Rasika West End

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Address:
1190 New Hampshire Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20037

Neighborhood:
West End

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Cuisine:
Contemporary Indian

Price: $31 to $50

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Rasika West End Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.rasikarestaurant.com
Email: rasika@rasikawestend.com
Phone: (202) 466-2500
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 2:30pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 10:30pm, Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm - 11:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Contemporary Indian
Executive Chef: Vikram Sunderam
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access
Catering: We can cater events from 10 to 1000 guests.
Private Party Facilities: We offer three private dining room options. The Library Room seats up to 36 guests for a sit down dinner and Stand up reception for 60 guests. Window view Private room seats up to 10 guests. Glass enclosed Private Dining Room in the Kitchen seats up to 8 guests.
Private Party Contact: Atul Narain (202) 466-2500

Getting there

Cross Street: New Hampshire & M Street
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: We offer valet parking at Dinner service at eight dollars per car. Our valet station is situated at the corner of New Hampshire Avenue and M Street.

A word from Rasika West End

Rasika, which is derived from Sanskrit meaning "flavors,” is the award-winning modern Indian restaurant owned by Ashok Bajaj. Leading the kitchen is Group Executive Chef Vikram Sunderam, a 2012 nominee for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic from the James Beard Foundation. Rasika has consistently earned four… stars in the coveted Dining Guide of The Washington Post, and is in the top tier of Washingtonian magazine’s annual “100 Best.” Esquire magazine named it among the country’s best new restaurants in 2008 and Food & Wine magazine also stated that Rasika is “One of the hottest restaurants in the world.” Rasika showcases authentic Indian fare prepared on the Tawa (griddle), Sigri (open barbeque), as well as Tandoori and regional dishes. The restaurant is also noted for its international wine list, innovative cocktails and intimate, plush dining room. For private dining, Rasika has an exclusive space that can seat up to 16 guests and a semi-private area for up to 28.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies

Diner Reviews

"Some dishes are very creative and delicious, and some miss the mark, like a rockfish fish dish we had that was totaled overwhelmed by the sauce, or a quinoa side that had an interesting but not particularly pleasant taste. It’s not a matter of spicy or not, it’s more about subtle flavors being brought to life, and some dishes succeed very well and others not so much. We also think it’s a little pricey for what you get. Would recommend this restaurant because it is unique, but it’s not one that we would visit regularly."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Loved it! The food was spectacular and well presented. Service was great. One of my favorite places."
Dined on 3/6/2014
"Innovative, interesting, extraordinarily tasty. Just the right balance between fire and spice. Good wine and beer list."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"Having eaten Indian food in many different countries, I consider myself an Indian food expert, and I judge all Indian restaurants by the same dish - their Chicken Tikka Masala. The CTM at Rasika West End is billed as the national dish of England in the menu, which I took to be a good sign. I've eaten CTM in London many times, and what I had at Rasika was NOT the same thing, or even similar. Yes, it was creamy and had chicken in it, but that's where the similarities ended. I don't know what was up with the spicing, but the result was a completely unrecognizable dish. It wasn't bad - it was actually pretty tasty - but it wasn't CTM. My dinner companion had a lamb korma that was completely foul. I will not be coming back."
Dined on 3/5/2014
"Great service from the time I entered the restaurant until we departed. Nice modern decor. The food was filled with wonderful flavors - much better than all the other Indian restaurants where I have eaten in D.C. over many years. I now know why it is so hard to get a reservation!"
Dined on 3/5/2014
"The appetizers were excellent. Chicken Tikka delicious. Overall a great dining experience. I just wish they would give more chutney so you don't have to keep asking for more."
Dined on 3/4/2014
"We are vegetarian so ordered accordingly. The appetizers were fabulous and lovely. The vegetarian entrees were good but a little boring--especially after the interesting and creative appetizers"
Dined on 3/3/2014
"Would have given a better review except I had hair in my food. Didn't want to make a fuss in front of the guest, so didn't complain to the staff."
Dined on 2/26/2014
"Rasika honored my open table request for a quiet table by seating our party of 4 in a booth enclosed in a canopy. Perfect. Dinner did not disappoint. Indian food kicked up a notch in sophistication and elegance. Recommend the black cod, duck narangi, (tender duck breast contrasts nicely with candied orange) railway lamb curry ( delicious cilantro infused gravy) and bhindi chili garlic for a new and non slimy approach to okra. Order chai tea for a taste of the real thing and don't forget dessert. We had rose mango kulfi with black berries and a mango macaroon. Sweet, tangy, not quite ice cream, the perfect ending to a delicious meal"
Dined on 2/26/2014
"I always loved the original Rasika but the first two times I visited the West End location were not quite as good as the flagship location. That was definitely not the case on my third visit, which I booked because the original Rasika was full. Everything, from the delicious Syrah the sommelier recommended, to the mango shrimp appetizers and cod and lobster main courses, was sublime. Service, food, and ambience all A+. This all comes at a price, but one which I feel is justified for how good it is. Looking forward to my next visit."
Dined on 2/26/2014
"This is not an inexpensive restaurant and diners can expect to pay somewhere near $100 for two for dinner plus a glass of wine each. Many of the entrees are over-priced; $25, for example, for three small slices of Rock fish in a frankly uninspired curry sauce. And, ordering it a la carte you get no bread, no rice and certainly no vegetables. The lamb kebab appetizer was, however, excellent. The wine list is, I think, again over-priced and offers basically no value wines ($20-$25). The service was excellent. If eating here again I would choose to share several appetizers that seem more reasonably priced and offer more variety than many of their entrees. There are many other Indian restaurants around town that offer better value."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"We had the spinach appetizer, black cod, and lamp chops, along with assorted breads. A true feast, each dish exquisitively prepared. Can't imagine a better Indian meal. Was wondering if this offshoot would be as good as the original - it is, and the open space, light (we were there for lunch), and clever use of the space made the dining experience that much the better. And our waiter was great with suggestions and commentary. Superb experience."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"Always a great experience.. Never disappointed. I did feel the Valentines day menu was a little overpriced."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Rasika West End is one of those rare restaurants that combine a great menu, perfect execution and wonderful staff to create an amazing dining experience! I highly recommend it!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"It has been about 1 year since Rasika WE opened and it is still is a jewel in the kingdom. We dine here pretty regulary and the food and service still are terrific, the latter especially attentive. There has been no slippage whatsoever in the performance of this restaurtant and despite it being "hot," it is not at all arrogant and it is not resting on its laurels. It is so nice to see a restauranter who keeps standards high. Go and enjoy, you will not be disappointed."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"Excellent !!!! The food was exquisite and the service was impeccable."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"If you love Indian food, this is the restaurant choice for you! In addition to delicious food and excellent, attentive service, the restaurant also has a lovely ambiance. Seating is comfortable. Decor is appealing."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"Made reservations a month in advance for 6 people. They first walked us down to the basement private room off the kitchen. Smelled bad, no ambience. Then said they cannot accommodate a large party in the dining room where all the action was happening. Put us in another private room. Portions were small and for 6 people it was over $650. There are better places to go in DC. The flavors were good but not worth the price!"
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Went for lunch with a group of colleagues. While the service was excellent, the food experience left me with literally bad taste in my mouth. I ordered "palak chaat " and "Kerala/Alleppey Fish Curry". As usual, palak chaat was delicious but, fish curry was mediocre. It tasted raw and overdone with hot chilly (I think, I am not an expert of spice). I am familiar with the cooking style of Kerala so I was expecting some local flavor but was disappointed. Normally I have no issue with spicy food but this particular dish left me with an upset stomach. One of my colleague who is also a fan of Kerala fish curry order the same dish and I heard her saying it tasted raw."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Excellent food, service and atmosphere.Disappointed very limited lounge area since many customers prefer to eat in that area."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"I may go again next week, but probably not. I found it pretty noisy. I think it' may be better to order an entree, rather than try to sample several things by ordering appetizers. I found the menu difficult to understand. I'm not as enthusiastic as I expected to be."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"Food and presentation are excellent. Good menu choices. Can be a little noisy at times. Highly recommend Gulab Jamun dessert and biryani dishes."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Everything at Rasika smelled and tasted delicious. I took a large group for a first day work lunch. We have a mix of vegans, vegetarians, and other adventerous eaters. The waiter was very knowledgable and attuned to our dietary needs. I chose an Indian restaurant in particular to satisfy our diverse eating requirements. There was something for everyone."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"great food, inventive, modern indian cuisine. wine pairings with tasting a great idea. pricey but expected for level of service. recommend for special occasions. good selection of wines. bathrooms were not so special. ambiance quiet"
Dined on 2/17/2014
"We sampled 5 appetizers including the shrimp, spinach, and lamb. All of them were fantastic. Then we each ordered an entree...there were 3 of us. All 3 of us were underwhelmed by our entrees. They were just mediocre. Then the desserts - again - amazing! The coconut with chocolate was awesome. This was our second time at Rasika. The first time we had appetizers and dessert and fell in love. And, that's what we'll do from now on. Skip the entrees!!"
Dined on 2/17/2014
"We dined at Rasika as a belated Valentine's day celebration. Was a memorable experience!"
Dined on 2/17/2014
"I am not sure why this restaurant is viewed so favorably by public, but our experience didn't wow us at all and mostly because of the food. The taste of everything we've tried was not bad, but was not exceptional or even great either. It was just a modern twist on Indian flavors that's all. Even Naan wasn't the best we ever tried. We ate the same kind of food in couple of other Indian restaurants and left with the same impression. So why all this hype here?.. On the positive side the service was attentive and ambiance modern and elegant. But for the quality of experience on value point it doesn't make sense for us to return."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Krispy spinach was as expected and it got better. Wanted the Cod and they were out but the grouper replacement could not have been better."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Valentine's Day tasting menu with wine pairing. The biggest positive was the service was very good. The food was good/very good but not to the level I had expected. The food was about a 50/50 split of really good and just so-so. For over $300 for two I expected more. The wine pairing was poor for the food. Based on the reviews and recommendations I was disappointed."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"I did not enjoy this meal and was one of the worst meals I have had in a long time. I have been to this restaurant previously and had a good meal and enjoyed myself. The problem is that they did a price fixed menu for valentines day and the selections and choices were terrible. I personally do not enjoy shrimp in chocolate sauce. There were four of us at dinner and not one of us enjoyed the selections on the valentines menu and the price was very high per person. Its too bad that the regular menu was not an option this night."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We can understand why Rasika has won awards -- the food is creative but true to the Indian style and incredibly flavorful -- and the service was fantastic. Our service made several great recommendations and listened well -- he even discouraged us from getting one signature dish because he understood I prefer my lamb rare, as opposed to well done. The crispy spinach appetizer and sweet potato samosa are to die for; the lamb chops were the best ever; and the chocolate/cherry/coconut mousse was light and divine (not heavy on the coconut). I would go back in a nanosecond!"
Dined on 2/13/2014
"My boyfriend and I took my sister and her boyfriend to rasika when they were in town. They loved it. She said it has ruined food for her because nothing will ever be as good."
Dined on 2/13/2014
"The food and service were outstanding. I would recommend this restaurant for a special occasion , a date or an outing with a small group of friends."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"This is the first time I've experienced such unfriendly service here. Our server made us feel as though we were completely putting him out by having to tend to us. His answers were short and he provided no recommendations whatsoever, despite our urging. Disappointing after having such good experiences here in the past."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"I have been to Rasika West End many times, because I like this restaurant very much, but this time I was disappointed. To me the lamb chops seemed not top quality, and their preparation and flavor were not tops either. I will go back, but unfortunately feel that I am ready to move on to another Indian restaurant notwithstanding Rasika's popularity and excellence in the past."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"Alternative to traditional Indiancuisine, very good flavors. Excellent lamb. Service was fantastic."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"My husband and I came here for a pre-theatre meal before seeing a show at the Kennedy Center. We love Indian food and had heard really good things, so came here for a special pre-baby night out. The food was delicious and lived up to the hype. The Palak Chat crispy spinach appetizer and the three flavors of ice cream (cardamom, something with raisin, and nutella with wafers) were highlights. It was a delicious and unique meal and we thought the price was right for the food and service. It got a little noisy where we were seated, but not too bad."
Dined on 2/11/2014
"Great meal as always- the spinach and lentil appetizer which was yummy!"
Dined on 2/11/2014
"Service was excellent! Food presentation was very nice. This restaurant is truly 'contemporary indian'. I interpret this as Indian food with a twist that is not always recognizable by traditional indian palates. The prices were reasonable though portions are smaller than a standard indian restaurant. Come for the pre-theater menu and get 3 courses for $35! Can't beat tha, t. I recommend trying at least once for the experience. I would likely come back again for another special occasion or with friends coming from out of town."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Just go - either of the Rasikas is a fine-dining experience not to be missed. The original Penn Quarter location is still quite a scene and hard to get a reservation at at short notice; I like the West End location a bit better: it's a bit calmer but still lively, and I like the decor and airy feeling created by the large windows on two sides of the restaurant. Everything I've had at Rasika is mouthwateringly good -- and, yes; I still get the amazing Palak Chaat (crispy spinach) every time."
Dined on 12/28/2013

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