The best Indian food I've had in DC. Ordered fish, a vegetarian fish, as well as a chicken dish. All was wonderful, including the mango lassi. read more

5 stars based just on the chicken tikka masala, it's incredible, tastes like home (I am from Punjab). Try it out for sure! This place is great! read more

I went into this restaurant with really high expectations but was disappointed after. My friends recommended this place and the menu looks amazing with a lot of variety. My family and I went in for the unlimited brunch which is $25 a person. The service was slow and the food was cold by the time we were served. I don't know if the temperature was done on purpose though because all the plates were like that? Maybe it's their style to be room temperature - idk. I did really like the presentation of their dishes and the variety however we had trouble with getting the dishes on time because either the waiter would forget what dishes we were waiting for or they'd give us extra of dishes we didn't ask for. Overall I thought the food was OK and not worth the price I paid. Good experience and I'm glad I tried it because the dishes were unique. My favorite dish was their cookie butter dosa! Maybe I'll give it another shot some other time. read more

Dakshin Indique - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'd been waiting to try this place and I just wish I hadn't waited so long. I was NOT disappointed. The quality of the food and the spices were exceptional. Our bartender/server Thea made great menu recommendations. We loved every bite. I also enjoyed the cocktails the mumbai mule was delicious. Possibly the best restaurant in Cleveland. We will definitely be back! read more

Dakshin Indique - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a fabulous experience at Indique. We went on a holiday weekend so it wasn't busy at all, but the food and service were fantastic. I'm from Oklahoma City where our Indian food consists of mostly questionable buffets, so we were very excited to try some good Indian food in D.C. Drink-wise, I had a mumbai mule and a garam masala tonic with vodka. The garam masala tonic was amazing. I didn't know how the Indian flavors would translate to a cocktail, but it was one I could drink over and over again. I would highly recommend it! Per some recommendations from our server, we started out with the cauliflower chili fry and the duo of chaats. I was not familiar at all with the duo of chaats, but we were told it was a traditional Indian dish and a must-try - and it was. I couldn't even tell you exactly what was in it - some combination of chickpeas, rice and a whole lot of flavor. I'm not usually a big cauliflower fan, but the chili fry was crunchy, spicy and really tasty. For dinner, we got a few different dishes to share for our group of five. We had the coconut cumin crusted salmon, the chicken tikka makhani, the shrimp curry and some type of lamb curry. I would say my favorite was the shrimp curry but it was all really delicious. The salmon had a perfect crust that was a little sweet from the coconut but spicy from the cumin, the chicken tikka makhani was a classic that didn't disappoint and the shrimp curry was really flavorful and well-balanced with the light shrimp. The lamb curry was different from anything I've had, and it was very rich so I probably couldn't have eaten it for my entire meal, but it was good to try. I'd highly recommend Indique if you're in D.C. looking for Indian food. Everything we had was delicious and our server was very friendly and helpful. We had a great time! read more

The bottomless brunch tapas might be the best treat in DC. Featuring a bevy of vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options, Indique receives top marks on all dishes, from the traditional Indian fare to the experimental "fusion" dishes. The Dal Makhani is among the best I've ever had. Miniature salmon patties on rice pancakes with tomato chutney were a treat. The toasted coconut gelato, served over a gluten-free rice and coconut milk waffle, was life-changing. Several dosas were featured as well as ishtew, biriyani, and chaat. Bottomless mimosas can be found anywhere in the city, but Indique offers a full run of bottomless cocktails. The rum lassi is heavy and delicious, but with a hardy appetite it represents the least pragmatic option. Oranges are squeezed in house for mimosas, and the tamarind margarita felt like an appropriate twist on the classic beverage. The Indique Bloody Mary tasted a bit shrimpy--not so much a Bloody Ceasar, but with a mild briny taste. Not a problem, just an observation for those looking for a more traditional Mary. Near the end of our meal, the owner's son stopped by to check on us. The brief interaction added a nice personal touch to our luncheon. A brief point of interest: While Yelp is the extent of my social media, but I am admittedly tempted to start a Twitter account to utilize the hashtag, #dosasandmimosas. Five stars. read more

I'm often the subject of racial profiling. People assume that just because I am Indian I should know where to get the best food in the area. I always hesitate to give recommendations. Don't get it twisted, I love the food. I just find that Indian food can be very polarizing. People can either really love it, or find it quite unpleasant. I also don't go out to eat it as often as you would expect. I ate it every night for dinner growing up and always considered dining out or going to a friend's house as a chance to eat American food. Enchiladas! Macaroni! And the exotic but elusive fish stick. When I am forced to make a suggestion I usually come up with Indique. It's not outrageously priced or too heavy. It's not completely upscale or a whole in the wall. It's a nice restaurant to take people to who are either scared of Indian food completely or like Indian food and want to branch out and try new dishes. I really like the tamarind margarita and any of the vegetarian curries as they seem to be spicier than the meat dishes. The margarita is sour and sweet and a nice compliment to the flavors in the dishes. The mini oothapam is actually a South Indian dish that I haven't really seen in DC because most places focus on North Indian cuisine. Its comparable to a dosa which has a sourdough taste to it and is a good app to try if you want to try something besides a samosa. read more

I ventured to Indique on a cold Saturday night with 5 friends at the recommendation of one on the group. We were pleased to be able to get the reservation, but that put a question mark in my mind as everywhere else we tried was booked up. The service was ok not bad not great. The appetizers were awful, cold samosas that were a heap of poorly spiced chick peas and they were cold! Seriously? Cold soggy samosas? The crab cornets were a dreary mass of stringy crab in aa mass produced, easy to buy, cornet. Chicken and beef mains were ok but to my mind clumsy in their use of spices and pepper. The one redeeming entree was the baked eggplant which is why I give this two Stars. Wine also was reasonably priced and decent. If you want good Indian food that's clever I'd spend a little more and get something really worth eating - Punjabi Grill or Rasika! read more

I thought I had written a review of this place a long long time ago. Clearly not. After the ultimate, which is Rasika, this is my favorite Indian in the city. I love the balcony upstairs, I love the wee bar, I love the way they can accommodate large groups. I love the food. Thi place is half way from my house to downtown and too often we stop here rather than going all the way into the city to eat at Rasika. There is something fresh and authentic and natural about the food and the service and the whole ambience. It is a fabulous spot. read more

4.25 Stars When it opened in 2002, Indique was on the cutting edge of modern Indian Cuisine in DC, with things like tandoori quail and Mirch Masala (stuffed peppers); it was THE place to go for your Indian fix. Times change and it's since been superseded by Rasika and its spin-offs like Fusion. It's still pretty darn good, it's just that the bar has been raised. The two-level interior in unique, with a sort of upstairs mezzanine that is the main dining room. What originally set this place though, was their selection of chaats (street foods), which could be eaten as appetizers or shared like meze. Highlights include the Bhel Puri (puffed rice with tamarind chutney) and the mini dosas (crepes stuffed with vegetables or chicken). Personally, I'm a fan of the Aloo Tikki (potato patties stuffed with spiced peas and served with various chutneys). In addition to their vegetarian menu, Indique does a respectable amount of seafood. from Tamilnad Fish Curry (with tamarind!) to shrimp and scallop masala, but the standout is one of the best versions of Chicken Tikka Makhani (aka chicken tikka masala) in town. Still, one of the best Indian places in town, and with it's "pre-theater" menu, a great place to hit before catching a show at the Uptown. read more

This place is pretty good. I came here for my 21st birthday a few years ago. I returned a few years later in order to check out how Sahil's restaurant is doing. Indique is doing quite well! We ordered the bhel puri, saag makai, aloo gobhi, and the Australian and Russian River red wines. Everything was on point. read more

***3.5 stars*** It was a nice change to go to an Indian fusion restaurant. The food is quite good as well as the presentation. I highly recommend the Mussels a la Indique. The mussels are stewed in garlic, shallots, tomato, coconut milk and curry leaves. Be sure to order the Garlic Naan to arrive at the same time. We soaked up all of the tasty broth with the Garlic Naan. Can't let something taste that good go to waste. Although it's not a family-style meal, we ordered several entrees and shared. My pick was the shrimp and scallop masala. The sauce was very good. It was served with 3 types of rice and veggies. The Chicken Tikka and Lamb Nilgiri Korma are aromatic and tasty too. We sat upstairs which has a much nicer aesthetic than the downstairs. Service was quite good, no complaints there. read more

Naan me! Naan me! For the most part, when I eat Indian, there are a couple buffets in Atlanta that my friends and I will go to and stuff ourselves with flaming hot spiciness, and ample glasses of water. So these giant buffet places are full of excellent food, but devoid of any ambiance. When we go, we do to do work on the buffets. Indique was an excellent detour from the usual for me. A cute space, with an upstairs dining area, where we sat. The food came out quickly and was reasonably priced for this kind of environment. Kevin L says it right when mentioning that this would be a great date place. If you do bring a date here, request a table upstairs by the window. They close quite promptly, and we finally left at 10:32 PM when all lights were turned on and music turned off. Otherwise, service was reasonable and now that I've gotten a taste of Indian, I'm already craving more. Giant buffet back home, enter, stage left. read more

I'm never sure how I feel about Indian food. Do I like it? Dislike it? Does it make my sensitive stomach hurt? Do I want it more than I want, say, Thai, which I love? Indian food has always been sort of a mystery to me. BUT OH, INDIQUE. Indique changes everything. Indique is divine. Smooth & satisfying mango lassis, impeccably mixed cocktails, flavorful dips & chutneys & spreads... Their Shrimp Varuval, jumbo shrimp cooked with onions, tomatoes, & spices, is hands-down the best shrimp I've ever had. And I love the Chicken Tikka Makhani (marinated boneless pieces of chicken cooked in tandoor & finished with a thick tomato sauce), & the rice that comes with their entrees is cooked to perfection, surprising leaps & bounds above all other rice (which seems like such a weird thing to say). I've never had anything else there, but I've also never dined there with anyone who was anything less than thrilled with their meal. The atmosphere is lovely, though it alternates between very quiet when it's empty & very loud when it starts to fill up. They also have a great patio that overlooks Connecticut, perfect for a sunny day or a sunsetting evening. Bottom line, I love Indique & would go back much, much more frequently if I were able to afford it. read more

Came here for bottomless brunch here with a few friends on a Saturday. Amazing food and drinks! Great options for vegetarians and nonvegetarians, alike. Highly recommend the masala veg burger, samosa chaat, and the cookie butter dosa for dessert! read more

Dakshin Indique - Samosa chaat - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Every time I eat here I make myself sick because I can't stop eating. I've even eaten an entire meal and then ordered more. They must put crack in the food. If so, I hope they keep doing it. The garlic naan is the best I've ever had, and the mussels are divine. read more

Visited this place Aug 12, 2015. I am not really sure where the Indian food was. We ordered some appetizer and it tasted like a mexican enchilada. The buttered chicken or whatever it's called was bland and the flavor one would expect with Indian curry wasn't there. Not a single Indian person in sight eating there. That should have been my first clue. My second clue was the ingredients listed were more commonly seen in Mexican restaurants. Majority if not all staff was Hispanic... which may have explained why things tasted Hispanic in nature. read more

After living in Cleveland Park for years, my wife and I finally ventured into Indique on a whim. After the meal, we were kicking ourselves for waiting so long to try the place. Ambiance wise, this place is very nice. Very clean and much more modern than we expected. I completely disagree with another recent reviewer who described the interior as "outdated." If anything, I'd say it was unexpectedly fancier than we thought going in, and definitely on the nicer end of the spectrum compared to other Cleveland Park restaurants (but not to the point where you feel like you have to dress up). We had a seat right near the open window into the kitchen where you can see them making fresh Naan. On that note, if you order the Naan, it takes a little time because they prepare and cook it made to order. For entrees, I really enjoyed the Tandoori salmon which was cooked nicely (easier said than done when ordering fish) and came with ample rice, veggies, and dal. My wife, who is a Celiac and allergic to gluten, was pleased to find out that the majority of the menu (not the Naan, unfortunately) is gluten free. She really liked the Aloo Gobhi which was cauliflower, potatos, dal, rice, and spices. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about their menu in relation to the gluten allergy and reminded the chefs when he put the order in, which was appreciated. This place is a tad pricey, but worth it given its location, ambiance and delicious food. Suggestion to Indique: publicize via your website, menu, blogs, etc. that your restaurant caters to gluten-free diners. Lots of folks aren't aware that by nature of the ingredients, many Indian food items don't contain gluten. I suspect there will be a lot more people with gluten allergies who will try your restaurant if they can determine it has gluten free options through a Google search. read more

This restaurant was absolutely delicious. The garlic naan was awesome, the lamb shank was awesome, the shrimp curry was awesome. They also have a nice selection of white wines. The restaurant itself is very pretty. You can tell it is Indian from the decor, but it's not in your face or cheesy. I could see this also being a nice place for a romantic dinner. Very cozy inside. At least the upstairs was. I will be back very soon. Update: My dishes this time round were not as good. I will come back for a 3rd trip to see which experience was a fluke... read more

Service and food was amazing at this Indian restaurant, and cocktails were made with love! Dee and Lux were fantastic servers and the manager and bartender of 18 years made our visit extra special!!! Will be back soon! read more

My girlfriend wanted to celebrate her birthday lunch here - damn did I hear $25 UNLIMITED INDIAN BRUNCH?! (Add an extra $12 for bottomless drinks) Why yes that is true! We made reservations and were able to get seated right away. The reason why I gave it 2 stars is because the service was horrible. We were seated, but no one came around to put our order in. When they came, they asked what drinks we would like. We put our order in .... and no one comes around. No one comes back to check on us, to see what we wanted to order. Drinks never came... we waited at least 45 minutes until someone came and asked what we would like..... 15 minutes from that time, we got our drinks (FINALLY).....waited another 20 minutes... where is our food? We see smaller tables getting their food... we've been waiting for over an hour. I am STARVING. It seemed like the servers wanted to avoid eye contact with us. Finally we had to WAVE someone down and someone came over and said oh okay, I'll check the kitchen. Finally food started coming our way. Slow ... water took forever to refill. The food was alright. The dishes that stood out to me were chicken tikka makhani, COOKIE BUTTER DOSA (sweets - sooo effing foood), samosa CHAAT! Thats all - I don't mind 'waiting' a bit, as long as someone acknowledges its been a long wait (keeping us posted), but when you see no one in sight to flag down and they're all avoiding looking in my direction .. that's what makes it disappointing. I think it's cool theres an AYCE Indian food, but it's too heavy and the service just was not good at all. read more

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Sit outdoors! Fantastic spot for a late Sunday night dinner. No crowds. We had a romantic spot on the veranda, sitting outside the window, upstairs, next to the flowerboxes! Quite intimate and rather treehousesque. A cute little two seater table. And the metro stop is right out front = convenient. Menu sounded delish. I was excited. The food was fine. I expected it to knock my socks off with flavor. But it didn't. It was just okay. We had samosas, saffron chicken, whole wheat mint naan and a tasty syrah. There was no spice at all and the flavors were pretty muted all around. Such a shame! Oh well. But the syrah was lovely. read more

My favorite Indian Restaurant in NW. The menu is so creative, while providing many traditional favorites.

As someone who eats Indian food multiple times a month, I consider myself a relatively tough critic when it comes to Indian restaurants. That said, I have nothing but high praise for the menu variety, service, and quality of food I received as a guest at Indique Restaurant. For context, I came for the Sunday Brunch with more than 20 people, many of whom had never tried Indian food before. Not only did the restaurant accommodate our size, they approached newcomers with patience for their questions, enthusiasm for their menu options, and personalized recommendations. It was an experience they were unequivocally thrilled to share with their first-time patrons. From the beautiful Samosa Chaat that came out to look like a swan (http://imgur.com/FM5sCWc) to the precision of the spike in the rum laced lassi, Indique delivered magnificently. They don't just cook food, they invest time in the menu's design, range of flavor, and unique combinations. This separates the restaurant from many of its counterparts in the DC area You'll rarely see Calamari mixed with the traditional Kerala meat dish of Ullarthiyathe or Shephard's Pie with common spices found in Kerala cooking. Innovation isn't a special exception at Indique - it's a habit. On top of that, its traditional dishes - like Chicken Tikka and Biryani - have no match. I don't know what sort of magic they put in this food but I've yet to find a marriage of chicken and sauce that compares. If you're looking for some spice in your Indian food experience, a place where customer respect is a standard, and a blissful food coma - come to Indique. You won't regret it. read more

I think of Indique as that new comedy that everyone hypes up so much and you can't wait to see it yourself, you wait for the perfect opportunity and then there it is: a big fat let down. I kept searching for the overly-hyped things to fulfill me and sadly, I left feeling deflated. All that hype for this? I'd rather go to Indian Experience downtown or Heritage in Dupont. The service was iffy and often seemed confused. For dinner, I split the usual favorites w/ my bf: Lamb Vindaloo and Chicken Tikka Makhani (Massala) and just felt OK about them. They were not bad, they just weren't exactly worth the price they were. It seems many places in DC do this, over-price their menu in hopes of it tricking you to believe the ingredients are that much better when really, it's a shtick and you're just contributing to their pricey lease. Back to my meal, I really liked the garlic naan.. but then again how difficult is it to mess this up? We had a drink in the bar area before being sat (about 20-25 mins after our reservation) and I really liked this facet of Indique. The bartender was great, on his toes and chatted about other restaurants w/ us (he used to work at Cashions Eat Place). I'd definitely reccomend going to Indique for drinks, maybe before a movie next door. All in all, I might be back but I can't make any promises. read more

Indique is one of my favorite restaurants in DC. The service was unbeatable. We requested Lychee martinis (they were delicious) and the waiter kept them coming all night long; my glass was never empty. The food definitely came in smaller portions than one might expect at an Indian restaurant, and it also wasn't your typical traditional Indian food- but it was great regardless. I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant and the intimacy that it offered, I'd definitely go back. read more

Best Indian in DC. Please don't believe the food-critic hype about "the other" place in Penn Quarter. For regular folks or regular foodies, Indique offers better food, better service, lower prices, and none of the snobbishness. On a Tuesday evening we had no trouble getting a 7:00 reservation for four. The waiter was prompt, friendly, but not overly dramatic. The list of wines by the glass is small but well-chosen. The cocktail menu is fresh, and the drinks well crafted. The beer menu is pretty basic if you don't like Indian beer (thin lager). It has a tiny bar on the first floor. We had three appetizers, two veggie dishes, and a chicken curry, with rice and garlic naan. All were well prepared from fresh ingredients and well presented. Expect traditional Indian dishes with a few items not often found on American menus. The atmosphere is upscale; this would be a good place to take a date you wanted to impress, but not feel like you were trying too hard. It's quiet enough to allow intimate conversations, but our sometimes-loud joking conversation didn't seem too out of place. The prices are moderate and they had no trouble splitting the check with four cards. In short, I couldn't recommend Indique more. Skip the attitude and go for the food and service. read more

The GF and I met a friend of mine and his new girlfriend for dinner on a Saturday night. Our group's consensus was that we wanted Indian and decided to follow the recommendations of some of Yelp's finest local tastemakers and go to Indique. It's high praise when a place is called the "best DC Indian restaurant not named Rasika". Indique lived up to the praise! Indian food is meant to be enjoyed family-style. We did our best to imitate a very, very hungry Indian family. We started off with the Mussels a la Indique ($8) which was a generous serving of tender, plump mussels steamed in their own juices and served in a broth of tomato, garlic, coconut milk and curry. It was a great leadoff to our meal and really lent itself to being sopped up with the baskets of garlic ($3) and plain naan ($2) that we had ordered. The mussels were a great value! For our entrees, we had the Chicken Chettinad ($17) a very spicy peppercorn-enhanced dish served with grilled tomato and lemon rice. While I love spicy Indian food and enjoyed the dish, it was probably the least successful dish in terms of flavor that we ordered. Lamb Nilgiri Korma ($16) was a wonderful dish of cubed lamb cooked in a green masala with cilantro and hot peppers. It was spiced to perfection. Our last entree was the Baingan Bhartha ($12), a Tandoor-roasted eggplant dish. It was exceedingly tasty and a perfect complement to our meat dishes. Finally, we had an order of cucumber raita ($4) which provided a nice cooling effect for our overheated taste buds. Our meal was washed down with a bottle of Australian cab...can't recall the name or vintage...which wasn't bad. Still, if Indique has a weak spot, it's its wine list which is not extensive. That said, for this area, a bottle of wine at Indique is relatively inexpensive. Indique was truly a revelation! Good food served in nice-sized portions in a comfortable setting for a reasonable price is always welcome in my book. Indique brings it! read more

Why oh why does this place not have a four star rating? The service is impeccable, the decor is comfortable and tasteful without being over the top, the food is almost all superb. Regulars get special treatment (as they should): Most times, I receive a complimentary dish or two, and these are real dishes, not popadoms. It's not the only decent Indian in dc. But it's one of few, and I've never had a bad experience. And if I ever do, I'm pretty confident it would be addressed quickly and politely. Keep up the good work, Indique. read more

This is a nice physical space. It is decorated stylishly, the dishes are modern shapes, and the presentation of the food is thoughtful. I especially like the upstairs, which is more private. The venue is located right outside the Metro. There is outdoor seating in warm weather. The samosas are very good here. The Garlic Naan is good, too. I had the chicken curry for a main course, and that was just okay. It was too mild for Indian food. Prices are high for what you get. I would go here again for drinks because of the atmosphere, but the food is a little expensive for what you get. read more

There are plenty of so-so Indian restaurants in Washington, DC. That's why I'm a little taken aback every time I eat at Indique. The service is very good. The dishes are creatively shaped. And the food is great. In particular, they have a very tasty mutter paneer, which isn't an Indian restaurant standard. The portions are ample, but not overwhelming. It reminds me that mediocre Indian take-out places are just that--mediocre. The only challenge is that the tables for two are a little small--like coffee house small. So when you have drinks, and water, and silverware, and naan, and two plates of food, it gets a little crowded. Indique is a winner--a standout in Cleveland Park. read more

Indique is definitely on my "Top 5 DMV Brunch Spots" My girlfriends and I had the pleasure of dining here on their 2nd day of their brand new Brunch service and what a lovely brunch it was. The inside of the restaurant is so vibrantly colored, airy and full of light. Such a peaceful & warm atmosphere which made it feel so cozy inside. We were seated downstairs right by the glass kitchen, where we could see everything being prepared. This was my type of brunch-unlimited Indian tapas from the menu to share for $20 each or add another $15 to that to enjoy the delicious brunch cocktails. Let me just say that the Tamarind Margarita has tied my current favorite the Patron Cucumber Margarita for first place. The Tamarind Margarita has a little bit of sweet and tart, making it taste so heavenly. I believe I enjoyed about 5 or 6 of these easily. Now on to the food: we tried everything on the menu, some items more than once, but the best thing about this brunch is that seeing as though I don't eat pork, there was only 1 item on the menu that contained pork and I really appreciated that. The food is not your typical Vindaloo and Curry Indian cuisine- it's a lot more modern & contemporary which I really enjoyed. From the Samosa & Sweet Potato Chaat, Chicken Kabob Eggs Benedict Salmon Sliders and the Shreekandh Parfait- everything that touched my lips was delightful. But the one food item that stood out the most was that darn Cookie Butter Dosa. That thing right there should be illegal. Because it should have been against the law for each of us to enjoy 3 of these each. That was the most outstanding dessert, so simple, tasty and addictive- savory & sweet flavors that work perfectly together. Just thinking about it & I'm getting excited, mouth starting to drool over here...LOL!!! The service provided to us by Sahil & Kamal was impeccable. We never had to ask for a refill on drinks and our food was brought to us in a timely fashion. I am looking forward to bringing my mother here in a couple of weeks because she loves Indian food and I'm sure she would adore the flavors created here by the chefs. I would definitely consider this a hidden treasure. #DosasAndTamarindMargaritas #AMatchMadeInHeaven read more

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So, I have mentioned in other reviews that I'm often up for food challenges, so when there is an item on the menu that starts with "Not for the faint-hearted!...", then the gauntlet has been laid down, and I have already chosen my weapon. Indique is nothing short of a gem in a neighborhood that I'm starting to realize is full of such jewels. The interior is knowingly Indian in its decor, without being pretentious about the fact. The staff are wonderfully unassuming, helpful and patient - all useful traits in a restaurant where so much jumps out at you on the menu that you need some time to explain to the other dishes why you've decided not to try them on this visit. We ordered appetizers while still deciding on the entrees - the Calamari Ullarthiyathe, Chicken Shashlik, and Aloo Tikki were all simply delectable - the perfect combinations of spicy heat and flavor which set you up wonderfully for the entrees. So, as mentioned earlier, the warning on the Chicken Chettinad sold me on the dish, and it was quite outstanding - incredibly spicy but flavorful chicken, with cute little rice mounds, and a wonderfully spicy cauliflower side (I never thought I'd mix the words 'cauliflower' and 'wonderful' together, but there you go!). Simona went for the Kebab Indique, which was also delicious - minced lamb and chicken kebabs with the perfect spice combinations - sooo good! So back to the warning on the menu - the Chettinad was spicy as I mentioned, but certainly not to the point of being dangerous. Until about an hour later... OMG! It's one thing to enjoy food when you're at the restaurant, but it's another thing for your stomach to then start having its own party with the food later on (I don't remember eating a wookie!). Now, I might not be able to blame the Chettinad as the only offender, as Simona also felt a few after-effects, and she only had a mouthful of my dish. Why do I still give it 5 stars? Well, I'm not going to blame outstanding food and service for my stomach's inability to control its excitement - Indian food can do this to you, especially if you haven't been for a few years. I know I'll remedy that problem by making frequent future trips to Indique to toughen up my stomach. Although I might suggest that Indique amend their Chettinad warning to read: "Not for the faint-stomached!"... read more

The brunch here is to die for. I had no idea this even existed and honestly it's been underrated: 1) For $25 during weekend brunch hours, you can get 4 tapas plus the option of bottomless cocktails so price-wise this is awesome! 2) Great for groups - everyone who works there is so friendly *note that everyone can order what they want here because there is so much variety 3) Outdoor seating 4) Of course the food, my personal favorites are below: - Bhelpuri - Salmon cakes - Uttapam + other south Indian dishes - Meat dishes - Kulfi - the icecream is pretty good - Mango rum lassi Highly recommended! Will be going back next week! read more

My visit to Indique was one of the few times I've gone somewhere that everyone said was great - and the place totally lived up to the billing. With that kind of pressure to perform, Indique must be a fantastic surprise for someone who is taking a chance on eating there. My co-diners indicated that the atmosphere upstairs is better than downstairs, and they are probably right. We were downstairs, and it just didn't feel like we were in a restaurant of the level that we were paying for, due to the traffic coming in through the door etc. However, this was the only knock on them - the food was amazing! We had some dosas to start, which came with great sauces. I had a mango lassi - which wasn't the manliest choice of drink, but certainly came in handy for the main course. I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo (if it's on the menu, I have to order it - long story involving my bro in London). I was happy to hear the waitress warn me "It's spicy, is that ok?" Needing to reassert my manliness after the mango lassi, I replied "It'd better be." Well, she wasn't kidding. I warned my group that I would start hiccuping after about 3 bites, and I did - right on schedule. It was just as vindaloo should be: physical pain, followed by hiccuping, then overstimulation of the fluids in your nose and eyes, finishing up with a warm and contented feeling. Rare to find such a vindaloo on this side of the Atlantic (or Pacific, I guess), so you should take the opportunity to enjoy it at Indique!! read more

Wow, Indian AND Uniquie? It is more expensive than I normally am willing to pay for Indian food (I tend to seek out the best put-me-in-a-food-coma Indian buffet that I can find), but the Tandoori chicken is phenomenally good and their raita is thick, creamy and delicious. read more

This is the "Bibiana" of Indian restaurants in the DC area: expensive, great view overlooking the Chevy Chase area, nice decor, yet...subpar food. Indique caters to the stereotypical yuppie crowd that evaluates the quality of food at ethnic restaurants based on decor. (I do admit the decor is very very nice for an indian restaurant). A lot of the dishes are VERY buttery and is bland. The dishes lack the complexity in the spice department compared to other Indian restaurants. On a positive note, this restaurant serves Thali, which I have not seen in an Indian restaurant in the DMV area yet (although I'm sure there are many that serve it). For those who don't know what this is a thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray. You usually have a meat thali dish (which will come with chicken and goat meat) and the vegetarian option. This dish is usually the most expensive dish for dinner in Indian restaurants that serve this, but it allows you to sample about 5-6 types of dishes that you would otherwise not get when going with a small party. Think of this dish as a sampling of a typical lunch buffet at a Indian restaurant for dinner. In addition, outdoor seating is available and you do get a fantastic view of the Chevy Chase area. I'm tempted to just come here for drinks to enjoy the scenery in warm weather. So in conclusion, if you have trouble handling the spice and the flavoring that goes into Indian foods at traditional Indian restaurants, you may want to give this place a try as it may be more suitable for your palate. read more

I'm not the hugest fan of Indian food, but I really enjoy this place -- probably because it's "Indian fusion" and all that. The few times I've been here, I did have to wait several minutes because we didn't have a reservation. The space is rather cramped as someone else said. I keep expecting them to up and move this restaurant to a larger location in the area. The actual physical location itself couldn't be better though, excluding the tiny interior. read more

Dakshin Indique - Indian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great service and ambience. Impressive decor. Plenty of seating. Food didn't follow through fully. First off this place is Indian, not Pakistani as Yelp labels it. Chutni Sampler: Mediocre. The chutni's tasted like something out of a jar from the store and not home made. Gobi Pakora: Very good. Freshly fried nicely done and crispy on the outside. Probably the highlight. Tandoori Chicken: Good taste. Juicy. Fresh out of the tandoor. Chicken Makhani: I've had much much better than this. This was decent but not the best. I was expecting much more for the price and reputation for such a basic classic. Chicken Biryani: Again only decent. I liked that it was served with raita but the biryani itself could be much better. Masala Chai: Good but needs to be served hotter. Kulfi: Good but not extraordinary. Serving size was adequate. For the price and reputation I was expecting better taste. I might come back to try something else. read more

When it comes to Indian food, I'm definitely more of a "let's go to the $11 indian buffet" kind of guy. When a cuisine is based so heavily on a multitude of sauces, i'm not satisfied ordering a la carte - as the Queen sings, "I want it all....I want it all.....and i want it NOW!" (see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfLD-7bCtME) I thought I would change my ways after having eaten at Heritage the first time for lunch, when I realized that their Indian is fantastic, but then I realized that they, too, have a brunch buffet on Sundays. So now, that's my Sunday brunch spot! Indique, however, takes Indian to a new level - they add a real artistic and creative flair to their dishes, and that's refreshing when you're so used to just seeing a bunch of rice in a bowl and some sauce in a different kind of bowl. So hats off to Indique for being unique w/ its presentation. The quality of the food is delcious, the naan is soft and very tasty, and they have plenty of other side dishes that are fantastic. I'd also recommend this as a great date spot, so long as you're companion knows you well enough that he/she doesn't mind you smelling/tasting like garlic and onions the remainder of the evening :) read more