Someone told me about this place, and that she has been wanting to go. I decided that it sounded like a place I'd like so another friend of mine and I decided to go. She called to set a reservation, thank goodness, because they only had bar seating for two left. When we arrived we walked up and entered the door. Wow, this place is little. I mean little but elegant. We were seated at the bar, which will only seat 4 people total. Once seated it just felt like we were in a different country. It's is just so unique. We had a couple glasses of wine while eating our appetizer. I had ordered the fish special, which I honestly don't even remember what type of fish but it was excellent. 3 glasses of wine, and appetizer and two entrees we are over $100.00. Just putting that out there so your aware. Great place, another unique thing is that if you need to use the restroom, you litterally walk through the kitchen to get there. read more

Akar - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

We enjoyed a night at this cozy and charming restaurant recently. Servers were prompt and friendly. Having eaten here several times in the past I was a bit disappointed in the food. Somehow the care, and attention to detail for this price point seemed a little off. read more

Everything was delicious and service was amazing! Open patio seating, very limited indoor seating currently so call for reservation on cold days. read more

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We made reservations last minute for nye dinner. The menu looked really good and I read that it was a new hot spot. I also liked the fact the menu had Asian influences. Ambience: the restaurant was super small but cozy. Food: The lobster Rangoon and soft shell crab sounded more appealing than they tasted. The star dish of the night was the short rib. I wasn't as excited for the meat dish as short rib can be pretty fatty but taste wise, it was outstanding. It was accompanied by carrots, whole garlic and puréed broccoli ? They gave u very generous portions. Our couple friends ordered the sea bass and it was also very delectable and large. The chocolate ice cream with candied banana that my hubby ordered was good but not my preferred dessert choice. read more

Akar - Lobster Rangoon, soft shell crab, short rib and Halia cocktail (rum, pumpkin spice, ginger beer) - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

My partner and I made a reservation for dinner to celebrate a special occasion, and Akar did not disappoint. We walked into a small but cozy room and were seated promptly. We ordered the roasted chicken and noodles as our entrees, and caved in and got the rangoon ravioli and chicken satay appetizers as well. The appetizers arrived quickly, and the rangoon ravioli was nothing short of delectable. It was rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. The entrees were delicious and well-portioned, which was great because many restaurants in this price range fall short on portion size. The service was professional and punctual, making for a great dinner experience! read more

Akar - Rangoon ravioli and peanut noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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It took 36 minutes for a rushed waiter to ask if we wanted a drink. We had to ask for menus. It took 1.15 hours from arrival to get appetizers. The food is good, not great, and we felt completely ignored. Just not worth it.... read more

It was a lovely experience from the moment we arrived. I didn't want to leave! The server was very attentive and shared various recommendations. The dishes at this establishment were impeccable. Compliments to the chef! I look forward to returning! read more

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Food is amazing, you can sit on the patio (heaters are perfect)...I mean...what more could you want?

Best duck I have ever had! Both drinks whisky and brown sugar and the espresso martini were great! Out of some options but definitely worth it no matter what they have! Vegan ice cream is great! read more

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The service here was exceptional. The flavors in our food were also amazing (chili shrimp dumplings, lobster risotto, duck breast). However, risotto came out room temperature and was a little under but I appreciated the bite it had and the PHENOMENAL lobster pieces in it. Duck flavor was out of this world but uniformity was an issue with parts of it being too dry to eat. Definitely worth returning! read more

We've heard about this place for awhile and finally was in the city to give it a try. It did not disappoint! The food was phenomenal! Highly recommend! The service was excellent. We were consistently being taken care of...super small but classy ambiance. Check it out! read more

The food was delicious and unique. Wonderful cocktails. We'll definitely go back the next time the occasion justifies a splurge.

Very tasty. Worth the visit. Tried the lamb shack and the petit gateau with red berries. read more

Akar - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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This is the first time I've been here and it was fantastic! The server was nice and funny and the food was amazing! Definitely give it a try! read more

Came here again for the second time for Sunday brunch. We ordered the soft shell crab with grits and the Sichuan pepper bacon as our new items. We also ordered the slinger from last time because it was that delicious. The pepper on the bacon is what we call "cold spice." I liked that they didn't douse the bacon in the pepper and it was the right amount of cold spice. My husband usually doesn't like eating seafood with shells/a crunch. For example, he refuses to eat whole shrimps flash fried at Chinese restaurants because of the outer shell. I was worried that he wouldn't like the soft shell crab but he loved it. I also thought it was delicious. What I really liked was that the grits were not overly flavored and it was bland. Bland may sound like a bad thing but in this case, it's exactly what the dish needed. The crab had its own natural flavor and with the fried component, it would have been too much/too heavy for the grits to have strong flavoring as well. It's similar concept to how Asians always eats their meat with plain white rice. Extra star for the waiter remembering us from last time! Now that we have been here twice for brunch, we want to come back for their dinner menu! read more

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Always a fabulous and delicious evening at Akar---brings us back to Southeast Asia! Especially delightful last night with Remy's excellent service! read more

We've been coming here since it opened. Always supported during COVID as much as we could. We've brought friends with us on multiple occasions for their first time. The last 2 times we were there, the same server was incredibly rude and made us uncomfortable. Started off being super rude as we checked in. He was also our server but not dressed in the typical server gear the others had on. We thought maybe he was the owner. After the rude encounter at the bar, when he arrived at our table, I asked if he was the owner. I wanted to compliment him on how much we love the space and food and wanted to tell him we are glad to have him in the neighborhood. Well, I made the mistake in asking if he was the owner...only to have in aggressively lean in with his hands on the table, look me square in the eye, and say "why? Because I'm Asian?" No, because you're not wearing a server uniform. I was immediately in defense mode not sure what to say so I confusingly tried to explain why I asked. He didn't care, walked away. It was the worst service we've ever had. Apologized to our friends. As we were signing the check, he again showed up and told us we had to leave immediately as the next reservation had just walked thru the door. That was the final straw. We eat out in the area at least 6 nights a week. I was a server for years, we tip big and never complain. Until now Mr. Owner, please know we love your food but will never spend another dollar there. I think you need to know this is happening and from others we've talked to, we are not alone. Your hard work and passion deserve better servers. This guy should be no where near a service industry. read more

#BradyEats Dining al fresco may be the best option to experience their twists on cocktails & food creations. Start by ordering fresh baked w Miso butter. Then enjoy crab Rangoons, then the Korean Fried Cauliflower. Split the short rib while ordering at least two cocktails they really add to the experience. Staff works well together in a relatively small restaurant-space. #TotalWinos insight: No wine tonight, although they did have some solid choices. Sean J. Brady on #Vivino read more

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Amazing food and service! Did a take out meal this time, and it was totally worth it!

Our waitress was absolutely amazing and the definition of polite and attentive. I have a severe shellfish allergy and she could not have been more considerate and alert to it. My friends and I will definitely be returning here soon, and cannot wait to experience the staff and environment of Akar again. read more

Ambiance was excellent. Waiter was accommodating even though we were quite late to the reservation. Food was high quality but definitely keep in mind that it is $$$. read more

Akar - Sea bass-fish of the day - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Have been here twice now and always blown away by the quality and service. My first time here it was in the spring and now they've added an outdoor heated tent. There's only about 12 seats inside but plenty of outdoor space and the outdoor heated tent is pretty comfy that you can take your jacket off. Everything on the menu is great, my particular favorites are the Rangoon ravioli, sweet potato gnocchi, and Japanese eggplant. I've also tried the mapo tofu, kfc, and udon kicks and are great options especially for vegetarians. The Rangoon ravioli has a ton of flavors and comes paired with this mango sauce. It doesn't just taste like you're eating a fried thing. I'm particularly impressed by the sweet potato gnocchi which tastes more like a curry than a pasta since it has a Malaysian curry on top. The chickpeas that come with it come out super crispy and don't get soggy with the sauce. The best part is the minced mushrooms on top. read more

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Chef has put lots effort into his dishes I wanted to try everything from the menu, and could not decide what to have. So I ordered duck for appetizer and beef rib as main course. Duck skin was crispy, fat would melt into your mouth. Red wine sauce was not over powering. Combined with saffron rice and pickled onions. Absolutely delicious. The favorite was very complex. Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation. Side dishes were flavorful. read more

Akar - Duck - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Incredible dining experience. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily the weather was gorgeous and they had extra seating outside, which was honestly preferred. Great patio. We (2 of us) ordered the lobster Rangoon, maitake mushrooms, and pickled cabbage to start with Japanese eggplant and the scallops. I'm glad we ordered the pickled cabbage to cleanse the palate between bites. The standouts of the meal were the mushrooms and scallops - those dishes were works of art with flavors and textures expertly balanced in each bite. If I return, I'd say 3 sides and a main would be plenty. Clearly a gem in St. Louis and worth the hype! read more

Akar is a quaint restaurant with limited indoor seating. We arrived around 8pm Friday and found the restaurant fully seated indoor and outdoor. Our reservation was at 830 pm. The server was friendly and attentive. She put together a small table and 4 chairs for us to use while we wait for the table to open up. We were able to order a bottle of wine and drinks while seated at this make shift seating area on the side walk which was pleasant and reminded me of being overseas. We were seated indoor. The food was spot on and delicious. Soft shell crab and sushi selection were all delicious. I would visit again read more

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This place has my whole heart!! The servers are very knowledgeable, professional, and friendly and the interior and ambiance are impeccable. We got the cucumbers and mushrooms to start and they were both 10/10. Just enough flavor and not overdone. I had the short rib as my main dish and I still think about it regularly. Sooooo juicy and tender and the pea purée is an incredible contrast to the meat. I recommend this place to all of the foodies out there- you'll be in for a treat!! read more

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LISTEN UP! READ THIS: I have not been so incredibly, fully and utterly wowed by a meal in 2020 until today when I ate at Akar! Tonight, my boyfriend treated me to a birthday dinner of my choice. I wanted to go out, try to feel as normal as we could during this crazy time and sample a new restaurant we've never tried. I had heard of Akar a few times, all highly recommended by fellow Elites. Giving a quick glance at the menu, I was a bit apprehensive, because there's not much description given, and there are a lot of ingredients I wasn't familiar with. Additionally, I couldn't pin down the exact cuisine served at Akar. But I trusted the recommendations and we took a leap! And thank goodness we did. The main item on the menu that caught my attention was the Rangoon Ravioli. We sat down and before even looking at the menu or ordering a drink, I put in an order for the appetizer. I was pretty excited to give them a try. Their wine menu is quite vast, but still feels well curated. And their cocktail menu featured so many amazing combinations that it was hard to pick. But being a bourbon guy, I had to give their take on an old fashioned a try. WOW! It was absolutely the best old fashioned I have ever had in my life. The secret to this cocktail was the chocolate bitters they used. I was hesitant at first because I didn't want a sweet drink. It was so insanely smooth and well balanced. The chocolate came very subtly at the finish of the drink. I liked it so much that I ordered a second one. I wish I could be hooked up to an IV and have this drink pumped directly into my bloodstream. As if appetizers and drinks werent' enough to fix Akar as a staple of my "eating out" portfolio, dinner really stole the show. My boyfriend ordered the sweet potato gnocchi which was served with crisp fresh veggies. The dish was smothered in a buttery sauce that had a hint of sweet curry. The light heat of the pink peppercorns played well with the sweet tenderness of the pasta. I almost ate his entire meal. The only thing that stopped me from inhaling his meal was the massive portion of chicken tikka masala I was served. I have never. NEVER! Eaten chicken so tender. The sauce was perfectly spiced. It had heat without needing to follow each bite with a sip of water. I wish I could accurately put into words the harmonious dance of flavors that danced a samba on my palate. I was initially put off by the idea it was served with brown rice, but the tenderness of the grain was so incredible with the tender meat. I was so tempted to order a second meal to-go for lunch tomorrow. Go to Akar. Within a few bites and a few sips, you will be as utterly hooked as I am. While you may look up the menu and be weary of the prices, rest assured that this is not a restaurant that inflates their prices to seem like a fancy restaurant. My meal was worth every cent. I wish I could give this restaurant 10 stars. read more

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Went out first night of the new restrictions with no indoor dining. The heated tent was decently warm but probably will be chilly in actual winter. Appetizers we had soft shell crab and the rangoon. The crab seasoning was delicious and the corn side has a good flavor and slight heat. The Rangoon had decent amount of lobster and the dipping sauce was good. Entrees we had the lamb special and the duck special. Both delicious. I have to day the lamb fell off the bone soooo good. Drinks....yes...get the drinks. The espresso martini O.M.G. so good with real espresso. I also had the epal which was great as well. read more

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Went on a date here last night with my sister, and had a really great time. Service was wonderful, and food was quite good. I found that the flavor on each dish could have been ramped up a smidge (thus the four instead of five stars), but textures, ingredients, and quality were all top notch. We shared the lobster rangoons to start, which were tasty and perfectly crispy. The chunks of lobster in the rangoons were impressively large, sweet, and tender. We shared the duck breast special with cous cous and the short rib for entrees. The short rib was easily pulled apart with a fork (no knife necessary!), and the whole head of roasted garlic was a delicious addition. I wished the meat was salted a bit more, but the flavors of ginger, soy, and other aromatics still came through nicely. The pearled cous cous was also really wonderfully soft, and the vinaigrette was the perfect complement to both the duck and the cous cous. The duck did require a heartier knife, and my sister and I found ourselves working our butter knives to get through it. I wish there was more of the acidic vinaigrette to bring punch to the meat, but I was still satisfied dipping my chunks back into the bowl to get more of the sauce. Overall it was a great dinner, and they had an assortment of seemingly nice patrons throughout the evening as well. I heard the waitress calmly talk to a group waiting while there were empty tables about how they prioritize service over fast turn over, and really respected both the concept and the tact with which it was delivered. It was fun to people watch on the patio, and there was an interesting circuit of attractive solo diner, some kind of semi-celebrity couple (they were approached for a picture by strangers!), a family dining out with their two-year-old, and a couple in their golden years enjoying dinner and wine together (#goals). I'm excited to come back here again read more

Food is very good with unique combinations that work well together and they have a nice variety of drinks. I was part of a group of 6 and was disappointed to learn that they would not do separate checks beyond 4 which wouldn't work for a group of 6, so we had to figure everything out on our own. Our group has been going out together monthly for over 30 years and have never experienced this. I would go back but not take a large group. read more

First time inside. In past always was on their intimate patio. Inside they have three spaced seatings for four tables and a bar. This restaurant is better and better. A great variety of interesting Asian fusion dishes. And generous portions. Incredible specialty drinks very personal service Soon to double the size si easier to get a reservation read more

We dined here last week and had a wonderful experience all around. One of the best restaurants in St Louis, without doubt. Wonderful menu from small plates (the wild mushroom starter is divine, as is the pickled cabbage) to larger offerings (the rainbow trout was one of the best I've had), creative and well-executed cocktails, and solid wine list. The decor is modern, minimalist sleek with an inviting patio for warmer days. Service is attentive and skilled. I would suggest that they make use of a host or hostess for seating however -given the higher price point one expects a little more upon entering than being pointed to tables and told to select whichever table one wants. Minor point and absolutely not a deal breaker. read more

First off, our waiter was absolutely lovely! We'd never been here and asked for suggestions and the waiter steered us towards winners and advised us against a couple things that he thought wouldn't go with items we wanted. We got the fried okra appetizer and the tempura soft shell crab appetizer. For entrées we got the Mapo Tofu and the char sweet chicken. All were delicious! For dessert we got the chocolate lava cake, which was also great but we discovered that it was a mini bundt cake with the "lava" poured into the empty center. The interior is cozy and dim. Service was stellar. Not quite five stars, but very, very close. Maybe next time! read more

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So delicious. Ambiance was great, service was efficient, portion sizes were on point. Did see some people get turned away at the door so make sure you make reservations. Will definitely be back. read more

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Great food I got the passion fruit honey mock-tail it had popping boba on top and they gave us fried green beans on the house that were amazing the sauce was great and it was just overall amazing read more

Akar - Lobster rangoons - Asian Fusion Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Wow!! What an intimate spot with great food. The table shared a handful of appetizers before diving into entrees which I could not recommend more! read more

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It was a small and also comfortable place in a modernist way. The soundscape was quiet Nu Jazz also known as Jazztronica or future jazz. Curtis, our wait person was kind, thoughtful, professional and unobtrusive. When he described the specials, my sister passed up the scallops with lobster sauce and went for the lamb shank and rice in Thai-style massaman curry sauce. She loved it! I equally loved the more subtly seasoned short rib with lightly steamed carrots and pea mash. The meats were tender and the sides were tasty. I had a nonalcoholic passionfruit fizz and she had a glass of wine. Full to the brim, we shared the mango tiramisu. We really wanted the bread pudding with ice cream which we were sure we would have liked more, but there was no more room in the inn. Outside seating is available for those who prefer it. So, yes, we do recommend that you gift yourself with eating here. The only thing we found unappealing was that no bread was offered except a la cart, and when we pay for bread we want delicious, well-presented bread. That's a restaurant policy for which one cannot blame the waiter especially when Curtis was five stars all the way! read more

Chef Bernie Lee perfectly plates his Southeast Asian comfort food on locally made, custom dinnerware that best suits each dish. Cocktails are delicious and creative. Small venue with big flavor; highly recommend! (Note I'd call ahead for reservations) I had the privilege of filming Bernie's backstory for an episode of Food is Love, which highlights the St Louis food scene. Visit his site to see episode & learn more akarstl.com read more

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great food. great service. I'm not sure the drinks are really mixed vs premade, but you'll have to ask. the noodles, cabbage, and especially the short ribs are fantastic. we loved the place. I doubt we'll return because the menu isn't our style, as there arent steak dishes. this isn't the establishment's fault. it's just how we are. we loved the place but capital grille continues to be the best in area to us. I'm glad we tried akar as it's outstanding. the short ribs literally fall off the bone. they're absolutely amazing. drinks seemed very overly sugary and premade in our opinion from mixes.. the drink issue is minor. The food here is special. read more

What a cute little place and we were so glad we went there to celebrate our anniversary. Due to covid only 8 customers at most allowed inside dining. We started with lobster ravioli Rangoon and fried spring rolls.Both were delicious. The rolls were a special for evening. My husband delighted in his duck breast and on a whim I ordered the short rib. Not my typical order by a long shot but it was really good. It was served over mashed peas that I thought were sooo good. Really? Mashed peas? It's true. Waiter surprised us with a little dessert- ice cream. Yummy. I can't forget to mention the Shibuya- kinda like an old fashioned but better. I hate whiskey/bourbon drinks but this was great. Great food and good service- we will be back. read more

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