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
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

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies

Rasika West End - Best Restaurants in West End DC

Diner Reviews

"One of the best Indian restaurants in the US. It helps to know what to order."
Dined on 7/21/2014
"I went to Rasika West End with a group of people on a friend's birthday. Mind you, it is a very popular restaurant and you need to book maybe a week (or a couple) in advance. The service was impeccable & the food delicious! We ordered a lot of food, but I would strongly recommend their butter chicken, chicken 65, spinach chaat & gulab jamun with icecream. Simply out of this world! Also, their wine selection is fantastic! I totally fell in love with the ambience: urban, chic & romantic! I would definitely recommend this place if you are planning to go out on a special occasion."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"But noisy. they need to provide linen covers for dining tables, and better quality silverware."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"The food here is divine! The cocktails are super tasty. And the service is second to none. Particularly Tibor! Request him if you can! He's great."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"Our dinner at Rasika was very good. Certainly as good as any Indian meal I have had, in the US, in India, or elsewhere. And, it was no better. With the hype and difficulty in getting reservations, I expected a more dramatic taste experience. That it turned out to be merely a very good Indian restaurant was a bit of a let down. We ate at a table outside on the sidewalk, as the weather was perfect."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"While Indian food may not appeal to everyone Rasika is divine! Simply being able to secure a reservation at DC's most popular restaurants was a thrill! The service was unbelievably good, our waiter recommended several great dishes that we enjoyed immensely. As a frequent diner in New York I felt as if I was transported to the likes of Per Se or French Laundry in Napa. The must try dish at Riska is the chaat, the melt in your mouth fried spinach is full of so many flavors unlike anything you have had before. Each dish is hand crafted to perfection as the presentation looks so good you dare to disrupt this work of art before you. Would recommend sharing several small plates to experience the true Indian cuisine."
Dined on 7/18/2014
"Just outstanding. Every bite was better than the one before. My favorite restaurant in DC!"
Dined on 7/18/2014
"Food was good, but considering the acclaim we expected better. The sides were dull and the service spotty. Entrees ranged from good to great. Overall don't think it compares favorably to, say, Indika (in Houston) or other truly world class restaurants of this genre but still was the best food we had during our stay in DC area."
Dined on 7/17/2014
"Great restaurant - good, unique food and well presented. Very nice interior deisgn and atmosphere."
Dined on 7/15/2014
"We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at Rasika West End. We were given a nice private table by a window. We ordered the Vegetarian Tasters Dinner. We love Indian food and this was the best we have ever had. Every course impressed both in presentation and flavor. Our waiter was amazing. The staff was friendly and helpful. We will be back and we will recommend Rasika to our friends and colleagues."
Dined on 7/15/2014
"Found Rasika- West End last year on a trip to D.C. Came back this year and was not disappointed! Just as good as I remembered."
Dined on 7/14/2014
"It took us almost 2 years to get here for dinner as we had to co-ordinate with another couple. We booked a table in May for July and made it. The restaurant was busy @ 6:30pm. We were seated immediately. Our server was good and helpful in selecting a few dishes. We had the palak chaat, it was alright, my mom makes it better...sorry. The dal dungharee was a tad bit salty for me but the tandoori stuff was very good. my daughter loved the lamb reshmi kebabs and we ordered another one for her. The chicken in the makhni chicken dish was disappointing as it was chewy and left a lot to be desired. Would I be back? sure, but only for the tandoori stuff."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"We dine regularly at Rasika West End and the food, service and ambience are consistently excellent. The food is artfully prepared and spices and flavors are masterfully controlled. The menu also changes with the seasons. Staff are very knowledgeable about the food and preparation. Service is exceptionally well-paced and professional. Cocktails are creative and unique. Zoe, the sommelier, is very knowledgeable and friendly and very adept at matching her wines to the cuisine. Desserts are creative, beautiful and amazing to taste. At Rasika West End everything comes together to provide possibly the best dining experience in DC!"
Dined on 7/10/2014
"The food was exquisive. And service was outstanding"
Dined on 7/10/2014
"Ive been to both Rasika spots. West end is visually more pleasing but much more noisy. If you want to go and have food only, go west young man. However, if you want to talk - choose the other. Food and service are always top shelf - no issues - i love the food."
Dined on 7/8/2014
"The food was amazing.... I really enjoy our dinner!!!"
Dined on 7/8/2014
"Nice variety of items on the -- very tasty -- tasting menu; wine pairings perfect. Popular = noisy, but still fun. Excellent take on South Asian cuisine."
Dined on 7/8/2014
"Fabulous and very upscale food. I thoroughly enjoy this restaurant, the atmosphere, and the staff. A truly excellent experience."
Dined on 7/8/2014
"excellent indian food in wahington ,dc -- for that matter in the country."
Dined on 7/7/2014
"This is one of my fav places in DC. It is ALWAYS good food, very consistent, and delightfully palate stimulating. It is a beautiful restaurant, not too loud, but not so quiet that you need to worry about who will hear your conversation of love or politics. And the service... like all of his restaurants, but particularly this one,it is professional, elegant and friendly... Beginning when you walk in the door Atool (sic) makes you feel like a special client. You just can't go wrong here"
Dined on 7/7/2014
"After much difficulty, we (a party of 4) managed to get a reservation at 5:45 on a monday evening. We were very disappointed for several reasons: 1. We were ushered to a round table with a place setting of 5, sitting awkwardly spread out. When asked to change the table, as the restaurant was completely empty but one table, we were told that unless we reserve a booth, that cannot be accommodated. We did move. 2. Food was mediocre in that basmati rice was lumpty. Railway lamb curry was too salty. Nan (both onion/sage and mint) were not very fluffy. Dah was too watery. Rasmalai with strawberries was so different than the traditional one that it was not tasty 3. Half of the food came after more than 12 minutes from the first batch."
Dined on 7/7/2014
"Rasika West End serves tantalizing upscale Indian food. Exciting flavors and new age presentation while paying homage to the tradition of flavor, color and spice. While some dishes can be very spicy there is an ample selection of tasty favorites with mild spices still loaded with flavor and all is beautifully presented. They say casual dress, but I feel office casual better expresses the attire you will see around you."
Dined on 7/7/2014
"Food was awesome. We really enjoyed the food. The ambeiance looks great. Service was nice."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"Rasika West End works hard - and successfully to keep the standards of its older sibling in Penn Quarter. The food is consistently excellent. I can ever tire of the palaat chaat appetizer. The shrimp with black pepper sauce wakes up taste buds long dormant and the tikka masala is always reliable. For the quality of the food, I think it is quite reasonable and I return as often as I can."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"Nothing very exciting about this restaurant. The food isn't bad. But very average indian cuisine."
Dined on 7/4/2014
"Came for a night in town. Awesome food. Some delays with our plates but nothing to hard to manage. I will come back."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"Always consistent, always delicious, always impresses company or business associates when you take them there :)"
Dined on 7/3/2014
"This is one of the best restaurants in DC. The food is inventive and not your standard Indian fare. The appetizers are our favorite as that's where Rasika shines! Amazing combinations of favors!! The vegetarian entrees are great but standard. The service was also top notch!"
Dined on 7/3/2014
"Second time we have come for our wedding anniversary celebration. The service was so outstanding, kind, accommodating, and we loved trying the dishes, particularly the crispy spinach appetizer and layered eggplant/potato dish. The service kindly mentioned our anniversary and gave us special attention."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"We love this place:always delicious, keeps getting better. Many vegetarian options that any omnivore will love; black cod and other seafood offerings also delicious and well prepared. Sauces are marvelous: rich, deep flavors, great on rice and nan when meats or veggies are gone. Service is usually attentive, but can be spotty; setting is lovely. Great place to order a variety of dishes for table to share, but bill can quickly mount."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"our family of 6 dined at Rasika a few days ago ........we are still dreaming of the cauliflower , eggplant and fried spinach appetizers , the smoked lentil dish and just about everything else. This is not your usual Indian fare ( think heavy , lots of cream and oil ) .....it is lighter and much more refined ...........just delicious. The cocktails were really good too :-)) Service was professional and we were not rushed along . Rasika did not disappoint !!!"
Dined on 7/2/2014
"It 's decor has no theme !!! Food variety great but no responsible healthy food amd so not very representative of indian culture"
Dined on 7/2/2014
"delicious! spinach, sweet breads, and lamb appetizer are musts!"
Dined on 6/30/2014
"I entered having reviewed other Yelp experiences and must say they were spot on: food was excellent (palak chaat, eggplant ginger chutney, garlic naan, and railway lamb curry) while the service was slow but polite. We were lucky to be seated right away when we arrived 30 min early. It is too bad that one order of naan is one slice and that two entrees had to share one bowl of rice. That said, the flavors were outstanding and I would dine here again."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"As always, Rasika was a fantastic dining experience. The Palak Chaat was amazing as was the Black Cod entree. They have a nice cocktail and wine list. This is a must try if you have not been."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"This has been one of my favorite restaurants in DC for years. The food is outstanding, however, the service and the comfort of the restaurant this time was very disappointing. Cold air blows on you the entire time if you sit anywhere near the window. While we asked to have it turned off, it really only cycled off and on. In addition, one of the women's restrooms was out of order and the other was filled with trash, had no hand towels (because they were all on the floor) and there was water all over the counter (bad faucet/sink design). It takes so little to make sure restrooms are clean and orderly. I had to ask twice for hand towels. I am going to wait a while before I go again, hoping they get the message."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"For a $200.00 dinner for a group of 4, service was rushed - appetizers brought to the table before we even had a chance to put our napkins on our lap! Waiter was not helpful in determining best dishes to order for everyone's tastes -"
Dined on 6/27/2014
"We have been to Rasika West End and Rasika on D street many times. Food is sometimes excellent, sometimes not excellent at all."
Dined on 6/26/2014
"Absolutely one of the best Indian dining experiences I have had in the States. After dining here, I don't think I can go back to my hometown run-of-the-mill Indian restaurant."
Dined on 6/25/2014
"Wonderful way to entertain out-of-town guests who have limited access to great Indian food in their hometown. Wonderful menu for sharing and tasting. Great service, unobtrusive but very attentive. Hostess greeted us warmly, gave us a choice of seating. Though it got loud as the dining room filled, we were glad to be sitting in the middle of the action. Beautiful space. Now I'm conflicted as to which Rasika I prefer! Both are worthy of their excellent reputations."
Dined on 6/25/2014

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