Setaara

A hidden gem - delicious cuisine with a truly charming ambiance. Tasting menu was perfect with full course average size portions. Setaara offers a delightful fusion of flavor and atmosphere. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, and the entire experience felt warm, authentic, and memorable.

My son and I had a delicious dinner to celebrate his 23rd birthday!!! The entire staff was so friendly and sang happy birthday songs for him 🎂!! Thank you, Satara staff, everyone was very cordial!! I definitely recommend this elegant restaurant 100%!! Every corner of it has exquisite decor!!

Beautiful establishment, delicious food! And very polite staff! Very hospitable! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a tasty bite to eat. Definitely, a five star rating for me!

First time. Service was great! Sweets were delicious. All meals was tasty I like it . You can bring g your own bottle 🍾 . Nice design have creative decorations.

We came here in search of good escargot and we found it. Great food, cute decor, could use some updates. The entrees were huge. My chicken was perfect but my husband's beef tasted funny, we couldn't pinpoint was was wrong with it. Overall it was a good experience. I would come again.

I went here with my girlfriend for a friend’s birthday dinner party. We loved the decor and food. I think that our server needed a little more help. The air conditioning wasn’t working and it felt like it was 80 degrees and we were all hot because of this. We would return and overall recommend the restaurant.

From the moment you walk through beautiful architectural doorway to the moment you meet the greeters ,servers ,and take in the atmosphere you can tell you are about to experience a unique dining adventure . I had the “tasting tour “ which offers a four course meal for $69 . My servers was Heaveen and she did a wonderful job for her first day of work, her first table and for me my first visit. I was very impressed with the courtyard decor and the cleanliness and the attention to details. My food was fresh , my tomato soup creamy and my chicken Kabob cooked to perfection . The pistachio baklava, chocolate mousse and fresh mint leaf tea was the perfect ending . The portion sizes were just right allowing me to enjoy all four courses . I dined alone this evening , but it would be an excellent place to meet family & friends , or impress a date .

The place is beautiful and uniquely decorated. While seated in a beautiful setting, we all found it very uncomfortable as the seats were very hard & low and the table was high. Bench seating on one side and chairs on the other. We had the unfortunate spot of the bench. And there was an awful stench in our area which wasn't from the wonderful aromas of the kitchen. Now the best part of the evening.... The food was absolutely hands down... delicious! Salmon was perfectly prepared and presented exquisitely well! One of the best tastiest experiences by far! Raves on the lamb chops as it was seasoned so well. We had many apps and all were tasty! Loved the serving & drink ware, all were unique. The prices are high but we would definitely return. Must mention the service...excellent!

Service and food were very good! Loved the owner! Great experience...I would definitely go back...

The place is very traditional a combination of both cultures. Clean, fancy, very good service and the food was tasty. It is a little pricy though but it's worth it because of the experience and traditional foods. I recommend visiting.

I've been wanting to visit for a couple years. My fiancé is pretty picky of an eater so I was hesitant but he ended up loving everything about Setaara. The ambiance is unique and beautiful. We ordered the cucumber yoghurt appetizer which was very refreshing. Then we split the Mantu entree and the Silk Road Kabobs. The Mantu is a very delicious and flavorful dumpling dish. The Silk Road Kabobs are chicken and lamb kabobs. Both were cooked through and very tender. It was my fiancés first time trying lamb and he really enjoyed it! We had the tea and then chocolate mousse for dessert. Everything was exceptional and we plan on coming back. I think our server's name was Hamid. Our server and wait staff were super accommodating and knowledgeable. They made the experience welcoming and more enjoyable. We highly recommend!

This was the greatest ambiance and setup. You could tell by rhe olace that they know what they are doing. Hand crafted costumes and trinkets. They even had birds in a gate chirping. But the food was underwhelming. The soup was just Greek lemon soup but was bland. The artichoke dip was a gooey mess. Kofta kebab is supposed to be spiced hamburger. This was basically regular meatballs in a red sauce?? The lamb chunks were ok but I've had had better. Presentation was impeccable.

Sooo good! The waiter was soo nice and all the employees treated us so good! Food was bomb would definitely come back!!

Amazing food and service and absolutely stunning restaurant! Highly recommend Uzbek pulao

I am a sucker for restaurants with unique interiors and for this reason Setaara has been on my radar for some time. We visited with two friends on a random Thursday evening in late February. We had a 7:30 PM reservation, which we really didn't need. Our server was engaging and he literally explained the entire menu to us. He made several great recommendations and we followed his lead. We sampled items from both the Afghan side and the French side. This is not "fancy food", rather it's authentic with a "real" presentation, if that makes sense. Everything was delicious. You can really relax and enjoy yourself here. By 8:30 PM, the restaurant was empty except for us. It was early, but we could tell the waitstaff was ready to pack it in. We didn't feel rushed, but we felt like we needed to giddy up a bit and go. Perhaps it's a little more lively on weekends? I presume the summer months are hopping. Unique place for something new!

Service and food was amazing definitely an experience to remember. First time having Afghan food and it was a real great experience.

Amazing dining experience our waiter explained the menu and options clearly and was very descriptive. Never had Afghan-French cuisine but will definitely come back when in the area. Not one bad meal. Had a group of 4 friends each ordered different apps and entrees. We were given plenty of extra dishes to share among another. Portions were more than enough. Dumpling and lamb dishes were the best dishes must get. Had the eggplant parm dish which was generic but still a safe choice. Escargot and pate app was very good,

Came here to celebrate a friends birthday and was looking forward to this restaurant for a while. Unfortunately, our experience was not great. If possible, I'd give my experience a 3.5 so not quite 3 stars. Our waitress came by and was nice, but had a bit too strong of a personality. Throughout the evening, she complained about every little thing. The system being down, her staff not doing their jobs (made a comment about them not speaking English), food coming out way too soon, etc. everything was just negative. We didn't know until she went through the menu, that on Fridays we had to do the $70 4-course meal. She said the hostess should've mentioned something, but no one did. The hard copy menu still says Saturday and Sunday only. The website has 2 pages. One page says Saturday and Sunday. Another page says Friday and Saturday. Very inconsistent and something important that should've been established. We had no choice but to do the 4-course meal. Definitely get your money worth, but none of us were expecting to spend so much and to have that big of a meal. Bolani, borani banjan and artichokes were delicious. Split pea and French onion soup were both winners. I ordered the Silk Road kabob as an entree and it was tender, melt in your mouth, perfectly spiced and cooked. I'd highly recommend that dish! My other friend ordered the poulet au moutard, which also receives a 10/10. Unfortunately, my other friend ordered the quabili palau and we all gave it two thumbs down. Completely dry, zero flavor and was not that great. The Setaara Special was great! Baklava was not too hard and the ice cream paired with it so well. What made us very upset and ultimately give it 3 stars is the location. We sat in the booth by the front. Zero view, plain walls, no music, no nothing yet we were still expected to pay $70/person for the 4-course meal no one mentioned. After dinner, we wanted to check out the main room and it was a completely different experience. Extremely lively, colorful, live music (violinist), birds, fountain and just beautiful. $70/person for a delicious 4-course meal while sitting in an area like that is 1000% worth it. You are not only paying for the food, but for the experience and ambiance! We were sitting in a quiet room with blank walls, no music, no nothing and still paid the same exact price as the others. Our waitress even told us they used to never seat people where we were at because of it. If you do come, make sure you sit in the right location and make sure you are aware of the days they are doing the 4-course!

Terrible, horrible service waited over 1.5 still didn't receive our food.. ask for more bread they said they ran out but other patrons were getting bread... just a wow... glad we're from out town cause will never come back... I mean disrespect anyone but come on.

We stepped into an exotic ambience at Seetara. As we walked through a narrow hallway we were surprised to be greeted with lush greenery and blooms. Nature met modernism. Mediterranean is the healthiest diet so, we try to incorporate healthy meals as much as possible in our diet! We are from out of town and have been here twice already. It would be nice to have a restaurant this healthy in our town! I love the taziki (yogurt) sauce & the exotic flavors on their menu. I like to do a special order of the combo of the beef and chicken with white rice. My husband had the mantu (dumplings) and banjan (eggplant). So good. Whether you're a fan of Afghan food or want to try a culinary dish from the region, Seetara is a great choice. We were delighted with our experience, hospitality, and are eager to return!

Totally impressed! ! This was my first time but will definitely not be my last time visiting this restaurant. This restaurant had it all, the beautiful decor, the amazing staff and overall authentic flavors of Afghan and French Cuisine. I'll share the amazing pictures, you must give this place a try. This is a BYOB, we bought a nice bottle of wine and enjoyed every minute we spent there. Love love love

Hamid was such a gracious server and eager to make great recommendations. What a fantastic dinner and lovely and welcoming hosts We enjoyed the bolani and really loved the Afghan rice with raisins and dipping sauces. Great to find a place in Atlantic City that's not the usual fare. It was a taste experience and a beautiful, setting. Thank you to all we met there!

I really wanted to love Setaara, but it just missed the mark for me. The food was just okay. I was expecting the food to pack a lot of flavor because the plates were arranged beautifully with sauces and herbs, but it was lacking. I did enjoy the lamb, and I thought it was cooked well, but again just not much flavor. For being $70 per person, I was expecting a lot more.

Hamid really made our evening special from the very moment we walked in. He was very friendly, talkative and helpful with his knowledge of the menu.

We were in town with friends and were excited to try this place. Given the good reviews and our love of Persian/Afghan cuisine, we here looking forward to a good meal. We were greeted by a friendly lady at the front who seated us and our waiter was also very friendly and helpful with making suggestions for what to order (his wife is the owner/cook). The interior is nicely done and you feel like you've been transported to another world sitting in some courtyard. You'd never imagine this from the outside given the location of the restaurant. These were all the high points. So why the one star review? The food and the ridiculously overpriced pre fixe menu. We were only told about the $70 per person price after we were seated and looking through the menu. This is something that should have been posted on their website or mentioned when we made our reservation. Being forced to get a 4 course meal would be justifiable had the food been delicious but it was very disappointing. The appetizers were good which got us excited for the rest of the meal. But it went downhill from there. The soup was bland like chicken stock with some mashed rice. None of us could have it. Our entrees came out next and they were absolutely terrible. I ordered the koobideh kabab platter, one of my favorite foods which I eat often. The Kababs were tough and rubbery and what made it worse was there was absolutely no seasoning. Even salt would have helped. The rice was also not the usual buttery fragrant rice one expects in a Persian dish. My husband's lamb in his Uzbeki pulao was also disappointing. Our friends had similar feedback on their meals. The desserts were mediocre at best but that's a matter of preference. The tiny baklava piece was fine but the chocolate mouse and firni both felt like they had been prepared a while ago and refrigerated given their texture. It was clear that there were cuttings corners everywhere to save money. For example, out platters came with only half grilled tomatoes, we were given only two desserts to share amongst the four of us when we all purchased the meals and the meat was poor quality. I can't for the life of me understand the high reviews here. I do feel bad leaving this review but I feel compelled to be honest.

Wonderful food. Wonderful service. Hamid took care of us And was very professional and helpful- it was our second time at Setaara and it certainly won't be our last. Can't wait to come back!

Setaara has one of the best decorative interiors especially in atlantic city but that is only if you sit in the back of the restaurant. Unfortunately my boyfriend and I were seated in the front but they allowed us to go take a picture in the back after our meal. My boyfriend and I both decided to try afghani food for the first time and had the tasting menu and it was more than enough food, prob enough to feed 4 people! I also ordered the doogh drink to try which was a yogurt cucumber drink that is supposed to be refreshing in the summer time. I would prob pass on this next time. My boyfriend ordered a watermelon drink but it was nothing memorable. For the tasting menu, we started with a lemon and chicken soup which was creamy but not overwhelming and so flavorful. My boyfriend then had the bolani while I had the eggplant for the appetizer. I think the bolani would have gone better with a curry sauce than opposed to a chutney but I'm not familiar with the food of this culture. The eggplant was okay and nothing to rave about. It had a yogurt sauce and tomatoes in it. For entrees, I had the lamb shank which was tasty and fall off the bone. I packed the leftovers to go and it was even better the next day! My boyfriend had the beef dijonnaise. Beware there is an extra charge for that and we didn't realize until the bill arrived. We both thought my lamb shank was better. For dessert we had the baklava and firni. I loved the firni but that is because I am a sucker for rice pudding and firni reminded me of that! The waitress was new but always found the answer to a question she did not know.

This is a hidden gem in the heart of AC. It's BYOB so that's a plus for us. The place is beautiful and inviting. Great phot ops at this place for sure. The food was fantastic and the service is definitely top notch. The desert and teas were amazing as well. We've been multiple times and always go when in. AC.

As a private Chef, at times I can be hard to please when dining out in NJ. I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent service, delicious food choices, flavor combinations and setting at Setaara. Thank you!

As we went on a Saturday, we had to do the prix fixe meal. My only complaint is that this requirement should be made more obvious as it took us by surprise. Otherwise, we really enjoyed our meal. Would definitely go back and recommend to others.

I definitely find it refreshing to have an afghan byob in the heart of Atlantic City. Really loved the vibes to switch up an Atlantic City girls night and not break the bank at one of the casino restaurants. I found the food to be okay but wasn't wowed by anything. The kebabs were most definitely my favorite - I would skip the pate next time. The soup was a bit flavorless but nothing was particularly bad. The restaurant photographs well but is smaller / less glamorous in real life - i still found it cute! We loved our seating and the servers were all incredible - 3.5 for the overall experience!

this food was amazing!!!Everyone there was very friendly and absolutely best service. The whole idea of mixing two different cuisines has this place making something for everyone. We had for apps the fried potato was a great crisp but soft and tasteful inside. the dipping green sauce was Delicious and a bit spicy. Chicken liver pate wasn't my favorite but that is due to personal taste. My husband did enjoy it. My husband ate the lamb lollipop meal and he said he was cooked perfectly. I had the meatballs and I LOVED them. They were spicy, so its my thing. If you can't do spice I wouldn't recommend. They white rice was perfectly cooked and the sauce on the meat balls were to die for. I really enjoyed my meal if you can tell - haha. It also came with potatoes that were good. Sadly the outdoor are is currently closed to renovations but they still had it available to view and can't wait to go back when it is done. I can't wait to see it because just from what we could see it was very beautiful and I love the whole style of decor. Indoors is very small so for now I would def recommend a reservation. It is BYOB!!

The ambiance in the outside seating area will definitely transport your mind from Atlantic City NJ to a spectacular home far far away. The service was prompt and the servers catered to our requests given that our reservation was done via OpenTable and I included the reason for my visit was to celebrate a birthday. (I understand that they no longer use that reservation app. So you won't be able to use those flavorfully earned points here anymore ‍.) The specials for the night included their beef bourguignon which I understood used to be a regular entree on their menu but has since been retired. I tried a bite from my dad's order and it's worth coming back to enjoy a plate of my own when I'm in the mood for French comfort food. I had the a traditional Afghan entree called Mantu. I included a photo of what I'd enjoyed during my meal. It's delightful. And a different sort of steamed dumpling than I'd tried before. Served with a tomato sauce on one side and a yogurt on the other. It's a great contrast. The spicy side vegetables I didn't really eat. I'm sure anyone with a hankering for HOT and spicy will enjoy that part of the dish. The soup that was included as part of the entree was low salt. Great for those of us battling HBP and full flavor tomato! The French and flat breads offered to accompany the meal are delicious. These were served warm. The texture and flavor of the flat bread is great even without butter. But are whats needed to enjoy the artichoke dip from the appetizer section. Yum!!! They offer you a slice of decadently rich chocolate cheesecake for the birthday celebrant. It may not be for everyone. But it was much appreciated and included a lit "Happy Birthday" red candle which I've not had to blow out my wishes on in years. It was a fun conclusion to a wonderful occasion. I might try something else from their menu the next opportunity to eat in, but for now. The mantu is my definite best bet for an introduction to Afghani cuisine. Beef Dumplings Mantu Dumplings Tomato Basil Soup French Orderings

What a pleasant surprise to find this place on our first return since Covid. Unique to A.C. We really enjoyed this well prepared, thoughtful dinner. The eggplant appetizer was superb. We wanted to share our mains and they were kind enough to split the amazing Mantu dinner onto two plates and serve the lamb chops family style. We enjoyed every bite start to fish. Good luck Setaara we hope to see you on our next visit.

Wonderful dining experience! Great food, great atmosphere! Must do when in Atlantic City!

Even though it was not as advertised picture wise on social media, the food and service made up for it. They didn't have live music or the beautifully lit Eiffel Tower but the Afghan lamp chandelier was stunning. The silverware was spectacular as well. It's BYOB so that was a plus. However, you have to do a tasting menu during the weekends. It's $69pp for 4 courses but the lamb is an up charge of $10 and a 20% gratuity is added to parties of 6 or more. We love fusion restaurants so we were excited to try something different. They placed two different types of bread on the table: Afghan pita and French bread. I preferred the French bread but both were good. We started off with the artichokes in a Alfredo sauce; afghan empanadas; potatoes; and eggplant with red sauce. All of the appetizers were amazing! Then we had split pea soup or lemon chicken. We were already stuffed. For our mains, my friends enjoyed their lamb kebabs, lamb chops and beef dijonaise. Meanwhile I devoured my vegetarian dumplings even though they were super spicy! All the dishes came with Afghan rice & dipping sauce. For dessert we all enjoyed the pistachio baklava and Afghan pudding which was like a chocolate mousse. Hamid even gave us some vanilla ice cream infused with perfume! Overall everything was delicious...xoxo

Excellent food, service and vibe! Lamb shank was excellent! Green tea at the end capped things off well.

Ever been to AC and thought "I love Guy Fieri, but eating at him and Gordon Ramsey's restaurants every time we visit is getting old." Well look no further than Setaara, located at Arctic and North George Avenue (only a couple blocks behind Boardwalk Hall). Setaara features French Afghan dishes, which were all AMAZING, but sadly I do not have any pictures of because everything looked so dang good that we couldn't wait to dive in. It's also BYOB, so grab your gals and head down the shore for a cute night out. The courtyard is ADORABLE, and had heated lamps in case it gets chilly, but they also have inside seating as well. Overall 11/10 cannot wait to dine again! The staff was WONDERFUL, and the service was just as high class. They check your temperatures on the way in, and have a parking lot located on Georgia Avenue right behind the Catholic Church, and provide a truly exceptional dining experience.

What a find!! If you haven't tried this place, go. Make sure to call in a reservation, they are pretty busy. We were seated right away and served water and bread. Patty was our server and I can't say enough about how awesome she is! We were seated upstairs and it's quite a few stairs to tackle when serving customers but she checked up on us and made sure we had everything we needed. We had a few questions and wanted to try a few items so she helped us with recommendations and what to expect with the flavors. Super pleasant and she totally made our night. The view from the top is nice and the decor throughout is pretty interesting. We ordered the bolani which is served with a cilantro jalapeño sauce - SO GOOD! The bolani is crispy filled with potatoes and very flavorful. We also tried the mantu dumplings which were tastefully seasoned and served with fresh peas, green beans, tomatoes and yogurt. For our entrees we had the Sill road kabab (1 chicken skewer and 1 lamb skewer) with a side of rice, jalapeño sauce and fresh pico de gallo. The meal was amazing! We also had the Setaara kabab which has a rack of lamb cooked perfectly medium and served with seasoned rice and jalapeño sauce. For dessert we had the firni which was delicious. Topped with pistachios and had a hint of rose water. Highly recommend this place!!

Beautiful hidden gem in AC. Thankful they had parking too. There's a beautiful courtyard inside of the restaurant. Eating the dishes reminded me of gouged to your aunt's house who is a superb cook and eating a home cooked meal. Flavorful and delicious but a bit pricey. I'll pick that over mediocre food in the casino that's overpriced.

This is a place you leave the casinos for the ambiance is amazing, I cant wait for summer to eat in their courtyard. The food just amazing from appetizers to dessert. The staff was excellent. This is definitely a place to escape the boring casino scene.

It's my first time coming here and the front area was like a fake out because you have to walk through this hallway and end up inside where it's open and filled with plants and fixtures. The food was very good! We had kebabs and pates and they all tasted delicious. The service was very nice and the staff was attentive and our waitress was very nice. She had some good recommendations and even thought the internet was down she handled it very nice and made our checkout very easy. She's the blond girl with the choker I don't remember her name but she was very nice. Would come back here again with my friends because it's a really nice spot!

This is one of my most favorite restaurants in the world. The food is top-tier, and the restaurant itself is absolutely incredible inside. Even if you don't get seated in the courtyard, be sure to check it out. The owners have put so much love into this place, it shows. People from around the world should be taking pilgrimages to this place. The food is a tasteful blend of afghan and French cuisine, so its familiar yet different at the same time. I've met the owners before and they have so much respect for their community of Atlantic City, and they planted their seed here on Arctic Ave to show that. If this is an option for you, take it; you won't be disappointed.

We ate here a few years ago shortly after they opened, in the midst of COVID. It was amazing. The food was fantastic. Service was excellent. Ambiance amazing. Better yet they are a BYOB and did not charge a corkage fee. It was a challenging time and this was such a treat. Finally, after a few years we were planning to return. I was looking so forward to another amazing meal. I was also excited that they were making "the best of" lists. But, then when I went to make a reservation they had a trashy, nasty, expensive, and insulting cancellation policy. If you cancel within 48 hours, they're going to charge you $25 per person on the reservation. We do not support businesses that do this. At first I was deterred, but then I thought maybe this is just a scare tactic for no shows. I booked the reservation months ago and I was really looking forward to enjoying dinner there. Then I saw the Yelp reviews. I saw people who were in dire situations who needed to cancel last minute and they were charged. I thought that was unconscionable and cruel behavior on the part of the management/owners. Against my better judgement, I was still was willing to eat here. A few days before we were to go, I was reading all about this tasting menu nonsense that people were forced to get on Saturday nights. I checked the website and after reading through the garble I saw it was there loud and clear. I'm not sure if this is recent but I was thinking, nope. That's two strikes now. Why has this place gotten so trashy? At this point, I decided to cancel the reservation because I do not want to support a business that behaves this way. Fortunately, I was outside of the 48 hours so I shouldn't get charged. On behalf of management/owners, I get you're a small business and I get you need to make a living but this is not the way. I am so disappointed in you. You've become really greedy and cruel in some sense, and I don't know why you're behaving this way, but I'm hoping when you see all the negative reviews about this, you'll change your tune. Only after you change your tune, will I support you again. I get penalizing the no-shows but don't do this to people who call you and cancel the reservation. And the tasting menu restriction on Saturday nights seems lazy to me. And I'm so disappointed that I'm going to miss out on an amazing meal yet again, but I cannot support businesses that do this.

We came on a Saturday night and had the tasting menu. Overall the food was delicious and we'd definitely come back! My husband and I enjoyed the chicken and lamb kabobs. Some reviews mention less salt, we didn't notice any lack of flavor (quite the opposite- very flavorful!) we did notice we didn't feel overly thirsty or bloated after this meal which was a nice change from most restaurant food :) we also sat in one of the floor alcoves and appreciated the privacy. We prefer to eat outdoors due to COVID but since the garden was closed this was an alternative that made us feel more comfortable. Our server Patty was also very helpful!

This place was very average, the price was not justifiable. My family and I went and were told that we had to do the tasting menu which was $70 per person and there was no a la carte options. There was nothing on the website about this as far as we had seen prior to visiting. The food was fine but nothing incredible. The music was also very loud since there was a live violinist. Our family ended up paying $350 total for an underwhelming experience. Additionally, there are two birds in two individual cages in the courtyards that are locked up alone with no stimulation which made our table upset.

First- I would like to start out by saying that I contacted the owner privately via their email and after a week received no response, which is why I'm writing this review publicly. I have dined here many times when they first opened and loved it. My experience last weekend was absolutely horrible for multiple reasons - We were seated in the Eiffel garden room which is what is usually photographed on their social media. We were unfortunately seated at a tiny table that was pushed against the back wall where there was fresh dry wall with brown handprints all over it. The floors had oil and food all over them, dirt in the crevices and molding and a filthy baby high chair stored next to us. To cap the scene off, there were flies buzzing around the whole time. No one should have been seated in this area, period. We were immediately skeeved out because if this is what the guests can see, what does the kitchen look like? Additionally, we had to choose from the pre-fixe menu since it was a weekend (which was fine, we knew this ahead of time). The problem comes in here. We were already grossed out and feeling hesitant due to the cleanliness issue, and by the time the soup course came out, we knew we wanted to leave. The chicken lemon soup was the consistency of thick, hot rice pudding with a faint taste of chicken flavor but no actual chicken - it was absolutely horrific. At this point, we didn't want our entrees or the dessert, we just wanted to leave. We called the waitress over who was very nice and understanding about our complaints, however she returned with a bill for $100 and said that was with a 50% discount for our bad experience. We paid it as to not cause a scene and we just wanted to leave, however this is not sitting right even a week later. We literally drank water, complimentary stale bread, two appetizers and didn't even eat the nasty soup, entrees, or dessert, and that cost us $100 based on the pre-fixe menu rule? They should be embarrassed. I'm not sure what has happened to this restaurant since they opened 4 years ago, but it's a far cry from what it was. The environment, the food, and the customer service collectively is the reason why I will never return and will stop recommending them.. We ended up going home and showering and leaving our shoes on the porch for the night because of the oil residue from their floors. If the owner had at least replied to my private message to remedy the situation, that would have been a plus. So entirely disappointed with this birthday dinner gone wrong.

The food is amazing! The staff are friendly and attentive! Awesome service and ambience

I was really looking forward to this restaurant with all the great reviews. The atmosphere was interesting. If you are tall beware of the door. The door is quite low. The service was great. We had Patti as our server she did an excellent job. The food was ok. The bread was warm and tasty. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was expecting herbs (such as zaatar) and oil for dipping in an afghan restaurant not butter for my bread. I asked for oil and herb but they gave me oil and pepper. That was a little disappointing. The eggplant appetizer was great. I didn't expect the eggplant and yogurt sauce to be warm but it totally complemented the dish. My lamb kabob (rack of lamb) was tender but lacked flavor. I'm used to eating it with a yogurt sauce so I requested for it. The yogurt sauce made the lamb better along with the jalapeño cilantro sauce that came with the dish. The seasoned rice was the better part. I wouldn't get this dish again. My daughter got the chicken and beef kabob combo. It also lacked flavor. The chicken and beef were both bland and dry. The jalapeño cilantro sauce helped a little bit. Maybe I more used to eating Greek kabobs. I had afghan kabobs before. This dish was just extra dried. The milk pudding rose water was ok. This reminds me of the badam drink but in pudding form. If you don't like flowery tasting food then don't get it. Overall this place was nice. I would like to go back when the outside and the rooftop is done. I will definitely not get the lamb kabob or the chicken and beef kabob dish again. I know I'm a hard critic but I'm just being honest.

Ugh, what a BEAUTIFUL restaurant. Felt SURREAL that I was still in New Jersey for an ambiance this beautiful! We came on a rainy/chilly day and I was skeptical how the open seating would work, but it was SO cozy and welcoming. There were space heaters that actually kept you warm and the garden atmosphere was just impeccable. Although there were limited options for vegetarians, I did enjoy the Borani Banjan and Mantu. The service was phenomenal. We were actually 30 minutes late to our reservation due to traffic, but they were SO understanding which I truly appreciated. Next time I'm in AC, I won't even bother checking out any other restaurant... this is my new go to!

My wife and I thoroughly enjoy our anniversary meal at Sataara...and I must admit we were very impressed the service was A1...the food amazing I am definitely looking forward going back. The ambiance was very romantic...& the lady in the courtyard playing the music only added to the magic.

I have been meaning to come to Setaara since the first opened - I guess like two years ago at this point. Especially after seeing photos of their stunning courtyard (which is heated!!) I was really dying to go. I finally made my way there this past weekend with three friends. It's in Atlantic City, sort of directly behind Boardwalk Hall, and back a couple blocks. Free parking is available in a nearby church parking lot (though it's not super obviously marked). From the moment we walked in the front door I was in awe. You instantly feel like you're transported ... and not in Atlantic City. They have lovely indoor seating - both at standard tables and cute alcoves with low tables and floor seating (on cushions). Outside is the most impressive part IMO. The courtyard is so beautiful and even in the winter it stays heated really well since it's enclosed by four walls. The service was really great - all servers we encountered were SUPER attentive, checking on us, adjusting the heaters, refilling our drinks and making sure we had everything we needed. The food is super good too. Like nothing I've really had before, so I didn't even really know what I was ordering, but our server was helpful in explaining dishes. My friends and I split a couple plates to share - potatoes and cucumbers with yogurt. I got vegetarian dumplings topped with kidney beans and sauce as my meal. It came with a bowl of some of the yummiest tomato basil soup I've had! My meal was delicious, filling and had enough to bring home leftovers. Oh....did I mention this is a BYOB? Woohoo! Make a reservation for sure, I hear they're getting very popular! I will be back!!

Amazing. Atlantic City in general is trash but this place was amazing! Hidden gem. Get outdoor seating! It's so beautiful! Our waitress Raye was amazing!! All the dishes we got were 10/10. Everything was full of flavor, very fresh, clean. No complaints at all! Can't wait to come back!

If you want to be transported to a magical world you definitely need to check out Setaara. The restaurant is beautiful and covered in mosaic tiles, flowers, and ornate lights. We had the lamb kabobs and Mantu dish which were both fabulous. The lamb had a wonderful charcoal flavor and was cooked to the perfect temperature. The green sauce the complemented it was bright and spicy. The Mantu dish was filled with tender ground beef and covered in a delicious yogurt spicy sauce. The baklava was crispy and gooey and the perfect bite to end the night. We will definitely return!

Fun concept for a restaurant. Interesting fusion idea. But the meal fell flat. Had the prix fixe menu.. entree was the only thing I'd ever get again, but not at the price they have. They also got one of our appetizers wrong. Having the live violinist was very nice though.

Was very excited to visit Setaara, only to be disappointed by overpriced food, and lengthy wait times! Don't waste your time or money. Not worth the trip. Our server Patty is their saving grace.

Writing this brings me no pleasure, but I'm doing it as a public service. My husband and I ate at Setaara recently. The service was fine, but the food - with the possible exception of their signature lamb w/rice dish - was amongst the worst restaurant food I've ever had. And I'm 62 and eat out at good restaurants a lot. AND because we were required to have the prix fixe, which was $60, it was expensive. Specifically: The "lemon and chicken" soup had zero flavor, almost zero chicken, and a very gelatinous consistency. I doctored it with salt, pepper, and lemon juice (I asked for some fresh lemon), which made it more flavorful. But they should have been embarrassed to serve it the way they did. The eggplant appetizer was okay but again completely devoid of flavor. The "French" chicken dish with mustard and a "touch" of cream was drowning in a bland sauce, so it was overly creamy and rich without the balancing pungency of enough mustard. Along with it they served (among other things) a cooked red cabbage dish that was overly sweet and mushy. The dessert was tiny. Our waitress was very sweet, but the place also felt tired and dirty. Needless to say, it was a huge disappointment.