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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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A post shared by Mr. MoCo • Alex Tsironis (@mrmoco301)

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