Daru

Must try upscale Indian resto in DC! I've heard good things about Daru and after trying the food, the reviews are well deserved!Food: We ordered several dishes and all were refined, beautifully paired, and well seasoned. The bread basket is fire, but honestly I was blown away by the bread on the Mushroom Biriyani like omg so soft and chewy and so perfect. Tikka Masala was perfectly balanced, but I wish there was more sauce to dip bread in - it was too little. Anddd the Striped Bass Paturi was amazing buttt the star of the entire show is the Kale Kichidhi that came with it like omg I still dream about that and I don't even like daal that much. Must try!!!Service: we were greeted warmingly by the host and he tried very hard to get us seated as fast as possible, offering us to be at the bar and then out in the heated patio. our server was friendly and checked in on us oftenAmbiance: we sat in the heated patio and it was super cute and warm. Less loud and cramped than the inside, altho the inside has a different charm.

One of my absolute favorites! The team here churns out delicious, innovative, and exciting Indian food based on favorites but with a twist. The culinary and bar team are alums from DC's best spots like Rasika and The Columbia Room. They certainly bring that Columbia Room service obsession here - you always feel welcome and part of the family. The interior is small and cozy, so reservations are recommended. I usually eat at the bar, though. They offer outdoor seating during the summer. The bar program is excellent, featuring flavors like tamarind, garam masala, sandalwood, and chai. A trip here isn't complete with a cocktail or two. I highly recommend the Bandit Queen (a rum manhattan) and the warm and comforting Masala Chai with a little rum. Food favorites include the Paneer Pesto Tikka, which isn't in a sauce but is beautifully spiced and totally craveable. You can't come here without ordering the decadent and warming Back Daal Burrata. I've also had the scallops and striped bass which were delightful. You really can't go wrong with any dishes here. Everything is always delicious and thoughtfully created.

Daru is one of my favorite restaurants and I can't believe I haven't reviewed it. I went again last week and was still blown away. They are so welcoming and always checkin with you throughout your dinning experience. I had the daisy mango mocktail and it was refreshing. Now for dinner.Appetizers- we got the mussels and the scallops. Both of these dishes were out of this world. The sauce on the mussels was flavor packed! 5/5Dinner- I got the mushroom rice bowl which is so fun, you get to watch them cut it open and reveal the perfectly cooked rice. 5/5. My friend for the lamb and potatoes dish and thought the lamb lacked meat. 3/5Sides- 1. Garlic naan- fluffy and tasty, just the right amount of garlic. 2. Burrata dip. 3. Cabbage. All of the sides were amazing and cooked to perfection. 5s all around.

I generally tend to dislike restaurants that say they are fusion or do "modern" takes on things but Daru absolutely kills it!We ordered the Haldi Buck and East Bengal Club drinks and really enjoyed these - they were on the stronger drier side for a cocktail. For an appetizer we got the Blue Cheese Reshimi Kabob which was phenomenal! The blue cheese added an extra element to the kabob and the cherry sauce was amazing. For mains we got the Malai Paneer Lasagna, Chicken Tikka Masala, Black Daal Burrata and garlic naan. My favorite was the paneer lasagna - it was definitely a modern take on a dish but executed really tastefully. Service here is phenomenal too, our waitress was really well versed in the menu and was able to recommend great dishes and answer questions!

Glad I finally made it to Daru! The restaurant's ambiance is cozy and the service was relaxed yet accommodating. The restaurant week menu was a great value (so many leftovers) and a good way to try some of their signature dishes. They had lots of vegetarian options too, which is a plus. Everything we ordered was delicious and I'd recommend

Resturant week menu for 55$ is something worth to try! I been there first time for the happy hour then I decided to come back.. the food is really good.. server were friendly and make me feel I want to come back soon.. it's a small spot for a nice cozy dinner

I went to Daru to celebrate an anniversary and it was a great experience! We were given complementary glasses of champagne upon being seated which was a very gesture.The food was all delicious, modern takes on Indian classics while still retaining traditional flavors. Presentation of all the plates were also elegant. The Duck Kebabs were a standout and a must try! We sat outside on their "patio" and it was pretty much like sitting inside so it is definitely fine for most weather conditions.

Made reservations for a Saturday night dinner and managed to get a table for 3 for 8:45 - not bad I'd say! The place was dimly lit, and we got seated in a comfortable booth seating, perfect for our little one.We ordered a few beverages which included Mango Lassi, Rupee Lager, and Bandit Queen. For snacks, we got their recommend Pani Puri (delicious), a very well marinated Blue Cheese Reshmi Kebab, and a very underwhelming Baigan Paneer Bhurji - which we could've totally avoided ordering. For sides, we got the Black Daal Burrata ($9) which was a very interesting take on an excellent traditional dish. Our take was you'll either like it or hate it. Our table was exactly 50-50 on that opinion!For mains, the Wild Mushroom Biryani ($20) is definitely the thing to order, even if you are a hardcore carnivore. The biryani was just next level.Service was really good, and noise level was on the lower end. Overall we had a good experience. Will recommend this place to friends and family.

We very much enjoyed our first visit to Daru and we definitely plan on returning in the future. We tried a number of starters and one main course. A couple of the starters were the real standouts of the meal, including the Pani Puri and the Blue Cheese Reshmi Kabob. The Pani Puri was a great combination of interesting flavors and textures. The Reshmi Kabob was just amazing. The sour cherries provided an excellent complementing taste to the perfectly prepared chicken. The service was also very good.

One of the best truly elevated Indian food dining experience from drinks to dessert everything was perfect.The ragga pattice appetizer and ou main dishes of Chicken Tikka Marsala and Murga Maknani had a deep, soul satisfying flavor with just the right amount of heat. The drinks also had deep flavors and perfectly balanced. You must try the Chai Teani and Haldi Buck. Thus is my new go to place.For dining in our take out.