It has been two years since we last stepped foot into Nari. In my first story, you’ll read about how much of an impact it left on me—so much so that we made sure to revisit it this time. A lot can happen in a few years; we all know that. A memory or a meal we hold so dear can be lost and never return. Yep, I sound dramatic, but I’ve witnessed many restaurants change over the years, and not necessarily for the better.
Nari’s menu is almost exactly the same as it was before. It appears to be stuck, with no new direction to go in. I would have liked to see a complete menu overhaul with some exciting new choices, but despite this, I opted for the same dishes as before in order to compare where we were then to where we are now.
I hate to say it, but I felt the finesse had disappeared from the cookery. Yes, it was a Friday night—but should that mean standards slip? No. Everything felt hurried. One of my sweetbreads was too pink in the middle and not cooked through. Had the budget been reduced? By American standards, the sweetbread bowl was tiny. This never happens; I’m normally complaining that portions in the States are too big. I was expecting to see a few more sweetbreads, to say the least.
The pork jowl was far too bitter and had been taken too far—it didn’t reach the same heights as it had previously. The squid could have done with a few seconds more cooking, and the plate itself felt flimsily put together, without a careful eye.
I love spice, but the crab curry was so overpowering this time that I couldn’t finish it. Ironically, on my previous visit, I was too full to eat it all. Will I ever get my curry? It seems not. They also skimped on the portion size—not a complaint, but an observation. The garlic noodles were served in a crab shell, which was new. I was the only one eating this; if it were served for two or more people, would it have been successful? I’m not sure.
Overall, this experience didn’t do it for me. The beauty and restraint, paired with that touch of detailing and expert balancing I remembered, were missing. Too much spice, too much of this, too much of that—and not enough of this.. For whatever reason—one we don’t know—things have changed since 2024.
