Had a great happy hour & dinner here! Summary of the dishes will be below because we got to sample sooo many dishes but definitely have to mention that I really liked the inside decor & the service was immaculate!! Our servers came back multiple times and gave us new silverware & were also knowledgeable on the food! Now onto the food: - Work of Art Cocktail: loved how this tequila drink tasted like a mule with the ginger beer & lime! Loved the spices that those flavors added & overall a cocktail I enjoyed! - What She Wants Cocktail: Really pretty cocktail, I enjoyed the Work of Art more but I liked the bitterness the the compari added and the frostiness of the egg whites - Avocado Golgappa: Refreshing appetizer with fun avocado puree & a little crunchy shell - Cheesy Tikka Fries: Obsessed with this app!! Loved the pieces of chicken hidden in the fries and the flavor was just like chicken tikka masala flavor. Fries were also the right amount of crispiness/not soggy - Samosa Chaat (HH): happy hour samosa app. Tasty! But I did like the non-happy hour samosa app more because of the crispy outer shell & dips - Punjabi Samosas: non-hh appetizer samosas mentioned above. Loved the dipping sauces & the warm potatoes in the inside - Wada Pao (HH): super good! I loved the patty & the chutney flavor - Paneer Tikka Lababdar: sauce was amazing & the cottage cheese (which I usually don't like) gave a nice creaminess to it. - Saffron rice: texture & fluffiness of the rice was solid - Garlic-Cilantro Naan: AMAZING. Not too bready and was crispy in places. The garlic flavor was very bold and complimented the dipping into the sauces - Dal Makhani (lentil dish): one of my favorites with a very rich flavor! I think the tomato flavor enhanced the lentils and it was a very savory dish - Sticky Pudding Cake: fun twist on a lava cake dessert! The raspberry syrup on the plate was perfect for dipping the cake pieces in and the cardamom ice cream perfectly complimented it - Gulab Jamun: Another amazing dessert! The cardamom ice cream with pistachios tasted cool and refreshing while the little donut like pastries on the side were warm and dipped in sweet rose water. Obsessed with this - Restricted Access (cocktail on dessert menu): fun take on an espresso drink. The rum was rich but the espresso actually kind of lightened the drink as to not make the rum come off as too strong! There was a slight acidity from the lemon flavor as well. read more

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Bo was an awesome server. Food recommendations were great!! Friendly and personable. Food was authentic. Excellent taste!

It was my first time at bindass in DC. I usually dont try ethnic cuisine, but i mustvsay i had a fantastic experience due to a number of things. The food was wonderful but my waiter Richard went above and beyond to ensure that we had a fantastic experience. On my next visit I'll be sure to ask for him . Thanks again. ​ read more

Loved the paneer tika gravy n paneer kofta bowl Salad came with that was delicious Good for one person Good option for quick bites . Indian food near museum area . read more

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The food was delicious, delivering those key spicy Indian flavors and unique combinations. The service was also great, our waters were never empty and we got a personal check in from the manger. The interior of the restaurant was so beautiful, I loved the decor and art. The portions of the food, however beautifully dressed, were pretty small and auspicious if you're looking for comforting Indian food, but a great spot for beautiful plates! read more

Skip the curry and go for the tapas South Indian street food - the crispy Wada Pao and Uttapam are bursting with flavor. The warm Chai tea with ginger is a great way to start off the meal! The spiked Chai tea (traditionally served cold, but can be served warm on request) was a tad sweet for me. The Wada Pao are the ultimate potato sliders with a crispy spicy potato and pea paddy sandwiched between soft buttered grilled buns with a crispy outer shell. The savory tomato and onion pancake Uttapam was very flavorful. While the side of Palak Paneer was generous, it was runny, greasy, and very spicy - it missed the mark. The Chicken Tikka Masala was super spicy as well. The Garlic Naan and plain Naan were fluffy and on point albeit a bit small. Perfect for mopping up the runny curry! Bindaas is tucked in a corner down a flight of stairs in the basement, not the best for wheelchair or stroller access. There's another street-level side entrance at Western Market food hall. It was freezing inside as the heating was turned off (I guess it was too hot earlier?), and the staff kindly turned the heating back on. Will be back to try more Chaat dishes! read more

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I can't believe who gave them 3.5 stars. If I had option for 10 I would give 10/10. The real India taste... we ordered 8 items and each of them were 10/10 . And Angel was our server ..! What a service..! Guys who ever visiting White House .. please stop by here .. order anything.. I am sure you would love it..! Thanks again " Bindaas Restaurant " for making our White House experience awesome with a great lunch read more

Nestled in Foggy Bottom, Bindaas brings authentic Indian cuisine to life in their dishes with a variety of flavors and textures! The indoor area is cozy, with low lighting and intimate seating! The decor is elegant, with murals and photographs that capture India's diverse culture! Service-wise, it was great! We had our waters filled and cutlery/plates changed out between courses! Our server was very knowledgeable on multiple menu items and cocktails, and did a great job explaining traditional Indian dishes to us. Both cocktails' presentations were simple, yet pretty. The Work of Art cocktail has a blend of typical mule flavors: ginger beer and lime, but with the complimentary taste of tequila! The What She Wants cocktail had the perfect bitter flavors with campari and vermouth! The appetizers were also very delicious! Starting with the Happy Hour apps: We enjoyed the Wada Pao's flavorful chutney and the bun was soft on the inside with a nice outer crunch. Additionally, the Samosa Chaat was stuffed with veggies and had a tinge of sweetness that balanced the spice! The Cheesy Tikka Fries were a favorite for sure! We loved the tender bite-sized chicken pieces that overlayed the crispy fries, all in an aromatic tikka sauce! The Avocado Golgappa's yogurt filling had a refreshing mint flavor with tamarind notes that were displayed in the chutney! We loved the Punjabi Samsoas' crispy outer shell that encased the green peas and potato filling! The Dal Makhani's tomato flavoring was delicious and another favorite, we also think it went great with the garlic naan. The Paneer Tikka Lababdar was another hit! The paneer was soft and absorbed the tikka sauce so well! Served with saffron rice, we enjoyed this entree thoroughly! Last but not least: dessert! The Gulab Jamun had a soft donut consistency, and was perfectly sweet! The homemade cardamom ice cream was refreshing and a great contrast! The Sticky Pudding Cake had a gooey chocolate center, and the raspberry syrup added a rich fruity flavor! Lastly The Restricted Access cocktail was unlike any other espresso cocktail! The warm rum flavor transforms into an espresso taste with fragrant lemon notes at the end! read more

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I was just walking around looking for a place to have dinner when I came across this cute place. The decor inside is beautiful and welcoming. I stopped in and while they have a whole menu I opted to try their happy hour menu, so that I could try a few things with smaller portions. Happy hour from 3:30-6:30 and I tried the Lamb and Chicken Puff both were delicious and serve with fries. I also tried the Cauliflower Pakora which was my absolute favorite dish!! I really enjoyed my drinks and food. The service was attentive and amazing and I will definitely be back. read more

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The food tasted great and the restaurant smells delicious! The customer service was great too- they let me try the sauces before they served me. It was a perfect lunch. And I rarely post reviews but I had to share. read more

I have to admit I am a novice when it comes to Indian food, however, I am an expert on being high maintenance and enjoying good service and good quality food. Cute place that feels like a cafe, service was excellent and we ordered an array of dishes (samosa, lamb curry, mushroom uttapam...sorry can't remember them all) and none disappointed. My absolute favorite, though was the lentil dish (Dal Makhani) over rice or with the naan. Will definitely be back to try, again. read more

Bindaas - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

i had heard that indian food in dc isn't very good, but i was near western market and was really craving paneer makhani, so i decided to give bindaas a try. they don't have paneer makhani on the menu, so i went next best and ordered matar paneer and olive oil naan for takeout. the first con of this place is that it's really pricey for the amount of food you get. i was able to stretch the matar paneer and saffron rice into two meals, but only because i wasn't particularly hungry that day. the olive oil naan was $5.50 for a singular piece - not a basket or even 2 or 3 pieces of naan like you would get at another restaurant. the matar paneer was $18 - even more than their malai kofta, which was confusing to me since malai kofta in my experience tends to be the most expensive veg option at indian restaurants. as for the quality of the food - it's ok. just ok. it didn't actually taste like matar paneer to me; it wasn't flavorless, exactly, but the masala could have been way stronger and i would've been more satisfied. it wasn't inedible, it just wasn't particularly good. i probably won't spend my money here again, but if anyone has some recs for indian food in dc that's authentic and tasty, i'd love to hear them! read more

Super underwhelming. Came with two friends on a Sunday night and while the people were friendly, we ordered 3 mains and without being hyperbolic, I think they served the dishes in under 5 minutes. This included 2 curries and a fried fish and there was no way the food was anything other than sitting in a huge vat or under a warming light already waiting to be served. It wasn't even hot when served and didn't have much flavor--this Includes the rice and the naan. Definitely not worth it read more

Came here for dinner with a few friends! We decided to share everything family style and wanted to stick to chaat and smaller plates rather than entrées. For drinks, I ordered the Chaitini, which was really delicious and not too strong. To share, we ordered the Cauliflower Pakora, Gunpowder Fries, Dahi Papdi Chaat, Wada Pao, Chicken Kathi Roll, and Chili Cheese Puff. I think my favorite dishes were the Wada Pao and the Dahi Papdi Chaat! Everything was really delicious and flavorful. Service was really amazing and our food came super fast. Overall, the food was good to try, but definitely on the pricey side. I'd definitely come back here for a special occasion! read more

Bindaas - chili cheese puff (left), wada pao (top), chicken kathi roll (right) - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Visited for DC Restaurant week and was pleasantly surprised by the interior decor, friendly service, and flavorful food. Ordered the wada sambhar for appetizer - great size with delicious coconut chutney on the side. For main meal, I ordered the paneer tikka makhani. It came with this saffron tasting rice which my friends and I really enjoyed, as well as the option of garlic naan. The one thing I do wish is there was more curry alongside the paneer to enjoy with the naan, but it tasted very good. For dessert, I enjoyed the chocolate pistachio tart. I was a bit hesitant to order this as I thought the pistachio flavor would be overwhelming but it was only slightly there. The serving sizes of all dishes were great which made me happy because I got to bring some home for leftover meal. Would definitely recommend and will plan to come back to try out their usual menu. read more

Bindaas - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First 'new restaurant for me' that I tried in 2024. I went here for lunch with mom's friend on a Thursday and I was glad I made a reservation because this place gets full even for lunch. It's a nicely decorated sit-in Indian restaurant. We had the popcorn and papadums to start. They are light. For mains we had biryani and halibut curry. They are good but I've had better biryani and fish curry. Additionally, most of the food had a strong lime flavor that I don't generally find in other Indian restaurants in DC. If you like Indian food with a hint of acidity, Bindaas is for you! read more

It's still one of my favorite places to dine when I crave Indian street food. Have come here 3-4 times during the pandemic, and feel totally safe. Their Wada Paav is so good - the best I've had. They season it with these pickles, that is icing on the cake. The Bhel and Avocado Golgappa are still on our list to order as starters. The dosa (new on the menu) is delicious. You can ask for the potatoes to be on the side, as that prevents the dosa from being soggy. The Paav Bhaaji is another delicious veggie item to order. Due to the pandemic, they are closed on Sundays. So I miss going there for brunch on Sunday. If you don't feel comfortable dining in, then order takeout. Love this restaurant and their food. read more

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I'll start with the pros. It's a trendy indian street food/small plates spot. The place looks great, the service was good, and overall it had very cool vibes. They offer intriguing housemade sodas with classic indian flavor profiles. I tried the tamarind ginger soda and quite liked the flavor, though I wish it had carbonation (is it truly a soda with no bubbles?). However, the food showed some strange choices and was quite pricey given the tapas size. We tried the kathi roll which was weirdly wet, with the paneer oddly finely chopped instead of in the usual chunks. It came with small side salad and a green chutney. The chutney was entirely used on the vada pav we ordered, where it was was desperately needed. Our dahi papdi chaat was a little closer to expectations, but...where was the chaat masala? Most of the flavor here came from the tamarind chutney, which was good, but I want chaat masala in my chaat! read more

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AVOID BINDAAS - Really sad that a Ashok Bajaj restaurant could serve such bad food at such prices! The Lamb goli was nearly edible - a true Kashmiri meat ball should melt in your mouth - these were hard and full of fillers. The Chicken & prawn dishes tasted it came from a cheap Indian restaurant. Very sad to see Ashok Baja is losing his skill as an artful restauranteur. read more

Ate dinner at this establishment recently. Service was great and the Mali kofta with garlic naan was very good and nice portion. The avocado golpagga were ok as I was really expecting something more like pani puri because the waitress said it was like pani puri but then there was no liquid. I was not a fan of the kulfi desert as it didn't taste fresh. Parking was a little difficult too. I'm looking forward to trying other items on the menu as I heard another table say the gunpowder fries are good. read more

Bindaas - Avocado Golgappa - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

With the mixed reviews, I was concerned about coming here, but the food, service, and ambiance were excellent--Saturday night at 6:30, about half full. We ordered a few appetizers, all brought out quickly and were delicious. I had the chicken wrap, which was very good. Our waiter was patient with my vegan friend; they didn't have too much to offer. Double IPA was excellent. I also appreciated the low noise level; it was easy to converse with my friends. read more

I always loved going to Bindaas and even recently recommended it to a friend. But based on my experience, I need to revise my opinion. Service was terrible. My husband and I had hardly touched our drink, the waitress asked if she could bring our check. Looks like she was trying to get rid of us from the restaurant. Let me provide some background. I had gone with my family and had a little baby in the group. We had just ordered the food when we realized that we had forgotten the baby's food and my family had to leave because the baby was crying. I went and told the waitress to cancel part of the order and I was right in front of her and she never did! In the meantime my daughter came back to pack and take the food so we thought all worked out. The manager stopped by and started talking - but I stopped her saying my daughter came back for the food. However, looks like this restaurant has no empathy for parents of young children. It was not a friendly place where one could relax and enjoy. My advice to people now is - even if food is good - don't go because service is terrible. In any case once we sent half the food packed with our family and we sat down to relax and eat the meal, the waitress came to see if we are done and if we needed to order more food. When we said no to more food, she came back within 5 minutes to ask if she can bring the bill? Can you believe this? My husband had almost his whole glass of cocktail and I had 3/4 glass cocktail. Which waiter in which restaurant will ask to bring the bill if we are still eating and drinking? This is unacceptable! You go to a restaurant to eat, drink and have a good time. Certainly Bindaas does not believe in this and wants to get rid of customers. The restaurant was not even full - only 50% tables were full. So there was no excuse for this. So I recommend the 1 star or even a 0 star. On top of this, they automatically added 20% tip as a service charge to the overall bill. So overall, service is terrible! read more

Friendly laid back people. Quick service. Spicy and unique food. Bright and friendly place.

Ordered the lamb goli which was spicy, well seasoned, and juicy. The lamb was not dry at all! The spinach kofta was also mouth watering. I personally the garlic naan could've used a bit more garlic but that's just a personal preference since I live garlic. Also, the decor inside was elegant and trendy. read more

Bindaas - Menu - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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After walking by this place many times we decided to give it a try for lunch. Its a unique spin on Indian food I haven't seen at other more traditional places around. They have a fairly large bar and dining area as well as an outdoor seating area. Service was attentive and friendly. We decided to go with an order of the Dahi Papdi Chaat as an appetizer, a garlic naan and an order of the chicken tikka masala to share. all three items were very tasty and well seasoned. The chaat was one of my favorites, I don't think we left anything on that plate. Its definitely a place we would go back to again. read more

So far so good in regard to the food. The fries are crispy and delicious. The chai tea is ok. Not very milky which is the way I like it. Ordered the Wada Pao and it was OK. Not very flavorful. Service was not good. Seems one server for the entire restaurant. I won't bore you with the details however it was pretty bad. Prices are right. I would give this place another chance. But it's definitely a 3 out of 5. read more

As a tourist here in dc I was attracted to this place by the scent outside. I went in and got Chicken Tikki Masala. I didn't take a picture because I was too excited to dig in. Pricing was fair and the food is positively scrumptious. Employee was very nice as well. read more

Stopped by here a few weeks ago for an early dinner with my boyfriend. I was craving Indian food and we happened to be walking by this place! Despite it being just a little after 5:30 PM, the restaurant was loud and busy, so we were worried maybe we won't be able to get a table. But luckily, we were able to get one inside (it was a beautiful day out, so everyone mostly sat outside!). My overall rating for this restaurant is *tentatively* a 4/5. I do plan to come back and give this place a more thorough review. For drinks my boyfriend got a beer of some kind ( I don't remember sorry! but it was a draft beer) and I got a masala chai vodka cocktail (a tea version of an espresso martini). Drinks were delicious! My boyfriend definitely seemed envious of my drink and was surprised by how much he liked it. For food I got the Chooza Kebab (chicken, makhani sauce - $15) and my boyfriend got the Lamb Goli Kebab (lamb meatballs, notes of saffron, and kasmiri chili - $16). Both of our dishes was served over a bed of basamti cumin rice. I personally felt the chicken dish was a little dry and lacking in flavor for me. The sauce was immaculate but the chicken itself was essentially unseasoned, and I guess the sauce was supposed to be make up for it but it doesn't make sense to me. Everything should be seasoned! My boyfriend, however, loved his meatball dish (it does help that lamb is a flavorful meat on its own). Overall, food was good, not quite filling though. So I recommend getting an appetizer or an another entrée to share in addition to these. Though my review is on the lengthier side, I want to come back to give the place a more detailed review. I absolutely love Indian food. Bindaas tastes less like traditional Indian food and more like modern fusion Indian food. If you're in the area, do check it out for yourself! I had mentioned this restaurant to my roommate and she noted that Bindaas is under a larger umbrella restaurant chain. I was intrigued and did a little bit of research and she was right! Bindaas is under the Knightbridge restaurant group based out of DC. Other popular restaurants include Rasika, Annabelle, Modena, Bombay Club, Sababa, and La Bise (mix of cuisine). So definitely planning to check those out too. read more

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Great food, great vibes, and unique menu! I love the street inspired Indian menu. We tried the palak paneer, various chaats, pao bhaji and some of the Indian inspired cocktails and mock tails! The service was great and super quick. Really enjoyed the food and definitely will be back! read more

Bindaas - Palak Paneer and Chicken Tikka Masala and Pao Bhaji - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

When I visited this place the first time, I had pav bhaaji and Kathi roll which was tasty but the prices are really high for the quantity they serve. The second time I came here, I ordered Chole Bhathure, Paneer lababdar and naan. Here's what's messed up here: Quantity: super less quantity for every food they are serving. Paneer lababdar has 3 pieces of paneer with some gravy on a plate. Like you are trying to get hold of the gravy to serve yourself. Naan was very small too and mind you they are charging 6 dollars for 2 small pieces. It's ridiculous. Taste: Super below mid taste. Except some chaat dishes, the main course meals I had ordered were super bland. No taste or balance of spices was there. Service: service was mid too. I was shocked that they are including 20% tip on the bill by default for such a mid service where you have to look out again and again for the server. Overall, not happy with the experience I had here. Won't come back and I don't recommend this, especially if you are Indian because you will be disappointed. read more

My wife and I had a hard time deciding which place inside of Western Market to try on our first visit. When we saw the menu at Bindaas, it was an easy choice. So many old favorites that brought back great memories from our time living in India: chaat, fresh chutneys, and delicious cocktails. Even more, the decor harkens back to the contemporary Delhi pop culture designs: pop culture art and designs throughout. Service was great (surprised by some other reviews), food was brought out in a fast fashion, and the prices were reasonable for the effort and flavors. You don't come to a place like this and expect to eat like you're in Delhi (price wise). I am looking forward to trying other dishes out on my next visit! read more

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Overall, we really liked Bindaas. We were seated immediately for a table of 2 without having a reservation for brunch (not during peak hours). The appetizers were good. I really loved the samosas but the Dahi Papdi Chaat was not something I enjoyed. My partner really liked it, though. I was not expecting the Dahi Papdi Chaat to be cold (but it is supposed to be cold), and it was a little too creamy in texture for me. I had the Vegetable Korma, and he had the Wada Pao sandwich. We liked both of our meals. We will probably be back again to try something different on the menu. This is a nice place to eat, but this is not my top choice Indian restaurant in DC. read more

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What a delightful restaurant! And with super tasty dishes!! My Indian coworker and I came here for lunch to celebrate a big milestone. The minute we stepped into the restaurant, I felt this restaurant was just the type of restaurant I had been looking for. Chic decor with excellent service and food. I can't say enough good things about it! It had a lunchtime hustle and bustle atmosphere yet I felt like I could linger and enjoy the exquisite food and drinks. We ordered the avocado golgappa and the cauliflower for appetizers, along with spinach kofta and pap bhaji (stew). All were excellent! I don't think you can go wrong with any choices on this menu. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! read more

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Great atmosphere, music and friendly staff. I got the samosas, they were crispy and I enjoyed the filling. They also came with a mild spicy sauce that was very tasty. Great quick vegetarian snack when your in the city. read more

Bindaas - Vegetable Samosas - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The entire staff were just HORRIBLE. Extremely rude, condescending, and disrespectful. Did appear like they do take the extra effort to harass customers. Pity that the food was actually decent. In fact we went twice during our visit. The second time, the b!tchy attitude was twice that of the first. Either its poor staff selection or something going on between the management and staff. read more

Came here for my friends bday. I've had a lot of indian food in my life time so I was super excited to try the food. I was pretty disappointed by the service. My entrée came before my appetizer and before anyone else got their food. In fact I was sitting with my food for several minutes while waiting for other people to get their food. Eventually my friends told me just to eat as my food was just getting cold. In fact I ended up finishing it before my friends got their food. I was pretty disappointed by how early my food came. A lot of my friends also has issues with the service such as drinks coming very late or food not coming on time. I ordered the chicken tikka masala and shrimp bezule. The chicken tikka masala was average. It wasn't bad but lacked some flavor. Maybe I should have asked to make it spicier. Either way I've definitely had better at other restaurants. The shrimp was really good. But I think mainly because it was fried. Not complaining but just to let you know. On top of the food quality, the quantity was on the smaller side. I also ordered the perfect mumbai which tasted like an old fashion. My friend got the green with envy which I thought was amazing. Overall I give this place a 5.5/10. I was disappointed with the service. The quality of food was average. If you do not eat indian food often then this will be good. But if you are a big fan of indian food then I do not recommend this place as there are better places. I am definitely not coming back here. read more

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Great Food and Fantastic Service We came here for lunch and tried few chaats and everything was so good

Nice menu. Great service. If you enjoy spice this restaurant will fit your palate. Salt could be scaled down a bit. With a bit more attention to lighting up dished like the cauliflower appetizer and going for more flavor it would take them over another half star. read more

Bindaas - Enjoying Bindass's Bass Chutneywala. - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food wasn't that great. Service was average at best. The ambience: noisy like most places. There is no quality or quantity. It's for those people who have no clue what Indian food should taste like. It's is fusion of whatever. We were three people, an Indian, a Chinese and a white American. None of us were impressed by it. It was disappointing. The menu was small compared to other Indian places and did not have the usual dishes. They did have some classic ones like the chicken tikka and samosas. For some reason they all tasted bland and tasteless. The waitress was okay, but had to ask for everything starting from a spoon, to a plate to a straw. The kheer we ordered as a dessert was good. That's all. read more

Bindaas - Limca* - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My family and friends have regularly eaten at Bindaas and Rasika for over a decade as we love Indian food and have enjoyed eating at the Rasika in West End and Bindaas in Foggy Bottom. We were horrified by the inappropriate and hostile service received by the hostesses at Bindass in Foggy Bottom. The service and quality of food has declined so terribly that the restaurant now does a complete disservice to Indian food. read more