New Indian restaurant Malabar coming to Washington

Acclaimed Indian American restaurateur Ashok Bajaj is bringing modern Indian fare to the Forest Hills neighborhood of Washington with a new restaurant based on the concept of India’s southwestern Malabar Coast.

Opening in mid-January 2026, Malabar will replace Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s year-old restaurant, Rosedale, set to close in mid-December, according to a company release.

Located at 4465 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 20008, Malabar, will bring modern Indian fare, with a culinary team led by Group Executive Chef Vikram Sunderam.

For the transformation, the restaurant named after the Malabar Coast in the southwestern region of India, will undergo a décor refresh with the installation of striking new artwork in the 100-seat dining room.

“Malabar is designed to be a neighborhood gathering place with exciting fare that transports guests to India’s southern west coast region for an evening of dining. The restaurant is centered around a U-shaped bar for socializing and making new friends while enjoying Indian cuisine,” Bajaj stated.

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“Guests can gather at the inviting bar for craft cocktails that pair well with the bold flavors of the fare. Those who enjoy dining downtown at both of the Rasika locations will now find similar tempting cuisine north of Cleveland Park and the National Zoo. Malabar will also offer guests a private dining room for family celebrations.”

The patio,which seats 30 guests for outdoor dining, weather permitting, will have a more tropical vibe as summer 2026 returns warmer weather to the nation’s capital. Malabar will serve dinner and Sunday brunch and is within easy walking distance of the Van Ness UDC Metro station.

James Beard award-winning Group Executive Chef Sunderam has been with Knightsbridge Restaurant Group for 20 years. He joined the company with the opening of Rasika in Penn Quarter. Sunderam is responsible for the award-winning cuisine at both Rasika and Rasika West End.

He also developed the menu for Bindaas, and Bindaas Bowls and Rolls. Sunderam and Bajaj also wrote a published cookbook, Rasika: Flavors of India, with co-author David Hagedorn.

Malabar is the land of spices and coconuts, attracting tourists just as it had drawn traders from across the world for centuries.

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Geographically wedged between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Malabar covers the area north of the Bharathapuzha, stretching over parts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts of Kerala.

This region was once the epicenter of the world’s spice trade, drawing merchants from Arabia, China, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Kozhikode, in particular, was a thriving port city where pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and other treasures of the land were exchanged for gold, silk, and porcelain.

Malabar joins Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s collection of award-winning restaurants in Washington. D.C., which includes Rasika, Rasika West End, Bombay Club, Bindaas, Bindaas Bowls and Rolls, Sababa, Annabelle, La Bise, and Little Blackbird.

Renowned for creating some of the nation’s capital’s most important destination dining establishments, Knightsbridge is also successful in building neighborhood contemporary restaurants for casual gatherings with friends and family, according to the release.