Bombay Street Food 2 — Restaurant in Washington

Bombay Street Food #2 in Washington DC has truly mastered the art of Indian cuisine, setting itself apart as a standout in the realm of flavors. While I've savored exceptional Indian fare along the west coast, Bombay Street Food #2 unquestionably takes the crown.

Arriving at the opening hour, we were among the first patrons to grace the upscale ambiance. The restaurant exudes sophistication through its decor, creating an impression of fine dining from the moment you step in. Tables were elegantly set, cloth napkins meticulously folded like crowns, setting the stage for a memorable experience.

Embarking on my litmus test, I ordered the Samosas to gauge the culinary prowess. The execution was mind-blowing. The chutneys, meticulously crafted, lent a divine touch to the perfectly fried golden samosas. Their exceptional spice usage hinted at a personalized garam masala blend, elevating these samosas far beyond my past experiences. The filling was a revelation, usurping all my prior encounters on the west coast. It's safe to say that after indulging in these perfect specimens, other samosas will definitely pale in comparison.

Moving on to the main courses, we selected Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala—one normal and one extra spicy—and Garlic Naan. Bombay Street Food #2's mastery in spice manipulation shone through again, showcasing their unreserved use of flavors. The Tandoori meat was an epitome of perfection—moist, tender, and bursting with succulence. Even the accompanying veggies were artistically presented, adding a delightful visual and flavorful dimension to the dish. The Chicken Tikka Masala mirrored this excellence, with tender chicken chunks submerged in a perfectly spiced, creamy sauce. The extra spicy variant was an absolute gem. Not to be forgotten, the mango lassi, a traditional Indian yogurt-based drink, was skillfully executed. The saffron-infused basmati rice was a testament to culinary dedication, enhancing the overall ensemble.

The table service mirrored the food’s excellence—impeccable. Our waiter, a paragon of attentiveness, ensured our water glasses remained perpetually filled. His discreet presence showcased the epitome of service, answering our queries with poise, even accommodating a vegan guest. His seamless yet unintrusive service deserves commendation.

The unexpected family-style lunch was a welcome surprise. We left with content hearts and leftovers, a testament to the generous portions. This experience stands among the finest I've encountered in years. While I can't vouch for their other locations, if they even replicate half of the excellence achieved by #2, they'd still outshine competitors.

For those in DC, this is more than a restaurant—it’s a culinary haven. It’s a place to relish air-conditioned comfort, an exemplary dining affair, and an unforgettable gastronomic escapade. A visit to Bombay Street Food #2 is an encounter with indulgence at its finest, leaving taste buds...

I'm absolutely in love with this spot!! I'm usually a little cautious about Indian food in D.C. (I've generally found it to be overpriced and mediocre), but I was in the area with a few friends on Saturday evening and decided to pop by for dinner. I'm so glad that I decided to stop by despite all of my hesitations!! Starting off with the atmosphere -- Bombay is a bustling shop with wonderful energy, vibrant decor, and really friendly staff. It can get a little busy on the weekends, so definitely plan for that, but Bombay's service is still amazingly speedy (and near-perfect) despite the rush.

And the food...wow. First of all, I was incredibly grateful for the number of clearly marked vegan options! Most Indian restaurants that I go to are great at accommodating vegetarian diners, but not vegans (or, at the very least, they don't make life super convenient by creating an entire vegan section of the menu in the way Bombay does). Their kolhapuri vegetable was listed as a "must try" and it did not disappoint in the slightest -- the dish was amazingly flavorful, with just the right amount of spice, a rich and deep flavor without feeling greasy or overwhelming, and a wonderful balance of textures from the various vegetables they added. There seemed to be corn, peas, carrots, green beans, and likely a few other goodies in the mix. It was served with fluffy and aromatic basmati rice on the side, and there was plenty of food to feed two (or, in my case, me for two meals :D ).

My friends' dishes also seemed delightful -- one (fellow vegetarian) tried out the aloo manchurian and enjoyed it quite a bit, and my two other friends tried out their biryanis. One tried out the goat biryani and the other the lamb, and both said that their dishes brought quite the kick! There was a bit of dough covering the top of the biryani bowls, though, and it didn't look entirely cooked -- it was still a bit stretchy and wet, and it didn't have the classic charred look that most breads atop biryani do.

Another minor detail is that I would've preferred there to be a scale for the spice level, whether it's an ability to adjust the level of spice you'd prefer or a scale on the menu to give diners a heads up. I was quite pleased with the spice level of my dish, and aloo manchurian was more of a sweet and salty dish, rather than a spicy one, but my two friends who ordered the biryanis did not quite have the spice tolerance to handle their dishes.

These small details aside, though, Bombay Street Food was one of my favorite Indian restaurants in D.C. and I will definitely be coming back for more the next time I find myself on this...

Possibly the worst service I have ever seen anywhere, and that is saying something for an Indian restaurant. We had our water poured, then nothing. A few minutes later an Asian gentleman came over asked if we were ready to order. No drinks offered, not offering any help with the menu, just asked nervously if we were ready. We asked about the plater for two and and the spice level but all he could say was how everybody loved it. We took a chance and order it. 30 minutes later it arrived and an Indian gentleman brought it and then proceeded to walk off before my wife asked which one was the goat. He mumbled something but we could barley understand him. And good lord, the goat was very spice and full of small bones. Dinners should be warned. The lamb was extremely tough. You could not cut the lamb by the knife provided. It was chewy and tough. The butter chicken was overly spicy and yet lacked any complexity. While each dish looked like what they were supposed to, they lacked the multi layered flavor that very good Indian food should have. My wife was able to flag down a waitress and asked if we could have a couple of glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon. The waitress looked like she had no clue what we were asking for. My wife pointed to the wine list. Possibly the smallest and worse wine list I have ever seen. The waitress came back with two glasses of red wine, and when my wife said we had asked for two glasses of white wine. Her response was that we had asked for Cabernet and that is what the bartender gave her. She clearly didn’t know anything about wines. We just decided to keep the red. There was no table maintenance, nothing was cleared. Our water was refilled but no check back by anyone. And when the server brought us the check he didn’t clear the table or ask why nothing was eaten. We gave him our card, sat there with a dirty table until he cane back. Although the decor of the restaurant is cheerful enough, unfortunately the level of service and quality of food leaves much, much more to be desired. On dining strip where you world class restaurants like Rose’s and Ambar, this is really not acceptable. This place operates like third rate rate kebab house. It will probably become just another mediocre Indian restaurant like...