July 2026: My wife and I recently ordered takeout from Daru after not having been in a few years…read moreand 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.