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

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies

Diner Reviews

"I have always liked the Rasika Westend especially since the food is so interesting and great. They always have newer dishes with interesting eastern and western spices. Ambience is wonderful too. Recently celebrated a friend's big birthday there and the manager sent us some special desserts on the house! The whole evening was wonderful and dinner was relaxed and enjoyable!"
Dined on 4/16/2014
"Rasika is my favorite restaurant in DC. Never disappoints, except can be hard to get into. I prefer West End over downtown, as the restaurant atmosphere is nicer, less crowded."
Dined on 3/14/2014
"Hadn't been to Rasika West End and was very pleased! Same food and service I've come to rely on. Turned the evening over to the waiter and we weren't disappointed in the least. Great choices, perfectly prepared and served with a flair. I'll be back soon!"
Dined on 4/16/2014
"Went Tuesday for my birthday with my fiance. The service started off a bit slow. The host forgot to seat us when my fiance arrived and the waiter took a while to first appear at our table. Other than that, the food was excellent. Don't plan on having an intimate conversation though while you're there, the noise level was very loud. "
Dined on 4/15/2014
"Loved the black cod and fried spinach and yogurt dish."
Dined on 4/11/2014
"Went there with my wife on 14th april evening. I had reserved table a week before but we had wait for 20 mins to get seated which was initially disappointing but they compensated with our first drinks on the house which was a nice gesture. Coming to food, appetizers were awesome(we have ordered palak chat and some thing sev). Entrees can get better.(we have ordered naans and paneer mutter). Biryanis were nice. At the end, we were waiting for the check and the they surprised with gulab jamun with ice cream and candle on it which made my wife feel so good. It was really romantic dinner we had and I will definitely recommend Rasika west end. cheers"
Dined on 4/14/2014
"A great restaurant experience with a nice blend of spicey and mild to satisfy all. Coffee with lovely clove overtones. The service was a bit slow, but very nice and helpful. Sampler plates introduce this style of dining well to the uninitiated."
Dined on 4/14/2014
"Rasika takes Indian food to a new level. Very tasty, wonderful service and so much fun to experiment with diffent flavors. Server was knowledgable and helped with the menu. It was a really great find and we would highly recommend it. Nosie level is very energetic so don't plan on having a quiet dining experience..but worth it!"
Dined on 4/3/2014
"What can I say - it's the best Indian food I've ever had and one of the most elegant restaurants in town."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Some of the best food and service in town. Try the palak chaat, pork chops and the date and toffee pudding."
Dined on 4/10/2014
"This by far, and I'm Indian mind you, is the best north-Indian cuisine you'll find. Anywhere in DC. Worth it to book a reservation weeks in advance. The flavors and aromas are unparalleled. Absolutely magnificent restaurant."
Dined on 4/8/2014
"Have been here a few times and the food is just amazing. Well-seasoned, delicious, and beautiful. The palaak chaat is truly incredible, one of the best things I've ever eaten, and our waiter had very good suggestions to make (there's a cauliflower appetizer that's also very good). Amazing naan, curry, and very cool samosas. Wine list is very extensive and they have a great sommelier. Very impressed and will return again, of course."
Dined on 4/7/2014
"As most people know, Rasika is known for 2 main dishes: the palak chaat, and the black cod. They are just great. If you haven't tried either, it's definitely worth making the trip out for a taste. That said, such popularity of these dishes can be a draw back if everyone wants the same thing. I went for an 8.30 dinner for my wife's birthday, but when we were set to order, the server informed us the black cod was sold out. We were pretty disappointed, but made the most of the evening and tried a few of their small plates which were also pretty good. (Eggplant, shrimp, lamb kabob, and tika masala). So, if you want to go for the black cod, I'd suggest an earlier reservation to make sure they still have them available to order."
Dined on 3/31/2014
"Parbhash was our remarkable server who was warm and welcoming. His suggestions were spot on and the food was fabulous. Rich flavor and just the right amount of spice. Cannot wait to come back."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"We had dinner with friends from overseas. We all loved the food and the cooking reminded them of home."
Dined on 4/3/2014
"I've heard many great things about this place, so I was very excited to finally go. Had a great time! Food was delicious, restaurant ambience was great, and service was excellent. I do think some of the food items are overpriced though; and I will say their Naan wasn't the best I've ever had. Still...definitely a place worth visiting. Reserve a table early, it gets booked fast!"
Dined on 4/2/2014
"Food was wonderful. Nothing whatsoever negative to say there. Unfortunately, our party of 4 arrived at 5:30 for an early dinner prior to a 7:30 program at the Kennedy Center and barely made curtain time in spite of alerting the host and wait staff of a 7 pm planned departure. All ordered off the pre-theater menu. No one ordered anything that should have taken long."
Dined on 4/1/2014
"The food here is excellent. My party was all vegetarian, and there were some really nice options. It's not cheap, but nice for a special occasion, which was our excuse (a birthday!)."
Dined on 3/5/2014
"The food is unbelivable And the service wonderfull"
Dined on 3/31/2014
"Complex flavors of each dish made this a memorable meal"
Dined on 3/31/2014
"For first time diners the tasting menu offered a great cross section of the menu. Our favorite dish was the black cod, cooked to perfection. Even the leftovers we took home were delicious a day later!"
Dined on 3/31/2014
"I had a business lunch at this resturant and food and service was great!"
Dined on 3/31/2014
"Two Portland foodies, straight off of a visit to one of the top restaurants in NYC, land in DC and are highly recommended to check out Rasika West End. Neither of us are particularly keen (or knowledgeable) on Indian food, but it may have been to our benefit because our server Bo completely took care of us. He designed an amazingly delicious meal experience for us, a fantastic combination of perfectly balanced flavors, complete with wine pairings and dessert. This meal beat out the Michelin star, James Beard Award NYC restaurant from a few days before in taste and in price - this was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had. Thanks for the great experience! We will certainly be back next time we're in DC."
Dined on 3/26/2014
"Drinks and food at Rasika are really great. The amibiance is great as well. Sitting in the bar is an experience as the bartenders, specially Dante, make sure you feel comfortable and have a really good time! Ask for Nanditas - they are great!"
Dined on 3/28/2014
"It is hard to find fault with unbelievably delicious high-end Indian fare -- innovative selections, edgy and astoundingly beautiful surroundings, attentive service. Yet there is something quite annoying when a restaurant charges for every little thing. It is difficult to imagine, for example, eating any of the terrific entrees fundamentally requires rice, yet Rasika charges $3.00 for a relatively small bowl of -- well-prepared -- jasmine rice. When quickly consumed by our party of three, it was another $3.00, and then another $3.00. Same for Naan bread -- one serving is one piece of bread (at $3.00 or $4.00) for one person. I must admit, while the entrees and appetizers at Rasika are world class, the pricing model certainly is not."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"Rasika never fails..no matter if we order the tried and true or we venture to new tastes. Everything is skillfully prepared and well presented. Yes for the signature spinach, add the cauliflower app and then let your tastes find a home. If you eat fish, the black cod w quinoa will delight."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"Wonderful restaurant, service impeccable, lots of delicious food choices, have to return. Loved the lamb appetizer and the rockfish. Sorbet dessert magnificent. As first timers the main problem was finding it--and locating the valet. There is construction on that block of New Hampshire and initially the directions were in error. It's one way, and on the left side of the street. After circling and calling in they eventually put a different person on the phone who gave accurate directions. Rush hour makes it imperative that accurate directions be given or else you find yourself circling in an endless loop. On arrival, everything was perfect. Fortunately we had leeway in our schedule because this is a popular and busy restaurant."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"The food is exquisite. The service is impeccable. The decor is chic. The patrons are first class."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"This is probably the best Indian food I have ever had in the US. I definitely recommend this place for a nice romantic dinner. Their food and wine pairing left us wanting to come back very soon."
Dined on 3/26/2014
"All of the food was amazing!!! We had to wait past our reservation time for our table, but they made up for it by taking our appetizers off the bill."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"Very noisy, and crowded place. Tables close to each other,not much room, cramped, expensive. OK food"
Dined on 2/28/2014
"A delicious and innovative take on traditional Indian dishes! Our first time and we loved it, we will be back! Also would like to try Rasika in Penn Quarter!"
Dined on 3/21/2014
"I've never had anything but great meals at Rasika West. First Class all the way"
Dined on 3/19/2014
"Every dish we had was perfect. Not just beautifully prepared, but creative and novel, yet always delicious. Their signature appetizer, crispy spinach had great contrasting textures. The black cod was cooked perfectly...very moist. The coconut mousse epwas among the 5 best deserts I have ever had. Service was outstanding (Tibor was our server). When we return to Washington, we will certainly visit again."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"Rasika was wonderful once again. Although we waited a rather longer time than we thought we would have to...... we did get seated at one of the large tables in the private room. There was a party of two at the other large table in this private room. That was alittle odd as we were celebrating our son's birthday with gifts and all. The food is exceptional here. The crispy spinach and the silken cod are standouts I believe. Our family is half Indian and half southern/VA., so we know all to well about this cuisine."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"Took friends visiting from out of town who subscribe to a vegan/ vegetarian diet and as usual it was a hit ! Great service great food . This place is always busy so make a reservation in advance. I made my reservations 2 weeks in advance and still couldn't get in at my desired time but got in nonetheless !"
Dined on 3/20/2014
"Rasika was a fantastic experience. We'd heard a lot of great things about it and it certainly lived up to expectations! The staff were friendly and helpful, offering a sommelier to help with our wine choice. They were patient too as we took a long time deciding - it's quite an extensive menu! The food was fantastic - we shared a couple of starters and main courses. The lobster curry especially was amazing! The only thing we were disappointed with were the poppadums which were more like chips, but that didn't spoil an otherwise excellent meal. Good atmosphere too. Would definitely go again."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Doing very well on the back of the success of the original Rasika. Victim of success."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"What a treat to dine in a fun eclectic space and have the great food to go with it.. 5 kinds of Naan...whats not to like. Good wines by the glass and family style mouth sparking appetizers make Rasika WE my go to West End restaurant."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"Amazing. They nailed it on all fronts. Can't wait to come back."
Dined on 3/18/2014

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