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Araka Restaurant Reviews List
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Araka Restaurant
131 Carondelet Plaza
Clayton, MO 63105
The culinary philosophy of both Executive Chef Michael Burnau and Chef de Cuisine Ryan Cooper is to use simple market fresh and pure ingredients to create flavorful and memorable dishes. In addition to our meat and fish dishes, our expansive vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free selections all contain healthy vegetables, and proteins, without sacrificing flavor. We look forward to seeing you!
Dining Style: Casual Dining
Price: $30 and under
Parking: Valet
Cross Street: Hanley Rd.
Clayton, MO 63105
The culinary philosophy of both Executive Chef Michael Burnau and Chef de Cuisine Ryan Cooper is to use simple market fresh and pure ingredients to create flavorful and memorable dishes. In addition to our meat and fish dishes, our expansive vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free selections all contain healthy vegetables, and proteins, without sacrificing flavor. We look forward to seeing you!
Dining Style: Casual Dining
Price: $30 and under
Parking: Valet
Cross Street: Hanley Rd.
56 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Rating Breakdown 56 reviews
5 stars
(22)
4 stars
(21)
3 stars
(8)
2 stars
(4)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- fit for foodies(28)
- special occasion(25)
- romantic(21)
- notable wine list(14)
- hot spot(11)
- vibrant bar scene(11)
Araka Restaurant Reviews List
Review 1 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Loved the foie gras - sorry
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Loved the foie gras - sorry to see Araka close"
Dined on 03/08/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups
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Review 2 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Great food and service. Sorry
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Great food and service. Sorry they will be closing. Beautiful decor hope the new restaurant owners don't change it too much."
Dined on 03/06/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, late-night find, romantic, hot spot
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Review 3 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food was very good. Menu
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Food was very good. Menu offered excellent choices -- meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan --perfect for my family. Our waiter was especially good. So sorry to learn the restaurant is closing"
Dined on 03/02/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list
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Review 4 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Our appetizer was very good
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Our appetizer was very good and the entre was good - grouper very good and the chicken was just okay. The waiter was also good, but we had to wait over an hour and a half for our food once we ordered. I have never drank a bottle of wine before my dinner was served."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2013
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Review 5 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Saturday night , restaurant
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Saturday night , restaurant was only half full and our waiter would still not be seen for 20 minutes at a time. Food good but with that service we will never be back ."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene
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Review 6 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Awesome dining experience!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Excellent food and great ambiance. Our waiter was new so not as informed about wines and menu items but very pleasant young man."
Dined on 02/13/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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Review 7 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
My husband and I have a 7
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"My husband and I have a 7 month old, so we were really looking forward to a nice Romantic Valentine's Dinner alone. When we got to Araka we were seated promptly and greeted by our server. There were so many delicious looking items on the menu we couldn't pick just one, so we decided to order several appetizers and a couple salads. Despite only ordering appetizers and salad, it took a half an hour for our salad to come out. Then another 30minutes for our food to come out and once they arrived they were cold. We rarely saw our waiter and to avoid spending any more time at Araka we ate our cold food. Then waited another 20 minutes for the check. Our total dinning experience was close to 2 hours. Needless to say we were quite disappointed."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2007
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Review 8 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
I ordered the Australian lamb
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I ordered the Australian lamb and do not regret it. It was delicious."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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Review 9 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great for a business lunch.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Great for a business lunch. Foood was very good quality and well prepared. Convenient parking in the garage behind the restaurant, a plus for a Clayton restaurant. We will definitely be back."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 10 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food was delicious and the
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Food was delicious and the wait staff very attentive."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 11 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
A little disappointed that
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"A little disappointed that we were seated upstairs in a very unattractive. The downstairs is lovely. Will request a
different table when I go again."
different table when I go again."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2006
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Review 12 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We came to Araka for Clayton
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We came to Araka for Clayton restaurant week. Everything we had was expertly and perfectly prepared and cooked, from the beet salads to the steamed mussels, to our entrees of salmon and flatiron sirloin, both deliciously seared and at perfect medium temperature. Great ambiance, lovely design, and wonderful service. I'd like to come back to try some more adventurous menu options."
Dined on 01/25/2013
2011
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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Review 13 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great menu for restaurant
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Great menu for restaurant week. They did not include a dessert instead you had 3 courses of real food. We picked them becasue of this"
Dined on 01/26/2013
2010
Special Features: late-night find, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, hot spot
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Review 14 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We went for Clayton restaurant
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"We went for Clayton restaurant week. Very nice variety of menu selections. Really appreciated the vegetarian options. Food was very good, ice cream (salted caramel and white chocolate banana-house made) was excellent. Wine list was also exceptional."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2007
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Review 15 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Very good as always. Really
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Very good as always. Really enjoyed the salmon - the duck confit ravioli was a disappointment however. Thought they'd either be boiled or soft pasta, not baked. Sauce was flavorful, but couldn't eat the ravioli w/o it."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining
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Review 16 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
A wonderful Clayton Restaurant
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A wonderful Clayton Restaurant week experience.Great wine list, delicious food and appropriate amounts and choices. We will definitley be back soon!"
Dined on 01/25/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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Review 17 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Enjoyed Araka very much. Will
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Enjoyed Araka very much. Will go back."
Dined on 01/25/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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Review 18 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
It was Clayton restauraant
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"It was Clayton restauraant week so we expected smaller portions for the $25.00 three course menu but wanted to introduce our visiting NYC daughter to the restaurant. Much to our delight, there were plenty of choices for each course and the plates were were not only bountiful but presented beautifully. And most important DELICIOUS, as good as the finest restaurants in NYC."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot
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Review 19 for Araka Restaurant
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Apps were okay, but the entrees
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Apps were okay, but the entrees were average at best. As an example, the pork loin was an overcooked boneless chop. Nothing to write home about. We were disappointed. Unfortunately we can't recommend."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2009
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Araka Restaurant
Based on the average of (37) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate