Rasa, the Burlingame restaurant that was one of California’s first Michelin-starred Indian restaurants but shuttered in May 2022, is making a comeback. The 2.0 version of Rasa opened Oct. 15.
That first shuttering was more of a rebranding — Rasa became Saffron Burlingame, with the same menu as the original Saffron in San Carlos. However, as restaurateurs Reena Miglani and Ajay Walia began to work on their third restaurant concept, Amara, set to open in Belmont this winter, they said they concluded that separating the two Saffrons and bringing back Rasa would be less confusing to restaurant visitors.
From the time it opened in 2014, Rasa was focused on highlighting southern Indian cuisine, Walia says, while Saffron has largely highlighted dishes from northern India.
Butter poached lobster with korma sauce is one of the dishes available at Rasa, which has returned to Burlingame. (Courtesy Kristen Loken)
In its new iteration, the menu focuses on southern Indian cuisine. They’re planning to offer a duck confit biryani, for example. No, it’s not authentic, but everyone who’s tried it says it’s “off the hook,” he says. “We’re taking a modern approach with Indian cuisine. We’re going to challenge the norms.”
In addition, unlike some Indian restaurants, they’re not a curry house. Certainly, people can share dishes, he says, but the idea is that entrees are individual servings.
In this version of Rasa, Walia and Miglani say, they’re bringing more confidence to the space and a stronger emphasis on hospitality, and they’re focused on their pastry and cocktail programs.
Shrimp-stuffed mackerel with spaghetti squash is among the dishes on offer at Rasa, a restaurant in Burlingame returning after closing in 2022. (Courtesy Kristen Loken)
Look for small plates like butter-poached lobster ($23) served with romanesco and korma sauce and sliders ($16) made with spiced potato fritters and tamarind and cilantro chutneys, dosas like the two-foot-long White Elephant butter paper dosa (it’s a real showstopper, according to Walia) and entrees such as butter chicken — a favorite from Rasa 1.0. Elegant dishes, such as a braised lamb shank nizami ($45) and marinated halibut ($44) with banana leaf, ginger, shallots and coconut rice also star.
“We are playing at the same level, and the food is more refined than before,” Miglani says.
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Details: Open for lunch and dinner daily at 209 Park Road, Burlingame; rasaindian.com.
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