Rin K.
Yelp
Anik's Restaurant in Portland offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience from the moment you step through the door until you leave. The intimate, one-table feast-style seating creates a cozy atmosphere that feels both exclusive and inviting. The restaurant's interior is beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, adding to the mysteriously romantic and elegant ambiance.
The tasting menu, featuring over ten courses, is an artistic marvel. Each dish is a stunning blend of textures, colors, cultures, and techniques, making for a visually and gastronomically delightful journey. I was surprised by every single dish of this tasting menus. The welcome drink and other thoughtfully paired beverages enhance the overall dining experience.
However, for a high-priced tasting menu with drink pairings, there are areas where Anik's could improve. During my visit, the restaurant was fully booked, and the chef mentioned it was the most guests they'd ever had. This may have contributed to some of the service issues I experienced. As a relatively slow eater, I found the pacing of the meal to be a bit rushed as everyone receives their dishes at the same time. Despite my efforts to eat faster, I often received the next dish while the previous one was not cleaned from my table or I was still working on my last bites, which detracted from the enjoyment of a fixed course meal where the flow of dishes is essential.
Additionally, there were multiple errors in the delivery of dishes and drinks. One course was missing its drink pairing entirely just for me, and I had to request it separately, which diminished the intended experience of pairing food and wine.
I also love when restaurants explain each dish and drink pairing, allowing diners to understand the ingredients and the chef's thought process. Unfortunately, because the restaurant was full and the chef gave introductions all at once, I often couldn't hear the explanations. This led to frequent discussions with my dining companions afterward to try and piece together what was said, but often we were all left in the dark about the details of the dishes and drinks.
Overall, Anik's Restaurant offers an amazing and unique dining experience. I'm thrilled to see such an experimental high-end restaurant in Portland. However, attention to service details, smoother delivery, better pace management for slower eaters, and clearer dish and drink introductions would elevate the experience.