Image: Favorable curry.
Last Updated: May 2026
Overview:
Somewhat to our chagrin, restaurateur Ashok Bajaj has already rolled over his New Americanish, comfort-food spot in Van Ness. He kept the Rosedale location and went with what he knows best. Malabar does Indian, leaning into the coastal cuisine of the south. If Rosedale was aiming to be a neighborhood hangout, Malabar is going a bit wider audience.
Coastal means fish, and it takes up a good chunk of the menu. Of course, elegant fish dishes have always been a staple for Bajaj restaurants, including the black cod at lauded Rasika or the salmon for a power lunch at Bombay Club. Here there is more of it here, and a few different takes like halibut in Goan curry that has a bright tomato sauce, or red snapper wrapped in a banana leaf with fennel and cardamon spicing. There are staples too, like chicken in curry and the signature Rasika dish palak chaat. The donut-like beetroot wada or the kofta provide a little ballast to start the meal. Desserts throw in a few twists among the conventional, including a jaggery empanada and a chocolate babinca. It is a substantial menu, as if award-winning chef Vikram Sunderam was given a chance to stretch beyond the Rasika format and had a bounty of ideas.
The wine list appeared pretty substantial for a Bajaj place, and the room retains Rosedale’s large bar at the entrance. So, you can still wander in for a drink and a dish or two and treat it as a neighborhood hangout. That said, if the goal was to pull in a few more folks from over the Maryland border, its looks like it’s working. Rick Eats DC paid a few visits and has a nearly comprehensive take on the menu – ranging from excellent to good.
Other Guidance: Located at street level. Vegetarians and GF can do very well. It is neighborhood nice, in a nice neighborhood. The parent restaurant group has been fighting a union drive.
Summary:
Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhood: Upper NW (Van Ness)
Address: 4465 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Website: https://www.malabar-dc.com/
Reservations: Resy
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: no coverage yet
Washingtonian: no coverage yet
DonRockwell.com – though last post was about Rosedale and the possibility that Frank Ruta is not cooking currently.