Rasika

"An Indian restaurant part of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, currently involved in unionization efforts and facing allegations of union-busting." - Tierney Plumb

"A prestigious Indian restaurant in D.C. that is part of the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group. It has been involved in a union complaint regarding workplace practices." - Tierney Plumb

"James Beard Award-winning chef Vikram Sunderam liberally plays with spicy chiles and sour fruits to make Rasika one of the most celebrated Indian restaurants in the country. His palak chaat — a fried baby spinach dish decorated with sweet yogurt, tamarind, and date chutney — has inspired imitators around town, while dal makhani is slowly simmered in a decadent, buttery gravy. Both the Penn Quarter flagship and its West End sibling are ideal venues for vegetarian diners, too." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky

"Not only a destination near the mall, Rasika is one of D.C.’s best restaurants, period. James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Vikram Sunderam attracts regulars to the fine dining Indian restaurant with dishes such as his memorable palak chat, and keeps them there to sample thoughtful preparations of eggplant, biryani, and crab pepper masala. The same restaurant group’s fast-casual Bindaas also has a location in Foggy Bottom not too far from the mall." - Missy Frederick, Tierney Plumb

"The West End Rasika may be the best-known location of this Indian restaurant, but we like the Penn Quarter spot for business dinners when you’re trying to show off to your out-of-town colleagues. The menu here is massive, so either plan to share or get one of the four tasting menus to make it easy on yourself. Either way, you should always order their palak chaat: sweet, crunchy spinach chips we taste whenever we close our eyes. " - tristiana hinton