| Address | 2400 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC 20007 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Lunch: Mon-Sat, 11.30 a.m.-2.30 p.m.; Dinner: Mon-Sat, 5.30 p.m.-10.30 p.m. |
| Phone | (202) 333-3120 |
| Fax | (202) 333-3106 |
| Website | http://www.heritageindiausa.com |
Excellent service without being intrusive. Quality dishes- lamb dishes in particular recommended. I really can't say enough of the service and friendliness of the staff, very cordial and welcoming. Definitely a good place to go if you're interesting in being able to hear conversation at the table.
Heritage India on Connecticut Ave didn't quite meet the hype that I'd heard. But the food was good. Our waiter recommended an appetizer that we didn't like, and he happily took it off our bill - which was very nice. The atmosphere probably wasn't worth the additional cost, and in the future I'll stick to some of the smaller, less hyped Indian restaurants in the area. Overall, our party left satisfied.
Our out-of-town guests were totally impressed by Heritage India--of course we are too, that's why we went there. For up-scale Indian I'd recommend no other. The bar area downstairs is a little strange, to big to be comfortable, but in the dining room upstairs the atmosphere is terrific.
Heritage Indian offers excellent upscale Indian. You won't go wrong with anything on the menu. The atmosphere is pleasant. Be careful of the pushy servers. Every little thing is extra. "Want some rice with your meal?" "Would you like some bread?" Say yes, and expect to see some fairly hefty charges tacked on to the bill, not that they mention this little tidbit when they offer. Still, the food is great, learn to be fend off the pushy servers and you'll have a great time.
Food was some of the best Indian I've ever had. Decor was fabulous, though a little brightly lit for my own taste.
My wife and I have visited Heritage India on several occassions and have always enjoyed our visits. The most recent was no exception. We visited with two other couples. The Aloo Tak, Vindaloo...all the dishes were tasty. I was though not thrilled to learn they charge for mango chutney and lime pickle!
On top of that they brought and charged me for a pillou when I simply asked for basmati. I'll go back but with a jar of lime pickle in hand.
Heritage has consistently provided some of the finest Northern Indian cuisine in DC. The decor is spectacularly plush in the majarajah style.
The palak panner is particularly good. Cubes of fine cheese with a rich and spicy tomato sauce. My favorite. And the breads are always excellent.
My party chose Heritage India to celebrate a friend's birthday. While on-street/neighborhood parking is scarce, the restaurant does offer $5 valet service, which is a nice service on a busy Saturday night.
We arrived right on time, and I confirmed our reservation with the hostess. She however, refused to believe that my entire party was ready to be seated, even though the five of us were standing in front of her. After assuring her three different times that my party was complete (even after looking around me to make sure no one wandered over to the bar), she took us upstairs.
The dining room was quite spacious, although the decor was a bit sterile. We received a great table in the corner of the room by the window that overlooked Wisconsin Avenue. The table space for the five of us was more than adequate, giving us some room to spread out and relax.
After bringing the bottle of wine we ordered, the waiter decided to stand next to our table with his notepad out and ready to take our order. I politely asked him for a few more minutes, as we had just been seated. He informed us that the kitchen would be closing soon, and he needed to take our order. Commenting that the restaurant didn't close until 11, I asked him why the kitchen was closing so early, and he replied that it took awhile to get everything cleaned. Being a Saturday night, I'm sure that he was just trying to get us fed, paid and out the door to get another party seated. The dinner and birthday celebration further soured from there.
The appetizers, sad to say, were the highlight of the meal. The samosas were quite popular with my group, as was the aloo tak (potatoes with chutney). My favorite, however, was the chicken tikka, mildly spiced marinated chicken with dipping sauces.
Two of my friends ordered the Nawabi Khazana, a sampler feast that comes with appetizers and dessert. At this point, the waiter asked if we still wanted the appetizers, since we ordered a variety to start the meal. After assuring him that we still wanted the items that came INCLUDED with the feast, he brought them to the table and dropped them on the table.
It was at this point, we knew that there would be no salvaging the dinner. No matter how good we heard the food was, poor customer service just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
The entrees were simply good. I ordered the tandoori chicken, and it arrived lukewarm. Perhaps the best part about this course was the basket of cheese and onion kulcha (flat bread). Warm, yet crisp, it was a great compliment to the entrees.
Unfortunately, one thing you must remember to do is to NOT ask to have anything wrapped up, as my friends discovered. The waiter literally threw the brown paper bag on the table when he brought the desserts that came with the entrees. The rest of us didn't even have a chance to order our own dessert or coffee, and so we decided to end the meal right then and there.
We asked for the check, and paid cash the almost $200 tab, afraid to offend the waiter any further by using a credit card. Outside, the valet came back with the car in less than five minutes, which was about the best customer service we had seen all evening. He received a generous tip.
All in all, despite the rave reviews Heritage India posts on its website, the food is plain good. The overall experience didn't live up to a place suitable for any type of celebration. If you are looking for good customer service, however, I highly suggest that you go across the street to Good Guys (Gentlemen's Club). At least there, you'll get what you pay for.
Heritage India is one of DC's most wonderful restaurants. The atmosphere of white table cloths, chandelier lighting, slow Indian musicc, and framed drawings of Indian landmarks is crisp and soothing yet warm transporting diners away from the rush of DC life. The staff's demeanor mimics that of the ambiance as they quietly spoon out combinations of the dishes ordered. The food, vegetarian or meat, literally melts in your mouth. The lentil side, saffron rice, and naan bread are incredible accompaniments to any dishes. Overall a wonderful dining experience for groups looking for a relaxing evening together or couples looking for a romantic escape from dc.
