Rasika review
I'm pretty sure Rasika is my favorite restaurant in DC. We went Saturday night, moved up our reservations so we could see a movie after, and then arrived WAY too early (cab vs. metro!) but they were happy to seat us. We just took our sweet old time!
For starters, we obviously got the Palak Chaat, which is one of my favorite things anywhere to eat. It's so good. My boyfriend said if he could pay someone to cook it for at home every day, he'd be a happier man. We also got the banana avocado chaat, which sounded interesting. I enjoyed it, but you have to really like avocado. I think it would have been better if served with some papadam (sort of like guac and chips), or maybe more banana, because just plain avocado after a few bites is pretty rich. Yummy, but rich. We also both had mango lassis. Very tasty, but with lassis, they're always too small!
For dinner, we had rice (I do object to paying extra for rice, anyone else?), and shared an order of gobhi mattar, which was lightly spiced, not too oily (which I find Indian can easily be) and very good...and an order of paneer pasanda, fresh paneer in a cashew cream sauce. It was very very good - even though I would have enjoyed it more if it had a slight more kick to it. But overall, that sauce was very tasty with some bread from the mixed basket (we also got the mango chutney, which normally I don't like, but very much enjoyed Rasika's).
Perfect service, as usual, and an overall enjoyable experience. Our normal, close to home place is Heritage in Dupont. For about $15-20 more total, we can get exceptional food at Rasika and it's worth it.
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Rasika is indeed great, although somewhat pricey. Love their infused bourbon concoctions. It is my favorite Indian place in DC. Bombay Bistro in Rockville would be my second favorite.
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re: overlander
my second favorite is Passage to India in Bethesda....I don't find Rasika 'pricey' in the way I find, say, Zaytinya or other places to be pricey. We got out of there at $68 before tip. For two people for a pretty night night in DC, to me...that's average. We go to Thai or the other Indian near us and it's usually $55 before tip. I don't think it's a big enough difference that Rasika is cost prohibitive in terms of going more regularly (then again, we do not go out frequently)
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re: Ericandblueboy
which is why if you read the initial review, there is no meat, and in other threads have said more or less that as a vegetarian, I don't find Rasika expensive. We also do not really drink alcohol, which also keeps our cost down.
Most meat and fish mains at Rasika are in the low $20s. I do not know if this is reasonable, but there is a pre-theater (before 6:30) menu at $30 for 3 courses.
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re: Jeserf
littlew1ng
Aug 25, 2009 12:19 PM
jeez, guys! all you need is love! Anyway, I agree that Rasika's not all that pricey. I bought dinner for myself and two friends there, we all had drinks, shared the spinach and ordered full-sized entrees and it came out around $100. Not too shabby.
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I loved the black cod at Rasika, but I ordered the chili asparagus once and ended up with 4 pieces of asparagus on a plate. For $9. I generally don't make a big portion size fuss, but that was kind of ridiculous.
It was a big plate, too, making the appetizer look even smaller.
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Good to hear about. I have read the tasting menu is the way to go for first timers and that a lot of people really like a "fried spinach" dish. Is that the Palak Chaat you mentioned? I'm thinking about his place over the Labor Day holidays, but my girlfriend isn't high on Indian spices OR spiciness. Contrary to this she says she is leaving the dining in my hands :-p
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re: burgeoningfoodie
If you want to try Rasika, you should be safe taking your GF there.
A friend, who's a food critic from another large city and who loves Indian food, describes Rasika as an Indian restaurant for people who want to say they ate Indian food but are afraid of it.
The Palak Chaat won't frighten her as long as you eat it while it's still hot, the naan is similar to pita bread, and the cod dish is 2 lovely pieces of plain sable fish.
Nothing else that I've ever had there was spicy or very "foreign tasting." It's not scary, and she'll probably like it. Rasika is a safe gateway to Indian food.-
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re: MakingSense
I disagree. While Rasika has many non-hot/spicy dishes, most of their dishes are spicy. If your gf doesn't like Indian seasoning, she probably won't enjoy this place.
Rasika is "traditional" Indian but every dish is influenced by the region. If you want to order the palak chaat. Have them put the yogurt/chutney on the side so your gf can add it if she wishes.
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re: Jacey
I think Rasika is safe - I don't find it to be spicy at all (which is my only complaint about the place...I want a bit more of a kick). Not liking Indian flavors, such as coriander, will make it difficult to truly enjoy Rasika...however, it is not spicy and if you wanted, I'm sure they'd even make it less so.
One idea would be - if you wanted to try it - sit at the bar and try a few starters. Then she doesn't feel like she can't eat anything, and you can always move on to another restaurant if she doesn't enjoy it.
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