Daru

"Daru mixes classic Indian flavors with European ingredients to create exceptional dishes like the tangy paneer pesto tikka and rich and creamy black daal burrata. The cocktails also blur geographic and culinary lines. Order the East-West blending Chakra Phool, made with hints of Peychaud’s and Star Anise. The menu is an equal mix of vegetarian and meat dishes, making Daru a great option for mixed-diet groups. This tiny restaurant gives a homey refuge to the eastern edge of H Street, and the dining room is full most every night." - Madeline Weinfield

"Dante Datta and Suresh Sundas, a respective drink expert and chef who met while working together at Rasika West End, reunited under one roof with an Indian restaurant and cocktail bar at a corner just south of H Street NE. At Daru, which landed on New York Times’s coveted top 50 restaurants list in 2022, Sundas likes to combine Northern and Southern Indian cooking styles with some unorthodox touches. That includes za’atar olive naan, chicken tikka tacos, chimichurri chutneys, or grilled chicken reshmi kebabs with a hint of blue cheese. Datta and bar manager Tom Martinez, both alums of now-closed Columbia Room, collaborate on inventive riffs on classics." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky

"An Indian restaurant that provides a wallet-friendly dining experience with its rich and diverse menu." - MICHELIN Guide

"This tiny Indian restaurant gets packed every night with nearby H Street-ers trying to avoid the bustle of the main drag, so it's best to make a reservation. Staff greet regulars like old friends with big smiles and pats on the back, and boldly flavored Indian cocktails make the place memorable. Order the juicy bison momo and the salty-sweet Artemesiac, a cocktail made with aged rum and grilled pineapple." - tristiana hinton

"Dante Datta and Suresh Sundas, a respective drink expert and chef who met while working together at Rasika West End, reunited under one roof in 2021 with an anticipated Indian restaurant and cocktail bar at a corner just south of H Street NE. Sundas likes to combine Northern and Southern Indian cooking styles with some unorthodox touches: Think za’atar olive naan, chicken tikka tacos, pomegranate aloo, hearty lamb shank with saffron, chili, and coconut, or grilled chicken reshmi kebabs with a hint of blue cheese. Inventive riffs on classic cocktails loop in fragrant ingredients like tamarind, rose water, and masala chai. The team is gearing up to open another Indian street food spot on H Street later this year." - Tierney Plumb