Good For:Din with friends, Din with Family

Gotta Order: Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan and chutney sampler, crispy spinach (palak chaat)

Vibes: crowded, buzzing, upscale, slightly more formal/elegant

Notes: Rasika has the best Indian food in the area (in my humble opinion). This restaurant in Penn Quarter seems like a hopping spot for dinner-after-work vibes, so is consistently crowded, but with a more formal element to it.

Their crispy spinach is their signature dish, and my family orders two of them when we go. Rasika isn’t technically a small plate restaurant, but I’d definitely recommend ordering a few things and sharing amongst the table. And you can order a little extra because the dessert can be skipped!