The Aroma Bistro — Restaurant in Abbotsford

As soon as we opened the front door there was an offensive odour, and I should have turned around then. The restaurant was dim, and dingy. It is attempting to present as upscale, but the carpets were dirty, the booths were shabby, and the low lighting seemed as though it was an attempt to hide that rather than add to the ambience.

There was no music playing, so you could not only hear all the conversations going on in the kitchen, but also the toilet being flushed and the sink running in the bathroom. Five+ large televisions are mounted over the bar, in direct contrast to the decor. It feels like this restaurant has no identity.

The menu is unfocused, and bizarre. They claim to be Mediterranean with a Canadian slant, but then have dishes like kung pao chicken, and a quesadilla. The menu is too big, and too varied for anything to be executed well, and that was definitely our experience.

I had the special, a lasagna that was recommended strongly by our waiter. It was a large portion, as promised, but that was the only positive. The sauce was boring. The edges were overcooked, and hard to chew. The cheese on top was browned on the surface, and barely melted underneath. The garlic ciabatta bread had never even been in the same room with a clove of garlic, and was dry. I didn't finish, and the left overs ended up in the trash.

My husband had the steak, which he said was fine, but the mashed potatoes were mediocre, and the vegetables were almost certainly frozen, and overly soft. In the middle of August in farm country there is no excuse for not serving fresh, seasonal produce with a ~$40 plate.

Our other guest had the caesar salad and prawns, and her garlic ciabatta bread was equally disappointing, the salad only passably good.

The drinks menu reads like a cocktail guide for novices. No signature cocktails, nothing modern or interesting. Long Island Iced Teas and Kamikazes are something even an amateur bartender can make, and seem very dated.

I was disappointed with every aspect of our dining experience, with the exception of the staff. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and affable. The food took a reasonable amount of time to arrive. I believe the kitchen staff is making due with a crummy menu, bad recipes, and lackluster ingredients.

Save yourself the disappointment, and spend your money elsewhere. I absolutely will...

A True Gem

Aroma Bistro has quickly become one of our go-to spots, and it’s easy to see why. The ambiance strikes a perfect balance—it’s not too bright, not too loud, and spacious enough to feel comfortable no matter the occasion. Whether you’re looking for a quiet, private date night or a more social experience in the bar area, Aroma has you covered. There’s honestly not a bad table in the place.

The staff are exceptional. Every single one of them is personable, attentive, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu. They make you feel taken care of, whether it’s your first visit or, like us, your hundredth. You’re treated like family every time, and that consistency is something we’ve come to really appreciate.

We’ve been coming here for a while now, even through the recent ownership changes, and it’s clear Aroma is on track for great things. The new owner is respectful, friendly, and always makes time to check in with customers, ensuring everything is just right. That kind of personal touch really sets this place apart.

The menu has evolved, and in my opinion, it’s better than ever. There’s such a great variety of cuisines, with options to suit just about anyone. The prices are competitive, especially considering the quality and taste of the food. I’ve yet to be disappointed—in fact, I’m always excited to try something new on the menu.

The kitchen is led by a passionate young chef whose attention to detail shines through in every dish. You can tell he takes pride in his work, and it shows in the flavors and presentation.

They also offer a Sunday brunch for an incredibly affordable $20 a plate. While we haven’t tried it yet, it’s a fantastic option to keep in mind for a weekend treat. Some days, we stop in just for the cozy atmosphere and to shoot some pool, but we always end up staying for the amazing food and warm hospitality. Even if we’re just grabbing a coffee, Aroma makes us feel right at home.

Aroma Bistro has set the bar high for dining in our community. From the incredible food to the warm and welcoming service, it’s a place that consistently delivers. We’re thrilled to have a spot like this to count on, and we’re excited to keep coming back to enjoy everything they have to offer. Here’s to many more visits and continued...

Went on a Friday night and the place was... Dead. A few tables were seated, but definitely not many.

Prices are high. Most cocktails are $14, which I took as a good sign that they would be stellar. Oh was I so wrong.

Our table all ordered the same drinks. First, our server (who was amazing) came to tell us the bar was slammed and our drinks would take a while. They probably took half an hour and let me refer you to my first paragraph... There was hardly anyone there. When our drinks finally came, they all came out differently. They all looked different and tasted different. Not to mention, they were so watered down. We tried several drinks and none of them were good. They were fine. But not good and definitely not great. We ordered one that should have come out with the bubble to pop on top and it definitely did not come out like that. Other drinks we ordered were clearly missing ingredients listed on the menu. We came to have drinks, and likely would have closed the bar down if they were good, but we were very disappointed by the drinks experience and left by 9.

We also ordered food. Which came out pretty much at the same time as our drinks, even though we ordered well after our drinks. It was... Very meh and pretty bland. Nothing was amazing and at that price point, it definitely should be. It was fine, but when we got home we said we were disappointed we spent so much money on dry, bland food.

One of our servers was great. Zero service complaints. She was funny, attentive, and communicative about the bar being slow. Absolutely lovely. The other server came and took our drink menus away (which we had asked to hold on to) before we were done with them, while we were eating. So she was pushing her way between us to grab the menus. Definitely made it feel like we were supposed to be leaving, mid bite. She then cleared away drinks and cups that we were still using. She also took half the tables drinks orders and then left before getting everyone elses.... Very weird.

Would I go back? No. I definitely wouldn't. We were all excited to have a good food and drinks place in Abbotsford and it's so disappointing to see its just another mediocre restaurant.

Want to regretfully spend a tonne of money on bland...