Heritage India's two-story dining room in Glover Park (there's also a branch downtown) gets my nod for Indian cooking that is as sophisticated as it gets in Washington. There's much to compete for your attention, from delicate vegetable fritters to juicy chicken tikka, from zesty strips of grouper blended with tomatoes and peppers to velvety baby eggplant draped in a creamy sesame sauce. Herb-laced spinach, possibly the best palak makai in town, reminds me that the menu welcomes vegetarians with open arms, while the lamb vindaloo beckons (and satisfies) fire eaters. The sauces are distinct, the tandoor-baked breads hot and tasty. And the setting is at once rich and comfortable. Heritage India's spacious dining areas are painted in soothing pumpkin colors, graced with handsome portraits and swathed in elegant fabrics.
By Tom Sietsema
Washington Post Magazine