Agni — Restaurant in Columbus

A weekend drive up the Scioto River lead me to the largest Bourbon Bar in Ohio. After a flight of bourbons I wondered into Clo Wine Gallery in downtown Delaware where the shop owner Nicole Vanderdofs questioned my thoughts on the best restaurant in Columbus. Without hesitation I remarked "Veritas", immediately thinking of their amazing sous vide wings and amazing lobster roll. Nicole next words were unexpected but also presented a challenge. "Have you ever been to Agni? I am sure if you had, you would change your mind!" Always up for a culinary challenge, it only took several weeks and a chilly Sunday to check Agni hours and decide to visit. Having starved the entire weekend due to Christmas parties and a overload of food served from trays. I was desperately in need of a good food and my mind craved it. Heading to the restaurant my cousin stated it was Indian cuisine and for a moment my culinary spirit was deflated. Still willing to preserve, I decided to take a chance and only order food from the bar menu. Arriving at the restaurant shortly after it open, the greeter informed us that there was only two chairs at the bar and they were reserved for a guest at 7pm. Considering it was only 5ish at the time, I immediately felt uneasy, but my inner self fought the urge to just leave. Finally being seated at the bar and the reserved sign removed, the bar staff was not only knowledgeable but more friendly than I had expected considering my first interaction upon entering. Electing to start by ordering the Warm Apple dessert first, I had hope to get my sweets in before our small bites. However the first dish to arrive was the Island Macaroni Salad. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and this unusual dish was a perfect way to set the wow factor on a culinary experience. This dish was unique, with flavor and some slight heat. Nicole's words immediately begin to whisper in my ear. After the servers realized they had not brought out the dessert first, they regrouped and delivered a dish that was intended to cleanse our palate. This small bit was equally different, semi sweet with a curry liquid meant to fill the cup like pastry. The next dish to arrive was the Pulpo Frito. The only restaurant that I felt had mastered the art of sous vide octopus and then frying it to a crisp was Veritas, but now Agni had not only mastered this dish but added their own unique twist of flavors that I could say surpassed my favorite place. Ready to give judgement, The Crisp Ribs with Not Tso Sauce was the deciding factor to topple my king of Columbus restaurant and crown Agni the new king. Not realizing I was actually judging the restaurant, the staff and servers were overly qualified and knowledgable in all areas of the culinary experience at Agni. The staff provided us signature chocolate desserts to end our wonderful experience. After tasting all the amazing dishes, I explain to our server that Nicole had suggested I visit the restaurant and told me I would prefer Agni over Veritas after trying. I concurred, and I would agree after my experience. The evening was a treat of culinary delights and I look forward to returning for the full course experience along with me ordering my favorites from the bar. All in all Agni is a 11 out of...

Experience at Agni

I am surprised to see so many five star ratings. Compared to the price and money we spent there ($400 for two), three stars is what I can give at most. In my opinion, there is a long way for this restaurant to become one of the tops in the Columbus area. Following are reasons:

1. As a high priced restaurant, I expected the owner could spend some money to make customers feel like friends/family and be welcomed at the entrance. Unfortunately, I just saw dead flowers on the front porch. Would you leave dead flowers on the front porch when you invite friends to home for dinner? If you do, I don't believe those are your friends

2. I visited top restaurants in Columbus regularly. There is always someone who leads me to the table, sits me down and asks what to drink. When I arrived at Agni, no one did that. I walked to the table by myself (my friends reserved) and waited ten minutes before waitress showed up

3. Traditionally at top restaurants, there is one lead waiter or waitress serving you from start to finish so that he or she can better understand your whole experience. At Agni, five or six different staff members brought food to us and explained each dish. How would you expect them to care about my experience at all?

4. The food lost focus. The chef wished to bring a variety of tastes to customers. However, it could also become his enemy. Focus would allow customers to feel and understand the differences compared to what one eats regularly. When there are too many in variety, it can easily get customers lost, like eating at a buffet restaurant with a tiny portion being the only difference.

5. We had six courses and not one impressed us in the presentation. At top restaurants, presentation is part of the food quality. I usually loved to take a few pictures because some of them looked so beautiful. At Agni, none of us had an urge to take one. Don’t believe it? Look at pictures others took.They are ok, but not good for top restaurants.

6. Wine lacks character. I ordered New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that usually exhibits lazer sharp acid like a light touch of static electricity. At Agni, it is boring. Not sure if it was maintained at the right temperature or due to something else.

My overall experience is disappointing. I am a traditional diner who would like to try new things sometimes. Unfortunately, Agni is leading the wrong way in my...

From the moment we stepped into Agni, we embarked on a culinary journey that tantalized our taste buds and warmed our hearts. That started even before we sat down. Because it was cold outside, we were offered a shot-sized hot orange ginger mint tea to warm us up. It was outstanding and a foreshadowing of what was to come. The six-course tasting menu, interspersed with delightful snacks, was nothing short of a masterpiece. Each dish was a creative, showcasing the chef’s ingenuity and passion for flavor. Many dishes were also plays on experience's that the chef had going up which was part of the explanation as the dishes came to the table.

The service at Agni was impeccable. The staff’s attention to detail and genuine care for our dining experience shone through in every interaction. They gracefully accommodated our preferences, swapping out dishes to suit our protein choices without hesitation. They told us stories about the dishes that explained why some choices were made which added to the charm of the evening.

It is hard to pick a favorite, but I'd have to say the dumplings were out of this world flavorful. While I am not usually one to pick lamb from the menu, I was blown away by the amazing flavor and tenderness the dish had. The pescatarian dumpling was equally amazing. There was not one bite that didn't surprise me in flavor or texture. One of the snacks, a "French fry" which had a Chinese 5-spice meat chili over top is something I would come back for again and again. Well, to be honest most of the menu would fall into that category!

We chose the cocktail menu for drinks, which were equally delicious. Since neither of us drink wine, this was a perfect option, however it appears they have an amazing wine selection!

Celebrating my birthday at Agni was made even more special with their thoughtful touches. The birthday treat—a delectable chocolate cake paired with a ‘buckeye bite’—was the perfect end to an already perfect evening.

Agni is not just a restaurant; it’s a destination for those who seek an extraordinary dining experience. I wholeheartedly recommend Agni to anyone looking for exceptional food and service in Columbus. A heartfelt thank you to the team for making my birthday celebration...