Arario Midtown — Restaurant in Reno

Our experience at Arario was great! I'm glad that we made a reservation for Friday night because the restaurant was very full. We got seated right away, which was nice. Parking is an issue in the area because you have to find street parking so make sure to get there with enough time to make your reservation. The server was nice and friendly. The ambiance is chic casual so whether you are dressed for a night out or in hiking clothes (like we were), you won't be out of place.

We ordered a Sapporo and a German Reisling for drinks. They have cocktails but I thought they were a tiny bit overpriced for cocktails. For food, we ordered the fried mackerel as an appetizer and the Ikaika bowl and the traditional beef bulgogi.

The food came out pretty quickly and the portions are big. The mackerel was different and interesting. It was fried but the meat was still soft. There were small bones but easy to eat. I liked the crunch skin but my husband thought it was bitter. At times, it got tough after chewing a bit, so I'd say it wasn't perfect. The dressing that came with it was soy based and added a layer of sweetness. If you're in the mood to try something different, I'd give this a go.

The Ikaika bowl was our favorite. They say it their version of a loco moco. It was very very good! The beef patty was medium well and came with a fried egg (sunny side up), black bean gravy, crunchy veggies, pita chips on a bed of rice. I should've asked for the egg to be scrambled because I hate runny yolk. But despite that, this dish was yummy. I think it needed a little more seasoning (salt) than it had. Once mixed, the gravy, the veggies, the chips and the meat really added texture to the rice. Since the portion was huge, we ended making a brunch out of the leftovers the next day.

The traditional bulgogi was decent. They gave the rice separately. The beef itself was good but the rest of the dish needed a wow factor for seasoning. The portion was also quite big and we ended up adding this to our brunch the next day with the ikaika. The table accompaniments - Mac and cheese, sweet black beans, pickled cucumbers, kimchi were very Americanized. The kimchi was not as zingy as we would like. I hated that the black beans were sweet, because a savory flavor would've added a new taste texture to our food overall.

I think for the portions, the prices are ok, but this restaurant is a little on the pricier side. It is worth a...

I went to Arario with two friends this week. It was the first time here for all of us, so we shared several plates. Everything was absolutely delicious, so it's difficult to pick a favorite! For appetizers, we had Kimchee fries, Gambas Al Ajillo (Shrimp). For the entree, we had pork Bulgogi Bowl and the Beef Hot Pot Bibimpop. The seasonings and ingredients used make for a wonderful medley of flavors in each dish. If I had to pick, I would say the Pork Bulgogi was my favorite! The food was served fairly quickly, the appetizers shortly after drinks, and entrees arrived right when we were ready for them. They also have a great selection of specialty drinks with top shelf spirits. I had a Sassy Sally, which was delicious! We shared a pot of Honey Ginger tea as recommended by our server and it was amazing. Speaking of our server, I feel really bad I don't remember her name because I want to say the service is way above and beyond expectations. She was helpful, courteous, kind, and very knowledgeable about the menu, offering her favorites as well as suggestions and answering all of our questions. We never had to look for her, she checked on us regularly. The dining room is beautiful, with interesting decor, very comfortable seating, and perfect lighting with seemingly strategically placed windows allowing natural light. The dining room was not full, with a few available tables. I was able to find a place to park in the lot, but my friends had to park on the street and walk (typical for Midtown). There is handicapped parking and a wheelchair accessible elevator. The restaurant is upstairs and not easy to spot from the street, but if you look for the address on the building, that is visible from almost any direction. I usually take photos for reviews but too busy visiting and enjoying...

Had dinner with my two sons while vacationing in Reno. Until this one, every meal had been average at best, with a couple bad ones thrown in, so our hopes were not high. However, we were blown away by the interesting menu, delightful staff, and incredible food - wow! We started with the sweet and spicy chicken wings, kimchee fries, and Fire Cracker tater tots - each dish was delicious in different and somewhat unique ways. The chicken wings were cooked perfectly - juicy and tender and smothered in sauce. The fries were topped with kimchee and smothered in a creamy, cheesy sauce, and the tots, while similar (sans kimchee) had their own flavour profile and did not disappoint. We shared two mains - the octopus salad and the bulgogi bowl, and both were fantastic! The octopus was cooked perfectly, tough to do when the tentacles vary in thickness, and the salad was great, with sweet corn offsetting balsamic and chimichurri. My favourite was the bulgogi bowl - the spicy pork, mushrooms, and sauce over rice was the perfect combination for my palette - amazing! I almost forgot - they provide a package of wet wipes with the wings - so much better than a tiny wipe in a small packet, is so greatly appreciated - thanks! My only complaint was the bathrooms - you have to leave the restaurant, head downstairs into a common hallway, and finally make your way to the loo. There is a keypad on the door for security but the door didn’t close properly. It was chilly and raining, so the trip was not pleasant; it would be much less pleasant in a winter snowstorm. Obviously the bathrooms are not an issue as the place was busy. The food sure makes up for the bathroom...