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    Daru

    4.4 (301 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Recommended Reviews - Daru

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    Palak Paneer Lasagna
    Arthur C.

    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.

    Dominique B.

    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.

    Duck kebab and zaatar naan
    Lauren F.

    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.

    Sea bass
    Keren C.

    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.

    Dahi Puri
    Baran K.

    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.

    Carrot Halwa
    Janae W.

    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.

    Bandit queen
    Nancy R.

    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.

    Bobby S.

    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.

    Eggplant
    Almira F.

    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 .

    Chicken Tikka Tacos
    Lynn N.

    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!

    Momo
    Ian C.

    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.

    Lamb chops big enough to share and wildly flavorful
    Jon L.

    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.

    Lasooni Lamb Chops (1pc)
    Chell H.

    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.

    Chicken Tikka Masala, Scallop Moilee (3pc), Paneer Pesto Tikka

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    Ask the Community - Daru

    Are any of the meat options halal?

    Just called and they said the chicken and lamb is halal.

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    Cotton & Reed - Jungle bird

    Cotton & Reed

    (242 reviews)

    $$

    Cotton & Reed is a hometown classic. Their products are top notch if you are a rum lover. The gold…read morerum and allspice dram are standouts, plus they have the best coconut rum I have ever tasted. It is less sweet than something like Malibu but has a strong, smooth coconut flavor. It is truly a marvel. The distillery does a great job at providing a great on-site bar experience, too. It is dim for a nice mood, always has a great playlist, and their cocktail list is always changing and always interesting. It is winter time, which means it's coquito time. La Famosa makes the world's best coquito, and it showcases C&R's rum nicely. If you want to keep it simpler, their rum old fashioned is delicious, too. They do not sell beer or wine, just rum, but with rum this good, who cares. They make a bunch of interesting, small batch rums throughout the year, and they work very well in cocktails, you will find something you like no matter what you like. They have been rocking at this spot for over nine years, now, so that really tells you something about their quality. They have earned a spot in the DC pantheon.

    I'm such a fan of this place!! I've been here twice and I…read morefind that I am actually a fan of rum, if it's from here...LOL! Last time we came I tried the Knock Knee'd. I could drink it alllllll day...almost did. LOL! My friend tried the Three's Company. Let's just say it was a very good day. The bartenders are super chill and friendly. Something you hope to get when you're at a bar. I'll be here again when I venture to DC.

    Bar Betsie - Back area

    Bar Betsie

    (66 reviews)

    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

    Providencia - This place is legit

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    (61 reviews)

    H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast

    This is an elite bar in Washington DC. I'm glad it got a Michelin Select recognition because…read morebetween the vibes, interior, drink/food, and experience overall, it's really up there. Made a reservation perhaps 2 weeks ahead of time. When I arrived, I got escorted to my seat upstairs where it was a lot more quiet than the first floor. We got a friendly server who walked us through the entire food and drinks menu. I ended up getting the Run Bing with Nai Nai drink + the tamale + crab sandwich. While it took 20ish minutes to get what we ordered, I admired the interior. There's also a small bathroom on the first floor. When everything finally came, I devoured the food + highly enjoyed my drink. Probably a Top 10 cocktail I've ever had dare I say. I will highly recommend everyone to get my drink. The crab sandwich is also a major standout. If you ever want to think about coming here, be sure to book a reservation in advance!

    DC has some of the best food influencers around. They're always finding great spots and sharing…read morethem with everyone, and Providencia is one of those places. It's warm, inviting, and tucked just off the H Street corridor. You walk down a narrow passage that feels like an alley, and suddenly it's right there. From the moment you step inside, the staff makes you feel welcome. Everyone was friendly, smiling, and focused on making the experience memorable. On my first visit I only had cocktails, and they were outstanding, easily some of the best I've had in DC. Thoughtful, balanced, and genuinely impressive. One heads up, the space is very small. The sign inside lists a max occupancy of 36, so make a reservation.

    Primrose - Crème Brulee

    Primrose

    (295 reviews)

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    Brookland

    Had the most amazing time at Primrose!! The staff were incredible and the food was perfect. Big…read moreshoutout to our server Dibs who was so so kind and thoughtful. 10/10 recommend

    Dinner at Primrose tonight was an absolute delight--one of those meals that lingers pleasantly in…read moreyour memory long after you leave the table. From the moment we arrived, the experience felt thoughtful and welcoming. Our server, Josh, was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely kind. His recommendations helped guide us through the menu and made choosing our dishes feel effortless. Every plate that came to the table was beautifully balanced and deeply flavorful. Compliments to the chef and the entire kitchen team--each dish felt carefully composed and satisfying. Highlights for us included the oysters Rockefeller, shrimp toast, and a perfectly prepared crispy skin rockfish. The coconut rice is really something special. Even the desserts were memorable; the orange dreamsicle pie and chocolate pot de crème were a wonderful way to end the evening. The restaurant itself is charmingly decorated, with tables spaced comfortably apart so the dining room feels relaxed rather than crowded. It's the kind of space where you can settle in and really enjoy the evening. My partner's cocktail and a lovely Cabernet Franc were both a pleasure to the eye, nose, and palate, pairing beautifully with the meal. All in all, it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We left feeling grateful for such a thoughtfully executed evening and are already looking forward to our next visit.

    Daru - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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