RasikaGood flavorful foodI had the shrimp and the scallop appetizers and the swordfish. The flavors were amazing. I like how the menu was non traditional Indian food with an eclectic flare. I would definitely go back....6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFlawlessI took my girlfriend to Rasika for her birthday. Everything was flawless. The cocktails were boozy, the wine was perfectly paired, and all of the food was cooked to perfection. Get the palak chaat. It really does live up to the hype. Also, a big thank you to our server who brought out ice cream with a candle. That was the icing on the cake.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food But Very Loud RestaurantMy wife and I went to Rasika on our recent trip to DC. The food was excellent, do try the crispy spinach that a lot of other people recommend, it is excellent. The atmosphere is very nice, but we will not consider it romantic. Even though the restaurant was not full at the time we were there, the noise level was too loud to hold a conversation. But overall our experience was positive.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMShear pleasureRasika is a renowned Washington DC restaurant--and for good reason. The Indian food is excellent. Nice variety. Can be spiced to your taste. The sommelier is helpful and gives you two choices from which to choose when you have narrowed your selection. The service is friendly and classic. A bit noisy at the height of lunch hour but definitely worth the visit.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMEsquisitoThe perfect combination. Great food, excellent ambient and outstanding service.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAs good as I had heardNow I know what everyone has been talking about. I am not a big fan of Indian food, but this place is fabulous. I took a client for dinner and hoped that it would live up to it billing, and it succeeded. It was packed, we stood 2 deep at the bar waiting for our 8pm reservation. We were seated close to on time. Our waiter was informative and charming. He made several good suggestions for our "famiily style" meal shared by 4 of us. It is hard to say what was the best because it was all so delicious. I can't wait to go back. Unfortunately, I can't get a decent reservation for several weeks. You must try this place!6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you think you hate IndianIf you think you hate Indian food, this place will change your mind forever. I happen to love it, but my friend turned her nose up....until she took her first bite. She now says this is the best food she's ever had! And let your server choose for you versus ordering what looks familiar. You won't be sorry.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMA Taste of IndiaThis is not the genuine article - that is hot, spicy dishes we have all eaten at numerous Indian restaurants or in India at homes and eating establishments. It is an interpretation and indeed a "taste" of Indian haute cuisine, filtered for American foodie palates. Light on the spices. We ordered beer, but should have ordered wine. All dishes are well prepared and tasty. Service attentive, not pushy.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed our special occasionThe best thing we loved and enjoyed on the menu was Chet's tasting menu. I would recommend this to all my friends6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFestival of flavorsA veritable festival of flavors... everything from appetizer to dessert was delicious. This is my new favorite restaurant in DC!6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLives up to the hypeAfter dining here, realized there's a good reason why it's so difficult to get a reservation - this place is legit.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMRasika is always 5 stars acrossRasika is always 5 stars across the board but not this time, which was good,, but didn't live up to meals from in past visits. e.g., service was more "brutally efficient" vs friendly & helpful. Also--food was just good to very good this time, but not excellent as it usually is. Chicken tikka masala was overly creamy and the cauliflower dish doesn't hold a candle to the one that is made by Range, Brian Voltaggio's new nnrestaurant. Signature palak chat and tandoori salmon as always were great.
All in all a B+ meal and I will continue returning to Rasika, with my 5 star Yelp review intact, and hope for the A+ experience next time. Last- wine list is high $--it would be great to include some $30-$40 options for those w/less means. Thanks!6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic Indian foodHave wanted to eat here for ages and finally had the chance. Most dishes were excellent and far more refined than any Indian food I have ever had. The signature spinach appetizer is out of this world -- not to be missed. Several of the dishes were slightly disappointing, only by comparison to the spinach and: an eggplant dish was good but not memorable.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGood but prefer Rasika West Endbusy night, seated about 15 mins late, not a big deal but bar service was bad. Ordered: mango shrimp & spinach apps - both very good; pork chop (delicious), sea bass (tasty but undercooked, so about half of each of 2 pieces was left), and chicken tikka (a little overcooked, but tasty) and garlic naan (much better than Raskia West End) (both of these dishes we shared); and galub jaman to share for dessert (too sweet for me, but husband loved it). Despite the issue with the fish, we enjoyed our dinner but prefer the ambiance of Rasika West End to this location.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth the waitWe had to wait about a quarter-hour past our 9:30 PM reservation to be seated, standing near the entrance because there were no empty seats at the bar. A complimentary fried spinach appetizer was adequate compensation.
As on previous visits, every dish we tried was delicious. The goat cheese kulcha was a standout along with the Seekh Kebab.
We will return.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMRasika still has it all!Rasika is still one of the best IF not the best DC Power spot to dine!
Outstanding food, exceptional service and the best Sommelier in the city- Paul Ruttimann!
Ashok still walks the floor and checks on guest-a rare sight for any restaurant! The owner cares and it shows. Not surprising it's still difficult to find a prime time reservation that isn't booked weeks in advance. Rasika takes nothing for granted and still delivers perfection a bite at a time!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently WonderfulDelicious, creative food that stretches the typical bounds of Indian cuisine into something that is boundless and elevated well above the ordinary. Such great flavor profiles. The Palak Chaat is sublime. We have been to Rasika several times and find it to have maintained a consistently high level of quality and service.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, exceptional serviceCannot recommend Rasika highly enough -- the food was all delicious and the service impeccable. Our server was attentive but not hovering, made an excellent wine recommendation, and guided us with a few menu questions, without ever being overbearing. Rasika has a reputation for excellence that is well deserved.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingThe service went over and beyond what expectations in making our anniversary dinner incredible. The food was among the best we've had anywhere in the world. We will be back soon.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb Indian FoodMy family all love this place. We had Mothers Day Brunch at the other location, but D Street is better, IMO. We arrived 45 mins earlier than our reservation time and opted to sit in bar area low tables rather than wait. The Mango shrimp appetizer was perfectly sized (4 large shrimp) perfectly seasoned, and perfectly cooked. The tandoori salmon main course was fabulous-one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had. They served two fairly generous sized pieces of well-spiced moist tender salmon (enough to share). Both dishes paired well with the Champagne ginger cocktail. We also had Chicken Tikka-Yum!, garlic naan, and a spicy lamb kebab appetizer. The menu has plenty to offer. Gluten free-no problem. Great service.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great service!Went for lunch; followed the waiter's recommendations for what to order -- crispy spinach appetizer, lamb leg slice in special sauce, shrimp in mago sauce, bread basket. All were sensational. Serice was perfect, attentive but unobtrusive. Ambience not luxurious, but comfotable and quiet enough for easy conversation. Cost with tax and generous tip waas $39 per person, and it seemd well worth it.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite in DCWe visited the Penn Quarter location for the second time this week, after having celebrated our post-engagement dinner there earlier this year. The palak chaat (crispy spinach with spices and yogurt) is to die for. We got the mixed grill and one of the lamb dishes (whichever has the tomato-based sauce). We asked to have the lamb "spiced up" and it was absolutely perfect! Can't wait for the next occasion to eat here!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMRasika Rocks!My friend took me to Rasika for my birthday lunch - we were offered a priving dining room or the public space - we chose the cozy private area with only 2 tables - so nice to chat with my friend. The waiter was very helpful in helping us find items we had had there previously - the marvelous "fried" baby spinach appetizer, and our entrees. He also wanted us to try a naan bread brushed with butter which was wonderful alone and dipping in our entree sauces. Altogether a great experience and as always, love this restaurant!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMRasika means FlavorAnd lives up to its name and reputation. Went here on a recommendation from a friend and wasn't disappointed.
Did the 6 course chefs tasting menu and was blown away. The black cod is not to be missed. I've been to celebrity chef restaurants around the world and this place is world class. Can't wait to go back!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMUpscale Indian for HipstersMy husband and I learned about Rasika when we were doing research on vegan-friendly places to dine in D.C. We decided on this restaurant because it sounded romantic but also hip and just a little upscale - perfect for our anniversary. We love Indian food but don't eat it much anymore as it is often laden with a lot of oil and salt. We were so pleased that the offerings at Rasika seemed to be on the healthier side while being full of flavor. The menu items also weren't your typical fare and it was refreshing to try other types of appetizers beyond the traditional samosas and pakoras. I love that they combine incredible flavors like banana and avocado to make chutneys and use lesser utilized vegetables to create a fresh experience.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMTastyRasika is always a good choice for Indian food. However, I had remembered it being amazing and this time it was very good but I wasn't blown away. I think they changed their chef, doesn't seem like the menu had as many choices but maybe i am remembering incorrectly.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMYummyThe fried spinach as an appetizer is great. The entrees are yummy and the service is first rate. The red wine decanter is awesome.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply Delicious...Some of the best Indian food I've had...ever...anywhere. Highly recommend you check this very refined cooking.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMdeliciousRasika is a great place for a special occasion dinner, as it's definitely a bit pricey, but the food is delicious and worth every penny!5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for food, not quick for lunchI had two foodie friends visiting from out of town and I have been wanting to try Rasika, so I met them here for lunch on a workday (I work nearby). Our lunch was great, but they do not follow any sort of snappy business lunch schedule (I didn't really have two hours to spend). For example, I wish the server had been easier to flag down and quicker with the bill. All around, very good food but not a great workday-lunch spot.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday lunch 2I took my intern to lunch here as we had been talking about going for some time. We are both vegetarians and enjoy Indian food. We had a nice leisurely lunch and everything was truly yummy.
thank you5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service wereThe food and service were both great but it was so loud that it was hard to carry on a conversation.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and service.Excellent food and service. However, $18 for a glass of wine was a bit much.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous food and service!Delicious meal with excellent guidance and care from our server. We will be back and bring friends soon.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was really fabulous.The food was really fabulous. Each dish - 3 appetizers, 3 entrees - was terrific. In addition to the flash fried spinach, which everyone loves, the new fired califlower appetizer was super. My wife's lobster pulao and my son's okra were each amazing5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat's happened to the black cod?Rasika has been a favorite restaurants for many years. I'm crazy about Indian food and try to make it to Rasika about 4-5 times a year. I'm a seafood lover and the "signature" black cod was my very favorite fish dish for a long time, however, my last couple of experiences have been disapointing. It used to be served as a nice sized "steak" of succulent fish that flaked apart and melted in your mouth. The last two times I've had the black cod, it was served as two small pieces and has been fishy. During my most recent visit, I was served one small piece that met the original standard (succulant, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth) and a second small piece that was difficult to remove from the skin, chewy, and fishy. Everything else was great.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Indian Food in WashingtonThe food selection and quality was outstanding. Both my wife and I were very happy with Rasika.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMcrispy spinach/scallops in coconutEverything is excellent. The crispy spinach dish is simply perfect! Put it on your must-order list. The scallops in coconut sauce are too-die for! You will want to have a side-order of nan to accompany the sauce. The tandoori chicken is juicy with a wonderful smoked flavor. Ask the waiter for suggestions - you cannot go wrong!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMRasika lives up to its reputation..Food and service were both excellent. Get your reservation early or you may not get in.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingThis had to be the best Indian food in the US. On a level with the best Indian restaurants in London. The food was well prepared with the freshest ingredients.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved RasikaWe had a great dinner at Rasika. Our server was very helpful in aiding us in choosing our appetizers and entrees. The food was delicious.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great experience.Great food, great experience. I will say I felt the service was a bit slow at times.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousEverything we had here was wonderful. Too bad there is such a long wait for a reservation. Definitely worth it, though!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Indian restaurant in the area.Very good food and service as usual. We ordered five items for three of us, three were outstanding and two were good.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great serviceIt takes a while to get a reservation, but is totally worth it! The Indian food tastes pretty authentic but is also unique. Our waiter was excellent, except it is usually busy and takes a bit for the appetizers to come. We sat at a corner table, but it was slightly noisy in the middle.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMDid not disappointEntered with high expectations, and both the food and service delivered. The dining room is beautiful albeit quite noisy. Our sever, Vick, was extremely helpful in explaining the menu and making suggestions. We ordered five dishes, all delicious and shared the date and toffee pudding for dessert -- great finish to a very satisfying meal. Will definitely return.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMTouring DC with a guest?Amazing food, casual fun atmosphere. I will return with my out if town guests in the future.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding !!!!!!!!!!!!!Outstanding on all aspects, service, food and beverages !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love this restaurant.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband and I loved ourMy husband and I loved our meal at Rasika. We did the 4 course tasting with wine pairing and it was definitely the way to go. The wines paired perfectly with each course and they easily accommodated for my vegetarian needs. Even though the restaurant was packed our scallops came perfectly cooked, which was impressive. We never felt we had to wait to long between courses. We highly recommend Rasika.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for Special OccasionsThe food is very good. They seem to focus on fresh ingredients and subtly blending delicate flavors that please the pallet instead of overwhelming your taste buds with one or two big flavors.
The service is top notch, attentive but not overbearing and always welcoming. The ambiance is similarly enjoyable. Lively and luxurious but not snooty or posh. The sound levels tend to be more moderate but can get more animated with a packed dining room.
It is very expensive by my usual standards but that's why I like it for special occasions. Sometimes spending a lot of money is part of making a fancy meal feel special.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AM