The location is peaceful. It's a small place though, Inside seating is almost claustrophobic. We visited on a Wednesday, only 2 waiters for the entire place, not a welcoming reception. Ordered Gnocchi w/ Malaysian curry which is good and flavourful and Broccolini, which is just okay. Everything took a lot of time, we've been waiting for about an hour overall for the entire visit. Not worth the price or time if you're a food enthusiast.
Casey Fitzgerald
Amazing food! I got the fish of the day and my friend had the duck. Both meals were amazing. Highly recommend
Doc \u0026 Bump Vlogs
Loved the food, ambience and service!!
N Y C
We did an early Friday night dinner here since we had heard so much about it. Our initial introduction was quite awkward and unwelcoming. It set the tone for a dinner that made us feel like we were a bother.
Upon walking in one of the servers asked if we had a reservation to which we answered no. She then asked if we preferred to be seated inside or outside. We stated outside and she invited us to sit anywhere we pleased. We sat at a table for four (two small tables put together) since my husband and I like sitting next to each other. Less than 2 minutes after sitting, a man who we now know is chef B. Lee, came over and asked if anyone else was joining us. We answered no and he said we needed to move to another table (other 4 seaters) or he would take one of the tables away and make it a 2 seater. We moved but it was just the strangest thing because 15 minutes later another couple was seated there.
The server was polite and kind, the food decent. I loved the blue crab donabe. The fried chicken appetizer was fine but the soba noodle was described to have a peanut sauce and we could not find that flavour. It was pretty bland. My husband thought his lamb was decent. In addition to my initial grievance, I noticed the chef routinely delivering dishes to all other tables and conversing with them but not ours. It was odd and felt like we were not welcome.
Overall not sure I’ll return since food is only part of the experience. The service, especially from the chef, was disappointing and I urge him to do better. Happy to spend any amount of money an artist assigns as a value to their craft but there are expectations the higher the price tag.
Isabel Cheng
Terrible and condescending service.
Sarah Shehata
Wow. This place is a flavor lovers dream. Incredible knowledge of flavors and how they play together is applied to every dish. I would say this is a Malaysian fusion restaurant. East asian elements. The lamb special had a bit of Middle Eastern flare. The menu rotates. Specialls very. Desserts vary. We sampled everything from the apps to the desserts. It's worth the price. Which isn't bad when you consider what you are getting and the ingredients involved. Excellent service. Great ambiance. Call ahead to make a reservation. Parking can be iffy. Street parking out front is free after 5pm, but is usually gone by 6pm.
Parking: After 5pm on weekend free street parking.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Shank, Crab Rangoon
DREW PATTERSON
Unfortunately, our service was very bad. We were barely checked on, didn't get a drink we ordered, water went unfilled for nearly the entire duration of our meal. We had been looking forward to trying Akar for months. We were told our server was new, of which I am understanding, but it led to a service experience that was far below the cost of the meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Crispy Chicken, Gnocchi
Bhavin Parekh
I had a very bad experience. I was made to sit at the bar where there was no seating available but they arranged it since I called them ahead to book for 1 person. It was very shabby and not clean. After I get as seated, someone else came in without reservation (party of 1) but was given table. When I asked for the table I was told to come back after 2 hrs. These guys are in service industry but lack basic sense .
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Virginia Thompson
Awesome food!!!
G R
First of all, the food was amazing! No complaints about the food at all. Coming to the actual reason why it is a 3 star for me was the service. We made called in and made a reservation a day earlier and did receive a call back confirming the reservation. When we went in, they insisted that they do not have us on their reservation and advised us that we can sit outside and have the meal (let me tell you it was in 90s outside). When we tried to show them that we did receive a call back, the manager or the person-in-charge was very indifferent and said I am trying to accommodate you even though you have reservation! Later when we sat outside and made our drink orders, one if the servers came up yo us and asked us to sit inside as there was a cancellation. Wouldn’t be visiting this place again
Our waiter was extremely rude. When I asked questions about a certain dish, he was short and rude, as if I was inconveniencing him with my questions. When the meal came out, he brought a completely different dish than what was ordered by my sister and didn’t try to rectify the situation. Flavors were great, but service was so bad I wouldn’t go back.
Prashant Bhandari
This is such a cool place. The food and the cocktail was spicy, quite matching flavors of the asian streets and while making it with a classy smooth finish. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
P L M
Kid-friendliness: ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Flodder
Recently had dinner here with friends and what a treat! There was a slight buzz of chatter throughout the restaurant but not above having a wonderful conversation with your table guests. Our table of four are “share-ers” so we tried the lamb shank, scallops(the two specials), and duck breast. We also tried the shrimp and greens salad app(can’t remember what they actually called it). ALL FOOD WAS DELICIOUS! The spotlight was definitely on how tender the lamb shank was that just fell off the bone, and in close second was the black forbidden rice with the scallops…..talk about a flavor bomb. Long story short, get here and try the specials…you won’t be disappointed. Ps. Only dock on star was the front seating. It was padded and comfy on the seat however the only option for a back was far back on the window which rattled if you leaned on it. Possibly a few pillows tossed for use if needed? (Personal thought after 90 mins of no back support)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Shank
Alexis Hendrickson
So underrated. Best espresso martinis in town. Great service / ambience. Super veg friendly.
The location is peaceful. It's a small place though, Inside seating is almost claustrophobic. We visited on a Wednesday, only 2 waiters for the entire place, not a welcoming reception. Ordered Gnocchi w/ Malaysian curry which is good and flavourful and Broccolini, which is just okay. Everything took a lot of time, we've been waiting for about an hour overall for the entire visit. Not worth the price or time if you're a food enthusiast.
Amazing food! I got the fish of the day and my friend had the duck. Both meals were amazing. Highly recommend
Loved the food, ambience and service!!
We did an early Friday night dinner here since we had heard so much about it. Our initial introduction was quite awkward and unwelcoming. It set the tone for a dinner that made us feel like we were a bother.
Upon walking in one of the servers asked if we had a reservation to which we answered no. She then asked if we preferred to be seated inside or outside. We stated outside and she invited us to sit anywhere we pleased. We sat at a table for four (two small tables put together) since my husband and I like sitting next to each other. Less than 2 minutes after sitting, a man who we now know is chef B. Lee, came over and asked if anyone else was joining us. We answered no and he said we needed to move to another table (other 4 seaters) or he would take one of the tables away and make it a 2 seater. We moved but it was just the strangest thing because 15 minutes later another couple was seated there.
The server was polite and kind, the food decent. I loved the blue crab donabe. The fried chicken appetizer was fine but the soba noodle was described to have a peanut sauce and we could not find that flavour. It was pretty bland. My husband thought his lamb was decent. In addition to my initial grievance, I noticed the chef routinely delivering dishes to all other tables and conversing with them but not ours. It was odd and felt like we were not welcome.
Overall not sure I’ll return since food is only part of the experience. The service, especially from the chef, was disappointing and I urge him to do better. Happy to spend any amount of money an artist assigns as a value to their craft but there are expectations the higher the price tag.
Terrible and condescending service.
Wow. This place is a flavor lovers dream. Incredible knowledge of flavors and how they play together is applied to every dish. I would say this is a Malaysian fusion restaurant. East asian elements. The lamb special had a bit of Middle Eastern flare. The menu rotates. Specialls very. Desserts vary. We sampled everything from the apps to the desserts. It's worth the price. Which isn't bad when you consider what you are getting and the ingredients involved. Excellent service. Great ambiance. Call ahead to make a reservation. Parking can be iffy. Street parking out front is free after 5pm, but is usually gone by 6pm.
Parking: After 5pm on weekend free street parking.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Shank, Crab Rangoon
Unfortunately, our service was very bad. We were barely checked on, didn't get a drink we ordered, water went unfilled for nearly the entire duration of our meal. We had been looking forward to trying Akar for months. We were told our server was new, of which I am understanding, but it led to a service experience that was far below the cost of the meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Crispy Chicken, Gnocchi
I had a very bad experience. I was made to sit at the bar where there was no seating available but they arranged it since I called them ahead to book for 1 person. It was very shabby and not clean. After I get as seated, someone else came in without reservation (party of 1) but was given table. When I asked for the table I was told to come back after 2 hrs. These guys are in service industry but lack basic sense .
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Awesome food!!!
First of all, the food was amazing! No complaints about the food at all.
Coming to the actual reason why it is a 3 star for me was the service. We made called in and made a reservation a day earlier and did receive a call back confirming the reservation. When we went in, they insisted that they do not have us on their reservation and advised us that we can sit outside and have the meal (let me tell you it was in 90s outside). When we tried to show them that we did receive a call back, the manager or the person-in-charge was very indifferent and said I am trying to accommodate you even though you have reservation!
Later when we sat outside and made our drink orders, one if the servers came up yo us and asked us to sit inside as there was a cancellation. Wouldn’t be visiting this place again
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Our waiter was extremely rude. When I asked questions about a certain dish, he was short and rude, as if I was inconveniencing him with my questions. When the meal came out, he brought a completely different dish than what was ordered by my sister and didn’t try to rectify the situation. Flavors were great, but service was so bad I wouldn’t go back.
This is such a cool place. The food and the cocktail was spicy, quite matching flavors of the asian streets and while making it with a classy smooth finish. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kid-friendliness: ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recently had dinner here with friends and what a treat! There was a slight buzz of chatter throughout the restaurant but not above having a wonderful conversation with your table guests. Our table of four are “share-ers” so we tried the lamb shank, scallops(the two specials), and duck breast. We also tried the shrimp and greens salad app(can’t remember what they actually called it). ALL FOOD WAS DELICIOUS! The spotlight was definitely on how tender the lamb shank was that just fell off the bone, and in close second was the black forbidden rice with the scallops…..talk about a flavor bomb. Long story short, get here and try the specials…you won’t be disappointed.
Ps. Only dock on star was the front seating. It was padded and comfy on the seat however the only option for a back was far back on the window which rattled if you leaned on it. Possibly a few pillows tossed for use if needed? (Personal thought after 90 mins of no back support)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Shank
So underrated. Best espresso martinis in town. Great service / ambience. Super veg friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi
Loading...