Rasika

With easy access to the Metro, this is a good-looking, loud and lively spot that lures all types of diners. Everyone is here for their kitsch-free Indian cuisine and laid-back ambience—both of which are as perfectly suited for a casual night out with friends as they are for a formal dinner with colleagues or festive celebration.It’s difficult to live up to the hype, but Rasika turns out several winning dishes. Grab a seat at the back counter for views into the kitchen, which turns out such highlights as crispy palak chaat tossed with raita, tamarind and date chutneys.

You can see Rasika’s window-side booths with curved canopies from outside the West End restaurant—snag one of those, and you’ve gotten the best seats in the house. No trip to Rasika would be complete without ordering the palak chaat, lighter-than-air, flash-fried spinach topped with yogurt sauce. James Beard Award-winning chef Vikram Sunderam also does a black cod entree that’s so popular it seems to fly out of the kitchen, as well as a number of dishes geared toward vegetarians.

Bombay-born Chef Vikram Sunderam combines Indian street food with high quality and local ingredients to create dishes such as patra ni macchi (sea bass, coconut, mint, and cilantro). South Asian-inspired cocktails and desserts also feature brightly on the menu. Muted colors and lights, combined with crystals and wood tones create a cozy luxury that captures the boisterous conversations of the well-heeled, multicultural Washingtonian crowd that fills the restaurant.

Rasika in Penn Quarter has been open since 2005 and is part of a local empire that now includes a West End location, Bindaas, and The Bombay Club, which first introduced Indian fine dining to the city. When you make it here and taste the crispy baby spinach and sweet chutney of their palak chaat, or the crab pepper masala with a delicate pastry covering, it’ll be clear that 20 years after it opened Rasika is still serving some of the best food in the district.

Rasika means “flavors” in Sanskrit, and its modern Indian cuisine has been spicing up the Penn Quarter for more than a decade (a West End location followed in 2012). The sophisticated lounge is accented by the bold aromas and flavors of timeless recipes perfected and reimagined by James Beard Award–winning chef Vikram Sunderam. Tandoori salmon is baked to tender perfection, with a kick of spice from the coating of Kashmiri chili, cinnamon, and black pepper.

Rasika brings the delicacy of upmarket Indian cooking to Washington. One of restaurateur Ashok Bajaj’s empire, which also includes the Oval Room, Bombay Club, 701, Ardeo+Bardeo and Bibiana, Rasika is under the creative eye of Vikram Sunderam, who ran the kitchen at London’s Bombay Brasserie for 14 years. Grouped into categories including "chaat", "tawa" and "tandoor", the menu covers much ground, with ample choices for both vegetarians and carnivores.

Authentically gourmet takes on sigri (open barbecue), tandoori (oven) and tawa (griddle) dishes have enabled this elegant Penn Quarter establishment to garner a huge amount of popular and critical praise over the years. All the attention is justly earned, too, thanks, in part, to the place's smart, suave decor that features rich colors, imported fabrics and chandeliers. And the fare -- including Lamb Dahiwala, Dum Ha Duck and Tandoori Trout -- truly captivates the senses.

Serving up modern Indian cuisine, Rasika offers an authentic experience and an age-old approach to dining where guests choose from a variety of appetizers and entrees to share with their companions. This Michelin-starred restaurant boasts a laid-back ambience that is perfectly suited for a casual night out with friends or a formal dinner with colleagues. Favorites include the tandoori chicken tikka and the red snapper pollichathu.

Located in Penn Quarter and the West End, Rasika’s diverse menu features everything from classic curry to sirgi (barbeque) and tawa (griddle) dishes. Started by executive chef Vikram Sunderam, a James Beard Award nominee, and founder Ashok Bajaj, who formerly worked for the prestigious Taj Hotels, both Rasika’s customer service and Indian delicacies are worth drooling over. Multiple locations, rasikarestaurant.com

My cousin and her husband speak very highly of this place and surely enough, theirs weren’t the restaurant’s only praise. Its head chef Vikram Sunderam was given the James Beard Award (the Oscars of the culinary community) for best chef in the Mid-Atlantic for his innovative mixture of seemingly normal foods and creating amazing new items with them. Definitely try their tandoori lamb chops or the black cod.

Rasika is an Indian fine-dining restaurant in Penn Quarter that’s a great addition to your usual spots for a big night out. While you don’t need to be ultra-formal, you can use this dinner as an excuse to get a little dressed up and to break out that ‘fit that’s been living in the back of your closet. There’s something for everyone on the menu, regardless of whether you’re vegetarian or a devoted omnivore.

Wine lovers are treated to specially curated pairings when dining at Rasika, one of the most luxurious restaurants in Washington DC. Whether you’re joining them for lunch or dinner, you’ll be treated to meals centered on traditional Indian flavors fused with the chef’s special creativity. Rasika offers unique meals that are truly one-of-a-kind. It’s experimental and modern food at its best.

If you and your loved one appreciate the flavors of India, Rasika is a must-visit. With two locations in the city, in Penn Quarter and West End, this upscale Indian restaurant offers a modern and elegant setting. Indulge in flavorful and innovative dishes like crispy spinach, butter chicken, or delicious biryanis, while immersing yourselves in the vibrant atmosphere.

Indian food is one of those cuisines that travels reliably well, and while chef Vikram Sunderam’s crispy spinach may not hold up as well as a curry, we’ve found it still fares well (credit the cooling yogurt, dates, and chutney—each packaged separately). You can also buy homemade Rasika simmer sauces for cooking at home. Available for pickup or delivery._

Rasika stands out in D.C.’s dining landscape as a testament to the art of modern Indian cuisine. Chef Vikram Sunderam’s approach to traditional flavors has earned the restaurant numerous accolades, including a Michelin star. With its elegant, contemporary decor, Rasika provides a sophisticated setting for indulging in refined Indian dishes.

There are two Rasika locations in D.C., and both of them serve a refined take on Indian cuisine to put hearts in your eyes. However, if you need a table that gives the right amount of "alone in a crowded room" vibes without feeling too far removed, go to Rasika in West End. Swanky turquoise booths and domed lights create a unique mood.

Rasika’s elevated Indian food makes it one of the city’s most popular tables. Le Diplomate in Logan Circle is a bustling brassiere with classic French fare. Jose Andres just may just be the restaurant king of the city, ask his legions of fans that equally praise Zaytinya and China Chilcano.

Indian - you're in luck, as Rasika is nearby and can usually take walk-ins. Its sister Bombay Club is more formal. I can't think of any South Indian downtown, specifically, but there is a tasty dosa stand at Union Market - near the NoMa Metro stop, a few minutes outside downtown.

Starting off with Rasika as I own their cookbook and have sporadically tried making some of their dishes. Rasika offers a unique take on Indian cuisine, blending traditional flavors with Western influences. They have two outlets: one at Penn Quarter, and the other at West End.

Rasika is a popular award-winning Indian restaurant in Penn Quarters, downtown DC. So much so that you’ll need to make reservation months in advance to secure a dinner table for weekends. Pro tip: It’s much easier to get a reservation on short notice for weekdays.

The Palak Chaat (fried spinach) at Rasika is simple yet addicting. The crispy spinach is served with sweet yogurt and a date chutney, which helps the dish to balance its sweet and savory flavors. This is a side dish one should be sure not to glaze over.

This phenomenal Indian restaurant takes centuries-old recipes and interprets them in an ingeniously modern way, transforming them into somehow familiar yet totally unexplored dishes unlike anything you’ve ever eaten, all in a swanky, deluxe location.

The list included, of course, 2fifty — here’s my latest review — and Rasika, along with other places I hadn’t tried before. So far, I’ve reported on Crisfield, Taqueria Sabor Mixteco, and Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly. And it included Pupuseria Mama Emilia.

Rasika is Sanskrit for flavors, which is a perfect summation of this modern Indian restaurant. Patrons are implored to choose a variety of appetizers to share with the table in the Spanish tradition, while their on-site sommelier assist.[Learn more]

Spice up your date night with the delicious Indian food at Rasika. The little plates put a spin on traditional Indian food, but still pack the full flavor of this delicious cuisine. There are two Rasika locations in DC and both are equally popular.

Rasika is quite good but a very hard reservation to get unless you book way ahead. Those are all near the Verizon Center. I also like Birch and Barley 14th Street for brunch but have not been for dinner.

and the James Beard Award-winning Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse in Dupont Circle come to mind, as well as elevated Indian powerhouses Rasika and Bombay Club, where many deals have been done

This is the most fabulous and unique Indian restaurant I've ever been to. I had my rehearsal dinner here, and people who've never tried Indian food absolutely fell in love with it.

Rasika offers multiple vegetarian sides and entrees for lunch and dinner. Examples include Bagara Baingan, Gobhi Mattar, and Malai Palak. Food is fresh, delicious, and flavorful.

With two locations in the district, this restaurant puts a modern twist on Indian cuisine featuring small plates yet big taste. Start off with a dish made...

633 D St NW, Washington, DC 20004Phone: 202-637-1222 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Rasika (@rasikadc)