.
We ordered the black cod (their signature dish for a reason), which was extraordinarily light yet incredibly flavorful. It completely melts in your mouth. The shrimp curry dish was a little too spicy for me, but tasted ok. The goan fish curry was amazing. The fish was delicate, and the curry was spicy but not overpowering. We ordered garlic naan and the cucumber yogurt to complement our meal and they were perfect. The naan was crisp and soft and the yogurt was just what I needed to calm the fire in my mouth from the shrimp.
Definitely make reservations because this place is always packed.
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Between me and my date for the night (lol) we found the most perfect meal combination.
Starter:
Palak Chaat - Crispy spinach (this is crazy. flavor explosion in your mouth)
Entree:
Black Cod (melt in your mouth. I have never ever eaten fish like this before. amazing.)
Dessert:
Gulab Jamun with Ice Cream (this ice cream had so much Indian flavor in it, goodbye plain vanilla ice cream)
Being named by Food & Wine as one of the hottest restaurants in America, Rasika deserves all the hype and accolades because it's all true. An amazing dining experience, and basically a perfect meal.
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I'm of two minds when I review Rasika-- If you were to ask me if I like the food, I'd give you a hearty yes. I LOVE the food here (especially the palak chaat. I know, I know, everyone says it, but it's that good-- eat it!). Also, typically I have had pretty good service, which is nice. It's not a super formal restaurant but is a bit upscale, and I like feeling like the server is knowledgeable and attentive.
Ok, so that's the good. The bad?
I have a dear friend who suffers from food allergies (onion and garlic). I KNOW Indian food is full of those two things (I'm Indian, we put those in everything but dessert, practically). However, I called-- twice-- to say, look, I'd like to bring this friend, can the chef have someone she can eat that doesn't include those two things. Both times I called, I made it clear it was a food ALLERGY, and I was told, don't worry, we will accommodate, the food will be safe for her and delicious.
So, said friend and I get there. We have a reservation but we do have to wait another 15-20 minutes for our table (not great because there's really no place to wait other than the very crowded bar, but whatever). So we get seated, and I say to the waiter, I had called ahead regarding my friend and her food allergies, can you tell me what you could serve her?
Uh-oh.
For starters, I think the guy was new because he couldn't answer any questions about the menu (and I mean basic stuff, like "is that in a sauce" or "how spicy is it."). Every question I asked, he said "let me go find out." So then, when asked about what my friend could eat off the menu, he said "Let me go find out" and came out with (I believe) a manager. The manager then explained to me that nearly everything on the menu has onion and garlic, this being an Indian restaurant. I said, yes, I know, but I was told that there would at least be SOMETHING she could eat.
He then said, "Madam, if only you had called first and told us, the chef would have prepared something." Right. So I said-- I did call, twice, and my friend herself called once. And his response? "Yes, but we thought that was just a preference, not an allergy."
whaaa?
Basically, he offered my friend plain grilled chicken and salad. We could have gone to a hundred places in DC for grilled chicken and salad. I brought her to Rasika for a memorable Indian meal.
Look, I get it-- Indian food is practially based on the two things I said my friend couldn't eat. However, if they could only offer her what they did offer, they should have said so when I called instead of telling me that the chef would have several things prepared off the menu that she could eat. And for the manager to say "Well we thought when you called, you were voicing a preference," I mean come on. That is ridiculous.
Whew. Ok. Enough complaining. Other than that sad and disappointing night (side note: my friend happily ate the chicken and salad and said it was tasty-- meanwhile I was totally embarrassed I dragged her somewhere for something we could have had at Applebee's), I have loved the food at Rasika. I especially love all the sauces in the dishes-- some Indian restaurants, you get the feeling all the sauces are 90% the same, with a different protein thrown in. Here, each sauce is flavorful and complex.
The only thing I'd say isn't fabulous is dessert-- I've tried most and they are average to barely above average. However, nothing on the dessert menu was bad and truth be told, you'll be so full from all the other good stuff that you won't even care.
A-MAZ-ING. This place is as good as it gets for D.C. dining. Rasika truly blows its competition out of the tandoor.
We had 9pm reservations on an incredibly rainy, Friday night. Inevitably, customers were not leaving and the restaurant was having visible difficulty with turning the tables. However, after checking on the progress of our reservation at 9:15pm, the host personally came over to my group at the bar and bought us a round of drinks. That was just the beginning of the over the top service.
After we were finally seated at 9:30...not that bad of a delay mind you, another host came over to the table and demanded we receive 4 appetizers and another round of drinks on the house (Note: we were ordering $12 cocktails...not Amstel Lights!). I then started to feel that the service believed I was someone other than my ordinary self.
I ordered the Lamb Roganjosh, paired with an Austrian wine (very difficult to find), which was absolutely unbelievable. The food was fantastic and the service above and beyond what I would ever expect. The servers and hosts were so attentive and apologetic. The maître d' came over at the end of our meal, apologized for the inconvenience of our reservation being delayed, and asked us how we enjoyed our meals. There was no inconvenience whatsoever to apologize for, which is why the service deserves even more praise.
Bottom Line: Believe the hype around Rasika. This place is incredible.
I was pretty disappointed. Here's why:
-too loud.
-portions too small.
-hotness overpowered flavour.
-too crowded.
-food too americanized.
-over-priced.
However, the service was good.
Overall, I don't think I'll be returning. I prefer the more authentic cuisine offered at other places in DC.
Don't be lured in by the cool website.
The place has a very touristy feeling. If you want good food and classy atmosphere, go to bombay club.
People thought this was:
The bottom line: Delicious food, loud and trendy atmosphere, bad service and small portions.
We (wife and I) visited about a year ago when my parents came to town. So, unfortunately, I can't recall all the dishes we ordered. In fact, I only remember that I had the black cod and the flavors were absolutely delicious. I'm pretty sure everyone else loved the sharp and delicious flavors of their dishes. We also ordered some naan and some appetizers to tide us over (we were hungry when we arrived)
However, the service we had was horrible. A young, awkward and absentminded waiter. It took more than 30 minutes for our naan/appetizers and drinks to arrive. From that point it took another 30-45 minutes for our main courses to arrive.
Overall, we loved the food (though the portions were small for the price) and would try Rasika once more but if the service remained so terrible...wouldn't head back.
People thought this was:
This was one of the best Indian meals I have ever had. And I'm Indian. We ordered the tawa fish appetizer and Spinach Chaat- do not miss. I have never seen this dish before. The spinach was flash fried so it tasted like nori. Main course - lobster moilee, incredible goan fish curry, lamb curry delicious, and corn also amazing. I had a kokum pimm's cup cocktail- very unique menu. Dessert was date and toffee pudding covered in raspberry sauce.
Each dish had a unique, distinct flavor and was of really high quality. Nothing was blanded down.
Afterwards, the chef and owner happened to be having lunch as we were walking out. Found out the chef was at the Taj London for fourteen years - you can tell!
Made a lunch reservation without a problem, was in town for an event at Capitol Hill and wanted a convenient lunch spot. Seemed busy but not over-packed, as other reviews say it's hard to get a table here maybe lunch is a better option.
I was disappointed. This is one of about a dozen restaurants in D.C. that have an average rating of 4.5 or above so I thought it would be amazing. Not so.
We were seated promptly upon entering the restaurant and the waitress came by quickly. I ordered a Kingfisher but my dinner partner didn't order a beverage. She didn't seem pleased.
For food, I ordered the crispy spinach appetizer (really yummy) and the Chicken Briyani. The chicken was a little dry and not any better than chicken at the Indian restaurant by my office. I tried my dinner buddy's bbq appetizer and it wasn't really worth $8. I also ordered garlic naan but by the time I was 75% done with my dinner entree, it still hadn't arrived so I cancelled my order. Sure it's "made to order" but does it really take half an hour? If so, maybe they shouldn't offer it on the menu.
Anyway, nice ambiance but I felt like they didn't appreciate as much because we weren't willing to spend a lot of money on alcohol.
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I like this place, because the food is very similar to my countries food! When I go there, I fill like I am at home! this is a good place!
LOVE this place. In fact, anytime I hear a friend is traveling to DC, I recommend Rasika. It is well worth the wait you will likely encounter but one you are seated you are in for a treat.
Service - Very good
Food - Phenominal
Everything I ate here was delicious; full of flavor and character - And I am not usually a huge fan of Indian food. Here was what was eaten by all last time around:
Palak Chaat - a crispy spinach appetizer that was out of this world
Chicken Green Masala - a neat variation of the typical masala I was used to; this dish made me like chicken
Narangi Duck - Savory duck dish with complex but somehow subtle flavors
All of that plus a bottle of not-so-expensive but tasty French wine made the evening a pleasure.
People thought this was:
Rasika = delicious food and excellent service. Our server, Haque asked if it was our first time dining at Rasika and we replied yes. He took his time to explain the menu and recommended a couple of signature appetizer dishes and entrees. We followed his recommendations and could not have been happier. The palak chaat (crispy spinach w/ yougurt) was delicious! For our entrees, we ordered the black cod and lamb chops..both cooked perfectly. The flavors were so well balanced.
For dessert, Haque took the time to explain the dessert menu. He also had the kitchen split up the one dessert we ordered so that my boyfriend and I could each have our "own".
-1 star for being on the pricey side and small portions. However, our dining experience was wonderful and we will definitely be returning.
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My reservation was for one, and I ate early (5:45 reservation), so I didn't get a chance to see the infamous night life and the crowds that are legendary there....
However, it being a Tuesday, the dining room started filling up very quickly by the time I finished my meal. I took the server's recommendations for my meal, and settled for three items that I hadn't planned on ordering.
That said, it was delish! I had the skate appetizer - hot hot hot and tender - yum...the cottage cheese skewers - huge, dense and satisfying with a spicy green sauce....and the eggplant with potato cakes and peanut sauce (a little odd tasting and the veggies didn't meld together well.) There was plenty left over for lunch.
Was kind of pricy with no bread..but good!
Having been to sister restaurant Bombay Club just a few weeks ago, I was keen to try Rasika. This one gets all the buzz: Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema loves it, as does Esquire's John Mariani, who called it America's best Indian restaurant.
I was also excited to go because although I've lived in D.C. for years, somehow I've just now managed to make it in. To be fair, it's notoriously hard to get a table here. Be sure to book well in advance, otherwise you'll be stuck with a 10 p.m. seating.
The decor is beautiful, very modern and understated. Good, clean type of modern look. I met two friends there who arrived before I did, and although they had a bit of trouble getting the bartender's attention, and so abandoned that quest when I arrived so we could get to the table, the rest of the service was impeccable.
Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, and made excellent recommendations. He suggested the Tawa Baingan, which is eggplant, spiced potato, olive oil and peanut sauce, as an appetizer. It was phenomenal.
I got the lamb roganjosh, which was excellent. The meat wasn't quite as tender as the lamb I got at Bombay Club, but that's a minor quibble. The food was excellent. Our waiter suggested I pair a glass of Austrian red wine with it. I can't remember the name (and, oddly, their wine list is not on their Web site), but it was delicious and a perfect pair for the meal.
For dessert, try the date and toffee pudding with berries. A friend had the chocolate samosa, which she raved about.
The manager stopped by to check on us, and was very friendly, and all the staff were welcoming and warm.
And for some reason, I had the impression Rasika was rather expensive, but it isn't. Most main courses are between $15 and $18, which is quite reasonable for the quality of the food here.
Definitely put it on your list and keep it there.
People thought this was:
My group stumbled upon Rasika after fruitlessly searching for Indian food for nearly an hour. We were perspiring, underdressed, reservationless and encumbered with luggage (NYC bus to Chinatown, huzzah!). The dashing Manager (who looked like the Indian version of Alec Baldwin) was very polite and seated us in the bar area immediately. The bar area was charming, dimly lit and colorfully furnished. The tables were very low to the ground, and reminded me of hobbit tables (Fortunately, three-quarters of our party were uncommonly short).
Our waiter arrived within moments to take our order and displayed a laudable amount of patience and professionalism, as one member of our party belligerently insisted on ordering chicken curry, which was not on the menu, and another member only ordered tea (?!). Myself and the other reasonable member of the party ordered Chicken Green Masala, Seekh Kebab and Ragda Patties. The food, including the chicken curry, which some saintly chef apparently whipped up on the spot, arrived within about 15 minutes and was absolutely delicious. The dishes were extraordinarily seasoned, especially the Masala and the Kebab, which were seasoned similarly and had an addictive piquant flavor and contained just enough mint to lend a tantalizing layer without tasting like Crest. The bite of chicken curry I was resentfully permitted was velvety and full of meat. The Ragda Patties were excellent with a great texture.
Our waiter was extremely attentive throughout the meal and the silent water boy (or whatever their designation is) kept our glasses filled like his life depended on it.
Overall, it was an excellent experience and the only complaint I have is the price of the naan/roti.
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The food was first-rate, original. The cocktails are delicious.
I was impressed with the ambiance.
I was NOT impressed at all with the service. A party of 6 (or any size) should not have to wait 25 minutes to receive a cocktail and another 20 minutes to be asked to order, on a Monday night. Once we actually ordered, the server spent another 2-3 minutes cajoling us in to ordering appetizers, more bread, more chutney, etc. I appreciate being asked if I care for another drink when my glass is empty, or if I'm having dessert after my entree, but I don't want my server to be a salesperson (ESPECIALLY when you work somewhere that charges an automatic 20% gratuity for parties of 6).
For these prices I would much rather dine at Rasika's sister restaurant, Bombay Club, or Polo.
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My friend made a weekday lunch reservation for us at Rasika and it was good to go with someone in the know. Apparently, they have a fresh squeezed juice of the day and luckily for me, today was watermelon! Delicious and a perfect summer drink.
To back up, Rasika is conveniently located and there is street parking as well as valet. The decor is warm and sumptuous with equally warm and friendly staff who were sincerely excited about recommending dishes. They have a good wine and cocktail list and a balanced menu that is not overwhelming.
We had the famous fried spinach appetizer (Palak Chaat). I love anything deep fried and as a fan of crispy fried parsley and basil, this was delicious. I ordered the crab pepper masala, papadum, a side of cauliflower (Gobhi Mattar) and truffle naan. The crab was beautiful in presentation and tasty if not a bit over seasoned. I loved the papadum and the truffle naan was genius. The cauliflower and my friend's eggplant (Baigan Bharta) and spinach (Malai Palak) sides were fresh and light. Lunch was a lovely treat.
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I think I'm one of the rare people who just did not have a good experience at Rasika. The service was excellent. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. I was just not impressed at all with the food. We started off with the mango shrimp with tasted more like lemon and not like mango at all. It wasn't terrible, but it tasted like plain shrimp. Nothing special. We also ordered an onion uttapam which were a bit soggy. They turned out to be the best part of our experience. My friend ordered the tandoori lamb chops, which were nothing special at all. It tasted very plain. Not bad, but very average. I ordered the chicken makhani which I couldn't finish because it was so oily. The sauce itself tasted like it was watered down and was lacking the full flavor that you expect from any makhani dish.
Overall, I think this place may be great for someone who is new to indian food and doesn't know what it's supposed to taste like because otherwise it is overrated and overpriced.
People thought this was:
I think coming from NYC expectations tend to be higher than usual. Rasika meets those expectations but doesn't necessarily exceed them. Nonetheless, I was satisfied with my meal.
For appetizer we had the paneer kabobs and the ragda patties (which were really good!). For the main course we ordered the paneer pasanda, malai palak, and a side of dal makhani and some dish named "tamatar something."
I really like the fact that for the veg. dishes you can order two different sizes -- regular and small.
For dessert --- I didn't like anything on their menu. I am a HUGE dessert fan. I must eat something sweet... but their menu was a let-down. I went back to my hotel and ordered their almond cake.
In terms of service, they were okay.
I would recommend this restaurant; however, had it been in NYC -- I would suggest others. But, it being DC. I think it was good.
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I will keep this short & sweet. I Love food & can go miles for tasty food.
I have tried different Indian restaurants in town, no other restaurant can match this. It's the best in town but pricey though.
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December 1st, 2008
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Rasika lives up to its one-of-a-kind website. (you *really* need to go and look at it, it's amazing). It's located in a part of Penn Quarter that I've never been to, maybe it's the "real" Penn Quarter because its accessible by the Penn Quarter metro. I don't know how I feel about the close proximity to it's cousin '701' which I know nothing about except that it's mentioned on their website. But if its like other great restaurants (Great American restaurants), they can have them as many and as close as they want!
The glass doors open onto another set of doors, draped by oversized curtains (it's a little clumsy getting into it). We arrived with a reservation at 6:15 and were seated in the front part of the restaurant (bordering a gauzy curtain that separated us from the back part of the restaurant but facing the glass windows to the street). Where we sat was well lit (I could snap a few pictures off) before they dimmed the lights at 6:30.
Our waiter filled our water, left and came back while we decided on food/drinks and then took our orders of Kingfisher and a "Chocolate Bunny"[too much alcohol] and an order of Garlic Naan that came with a mint chutney and sweet chutney (tamarind based I think). He brought them back a minute or two after the 630 cut-off for the three course pre-theater dinner menu ($30 each) to take our order, but didn't even look at his watch. (After debating with myself on whether or not I wanted the pre-theater menu, I was antsy he wouldn't let us since it was no longer 630).
Our tasting menus consisted of: first course: Kokum Scallops and harra bharra tikka, second course: lamb rizala and tandoori salmon with a side of kela tamatar, third course: carrot halwa with cinnamon sabayon and gulab jamun with ice cream (plus bonus free gulab jamun for my birthday with a candle in it!).
I can't say how much of a "deal" the tasting menu is, but considering one drink is $12 here, I would think $30 for three courses is great! Though I don't crave Indian food like I do Chinese or Japanese food, I don't avoid going to Indian restaurants (like.. Italian places). My boyfriend had expressed that he would go here in the near future, whether it was with me or his brother, so I took the last days of fall and my birthday as an excuse to beat his bro and had a lot of fun doin it.
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FULL REVIEW (including each dish): http://discojing.com/r...
Last night, I lost my virginity.... my Indian food virginity. Lighting up the cigarette, as we speak.
After hearing all you silly Yelpers brag about this place, I finally gave in and made a reservation. There is about a 2-week wait just to get a weeknight table for two, so get in there quickly! Everyone says the same thing on here... blah blah blah. But I like lists, and I love to mention the things that no one else does. Listen up:
- Parking: Valet is $7.00. Public Parking garages in the area are $10.00. You figure it out.
- Service: Impeccable and Encyclopedic. As mentioned, I was a first-timer and our waitress recited the entire menu and explained every single detail. She made fabulous recommendations, and actually ending up basically ordering for us. We even expressed our curiosity on a third entree, and she said - "You know what? I will split the dish into two plates and bring it over for you to try." Whoa, that was a smooth move.
- Food: Indian. Sophisticated. Mouth Pleasing. Better than I ever imagined. Pop goes the cherry...
- Interior: Low lighting, Modern, Loud. Every sentence I spoke to my lover initiated a "Huh?!" on his part. A little frustrating, but who cares when you can just shut up and stuff your mouth with this stuff.
Overall: Exceeded my expectations, and I am officially an Indian food lover. I'm no longer a virgin, my mom would be so proud. If you're a virgin yourself, do not fear - this is the perfect spot for the freshman.
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Rasika is a good restaurant -- one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. Its food is more refined than Indique's, its service usually more attentive, its ambiance more intimate and romantic. I ate there for my third or fourth time last night, just a week after Tom Sietsema crowned the place with a fourth star. On previous visits, I was impressed but not blown away. However, given that Sietsema placed the restaurant on par with such show-stopping places as Komi and the Inn at Little Washington, I was expecting an improvement on my previous meals at the restaurant. Unfortunately, I saw no such improvements and think this place still falls squarely in three-star territory. To me, it's the little things that distinguish a 3 or 3.5-star resto from a 4-star resto. Four-star operations never (or rarely) miss an opportunity to impress guests, to heighten their experience. Rasika's head just is not in the game that way.
I sat down at the bar before my 6:15 dinner reservation, and the bar tender ambled over about 5 minutes later to ask what I'd like. I ordered a glass of the rose and eyed the spiced popcorn that both of the parties next to me had. I'd heard that it was gratis, but what didn't I get any? I waited a good ten minutes to see if they'd bring me some but no dice. They did refill the bowl of the party next to me, though, so I finally asked for some and the bar tender brought it over. It was a little thing, but it really bugged me, especially given this is a Wapo 4-star restaurant we're talking about here.
In terms of the food, palak chat was excellent, as always. We also ordered the ragda patties, essentially samosa innards atop a pool of red dal topped with tamarind chutney; flavors were definitely spot-on, but the whole dish was mush; desperately needed textural contrast. We ordered two curries as mains: paneer pasanda and lamb roganjosh. The paneer was tasty, but there were none of the cashews the menu had promised. The lamb's sauce was spicy and flavorful, but several of my pieces of lamb were bone-dry.
I want to chalk this sub-par experience to it being a busy night, which it was. But if a restaurant can't bang out consistently good dishes, that come as promised, at 6:30, I don't know when it can. Tom's promotion came prematurely, in my opinion; Rasika has a ways to go before it earns that fourth star.
Went to Rasika with a group of good colleagues last night for dinner. We share a bottle of wine, some appetizers, several main dishes, and dessert. We were all incredibly full at the end, and we definitely enjoyed the food, but I'm not sure if I would choose this place over other family-style Indian food I've had. Let me break it down by dish...
Appetizers... We got the crisped spinach and the eggplant stack (or whatever they call them). Spinach was great, nicely flavored. Eggplant was nicely presented, and the group seemed to like it.
Entrees...
Gobhi mattar (cauliflower with peas): This dish was excellent. The cauliflower was cooked to just the right tenderness and spiced so that you could feel the heat but not lose the taste of the vegetables. I'm very glad we ordered this dish.
Salmon: It was a nice cut of salmon with a good aroma. Definitely not cooked dry, although there were some parts that seemed underdone because of how wet and soft it was.
Chicken makhani: This was boneless chicken in a red curry sauce. Very tasty sauce, and the chicken was tender and juicy. This dish went well with both rice and naan.
Chicken green curry: I really like the green curry, although it's different from a Thai-style green. It was minty, but very spicey. Unfortunately, the chicken was slightly dry.
Lamb guchi korma: I had high hopes for this dish, but was very disappointed. The meat was in large chunks, which meant that the sauce hadn't soaked in and flavored it very much. In addition, I was surprised at the sauce... I hadn't expected a white sauce. It seemed to be all cream and butter, but without much actual spice in there.
Seasonal vegetable: One of our group wanted this so we'd have more vegetable options, but I didn't find it that great. We should have gotten lentils or another spinach instead.
Dessert...
Chai tea: great
I got the jalebi, because I was thinking of this wonderful little family-run restaurant near where I used to live... and on the weekend they made jalebi and gave it away free with dinner. This had similar underlying flavor, although I'm not sure if the apple ring in the center added much to it. The cardamom ice cream was great.
carrot dish: This seemed very traditional, soft-baked carrot cake (not so much cake as a mash), not too sweet, with interesting spices.
panna cotta: the cream itself was good, although the citrus slices and other (edible!) garnishes had a strange look and taste
chocolate samosa: this was a phillo-dough pastry with chocolate inside. I didn't try it, because it looked very rich, but it appeared to be very cocoa-y, rather than like a milk chocolate. For chocolate lovers who can't resist molten chocolate cakes, I'm sure you'd be satisfied.
One complaint was the service. The waiter seemed rather opinionated about our orders, but not always in the helpful way. For example, one or two people were commenting about not getting too many appetizers so we had room for dinner... but we wanted the bread basket. I don't need to hear the server comment that "the bread basket is filling, but if you want it..." Did we not order it? And in fact, the breads were good regardless of whether they made is feel full.
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Neighborhood: Van Ness/Forest Hills
Category: Indian
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Washington, DC
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