After our exquisite affair with Anthony and Cleopatra at the Shakespeare Theatre Company we were yearning for another affair that was more pleasant and less tragic. I heard about Rasika when I came to DC but many circumstances prevented our paths to cross. One had to call days in advance to reserve an hour or few to enjoy her company. I was lucky this time, and fate brought JR, Rasika, and I together on Thursday at 10 PM.
Rasika resides in a place called Penn Quarter: tall buildings, trendy art venues, and upscale restaurants – Rasika does not shy out from being as high end and modern as her neighbors. The doors were opened, and there, beyond the red flowy curtains we were welcomed to Rasika. We were ushered to our table as we observed the trendy décor and the tables of dressy people, all in a setting of dim but colorful lighting.
We sat down and were ready to indulge. The menu displayed a concoction of familiar and exotic dishes. The cuisine is described as “Modern Indian” and it is this unexpected but exquisite fusion of ingredients that makes Rasika (meaning "flavors" in Sanskrit) deliciously unforgettable. We started off with appetizers and of course, we got the legendary Palak Chaat.
Everyone who has gone to Rasika practically worships this dish. Palak Chaat testified to its reputation as we took the first bite. The crispy spinach floats in the mouth and is accented with sweet, sour, and a little bit of spicy. The surprise of the light textures being so intricately flavorful makes the Palak Chaat experience unique. Our second appetizer, Tawa Baigan, was also magical.
The dish came in the form of a tower, alternating between a piece of eggplant and a row of spiced potato, eventually topped with peanut sauce. The presentation was beautiful and JR and I were a little bit hesitant to dig in. But our appetite and taste buds were widely open so we finally took the courage, and dug in! The combination of eggplant and potatoes reminded me of some dishes I had in
The entrees finally came and…wait...who is that guy?! Someone who wasn’t our waiter brought us the rest our meal. He introduced the dishes, placed them on the table, and gracefully unfolded a napkin on my lap. JR predicted that this person was the manager or the headwaiter who wanted to impress us after seeing me play with my Nikon D3000 Camera in the restaurant. I was a little bit excited but also taken aback…we are just two poor guys: a young professional civil servant for a not so rich government and a "starving artist", so no need to unfold any napkins on our laps please. But the yummy smells brought us back to reality and we dug in further!
We ordered the Tandoori Lamb Chops, a side of Paneer Tawa Masala, and the Lemon Cashew Nut Rice. The tender lamb was spicy, lemony, and garlicky – YES! (One of the secrets to a great dish). The Paneer dish was reminiscent of a Paneer Masala but thicker – also delicious. We indulged in both delicacies with the rice (nutty with a subtle lemon flavor) and the petite Garlic Naan (which got colder since it was brought to us along with the appetizers). Apart from the cold Naan and the ok Mango Lassi, Rasika was fantastic! I fell in love and will be back for sure, my Soniye.
Earlier that night I asked JR if we could split the bill. I heard that Rasika was an expensive affair so I was slightly intimidated. Our meal for two, with tips, came up to above $80 – so much less than what I thought! I looked at the check and told JR that I’ll cover it. I don’t know whether it was the great restaurant experience, the raise that I got last month, or that I’m already used to living in this expensive city, but I thought that our affair with Rasika was absolutely wonderful, and definitely a priceless experience.
