Cuisine: Dynamic Indian flavors find their way into unexpected preparations, such as crabcakes (spiked with anise), Caesar salad with chicken grilled in the tandoor, and especially the lineup of chef/owner K.N. Vinod’s flavor-packed street-snacks menu. Purists can rest assured there are plenty of classic dishes, too.
Mood: A low-lit series of elegant dining rooms, outfitted with silk curtains and a gurgling fountain, is energized by brightly colored plates, glittering granite tables, and red-and-orange-striped booths.
Best for: An introduction to Indian cuisine; a filling meal after a day of shopping in the boutiques of Friendship Heights.
Best dishes: Vegetable samosa chaat, spilling with tomatoey chickpeas; crab tikki, anise-spiked crab patties with spicy coconut flakes; cayenne-rubbed tilapia with lemony rice; coconutty Malabar shrimp curry; a very peppery chicken chettinad; shreekand brûlée, a yogurt-based riff on crème brûlée studded with pistachios.
Insider tips: Midday deals abound. The all-you-can-eat lunch buffet holds about ten curries and dosas for $10.95. Weekday lunch boxes come both vegetarian ($6.95) and meat-filled ($7.95 to $8.95) and include two curries, rice pilaf, and naan.
Service: ••
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Moderate.
See all of 2010's 100 Best Restaurants
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
