Sitting outside in the covered patio — even in the winter — was great with a coat. It was filled with heaters, and much quieter than inside the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bison Momo, Gulab Jamun Dessert, Chicken Tikka Masala
M G
The reason that prompted me to book this place is because of it's Michelin Bib gourmand recognition. My experience however wasn't as awe inspiring. From one of the other reviews, it is indeed located in a sketchy neighbourhood, still I won't let it influence the rating...just made me a bit wary while getting here. Started off with the Masala chai which was really comforting on a cold evening, it totally set the mood for the upcoming dinner. For appetizers I got the Spicy duck kebabs, and they were indeed really spicy. The only problem with intense heat is it's proneness to overpowering all the other subtle flavours, and that's what happened. Loved the heat, and I could also taste the other sauces and veggies, still it lacked the balance I was hoping to experience. For the main, I decided to get the Lamb chops based on the server's recommendation. It is known to be the best on the menu, yet for me it was the usual. I've had similar flavours and the side potatoes also seemed the usual, so nothing much to add here. I also got the side spinach khichdi and being the classic Indian comfort food, it reminded me of home. This was the only stand out dish of the evening. The dessert - Carrot Halwa, alas, was a huge disappointment! It was under-seasoned i.e., it lacked the sweetness/needed more sugar. The accompanying fruits, flowers etc, did absolutely nothing and seemed unnecessary. This was a huge let down since Gajar halwa is one of my favourite Indian desserts. Also, the 20% pre-included tip seemed a bit too much, having travelled to so many countries the maximum I've been charged by default is 15%. I'll still rate the dinner a three given the effort that went into the overall meal preparation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Moha
Food was poor quality, and small portions! Don’t let the name or pictures fool you
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Amar Bargoti
Sweet potato chaat and paneer lasagna were fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ankit Chainani
Good food, good people, amazing service Tried a bunch of things ( burrata dal makhni, gulab jamun dessert, duck kebabs, mushroom biryani) , food was really flavorful! Loved it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reyna
fantastic food and the sides are well portioned and priced!! service was good - though they did forget one of our dishes?? didn’t show up on the receipt so whatever. the drinks were okay, but the food and the fact that the staff removed a drink i disliked and didn’t drink really made up for it. the lamb was AMAZING as was the dahi puri. paneer lasagna actually worked. daal was yum but the burrata concept sounded cooler than it ended up being. overall would definitely go again!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Leeana Nazafrin
Daru was a wonderful experience, Don was one of the many reasons I will be coming back, she was so impressive with knowing every ingredient of the menu, she was so fun and made the experience 10 times better than what I would thought. Now on to the food
Reshmi kabob with blue cheese, I will be getting 3 when I come back. Pani puri was excellent (coming from a desi) beet root halwa was very clean and organic tasting. The bass paturi was amazing as well (coming from a Bengali) the food was well balanced I believe the chef is Nepali, and the food was amazingly balanced and even tho we got a lot of different dishes they complimented each other without fail. Amazing
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex De Bruyne
I confidently and aggressively argue Daru is the best Indian restaurant in DC. I keep diverging to the new hyped place and then return to Daru each time only to discover the flavors really are as wonderful as I remember. The textures, the flavors ... There is a slight spin on everything but it's still grounded in authentic Indian and Nepalese dishes. Get the momos. Get the biryani. Add on whatever other flavors spark joy and will be in for delicious night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
S Joey
Love their garlic naan . Mushrooms rice a bit dry and the mushrooms very little . Tikka chicken & Burrata just ok.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Gurinder Bajwa
Appetizers were great. Had reshmi kabobs and chaat. I was impressed with it and anticipated some great mains. But I was let down with my favorite dish and that is murgh makhni. It had 0 flavor to it. I couldn't tell if they were trying too hard or not trying enough to pack it with flavor. And drinks were underwhelming.
I ordered online after looking at the reviews. Thinking I can’t go wrong with Chicken Tikka Masala. The sauce was not good at all, it was not spicy but also no flavor. Overall really disappointed.
The rice was full of butter/oil.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 2
Samadrita Choudhary
We visited this Michelin-star restaurant for dinner on a warm evening and, unfortunately, the outdoor patio experience was disappointing. The weather was quite hot, and the seating setup didn’t help — small tables, uncomfortable chairs, and we were placed right beside what seemed to be the back of a fan or cooler, which was unpleasant to look at. The food ranged from moderate to good, but overall, the dining experience didn’t quite live up to the restaurant’s reputation. Perhaps the indoor seating offers a better experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Elisabeth Ivanov
Daru is just awesome. The food hits hard — bold flavors, nothing boring. Cocktails? Super fun and creative. The vibe’s chill but still feels special, like you stumbled into a cool spot that actually cares. Service is friendly, not fake. Totally worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Safiya Pirzada
Unfortunately this place missed the mark for my husband and I. We had been trying to go here for months, but of the 3 dishes we ordered, only one was 4/5 (rated with generosity). We ordered the black daal, butter chicken, and striped bass. The fish was decent, however the butter chicken tasted like rubber cubes in marinara sauce and the daal tasted like there was no salt in it. The naan was okay, no complaints there. Also, they had very little creative non-alcoholic drinks on the menu which was a bit of a let down. Lastly, we decided to sit out in the terrace section because it was a nice day. There were two more tables for 2 left and we requested the one that had more natural lighting and a bit more leg space (my husband is 6’3), but the hostess said that the other table was occupied? (The table was not occupied until another couple came in 20 mins after us) and we were seated in the corner of the terrace surrounded by blackout curtains. All in all, ambiance was a 3 (just wish we got to experience it at another table), food was a 2, and service was a 2.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Rohan Mehta
Good and creative food, a little pricey. There was a decent amount of street parking if you walk a few blocks.
Sitting outside in the covered patio — even in the winter — was great with a coat. It was filled with heaters, and much quieter than inside the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bison Momo, Gulab Jamun Dessert, Chicken Tikka Masala
The reason that prompted me to book this place is because of it's Michelin Bib gourmand recognition. My experience however wasn't as awe inspiring. From one of the other reviews, it is indeed located in a sketchy neighbourhood, still I won't let it influence the rating...just made me a bit wary while getting here. Started off with the Masala chai which was really comforting on a cold evening, it totally set the mood for the upcoming dinner. For appetizers I got the Spicy duck kebabs, and they were indeed really spicy. The only problem with intense heat is it's proneness to overpowering all the other subtle flavours, and that's what happened. Loved the heat, and I could also taste the other sauces and veggies, still it lacked the balance I was hoping to experience.
For the main, I decided to get the Lamb chops based on the server's recommendation. It is known to be the best on the menu, yet for me it was the usual. I've had similar flavours and the side potatoes also seemed the usual, so nothing much to add here. I also got the side spinach khichdi and being the classic Indian comfort food, it reminded me of home. This was the only stand out dish of the evening.
The dessert - Carrot Halwa, alas, was a huge disappointment! It was under-seasoned i.e., it lacked the sweetness/needed more sugar. The accompanying fruits, flowers etc, did absolutely nothing and seemed unnecessary. This was a huge let down since Gajar halwa is one of my favourite Indian desserts. Also, the 20% pre-included tip seemed a bit too much, having travelled to so many countries the maximum I've been charged by default is 15%.
I'll still rate the dinner a three given the effort that went into the overall meal preparation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Food was poor quality, and small portions!
Don’t let the name or pictures fool you
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Sweet potato chaat and paneer lasagna were fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good food, good people, amazing service
Tried a bunch of things ( burrata dal makhni, gulab jamun dessert, duck kebabs, mushroom biryani) , food was really flavorful!
Loved it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
fantastic food and the sides are well portioned and priced!! service was good - though they did forget one of our dishes?? didn’t show up on the receipt so whatever. the drinks were okay, but the food and the fact that the staff removed a drink i disliked and didn’t drink really made up for it. the lamb was AMAZING as was the dahi puri. paneer lasagna actually worked. daal was yum but the burrata concept sounded cooler than it ended up being. overall would definitely go again!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Daru was a wonderful experience, Don was one of the many reasons I will be coming back, she was so impressive with knowing every ingredient of the menu, she was so fun and made the experience 10 times better than what I would thought. Now on to the food
Reshmi kabob with blue cheese, I will be getting 3 when I come back. Pani puri was excellent (coming from a desi) beet root halwa was very clean and organic tasting. The bass paturi was amazing as well (coming from a Bengali) the food was well balanced I believe the chef is Nepali, and the food was amazingly balanced and even tho we got a lot of different dishes they complimented each other without fail. Amazing
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I confidently and aggressively argue Daru is the best Indian restaurant in DC. I keep diverging to the new hyped place and then return to Daru each time only to discover the flavors really are as wonderful as I remember. The textures, the flavors ... There is a slight spin on everything but it's still grounded in authentic Indian and Nepalese dishes. Get the momos. Get the biryani. Add on whatever other flavors spark joy and will be in for delicious night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love their garlic naan . Mushrooms rice a bit dry and the mushrooms very little . Tikka chicken & Burrata just ok.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Appetizers were great. Had reshmi kabobs and chaat. I was impressed with it and anticipated some great mains. But I was let down with my favorite dish and that is murgh makhni. It had 0 flavor to it. I couldn't tell if they were trying too hard or not trying enough to pack it with flavor. And drinks were underwhelming.
Restaurantji Recommends
I ordered online after looking at the reviews. Thinking I can’t go wrong with Chicken Tikka Masala. The sauce was not good at all, it was not spicy but also no flavor. Overall really disappointed.
The rice was full of butter/oil.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 2
We visited this Michelin-star restaurant for dinner on a warm evening and, unfortunately, the outdoor patio experience was disappointing. The weather was quite hot, and the seating setup didn’t help — small tables, uncomfortable chairs, and we were placed right beside what seemed to be the back of a fan or cooler, which was unpleasant to look at. The food ranged from moderate to good, but overall, the dining experience didn’t quite live up to the restaurant’s reputation. Perhaps the indoor seating offers a better experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Daru is just awesome. The food hits hard — bold flavors, nothing boring. Cocktails? Super fun and creative. The vibe’s chill but still feels special, like you stumbled into a cool spot that actually cares. Service is friendly, not fake. Totally worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unfortunately this place missed the mark for my husband and I. We had been trying to go here for months, but of the 3 dishes we ordered, only one was 4/5 (rated with generosity). We ordered the black daal, butter chicken, and striped bass. The fish was decent, however the butter chicken tasted like rubber cubes in marinara sauce and the daal tasted like there was no salt in it. The naan was okay, no complaints there. Also, they had very little creative non-alcoholic drinks on the menu which was a bit of a let down. Lastly, we decided to sit out in the terrace section because it was a nice day. There were two more tables for 2 left and we requested the one that had more natural lighting and a bit more leg space (my husband is 6’3), but the hostess said that the other table was occupied? (The table was not occupied until another couple came in 20 mins after us) and we were seated in the corner of the terrace surrounded by blackout curtains. All in all, ambiance was a 3 (just wish we got to experience it at another table), food was a 2, and service was a 2.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Good and creative food, a little pricey. There was a decent amount of street parking if you walk a few blocks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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