Why go: Luxurious gravies, fiery curries, fluffy breads—the Indian fineries coming out of the kitchen match the elegance of the copper tureens and teak lattices in the dining room.
What to get: Sabzi pakora, darkly fried eggplant and cauliflower patties bound with chickpea batter; papadi chaat, chutney-strewn potato salad that’s sweet, spicy, and cool; Balti-style goat; makhani, a tomatoey gravy, with chicken or paneer, a house-made cheese; dhaniawala korma, chicken simmered in a creamy chili-cilantro sauce.
Best for: Diners for whom ambiance is important; a quiet, unrushed dinner with the parents or grandparents; foodies looking for something new and different—this is the only place in the area that serves Balti-style spiced meats.
Insider tip: The lavish lunchtime buffet—$9.99 weekdays, $12.99 weekends—is a great way to graze. On weekends it includes breakfast offerings such as masala-spiced omelets.
See all Cheap Eats 2008 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.
