Asana

Warning! Restaurant is currently on renovation and it is somewhat open. It will be finished mid September. I hope to come back and enjoy the full menu.
Overal experience was excellent: nice service; fast and pleasant; we lived our food;
As I mentioned: menu was shorter then I expected and there was no. sunday brunch tha I was hoping to get. Next time!

Asana is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. The interior is clean and luxurious. Waiters are very nice and actually know what they serve. Foods are always fresh and delicious.

I got a 4 course prie fix with wine paring deal from Gilt City for $ 50 (with actual value at around $ 85). AMAZING food /​service /​wine selection for the price !
Their kale salad was amazing along with the hibachi taretare we got as amuse bouche.
Salmon I had on separate occasion was one of the best salmon dishes I’ve ever had, must try!

My wife and I had the Gilt City which gave us a 4-​course pre-​fixed menu with wine pairings. We were excited for the experience but after being seated for 10 minutes and no one coming to the table, the experience started to go down hill.
We finally got our first course which was good but nothing amazing. After waiting for over an hour, I asked to check on our dinner and I was told there was a ‘mix-​up’ in the kitchen — now not sure how there is a mix-​up if the menu is pre-​fixed and my wife and I ordered the same thing.
We don’t plan on going back since the service was not good.

I love everything about this place. From the service, to the food, to the décor… Asana is top notch dining. I came here for restaurant week with my mom. We made a reservation which was honored the moment we arrived. The host checked our coats for us and then showed us to our seats. The meal the divine, right down to the presentation! I appreciate places that pay attention to the details, and Asana does just that. If you are looking for a superb dining experience, check them out!

I came here with my family and we all ordered the five course tasting menu with some red wine, white wine, and sparkling wine.
Tuna sashimi: I liked the plating. The taste is different from most sashimi salads. They used lime juice, coconut, and lemongrass and it tasted very exotic. There were many elements to the dish. The crunchy wontons complimented the fluffy-​ness of the tuna.
Mushroom soup: It was very rich. I could definitely taste the parmesan. It had a very earthy and buttery taste to it. Adding a little white truffle oil would have hit the spot for me.
Taleggio ravioli: This is the first time that I had taleggio cheese. It had a tanginess to it. To me, it is a lighter version of a Gorgonzola. The porcini marmalade went well with the ravioli. I think using square or round shape ravioli would be better than using the ribbon shaped ravioli. Round and square shaped ravioli holds more cheese so that way, it would be a better proportion of the sweetness of the marmalade and the richness of the cheese.
Grilled prime flat iron: The steak was cooked perfectly. Steak is always good when it is medium rare! I like the fennel pesto more than the sweet potato purée but they both went well with the steak.
New England Baked Apple: This was the best dish on the tasting menu! I like the baked apple. It was so soft and juicy. The ice cream is perfect with the warm apple. I also like the crunchy texture of the pecans and the currant streusel. I want to go back just to get the baked apple.
The service was pretty good. The wait time in between courses was shorter than usual, but I did not mind that at all. The server came back to give us more wine whenever we were almost done with our glasses.
This is a nice place to go on a date or spend a nice evening with your family. I will definitely come back and check out their bar.

This is one of my new favorite restaurants in Back Bay!
Asana is part of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. I really enjoyed the décor and ambiance of this restaurant. It is a perfect place for a date or if you are looking for a nice meal.
For appetizer, I tried the tuna sashimi. It was very delicate and delicious. I enjoyed the acidity and freshness in this dish. It was different that they used lime as the acidic component. There was also a touch of sesame oil, which makes this dish quite tasty and flavorful!
I also tried the Wellfleet oysters. And omg they were amazing!!! They cleaned the shells really well, there was not a grain of sand inside! The oysters were so fresh and delicious.
For my main course, I tried the 8 oz prime flank steak. I like the char that it had on the steak. The steak was prepared just as I requested and it was seasoned perfectly. I also ordered the Mac and cheese as my side. The pasta was al dente and the cheese was so rich and creamy!
For dessert, I tried the strawberry shortcake sundae. The sundae looked too pretty to dig in! But I could not resist! I loved how there were different textures layered within this dessert. From the cookie crumble to the ice cream and the strawberry juice pearls, this dessert was heavenly!
The service was also wonderful. The waiter made some recommendations about the specials they had that night. He was very attentive and brought our courses accordingly as we finished. He also ensured that our wine glasses/​water were filled. I would definitely come back again!

Sloooowwww service — hotel type food -$ 20 bagel —
There are plenty of other places to eat in Boston. Love the hotel, did not care for Asana.

Another amazing brunch and everything was spectacular again. The staff, the food, the service. Manager on duty/​Francesca was busy but smiley and welcoming like usual.
This time I got steak frites and must admit that I’m now a bit regretful over having passed on the lobster omelette that everyone in the restaurant seemed to have ordered.
I’m full and happy and can’t wait to return. Keep up the great job Ansana.

Tried to come here with a party of four on Sunday at around 12:30, we were all dressed very well as we had a symphony to go to afterward. We asked the host if we could have lunch, which he then sniffed and asked if we had a reservation. We did not and they said they were fully committed and could not seat us in the dining room. Not for nothing there looked like there was plenty of staff and seating available. He then stated (like we were a fucking nuisance) that he could seat us in the lounge area. It was awkward and embarrassing as he treated us like second class citizens. We walked out and went over to Abe and Louis where we then proceeded to spend buco bucks and and had a great time. They treated us awesome and were welcoming. Screw you guy at the desk at Asanas.

This is the restaurant hotel inside the Mandarin Oriental. We had the fall tasting menu for $ 70. It was our best meal of our New England trip. The food portions were rather small but each bite was flavorful and light. The service was knowledgeable, attentive, and accomodating. Ambiance was a dark setting with appropriate lighting for you to see the food.
Highly recommended

My family’s exactly what you would call picky when it comes to food, so I definitely had a fair amount of apprehension going upscale when I was choosing a place to bring the fam along for a post-​graduation day lunch.
Asana, you may have just swayed a few more over to the dark side — they put on their fine dining best for a meal and they liked it. Our waitress recommended the sashimi of rhode island fluke, and you could tell she wasn’t going for the upsell here — she really liked it. And go figure, we did too.
Other highlights? The crispy artichokes, ASANA wagyu burger, and the spicy tuna club. On that last one — the spicy tuna club — think sushi meets sandwich. That generous piece of creamy, fresh sushi-​grade tuna, chili mayo, and avocado on whole wheat walked up, shook my hand, and then proceeded to knock my taste buds out cold. Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic here, but I can be honest in saying that I’d recommend it wholeheartedly.
Now, you can definitely expect to spend more than your average lunch, as it is a hotel restaurant after all, on undoubtedly the most expensive street in Boston that’s not named Newbury, but this was a well worth it splurge lunch. My freshly cuisine-​cultured family will be back soon, for sure.

I always enjoy a place that has at least one vegetarian appetizer and another vegetarian entrée. Luckily while I was visiting Asana, I got to try 3 things on the menu, all of which were very tasty.
1. Fried Artichokes. O.M.G. I don’t often get weak at the knees when I taste a new dish (especially one that is fried) but these artichoke hearts melted mine.
2. Chilled Beet Soup. I’m a sucker for chilled soups and beet soup, so to have the two combined in such a way really got me going.
3. Vegan Tofu Bowl. The tofu was covered in a spicy red chilli sauce which left the rest of the dish tasting rather bland. It was good, but a poor follow-​up to the superb appetizers.
Service was excellent. Friendly and respectful of our conversations, the server knew when to butt in and when to silently come by and fill glasses without a peep (server name was JC — a French fellow).

This Back Bay establishment located in the Mandarin Oriental has been a reliable favorite of mine in Boston for quite some time now. In a city teeming with college-​style haunts, Asana is one of the more chic drink spots. With a slick, no frills interior, the venue has a NY style vibe. The biggest lure for me is the bar and the top notch quality and variety of drink concoctions, particularly the champagne based ones personally. The mixologist is pretty flexible when it comes to requesting a personal twist on their drinks. The service at the bar is always quick, efficient and pleasant and the bar food is always a good option for a quick bite/​late night post drinking snack.
I’ve also dined in the main area several times. While not the most extensive set of selections, the Scottish Salmon, Organic Chicken and Wagyu Burger would be my top picks.
A great spot to catch up with friends for drinks, bring a date, or engage in post work happy hour — I’d definitely recommend Asana.

Hooray for yummy Restaurant Week lunches! Here’s what I had (and thoroughly enjoyed):
Deviled eggs — herb salad, salmon roe, and green onion. I think I primarily chose this because I simply love eggs. It was a bit boring overall, though.
Roasted chicken — with porcini cream, wild mushrooms, red wine reduction, and shallots. The chicken was honestly so tasty that even without everything else, it would have been delicious. The porcini cream, mushrooms and shallots were just icing on the cake.
And, speaking of cake… for dessert, I had the peanut butter cake — with peanut butter mousse, caramelized bananas, and chocolate rum sauce. This was decadent and delicious and a PB lover must-​try.
Best part is, they didn’t skimp on any of the courses, despite it being a RW lunch. With the bill coming to a measly $ 20.13 before the tip, that really can’t be beat.

My boyfriend took me on Valentine’s Day date to Asana. The place is beautiful, very nice design and the service was great. The server didn’t have all the answers we were looking for in regards to the food but he was good enough so no complains there.
We didn’t have much too choose from as they already had a price fixed menu for $ 80(either Valentine’s Day many or Asana menu) they were both priced at $ 80/​person. Every single dish was delicious but super small and by small I mean small. If somebody pays $ 250 for diner for 2 people (with 2 drinks each) it better be enough food. Now, just so you have a better idea we are not big people by any means and I really mean it so if the food wasn’t enough for us I can’t even imagine for somebody who eats more.
Overall the place was fabulous, the atmosphere was amazing; we had a great time! Everything from appetizers to desserts was cooked perfectly but they should have bigger portions for sure!!! :-)

Waited about 10 minutes at the hostess stand before anyone even greeted us or said «Someone will be with you in one moment.» This place should have top notch customer service, especially because it is in The Mandarin… one of the most exclusive hotels in the world. That was annoying.
This place is expensive. I went with my dad and probably won’t go back unless he is paying again.
I got the artichoke starter. It was delicious. My dad got the beet salad. It was SO small. The beets were truly baby beets. He said he liked it.
I got the skirt steak. I asked for it medium and it was medium rare… I didn’t make a big deal about it. Everyone’s medium is different… blahblahblahblah.
The waiter commented on the amount meat I ate. I HATE WHEN WAITERS DO THIS. It is so rude. If I didn’t like it I damn well would have said something. Especially when I go to a restaurant that is about $ 80 per person. It happens to me all the time. Portions in this country are out of control. I (…or in this case my dad) would have paid the same amount of money for half the size of that steak. It was good.
I got their house steak sauce on the side. It was a little sweet but I liked it.
My dad got the tuna and he liked the fish but hated what it came with. It had some weird almond bulgur wheat something. It was strange.
I got the Trio Custards for desert and it was outstanding.
Atmosphere…it’s very spread out. There’s a lot of couches. The bar was very loud when I went by it. The hallway to the bathroom is very dark. It was like going into a night club. It also wasn’t that clean.

Asana provides a fine dining experience that’s hard to find in Boston because it truly delivers on food, service and ambiance. I don’t know why this restaurant doesn’t get more attention. Silks at the Mandarin in SFO has turned out some great chefs such as Ken Oringer of Clio.
The elegant but contemporary dining room captures the international graciousness of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in which Asana is located. It is a special place in a special space where you can indulge in creative, multi-​dimensional, complex dishes impeccably served in a sophisticated atmosphere. It’s perfect for that long overdue «date night,» commemorating an important milestone or occasion, or when you just feel like dressing for dinner and feeling like a grown up. Sidenote/​rant: I am so tired of going to upscale restaurants like Del Frisco’s, Radius and Grill 23 and seeing people in jeans (no, I don’t care how much they cost) and even sweats.
The special occasion that brought us in last Friday night was my 15^th wedding anniversary. The experience was perfection from start to end. We had a fantastic table with lots of space for privacy. For that matter, all tables are well spaced. I HATE places that seat unrelated parties cheek-​by-​jowl. Our server greeted us by name, wished us a happy anniversary, and promptly had the sommelier deliver two glasses of Roederer. Yum.
After we sipped the last of our champagne, my wife turned her attention to a fantastic list of cocktails from the associated M Bar. She had the Stately Romance, an aromatic blend of gin, earl grey, rose, lychee, lemon. It was was delicious. At $ 16, it’s expensive, but what the heck.
Food: I had the five-​course Late Summer Tasting Menu ($ 85) with the wine pairing ($ 45). Link to menu:
. Four of five courses were great. The fifth, slow cooked veal was good, but less tender than I would have liked. I also ate a fish I’d never heard of before. Kampachi, I’m told, is a Hawaiian fish that’s similar to yellowtail. Cured with kaffir (lime-​like leaves from Thailand) and served with yuzu gelee, olive oil and Thai chilis, it was intense and sublime at the same time.
My wife started with the lobster beignets ($ 16). They were served hot and were chock full of lobster meat. Her entrée was the Georges Bank Scallops ($ 32). She likes scallops, but doesn’t love them — as I do — so it means a lot that she said they were divine!
The wine pairings with my meal were hit or miss. There were some odd choices, like a sweet red sparkler from Italy served with Asana’s super cool interpretation of a Black Forest Cake. I also found the Paul Dolan Pinot Noir pedestrian. They can and should up their wine game. I will say that each tasting was a full pour; points for generosity.
The dessert menu didn’t appeal to my wife even though I found it wide ranging. And they have a three or five cut cheese course. Most desserts were $ 10. A couple were $ 12. Cheese plates were $ 14 and $ 21.
One weird thing did happen. Our first course was very slow to come out. Now, we didn’t mind since we were being romantic and enjoying great champagne, but the server apologized for the delay and topped up our champagne. The reason for the delay, we were told, was that a fellow diner had a nut allergy and the kitchen had to change the oil used to fry the beignets. I’d think they’d have a better back up plan. Nonetheless, they handled it well.
We had a fantastic dining experience on every dimension. As for price, our check was $ 280 with a 25% tip. I think that’s fair for the experience we had. I highly recommend Asana.
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ordered the lobster beignet. not sure what the hype is all about! they were served barely warm. there was too much going on in this dish w/​the chinese sausage, lobster, and pea tendrils. the batter was also kind of thick
tried the georges bank scallops. they were good but the scallops were a little tough so i think they were overcooked. the pea purée was too thin, it ended up sticking to my plate and i could barely get any of it off. this dish was also served a little on the cool side unfortunately.
super attentive wait staff tho and love the ambience
awesome bread selection

Dedicating this review to the most magnificent Laura, my date for the evening — so I think Asana in a 3.5 in the food category and a 4 in service/​décor — went on a Thursday evening around 7:30p and was pleasantly surprised that the place was not packed — in terms of atmosphere, there was live jazz being played in the bar, but from our table in the cavernous dining room, it was nothing oppressive.
Our waitress was darling and attentive — we started with the beet soup and the sashimi apps — both were well sized — the soup was a bit sweet, though I guess that’s what one expects from a high concentration of beets, the fish was fresh and bountiful (and who can complain about any dish that features avocado… really???) — then we moved on to the lacquered salmon and deconstructed bahn mi for our mains.
Pork is not my specialty, so I can’t judge it, but L was pleased (and it was pretty, so I enjoyed having it on the table) — the fish was cooked fairly well, slightly overdone, and the baby bok choy on which it was placed was leafy goodness — but the roughly chopped «bed» of raw ginger on which it lay was a bit of a taste bud overload. I’d probably try something else next time.
Desserts were consumed — the gorgeous peach tart was enjoyed more than the basil panna cotta. That said, both desserts were overshadowed by the banging bread basket — it’s warm and comes with two types of soft, luscious butter, which is basically the way to my heart.
Overall, I can’t figure out what the theme of the resto is – are you Asianish? You tell me that you’re New American, but I don’t see any farmers name dropped on the menu, so I know that can’t be it – regardless of what you are, our evening was perfectly pleasant, but I think it’s more the type of non-​threatening, delish place that I’d take my parents if they were in town, rather than seek it out for a swanky din with my girls.
PS – they roast Stumptown Coffee (love!) — and apps around around $ 15 – 18, and entrees start around $ 30?