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Early Birthday celebrations deserve a great story. Mine started with picking a letter and ended at a Michelin recognized gem in the heart of DC. My date knew exactly what he was doing. Walking in you are hit with a warm dim lit environment. Intimate, quaint with well appointed tables. We elected to sit at the bar and Matthew the bartender immediately welcomed us with an unforgettable experience. We tried a few red wine options and at that moment were not thrilled with the selection. We pivoted to the Colaba Cabana and the flavors did a happy dance going down so much that my date ordered one as well. Matthew was so well informed on the menu and suggested the murgh makhani, their close take to butter chicken, and the wild mushroom biryani with a side of garlic naan. The murgh makhani was flavorful with the chicken cooked perfectly, however the star of the show and my date's favorite was the biryani. It was brought out encased in a dome of naan which amplified the anticipation. Matthew cut it open and we were free to dig in. The accompaniment of the dill and celery raita topped with fig and a few pomegranate seeds married together the flavors in the most magical way. We saved room for dessert and the Gulab Jamun arrived with a candle to celebrate my birthday. The fried dough was cooked well and served alongside the most decadent cardamom ice cream. Sitting at the edge of the bar where we could see each other made this feel like a first date all over again. Impressionable, intimate, and exactly what a birthday night deserves. While others were at the bar alongside us, the environment did not welcome a community feel and we were not going for that. Sometimes you want a date night where you simply engage and enjoy each other. This place embodied that. Matthew was our experience dealer from start to finish. He boxed up our meal and bid us farewell as we were off to our next surprise adventure. Daru delivered a table, actually a bar, worth gathering at.
D is for Daru. D is for delicious. D is for Daru is Delicious. Because it is. It's a little off the beaten path (i.e. in a pretty residential area and in a pretty residential building - i.e. in a house) but totally worth the visit. The food was so flavorful that I wish I could've eaten more of it. It is exactly the sort of place where you need to bring more people so that you can try more dishes (it's simple math). D is for Do yourself a favor: try Daru!
This is my second time dining at Daru & it is a favorite in the city for good reason! The first time I came (about 4 years ago), the dining room had a trendy, moody feel that made you feel like you were at the coolest spot in town & the food was packed with so much flavor. I remember we ordered the daal burrata, the bison momos (ordered a 2nd one we loved it so much), lamb shank, pesto paneer, scallops, etc). It was all perfect. Living across town, we don't come to H Street very often, so I finallyyyyy made it back after 4 years! Upon walking in, the staff were so nice and they also made sure our water cups were never empty! We ordered all the same favorites from my first time dining at Daru! This time, the food was still really good but not as flavorful as I remembered. If I were coming back, I would still order the lamb chops (so tender; cooked to perfection), the bison momos, the pesto paneer, scallops, and the garlic naan to soak up all the sauces. I would pass on the daal burrata and the potatoes though.
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!
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!
Daru was so delicious and the black dahl burrata did not disappoint. The creaminess of the burrata was an amazing contrast to the richness of the dahl and balanced out the saltiness. Highly recommend the meen pollichathu, I loved this preparation of the fish. It was a little bit on the salt to your side, but I really liked the tomato chutney and the greens infused khichdi. The service was pretty accommodating, but the ambience wasn't that great since we were on the patio and it happened to be pouring on the day we went. The patio wasn't heated enough and I was freezing my entire meal and just wearing a jacket, and the curtains kept blowing in our faces as we were trying to eat. If you do get reservations, I would probably try for indoors if possible.
July 2026: My wife and I recently ordered takeout from Daru after not having been in a few years and were pleased to find that it was just as outstanding at it was three years ago. We shared the malai paneer lasagna, which was rich, creamy, and flavorful. I got the murgh makhani as my main dish and it was fantastic-perfectly cooked, great flavor, amazing portion size, and creamy. I highly recommend Daru and look forward to returning! February 2023: An absolutely outstanding experience from start to finish in every way. Daru is the rare restaurant to exceed the tremendous hype it has. My friend and my amazing experience started the day before, when Daru asked us if anyone in our party had any food restrictions, which my friend did. When we arrived for our weeknight reservation, we were seated immediately. What distinguishes Daru from almost anywhere I've been is that our server gave us a paper menu with the dishes my friend could eat based on the listed dietary restrictions starred-above and beyond service. The rest of our service was similarly excellent, with our server making some excellent recommendations that allowed us to try the dishes we wanted and additional dishes in the most cost-efficient way. Our dishes were delivered in a timely manner and the meal itself was extremely affordable. Daru adds an automatic 20% charge to all checks and tells you on the menu; our experience was worth all of that gratuity. The food itself was incredible-a modernist take on Indian cuisine. Everything my friend and I had was good and ranged from fine to incredible. I recommend sharing 4-5 small and large plates per two people like my friend and I did to enjoy as many dishes as possible. Black Dal Burrata-my least favorite dish of the evening, but still fine. The lentils could have had a bit more flavor and the dish needed a side of rice, but the burrata was rich and creamy. Bread basket: The za'atar naan was fine but no need to order it, as the garlic naan was outstanding. The parota was good but needed more butter or oil. Chutneys and sauces: My favorites were the sour cherry chutney, the chimichurri, and tomato-szechuan. I love spicy food but the habenero-kashimir chili overwhelmed overwhelmed any other flavors. Blue Cheese Reshmi Kebab-One of Daru's most recommended and unique dishes, it lives up to the hype. The chicken was well-cooked, the cashew provides crunch, the cheese umami, and the sour cherry sauce complemented everything perfectly. Striped Bass Paturi: Simply outstanding. Perfectly cooked fish with good spice, greens, and creaminess. Some of the best bass I've ever had. I highly recommend Daru for your next special occasion and make sure to book well in advance if you want a reservation between 6-9 PM-there are many reasons Daru is this popular! Things to note: 1. Daru is small and it can be hard to hear at times. 2. The surrounding neighborhood isn't the safest-I would recommend not coming alone at night and taking a rideshare after dark if possible (avoid public transit and parking nearby) 3. The lot next to Daru is currently a construction zone, so you may see a rat or two if you are at Daru after dark and sitting by the window. This is beyond Daru's control; something to note for the next few months if you go there.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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!
3 years ago
3 years ago
Just amazing! The cocktails were super inventive (I had one infused with real sandalwood), the staff was so friendly, and the atmosphere was welcoming and hip. The mushroom biryani was the best biryani I've had in DC, hands down. And you must try the sour cherry chutney. read more
Daru might be my new favorite restaurant in DC. If not, it's at least top 3. Other Indian restaurants just pale in comparison. The dishes are so elevated, the sauces fragrant, the bread basket fresh and fluffy, the meat tender, and the dishes unique and compelling. Even the rice on its own is hard to put down! Plus the meat, which shines in every dish, isn't completely drenched in sauce. Every plate is stellar, but the mushroom biryani especially is absolutely not to be missed. read more
5 years ago
I can't say enough about how great this place is. If you like Rasika, you'll definitely find it comparable. It's really just the vibe that's different. This place is smaller and more laidback. Order a full flight of sauces with your meal if you're sampling appetizers first--you won't be disappointed. Also, the bartenders are on point and the seasonal drinks they're slinging in there are amazing. read more
I loved Daru! We went without a reservation on a Sunday evening and they were able to seat us within 15 minutes. The host was very pleasant and even marked off our menu with all the vegetarian options after we told him of our dietary preferences. The drinks were average at best, however the food was excellent! We ordered the jackfruit tacos, paneer pesto, achari pumpkin, mushroom biryani and the black dal burrata. The achari pumpkin was flavorful, had adequate spice (even for someone growing up eating spicy Indian food!). They allowed us to swap the garlic naan for the zaatar olive naan (which was my favorite). Portion size was also fairly large and had leftovers. Would definitely go again! read more
4 years ago
Last night, we had dinner at a chic neighborhood Indian Restaurant, Daru. It is listed on Michelin' 2022 Bib Gourmand Selections for D.C. This esteemed rating recognizes friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices. We shared the Achari Shrimp Bhel, the Blue Cheese Reshmi Kebah, the Short Rib Sekuwa and the Chicken Tikka Masala accompanied with basmati rice and a basket of three types of Noon bread. Everything was delicious! Thank you to our server, Dawn. She was a delight. Highly recommend Daru! read more
4 years ago
Daru is one of my new favorite Indian restaurants in DC. They had a great atmosphere, good food, and excellent service! They also had amazing sauces to add to your meal. If you go, I highly recommend their masala chai, peach and cinnamon lassi, chicken tikka masala, chicken tikka tacos, sunchoke chaat, and habanero kashmiri chili sauce. I wish I could give half stars, because I would definitely give this place a 4.5/5. read more
I loved this place. If you love Indian food, you must try! It is a fusion and each thing was flavorful and delicious. Service was AMAZING!!! 1st time and will definitely be back and will tell all my friends and bring them with me. read more
3 years ago
This was maybe my favorite dining experience of the year! The service was lovely, kind and helpful. The ambiance was nice, a little romantic and a small intimate space. And the food was so so delicious. For this level of quality, we were really happy with the price for two! I ordered a cocktail, the Mountain of the Moon. Refreshing gin drink, it was small but meant for sipping. Onto food, we ordered the Bison Momo, Black Daal Burrata, Scallops Moilee, and the Dahi Puri for "appetizers". The scallops and Dahi Puri were probably our favorite items of the whole meal! My boyfriend was on the fence about ordering the Dahi Puri but it was the most amazing little bite of tamarind purée, avocado, and spice. We both loved it. Then for entrees, we ordered the Murgh Makhani and one Lasooni Lamb Chop. I am not a lamb person but this was the best lamb either of us had ever had. So juicy and tender and the flavor wasn't so heavy on that lamb aftertaste. The Murgh Makhani, also known as butter chicken, was very good although I probably wouldn't order it again just because you can get decent butter chicken just about anywhere. We also got one garlic naan and one za'atar naan. Both delish, the za'atar was my favorite of the two. Last, for desert we got the Gulab Jamun. Of course very sweet but very very yummy especially with the cardamom ice cream. It is small though, for $10 I expected four balls not two. Parking wise- we drove and it was easy to find free street parking for a Saturday night! We would definitely love to come back and will certainly be reordering the Dahi puri scallops and probably the lamb! read more
4 years ago
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3 years ago
Food and flavors to rival some of the newer and more established Indian places in NYC. The Baingan paneer Burji has a perfectly prepared Baingan baaja though was one of the heavier dishes as a starter. Duck kebab was so juicy, tender and flavorful, lamb chops were small but perfectly seared with that coriander taste incorporated nicely. The zaatar naan was flaky and the herb lachha paratha had a mild grassy flavor and was hearty. The spicy wok cabbage was a simple but perfect rounding out. read more
2 years ago
This was WELL worth the trip for some classic Indian dishes -- with a modern twist! Daru isn't near any metro stop so you may have to Uber if you don't want to walk but please don't let location deter you! Highly recommend the Kali cooler as a refreshing and light cocktail to start. For apps my Husband ordered the chicken reshmi kebab and I got jackfruit phulka tacos. Per my husband, the kebabs were tender, flavorful, and he loved the unexpected kick of bleu cheese. We both actually loved the phulka tacos (and he is not a jackfruit lover). Jackfruit was perfectly cooked tender and seasoned, the sauces complemented each other perfectly (creamy and spicy) and it was all wrapped up in a flaky, hot, but still sturdy phulka. Just awesome. For mains we got the lamb chops, the paneer tikka, and the daal with burrata with garlic naan and zaatar naan. I'd eat the zaatar naan by itself but admittedly it wasn't as great when eaten with any particular dish. The zaatar flavor just got lost, I think. Garlic naan went well with everything and was pillowy soft. Paneer was a real treat, beautifully presented, soft, and I appreciated the spicy/sweet flavor profile. My husband is currently trying to re-create the lamb chops which were, per his assessment, as good as anything he could get at Rasika or Punjab grill. I had read from other Yelpers that the daal is well worth a try and I was not disappointed. Creamy, spicy, smoky daal and then the addition of the burrata just makes it so decadent! It's a struggle to get my husband to eat lentils normally but this he was scooping up by the spoonful. Service throughout our meal was attentive and friendly; even one of the owners/partners came to check on us which was so appreciated. Just a fantastic spot for Indian food where the focus is clearly on quality preparation and execution of the dish. WaPo was absolutely spot on with this one! read more
5 years ago
Great date night or happy hour spot! The food was great and the ambiance was fun. Lots of options for pescatarians and vegetarians. The drinks were a surprising standout! Not pictured: pesto paneer and the sea bass. read more
I get how daru and rasika are sister restaurants because they both rely on very bold, delicious and well thought out flavors. First off- service was great. Our waiter has been there since the restaurant opened and he was very passionate and thorough in explaining everything he thought we would like, and helped us figure out food for vegetarian and vegans that we were with. The inside of the restaurant is very different from rasika. It's much more light and airy. There's a lot of natural light and it's a lot smaller so it feels more intimate. The cocktails are great and similar to rasika as being herbaceous and spicy. The food really was amazing. We got the black daal burrata - these are two flavors I never would've imagined together, but they work so well. We also got lamb which was cooked really well very tender and delicious. On the vegetarian side, we had a mushroom curry and a squash curry. These were also excellent. Overall, I would say daru is almost more innovative than rasika - if you want more traditional Indian food, go to rasika if you want something more, innovative and experimental go to daru. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Service is slow and the food was fairly average (not distinctly authentic Indian, and not enough creatively to stand out). The mushroom biryani was excellent, the shrimp bhel appetizer was interesting (not quite dure the combo matches up well-maybe adding spicy coriander chutney to the shrimp could tie it nicer?). The potatoes did not seem to be sure what flavor they wanted to be. Having eaten at other Michelin restaurants (guide and stars), maybe i had higher expectations than I should have had for Daru. Worth checking out once- obviously. Street parking is easily available for this one - we went on a Sat late evening read more
4 years ago
Came here on a date night with my husband and was truly blown away! The food was top notch! We had the scallops as a recommendation from our server and they were to DIE for. The sauce is legit drinkable. We also had the bread basket, carrots and broccoli, bass and the chicken Tikka. Everything was amazing! The owner came by our table many times to check on us. My water was constantly full which I was super impressed by because I drink so much water. We will definitely be back! You can tell they work as a team there, it shows. read more
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Update: second set of pics from my dinner on Friday 8/27. Once again, even the basic Chicken Tikka Masala was phenomenal. The tikka masala sauce was unlike any tikka masks I've had. Used to live in SF Bay Area and I've had more Indian food than any cuisine, it was absolutely delicious. We ordered the lamb chops to share as well and it was sooo full of flavor. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
Lovely food and service. Loud inside so we sat outside (where the chairs have arms! I love that) but would gladly return! read more
5 years ago
As an Indian, I walk into "trendy" Indian restaurants with some skepticism, but I have to admit: Daru is great. Take yourself out for dinner, take a friend, take a date; This is a spot you want to visit. I had heard good things from friends about the pop up Daru had done and was excited to try it. Though a little pricey, the mango jhalmuri was good. I didn't get a picture, but the Nawabi Duck Kebab was undoubtedly the star of our meal. So tender and well seasoned. The murgh makhani was also good, though we found it to be a bit more acidic than expected. The black daal burrata was fabulous, who knew putting a slab of cheese in warm lentils could be so, so good! Looking forward to coming back here and trying other dishes read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
IF YOUR ONLY READING ONE REVEIW READ THIS ONE If you're looking for a really good experience overall you should definitely go here the prices are pretty good and the food is absolutely amazing the presentation and service really make the whole place a total must go if you are in DC, the employees are very happy and upbeat. the whole place is just a different vibe we got some things and one of them we didn't like and it wasn't it like it tasted bad it was there it wasn't for us there are so many flavors going on every dish it is very very awesome and a great experience to go if you're not ready for flavorful food do not come here because flavor is all you're getting an everything appetizers sides name and dessert in the pictures below there is the chaat, lions Maine mushroom, first side(forgot the name, lamb chops, and the first desert on menu.To describe the flavors the chaat is savory little bit spicy and then when the radish kicks in it's almost sour but a pleasant sour. The lions main mushroom sauce is very fruity sour and sweet mushroom itself has a consistency and texture similar to tofu the lamb chops are absolutely delectable they have all sorts of flavors going on savory just a little bit sweet slightly spicy and very tender the brussels sprout coleslaw is the best slaw I've ever had and I hate slaw. Then of course the first thing on the sides menu is like a lentil dip dish with a mix in cheese very good with naan. Finally the ice cream I got the first one on the dessert menu with a cardomom ice cream and warm fruity glazed donut things they were absolutely delicious the mix of flavor and texture was perfect I don't know how they came up with it and made it so good but it was so worth it. If we are ever in DC again we will make it a goal to come back read more
4 years ago
I had a wonderful experience at the restaurant. The staff was very nice and attentive. The ambience of the restaurant was beautiful and the food was amazing. I highly recommend getting the bread basket with the daal. read more
5 years ago
Good eat up close to H Street. My roommate and her friend were craving Indian food so we all decided to check out this hip/modern Indian place. Not like your traditional Indian restaurant, looked like we were entering a New American type of restaurant which is probably what the restaurant was aiming to me. Just a little "indianish". I took attached a picture of all the food we ordered. Everything was delicious and authentic tasting--which was surprising because we didn't expect this to be for this modern restaurant. The only two things I wish were different is that: (1) the daal burrata was just left as daal, I don't know if the two things should be put together flavor wide and (2) the portions were so small and there wasn't enough rice or naan for all the curry we got. I would suggest in providing each person who orders a curry their own bowl of rice as a opposed to having multiple people having to share the rice family style. Again the food was tasty. But we left hungry still. Not sure if we would come back, unless we order a ton of food. read more
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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.
Does the $10 per person Tock reservation cost apply towards the food/drinks?
