Image: No lack of options.
Last Updated: September 2023
Overview:
As Cleveland Park has rolled over so much of its dining options, Indique remained as a valuable anchor. It occupies a cute two-story space with a small area downstairs and a larger dining room upstairs around an interior atrium. It retains its early idea to present Indian in a fresh way – Indian and unique are the combined roots of the name.
Most of the menu is composed of familiar dishes – lamb roganjosh, lamb vindaloo, various versions of biryani, chicken tikka makhani. It also includes dishes that are outside the traditional – cauliflower with pecorino cheese, chicken cheese kebabs. And, it includes a handful of dishes from “My Hometown” that draws on the cuisine for the southwestern coast of India like Malabar fish curry – large pieces of fish in a bowl of mild coconut milk curry that builds flavor with ginger, garlic, shallots, curry leaves, tomatoes, and tamarind. Dishes here tend to be balanced, with spice levels rarely threatening to overwhelm a dish. There are small twists. The biryani comes without the dramatic cutaway topping, but instead as a formed fort of rice. The “mini” dosa is not that mini. The top of the menu has a large assortment of smaller plats under the Street Food category.
The drink list has featured cocktails for many years. The wine and beer options are a bit limited but affordable, with the beer list being a bit more interesting than wine.
At one point this team had the lauded Indique Heights in Friendship Heights, and the second generation is behind the small chain of Rasa fast-casual spots. That the orignal flagship is still included on lists after all these years says something as to its consistency and quality. For all that Cleveland Park has lost, it is lucky that Indique is still around.
Other Guidance: The first floor is accessible, but not the second. It is a neighborhood spot, so no need to dress up. GF and V can both do well, with the menu clearly indicating safe dishes.
Summary:
Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park
Address: 3512 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC
Website: http://www.indique.com/
Reservations: Resy
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Tom gave it a positive 2 stars and inclusion in the Fall 2016 Dining Guide.
Lori Gardner (Been There Eaten That)