Andrean S.

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.

Jen J.

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!

Sara H.

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.

Chelsea A.

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!

Ameya B.

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!

Sabrina H.

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.

Joshua K.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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!