Rasika

I liked the food at the restaurant. It is not as oily as other Indian restaurants. The service at the restaurant is really good. It also has a good ambiance and vibe. All the food items were good. They also have an outdoor heated area for dining. We went there for my sister birthday celebration and they gave her a free dessert for her birthday. It is a good Indian restaurant and do try them out.

Nice food, great ambience and very crowded. Had to make a reservation in advance to get in. Food wasn't as spicy as it is in similar places in India but was well prepared and good. It was one of the costlier Indian restaurants I have been to in the US. I have been to quite a few Indian restaurants in the Bay area which are good too but less costly. The Indian style cocktail was OK but the food was quite good and filling. Paratha was great and so was the nan.

For a conference we were staying in National Harbor. One thing that I’ve learned is that it’s really hard to get anywhere else from National Harbor. The Ubers and Lyfts may be far away. The closest metro is in Alexandria which is over 2.5 miles away. And your other option is a water taxi that takes one hour to get to the southern part of DC at the wharf, so it was obvious what I was going to do on the day that we didn’t really have a lot scheduled. I walked to Alexandria and jumped on the metro. My goal in going to DC that day was eating at Rasika, known for Indian fusion in the heart of DC. This was my first time at the Penn Quarter location. Given my unique travel circumstances I didn’t have a reservation. When I did get to the restaurant, it was still lunch hour. I explained to the lady that it was a table for one, but that I didn’t have a reservation. I was lucky enough to still get seated. thank you slightly off lunch hour. My service was prompt and I was given the menus. For my drink, I actually ordered one of the mock tails that was a lime and ginger mix. It was so tasty and refreshing, especially considering the day that I had had. for my meal, I had to get the palak chaat, which is a flash fried spinach with toppings, and one of the best things I’ve ever had. For my entrée I actually got a lunch size meal of rhe Sabudana kofta curry with roti. it was so tasty. It had a nice creaminess to it. The sabudana was sticky, but it had a really great flavor. It also complimented the roti really nicely. For my dessert I actually just got chai. This was an excellent meal in terms of the food, the service, and the experience. My trek was definitely worth it.

I came to DC over the summer in order to see the sights and sample the food. So many cuisines to choose from, DC is truly a melting pot of food. I found it similar to London, in that manner. Maybe all national capitals are that way? Either way, Indian is one of my favorites, so I found an allegedly amazing Indian restaurant for lunch, made my reservations, and came in to see. Right away, you're blasted with luxury. There are shiny things all over the ways and curtains of glimmering glass beads separating the tables from one another. Stark, white tablecloths, I felt like I was in a 1940's hunting club, or something like that. I felt instantly warm and comfortable, and I was greeted by our lovable server. Super nice fellow. And he was quick to make recommendations, which I love when I'm trying to try new things. Of course, I started off with a mango lassi. Pound-for-pound, one of the best drinks on planet Earth. It was nice and cold and thick and mangoey. Lovely. We ordered like three apps, and then we split a main entrée. We started off with the Sweet Potato Samosa (Phyllo pastry/ cranberry chutney). Elevated samosas, tied up like perfect little presents. Never seen anything like it before. Creamy sweet potato within the perfectly crisp phyllo, balanced against the barely tart cranberry chutney underneath. Lots of fun, and lots of flavor! For the life of me, I can't remember what the other two apps were. It's been too long. I am sorry. But I do remember they were things I hadn't had before, shots in the dark, and that they were delicious, so the moral of the story here is that no matter what you order, it'll probably be five star food! I also can't find our entrée... Embarrassing. But I actually think this is a good thing. Because if I can't find it, that means their menu rotates and is seasonal and fresh! It was lamb, though, a whole shank in the middle of some curry. That lamb fell right off the bone, it was deep in flavor, but not spicy, and it was a good ol' time eating the meat and the curry with the carbs from the jasmine rice and the naan. Honestly one of the best meals I had the whole time I was in town. Nothing wrong with this place at all, and if I ever come back to DC, I will probably come back.

I liked the indoor atmosphere. The service is very good, fast as well. The drinks are okay. I ordered a ginger Bellini, but I couldn’t taste the ginger, it was more like a regular Prosecco. The appetizers were good, as well as the entrees. They are big, I would say it serves two if you order individual appetizers. The only con on the red snapper dish I ordered was that the skin came on the bottom covered with sauce, so it was a bit unpleasant and difficult to take it out. I think you either don’t server a fish with skin (when it’s not crispy) or you don’t cover with sauce. Also, the portion of Naan bread is very small. I was surprised to see that they don’t give it as complimentary when you order entrees. I think it’s a nice place to go with a group of friends to try different dishes. Another suggestion would be to sign the level of spicy in the menu. It’s not that the staff cannot advise on that, but it would be easier to see it in the menu. I’ll definitely go back to try more dishes.