Washington DC’s celebrated Indian restaurant Rasika has been named one of the most essential and influential restaurants in America by Eater. The publication released its “All-Time Eater 38” list this week, honoring what it calls “the most essential and influential restaurants in America of the past 20 years.” Rasika, which opened in 2005 in Penn Quarter, was praised for redefining Indian dining in the United States through its balance of tradition, innovation, and accessibility.

Founded by restaurateur Ashok Bajaj and led by chef Vikram Sunderam, Rasika helped elevate Indian cuisine to a new level of national prominence. Eater noted that when Bajaj opened the restaurant two decades ago, it represented “a cutting-edge but accessible approach to Indian cuisine,” pointing to the now-iconic palak chaat, crispy spinach served with yogurt, tamarind, and garam masala, as one of the dishes that became a cultural touchstone in D.C. and beyond. The publication credited Rasika’s influence with paving the way for a national restaurant scene that has embraced contemporary Indian cooking more fully.

Rasika’s acclaim has grown steadily over the years, earning critical praise from local and national outlets, including The Washington Post, where longtime critic Tom Sietsema once called it “the restaurant I could eat in every day.” The success of its original Penn Quarter location led to a second outpost, Rasika West End, which opened in 2012. The restaurant also published a cookbook in 2014, extending its reach to home cooks across the country.

Being included on Eater’s “All-Time 38” places Rasika among some of the country’s most influential restaurants, including spots in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. The list highlights restaurants that have shaped dining trends and defined how Americans eat over the past two decades. For Rasika, the recognition cements its role not just as one of Washington’s finest establishments, but as a national leader that helped modernize and mainstream Indian cuisine in the United States. Additionally, Eater recently included three Montgomery County restaurants in its list of “Best Indian Restaurants Around DC.”

Darband Kabob is now open at 765 Rockville Pike, Suite E, in Rockville’s Ritchie Center. The new Persian restaurant takes over a space that has previously been home to Taste of Kabab, CM Chicken, and Jumbo Jumbo Cafe. Our very own “Mr. MoCo” Alex Tsironis recently stopped by to support and shared that he believes these are “the best Persian kabobs in Montgomery County.” Preview video available below.

Owner and chef Ali brings decades of experience to the new restaurant, including more than 25 years at Shamshiry, which is one of the DC area’s most renowned Persian restaurants.

The menu features a wide range of kabobs, stews, and classic Persian appetizers, with popular entrees such as Koobideh (spiced ground beef), Barg Kabob (filet mignon), and Rack of Lamb. Guests can also choose from specialty rice options like Shirin Polo and Baghali Polo, along with traditional desserts such as Baklava, Faloudeh, and Persian ice cream made with saffron and rosewater.

Darband Kabob offers both indoor dining and takeout options. The video below shows the experience:

 

 

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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is investigating an incident at Sherwood High School after senior class t-shirts distributed this week included a combination of letters and numbers that evoked a racial slur. In a letter sent to students, families, and staff, district leaders said the design, which was intended to celebrate the Class of 2026, appeared to resemble the N-word and described the situation as “unacceptable and wrong.”

The letter, signed by MCPS Chief of School Leadership and Improvement Dr. Peter Moran and MCPS Chief of Equity and Organizational Development Dr. Nyah Hamlett, emphasized that hate, bias, and discrimination “have no place in our schools.” The officials apologized for the harm caused to Black students, families, and staff, and said the district is committed to accountability and healing.

MCPS has launched a formal investigation into how the shirt design was created, approved, and distributed. The district has asked students to return the shirts and will provide redesigned versions at no cost. The senior class photo will also be retaken to ensure that no image associated with the shirts becomes part of the school’s historical record. A team of counselors and psychologists has been made available to support students and staff impacted by the incident. In addition, the district plans to partner with an outside organization specializing in racial healing to host restorative listening circles for students, staff, and families.

District leaders acknowledged that this incident is not isolated and referenced several past racial incidents at Sherwood, including a rope tied to resemble a noose found on school grounds and racist language published in a yearbook. They noted that these repeated events have caused “cumulative trauma” and said the school must do better to prevent future harm.

MCPS officials said they will examine the systems and culture that allowed the situation to occur and develop a plan of action to rebuild trust within the community. “An apology without action is meaningless,” the letter stated. “This is a moment that demands truth, accountability, and sustained commitment.”