Reserve now:
Bentara RestaurantReservations
Restaurant Reviews List >
New York / Tri-State Area Restaurant Reviews >
Connecticut Restaurant Reviews >
New Haven Restaurant Reviews >
Southeast Asian Restaurant Reviews
Bentara Restaurant Reviews List
Bentara Restaurant
Bentara Restaurant was first open in Connecticut in the town of North Haven in April of 1995. In May 1997, the operation was moved to our present location in the historic district of Ninth Square. Bentara Restaurant offers a blend of all different ethnicity & influences from Indian & Chinese cultures as well as Dutch, Portuguese & English to produce a unique mixture of dishes in the Malaysian dining experience.
See more Bentara Restaurant details
44 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4
/
5
Rating Breakdown 44 reviews
5 stars
(12)
4 stars
(24)
3 stars
(7)
2 stars
(0)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- fit for foodies(21)
- neighborhood gem(17)
- good for groups(15)
- special occasion(12)
- hot spot(7)
- romantic(7)
Bentara Restaurant Reviews List
Review 1 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
So much promise, only to fall short
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Found this restaurant on OpenTable, seemed to be well-reviewed. Hopes were high when the head waiter announced that this was the only authentic Malaysian cuisine in the U.S. That was what I was looking for, seeing as I'm from Malaysia. The food, however, was disappointing. It's nothing like what's served in Malaysia. Not even close. I'd say it's more like Asian-fusion-lite.
For example, I ordered their Beef Rendang. If you try it, you'll find it's poorly presented - looks like a curry with tiny chopped up pieces of meat - and is virtually unrecognizable to anyone from Malaysia.
Believe you me, you will be disappointed if you are hoping for anything other than a little spicy food.
Service, on the other hand, was outstanding."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 2 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
A birthday celebration
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We have eaten here many times and travel a good distance to do so. The food is always imaginative and delicious. The spices are amazing and the presentation is spectacular. It was my birthday celebration and our party was treated royally. The drinks were delicious and unusually strong. If you love to try different foods Bentara is a restaurant you will not want to miss."
Dined on 5/06/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 3 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Good food, atmosphere and service, enjoyed the experience."
Dined on 5/04/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, kid-friendly
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 4 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Unique, super tasty!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Lots of things on the menu you've probably never seen, but everything we had was really good. Two Soy is especially notable!"
Dined on 5/03/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 5 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Authentic Malaysian cuisine
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Authentic Malaysian cuisine not found anywhere else in the USA. Can't recommend this place enough. One of New Haven's best. Ambience is energetic (usually)and the place is huge with different dining settings depending upon the type of crowd you're with. Be sure to try the chicken satay!"
Dined on 04/25/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 6 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Good portion size and large
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Good portion size and large selection. Very varied menu. Food was very fresh and nicely presented. Very tasty and they regulated the hotness factor without sacrificing taste."
Dined on 04/25/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 7 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great for a dressy night out
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Great for a dressy night out with the girls. A wide selection of appetizers and entrees, making it suitable for different taste palates."
Dined on 04/24/2013
2013
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 8 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Still great after all these years!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"I had been to Bentara several years ago and decided to return for Restaurant Week... the service was excellent and the food was absolutely fabulous- good to know that things have only gotten better over the years. A great place if you are looking for something different. Looking forward to returning more frequently!"
Dined on 04/24/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 9 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Yey!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"They did a GREAT job, delicious food, great service!!! Yey!!!"
Dined on 03/29/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 10 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Portions. Are large and an
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Portions. Are large and an interesting selection, SE Asian is a less common selection. Regular spicy was quite mild"
Dined on 03/23/2013
2003
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 11 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Very quiet and pleasant experience.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Very quiet and pleasant experience. Food was great. Will attend again."
Dined on 03/11/2013
2011
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 12 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Awesome restaurant. However
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Awesome restaurant. However this was the first time I was in the back room which seems better suited for large parties. I much prefer the main restaurant for ambiance. It was very loud back there, especially due to a large party celebrating a birthday. But the overall experience was great. Good time, great food!!!"
Dined on 03/09/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 13 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
This was my second time at
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"This was my second time at Bentara in a long while and my wife's first visit. The food was as good as I remember. My wife is a vegetarian and there were plenty of choices for her to pick from. Food was excellent. Will visit again."
Dined on 02/23/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 14 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Good Food, Good Service.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Went with a last-minute 6:30 PM reservation for a Friday night - and was pleasantly surprised with a lovely window seat. Nice ambiance, excellent waiter. Had a house specialty martini, shared appetizer of beef/chicken sate (excellent) and mussels (outstanding). Salmon for dinner, my partner had a noodle dish. Really lovely, nice find in downtown New Haven which seems to be having a nice growth of good places to eat! Wish more of them were on Open Table."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly, late-night find
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 15 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We have been to Bentara's
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We have been to Bentara's may times and love the food. It has great Malaysian food and they allow you to spice the food to your liking."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, great for lunch
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 16 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Soups are fabulous. Other
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Soups are fabulous. Other dishes are inconsistent."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2007
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 17 for Bentara Restaurant
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The particular night our party
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The particular night our party of 5 went to Bentara's, the Restaurant was very, very busy. The staff was still quite attentive. Have been to Bentara's over the years. Still has a fresh look. Food was well presented. Portionsare generous. A nice gem in New Haven."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Ratings-Only Reviews for Bentara Restaurant
Based on the average of (27) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
2 out of 2 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic