I got the vegan 4 course menu in October 2023, so I'm sure the menu has changed since. The ambiance was nice and private with low soft music. Everything came out perfectly on time with great presentation. First and second course was SO good and flavorful, I wanted more! The third course only had one vegan option, which was a cauliflower gravy. I didn't particularly like the flavor and texture of the cauliflower, but the gravy tasted nice. read more

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My wife and I were big fans of Punjab Grill DC and we have been eagerly awaiting the launch of Rania. The opulent and luxurious interior decor is stunning. Especially, the bar, lounge area, and dining room. You must see the private dining room that they call the Sheesh Mahal that is reported to have over 100,000 mirrors! You will be fascinated by the decor and ambience, but you will be delighted and satiated by the food! The new menu is prix-fixe with a 3-course for $75 and 4-course for $90 options. We tried the 3-course option and it was more than enough. The portion sizes are large, and there is something for everyone. The taste, texture and presentation of the dishes is stunning! Of course we must also mention the superb wine list and cocktail menu. My wife was obsessed with Splasht cocktail that has a wine foam that is to die for. This is a dinner experience that you will not soon forget! read more

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Really loved the first few courses of the set menu, but the lamb was a miss for me. Cocktails were tasty and fun. read more

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Excellent food and cocktails in a stunning restaurant. We enjoyed the 4 course menu, highlights were the poached salmon and the chocolate tart dessert. All dishes were beautifully plated and we were particularly impressed by the cocktails and their presentation. Service was very attentive and waiter made great recommendations! read more

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This place shows what high-caliber Indian food can be like. The service is good but more laid back than most Michelin starred restaurants. Overall, I was very happy with the meal. It's cheap by Michelin standards, you can get a reservation with short notice on Saturday night, and the food exceeds expectations. read more

This is date night perfection! Low lighting, fancy decor, and incredibly attentive staff. Seriously, the hospitality of the staff is where this restaurant shines. I came here with my partner for my birthday and each member of staff that spoke to me acknowledged my birthday and they even had a bday card waiting for me at our table. All of the hallmarks of fine dining are included in the menu: truffle, scallops, caviar, etc. Each dish had one or two fusion elements to it which made the meal feel quite inventive. Every ingredient felt fresh and high quality. The only thing missing was that signature bit of Indian heat. I understand that as a fine dining restaurant they may have wanted to veer away from potentially offending the sensitive palates of their clientele *cough*rich white people*cough* but my partner got a vindaloo dish that had no trace of heat to it whatsoever. VINDALOO! I did the smallest bit of research on vindaloo and found that it comes from the Portuguese, "vinha d'alhos" meaning "wine with vinegar." So yeah, I guess there's nothing in the original Portuguese recipe that says vindaloo has to be spicy but I still felt almost cheated by the dish. Don't get me wrong everything was well seasoned and incorporated many different herbs and spices but nothing was spicy. The cocktails were probably my favorite part of the meal. They were all well crafted, creative, and delicious. I'm not a wine drinker but I could tell they put a lot of thought into their wine list too. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking to impress a date or out-of-towner. Just understand that this place puts its emphasis on "high concept fine dining" meaning there will be flavors that you may not expect from Indian cuisine. read more

Rania - Accompaniments - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food was great, the service was fantastic. My boyfriend and I had the $90 four course dinner menu and we loved it read more

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Initially my dining experience at Rania started off strong. The hostess was very nice and the wait staff was very quick and helpful. The problem with this visit and why it's not 5 stars was based on the way 1 specific person acted. I'm not sure what his name was, he was a taller bald man with glasses. Every couple minutes he would come by to make an odd joke about drinking to try and get us to order more drinks. Occasionally I would hear him make weird comments to the tables around us... a bit creepy of a vibe. Then the deal breaker was that at the end, we received the check, I paid cash and left about a 13-14% tip on the bill. That specific man came back and asked me why I didn't tip the suggested 20% and that I should tip more. This completely caught me off guard. The audacity to do something like that... incredibly unprofessional. read more

Rania - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent service and delicious food. Came for an early dinner and left extremely satisfied. My partner and I got 3 separate courses, and I would highlight as dedicated meat eaters--the vegetarian dishes were absolute knockouts! Our first course: stuffed morels and shrimp koliwada. The shrimp was a bit of spicy, great crunch and flavor. The morels had a delectable creamy sauce. Second course, chana masala panisse and lamb cheela. The chana masala panisse was our favorite dish. The depth of flavor, bright but also bold! The lamb was also delicious The 3rd course we got the lamb shoulder Rogan Josh and the lobster special. The third course came with naan, a lentil soup, rice and the entrees. The lobster was in a light buttery sauce. The lamb was a nice savory end. The desserts keep the end of the meal refreshing and light. Would definitely return again, the service, beauty of the restaurant dishes & drinks , and food were fantastic read more

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Went here kinda spontaneously when I saw they had a reservation open on a week night. It was absolutely delicious!! We did the 7 course tasting menu and every round was unique, flavorful, and interesting. The waiter and servers were very attentive and friendly, always cleaning after each course and asking if we wanted anything. The meal was Veryyy long - we were there for about three hours for the seven (technically eight) courses. It felt like this was intentional though, so if you do this menu I would expect to be there for a while. It was kind of nice to have breaks between the courses but I didn't expect such a long meal. The drinks were very good, some came out in like interesting smoking contraptions and cool things like that. The food itself was phenomenal, my favorites were the scallop, the lobster/coconut/caviar dish, and the mushroom dish. The duck was so good and rich but I was too full by that point so I asked to take most of it home. They also let us take some extra naan and rice home. Overall really cool experience that I would definitely recommend trying! price is high but i think it's worth doing once. read more

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I came to Rania for restaurant week--a fantastic deal for some of their regular menu items, and most of the flavors were also fantastic. But the customer service and timing is why I'm knocking down a star. Firstly, we had no silverware when the first dish was served and had to wait around a bit to get the attention of a staff member. When you're excited to dig into a meal as beautiful as this one looked (and tasted), not having silverware definitely puts a damper on things. After the appetizers, the entrees took pretty long to come out, almost 45 min. My hour long parking outside has expired by that time. And then, embarrassingly, I tripped over the single step down from the section where I had been seated. I don't remember any obvious signage about the step, and my dining partner had also tripped on it when we were entering the space. It would have been nice to have a verbal or visual reminder, because I legit have bruises on my knees the next day after landing on the tile floor. My partner and another customer made sure I was physically okay, but the servers nearby and the hosts just looked at me with mouths agape. Aside from this, the food was bomb. The only dish I wasn't a huge fan of was the paneer. I LOVE paneer usually, but the pea flavor was a little too overwhelming unfortunately, so I didn't get the paneer flavor. read more

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We went for restaurant week and everything was great! Very nice and unique cocktails and great food options that were filling portion sizes. One of our favorite upscale restaurants in DC that we've gone to. read more

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This was one of the best dining experiences ever. The wait staff was extremely attentive and gave great recommendations. The food and cocktails were amazing, and they really made my wife's birthday special. Definitely recommend! read more

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I would give a negative-star review if I could. My family and I booked this restaurant for my sister's 25th birthday dinner. We came to Punjab Grill, which this restaurant was called in 2020, and while it wasn't great food, it was 100 times better than Rania. As soon as we got to Rania 2 weeks ago, the first thing the hostess said to us was: "Did you know you can't have children here?" I thought this was pretty strange, because I mentioned when making my reservation that we would be 4 people, including one 1-year old baby. There were no signs outside the restaurant stating that children aren't allowed, and there restaurant says nothing about not allowing children in the establishment. This obviously rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning. We told the hostess we didn't know this, and we stayed and proceeded to order. We had the 3-course meal. and all 3 of the adults ordered different menu items. Obviously, the 1-year old baby did not partake. Everything on the menu tasted horrible. I am sorry to say, but all 3 of us thought the food was utterly disgusting and did not taste like Indian food at all. I have been to other Indian restaurants in DC, Virginia, Maryland, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and India, and I have NEVER had food that tasted as gross as the food that Rania served. Mind you, I am of Indian descent, and this food was not Indian food at all. It tasted extremely bland, and it all came in extremely tiny portions. Needless to say, my sister did not enjoy her birthday experience AT ALL, and we were SCAMMED out of $300! I will NEVER recommend this place to anyone; in fact, I will tell everyone to STAY AWAY, far away, and do not come within 100 feet of this establishment! They will serve you nasty "food" in TINY portions and charge each person $75 to still be STARVING at the end. I honestly felt SCAMMED, and if I could report this FRAUD to the police, I would!!! The only thing I can do is make sure people DO NOT WASTE their HARD-EARNED CASH HERE! read more

The best Indian meal my wife and I have ever had at a restaurant. Our server, Bergin, was helpful but not intrusive and the service was on-point; I don't believe our water glasses ever got more than half way empty before being re-filled. The dinner was well-paced, although according to Bergin he was dreadfully sorry for how long the main course took; honestly we didn't notice. The food was delicious, every dish was such a creative combination of traditional flavors that remind you of the "common versions" of the dish, while combining inventive ingredients and flavors that elevate and modernize the experience. As someone who doesn't usually like spicy food, I was worried when the first dish had some serious heat, but then I looked down and it was all gone ... The heat doesn't overpower the other ingredients and I found myself enjoying every bite. My wife is vegetarian, and there were a number of tasty options for her. She most enjoyed the Chana Masala Panisse, and said that the Chaat amuse bouche was a, "flavor explosion". I am an omnivore, and most enjoyed the Nantucket Scallops which were perfectly executed and with just the right amount of caviar on top made the night feel extra special. We will definitely be back again, and can't wait to try the other dishes. Value for money is excellent and I wouldn't be surprised if they got a Michelin star soon so take advantage now! read more

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I had such high expectations for this place, and it all started wonderfully -- from the ambiance, to the service, to the cocktails, to the amuse-bouches. And then it went downhill, mostly in terms of service. The food was really good still, but the price warranted better service. . I asked to make sure the chicken kofta came with truffles. They said it did. It did not (they ran out and said they'd make up for it, but did not). . I asked for no cilantro, and was told it was only in 1 of the dishes I ordered (and even barely then). It was in two others in enough quantity I could taste (and I very much dislike it). . I asked for the lamb to be spicy and they said it would be. It was not even remotely. . I sat without a cocktail for an entire course and no one came by to ask if I wanted another one (or ask about the food above). . We got pre-fixe menus and my date opted for a dessert course, while I opted for 3 savory courses, but they miscalculated and brought her dessert at the same time as my lamb. So I couldn't share the dessert. "Sorry the kitchen was just really busy." Cool. read more

I went to Rania for my birthday dinner this past weekend with 5 friends. We all generally agreed that the food was good and the drinks were tasty and presented in a fun way. Bit pricey at $90 per person for prix fixe menu (not including cocktails) but the price was expected. My only issues which warrant a star deduction are with respect to the service and reservation experience. I felt service was slow that night; our reservation started at 8:20 and we did not leave until after 11pm. We were enjoying ourselves so it didn't matter much. The primary thing that annoyed me about my experience was that I spoke with someone named Gustavo at the restaurant to coordinate my reservation. I was told specifically via text "You will have a round table for your event" after I specifically asked to confirm that we would NOT be in a booth...only for us to arrive and they have the 6 of us crammed side by side in a booth anyway. I was also told via text that the $30 per person deposit that I was required to pay to make the reservation (since the party was larger than 4 ppl) would go toward the bill...I paid with my CC and my friends sent me their $30 deposits and I paid off my card...only for the check to come and the $180 was not deducted from the bill at all. Instead I was told that I would be refunded to my CC...which meant that I would have to pay my friends back from my own money because there is no way to refund them from a credit card. I reached out to Gustavo afterward to let him know that the payment experience didn't go as we had agreed and he made no apology for the confusion. Overall I disliked the confusion and inaccurate information shared with me from this person in the reservation process. Luckily I was having such a nice time that I didn't feel like complaining that evening. I will still give the place a try again but with a smaller party to avoid the large party reservation nonsense. read more

Absolutely incredible restaurant in DC! Great addition to the eclectic Indian cuisine scene that's blossoming in the city. We went for Restaurant week which to many is a no-no, but it was a good choice since this place was so new to the neighborhood. Drinks were OUT OF THIS WORLD. Have NEVER had cocktails like theirs. Can't remember our favorite and too lazy to look up the menu but there is one cocktail similar to a Penicillin or a Bee's Knees but with Indian flavors in it and it rocked my world. Damn was it different! The whole meal was extremely tasty...did we leave super full? No and we ended up having a slice of pizza 2 hours later, but still well worth it. Maybe order another appetizer or main dish, but all that means is that it's not overloaded in fat and butter to make it taste good versus actually good ingredients for flavor. Must try Rania! read more

Very cool place. For dinner we had the four course meal. The most impressive parts for me were the truffle and shrimp dishes. I would love to come back again one day! read more

Rania - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Innovative food and beautiful interiors with every detail thought out. The food displays the same innovative flair and creativity. The service is carried out with precision and one thing that I look for is my water glass not getting filled. That was not the case and my glass stayed full and no detail overlooked. We went for restaurant week and we're able to try several things from the menu. The Shiso chat was one of my favorites. The restaurant menu was a sampling of what is typically offered so would be interested in returning to try additional items. My few complaints is that there is no option for outdoor seating, and on a gorgeous evening would simply enhance the experience. read more

Went here for an anniversary! It was wonderful and the food was delicious. I have an allergy to chickpeas, and the staff was great about checking in with the chef and determining what I could eat. Delish!! read more

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We tried Rania recently and had a good experience overall. The food was delicious - the chicken kofta and the pork vindaloo were some of the highlights! The service was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. The restaurant itself is beautiful and feels very thoughtful. The only thing we would change is that wiping the tables with alcohol wipes between each course - definitely appreciate the cleanliness but it smelled a little strong and slightly took away from enjoying the food. read more

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Was really looking forward to this experience after reading rave reviews from celebrated organizations (e.g., Michelin). Unfortunately ambiance and service was subpar. Condescending wait staff combined with food not worth your money made this a disappointing experience. Cocktails were a bit too cartoonish (especially the presentation). Would definitely go elsewhere in the city for good Indian food. read more

I held a small dinner party for my husband's birthday a few weeks ago. We reserved a room which required paying a minimum price and putting down a deposit. The room was beautifully decorated (although I didn't love the lion artwork on the electronic screen). I worked with Joseline to make the reservation and she was very responsive. Edgar was in charge of the servers and perfectly described each of the 7 courses (1 set regular menu, 2nd set vegetarian) as well as made sure that the service was excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the food and the ambiance. read more

I came here for restaurant week lunch which should be $25, that's the whole point of restaurant week. But instead they add a surcharge for meat dishes, rice and bread. SCAM! Rasika does not do that. What I noticed at my table and the two surrounding ones is that when they seat you, they only seat you with the wine list. You have to wait awhile for them to bring the food menu, so strange. They kept the beautiful tables from the previous Indian restaurant that was here before. The tables are set with only napkins and a side plate so they bring you a fork later. The CAULIFLOWER MANCHURIAN is a little spicy but good. The HOUSE-MADE PANEER is much smaller than what the restaurant has uploaded to the picture section here, maybe it's thinner for restaurant week? The SHRIKHAND MOUSSE was amazing, do not pass up on this! It's like a coconut lime cheesecake with graham cracker drizzle and passion fruit tapioca. read more

One of the best fusion Indian food I had in years. Best ambience with soothing vibes. The service is grande. I tried beet chaat, Chole and paneer and ended with shrikhad mousse. The presentation was mind blowing and portion were what it should be like. The flavor of chutney in chaat was mind blowing. Paneer tested like a real delight. I can't believe you can have fusion Indian food without losing its innate flavor and aroma. Bravo!!!! The naans came with daal dips, masterstroke in the presentation. Go Rania go! read more

My husband and I treated my parents to their anniversary dinner at Rania and the four of us had a spectacular experience. I have previously dined at Punjab Grill and can honestly say that the rebranding was well worth it. Rania offers innovation in Indian cuisine that DC lacked for a very long time. I appreciated the regionally diverse flavors of India woven into the menu. We cannot stop thinking about the slow cooked lamb shank. The Shrikhand mousse presentation was a scrumptious work of art. The restaurant even gave my parents a sorbet dessert for their anniversary. A nice gesture to wind down an enjoyable evening. read more

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We went to Rania for our wedding anniversary and it was more perfect than I expected. We have been to many supposedly higher end Indian restaurants in DC, NYC, London but we never found them exceptional except for the price. Rania has everything, very tasty reimagined Indian food, excellent service and very nice decor. They definitely justify the price they charge which is not the case in so many overrated restaurants in DC. You also wouldn't leave hungry since they give you plenty of tasty carbs on the side in case you're not full from the main dishes. We have to check out the mirror room everyone is talking about next time! read more

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We went to Rania for the second time to celebrate another special occasion. Everything was, once again, absolutely delicious and the experience (incl. service, ambiance) was exquisite. We each did a three-course prix fixe tasting menu for $75 each plus one drink each (Crimson Kiss and the Pearfect). We split all of the dishes, which included 1) First Course: Chicken Kofta and Gobi Manchurian and 2) Second Course: Beef Cutlet and Chana Masala Panisse and 3) Entree: Parsi Chicken and Lamb Shank. Of those dishes, our favorites were the following: 1. Returning favorite, chana masala panisse: The actual panisse is deliciously smooth, but the crunchy chickpeas and shishito peppers on top help take the dish to the next level. 2. New favorite, the beef cutlet: A very interesting taste combination of the crispy cutlet exterior paired with the soft, creamy curry leaf mousse. Added flavor was provided with the onions. 3. Finally, we inhaled the lamb shank with spinach - another returning favorite. It is best, of course, when paired with the exceptional black dal and perfectly buttered garlic naan. We will be returning many times (and will be sure to come hungry enough for deserts) - Rania is our new favorite Indian place in DC and did not disappoint yet again! read more

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While my experience at Rania Restaurant was okay, I wouldn't go again. The food was well below mediocre for the exorbitant amounts of money they charged. The courses were heavily Americanized, and the ingredients were not fresh. The service staff was primarily made up of men who were awkward, pushy, and quite intrusive. Not only did servers interrupt our conversation a minute into each of the four tiny courses to ask how we liked it, but they also switched our plates while we were still chewing! Finally, the main dining area was too packed with furniture for an upscale-ish restaurant. Since tables were not adequately spaced, Diners listened to each other's conversations! The table chairs were so low on one side of the table that all one could see was my head peeping over! I couldn't get my elbows over! read more

In town for a conference. Came here solo and sat at the bar, loved the ambiance and hoped the food would match - was not disappointed. Ordered the Beekeeper , it was so, so, so good. Happened to be restaurant week while I was here, so I was happy to get the three course menu for $55. The beef cutlet with curry leaf mousse was fucking great, so tasty. The Parsi chicken with a little saffron rice and naan was delish (spicy, which I love). For dessert the tapioca was beautiful and as the bartender said "an explosion of flavor" - just so yummy and a great way to end the meal. Highly recommend! To my ladies who have a big : bar chairs might squeeze a bit, but I still found them to be comfortable. read more

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I had an excellent birthday dinner at Rania. It is a very creative take on Indian cuisine while being true to the fundamental. The aloo chaat was excellent, and so beef short rib. Every dish was interesting! read more

Everything was well cooked but I wouldn't go here if you're looking for Indian food. Ambiance is a bit lacking too. "Train cart" area is just regular table seating with random really loud electronica-like music from many countries except India. read more

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I ate literally everything on the menu and loved all of the items. We tried all of the items because it was our first time. I was equally enjoying the vibes at the bar and laughing with my friends. read more

Rania - Wine Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great food, portions appropriate, great service. Cocktail program is excellent along with great presentation. read more

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I came in for a private event where they really pulled out all the stops. I'm not sure how things are during regular dinner service, but for this event everything was nice and smooth, so I can only imagine what it's like when they are in their natural flow. Servers were SO NICE and attentive, dinner was delicious and full of flavor and they had vegan/vegetarian options. I love the decor! read more

A new experimental South Asian cuisine option in the DMV worth exploring for folks looking for something special compared to the usual staples. read more

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What an amazing place! Absolutely delicious high end take on Indian staple dishes. Some of the most delicious and flavorful food I've had in recent memory. Staff were well trained, friendly and knowledgeable. Great service all around but the star is the food, everything placed on our table was delicious. Both vegetarian and non were flavorful and platted beautifully. read more

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Rania was such a wonderful experience! The dishes were unique and I appreciated having a few options for each course. I came here for a Friday evening date with a reservation and we enjoyed everything we ate. The cocktails were also lovely. Every dish and drink was creative and tasty. The ambiance was awesome too - nice lighting, great decor, and fun silverware and plates. I'd recommend Rania for a date night or dinner with friends who are willing to try something truly unique! read more

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We enjoyed this restaurant! From the food we ordered, the chicken with truffle (chicken kofta) from the first course was the best. Initially I thought 3-4 courses must be super expensive, then I noticed the price at the bottom of the page was not bad at all! We also liked their bread and different dips. Great experience! read more

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