Restaurant review: Aki's

A passage to Indian delights

Akis restaraunt imageLuxuriating in a prime spot on one of Woolloomooloo's wharves, Aki's is an Indian Restaurant with all the bells and whistles

Restaurant: Aki's
Address: 1/6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo
Phone: 9332 4600
Cuisine: Indian
Reviewed by: Kate Carr

The more glamorous sister to the very well regarded Abhi's restaurant in North Strathfield it has been garnering rave reviews from food luminaries since it opened in 2006.

It's not hard to see why, with great views of the water, a very swish bar and classy fit out, I must admit I was impressed before the food even arrived.

Being a vegetarian I realised I was going to be at a major disadvantage, but thankfully I was lucky enough to procure the services of a meat eating expert for the night and we merrily traipsed through the menu, contenting ourselves with blue swimmer crab and wok fried okra for entrees, both of which were delicious.

The crab, one of Aki's signature dishes was tossed in black mustard seeds, fresh tomatoes and ginger and served with traditional Tamil brown rice string hoppers and a coconut broth.

For those not in the know, which included me, string hoppers are a type of noodle made from steamed rice flour. The okra was crisp and juicy in its coating of besan and chick pea flour.

For mains your reviewer tried chanced her luck with a robustly flavoured curry featuring whole baby eggplant and banana chillies simmered in a sauce of peanut and browned coconut milk, while my meat eating companion continued with the seafood theme picking the Jumbo prawns and tropical snake beans gently simmered in a sauce of coconut milk, turmeric, fennel, curry leaves and ginger.

Neither of us were disappointed, although apparently the prawns did not quite reach the lofty heights attained by the swimmer crab.

Dessert, usually somewhat of a disappointment to me, was another highlight with the traditional 'Kulfi' ice cream laced with cardamom and pistachios a major discovery.

A chai tea rounded out the night, easing the fuzziness created by a few too many Kingfisher beers, and with a tip to the waiter for his impeccable efforts we were on our way and eagerly planning our return.