Our 2nd visit and a happier memory! Siri was our server, and we got seated on a comfortable table in-spite of being late by a few mins. The place was busy on a Fri night, so highly recommend making reservations. Order included Bison Momo ($16), Blue Cheese Reshmi Kebab ($14), Spicy Nawabi Duck Kebab ($16) which indeed had a subtle enjoyable spice kick to it! Meen Pollichathu ($28) came with a very delicious Khichdi, and the Wild Mushroom Biryani ($24) continues to be a top dish at this place. Gulab Jamun ($10) was a very comforting dessert and a perfect way to end the night! Service was excellent, and food arrived within 15-mins of placing the order. Noise levels on the average end, including a rather loud table next to us where the dude was definitely buzzed. Will continue to be one of our favorite places whenever we are in DC! read more

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Went to Daru on Tuesday, April 21 and caught their all-night happy hour. I was still able to order happy hour items at 8 PM, which already felt like a win, but the real surprise was how good the deals were. The chicken tikka masala with naan for $10 was an absolute steal. My friend loved the scallops, and I grabbed a tea for $4 to go with everything. Altogether, I had an amazing meal for under $15, which almost never happens. They also have a heated patio that's really cute, making it a great option even on cooler nights. Service was a little slow with fewer check-ins than we would have liked, but the space is cozy and the overall vibe feels more laid back. I didn't even know this place existed before, but I'll definitely be back. Such a great, low key dinner spot to check out with friends. Super cute and cozy and romantic place! read more

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Food 4.0/5.0 Service 4.0/5.0 Value 3.5/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Good spot. The food was generally very solid. Interesting spins on more traditional Indian dishes (eg. burrata in the daal, blue cheese flavor on the tandoori chicken) but not overdone and not overpowering. Was pretty busy on a Friday evening. Would go back. read more

I appreciate the experimental menu, with items like the palak paneer lasagna and the chicken tikka tacos. Maybe the pricing could be a bit lower but I thought the food quality was solid. read more

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Excellent service, wonderful ambiance, and mouthwatering food. Highly recommend. I wish it was closer to home so I could go more often. read more

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I stopped by Daru for late-night happy hour with a friend, and the experience was a mix of highs and lows. The space itself is beautiful, and the food was solid. I ordered the HH chicken tikka masala, which was flavorful and satisfying, along with a non-alcoholic mango mocktail that was refreshing and well done. No complaints about the food -- it did what it was supposed to do. Service, however, was a bit confusing. The staff was attentive, but not particularly friendly, which stood out -- especially for a hospitality-focused space. As we were leaving (we were the last two guests), the bartender commented that we had to leave sometime. Even if it was meant as a joke, it came off as awkward and unnecessary. For context, it was 25 degrees outside, the restaurant closed at 10pm, and we were already walking out at 9:55pm. We weren't lingering, pushing boundaries, or overstaying -- and it felt strange to be rushed out when we were already on our way. Hospitality matters to me. Guests choose to spend their time and money somewhere, and even small comments can change the tone of an otherwise good experience. I miss the old DC where bars genuinely enjoyed having people in the space until close. Overall, Daru has a lot going for it -- a beautiful setting and good food -- but the hospitality piece could use some warmth and polish. read more

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Daru offers unique Indian-inspired dishes. The creativity and variety make it difficult to choose but provide reason to return. Burrata and lasagna are probably not on your Indian food bingo card but you'd be remiss not to try them. The flavors are subtle but nuanced. The service was great from the start. Everyone is welcoming and helpful. It is evident that they make a team effort to provide good customer experience. Although we had a couple hiccups, all of our issues were promptly rectified. If you are driving, note that the restaurant is located at a busy intersection and be sure to allot time to find parking before your reservation. read more

Daru - Sea bass - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stopped by and tried the spicy duck kebabs and zaatar naan for a light dinner tonight. The naan was soft and pillowy with delicious spices. I will definitely order this again! I liked the duck kebab, and the texture was great, but the sauce with it lacked flavor - I think it needed something more zingy. A bit of lime or lemon would have gone a long way. Overall, it was tasty and filling, and I always enjoy eating here. I wish they leaned a little bit more into spiciness - the heat level on this was 0 - and had deeper flavors, but the textures are always really good and I've never had a bad meal or left unhappy. I love their happy hour, but it's generally best when you're splitting a bunch of small plates with some friends. read more

Daru - Duck kebab and zaatar naan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I feel like Indian wine bar sounds a little confusing at first but it was FANTASTIC. I believer Daru has a bib gourmand and it is certainly deserved. We tried the Murgh Markhani, the Dahi Puri, the Cabbage, the Zaatar Olive Oil Naan, the Sweet Potato Chaat, the Paneer Pesto Tikka (for my veg friend), and they complimentarily brought out the Scallops. I paired everything with a nice glass of syrah. The sweet potato chaat and scallops were standout dishes, just absolute flavor bombs. I really enjoyed the murgh markhani, and you cannot go wrong with naan. The dahi puri also had a nice twist with the guac, I would just maybe skip the cabbage. Overall a great experience, would definitely recommend to anyone visiting DC. read more

Daru - Dahi Puri - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent service and great recommendations! This was the best chai tea I've ever had. Everything we ate was delicious and fresh. The ambiance was nice even when it was super cold, we sat on the patio with heaters and it was still pleasant. The naan was fresh and delicious and so were all of the entrees. Love this place and can't wait to visit again and try the rest of the menu! read more

I've been wanting to make it out to see what all the hype was about... and I can see why people love this place... From the warm hostess, knowledgeable staff and beautiful food with complex flavors of India/Nepal from the chef... The atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and vibrant with laughter and boisterous conversations that felt like a place where you want to be a regular, where they know your name and your palate preference. It's a perfect place to go after a show at the Kennedy center or a group of couples that have been life long friends who want to talk about their grandkids over amazing food! The Pani Puri is a MUST... a perfect bite with crunch and spice that lingers but doesn't hurt. The Mango shrimp was a miss for me... I felt like the mango could have been more ripe and sweet to contrast the dry mustard and spices... The lamb was so amazingly cooked and the flavors were perfect! It's is a gem of the restaurant. The wild mushroom Briyani... the mushroom... I don't know if you can cook a mushroom better... and I don't even like mushrooms due to the texture. Come and enjoy one of the best in DC. You can make a reservation on Resy. read more

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Wednesday 7pm Met a friend and her local crew on one of my visits from NYC . I was excited to have Indian food in DC especially seeing all the intl food options not easily accessible within the Manhattan confines including Ethiopian restaurants. While the service was good and the lamb was exceptional, I was expecting a bit more . The eggplant appetizer we ordered was different from what we mostly had it mind ( it was more like an eggplant lasagna ) vs a baba ganoush type of consistency. We did enjoy the pani puri and the bread basket . read more

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Went to this restaurant as part of a dinner club I'm a big fan of Indian food so I was excited to try. Daru has a Michelin bib gourmand, meaning you can get about 2-3 courses for a good price. The food was so flavorful and delicious you can tell the chef puts a lot of love and intention into the food. The dahi puri were delicious, they had potato, trout caviar, and avocado I could eat like 10 of them. Also they have a ton of vegan and vegetarian options, I really liked their eggplant bharta with za'atar bread. The servers were very nice and had great recommendation for drinks. Also the restaurant ambience was nice it gave a homey vibe, it felt like eating in a kitchen with your family. I would definitely go back. read more

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Our dinner at Daru featured some of the best puri I have ever eaten.  These Dahi puri were bursting with flavor.  I could have just kept eating them and had a wonderful dinner.  Luckily we tried other dishes, including the scallop moilee which was also super.  The scallops were really well cooked and the sauce, well, we are just very, very happy that we had the garlic naan to sop it all up.  Yum!  The za'atar naan that we had with the eggplant bharta was also really, really good.  The eggplant itself was a little bit more subtle so the spices of the naan worked really well with this dish. The lambchop lasooni was also perfectly cooked and really tender.  It was coated with a wonderful mix of spices and charred which made for great chomping on the bone.  For dessert, we had the carrot halwa which was nice and warm but a little subtle.  All in all, we had an excellent meal which was only improved by the wonderful service offered by the staff.  They were extremely helpful and welcoming.  Daru is a small space which can get a little loud when filled.  The walls are filled with personal mementos which are fun to look at.  There is ample street parking around and a paid lot just a couple of blocks away. read more

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Daru hit the spot! Our server Dawn gave us some awesome recommendations. My group had three people and we shared a variety of dishes and it was a great meal. We got the dahl puri which was a nice little bomb of avocado and crunch to start off the meal! We also got the jhol momo which was delicious and the sauce it came in was flavorful and matched the bison dumpling perfectly. The chicken tikka tacos were a cool way to get chicken tikka masala without feeling basic. The mushroom biryani was also flavorful. We got the chutney platter and it was fun to try all the different options. We got the bread basket and when we finished the first round, our server suggested we try the Za'atar olive naan and that was amazing and I wish I had more of that! We left full and happy! read more

Daru - Chicken Tikka Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cute spot and great food/drinks! We came here during H St Festival so it was pretty busy/crowded but we found a spot at the bar. We enjoyed the tacos ,Momo, and burrata. Overall all were great but we felt that for the price the Momo fell a bit short. The burrata and tacos were very good and I'd definitely get them again. I did find it strange and a bit annoying that the burrata dish did not include any naan, so we had to pay extra for two orders of garlic naan which still wasn't quite enough to soak up all the sauce. Lastly, I got the Bandit Queen cocktail which was perfectly balanced and had a lot of complexity which was exactly what I wanted. Daru definitely has some quality food and drinks, but considering the price and location it may be a while before I come back. read more

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Spectacular food each dish was worth ordering. Dante Dutta and Chef Suresh Sundas have created a special, family friendly & wallet friendly place in DC. That being said, service can be improved a bit. Even though all wait staff was friendly they were short on details such as giving serving spoons etc. read more

Daru is a special place in the evening for a date It has great ambiance and real candles. The booth near the bar is Very cozy. Check number 42 Table 21. Ordered 9/23/25, 9:05 P.M. Two rosé $28. pani puri $12. crab Momo $18. roasted carrots and broccoli $22. squash Bartha $20. Daal baratha $9. Achari shrimp $16 Two Trebbiano $28. mango sorbet $8 Subtotal $161. Service charge 20%, $32.20. Tax $19.32. Total $212.52 read more

We've been meaning to hit this DC gem up for quite awhile and it really blew us away. Sat on the outdoor covered patio with a large group and it was just lovey. Fairly casual and decent service but the food was next level and wildly satisfying. Love the sharing size of most of the plates and very nice cocktail selection with some unique offerings. I don't think u can go wrong here and it's reasonable enough to not need a special occasion in fact we saw a few solo diners which is nice. read more

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I saw a post on instagram that rated the best lamb chops in DC. Daru was voted #1, so I had to try for myself. They were really good! They also have a good happy hour. read more

Daru - Lasooni Lamb Chops (1pc) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of the best Indian spots in DC especially for their daily happy hour! Daru is such a hidden gem but once you try it you'll be telling everyone you know. They have such a cute outdoor patio in the summer time. Also, if you're looking to do happy hour it's only available on the patio. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the dishes and always happy to share recommendations. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

Daru - Chicken Tikka Masala, Scallop Moilee (3pc), Paneer Pesto Tikka - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had some hits and misses at Daru food-wise, but it was kind service and we were seated within a cozy terrace. I came into it knowing it was "Indian-ish" food, but still felt underwhelmed by the lack of flavor in some of the dishes, particularly the black bean burrata. My friends and I really enjoyed the scallops and the sunchoke chaat! read more

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I albeit made a later reservation on a Saturday, but we didn't get seated for half an hour. Then, no server touched our table for another half hour. By the time I grabbed someone's attention, I was told the kitchen was closing and that other tables had ordered the last of multiple different items on the menu. We ordered the mango shrimp bhel and sweet potato chaat to start. The bhel was stale and incredibly disappointing. For mains, we got the lasagna, the fish and the mushroom biryani with sides of black daal burrata(per the server's rec) and pomegranate aloo. The lasagna was so tasteless, I don't understand how anyone would enjoy it. We also didn't care for the daal burrata. The daal had so much heavy cream, and I'm really not sure what the burrata was doing in there. The fish was good, the aloo was standard, and the biryani was okay. We got the halwa for dessert, and it was not halwa. I'm pretty sure the servers did not understand Indian palettes because the food recommended to us was ridiculous. I would not return. read more

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Had dinner here last night with friends...hard to find the entrance with the outside covered "patio enclosure". Inside doesn't give off Indian vibes but it was pleasant enough. Right off the bat, our waitress was gruff and didn't smile at all...not a great way to start a Michelin experience. She was dressed super casual...almost sloppy...again, not what I'd expect for a Michelin star restaurant. But fine, the food should be the star... We each had a different cocktail and my hubby and I both liked the Mountain of the Moon, my friend liked the Bandit Queen but I didn't enjoy my Ananta. My other friend had the mango lemonade drink and loved it. For apps we ordered the Dahi Puri, Chaat and Blue Cheese Kebabs. They were all delicious but nothing blew us away. Would've loved to try more apps but saved room for entrees. My friend and I had the bass-which I accidentally called trout -and our waitress said "what trout...we don't have that". No smile, laugh, just deadpan. My hubby got the paneer lasagna and my other friend the mushroom biryani. The lasagna was beautifully presented and delicious...and tasted just like paneer! No twists or anything, just delicious paneer. The bass was very good but again, nothing exotic or special. The green moong dal it came with was a creamy, pleasant surprise since I don't normally like moong. My friend loved her biryani and the presentation in a large puff bread was fun and different. We also got a full side of wok fried cabbage and it was delicious...smoky and flavorful...was my surprise favorite of the night! I really wanted dessert and thought they must have some cool twists on Indian desserts but they only had 3 desserts and none appealed to any of us so that was a disappointment. Overall, it was very good food at a reasonable price (for a Michelin restaurant), drinks were good but pricey (they were super small!), and bad service (by waitress...food runners and busboys were fine). Check was dropped off and then picked up by someone else (with automatic 20% gratuity!). I might go here again to try some other dishes but wouldn't be one of my top picks for Indian food. There are just too many better Indian restaurants in the DC metro area. read more

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We were seated in their covered patio section, and while it was definitely covered from the elements, it was definitely not the same as sitting inside (with the wonderful aromas)! We started with scallops moilee, which sat atop an amazing coconut and curry mixture. Each scallop was topped with their "gun powder masala," which was delectably spicy and overall, the scallops were cooked well - soft and not rubbery. We used a side order of garlic naan to soak up the coconut and curry mixture and it was amazing. The next items that came out were the black daal burrata and wild mushroom biryani. I loved both of them (the lentils with the burrata were a creamy pairing with our second order of garlic naan whereas the mushroom biryani was flavorful). I disliked my cocktail, the mountain of the moon. I found it too acidic for my liking and at the end of the day, it wasn't too special in my opinion. Service overall was fine and fairly consistent. I will note that sometimes if we asked one of the folks clearing or delivering our plates a question about the food, they weren't sure which meant we had to ask our server the next time we saw her, but completely recognize that's perhaps the server's job to answer food related questions. read more

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Most of the food is awesome! The naan wasn't the best I've ever had, and the portobello mushroom choila wasn't super special, but the rest was amazing. I particularly loved the paneer lasagna. So creative and delicious! Baigan paneer bhurji was also a highlight for me. The mushroom biryani is a fun choice too. Service was a little slow and we had some confusion with our bill. The weatherized patio is a great option to sit in. Overall a very good experience and I would return and recommend. read more

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Hands down the best upscale Indian food in the DMV! I almost want to keep this delicious restaurant to myself. The food is absolutely heavenly, and the mango lassi is delicious as well. I highly recommend the "lasagna" and the sun chokes! WOW!!! read more

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Fusion indian or Indian dishes with an interesting twist, not traditional Indian dishes but tasty dishes. read more

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My friends and I came here for DC Restaurant Week. We ordered 1 of each app (1 per person, 5 of us) to try all of them and for entrees, the lamb shank, chicken tikka masala, paneer pesto tikka, and nimbu macchi. The appetizers were all delicious, especially the spicy duck kebab and bison momo - but the difference in portion sizes for the different entrees was disappointing, ex. the lamb shank was huge (which was great), but the salmon (nimbu macchi) could fit in the palm of my hand with plenty of room to spare. The entrees themselves were just overall underwhelming and nothing special, which sucked because we picked this place specifically for restaurant week - and our table was not happy with just the difference in the amount of food. Another thing that was quite disappointing was the service. The servers were kind and respectful, but I was offered ice for my water (comes without ice) - and they never came back with it. Our table had followed up kindly with both of our servers at least twice each about it, which didn't end up coming until 35 minutes later. We waited maybe 40 minutes for our entrees to come out and an additional 30+ minutes for dessert to come out after our entrees were done. The table next to us was also complaining about the sheer amount of waiting time. Our total came out to $72 per person after an automatic service charge and tax ($55 per without). We were there for about little over two hours. I would say overall not worth it at least for the menu we came for, but maybe their regular dining experience would be better. read more

Daru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved this place! I went here to celebrate my birthday, and everything was amazing. We sat in the side porch (it was December but with the heater, it was just fine), and the vibes were good. Our waiter was excellent--friendly and accommodating; I have an aunt with a ton of allergies, and the waiter brought out a personalized menu hand-marked for my aunt and explained the dishes she could eat. The food itself was amazing. I tried the black Daal burrata, pani puri, chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and bison momo... so good. I definitely recommend. read more

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We very much enjoyed our first visit to Daru and we definitely plan on returning in the future. We tried a number of starters and one main course. A couple of the starters were the real standouts of the meal, including the Pani Puri and the Blue Cheese Reshmi Kabob. The Pani Puri was a great combination of interesting flavors and textures. The Reshmi Kabob was just amazing. The sour cherries provided an excellent complementing taste to the perfectly prepared chicken. The service was also very good. read more

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LOVE Daru! Wow, it's been a while since I had food this good (at least a day or two as I was at L'Ardente a few nights earlier, lol.) A cute little restaurant with excellent service, great food and a solid drink menu. I can't decide my favorite dish, everything I tasted was delicious! I should mention, the wait staff was very good and they coursed out our dinner beautifully, didn't rush us and made it a lovely dining experience. Only strange thing was where I sat, I had a view of the bus stop across the street. When the bus came, only a few people got on and the others loitered around before disappearing. Neighborhood is either in transition or it's a bit down on its luck, not sure which. Anyhow, Daru is a bright spot - 5 stars! read more

Daru - Maryland Blue Crab Momo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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very much not "authentic" indian food but i was pleasantly surprised! the fusion dishes were nicely executed and the ambiance was nice as well. i came for a birthday dinner with my friend. she ordered the chicken tikka tacos and i got the paneer pesto tikka to begin. she liked her tacos and i loved the paneer as well! the green apple in the sauce made it nicely tart and pulled the dish together well. we split the black daal burrata and that was very good too. because it was my friend's birthday, they offered us a free scoop of cardamom gelato, which was very nice of them and a delicious treat! overall a nice place for a celebration! read more

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One of the best truly elevated Indian food dining experience from drinks to dessert everything was perfect. The ragga pattice appetizer and ou main dishes of Chicken Tikka Marsala and Murga Maknani had a deep, soul satisfying flavor with just the right amount of heat. The drinks also had deep flavors and perfectly balanced. You must try the Chai Teani and Haldi Buck. Thus is my new go to place.For dining in our take out. read more

Daru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A friend chose Daru based on a recommendation from a "hip young person," and it was a great rec! Our group of 3 shared several dishes. To me, the most memorable were the blue crab momo dumplings (we were fighting over who'd get the final/fourth one!) and the wok-fried cabbage. The bread basket also hit the spot. Service was kind and attentive, keeping our water glasses always full. read more

Service: Excellent and attentive. They also had very accurate descriptions of their dishes which we really enjoyed. Bison Momo: Delicious! It's Spicer then I expected, but it was so flavorful. Sunchoke Chaat: So good! Wonderful flavors and we saved the sauce for dipping our bread in. Murgh Makhani: Excellent chicken dish with complex flavors and a tasty sauce. Lamb Shank: The meat just falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. The sauce was good but lacked a complex flavor that all the other dishes had. Still totally worth it. Daal Burrata: My wife LOVED this dish. I wasn't loving the burrata but the lentils were excellent. Naan (plain & garlic): Classic and tasty. Gulab Jamun: Wonderful! I really over the pistachio & cardamom Gelato that comes with it. I normally want Kheer (rice pudding) but thr Gelato was a perfect compliment. Cocktails: The favorite was a tropical, rum based drink that was amazing. I can't find the name online. Mountain of the Moon: Tasty G&T that was quite strong. Ananta: Didn't really like this one, but I prefer sweeter drinks. Bandit Queen: We both hated this drink. Tasted like cough syrup. Ambiance: Very nice inside and not super loud, we liked the decor. The neighborhood is still a bit rough and it's all street parking, I suggest parking on H street if possible. Overall we really loved this place and will return soon!! Misses: Herb Partha - Tasted like grass to us, we didn't finish one piece. Beetroot Halwa - The texture was good but it tasted just like beets... I prefer my desserts to be sweet and not include vegetables. We took 3 bites and didn't eat anymore. The staff was very gracious by taking it back and not charging us for it. read more

Daru is as good as everyone says. I grew up eating Indian food, and this is very different - classic dishes with funky spins and tons of flavor. It's got to be the best Indian food I've had in DC! The service was also wonderful and our waiter even added a free item just so we could try it - the daal burrata. It was AMAZING. Creamy, fresh, and delicious. The chicken tikka tacos were bursting with flavor and I just absolutely loved them. The mushroom biryani was also great, in both flavor and presentation. The menu is quite extensive so I definitely would come back and try some different options! read more

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Came for Restaurant Week--the service was great, but the food and drinks were a mixed bag. Loved the dumplings, kebabs, and chicken tikka masala, but the lamb shank and drinks weren't my favorite. A bit pricey for what you get, but I've had worse. Also kinda wished they played Indian music, but not a big deal! read more

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I've been wanting to try this spot for awhile! They were extremely flexible with us. We were struggling to find parking and let us change our reservation 2 times to accommodate us. Their food was absolutely delicious! It had a ton of flavor and I kept wanting more! The best part was their appetizers which we got pani puri and scallop moilee. The mango lassi was also delicious and so fresh compared to other ones I've had in the past. I would 100% come back and recommend this spot. read more

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Glad I finally made it to Daru! The restaurant's ambiance is cozy and the service was relaxed yet accommodating. The restaurant week menu was a great value (so many leftovers) and a good way to try some of their signature dishes. They had lots of vegetarian options too, which is a plus. Everything we ordered was delicious and I'd recommend read more

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