Red Toque Cafe

Pretty simple restaurant. Pretty modest. They have the best biryani you can have in the DMV

Came to DC from out of town with a craving for good Indian food. Sadly that craving was not fulfilled at Red Toque.
Food 3 stars, samosas were ok, they don’t have Tamarind sauce or green chutney, so that left me craving my Tamarind sauce. Had the chicken tiki Masala which was pretty good, garlic Naan was on point.
Service 2 stars, not friendly, not polite. I went up to the counter since no one came to our table, and was told to sit down. Poor customer service, what he should’ve said was «Please have a seat, we will be right with you»

Beware! Even large-​sized orders are very small. Come filled with over 50% rice. Not good value at all. We ordered pick up and were shocked. Restaurant was totally unresponsive when we pointed this out. Huge huge rip off. Suggest ordering from Aatish on the Hill, where order is actually what you want and not mostly filler.

A recent fan! Found Red Touqe while hunting for a well-​reviewed Indian delivery restaurant. Have ordered a few times with some highlights being: lamb and chicken kabobs, goat curry, chick pea and spinach sides, as well as a number of other things. Delivery usually takes around 45 minutes, so just make sure to factor that possibility in.

I am looking at all the reviews and how everyone is raving about this place. However my experience was not all that great. The visit was on Thursday night around 9PM in April. We ordered goat biryani and combo kabob. If I would to rate on service too I would probably give one star (the girl who took our order was very hesitant about the menu and did not know what was the difference between 2 items on the menu.) this aside…
Goat Biryani: rice was very good and tasty, however the goat pieces were not in any way or shape good. very small chunks of mainly fat, so when you bite into the piece you get lots of gooey fat and lots of bone chunks and I don’t mean an actual bone but spheres of the bone itself (this is a food hazard). there small pieces of bones in each meat piece I had, aside from all that fat too. At the end I had to take the meat piece apart to make sure I am not chewing on fat or bone pieces.
Combo Kabob: was a combo of chicken and kabob. The chicken was very raw on the inside and very chewy. It was not fully cooked to the appropriate measures.
We would have noted all of this to the guy behind the counter but he was too busy asking us if we could leave him a tip!

Let me start by saying I looooove a good kabob and tiziki sauce so looking at the name i figured this place to have such… not so much. I will hardly ever be so disappointed in a place that I leave less than 3 stars but this place was over the top bad. I don’t know if it was because I wondered in during lunch (which I figured would be a gd time) or what. First I’ll start with the bad lighting and décor. It was so dark that I had to pull open the door just to find that it was actually open. There was an odd smell maybe mid day cleaning???

So I order a beef and chicken kabob combo lunch portion and when I say portion, that’s exactly what it was… a portion of a real meal. It literally was 2 cubes of under seasoned pollo and 2 even smaller cubes of tough beef. The other 90% of this consisted of white rice (hard to mess that up) and spinach that was actually the best part of the meal. Being as though the menu stated that it came with a salad I was surprised to find out that the menu I ordered from was old and would not be replaced until they ran out? A heads up would have been nice.
To wrap up this unsatisfying lunch review did I mention that this costed me $ 13.25! Let’s just say I won’t be going back.

Hole in the wall, authentic, realll tasty and pretty reasonably priced! However, don’t order the large plate for one person if you’re not starving. Small will suffice.
Food was so good I took my leftovers along with me to the concert…

Good neighborhood feel. Food is fine for the level of establishment. Folks were friendly enough.

Horrible service
2 hours late
No offer to fix
DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!
«So sorry, very busy» not a good response.
Spent $ 70
Will NOT happen again!
It got worse the next morning. Very upset stomach vacation no fun at all. Eat at your own risk and service was horrible.

Fresh naah, butter chicken was incredibly flavored, and the chicken very tender. Really great place!!! As always.

I recently went back to Red Torque after an extended absence and was so very happy that I did. The food, which was always very good, is absolutely fantastic — I particularly recommend the two chick pea dishes and the aloo gobi (and the mango lassi of course!).
The owner/​manager is an incredible host and makes you feel as if you have popped over to his home for a dinner — very, very welcoming. Thanks Red Torque team — look forward to popping back soon!

The place is very bare-​bones and surprised it’s not BYOB. However the food was flat out awesome. I stuck with the basic chicken tiki and biriyani and both were excellent. Matter-​of-​fact I took a newbie to Indian food and they left loving it. When in DC I’ll be back.

I really, really love this place.
It’s right across from my house so I typically so the pick-​up option, but I have dined both on their outside patio in warmer months as well as inside. Previous reviews hold true that the inside décor is sparse, at best. Their main focus really is on the food and its flavor.
Their falafel platter is amazing. I usually get mine with the spinach as a side, I never knew spinach to taste this good. The falafel balls are actually quite spicy, so I usually have to share these because I can’t eat them all myself… Damn Midwestern palette!
The combo kabobs are also legit. Get the chicken and lamb combo, I’ve never been disappointed. Also, I have no idea what some reviewers claim to be «small portions.» I have ordered a lot from here and have never had anything close to a «small» portion. So never fear!
My most recent order was the butter chicken. Oh my gosh… The tomato based sauce was so much creamy goodness I almost couldn’t stop myself. Definitely will be reordering in the near future.
Side note: when you order the garlic naan, or regular naan, it’s enormous. Like truly enormous. The only thing I wish is that I could get a beer or wine served on-​site!

My favorite Indian place in DC! The lamb biryani, chicken tikka, butter chicken, and garlic naan are all delicious!

I used to live close to Red Toque, and although I’ve moved across town and outside of their delivery area, I still try to go back often. Having mostly ordered takeout previously, I can now see what the other reviewers mean when they talk about the lack of atmosphere: although I still find it quite cozy and welcoming it’s definitely not a Rasika in décor. Much like the food they serve, the interior is basic, solid, and without unnecessary frills.
I always get the palaak paneer, and when I’ve feel like splurging I get a mango lassi – which they will deliver. I have tried several of their other dishes and have found each one to be excellent. I know it sounds basic/​boring, but their chicken tikka masala is anything but. Whether it’s delivery or in-​restaurant, definitely give it a try!

Great food. Always awesome for delivery.

I love Indian food and I’ve had a hard time finding good inexpensive Indian in DC. My husband loves kebobs. This place is perfect. I’m drooling thinking about our dinner.
The beef samosas were nice and spicy.
The lamb biryani was good and had so much lamb.
The nan was buttery perfection
The chicken tikka masala was the best in the city!
My only regret is that we did not order a separate side of spinach (some came with the kebobs– but it got gobbled up pretty quickly). Even the baby liked the food.
I will definitely go again. And they deliver. What could be better?!

I have been here enough to confidently say this place is great. It’s great for vegetarians and carnivores alike. I ordered deLivery tonight, think a late Sunday night, and it got here in under twenty minutes. Couldn’t be happier with food or the service!

We’d heard so many rave reviews for red toque, and felt optimistic about having an Indian spot close to home. Unfortunately, the cuisine fell short of our expectations. The best dish we had was the palak paneer.

Arguably the most bland hummus I’ve ever had. I also got a sandwich (I think) where the bread didn’t come remotely close to surrounding the contents inside. It made for a disappointingly distasteful fork and knife lunch. You should definitely check it out.

I used to order from here all of the time including yesterday when I found a black hair in my palak paneer. Also I was not please that the portion size did not increase but the price did by $ 2.

I’ve only gotten delivery and the gentleman on the phone is always such a pleasure to speak with and delivery is quick.
Curry Goat served with basmati rice is great! Has a lot of bones but that’s mostly the case with goat stew dishes.
The Lamb Biyrani (and goat Biyrani) is good has plenty of flavor and the meat is tender. Wish it was a tad bit more saucy but that’s my preference it is by no means dry.
Spinach is good– I always get a side of it cause I like adding it to the dishes
Butter chicken is good as well
Samosa– good I prefer the beef (get two of the
green sauces)
Garlic Naan was good as well
Mango lassi– good
Only downsides are that there could be a tad bit more meat and could be spicier. Would definitely recommend though.

Hole in the wall with great food! The paneer tikka masaala was very flavorful– rich enough to be super satisfying and perfect for the cold DC weather, and bright and acidic enough to not be too heavy. The rice on it’s own was buttery and flavorful and a great sized portion. The plain Naan was kind of plain, I usually like a little butter on mine but the order was a generous size. My only complaint was that I asked to have my curry extremely spicy and it was «hot» but no where near as spicy as I would have wanted it. Great prices, great flavors, kind and helpful service. Glad I went:)

Love the chickpeas and the Palak Paneer and the falafel. Love that they are honest about the fact that delivery will take an hour — I don’t mind waiting if I know how long to occupy myself up front. Friendly on the phone and they ask about spice levels which is always appreciated!

They were really delicious, but the servings were hella small. So I cant say that the reasonable prices mattered. The people were nice enough. Ehhh… Id go again knowing what I know so I can plan my appetite and wallet accordingly.

The falafel’s are good, but the Punjabi entrees can be significantly better. Malai kofta was OK, served with a ton of rice for dinner order.
Veggie falafel tastes good with the sauce (green chutney), so if your are getting takeout makes sure you have it :)

This is my favorite Indian place in DC. I love this place so much, that I was hesitant to write this review because selfish me doesn’t want it to become too popular and want to keep it as my secret little spot… :)
This is a very casual place with very friendly workers. They now know us by name and know exactly what we like to order. They once refilled our pans for free when they saw that we licked all the sides that it didn’t need washed…
My favorites there are the chicken tikka masala (God to die for I’m drooling just thinking of it), the lamb biryani, the spinach, and the chickpea sides. Writing this review made me wanna go eat there again tonight :)

I ordered dinner for two and was quite pleased. We got the kabob combo, curry goat, and a side of spinach. The delivery took a little longer than I would have liked (close to an hour and we live less than a mile away) but it was worth the wait. Everything was warm, well prepared, and tasted fresh.
Definitely plan on ordering from here again soon.

This place has the best chicken tikka masala I’ve had in DC, and I’ve been to a lot of Indian restaurants. Think tender pieces of chicken breast simmered in a yummy creamy smokey sauce. Notice I said chicken breast. I normally despise chicken breast and prefer chicken thighs but this place managed to make breast tender and delicious. Lesser indian places usually have dry or rubbery chicken. I almost didn’t order this dish because it’s actually British but I was really craving it for some reason.
Other dishes I recommend: the lamb kabob is really tender and delicious, and comes with a yummy dipping sauce. The hummus is very tasty and light — some of the best hummus I’ve ever had. The spinach side also has a really nice flavor.
Anyway, this place is a hole in the wall. I would recommend doing delivery or take out as it seems to get really crowded. Service is friendly and prices are good.

Ordered for delivery today because my stomach was screaming it wanted authentic Indian food. Unilocaled and found this little Indian food gem and I could not be happier. I’ve been craving chicken tikka masala and have tried a few places in DC but nothing has tickled my fancy… until now. I ordered the chicken tikka masala and garlic naan for dinner. The food came within 25 minutes of ordering and I devoured it within 10 minutes. Chicken was moist and tender, the sauce was flavorful and rich in spices and the garlic naan portion was huge. The chicken came with rice as well. Only thing I would say is that I’ve requested it to be extra spicy but it wasn’t spicy at all (I know. First world problems, my bad).
Overall I’m happy with my experience here. The tikka tastes just like my friends’ moms aka my aunties food yall. I’ll try dining in next time!

Some improvement needed on the customer service front: I didn’t like how the business owner or server messed up my order and made it sound like it was my fault. He said he was confused because my friend had also ordered the same side to go along with her meal. Ummmm I don’t really buy that excuse. And he kept saying it over and over again! It felt like, «well, it’s YOUR fault, diner.» No real apology. Restaurant 101: you shouldn’t make the customer feel like he or she is responsible when something goes wrong. Just say, «Your order will be right out. Sorry about that,» or something to that effect. That’s all it really takes.
Additionally, he seems to have a listening problem: My companion said she wanted spinach to accompany her combo meal, and he goes, «okay, chickpeas» and she had to correct him. Yeah… He wasn’t super busy, so there was no reason for him to be so distracted.
I would consider myself a pretty lenient diner; I will forgive most missteps, but it’s inexcusable to blame the customer for something like a side dish not making it to the table. I almost got all Gordon Ramsay on him.
So that uncomfortable and unsatisfactory aspect aside, Red Toque still gets three stars because their food is tasty, for the most part. I enjoyed my vegetable pakoras, which I found flavorful enough without the sauce (comes with mild or spicy). I also enjoyed the popular side dish, the simply sauteed spinach. Pretty comforting.
My friend said her chicken was moist and flavorful, though she was not as much a fan of the beef.
Garlic naan, however, could use some work. Where is the garlic?! It’s way too light on the garlic. I’m used to lots of little garlic bits studding the bread. Not here.
To me, this is a better spot to get food to-​go than to dine in. And you may want to place your order slowly, repeat it multiple times, and check the bag before you leave just to make sure you got the right order. And don’t let that man tell you it’s your fault, if something is missing or wrong.

Low prices — got a «small» goat curry (not small at all) and baba ghanouj appetizer for ~$ 15.
You should definitely call ahead; took 25 minutes to prepare our takeout order.
Both items were good, not great. Baba ghanouj was tasty and on the chunkier side, naan was soft, and goat curry was plenty of food and decent (mostly pieces of meat and rice, not much sauce). Nothing was very spicy. I liked it all!
If you’re craving Indian, would recommend this place if you’re prioritizing a bargain over killer quality. I will be back!

Excellent, reasonably priced spiiiicy food considering even a small can usually feed you for two meals on the entrees. I love their goat curry, goat biryiani, and their lentil soup is stellar — soft little lentils and great depth of flavor with some lovely, surprising cilantro brightness. It’s perfect cold, rainy day food. Service is pretty quick and most of the staff are so nice! There’s ample seating for dine in, but I usually wind up calling in takeout orders. I’ve had a few ordering complications e.g. they missed part of my order over the phone, but they can get it together pretty fast to make up for any miscommunication.
The spice level has real heat, including their spicy yogurt sauce. Extra yogurt sauce costs extra.

4.5 stars — I’ve eaten chicken tikka masala in many many restaurants– I LOVE it! :) but have to say this place is one of the best I’ve ever had. The chicken chunks moist and juicy, the sauce rich and creamy, the rice perfectly cooked. The only complaints are that there could be a little bit more chicken and I ordered it spicy and it wasn’t at all– I ordered through Unilocal and there was an option above it ‘extra spicy’ but I generally choose just spicy first visit to places since the spice meter is all over the map based on where you are. I’ll go for extra spicy next time!
In most of my visits to indian restaurants, if you order an entrée, a naan comes with it… not here though, I was a little bummed when I got home and no naan– just be sure to order it if you want it because it doesn’t come with.
I also had the vegetable samosa– they were awesome and huge! Well worth the money. I only ate a little of one… I think two people could eat an order of masala and an order of samosa together and be full.
Going to be adding this place to my rotation of favorites!!!

They lost two stars tonight for poor delivery service. They give you a 45−60min window but two hours later still no food. Their food is no doubt delicious but this kind of service shows a lack of concern for people’s time.
what can i say? It was delicious. The beef and the vegetarian samosas at first glance make you nervous because they just look different than most other samosas but then you bite into one and are like, DAMN THAT IS SOME SPICY DELICIOUSNESS! The green and white sauces that come with it are really good too, the green one has a kick too. The Kofta sandwich tastes like a Middle Eastern/​East Asian Whopper. It was pretty good I have to say. It had a ton of onions on it that were lightly sauteed which was really unique and i enjoyed it. My husband had some dish that i cant remember but it came wtih chicken and a red sauce and rice as well as peppers and he said it was really good. I also had the fatouch salad and it was OK. It is definitely not their forte but did a decent job. All in all, I am sure we will be BACK.
Update on 6÷21÷15
They want to charge me an extra $ 2 for extra green sauce. We had $ 60 worth of food. Three entrees, a soup, and two orders of samosa. He tries to give me one green and one white. I ask for extra and he gives me three. I ask for more so he says $ 2. I was stunned. I said take your white sauce and give me a green. We keep getting annoyed with the service here but we give them the benefit of the doubt and come back. They are not worth it anymore.