TLDR: butter chicken was very flavorful and was more tomato forward. Does not come with rice. Other dishes were just standard, not sure if they were worth for the price. Would come again for curries, want to try a different appetizer too I had been meaning to try Ikara for a few months now, especially because they're on inKind (spend 100 get $50 off). We walked in on a Monday and were seated for 2. The inside and decor is really nice, it's a nice mix of modern and traditional. They had a lot of different cocktails but we decided to go NA and get a mango lassi. Tbh it was a bit disappointing, it came in a small cocktail glass but tasted exactly like every other mango lassi I've ever had. 7/10 For appetizers we had the prawns rissois. Flavor profile was very similar to a samosa, but much more crispy. Sadly the batter was a bit thick. It was relatively flavorful but there were next to no prawn pieces / flavor. Browned onions and mint chutney were really good though. 7/10 We also got the garlic naan, which had a nice charred flavor that most places don't usually have. But I wish it was more fluffy and garlicky. 7.6/10 For mains we had the Subz biryani and butter chicken curry. The Subz biryani was very fragrant. It did have a few scary peppers packed with seeds lol but you can just pick those out. Lots of different vegetables including cauliflower, and it came with mixed raita which was very nice. 7.9/10 Butter chicken was more tomato forward than expected. Chicken could be more tender. Nice flavor. Less rich than other butter chickens I've had, not in a bad way. Good amount of spice without being overwhelming. A bit of smoky flavor too. I'll say the portion size for this one is much more reasonable compared to other dishes. Not exactly an authentic dish to get at an Indian restaurant but it's good! 8.2/10 For dessert we had Kesaria phirni; rice pudding with saffron and cardamom. The rice itself is a little bit grainy in some bites, and the cardamom flavor is quite strong. I wish I could taste the saffron more and I do wish it was a bit more sweet. Overall not my favorite. If you like cardamom and "not too sweet" desserts you might like this more, but even by not too sweet Asian standards it's really not sweet. 5.5/10 Overall, not the best Indian food I've had especially for the price, but the curry and biryani were good enough that I'd come again for those if I'm in the mood for Indian. read more

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My friend and I visited Ikara around noon Labor Day weekend, right before their afternoon break. It wasn't busy, so we expected things to run pretty smoothly. Unfortunately, the service really missed the mark. Food came out in a confusing order, including entrées arriving as appetizers, and when we asked about it, we were met with, 'Do you not understand fine dining?' That was unnecessary and honestly off-putting. Dishes were dropped off with little explanation, sometimes stacked in front of one person, no effort to pace or guide the meal. As for the food, a couple of things were decent, but overall I've had better Indian food in Johns Creek and Decatur. I did enjoy the goat soup. It had a comforting, familiar flavor, like something from home, but the service and attitude left a bad taste. Some basic professionalism and clearer communication would have made a world of difference. I don't see this restaurant being here too long. read more

This is a nice upscale Indian restaurant in midtown near Atlantic station. The ambience and vibe is stunning. Their cocktail list is impressive, my husband loved midnight express, whiskey based drink. We were really impressed with subz ikara sekh kabab and ajwaini fish tikka 5/5 on both. Then we tried the lobster Punjabi and entire experience went downhill from there. It was served as whole (not mentioned in menu) we had to struggle to crack the shell, and spent 15 mins just removing the shell. For a classy place, that charges $48 for a dish like that, it should be de shelled and ready to enjoy. When we asked our server to call someone who can explain how we eat this, he said everyone is very busy. After multiple attempts he finally got someone to explain how we were to use the cutter and other equipment, that person was equally bad. Mains were disappointing paneer khurchan lacked flavor, was dry, severed barely warm 1/5 Butter chicken 4/5 Dal makhni 3/5 Roomali roti 1/5, was chewy and cold, don't waste your money on this. The hostess and the lady who was refilling our water and clearing the dishes was very good. read more

Ikara does not fail to impress. I went early. The atmosphere is the first thing you notice here. The ambiance is tip top. The hostess was super nice and sat me down promptly. Service was super and attentive. The Tabdoorr Salad was awesome. Grilled vegetables to perfection. The butter chicken was very good with just the right amount of heat. I want to come back here again and bring friends. read more

Ikara - Front Entrance - Indian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Well seasoned, fragrant dishes. Loved the Murg Chandi Qorma in particular- you can really taste the depth of the flavors. Crab Xec Xec-- DONT ORDER THIS. Sure it's pretty tasty, but it's oily seasoning rubbed all over 2 uncracked crab legs with a useless shell cracker. It makes for a MESSY meal and there's barely any crab there anyway. It's inconvenient especially in a nicer setting like this. Rose Lassi was too sweet. Have to pay for rice-- 1 serving ($6) is good for 2 people. Pomfret rawa was dry though tasty-- wouldn't rec if you have kids due to the small bones. Interior decoration is beautiful and our waiter Jermichal was great. read more

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I wanna start by saying this is the most beautiful restaurant I've been to in a while. The atmosphere was amazing. Very chill very elegant. Perfect for this a girls dinner with me and my friend. This is the warning if you do not like spicy food then this is not the restaurant for you! I start by saying it because even when I was asked to dial back to spice on my butter chicken dish, it still had some heat to it. Don't give me wrong tasted delicious, but still very spicy. I did like that the menu was broken down into vegetarian options and non-vegetarian options. Made it a lot easier to figure out the things that I wanted to get. But then also the menu is pretty big and make me a little indecisive. The server doing OK job about explaining the dishes. But I did feel like I had to Google. What some of the dishes actually were what would look like. I also ordered a mocktail which the server completely forgot, forgot to bring out to me and also did not bring me up for. The restaurant is a little on the price of your side. Be prepared to pay entrée prices for appetizers. Appetizer started at $18 in range to $42 for the most expensive appetizer. This is definitely a treat yourself type of restaurant. Also, bread and rice are à la carte just an FYI. For my friend and I who both got one appetizer for each one entrée each, we shared rice, and naan bread as well as Roti bread and she had a coke for the drink, our total was basically $135. I know this is a fairly new restaurant. Hopefully they'll have a happy hour that they can add to their menu just to make things a little read more

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I had seen reference to this place opening 'in the Spring' and checked on it occasionally. We had a concert to attend near Atlantic Station on a Saturday evening and since they apparently opened in April, I made a reservation with them (probably 3 weeks in advance). We exited the connector at 17th Street and drove just past the Twelve Midtown building. There is a parking garage entrance on State Street. You descend, get your ticket, and should try to park close to the entrance. Surprisingly (to me) there was no access from the garage directly up to the Twelve Midtown Hotel building. You instead take some stairs and come up across the street from it. Not a bit deal as the rain had stopped by then. You enter the hotel lobby and the restaurant is basically a U-turn from the doors. They have a sign outside that almost implies it is in a different building. Look for the sort of lattice-work on the exterior windows - that's the restaurant. We checked in at 5:30 p.m. and got one of the first tables. The interior is quite nicely decorated. They played odd sort of exotic foreign bass-heavy club music as a soundtrack, but at least it wasn't too loud. From limited experience, that's the sort of soundtrack you get at upscale midtown restaurants. I noticed that there were quite a few Indian people dining here, which is usually a good sign re: Indian restaurants, FWIW. Our server showed up quickly and was very personable and helpful. He provided each of us a food menu and then also left 2 drink menus. I assumed those were also the same, but figured out after a couple of minutes that the drinks were separate - each menu was single-sided and one had cocktails only and the other had their beer / wine selection. It was initially puzzling as to why they only had cocktails. I think they'd do better to combine those on the same menu. Cocktails seemed to be $16 and up. Wines appeared to be $18 and up. As for the food, some standard items seem to have slightly different names (there was an appetizer that we didn't get which was probably equivalent to a samosa, but I could only guess that from the description). Some items are named the same as you'd find at other places. I'm sure some items are just different here and are named appropriately too. With a little work, you can figure it out. We both easily found entrees to our liking. In contrast to most other local Indian places (but like California), rice is extra. We nearly finished our entrees but did have some extra to take home for at least a partial meal. Their spice level was a bit higher than average. I.e., the default seemed to be around a 'medium' at most other places. That was fine for me, but slightly above the level my wife wanted. And finally, parking in the Atlantic Station underground deck is free for the first 2 hours, so the restaurant doesn't need to validate. Overall, a good dinner, but I wouldn't hurry back. For me, it was a nice and unique fine dining option in midtown Atlanta, but I don't think I'd drive down here for an Indian meal versus eating at our favorite local Indian place, for instance. My wife was less enthused about the food / music. read more

Ikara - Interior - Indian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Unique menu with dishes from all over India that you typically don't see. Their cocktail menu pairs well with food menu. Our service was great. The restaurant is beautiful. We tried few round of drinks and our favorites were Aamras Ritu, Kohra, and The Last Local Home. We enjoyed most of our dishes for appetizers and the main. Highly recommend Mushroom Rissois, Paneer Khurchan, Champaaran Meat, and Dal Ikara. The one complaint was that our entire bread basket came out coldish compared to the rest of the food. The roomali roti is overpriced for the portion you get. We got the Kesaria Phirni for dessert and it was underwhelming. The dessert menu could be better. Overall it was a nice experience that we would return for certain dishes and drinks. read more

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ACCESS & PARKING: Park near Atlantic Station stairwell 10 for closest access to the restaurant. Parking is free for 2 hours! The entrance seems to be under construction so we entered through the Twelve Midtown Hotel. FOOD: Lobster ($42) - Starting off with the bad, but I would seriously NOT recommend the lobster. 4 tiny pieces of lobster meat with broccoli as fillers. Unfortunately, felt like I got scammed. The taste was fragrant, earthy, with a slight tang which we enjoyed. It was just a shame we could enjoy so little of it. Murg Angaara ($24) - Thankfully this dish came out next and helped us forget the lobster tragedy. The chicken was super tender and loved the balance of spice and smokiness. Fish and Prawn Curry ($28) with Garlic Naan ($7) - The curry was sweet, creamy, and very flavorful but not fishy at all. We enjoyed it but nothing too special to note. The garlic naan was wonderful! Super crispy on the outside and bready on the inside. DRINKS: Noor E Berry ($8) - Basically a strawberry spritz without the alcohol and a surprise curry flavor from the Ikara spice. The curry taste takes getting used to but we liked it the more we drank it. Kohra ($16) - The signature drink here! Really enjoyed that the gin wasn't overpowering but that it wasn't too sweet either. OVERALL: The food is decent but prices are a bit high for what you get. Drinks are crafted masterfully. The vibe of the restaurant is really beautiful and we saw couples, families, friends, businessmen, etc. so very inviting. Service needs a bit more work but I would say it's because it hasn't been too long since they opened. I would recommend trying this place out but choose your dishes wisely! read more

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As you step into Ikara, you're instantly wrapped in a world of refined elegance -- intricate design details, ambient lighting, that whisper this is Indian cuisine, reimagined Impressed by the mixologist's vision -- with cocktails that are as thoughtfully crafted as their uniquely curated names Midnight Express and Kohra, Their menu is a curated journey through the diverse flavors of India, elevated with a modern, sophisticated touch -- so get ready to indulge in a culinary experience that feels both rooted and refreshingly new. Bold Pepper Chicken Fry and smoky Murg Angara set the tone -- but the Lucknowi Nihari Ghosht stole the show with its rich, aromatic depth The zesty Murg Khurchan added a vibrant touch, while the Dal Ikara was pure creamy indulgence -- a must with naan or lachha paratha. The Papad Platter could be priced better . #atlblogger #trendingaudio #atlanta #newrestaurant #indianfood Shahi Tukda looked stunning but felt slightly dry Phirni was perfect -- silky, lightly sweet, with a hint of cardamom!! Ikara reservations now available on OpenTable read more

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Service was good. Food is overpriced and small amount and some of the dish was not good. The lamb had an aftertaste. For an Indian place, rice should come complimentary with entrees but they charge you for it. Tip was automatically included without notice or advised of, no matter the party size. So if you go solo at the bar, your tip is included lol never again. They will suck all the dimes from you. Not worth it. read more

Ikara - This was my lamb whatever they call it and the plain basmati rice that cost me $34. Not worth it. Chardonnay was $18, not worth it - Indian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Food is great Indian restaurant authentic making no apologies between perfects spice and savory! Service with a smile and helpful direction on making great choices like a good guruji! The ambiance is unparalleled in my indian restaurant experience (amber india in san francisco vibes). The cocktails ARE the best that i have had at an Indian restaurant (iykyk)! They are true indian mixology if you will. I want to see this place soar into culinary history because they put in the time and effort to BE the best Indian restaurant. read more

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We had a gathering here for a charity event and everything was perfect from the ambience to food and service. As soon as you enter, you are impressed with the decor, it's tasteful and looks chic. Tables are not cramped together and there is space to move about. We didn't order the food but everything was delicious from apps - we had chicken malai kebab, paneer tikka, shrimp rissoi, and tandoori aloo. I think the only app that I didn't care for was the rissoi. Papad platter was light and crisp. We had dal ikara, mutton and chicken qorma and a vegetable dish for main entree. Again, well made. Shahi Tukra was the dessert - again it is too sweet for my taste but it hit the spot. For me the highlight was the Chennai express cocktail - I was apprehensive about it but it was delicious and a must have if you visit. We also had Mumbai masala fizz which was a guava based drink which hit a perfect note of spice and sweet. Overall, a great new addition to the Indian restaurant scene in Atlanta. read more

Ikara - Bar area of the restaurant - Indian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Wow, wow, WOW! I will definitely be coming back. I came here this past Saturday for a girls night out and it was the perfect spot. The interior and atmosphere alone were great. The restaurant is dimly lit, but you can still see comfortably. The music is soft but audible, so you can still hear your conversation. It's located in Atlantic Station, so you have the option to valet or park in one of the garages. Parking is free if you're there for less than 2 hours. Now to the food! We started with the Tandoori Jhinga (Andhra Pradesh) and Pepper Chicken Fry (Tamil Nadu). The Pepper Chicken Fry was definitely my favorite. It was so rich and flavorful! For our entrees, another friend and I got the Nihari Gosht (Lucknow) and added an order of rice and naan. This entree was delicious, and I am still thinking about it! The portion size was great too. I couldn't even finish it at the restaurant. Our other friend got the Butter Chicken and said it was one of the best she has ever had. For drinks, I stuck with a non-alcoholic beverage and got my favorite, a mango lassi! I was a little skeptical because they added simple syrup, but it still had great flavor. Overall, parking is easy, the food is delicious, the interior is beautiful, the ambiance is great, and the staff was amazing. To top it all off, the prices were very reasonable. I will definitely be back, especially since I work right down the street! read more

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Great upscale Indian cuisine with LOTS OF VEGETARIAN options! The bartender was extremely knowledgeable and recommended some great drinks to try. The restaurant decor is awesome too. read more

Ikara - Indian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Paneer makhani 5/5 Malai kofta 4/5 Lacha paratha 3.5/5 as it can be more flaky Excellent food in Atlanta and good service 5/5 read more

Nice ambience Staff are trying to do a good job, but lots of folks not fully trained in their roles and seemed confused Waitstaff brought out wrong dishes several times (butter chicken was mixed up for paneer makhani), and not corrected Breads were dry and overcooked Many items (cocktails) on the menu "not available" Wanted to like it! General take is it's designed for Instagrammable flourishes rather than its food quality Better Indian options around in Atlanta read more

Food and service was great. The spice levels were in moderation. Hopefully they dont tone down the spice levels! Food was delicious and service was great too. read more

IKARA delivers an experience that feels elevated at first glance, but ultimately lands somewhere in the middle. The cocktail program is undeniably a highlight. Each drink is thoughtfully crafted, balanced, and visually appealing, an easy 5/5 and worth returning for on its own. The food, however, tells a different story. While the menu promises depth and creativity, most dishes fell flat in execution. The appetizers, in particular, lacked seasoning and complexity, coming across as surprisingly bland. Overall, the food earns a 2/5. That said, one standout dish, the Gucchi Subz Ezar, was exceptional. Rich, flavorful, and beautifully composed, it was the only plate that truly lived up to the restaurant's ambitions and is the sole reason I would consider coming back. Service was polished and attentive throughout the evening, earning a well deserved 5/5. Where IKARA struggles most is value. Given the price point, the overall dining experience simply does not justify the cost. There is a noticeable gap between what you pay and what you receive on the plate. Overall 3/5. Come for the cocktails and the Gucchi Subz Ezar, but manage expectations on the rest. read more

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I would like to share that this father's day weekend we were to this amazing " Ikara" Indian Fine dining Veg and Non Vegetarian restaurant at midtown Atlanta. I must say myself being a Foodie- never tasted such Scrumptious food till date for living here in United States for more than two decades. The food was exceptional far beyond one's expectations neither oily-spicy nor creamy... , but a subtle blend of spices that adds a flavor to their dishes. In addition to, the food tastes very hearty, warmth and comforting that creates a joy of partying in one's mouth. Their menu represents a Journey of a Flavourful, variety of dishes that not only represent the traditions , culture of India but also satisfies your appetite full filled Palate. We started with Drinks: Masala Mumbai Fizz & Noor e - combo of sweet n spice perfect to get going ready for an appetite Appteizers: Malbar Jackfruit kebab( Kerala) Ikara Tandoori Aloo ( New Delhi) Malai Broccoli ( Hyderabad) Sabz Paradah ( Lucknow) Tawa Sabzi ( Punjab) Gucci sabz-e-Zar ( Kashmir) Dal Ikara Desserts Phirni Kulfi Furthermore, the ambience in the restaurant is warm welcoming with great staff service. One will not miss India if you visit this restaurant and make one feel at one's home away from home Me and my family really enjoyed this delicious Food journey at Ikara and highly recommend to experience the essence of this Ikara. Thank you Ikara for giving such a wonderful experience & exposure to the traditional Food world of India. read more

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Interior is instagram-worthy and likely the only decent thing about this place. Food is way below average. Service is poor. Take your money elsewhere. read more

I wanted to love this restaurant so much because we love Indian food so much. We made a reservation online - there were several available reservations. The first red flag was the location - Atlantic Station at the bottoms of the Twelve Hotel. We had no idea who valet was because he was dressed as a regular person with a bucket hat on. Sat in the car waiting a while before we finally asked around for valet. We ended up self parking. The area is not appealing and there were several people outside smoking weed while we walked past with our young child. The restaurant itself is beautiful and well decorated. We were sat at a table right away. Our waiter was pleasant. They were out of a few items that I had planned to order - garlic naan being one of them. Overall I wasn't impressed with the food. Everything came out extremely fast, which made me wonder if everything was already sitting in the kitchen pre-cooked and waiting to be warmed up when ordered. The prawns were so overcooked and dry. Butter chicken was extremely spicy without much flavor other than spice. The white basmati rice was also bland. The lamb shank wasn't tender at all. I had to do a lot of work to get the meat off the bone. My husband plans to give the restaurant another try one day in the future. read more

The way Atlanta longs for upscale Indian food, I am so excited this place has finally arrived. The service was great, they walked us through the menu thoroughly. A touch that I love is that some of the drinks were themed after the seasons so you got to figure out what kind of experience you would want with your drink. The food was so good that my friend who wasn't a fan of Indian food now wants to return. read more

Unfortunately, had a pretty bad time at Ikara -- specifically, I had an allergic reaction to a dish cross-contaminated with peanuts. To start, the menu fails to mention any nut allergens. For example, the menu lists lemon rice, a peanut-laden dish, as containing "steamed rice with lemon, tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and turmeric." Absolutely no mention of peanuts, which is obviously highly dangerous, not to mention illegal in the state of Georgia. Similarly, beetroot poriyal is described as "a South Indian beetroot stir-fry with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and grated coconut," but is served full of cashews, which remain unmentioned on the menu. There was also a paucity of grated coconut for what should be a poriyal/thoran, but that is beside the point. I had informed the staff of my peanut allergy and ordered the beetroot poriyal. I'm not allergic to cashews, so it should have been fine in a restaurant that took precautions against cross-contamination. Well, that dish contained at least two peanuts, one of which I ingested accidentally, and another that I had fished out of the dish after realizing my body was reacting to something. Instead of offering medical assistance, the staff let me know that beetroot poriyal doesn't contain peanuts. Thanks! They also offered to remake the dish while I was having an allergic reaction. Again, super helpful. Finally, they delivered a check for the food we had ordered and did eat, which was the icing on the cake. Eventually, they realized they should write off the meal and usher us away from the eyes of the nearby patrons, who were growing increasingly interested in the situation. Overall, Ikara handled everything horribly. Fortunately, I didn't die. On top of the illegal lack of allergen labeling, the cross-contamination, and the haphazard attempts at "rectifying" the situation, the food was so mid. Imagine if my last meal was at Ikara of all places. read more

We visited the place to celebrate my daughter's birthday and were quite disappointed with service and food This is how I would rate: Service 3/10-non-indian staff does not understand indian food. They did not seem to know much about dishes on the menu. Cocktail Menu 8/10 - new and interesting cocktails Cocktails 7/10 Food 7/10 it was good but not exceptional and definitely not fine dining Breads 6/10 Naan was ok not made the authentic way, roomali roti and onion kulcha were not so good. Kulcha was soft and soggy and roomali roti was just a thin roti and not the authentic roomali roti Dessert -0/10 unpalatable-ordered shahi tukda. It was so bad we could not take a second bite had to complain about it read more

A foodie MUST. Ikara is my favorite Indian restaurant in Atlanta (and I've tried them all). The dishes are innovative, flavorful, and surprising. The cocktails are creative and delicious. The ambience is top tier. Wonderful service. I can't recommend this place enough. I went back to this place three times in two weeks after finding it. I love the Morels (Gucchi Subz E Zar) to eat and the Dadar Fast to drink. read more

Absolutely gorgeous restaurant. Our waiter, Vinay, was fantastic. Food and cocktails are beautiful and delicious. Only complaint is that the music was so loud that we couldn't enjoy a conversation with our dinner guests and our nerves were fried when we left. read more

This was my second visit to Ikara Restaurant on Mother's Day, and the place was completely sold out! I had always wanted to try their kebabs because I had heard so much about them, and they truly lived up to the hype. We tried the Hara Bhara Kebab, Dudhiya Kebab (Lucknow style), and Malai Broccoli -- all of them were incredibly flavorful. I also met their manager, Arvind, who helped us choose the starters and made our experience even better with his recommendations. I had the viral Kohra cocktail, and it was absolutely worth trying! Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience with delicious food and great hospitality. I still feel one has to come back again and again to try all their dishes. read more

Excellent place to have Indian food Excellent service and ambience. Good experience Highly recommended read more

Ambiance was perfect for a dinner of conversation with friends. The vegetarian options were plentiful and easy to find on the menu.

This place really surprised me! I was tasting spices I didn't even know existed, and I've been to Dishoom! I recommend the Prawns Rissois which are similar to samosas. read more

Great cocktails, non-apologetic authentic Indian flavors, great ambience. Minor opening pains that will get better with time- servers going to the wrong tables and not knowing the ingredients well yet. Will definitely be back, Atlanta needed an Indian restaurant like this. Hope it stays that way! read more

Our experience at Ikara was exceptional. From the moment you enter - that ambiance is warm and wonderful. The staff is polite and courteous. The cocktail menu is top notch with a variety of lovely flavors. The Kohhra has a very interesting presentation. We started off with the malai broccoli that was grilled to perfection. The main course was the Gucche sabzi,Chicken Kucharan and the Dal Makhni. All the dishes were full of flavor and amazing. The dal was an absolute favorite. For dessert we had the Shahi Tukda which was great. From a cost perspective - it was about $80 per person with tip. Highly recommend Ikara. read more

do yourself a favor visit this amazing , elegant and out of the world decor restaurant in Atlanta IKARA! Food was out of the world and delicious ! every dish has it own unique tastes and presentation ! please please please give a try read more

We recently dined at Ikara with family and were impressed with all the various food and drinks options! Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection including the drinks. The ambience is unique and is a great place to make memories. Will be back soon read more