Maybe we were too large and boisterous a crowd and the restaurant staff couldn't keep up. The bar tender was super helpful and attentive. The host and hostess were over zealous in their suggestions and made us order almost everything that they had us order. But the Flavors were not at par with the enthusiasm. Biriyani were mediocre. The curries were without a punch. The goat curry and lamb rogan Josh were below average; the chicken chop gravy and starters demanded more spice; fried fish too was below average. However, I will visit once more...to check it the crowd overwhelmed them or are they genuinely only focused on ambience and decor. Yes, one of the most well done Indian decors I have seen. Oh yes they had "rumali roti" which translates to bread as thin as handkerchief. Supposed to go very well with Indian curries if the curries are good. In edison where there are so many Indian options, they really will have to up their flavor game...just a great ambiance is not going to cut it. read more

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The place is well decorated and looks nice, I can't say the same about the food. The plates were dirty, service was subpar, and the food ranged from average to below average at best. read more

While the building and ambience are lovely, the quality of food has severely deteriorated. We found it to be mundane and lacking flavor. The sweet potato rolls contained only regular potato. The panner dishes were completely bland. Even worse, the service was subpar. The waiters neglected to check in on us, leaving us waiting 20-25 minutes at a time before bringing a new course or the dessert menu, despite repeated requests, on an early weeknight evening when the restaurant was only 1/4th full. The owner catered with much more gusto and attention to the few white patrons, ignoring the Indian clientele completely, a classic case of internalized racism. read more

I have been here few times during lunch buffet which was shutdown during Covid-19's. This time for late dinner. Menu items are customary for most upscale dinner menus. Lots of vegetarian dishes with other non vegetarian items. It's more pricey but service and ambiance is what you generally pay and enjoy while having quite dinner with light Indian classical music being piped in. Since I am familiar with some tunes they had same song was played over and over. Since I was by myself I had time to listen as well had opportunity to observe that. I did mentioned to waitress about it but she didn't notice it ... being busy making sure that patrons are taken care of. My curry was spicy as ordered snd rice was Basmati which is more soft and less chewy then Chinese rice... if you want to impress someone or have important guests who would like to try authentic curries this is the place. read more

Akbar Restaurant - Mixed vegetables curry/ rice/ naan and of course Cab - Indian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

Have dined here multiple timesand this is one of the upscale Indian dining spots in Central NJ area. It's hard to name something that's not good here. Let me name a few of my favorites and then get into others . Was introduced to Akbar by family in NJ. Tandoori Paneer sizzler, Lamb chops , Chicken chops ,Mughalai corn came highly recommended. Loved all of it . Meat was extremely tender, perfectly marinated and grilled in the tandoor making it a treat to feast. New finds in the appetizers are Chicken Hazarvi, Paneer pepper Chicken and Hara Bara kabab. It's hard to find any flaw in their appetizers. We have tried quite a few entrees Top of the list items Palak Softw which is a must have for us . It's a the child of palak paneer married to paneer burjee! True to it's name it's loaded with spinach flavor blended with paneer ( indian cottage cheese ) delicately spiced making it a healthy yet flavorful. Chicken Makhani is the classic Butter Chicken and they do it right . Mirchi ka Salan is a classic Hyderabadi curry and it's quite good here. Jeera rice is a pretty basic dish but many places don't season it well . I love the rice here . It's a great combination with their classic dal . Biriyani is worth trying too. It's not the typical Dum style , but quite different spiked with right balance of spices . For dessert Gulab Jamun and Qubani ka meetha are delectable and must have to bring closure to a almost perfect meal. I have almost always dined in for an a la carte meal , so most of my review is based on that, i tried their buffet for dinner as it was an option on a Sunday. Buffet food looked pretty appetizing . But the flavors were nothing compared to the same a la carte preparation . Recently we ordered food for pick up and I must commend Akbar for excellent packing, and all dishes including the tandoor cooked chops , salmon & kababs were so tender and almost onsite quality. Kudos to the staff and management, for the consistent quality & service , which proves why they have been around for a while . read more

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Akbar is definitely one of my favorite Indian restaurants in that area. I feel like you get the most delicious food for a very affordable price. I have been their several times and they haven't disappointed me and that's always a good thing because I will definitely keep coming back. I remember it so clearly but the first time I had their samosas, I gave it 10/10. They were freshly made, the presentation was on and it tasted so good. Their mango lassi is so delicious definitely 10 rating, it's thick, rich and something about it just makes you happy! You definitely know it's a great drink from the very first sip and you can have it with entree or dessert because it's so good. Now when it comes to the food, where do I start? Well you should definitely come there hungry because you will be leaving with a full stomach lol. From chicken biryani ask for it spicy if can handle it, and my personal favorite the chicken tandoori murgh. It comes out sizzling, smells so good, looks beautiful and tastes even better! So next date night, I would definitely recommend them and they also accept the restaurant.com gift certificates so it's really awesome! read more

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This is a good spot for authentic Indian food. It is also great for social gatherings as they have good private rooms. They have tons of parking and space. The service is good as well. The bar drinks come a little warm, so I would ask for extra ice. It could be a little cleaner in the bathrooms. It was very chaotic in there with a lot of stuff on the floor. read more

Great indian fine dining. Must try dish is murg hazarvi - trust me. Decor is a nod to the glory of old decadent early modern Indian cuisine represented by the great Mughal Empire. read more

I've already shared a detailed review. Very happy with the hospitality, Food and Ambience. Highly recommend this place. read more

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the food was terrible, we went to taste the menu to be able to pick the dishes for a catering event and even after returning it, to ask for it to be fixed, it came back without effort and they had the worst service. BEWARE! they don't care about the experience and just want to keep the money! read more

Great Indian food taste with the correct amount of quantity. Liked paneer chili and malai kofta. The roomali roti was up to mark, and I had fun eating the roti with malai kofta and paneer tikka masala. The service was quick and excellent. Food quality was also up to par. Strongly recommend my friends in NJ to visit the restaurant, and I will visit again whenever I'm in NJ. read more

I had been searching months to find a good place for my 50th birthday party and was so glad to have found Akbar. They did a great job of serving my party and were very helpful and nice! Food was great too of course! THANK YOU AKBAR! read more

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We attended india-Australia final cricket match at Akbar restaurant. They let this event organized by third party. It was disastrous. We were told that there would be 10 ft projector screen. It was lie. The screen was only 3 feet. Every few minutes, the streaming would stop. DJ was out of mind and left the hall at half time. The food was awful. I don't recommend anyone to attend any event at AKBar restaurant. * read more

Great food slow service did not like the automatic 18% service charge. Hope the waiter got it.

Food was cold, terrible buffet. Wouldn't visit again atleast for buffet. Staff was good and friendly, good service, but definitely would explore many other indian food options in Edison read more

Food is excellent but the billing is questionable. Automatic 18% service charge added for two people. Friends twice found the total for food incorrect. Love the food. Check your bill. read more

The service was top notch and plenty of parking. The soda tasted a little funny and my partner said the same about her salmon. Aside from that everything was perfect, there wasn't ever a time where we were waiting for food or drinks. I will definitely come here again, but I'll skip the soda next time. read more

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This was an amazing choice by my fiancée for our reception. The staff was helpful and we had the whole place for ourselves. Tasty food and grand chair for both us, plus a backyard with gazebo and lights perfect for our event photography. read more

Akbar Restaurant - Perfect for my small reception - Indian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

My niece wedding event took place third week of September 2020 ' for two consecutive days ' I tell you what these people know how to snatch $$$ from your pocket . Their service is beyond terrible, Their food is horrible and disgusting, frozen food microwaved, the place is so dirty. Very Unorganized & untrained staff ' they serve you food from previous Parties . You much rather have gatherings on the side of US route 1 & get your food from McDonald's than Akbar . So think twice people before you host any kind of event there 'cus it's gonna be an Embarrassment !! Do not host any parties or weddings here please for the sake of everything! HORRIBLE read more

Very good Indian food in Edison. This location is a hot venue for events, and of course, 2 different private parties were going on in the separate rooms while we were there. We sampled multiple appys including the chili paneer, moghli corn, samosas, and meat kabobs (with lamb, chicken, and tandoori chicken). I could have stopped there bc I was full. Everything was well seasoned and very good. Dinner included chicken tikka masala, Rogan Josh, multiple breads including aloo gohbi, roomali roti, and onion kulcha. Again, food was very good. Service was good. We did have a flash flood overflow of kids in the adjoining tables for about 40 minutes during our dinner. This may have caused some delay with our servers and meal, though we were in no hurry. We wanted to drink wine, which was a bit difficult bc they were put of most wines. We enjoy eating here and will be back. read more

The service is absolutely terrible. We had a big wedding event hosted here. They reneged on their commitments and promises. Overcharged and under delivered. Furthermore- we barely had any servers serving us food. Guests went hungry most of the event as we were unable to get all the food to the guests in an appropriate time. read more

Avg food, they add more color for any item and make it up. We only like kheema naan, rest all are below avg read more

I hate this place.i wish I never walked to this place. BETTER DONT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. In spite of paying a $500 deposit, we let it go and chose not to have our party hosted there. Background: I am from sf Bay Area and not very much aware of Edison Area. Based on a friends suggestion and it's history , we wanted to host our wedding reception party and paid a 500$ deposit. 10 weeks prior to our reception(2 and half months), we went to a baby shower party of that friend which has been organized at akbar. It's is a total disastrous experience for us. We are shocked looking at the cleanliness and the hospitality. 1) the cutlery is so bad and very untidy. It's very bad looking, not cleaned properly and wet. I am shocked and dint feel like using them as I saw food particles. 2) all guests had arrived and still food isn't ready. It made hosts feel embarrassed. 3) No service at all. There is no one looking after the party and making sure to remove the used plates. I find that very bad as the host is running in and out to management room trying to call someone for everything like getting plates cleared, asking again and again for servers to serve drinks etc I walked to the host and asked if everything is ok, he started saying more things .suggested me not to host and it's not worth it. He mentioned, 4) their contract includes decoration of the hall and then looks like it's not done and host have to seek help of his friends and do it. After experiencing the party of that friend, I decided not to take my chances and thus called up manager informing the same. He asked us to talk in person, he explained saying the price my friend paid is less and so is their service. I am speechless, how can cleanliness be tied to the quality of service. Providing properly cleaned cutlery is basic to me. He said our package is much higher than theirs and so we shall get better treatment. I am convinced and dint feel it right. He said I can talk to owner Mrs.Malhotra. Me and my fiancé went and met her, explained how our experience is, she insisted we should do our party with them. We aren't ready for it and requested atleast a partial amount of 500 as refund. They are not ready and said it's do it or leave it. I expected atleat a partial refund as they have 2+ months time We chose to leave it, $500 is not peanuts for us but getting embarrassed and being worried of petty things in hosting a party is not worth it. So decide before choosing this place. read more

Really one of the most useless restaurants around. The food is unpalatable and bathrooms are stinking no cleanliness, we are not in Mumbai slums this is America. Bad food!! Avoid!! Going here read more

I had my wedding here at one of their banquet halls. We were able to book it on relatively short notice and the crew did a great job of decorating. You get a decent variety of food options, and all the food is great. I was not disappointed with the food, vegetarian friendly, flavorful, and diverse. You get a good amount of options to choose for decor. They are familiar with South Asian Wedding customs so if that is what you're doing, you'll have an easy time. Overall, the experience went smoothly, with no major issues. The service was great, and the guests were happy. read more

The restaurant has a nice ethnic decoration from exterior to interior. I ordered two takeouts, chicken butter masala (murg lawbabdar) and akbari fish curry. Both curry sauces are good. Chicken and salmon were a little overcooked. Butter masala curry has intensive flavor of a sweet hot and rich flavor. It's creamy and satisfying. Akbari Curry consists a lot of ground spice bits. Chewing on them is an interesting curry experience. The takeout includes some raw onion slices as a garnishment for the curries. Sweet and hot flavors of raw onion go well with sweet and hot curries. read more

Great spot. 1) If you have a small event, this spot is great. 2) Their food is good, can't complain. 3) For dessert, get Shahi Tukda. One of the best Indian dessert I ever had. read more

This is probably the best indian food I've ever had! So flavorful, not just spicy hot. The kokum fizz was fruity without being too sweet, refreshing and full of flavor! The lychee martini was also so fruity without being sickeningly sweet. Obviously made with fresh fruit. The lamb in both dishes was so tender and the sauces were definitely made in house. You can pick out the fresh ingredients like cardamom seeds and coconut milk. For desert the chef made us something special: a saffron rose black pepper cake. It was like an Indian take on tres leches cake with an almond cream sauce. Absolutely delicious. This is our new favorite spot. read more

Akbar Restaurant - Goat Tikka masala + lamb pasanda w/ assorted roti - Indian Near Me - Edison, New Jersey

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The food was fabulous! I'm from Washington DC and was visiting the area just for a few days. Someone who was from the area recommended Indian food so we picked the closest place and Bam we were here. Admittedly I was intimidated by how beautiful this place looked and how shabbily I was dressed (I did not pack anything nice so I couldn't even change). But I mustered up the courage because my tummy was too hungry to wait to go anywhere else. When we walked in there was an event going on in part of the restaurant so I thought we would have to leave but there are two event spaces to the right and the actual restaurant is on the left. I believe a wedding reception was happening and two other event as well. They were holding multiple events when we arrived but we were never lacking in attention to our table. There were other patrons in the restaurant not associated with the other event goers. The menu was sorted by meat group. I got the chicken chop korma, it was delicious!!!! and the companion that i was with got the blackened fish (it was salmon) which came with a bed of salmon. Even though I'm not a fan of blackened anything I have to admit it was pretty good. Fyi to those who don't know, the main entree and the sides come separate. So we ordered some sides to go with our dishes. I should have ordered rice but I wasn't really feeling it, instead we had naan that was really nice. I also got one of their mocktails that had mango puree, pineapple juice and soda in it, it was delicious and a good alcohol substitute. All in all this place was lovely, a tad expensive but good indian food always is, so it was worth it. read more

One of my favorite Indian restaurants in the area. The food here never fails to disappoint. Today I tried the lemon coriander soup which I thought was still too spicy for me although I asked for mild, still delicious regardless. For my main course I ordered the fish curry that comes with salmon however the fish I received tasted and seemed more like tilapia than anything else. Overall, service was excellent and the atmosphere was calm. I'd recommend this place if you're looking to have more of romantic or upscale night read more

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Awful. Awful. Awful! My family have been coming to this restaurant for more than 20 years. We had food catered from them all the time. What's changed? The food was horrible. And, I specifically asked two times that the dishes I ordered be made mild and the woman taking the order said that was absolutely no problem. I'm North Indian so the dishes are very familiar to me, and I like spicy food but my partner can't tolerate it. Regardless, we have had countless wonderful dinners at various Indian restaurants and we have both been so pleased with the food. When we tried this food, it was as spicy as can be. No special instructions were written on the receipt which means the message from the lady taking the order never made it to the chef. The bhaingan bharta? What on God's earth was THAT? Awful. It was this big plate of mush without any distinct flavor and half cooked peas. The Palak Paneer was tough as shoe leather and something that could have come out of a can. The garlic naan was the worst I have ever had and close to being burnt. The tikka masala (they call it by a different name) was the only dish that was good but there were a handful of pieces of chicken in a sea of sauce. In the end 95 percent of what we ordered is going straight into the trash. Far from feeling let down, I feel totally ripped off. If this is what this restaurant is like now, count me out. Of all the Indian food I have ever had at restaurants from Los Angeles to Boston to NYC to the ones in NJ this ranked as, at best, a 2 out of ten and that is being very, very generous. If you are looking for good North Indian cuisine, skip this place. Any disillusion you may have about how good this place is going to be, it's nothing but hype. Their ornate exterior makes this place seem promising but it's a betrayal to what North Indian cuisine is and should be. And, for what some of their dishes cost, you are better off buying frozen entrees of Indian food from a grocery store-in all honesty some of them taste better than the garbage Akbar cooked up. They get one star because there is no option to give zero. And, I feel sorry for anyone who's not Indian who eats here because this garbage is what they will leave thinking good Indian food should taste like when the truth is that it's anything but that. read more

Very good food. The chicken tikka masala was very good and they prepared lamb vindaloo for me even though it wasn't on the menu. Both the lamb and chicken were prepared in a very creamy sauce. I dipped the garlic naan into the chicken tikka masala sauce after eating the chicken and it was fantastic. And don't even get me started on the interior which is absolutely beautiful. Will definitely be coming back here. The walls have mosaic on them. Also the waiter came up to us about ten times to ask if we were happy which was nice. Overall great food, interior and customer service. read more

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We hosted a wedding event at Akbar and boy things turned out to be a mess. I understand they had to work around with current Covid situation and all, but that can't be the excuse for meal service disasters. It was not coordinated at all and a complete mess. Frankly, half of our guests winded up grabbing Mc' D from across the street on their way back home. I completely agree with another reviewer, they've lost their touch - and now it's more of pay us full amount but expect service as if you were paying the half price. I think we are done hosting any more events here. read more

Chicken and goat curry was so good. Even our non Indian friends loved it. Ambiance is good too.

Had a 2 day wedding here this past weekend. We had plenty of guests and service was super bad. First day they put us inside second day instead of the first come first serve policy they put us outside in the freezing cold. Paid so much and the lighting outdoor was beyond off. Not only that but a majority of guests were left hungry. I understand covid circumstances but they literally gave a small bowl of cold food to a table of 8 guests expecting everyone to share. First day nobody got appetizers properly and food either. Second day same story barely got food. It was truly embarassing to have so many guests come from afar to be left hungry and cold. Please refund or atleast partially give half of what we owed back to the customers. Never coming back. read more

I've been here for 2 different parties now as well as dined in their restaurant section. I don't know how it as the one hosting the party but as guests I've always had a pleasant. As far as Indian food goes Akbars's is delicious, both in events and in their restaurant. The service is good. The banquet hall is pretty big, and I think they can remove the partition down the middle to make it a one large room. They have a beautiful garden in the back for picture opportunity. Getting here is a little tricky. If you think the GPS is mistakingly taking you down a wrong alley don't turn around! The restaurant is just well hidden. read more

Absolutely a marvelous find on our way to Baltimore. Looked at yelp reviews and the yelpers were begging us to go to this place - and we are glad we listened. The place really sizzles - portions are huge, ingredients are fresh, serving is quick and friendly, parking is easy, and the prices are reasonable. Try their pakoras - you will know what I mean. Pakoras are very susceptible to screw ups but they got it right. Their roasted eggplant is a must have - smoky and yummy. The yellow lentils were cooked to delight and perfection. Our final entree, Mattar Paneer (peas + cottage cheese in gravy) was served with fresh paneer and if the peas were frozen, I couldn't tell! read more

I just reloaded this app to speak to all my yelpers about this place and how to avoid it at all cost !!! I booked a hall at this location for a bridal shower and harassed our family begging us to pick a date and to work with their restaurant. After we finally agreed we had an agreement about the COVID-19 playing a roll and having to cancel the event. When the government began shutting everything down- we had to cancel our event and this restaurant stopped picking up phone calls and refused to give us our deposit back. That is terrible customer service. New Jersey is filled with amazing Pakistani Indian food and I would never go to this place again. read more

Review by a vegetarian: This is absolutely one of the best Indian lunch buffets I have ever encountered. My wife and I came to NJ for work, and happened to see the sign when we were looking for a place to have late lunch. Even after we saw the sign, it was still a challenge to find the restaurant (it's way around behind Office Depot). When we entered, there were a large number of people eating, all of them South Asian. A large group left as we were seated, and the dining room was mostly empty when we finished just before closing. The buffet included so many items I can't remember them all: papdi chaat, coriander lemon soup, masoor dal, saffron rice, paneer with a tandoor-style sauce, a potato masala, an eggplant masala, salads/pickles/chutneys, and two desserts, as well as two non-vegetarian items we didn't touch. All were seasoned very differently (no "curry powder" here), ranging from mild to moderately spicy, with all different kinds of sauce bases. Everything was wonderful. The atmosphere was very appealing; imagine a casual version of the country club in Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Everyone was friendly and courteous, and we were greeted and checked on by about six different people. We were offered a choice of breads, and had wheat roti, which was perfect. The bill for unlimited buffet lunch for two people was $19 including tax. read more

I have dined here few times. Birthday parties as well as casual dinners. Typical North Indian cuisine. Tandoor items are delicious. Veg dishes are OK. We had different types of ice creams. Mango and vanilla were good; no freezer burn or taste. They have a full bar service at a reasonable price. Service is very good. Staff is attentive and owner was present to make sure our party was going well. Location is ideal for us and building has plenty of space. Though some maintenance is needed. Parking is decent. Overall good experience and good bang for your buck. Give them a try. read more