Rasika West End

Wow! What a gem. Incredible Indian food in a beautifully designed restaurant that transforms you to a secret place full of delicious spices and perfect service. You’ll have to start with their famous Palak Chaat crispy spinach covered in goodness. The smoked eggplant vegetable side was to die for - smooth babaganoosh with a touch of Indian spice and peas. The truffle dosa was a great starter for two people - and very generous slices of truffle stuffed inside! The chicken dish we had was also perfectly spiced and perfectly cooked and came with a small side of rice that was plenty!

Rasika is a high end Indian restaurant in the heart of NW Washington DC. It is also popular with the movers and shakers of country and boasts an impressive “whos who” among its clientele. The restaurant has patio seating for when the weather is warm. Inside there is a bar where you order drinks and also eat if you so desire. The ambience of the restaurant inside is subdued and sober. A sharp contrast to the typical chatter in restaurants. Maybe too many secrets being shared! But the environment rubbed on us and we found ourselves talking in hushed conspiratorial tones about our commute! Their Palaka chat was awesome. Deep fried spinach leaves smothered in yogurt, tamarind chutney and a sprinkle of diced tomatoes. I loved it! We ordered their paneer musallam, something of a speciality. It’s paneer (cottage cheese) stuffed with nuts (I think cashew, walnuts) smothered is tomato, yogurt, cream gravy. Very rich and heavy. A little bland for my palate but I guess they have adapted it to suit the western tastes. The paneer comes with a piece of edible silver foil, which is not uncommon in India (especially for sweets) but not common in America. Our waiter reminded us a couple of times that it is silver and safe to eat. I am guessing they had guests scrapping it away as aluminum foil. These things tend to be expensive. We also ordered their baigan bharta. A innocuous looking dish that is actually not easy to make. The eggplants are first roasted over charcoal braziers till they are slightly charred and imbibe a smoky aroma. They are then peeled, mashed and cooked in a assortment of spices. The result is a delectable blend of tastes and aromas best eaten with Naan (which is what we did). Enjoyed the dish tremendously! The prices are not for the faint hearted but worth the experience!

Visiting DC and been here twice just 7 days apart. Extraordinary experience both times. Their lamb chops are to die for, better than what I had in London. Amazing fish dishes and lovely sweet potato samosas. Service was fantastic.

We had a very lovely experience at Rasika West End. The Palak Chaat was absolutely delicious along with the lobster tawa. Our server was very patient and kind. I would do the tasting menu to try other items.

Rasika was great. All the dishes were pretty different in their own way, but it also felt authentic and down to earth. The truffle dosa was a great appetizer that mixed a traditional south asian dish with a more contemporary flavor, and it worked! The lamb biryani was so good and flavorful. The spice was balanced out by the yogurt that came with it. And the lamb was so soft. The mango pudding was a nice refresher and was light. 8.6/10