ACRE — Restaurant in New York

The dining experience at ACRE Japanese restaurant presented a series of disappointments, particularly considering the pricing of the menu items in relation to their quality. Expectations set by enticing photos fell significantly short during the visit, leaving a distinct feeling of dissatisfaction.

Commencing with the Karage Bites, the ratio of breading to chicken was notably imbalanced, leaning towards an excess of breading that compromised the essence of the chicken itself. Priced at $14, the dish failed to justify its value, lacking the expected harmony of flavors.

The Chicken Karage Sandwich, devoid of any sauce and comprising solely chicken and coleslaw, contradicted the anticipated presentation from the visuals seen beforehand. At $15, the lack of accompanying sauce contributed to a drier experience, undermining the perceived value.

The Egg Salad Sandwich, accompanied by seemingly uncooked bacon pieces, amounted to a regrettable disappointment considering its $18 price tag. Failing to satisfy the palate, the sandwich lacked the expected richness and fell short of the basic standards for an egg salad sandwich.

The Pesto Avocado Sandwich, priced at $14, represented a culmination of bitter and somewhat sour flavors, lacking in true essence and not justifying its cost.

Moving to the Garden Salad, advertised to include quinoa, but disappointingly only offering a minuscule amount that didn't align with the expectations set by its $16 price point, left a dissatisfying impression.

The Salmon Bento Box, priced at $25, presented a meager portion of just two small pieces of salmon alongside rice and salad, failing to meet the standards of value and leaving a sense of disrespect towards patrons.

While the Chicken Curry showcased flavorful chicken and sauce, the $21 price tag (excluding the unprovided extra rice) did not fully align with the overall value of the dish.

The Scallion Parmesan Scone, although an interesting pairing concept, failed to deliver a delightful taste experience. Similarly, the Ham and Cheese Croissant, though improved after being air fried, did not justify its $7 cost.

Among the desserts, the Matcha Cake offered subtle yet enjoyable flavors, potentially warranting a repeat order, while the Vanilla Cake, regrettably dry and exhibiting an unappealing oiliness, failed to meet expectations.

Overall, the visit to ACRE Japanese restaurant was characterized by a pervasive sense of disappointment stemming from the underwhelming taste profiles and mismatched value propositions of most menu items. Given the high pricing coupled with the lackluster culinary offerings, this venture did not merit the investment in either time or money. Given the choice, it would not be a preferred dining destination...

Girlfriend and I came for lunch. It had stellar reviews as well as a very high price point so I had high expectations.

The food was honestly pretty good. I got Karrage while she got Chicken Nanban. Both were very juicy and fresh. I am really not a sauce guy but the sauce was not overwhelming at all. The rice was a bit bland? For some reason I expected more flavor since it was a little colorful. The Brussel sprouts and vegetables/salad were decent, vibrant and refreshing.

I was skeptical at the value but we honestly got pretty full. For reference ~23 dollars per bento set. I got exactly full and she couldn't even finish a little of her meal. I have to say though, this definitely would not do the job for someone who has an above average appetite so take that into consideration. (We eat less).

My only issues were that the price was a bit high for, like others said, self service. For reference, it's similar to the situation in the KTOWN food court with the beeping devices. What I'm not understanding, on top of why the prices are high for self service, is why we can't sit in/dine in after ordering a online pickup order if there's no substantial indoor service for customers.

The outside area was pretty cool and the bathroom was also really aesthetic, clean and sanitary. The front area also has a lot of cool antiques/items that add a nice touch.

I would like to give a solid 4.5 stars but that's not an option; Definitely not 5 stars...

Love their aesthetics! Full of Japanese goods will welcome you. They have spacious dining space and backyard where you can access after order your food in the front.

We had Chicken Nanban Bento Box, Pesto Avocado Sandwich, and Japanese Fried Chicken Karaage. Chicken Nanban is known as Miyazaki Style chicken dish. Fried chicken soaked in sweet vinegar and soy sauce based sauce. Then, they put creamy tartar sauce on the top. Chicken Nanban tastes fresh and crispy. The bento was served with purple rice, salad, Brussels sprouts, and pickled daikon. Pesto avocado sandwich was little citrus and full of fresh greens. They put smashed avocado, dill, basil pesto, and mozzarella cheese. I like citrus and herbs so I loved it so much. Chicken Karaage was also amazing. All food is made to order which made those Karaage so crispy and juicy. On the menu description, they said they put shoyu koji mayonnaise on the top. To me, the sauce had strong mustard flavor.

Their food feels very healthy and thoughtful. Even the side dishes on the bento had all its role and balance. A lot of gluten free options and some vegetarian options available. My stomach felt really comfortable after consuming their food. I see that their main purpose is to serve fresh, healthy yet hearty food. It is trustworthy to see them pursuing their goal here.

Definitely going back to Acre with...