For me, Agni was a completely new and unique experience that I will recommend to anyone who likes a food adventure. The experience wasn't completely flawless, but I don't really care. My wife and I started dinner at 5:45 and didn't leave until 8:45 and it was a lovely evening. We chatted for hours, sampled some absolutely delicious food, and just generally relaxed. We had a lovely server, but to say it was just a single person would do the staff injustice. I feel like every single employee in the place waited on us. All of the staff were knowledgable and gave off pretty cool, chill vibes. Three hours is a long meal, but the pacing was superb. Courses didn't come out like beats on a metronome. Rather, the pacing was changed to meet the waxing and waning excitement for the next plate of an absolutely enormous amount of food. The appetizers came in at a measured pace, the mains slowed, and then deserts were served rapid fire. Between courses, staff might stop by for a quit chat before moving on to the next pressing matter. Lots of staff offered their thoughts on their favorite dishes or suggestions on how a plate my be best enjoyed. The whole experience lacked any pressure or pretense. There were fine dining touches such as replacement of my wife's napkin after she stepped away for a break, but it felt more like eating at a cool friends house than it did eating in the ballroom of a palace. Do you know what I mean? You aren't going to Agni for opulence. You are going for a cool exciting food adventure that you aren't going to get many places and certainly very few in Columbus. We had the Midwest Tasting Menu. 11 courses? Something like that. It was expensive, but I don't even mind it. We loved the "Health Sodas" that were curated by the bartenders. My wife had a coconut, lime, and guava concoction and I had some else that was sweet and fruity and tart. The first few bites of pani puri with spiced ginger and then the "happy meal" and salad course really set the tone of a kitchen that puts out excellent dishes with balanced flavors. For me, the best bite of the night was the Thai noodle salad. It was just a perfect amount of spicy with lots of textures. Mine was served with tofu since I'm not a seafood lover and it was the best tofu preparation I've ever had. My wife's favorite was the "soup and salad" course which is hard to describe, but I agree that it was delicious. The low point of the evening's food for me was in the seafood course. My wife loved her actual seafood, but my vegetarian replacement was a miss. They served it with a piece of baby eggplant that was nearly raw; crunchy and practically inedible. I will forgive them, but I think that one needs to be rethought. The end of the meal had lots of little fun touches. The bill comes in a giant lego minifigure head. The restaurant provides a souvenir menu that lists all the dishes that were tried. There were some curated, store-bought candies for take away. All-in-all, it was just an excellent experience. Do yourself a favor and try it, but go hungry and maybe don't try to eat every bite of every dish so that you aren't hurting by the end of the night. read more

I was surprised with a birthday dinner at the most brilliant Agni! He chose the "Midwest Nostalgia" 12-course tasting menu which is so creative and modern, fusing midwestern favorites and Avishar's signature "fast food" with all sorts of global flavors. First, we need to tell Avishar we are SO thrilled that his restauraunt graces our city! It's so special. It's a destination. It's unrivaled in its cleverness. I've had a handful of meals over the past 25 years that have burned indelible food memories into my brain... lamb tagine in Marseille; a Cretan feast in Istanbul; and now Joya's insane seafood jahl in Columbus. We've been to Agni before, but the current menu is so worldly with a few flavors new to us, yet familiar with the Midwestern vernacular built into each of the 12 courses! And let's be clear, it was more like 15 or 16 courses, given that some of the dishes had three or four components. Dan and I always try to sniff out fusion food when we travel, but we can't think of any place we've been to that is this broad in the interpretation and combination of cuisines and flavors. Simply fabulous! The cocktails are unique and the somm's wine suggestions of cava and a beautiful pouilly fumé were the perfect compliments. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is totally cool. Agni is an incredibly special place that Columbus is lucky to have. The atmosphere is We love how he cooks with his heart, soul, travels, and shared experiences. What a treat!!! read more

If you are looking for an amazing night out I would highly recommend visiting Agni. If you are seated in the dining room then your only option is to order the tasting menu. If you arw like me and have food allergies make sure to notify them at least 48 hours in advance. All of our dishes were made with our allergies in mind so we could enjoyed them and that made the night even more magical. The menu changes regularly but we started with a couple appetizers, we then moved to a couple entrees and then a couple desserts. We decided to share the wine pairing which was a great way to experience this as a part of the tasting menu but we were also able to order a couple cocktails which were incredibly well made. We are not sure we could pick a favorite as everything was incredibly delicious. This is a lot of food so be ready but its definitely worth it. read more

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I found this place after researching nice restaurants to check out in Ohio. I had reservations made and had a really nice experience here. Food (5/5) - This restaurant is a tasting menu, so that's what we did. It was a 13 course meal and was honestly really good and definitely filling. My favorite was the cumin french fry at the beginning of the course, it was a bite size burst of flavor with the crunch texture which I really liked. Their other courses were also really good and unique. I though the pacing of the dinner was good too, it was too fast nor too slow. Around course 10 I was definitely really full, but the waitress did warn us that there was going to be a lot of food. Service (5/5) - Our waitress was super nice and friendly and explained the courses to us every step of the way. She would always come to ask how our food was and at the end, gave us a little chili oil jar and some candies as a souvenir. Ambiance (5/5) - Awesome restaurant, it's modest on the outside but the inside is really cozy, dim and intimate. Their restroom was also amazing, it smelled like roses and had the Toto bidet toilet and feminine care products and mouth wash which I really appreciated. One of the restroom was even anime-themed which I thought was super cool. This place is a bit pricey but you definitely get a lot for what you pay for, and the overall experience was worth it. read more

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What a great experience. A small group of us were in Columbus for work and Agni was recommended to us. They suggested that we sit at the bar as you can order from the bar menu vs. the tasting menu. The bar menu has some of the items from the tasting menu and a few bar only items. Service was awesome. The 3 at the bar took great care of us. They helped us navigate through the menu and described each dish as it was brought out. They brought out each dish one at a time. A full description of each item and some additional background about the chef and the local influence. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Each dish was unique. It gave us an opportunity to try things we may normally would not have normally tried. Please note that these are all small dishes. So we ordered about 7 or 8 for the 3 of us. As an added plus, the restaurant also gave us a few extras as well. Kudos to the restaurant and staff. Awesome experience and wonderful dining experience. read more

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It was my first time here and the entire experience was incredible. From staff, to the food, atmosphere, and the service was awesome. Parking is mostly street parking and they do reservations. The food left us speechless and wanting more. The great thing about smaller bites, is that you get to try so many different things and flavors but be warned, you may want a big portion of some of the courses. It was mine and another person's birthday and the Agni team made it a bit more special with a card and candle for our dessert. It was very sweet! My absolute favorite thing was that we didn't get to know what we were getting to eat until it came out and then, at the end. It was fun and a little surprise every time. Each course was curated beautifully, displayed gorgeously, and had such high quality. I was so impressed with the entire dining experience. I love that chef Avishar incorporated his upbringing, family, and identity in each course and detail. It made the experience truly more special. Staff was so nice, kind, and accommodating. Everyone was so fun to talk to, get to know, and treated us so well. They made the experience 100% more enjoyable. The restaurant itself was warm, cozy, and inviting. Even though the courses and price tag are a bit higher, everyone felt very approachable and inviting. It was a beautiful place to be. I highly recommend if you can make it here! Everything was beautiful, delicious, and so incredibly fun and cool. read more

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This is another restaurant I struggled with the review. Mostly because of the raves from others, and especially , the chef being a james beard finalist for the great lakes region. So my expectations were through the roof and unfortunately, they fell through. The wait staff , service and atmosphere were great. It was the food......NOT A WOW! Good but not great. Lots of dishes seemed fussier than they needed to be. Sometimes, even the wait staff weren't for certain what all ingredients were in a dish. Don't get me wrong, it was good enough but nothing that would make me want to come back and try again. We had 12(?) Courses and the most memorable one was probably inspired by Mcdonalds. I hate to compare, but I have been to tastings at other spots ( won't mention names) that the food was just as good, and at times better, for less costs. They also included pairings. Oh yeah the pairings here are an addional $100. Probably best to come to Agni more for the experience and atmosphere than the food, and $200 a person is no big deal. IMO. read more

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This was my third time at Agni and by far our favorite with the Midwest Nostalgia Menu. As always, the service is friendly, welcoming and incredibly attentive always refilling waters and replacing napkins when a guest uses the restroom. They are very accommodating of dietary restrictions and ensure they explain the meal with consideration to these. The vibe is casual while the food is next level fine dining, yet approachable for anyone. Each course truly got better and better, all the way up to dessert. We were absolutely BLOWN away with the level of creativity and interpretation of Midwest Nostalgia turned fine dining. My husband and I lived in NYC and for 8 years and were big foodies, and both said this was very possibly the best meal we've had in our lives. Go for yourselves and see what you think! I promise you'll enjoy. read more

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What an unforgettable experience! My partner and I celebrated Valentine's Day 2025 at Agni, and it was truly special. We booked the Grillside Chef's Counter experience, and every course on the tasting menu was absolutely delicious with each one somehow better than the last. It was nearly impossible to choose a favorite dish of the night! Portion sizes were just right, and the service was exceptional. Every staff member we encountered was warm, attentive, and made us feel welcome. Sitting right in the heart of the kitchen added an exciting, behind-the-scenes energy to the evening that made it even more memorable. I highly recommend Agni and this unique culinary experience... it's an absolute must-try! read more

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Excellent for groups. Food is good. Service is prompt. It was really amazing to meet friends here.

The only negative is that they don't offer parking (valet or otherwise). Otherwise, everything was outstanding. The servers were extremely friendly and helpful. The wine suggestion was perfect. The ambiance is casual but upscale without being stuffy. The pre-fix menu is expensive ($145 per person without wine pairing) but the quality was excellent. They do serve a 12 courses and by the end of it, we got extremely full. The flavors were outstanding -- from East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Mexico, all over but blended in very smoothly. read more

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Dining at Agni was an unforgettable experience, elevated by creative dishes and flawless service. The tasting menu impressed from start to finish, but two dishes stood out. The Caesar chaat-froid was a masterful fusion of textures and flavors--crispy, tangy, and refreshingly unique. It's a delightful take on the Caesar salad, reimagined in a way that captures the essence of Indian chaat. The Thai Malay curry scallop was another favorite; rich and deeply aromatic, with layers of coconut and spice that brought out the best in each ingredient. The flavors were complex yet harmonious, making every bite a treat. Equally noteworthy was the service: attentive, friendly, and exceptionally well-paced, allowing each course to shine. Agni is a must-visit, one of the best meals I've ever had! Additionally, I would purchase that granola from the pallet cleanser by the bag full! read more

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We had a reservation for our 15 year anniversary here, it was a late Sunday night. Despite getting there a little early, we weren't seated until 15 minutes after our reservation time. For the cost and supposed ambience, this didn't give us a wonderful first impression. This was made worse by the fact that the hostess seemed uncomfortable with us standing around waiting (we were uncomfortable too), so rather than communicate her apologies or explain the extra wait, she just wandered away and disappeared for 10+ minutes until another person took us to our seat when a table opened up. So yeah, awkward first impression. Our waiter was really cool though, and the food was good . We are adventurous eaters, and there were some dishes we really loved. I guess they had a new menu, so some of the dishes weren't nearly as good as others, unfortunately. My favorites were the chaat-poti and the noodle salad. I love biryani but theirs wasn't my favorite.. although it was made worse by the fact that we were super full by this plate anyway. Oh and the mango yogurt (?) was magical, not just its taste but by how it managed to convince my stomach to eat more food! The sommelier was pretty great too, we considered not even doing the wine pairings, but it was worth it. Definitely added to the whole experience, even if it was an extra cost. Highly recommend. While I wouldn't go back here again anytime soon for cost reasons, it is worth experiencing at least once. I just wish we had a better first impression of the restaurant. I understand that it's a long dining experience, but there should be some gap to prevent such a wait for a reservation. And that's okay if you can't always prevent it, but maybe find a way to make the wait less awkward. read more

I celebrated my birthday at Agni, and it was so sweet that they left me with a birthday card at the end. It looked like it was a hand painted watercolor of the restaurant on the front, and I love supporting artists, so I thought it was such a nice touch. I also quite enjoy not having to make any decisions at dinner. Its a lovely experience to sit and enjoy a course, and once you're finished, your plate is gone & the next creation is coming. The dishes are all chef inspired. There were some that I loved & some that I didn't finish and wouldn't want again. I enjoyed when the staff explained each of the entrees as they were served. Overall, it was a great experience and wonderful service. read more

The experience I had at Agni was unbelievably amazing. I went with my partner for our anniversary and it was the epitome of a special occasion meal. The meal was around 12 courses, some of which were off the menu. We did the wine pairing with the meal as well which added even more to the experience. Their staff were amazing and were so intentional in how they served the courses. For example, they would wait until one of us was back from the restroom to serve the course so we could eat at the same time. The bathrooms were awesome as well. The food was unlike anything I had ever had and every course was so creative and delicious. The variety of proteins and flavors was so exciting. My only qualm was the cost. This place is very, very expensive. I believe that the two meals with the wine pairings was around $600. With tip, even more. Be prepared ahead of time to spend that much money if you're doing the full meal experience and not just eating the bar food!! read more

Agni - Beautiful decor throughout the restaurant! - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Bathroom is 10/10, they have a Toto bidet. Nuff said. The dining experience didn't disappoint either. This was my first time doing a "tasting menu" ever at a restaurant and hopefully it won't be my last. For any of you who haven't done this kind of thing I'll set the stage, and if you have then just skip to the next paragraph. With the tasting menu you'll receive 15 small portions of food carefully curated and selected by the chef. You'll experience flavors that you don't commonly see in typical dining restaurants with the caveat that your portions are limited. You and your group will receive these dishes one at a time with details behind the culture and history of the dish curated by your server. The menu will vary seasonally so what you get one time won't necessarily be there on the next visit. So let's jump to the food. It's amazing. Easily a wealth of flavors with great variety. The portions may be small but after you get around your 7th-9th dish you'll start feeling satiated. If the key to your arteries are foods that are savory then you'll have a great time. The Phanaeng was easily my favorite but the Caesar Chaat-Froid was a heavy-hitter too. The staff are so well-versed with the dishes and are very diligent with cleaning in between foods and providing proper cutlery. It even ends strong with some very nice and sweet desserts with the chai, saffron ice cream sandwiches being my favorite. The ambience is great with many Bengali and Hindu symbols around the restaurant. The area is clean and tidy and has a good setting without too much noise. There's street parking and parking around the neighborhood in German Village but no dedicated parking lot. Be prepared to spend a lot of time here for the tasting. My group had a reservation for 5:45 but we ended up leaving at 9 pm! It was a still a great time though. The only criticism I have is in regards to one word. Value. This restaurant is anything but cheap. Be prepared to spend $150 as a baseline per guest and then much higher if you partake in the wine/cocktails. If money isn't an issue then it's easily a 5/5, however with the price of entry I'd have to give this a 4.3/5 at this time. read more

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This is easily the most special meal I have had in Columbus! We went for the abbreviated tasting menu which is a porch exclusive, and we ended up having the entire porch to ourselves which was super lovely. This was 5 courses, but with the extra snacks it was more like 9. I can't believe they serve even more courses inside- I was so stuffed by the end of this meal. I can't even begin to mention my favorite parts- the panipuri was so incredibly flavorful, the scallop with the crispy rice and eggplant curry was out of this world, the spin on a caesar salad was so unique. Every course had flavors I have never experienced, and were all so special and thoughtful. We had 4 different cocktails and they were also all great, our favorite was the spicy paloma. Dessert was also incredible, it was a play on cafe con pan that blew us away. Service was perfect, it was fast and everyone was excited to talk about the food with us. They brought us out a card and little containers of their chili oil, I'm so excited to cook with it at home! Thank you everyone at Agni for making our anniversary so special, I'm so excited to come back! read more

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Absolutely WILD experience and not in a good way. Please just go to Cobra down the street. TDLR: We got through 4 courses and asked for the check, the food quality was laughable, tastings were not creative, flavors did not go together, and the staff was honestly welcoming at first, but it got weird when we asked to leave mid tasting. The tea at the beginning was very yummy and they took the gluten free menu very seriously, but those are the only redeeming features. It took 3-4 staff members to "let us get out of the tasting". The people serving us our dishes seemed like they were in acting school. The "manager" was walking around in a sweatshirt and dress shoes. At $145/head to do a gourmet tasting menu - No thank you, just save yourself now. Course 1: squash tortilla = Tostitos chip with weird crunchies 6/10. Course 2: "McDonald's inspired" but worse - just go to McDonald's. 2/10. Mini "filet o fish" was chewy. "72 hour fry" was a literal single French fry sitting on a tomato sauce concoction. Mini McRib was just sub par and had less than half an oz of meat on a tiny bun. This course was honestly insulting. We were about to leave here, but got to course 3 somehow. Course 3: lentil soup with lemon zest 8/10, this made us wait until course 4 to decide to leave. Course 4: fried "Caesar salad" inspired- this was fried vegetables, with a bunch of purred sauces and flavors that didn't mesh, and stirred in with a sous vide egg. Also it had an ice cube on top? 1/10. Could fry a normal egg in 10 seconds and it would taste better than this dish. Everyone working there was extremely pretentious. When we asked for the check, our hostess came to the table and said verbatim "let's cut the shit - you guys are kidding right? You're just messing with us that you want to leave?" We were like no -- we would just like to finish our wine or take it to go and leave thanks. read more

Easily one of the best meals I've had in years. I was visiting Columbus from New York and came across this place while looking up restaurants--I knew I had to check it out, and it did not disappoint. From the service to the food, everything was absolutely perfect. Perfect vibe -- cozy and intimate without feeling cramped. My girlfriend and I loved every minute of it and couldn't stop talking about it for days after. Can't wait to come back next time we're in town. read more

This was one of the most fun dining experiences my wife and I have ever had! We were seated on the porch/patio on a beautiful, cool summer night. We were a bit apprehensive about a tasting menu service but were up for the adventure. The wait staff was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and accommodating. We decided not to go with the wine pairings but instead enjoyed selecting a bottle of wine with the help of the wine director. The small plates were brought out promptly in succession and we enjoyed each of them. They were each beautifully presented and tasted even better. While we're not from Columbus we plan to go back to Agni in the future. read more

Very tricky to strike the delicate balance of warmth and precision. I was a solo diner on 03.19 and never felt uncomfortable, which I often do dining alone in a tasting menu setting. Every person I encountered was hospitable and knowledgeable, every bite I was served was as captivating as it was delicious, and all of the beverage options (I went btg) were thoughtful and relevant. Honestly? Brava. If you're reading this and haven't gone--go. The biryani had me in tears. read more

A mesmerizing dinner with bold flavors at Agni made an evening in Columbus. OH as memorable as can be. From the dimly lit tribal rustic space, the dining space matches well with the colorful spices used in their dishes. Agni does not shy away from their use of strong piercing curry flavors in their international features, representing Thailand, China, Vietnam, Turkey and Mexico. My favorite items off their tasting menu were their caesar chaat-froid salad and creme brulee. I would easily eat the salad every day! The pistachios flavored creme brulee filled with pistachios, cardamon and kataifi as homage to the taste of Turkiye. Bravo for a brilliant team in Columbus. My only suggestion is the flavors can be too bold and salty, that an extra dinner roll or side of rice would be wonderful to help accompany the curries and sauces. that Can't wait to try what they'd come up with all the buzz behind their kitchen doors. read more

Such a lovely and interesting restaurant. If you want to be truly delighted and pampered this is the place! Staff were amazing- food was even more so. From all of the little extras- amuse bouche and in between to the truly unexpected, Agni delivered. The Caesar Salad reinvented course was an epiphany. Flavors, textures, and even temperatures all come together in a completely new way. I've never had anything like it and it was delicious. Also the way the restaurant honors the folks who work there makes for a very interesting menu. We ate on the patio and so had a smaller menu but were not left hungry. But of course we want more of Agni and will return for the full prix menu. read more

Agni - Potato masa and bread - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Alright folks listen up. As of today Agni is the best restaurant and has the best food in Columbus. Period. There is no debate. I love Lindey's and Refectory and all of the great restaurants and bars our city has to offer but they simply do not compare to the culinary experience at Agni. I am intentionally avoiding talking about specifics of the food or posting pictures in the same way I would avoid plot spoilers in a movie, other than to say it's the best. The serving staff is top notch (shout out to the som Alex), fun, polite, professional, and just great people to be around. However. If I were to make a recommendation for a night out, it would include stopping by Lawbird or Antiques on High to get your cocktail fix before heading over. It's not that their cocktails aren't good per-se, they are; delicate and well intentioned, it's just that once you try the food the cocktails just do not meet the same standards and seem rather forgettable. Agni does have beer but, as someone who knows good beer I took a look at the offerings and didn't take a second look. Three Floyd's on tap is nice but there are better IPAs you can source locally from brewers like Hoof Hearted. Granted, in my experience chefs tend to know wine much more than they know beer and so I wasn't disappointed in the draft list like I was in the cocktails. That being said, you should be drinking wine anyway. Speaking of wine - fantastic. Roughly 3oz pours and depending on your budget and if you are on a two person date you could just split one of the pairings between two people. The Reserve when we went (pictured here) was very nice - again, thanks Alex! One last note, expect to spend about $400 for two people. If that causes you anxiety, I'd recommend waiting until you can go and not be stressed out about spending that kind of cash at a restaurant in Columbus. But Agni IS that good. I expect a Michelin Star at some point. On a related note, I'm very excited for more culinary experiences like Agni to be built here in Columbus. We don't have mountains or the ocean, we have food, beer, and football. Let's embrace that identity! read more

Agni - Reserve Wine Pairing on 4/28/2023 - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Okay so here's the thing. I am Indian. I was very excited at this concept. Fine dining south East Asian food? In ohio? Sign me up! Especially since joyas is so lovely However: The cocktails were only okay(I've had much better for the same price in Columbus), and the food was overal very good but not phenomenal One course both the person I went with and myself full out did not enjoy- and I'm usually a huge fan of most food. I was kind of shocked and didn't take more than 2 bites The good: server was nice, ambiance is beautiful and it a nice long leisurely paced meal. However for this much money I would like to be wowed and inspired and this missed that mark read more

We really loved our visit to Agni. The food exceeded our expectations with lots of variety. Every one of the staff was very nice and knowledgeable. The restaurant is beautiful and has the nicest toilet I've ever experienced. read more

Oh... my... how do I explain Agni...? To sum it up - at the beginning of the evening we all arrived very excited, then at the end of the evening we all left wondering if it was worth $200 per person. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, in an understated way. The service was very attentive. The staff are very experienced, and well trained. The food was tasty. But - I can't think of a single bite where I said "OMG, that's one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life", or "I will crave this until I get it again...!" The food was all good, the flavors were interesting, but none was extraordinary. At these prices, some of the bites should have been extraordinary. But they weren't. And - some of the bites were a huge flavor bomb of mashed-together spices and flavors that made the taste overwhelming and difficult to figure out what you were tasting (example - the Pani Puri filled with tamarind tea - and we love Pani Puri - the taste was interesting, but none of us could figure out what we were tasting - it was just an overwhelming bomb of mixed-up flavors - I can't say it was "delicious", only that it was "interesting"). The pace of the meal was very enjoyable. We knew they had a second seating later in the evening, but didn't feel at all hurried. We were there with good friends and this was a comfortably paced meal with plenty of time for conversation. It was an interesting and absolutely enjoyable experience. But... all that said... was it worth $800 bucks (EIGHT HUNDRED BUCKS) for 4 of us? And that's with each of us having only 1 cocktail, no bottles of wine, and no Supplements (not the offered food add-ons nor the offered wine pairings) $200 bucks per person (including tax + tip), with 1 cocktail each and no add-ons. That's the minimum you're going to get out of Agni for unless you drink only tap water. Let's be real - I'm not complaining. We knew what we were signing up for. We knew the price of their prix-fix Chef's Tasting Menu. And we're not cheap people, we're all pretty serious foodies, we love new food experiences, and I guess we could afford the tab. But did we each get $200 bucks of value and enjoyment out of the meal??? Probably not. Were we all mostly glad we tried Agni this one time? Yes, although I think all of us left wondering if the enjoyment was worth the stratospheric (by Columbus standards) cost. Are any of us clamoring to return, even for a special occasion? No. Did the high price diminish the experience? Absolutely. IN SUMMARY - enjoyable evening, beautiful restaurant, great service, interesting experience you can't get anywhere else in Columbus, tasty and interesting but not exceptional food - but know what you're getting in to and bring a FAT WALLET. If this had been $120 per person (with our 1 drink each) we'd be raving fans. But it wasn't. read more

If you want to go to a restaurant to just eat decent food, then there are a lot of restaurants in Columbus that you can go to. However, if you want amazing food, fantastic service and an unique culinary experience, then do visit Agni. Agni will not disappoint. We went for dinner on a weekday and soon as we walked in we were greeted by a friendly host. We had reservation and were seated right way. The Inside of this restaurant is beautifully decorated. Our server came with our menus and took the time to explain each item, the 5-course tasting menu. We were asked if we have any dietary restrictions and based on that we were able to make substitutions. There are 2 menus, one is meat based and the other is vegetarian. You are able to make substitution based on your dietary restrictions from both menus. Beside the items on the menu, Avishar Barua, the Chef, will throw in little surprise dishes. Every item on the menu are a work of art. Beside being delicious, they are so pretty to look at. The dishes are small, but trust me, you will not leave the restaurant hungry at all. You will be stuffed by the time you leave. Everything tasted delicious and everything was seasoned with perfection, from the Egg Chaat to the Caramelized Chai Pudding. Agni is definitely an one of a kind restaurant in Columbus. It also has a hefty price tag on the menu, but it is worth it. Not only you get to taste delicious food with great service, you will be immersed in an amazing artistic fusion of Bangladeshi- American culinary experience. read more

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SO happy to finally dine at Agni. The whole experience was incredible. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, and beyond friendly. Kritika, our server, walked us through what, at first, seemed like an intimidating menu, and made us feel at home. Multiple other staff members touched our table and provided knowledge on food, wine, and cocktails. Jared their sommelier, took his time helping us find an incredible bottle of wine to pair with dinner. TIME! I can't get over how much time each person took to explain, help, and just converse throughout the evening. It was wonderful. Speaking of wonderful...FOOD. Every dish was beautiful and delicious. My favorite was the french onion chaat. It tasted like a luxury blooming onion. This was another element I loved. The dishes were complex and thoughtfully curated, with a contrast of flavors that somehow brought you back to childhood. Like a fish stick with caviar? It just made sense. I clearly can't say enough good things. Can't wait to dine again! read more

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My husband and I had an amazing night dining here in celebration of our 9 year anniversary. Everything went great from being greeted on time, to the exceptional services that were provided and the wonder dishes that were served on their tasting menu. I will definitely come back here and recommend that if you would like to celebrate any special event, this would be the place to book it at. Comp to all the staff and chef there whom made our night unforgettable. read more

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Let's start with something that I don't think people bother to point out: Agni is not for everyone. Nor should you feel like "you're missing out" because it doesn't sound good to you. It's just as much a "flavor journey" as it is "a place to get some food." However, I'd argue it is more the former than the latter (however, some couples came in, and were clearly regulars and had a couple favorites items... but even then the flavors are not "basic" or where you'd take someone who "maybe can find something to eat on the menu" - that sounds like a recipe for disappointment). I did the reserve pairing and tasting. It's expensive, but it was so damn good I think I would come back once the menu changes. I *do* want to come back and try the (albeit, still, expensive) regular menu - but the service and staff made it so damn enjoyable, I'd go back just for some wine and to hang out at the bar. (And to order some Chaat - that was the winner for me). But I doubt it would affect this review - as a couple "non-tasting" items were tossed my way that just were so amazing that it felt evil for them to do that to me (I felt spoiled, y'all). But to speak to "not for everyone" - especially the tasting - it's the kind of thing that you do because you enjoy flavors, textures, pairings, and the experience. It's small plates (note: I left full and happy). It's "Intsagrammable." And you see that level of pretentiousness generally reserved for huge cities where people pay too much money to be hungry. Yes, it's Bengali influence is clear, but if someone said "I like Indian!" I wouldn't send them here if I didn't know their palate. In the tasting, I knew I was going to be served several things I don't seek out - sheep, goat, mushroom - but as someone that enjoys the experience and magic of food (and loves when you can tell the Chef puts themselves in their work) - it's the kind of thing you recommend when someone says "I like flavors, I like textures, and I like Bengali food, and I'm cool with fusions and twists." First and foremost here: Talk to your server(s). Talk to the sommeliers. They know their shit, they will make recommendations and suggestions (I mean, some things I asked if it was better to "mix together" or "sample a bit of each" first - everyone had their own opinions on it). Of their tasting menu - the Chaat (an early course) was my absolute favorite. I could eat a huge bowl of this. The sichuan kashmiri oil in their lamb dumpling was amazing (I don't like lamb, don't care, this was good to sample). Some items changed with the season - hence my "I want to come back and try the change up"). The wine/beer pairings were spot on - a sip, a bite, they played off of each other delicately and delightfully. I am not a wine person (I can pick out some flavors and scents, but I also am not a picky wine drinker), but they could speak to the bottle, where it came from, it's flavors, and how it could play together with the plate in front of me. Just a nice touch of elegance to the meal. If you have a bad experience here with the food, I'm going to have to say you came somewhere when maybe your palate is not ready for it (and there is NOTHING WRONG with that! Just don't force yourself to have food you won't enjoy, what's the point of that?) If you know what you like, the flavors, the textures, and you can experiment and enjoy new fusions and takes on things (they did a "take on Skyline chili" that was simple and delicious, yeah yeah - elevated the simple chili dish on a fried potato!) then Agni is 100% worth the visit. read more

Several wonderful courses, surprises, and extras! Great service. I'm glad we tried Agni; enjoyed innovative, delicious food!

First, yes, best meal I've ever had in Columbus. 7 "snacks" plus the 6 items on the tasting menu - we were all pregnant with food babies by the end and groaned/rolled out of there. Next time, I will fast and drink excessive water to expand my stomach to be ready. But y'all. The bathrooms. The. Bathrooms. I want to know how I can book a reservation slot there. Two individual bathrooms. You walk in and the bidet lid rises to greet you. From the murals/art, ambience lighting, that epic bidet with the heated seat, the counter with any item you might need... I want quality time there. There's bidet options yet to be explored. read more

Agni - The buckeye! - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We had a fantastic dining experience at Agni! Everything was so thoughtfully put together at the chef's table. I have a food allergy, and the staff worked hard to make sure I still had the full menu tastings. You can tell the tiny details they put into their work here. Alex was our server, and he was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Great place for a date night! read more

Agni - Chef's table - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Our absolute new favorite restaurant in Columbus. It is on the pricey end but honestly well worth it. The culinary experience is on par with Michelin starred restaurants. Service is attentive and friendly. Our waiter was kind enough to show us around the back kitchen. So happy that we have such a unique place in Columbus now. Keep going chef Avishar! We will definitely be back for more date nights and special occasions. Please consider opening a restaurant in the Dublin area, too ;)) Food: 6 courses with many "surprise" dishes in between, trust me you won't be hungry at the end. My husband is a steakhouse type of person and we both have big appetite comparing to most people we knew. His favorite is the little shell-shaped snack with chickpeas. I love the tempera and surprise lamb shank but honestly love everything we had that night! read more

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Agni is a great addition to the Columbus restaurant scene and I was glad to go for the first time last week to celebrate a birthday. The food is excellent, and we got a tasting menu which I was afraid might not be completely filling. It was 6 courses but more like 10-12 with a variety of additional snacks and surprises delivered. It was actually a bit too much food- by the end I was hoping they would stop bringing food because I was so full. My favorite dish was the potato snack (so much flavor), and I appreciated that they had a vegetarian tasting menu along with a meat one. You can further customize other options as well (meat alternatives, eggplant, etc). A couple of awkward moments were at the beginning: they offered a small shot sized glass of vegetable broth as a welcoming. The timing of that was awkward and it was an odd drink. The first snack was a bite sized shell you pour liquid into. The size was quite large and not really a single bite experience. The service was excellent. Everyone is super knowledgeable and friendly. My only note was that the dress felt quite casual for a place that seemed to be a nicer fine dining experience. I guess it's a bit of a high brow mix with a down to earth sensibility? Make sure to check out the bathroom while you are there! read more

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Everyone and everything was perfect. We walked in on a weeknight without reservations but we were treated like we had booked weeks ago. The food is epic, every course is different and delicious. Don't rush your meal. Even though the servings seem small they are so filling. Definitely worth it and even though it's a prix fixe menu you have flexibility. Beautiful space with private nooks & the serving ware enhanced the look of the food. read more

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My boyfriend took me here for my 30th birthday and wow what an experience!!! We loved hearing about the story behind each dish and each dish was EXCELLENT and so interesting. The service was unlike anything we've ever experienced. Fabulous. The vibe - immaculate. I can't wait to go back!!!!!! read more

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Agni is not a restaurant - it is a culinary documentary encountered in real life. The restaurant is aptly named after Agni, (meaning "fire" in Sanskrit) the fire-god of Hinduism since it utilizes a cooking technique using live fire. In my experience, it is one of the best and most unique restaurants in the Midwest, and totally worth the hype. We went there on a Thursday night, and the place was packed. Don't tell that to the staff, though, because they will treat you like yours is the only table they have all night. The level of attention, patience, and friendliness is unmatched by any other restaurant that I have been to. The restaurant may look unassuming from the outside, but it is tastefully decorated inside, with homage paid to the Lord Buddha. The restaurant has a 5-course tasting menu (with vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and gluten free options) that changes frequently, and the staff, led by standout chef Avishar Barua, takes into account your dietary needs and restrictions while curating a very personalized dining experience. Every time a course is brought to the table, the server will take the time to tell you the story behind the dish and walk you through how the dish came to be. The food and drinks (I had the masala sour) themselves are amazing - this level of artistic fusion of Bangladeshi and American cuisine is something you cannot find anywhere (not just in Columbus). I still have dreams about the egg chaat and the shrimp taco dishes. I will refrain from providing more details about the dining experience to not ruin it for you, but just know that Agni is totally worth the hype and the price tag. I thought chef Avishar had done a fantastic job with the menu he had at Service Bar, but with Agni, he has taken his game to another level. If Agni was located in NYC, Miami, or Chicago, the restaurant would already have received Michelin stars. Columbus is fortunate to have a restaurant like Agni, and I highly recommend this place. read more

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This is a great spot for those who enjoy trying foods that are new and different. Each dish had an unusual or unexpected combination of flavors and textures. The servers were pleasant and professional. The space is unique as well -- hip and different. Plus, they brought me an extra dessert for my birthday. It's a 12-course tasting menu, so be ready to spend a few hours with Agni -- and come hungry! read more