I came in on an early Saturday evening and was surprised to see the place fast filling up and rightfully so! It has a touch of class to it, which I haven't much seen in Thai restaurants, and also has a nice romantic vibe as well. I ordered the Mock Duck Curry and the Tofu Salad (both spice level 5) on the recommendation of my stewardess and it simply blew me away! The tofu in the curry was crisp and the curry was spicy enough. The chily-lime sauce in the salad was both refreshing and a delight to savour. Also, the price of the food items was justified by the quantity and definately by the quality!
(5)
Andrew H.
What a surprise. We ate at the sushi bar and ate both Thai and Sushi. Very good and the service was friendly and efficient. Not fancy and not expensive. Definitely worth the try.
(4)
Mark M.
Love coming to Cilantro for lunch. Always quality service, good rolls and great dishes. I've also held a dinner banquet here in their basement room, they served my group of 40+ very well.
(5)
Jeff K.
This was my second visit. It has a nice clean look. I've had the Thai Spicy stir fry, once with chicken (level 3), once with shrimp (level 2). Both dishes have great flavor ant the level 3 is not too spicy. The downside, the speed of service. If you're in a hurry, this is not your spot. I haven't been there when it's been crowded. So, if you have time to eat, sit, chat, and truly not watching the clock, this is your place.
(3)
Michael K.
My wife had dinner here prior to us attending the Rob Thomas concert at the Akron Civic Theater. For an appetizer, we shared a spicy crab salad and we each shared a sushi roll. I'm not a big spicy fan, but this salad was good because it wasn't overly spicy, but enough spice that you could sense it in your mouth. The sushi rolls we ordered were good. The one was a Volcano roll that we liked and would order again. While the other one was as good, I don't remember what it was called. For dinner, I had the Pad Khee Mao with a level 2 (of 5) spice with chicken while my wife had the Singapore noodles with chicken and a level 2 (of 5) spice. Both had good flavor to them, but my dish had a little more spice to it. It isn't all about the spice with us, but we do like a little heat occasionally. The chicken was cooked very well and all the dishes had a good presentation. The only negatives I have would be that there is too much of a selection on their menu. I would cut it down some. Plus our waitress, while she was nice, was a little slow in getting back to us to take our order, to remove plates from our table and in getting us our bill. I would recommend this place to anyone that like Thai and/or Sushi and is in downtown Akron for a ball game or attending something at the Akron Civic Theater. Both are in walking distance of the restaurant.
(4)
Lorena G.
The miso soup was sour and the shrimp tempura roll had asparagus in it which I've never had before. It was not a good surprise. They didn't even bring me soy sauce. When they served our food we had 4 servers come to deliver it and my order was wronge. They argued in front of me and took it away and said it would be out soon. No apology fir making me wait.
(2)
Christopher S.
I ust to frequent this place and I always got sushi. The sushi is good but after the customer service nightmare I had. I will never return. I ordered 2 rolls to go. As per my usual I waited at the bar while my food was being made. I ordered a coke like I always do. There was an issue with the coke the co2 had ran out so it was just flat coke water. I mentioned this to the bar tender (she happens to know who I am) and she just continues to fill it with soda water. So now its flat coke soda water. I get my sushi and I leave without paying for the coke. Since I never got the check for it I assumed they comped for this abortion of a beverage. So while eating my $25.90 worth of sushi in the comfort of my own home. I receive a phone call it was the restaurant saying I ran out on my check of $2.50 for the coke. I explained that I figured it was comped since I never got my check and there was an issue with the c02. She explained that I told her it was fine to just mix the coke with club soda water. I do not recall this but all of that is a miscommunication and horrible customer service. So I was forced to give my card number and pay for this drink. I average anywhere from 14 - 50 bucks when I go here and this was my second trip this week, So they lost a customer over a $2.50 coke. They should have just comped it and I would have been happy. No, instead I was harassed. I will never return. Twisted in Medina makes better sushi anyways. Goodbye forever Cilantro! I will never return. You lost a regular. I am not one of the bums that came in off the street and ripped you off for a ton of money. I paid for my food.
(1)
Kate B.
I remember a day when Thai food was totally, well, foreign to the Akron area, so Cilantro is a welcome presence. It doesn't feel like your typical Thai joint - it's in an old post office, with bright lighting, high ceilings, & modern decor - but it's enormous, with lots of space for diners & never a very long wait. I love their corn cake appetizer (that sauce is divine!), & while I their chicken kaprow -my usual dish - is good, what I REALLY love is their red curry. It's to die for - smooth, flavorful, as spicy as you want it to be. I always take half home so I can leave room for a lychee martini & mango sticky rice for dessert. I haven't tried their sushi menu, but I'm excited to give it a whirl soon. My mom, who only recently decided to make a foray into Asian food, really enjoyed her Cilantro experience & has now asked to try more authentic Thai places. I think this is a great restaurant, period, but it's especially good for suburban Midwesterners who aren't sure whether they'll like Thai food. There's nothing scary here - just delicious.
(4)
Stephanie S.
SERIOUSLY GREAT SUSHI AND MARTINI'S. I came with a friend for happy hour on,a Friday and the our bartender Erin was great. Very attentive and helpful. Food came out correct and tasting fresh! I will definitely being going back for sushi and cocktails.
(5)
Kim K.
I like Cilantro but when I crave curry, it isn't the first place that come to mind. It's always been good and I keep forgetting to have them kick up the spice a level. I typically get a roll or two, also and they have always been good. The service has always been good and attentive. I know it's trivial, but the dusty exhaust fan is a huge turn off! Other than that, it is a classy place.
(3)
Lisa H.
Pretty good food, but way to big of a menu...I never know what to get. I've had their pad thai, sushi, and curry, and while they were all tasty, it's pretty standard.
(3)
Hannah B.
This is a beautiful restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere. The food was delicious and was presented beautifully. The server was attentive. Shiitake mushrooms were amazing.
(4)
Roxanne L.
Delicious food and excellent service. Far exceeds most Thai places. This food will make the Thai you usually eat seem like cheap take out. Seriously. This place is the real deal. I recommend the Tofu Rama. They can make the food wicked hot too if you ask!
(5)
Brian D.
Awesome. Greeted by friendly staff, cool decor, and a large menu with allot of choices. Our server, Kaleigh was excellent. She explained their menu. their 1-5 "spice level rating", answered all our questions and checked on us frequently to insure we had everything we needed. Started with the tempura fried shiitake mushrooms were were done perfectly and cocktails. For dinner we ordered the red curry with chicken and beef, the Cilantro role, and two pieces of Himachi. We went with level 3 spice on the red curry and were very pleased with just enough spice to offer some kick without overpowering the dish. Excellent flavor and the chicken and beef were cooked just right. the Himachi was fresh, well presented as was the cilantro role. Order this....you won't be disappointed. We will be back again, and I know it will be tough not to repeat our order it was that good. Too many options not to try something new next time!
(5)
Cortney R.
The sushi here is excellent! Super fresh and delicious! It's also very affordable. If you're looking for an upscale restaurant but want to save a few pennies, go here and get a glass or wine or a beer and a sushi roll. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I thought the hot dishes needed some work. Most are soup/broth based and are lacking depth of flavor. My husband and I got two different dishes that ended up tasting almost exactly the same. Spicy and bland.
(4)
Hari J.
Probably the best Thai restaurant I have been to, so far. The place looks upscale (I think a 60s official building that was remodeled). The service is good. They have a vast variety of food, and it tasted great. An icing on the cake was that their pricing was very nominal. I will say a must-go-to place. Next time I pass by Akron, I'll make sure I stop by here and try something new.
(5)
Matt A.
Very good Thai and Asian cuisine. They also run nightly specials of half off martinis. The atmosphere is great, as this is in a historical downtown building.
(5)
Kris M.
The food was ok, but the service was poor. The waitress kept dropping things, my friends food was cold, they told us the kitchen was closing before offering dessert, the brown rice didn't come out with our meal, if felt like like they were pushing us out. I'm sure there is better on the same block. Keep looking.
(2)
Dylan B.
Hands down my favorite place for sushi. The prices are a little higher than most but you REALLY pay for quality and their sizes are big too. I constantly crave the Cilantro Role now.
(5)
Mike O.
Great service and the pad thai is fantastic. We also had sushi and we felt that the cilantro role was too salty and we are traditionalist when it comes to the volcano role. We were a small group so we did not get to order more sushi. I'm sure the others were better. Service was great. My water never reached empty and our server checked on us every few minutes. I would recommend to others.
(3)
Vince B.
I have eaten here many times. My fav place for sushi hands down! I have had some of the tai curry dishes and the have been very good as well, but I come can't make it past the sushi it's always excellent! Very clean restaurant, service is great and a great location.
(5)
Rick M.
I have had some very poor service at this place. Wrong food, food not showing up, getting seated and not getting waited on. Today I decided to try again. It had been a while. Waitress was fantastic. Food was prompt and excellent. Might give another star if they can duplicate this performance next week. I had a bento box. I asked if I could sub and eel asparagus roll for the California. Not a problem. No up charge. Looking forward to going again.
(4)
Charla C.
We have eaten here several times but we are done after our last visit. Our waitress was nice, not the most attentive and boy did she get everything wrong..... We took my wife's father on Friday for his birthday dinner. We got to the table early so we could order a birthday dessert for him. We asked the waitress to make sure to bring him a dessert for his birthday. The table next to us also had a birthday and she brought out a cake and even sang happy birthday, which was great for our neighboring table. Toward the end of the dinner she asked if anyone wanted dessert then proceeded to give us the check. I called her on it and she apologized and got a little snarky, saying she did ask if anyone wanted dessert??? Seriously....... So much for having a birthday dinner. Let's continue, I ordered crab cakes for an appetizer, she brought out fish bites, and she brought them out about 5 minutes prior to the entrees being served. I asked her what happened to the crab cakes and she said she thought I ordered the fish bites?!? Now, I have never even heard of a fish bite, they were deep fried and the inside was the color of a sweet potatoe, they tasted awful and it was like eating rubber, I think I could have bounced one up to the sushi bar but my wife wouldn't allow it..... Here's the real kicker, there was a small black hair protruding from one of them. Our waitress seemed pretty indifferent to it and left it on the side of the table after she had been informed of the problem. It's always fun to find a hair after you took a bite! I never did get my freaking crab cakes! The food was O.K., but certainly nothing spectacular. There are too many menu items for them to focus on any signature dishes, it's almost overwhelming. The amount if choices makes you wonder if everything in the kitchen is frozen? The amount of sauce they applied to my steak was applied to the steak to mask the blandness of it all. I ordered it medium rare and it was closer to well done...... Overall, I'm not coming back and am pretty disappointed with this place. I will go around the corner and hang out at Paulo's or head to the valley and enjoy the Saffron Patch if I need something spicey......Seriously, I cannot say enough nice things about Paulo's, best flat bread pizza you will ever have. If you stop in, tell Paul and Karlie that Scott says hi!!!
(2)
Bobby C.
The service was very friendly. I had the dragon roll which was pretty good. The veggie tempura with dipping sauce was decent. The green curry was a bit watered down and bland.
(3)
Dare A.
Great food, great service ...one of the most juicy chicken satays I've had ...the teriyaki chicken was fantastic too
(4)
Liz L.
Very nice atmosphere. Delicious dinner. Very good service. I've only been once, but looking forward to coming back again! Note: A little hard to find. Signage outside is hard to see when driving down the street. Parking is on street. There was plenty around the corner.
(4)
Josh K.
My wife and I are visiting from Wisconsin and we do not normally go for Thai food, but we decided to venture out of our comfort zone. It was well worth it! The service was good, and they made sure to check if they cooked their fish separate from everything else due to my wife's see food allergy. This was huge for us because of troubles in the past. The food was great and no issues for my wife. Definitely would recommend to others to give this a try.
(4)
Ana W.
I'm visiting from out of town and thought I'd give it a try based on other reviews. The inside was very pretty and very clean. The food was so-so. Coconut milk soup is one of my favorite foods and I usually consider it my bench mark for comparison. I felt theirs lacked the depth of flavors and that rich lime flavor I've come to expect from this dish. I also tried two sushi rolls, which were also just kinda average.
(3)
Jessika G.
I was visiting Akron for the weekend and went here on a Friday night with a group. Lots of people recommended the mock duck curry so that's what I ordered and it was exceptionally good. So good, that I went back on Saturday night to get some takeout. Even though I ordered mock duck curry and the receipt said "mock duck curry", it was full of animal flesh. If you order it, thoroughly inspect it to ensure you don't accidentally eat a dead animal.
(1)
Maria B.
Great ambiance here, and the food is delicious. I do feel, however, that compared to other sushi restaurants in the area, their sushi rolls here are relatively small.
(3)
Cory S.
For those who are gluten-free: the menu has tons of gluten free items, and they denote gluten free items with a symbol so it is really clear of what is gluten-free. I told the waiter that I am on a gluten-free diet, and he put a mark down to make sure they fry the rice in a separate pan etc. I got the pineapple fried rice, it was really good + enough to satisfy! + sencha green tea
(5)
Greg M.
New server didn't know the menu. Hot & sour soup was horrible. Sushi rolls were ok at best.
(2)
Big E.
LOVE this place! I was working near Akron for a job a little while back and we ended up going here twice out of the two nights we stayed in town. The decor is apparently vintage deco as far as I can remember and the food was very good. I would actually go to Akron just to eat at this place again and I live hundreds of miles away. I really wish we had a Thai place this cool near where I lived. Mmmm mmm mm.
(5)
Todd R.
Who knew Thai could be so good in Akron of all places? Nice staff, attentive and best of all the fresh ingredients made the food rock. Yes...I'd return again.
(4)
Fred F.
Limited happy hour and no free refills. Nickel and dime on small value tends to show the willingness to cut other corners to superficially increase level value.
(3)
Patience P.
The Thai dishes leave something to be desired but the sushi is very good. Their signature roll is great. The hostesses can be a bit rude and sometimes I feel like I want to tell them that they are in Akron, Ohio and not that trendy so calm their shit about reservations. They are not 5 star.
(3)
Ben S.
A really cool space. Natural light. Very wide open feel - they could have added a lot more tables. A nice spacious lounge greets you upon entry. There is a sushi bar in the back of it. To the left is the restaurant area, the rear dining room of which is surrounded with floor to ceiling windows. The place smells amazing. Reservations are needed - it was completely full at 9pm on a Friday night. They have some cool ways of serving things as well. A 8 top table near up ordered a ton of sushi and it came in a very large wooden boat that was placed on the table. The chicken satay appetiser was a large portion - four good sized pieces of protein which could have made a nice small plate for someone all by themselves. I liked the sweet sauce with cucumbers in it that came with it; the version of the peanut based sauce served here was not my favourite compared to other restaurants. The chicken was well done, but not burned or dried out, but it had an interesting flavour to it in and of itself. My red curry with chicken was good. Very flavourful curry made with coconut milk. Good veggies in it and chicken, again with that interesting flavour I still can't decide if I'm a fan of. The meal came with a large side plate of rice. This curry was very soupy compared to other curries I have had. There was so much broth to it that after I ate all the chicken and veggies out my bowl looked like I hadn't eaten anything. Good waiter service. I went for the Thai experience this time. If I ever go back I'll treat it as a sushi restaurant and see how that goes.
(3)
Rich H.
Nicely done Thai in downtown Akron, right next to the ball field. Happy hour (half price martinis!) until 7pm. The espresso and chocolate martinis are both excellent choices. I always get the Massaman Curry with chicken. I always tell them spice level 5 (on a scale of 1-5), and add "Thai hot, please"... I often have to get some extra peppers to heat it up a bit more though. The Tom Ka Gai (chicken & coconut soup) is also very well done, though it also needs more heat. The super spicy dishes pair well with a Thai Iced Tea and a FBI (Fried Banana & Ice Cream) for desert. This place is on my list of regular stops when I come to Akron.
(4)
Rob C.
We spent a year in Thailand, and loved Cilantro. It's more upscale than your typical "authentic" Thai place, with some dishes we haven't had before and may not have been entirely authentic but were nevertheless delicious (I'm referring to the very tasty corn cakes here). For main dishes, we had two curries -- the Mussamun chicken, one of our favorites, and the red curry with tilapia, a great flavor combination. We didn't have any basil dishes, which are a good measure of the quality of a Thai place (do they use real Thai basils, especially kraprow? Is it plentiful? Is it fresh?) So we can't attest to that dimension of quality. Service was very pleasant, though not as warm and friendly as that provided by real Thai people (our servers were White). The building was great, a kind of 70s modernist interior. Half price happy hour martinis were a bonus!!
(5)
Abigail C.
Since my fiancee just move down to Akron for school, he and I have been trying to find him some place to replace his Michigan favourites. Based off of reviews we tried this place first and weren't disappointed. The food was good. By far the Chicken Coconut Milk Soup was the best of it, which I ordered because a fellow Yelper recommended it, and crazy filling. I almost didn't want the rest of what we ordered. Which is insane, because I never, ever pass on sushi. Roll wise we got the Spicy Crab Roll and the Cilantro Special Roll. Both came out well displayed and tasted good. Really it only gets 4 stars because we couldn't figure out on the menu which rolls are raw or not (we may have missed it, but we scoured the crap out that menu trying to find it) and after great service all meal, it took almost an hour to try and flag down the bill. Our waiter was just... gone. Last note, holy crap hot staff (and I had no problem telling my fiancee that... Or how I wanted to touch the waiter's muscles or that the guy's hands looked amazing. Yes, I'm always this blunt). Meal and eye candy= me tipping a little too much.
(4)
Rachel K.
The sushi here is pretty solid, but I tried 4 Thai dishes and they were all despicable. I hope they are also forgettable. The service was fine, but we did find 2 hairs that did not belong to us in our rice. I won't be going back when The Lockview is so close by.
(2)
Leah N.
AWESOME atmosphere inside- I really don't feel like I am in Akron at all. Also there is a pretty large patio outside but on game nights can be annoying since it's right next to an entrance. The service is OK. I have had really slow service or really amazing, nothing in between. It's also a little more on the pricey food for about the same quality food you can get elsewhere for less.
(3)
Mike D.
Fresh ingredients, well made. They give you a range for how spicy you want your food, 1-5. I chose 2 and a colleague chose 3. I'm from California and enjoy spicy mexican, and she's from the south and enjoys spicy everything. Both were too spicy for us to enjoy fully, though I didn't mind as much as she did.
(4)
Eric C.
The food here is fantastic. Once I get it on my mind I will dream about it until I can have it. BUT, that's where it ends. The service is consistently slow and all around awful. The staff can't get s carry-out order right to save their lives. Policies are changed on a whim and when questioned you are told that it's always been that way and you must be thinking of somewhere else (I've had the crab fried rice upwards of 25 times and ALWAYS happily paid extra for extra crab, but I'm told that never happened and that I can't have extra crab at ANY price). Domestic beer is around $45 dollars a bottle (only a slight exaggeration), and the manger who is all of 10 years old is a rude little know it all who doesn't know the first thing about how the SERVICE industry works and clearly takes great pleasure in saying "no". It is clearly more important for this nice young lady to put her title and ability to rule with an iron fist on display than to have a long time customer ever come back again. I have made my last visit to Cilantro regardless of the quality of the food. I'm not some internet troll who makes a habit of complaining either. In fact, I have never once taken the time to write a negative review, until now. I hear great things about the new Thai place, Basil in Green. It's my new go to Thai restaurant before I even give it a try.
(2)
Rebecca D.
My second visit. Very good. The cilantro roll was as good as I remembered. My sister and I ordered yum na, the beef salad. They were really good. I ordered a 3 in heat, and it was great. My sister ordered a 4, and her lip was burning. My other sister ordered Tom Yum chicken soup. We all sampled it, and it was quite good. It came as a one in heat, since we didn't specify heat. However, it had pretty good heat on it. She also ordered shrimp stir fry, which they seemed to really enjoy. I can't sample shrimp, allergic. We were all given our own sides of rice, which were cooked well. I didn't expect a rice side with a salad, but I ate it anyways. The service was very good. Nothing to complain about. I really like this place, and which it was closer to home, so I could eat that salad more often!
(4)
Jenna H.
Love this place! The cilantro roll is delicious!!! Love the atmosphere and friendly staff!
(5)
Katie B.
I went to this place for the first time a couple years ago on a date, and it was amazing! The atmosphere is very cozy and intimate despite the large size of the dining area. It felt like we had the place all to ourselves, which is saying something since it was a crowded Friday night. The wait staff was also on the ball for it being so busy that night, and we got our order in and our food at super fast. I got the seafood hot pot soup and absolutely loved it. If you love seafood then it's impossible to resist, it's got an incredible variety of critters in it. The only thing I'd be careful about is the spice level. I normally get food as hot as possible, so I went with level five for my soup. I probably went through four glasses of water during the meal because it was so mindblowingly hot. Thank god for a diligent wait staff, haha. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone who loves Thai, and I'd especially recommend it for dates!
(5)
Jennifer C.
Gorgeous restaurant, mediocre food. Hostess REEKED of perfume. And when I take my family out for dinner (ages ranging from 14-50+), I DO NOT want your tits to be on display. If Cilantro is trying for up-scale and classy, toss the trash out. I'm hardly a prude (see: rave review of Brickhouse), but the combination of her attire and perfume completely put me off my meal. There is a time+place for that. Cilantro is not it. Also, please clean the ceiling around the air vents. Disgusting. We had quite possibly the most idiotic waitress possible. Didn't know the food, the menu, or how to refill drinks. Much better Thai food found at House of Hunan (across the street) or Pad Thai in Fairlawn, much better sushi found at either Sakura in Fairlawn or Sushi Katsu in the Valley. I really wish I could give this place 0 stars.
(1)
Ashton S.
Best thai in akron, sushi is good also
(4)
Nicole S.
Chocolate Lover Martini is the best. Huge portions. Food tasted great too. Ask for Aaron and you will have a fabulous night. Great personality and his recommendations were really good. Lots of fun.
(5)
Devon F.
Must improve the service here! Literally had a server spill beer on me last night and didn't even get an apology. As a frequent customer, i say with utmost sincerity...Get it together Cilantro! The food is really good, but until level of service improves, there are better places to go. See ya.
(3)
Amy H.
Nothing says 'romance' like golden tofu, sushi, and vegetable udon. Throw in an order of chicken pad thai, massaman curry, and beef yakisoba and you have yourself a love affair. Thank you, Cilantro, for making our Valentine's Day so flavorful. The live music was a nice touch, even if the service was dodgy. We will be back!
(4)
Stan W.
Ok, not phenomenal. Nice dining area. Suggestion is to go with the Thai food over the sushi.
(3)
Michelle S.
I have never dined in but have ordered take out for lunch several times. The food has always been delicious and the prices are very reasonable. They are a little slow but only because they are busy at lunch time.
(4)
Jennifer W.
I would give this place a review but I never got to eat. When we got there, the wait was 10 minutes. After 20 minutes of waiting I had to inquire as to the status of our table and I was told 10, maybe 20 minutes more. We left. I'll give another try as I have heard the food is pretty good. Hoping the service improves.
(2)
Navami V.
Enjoyed some excellent panang curry with fresh ingredients!Satay was just ok.. expect Long waiting periods though
(4)
Katie H.
I have always enjoyed the food I get at Cilantro. The curries are quite delicious and my husband tells me that the sushi might be smaller than some restaurants, but it is a very high quality and good price. Good service and convenient location. Bathroom is in the basement and it's kind of scary to get to it (the bathroom itself is very clean). This is an unfortunate issue with probably everyone downtown. Maybe better lighting in the basement hallway would help? Also, I am not normally a dessert person, but I always try to leave room for the mango sticky rice. AMAZING! Great place to take husband, friends out for a night on the town, and business luncheons.
(4)
Hana G.
Yikes, just had a birthday dinner here last night (I had no choice in the matter). Akron folks: Drive to Cleveland for some real sushi. Server did not know what nigiri is and forgot to put in a friend's order. Ordered soft shell crab app (fried whole crab) and came out cold. My dragon sushi roll was mush in my mouth and yellow tail was unflavorful :( Had a bit of a friend's Pad Thai that reminded me of the Thai food bowls I could buy at the grocery. Hate that my bill was $40 (including tip) and confused that the place was packed (lots of naive youngsters?) I haven't done my research, but I hope this is not the only sushi that Akron has to offer?
(1)
Michael S.
Their Seafood Hot Pot Soup (entree) is unrivaled and is a MUST for a seafood lover who can stand the acidity of a tomato base (with a spicy punch of your choice). It is currently my favorite soup EVER and I am only loyal to taste. If you ever order sushi that has "spicy" in the name; tell them to go light on their spicy sauce. They consistently go heavy duty on that stuff and it does not let the sushi speak for itself. They also do a very good pad thai (for those who like pad thai) and their atmosphere is clean, open and hip.
(4)
Catherine J.
First of all, I love the decor of this place. Akron often leaves me aesthetically starved, but this place feels "designed." I also enjoy the location for a night out on the town-- start at Cilantro, and you are within walking distance of a few other areas to grab a glass of wine or other adult beverages. In most cities, this would be a common aspect of most restaurants, but as Akron lacks many successful "districts" I think it is worth mentioning. Sorry I always hate on Akron, it's just.... well, Akron. The menu is good, if a little large. I dunno if it is just afraid that there won't be enough people to support a completely Thai menu, but there's pretty much any kind of asian cuisine on this menu. I wish there were more non-fried appetizer options, but man... those fried appetizers are good (tempura shiitakes were slices of fatty heaven). The dessert menu is also very unique. I would almost use the word "authentic" but I don't really know enough about Thai cuisine to go around calling things authentic. I've found that when they ask you how spicy you like it, be a little generous with your estimate. Everyone's "spiciness" scale is relative, so it's hard to come up with an accurate system of communicating the desired level. When I say "medium" or "5" I always wish I went just a little bit higher, though my nose will still run. The service is a little inconsistent. Twice I've gone and the servers have barely spoken enough English to communicate my order-- so forget asking questions.
(4)
Beth S.
Ok I like the food here.... But am I the only person disappointed that they left all the old decor of piatto? Come on ...different lights and orange napkins didn't really do the job.... I wish roger Thomas wouldn't have sold out to become a hotel chef......
(4)
Jason H.
thought i try this for lunch since a friend always eat here. i get there i had to wait 5 or more minutes to be seated i don't know why there were two girls at the hostess podium one was on the phone the manager didn't even acknowledge me then when i finally got waited on she asked me if i wanted to sit at the sushi bar. it was not busy at that time there were a lot of empty 4 seat tables then she decided to seat me up near the bar anyways it felt like i was sitting behind the bar. food was ok i had better at other thai restaurants.
(2)
Marilyn J.
Delicious. Our spice levels are never the same. We ask for the same each time, but it changes. Not a huge deal, we'll eat spicy or mild. The palce is ok to eat at, we prefer to get take out because I'm not a huge fan of the atmosphere, but still good! Sushi is fantastic!
(3)
Andy H.
Food was great, had the basil seafood (temp 2 was still spicy!) and a couple of rolls. Three stars because service was really poor and restaurant wasn't that busy. Would prob go back and give it another shot.
(3)
Eric S.
Went here with some business associates. Food was really good with exception of the crab cakes. Martini's are half price on Tuesdays from 5-7.
(4)
Krystal D.
When you walk in the front door of the building Cilantro is nestled in, you're greeted with a foul odor which is rather unfortunate. Thankfully, when you enter the restaurant, all you can smell is delicious food. We felt a bit disoriented walking in the restaurant because the hostess isn't directly in the front door. When we found her, we were seated by the door, so it chilly. Also, it felt like sitting in a lobby instead of a restaurant. So really, my first impressions weren't all that great. Our waiter was very friendly. He reminded us that it was happy hour so all martinis were half price (about $4 each). When the drinks arrived, they were very watered down. We began our meal with the spicy tuna roll. There was so much spicy mayo on it that it detracted from the taste. But when I scraped the mayo off, the roll was truly delicious. For my main course I opted for the Seafood Hot Pot Soup at spice level 4. I love spice, but level 4 totally overpowered my dish. That's my own fault. The serving was HUGE and the seafood abundent. The boyfriend ordered the Singapore Noodles at level 3 which was the best dish of the evening. I wanted to trade dinners with him, but he wouldn't let me. Jerk. Two drinks, two meals, and the sushi roll cost us about $45. Personally, I thought many of the dishes were overpriced. If I come back, I'll get sushi instead of the Thai dishes.
(3)
lizette r.
I like the place. The food is really good and the atmosphere is great. The only negative is the service - it is always, always, always painfully slow. I have been to Cilantro at least a half a dozen times and every visit it's the same thing - slow, often forgetful service. This place could really be great if they'd hire some good servers.
(3)
Amanda F.
My favorite part of Cilantro by far is the food. As a vegetarian that often travels with a meat loving pack of friends this place is by far the best compromise for all involved. The vegetarian options are just as delicious and creative as the meat. The ginger tofu entree is my absolute favorite. The portions here are large enough to allow me enjoyment for more than one meal. The food here is so great that a friend from New York city was so impressed with the quality of a Thai food place found in Akron, OH and asks to go here whenever he's in town. The restaurant atmosphere also keeps me coming back. The restaurant has acheived a more up-scale decor without seeming too snobby. I have been here on several different occasions from dates to casual eating after Aeros games. Another nice quality is it's laid back and enjoyable atmosphere. This is not the type of place to duck in, consume, and leave. It's a great place to consume enjoyable food and spend time with friends or family.
(4)
Nicole W.
Living in Kent for 3 years was quite depressing because I missed my weekly sushi dates. Then Cilantro came along and has made me SO happy! Best sushi in NE Ohio that I have found!! :) I recommend the Cilantro roll, the presentation and taste are guaranteed to make you return.
(5)
Kristen B.
absolute favorite Thai place. great atmosphere and the food is phenomenal!! their chicken satay is the best in Ohio. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
N K.
The service is terrible!!! But the food is really good. Lunch has good options as well.
(3)
Joe I.
So I have read the reviews of this place and here is what I have to add: This place has good food for Akron. It's really good, and that can't be denied. The food is creative and well prepared, cooked to order, and the wait-staff does their best to persuade patrons to choose a heat level below their normal number. The alcohol list is unique(the sake martinis are wonderful) and full of craft and domestic beers for any taste. The sushi is expertly made and even non-sushi eaters at my table sampled the sushi based on how it was prepared. Honestly, the food is exactly as good as is to be expected from an upper-scale thai-fusion restaurant in downtown Akron, OH. My only issue was that the service is slow. Far too slow for a restaurant which has seating for hundreds of people. By now, they should have their kitchen times down and their bar times down and their service times down. None of that is true. If you aren't in a hurry, eat here, enjoy the atmosphere, eat the awesome food. If you have somewhere to be, McDonald's is up the street.
(4)
Abigail L.
Good sushi, good environment they had non sushi meals for my non-sushi loving friends. Cheap, yet good bottle of wine. Nice bar area, but family friendly too, we had a baby with us and did not feel unwelcome in a sushi place, which is nice for a change. No, we did not feed raw fish to the baby. Only thing that really caught me off guard was the patio. Never eat sushi outside, my friends. It makes no since. Also, my friend is new to sushi, the waitress was very helpful by explaining things and not getting impatient. Good sushi surprise for Akron, OH. Fresh fish!
(4)
Ashley C.
Cilantro has great sushi and even better Thai food! Massaman curry with tofu and a Thai iced tea. YUM.
(5)
Cindy W.
My first time in OH atteding my sister's graduation, I didn't think I could find such yummy Asian food there, especially in Kent. When we walked in, the place has such beautiful, warm ambiance. It was modern and trendy. The food was excellent. We especially loved the seafood basil dish. The sauce was so good that even after we finished the dish, we wouldn't let the waiter take the plate because it made such good dressing for the rice. My husband is a fan of sushi, so we were good getting thai and sushi all in one place. The sushi was pretty good too! I love the wait staff. They were very kind and courteous, also very patient and friendly especially with my 15 month of daughter who can sit still. They played with her and made sure we got what we needed. Wish there was a place just like this in LA or OC.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Really really good. Unexpected from this little city. On my four day trip to akron for a conference, I ate here twice and loved it both times. Portions are quite large.
(4)
Meredith C.
I love Cilantro. They are vegetarian friendly and the food tastes fresh and healthy. The environment is lovely, clean and relaxing and they have a great outdoor patio. I especially love their cashew nut veggie stir-fry, vegetarian spring rolls and veggie udon soup. Their mango sticky rice is also unbelievable! While the service can be lacking, everyone is really nice and helpful. The prices are also very reasonable as well given the serving sizes and quality of the food, especially at lunch time.
(5)
Ashley H.
Very nice atmosphere, made a reservation on a Friday but didn't really look like we needed to. Half price martinis from 5-7, good wine selection by the glass or bottle. We got the crab cakes and they were delicious. Satay chicken skewers were okay, your basic chicken on a stick. The cucumber sauce was very good. The menu is huge and a little intimidating. I asked to get a wok dish with the sauce on the side and was told it couldn't be done. I felt like an idiot. Switched to a different chicken dish that was supposed to have baby corn, bamboo shoots, broccoli, etc. The only veggies I saw were broccoli and cabbage. They do have steamed brown rice which was a plus. Dinner for 3 people with 2 appetizers and 5 drinks between us came to $116 with a 20% tip. The server was quick and friendly even though she had at least 5 tables. She spoke little English, but was not too difficult to understand. Probably wouldn't go back, but if I did I'd get sushi instead.
(3)
Prakit D.
I've been to Cilantro several times and all I can say is "meh." I was not impressed. Not to mention that the quality of food seems to deteriorate each time I visit. Not consistent at all. The food was above average for typical Thai dishes like Pad Thai or Basil Chicken but nothing really stands out or make me want to come back for more. The curry was subpar and too sweet. I did not try Sushi so can't comment. However, if I want sushi, I'd have gone to Japanese restaurant. Modern decor and aesthetic atmosphere do not resemble anything Asian whatsoever but they make Cilantro more attractive and inviting nevertheless. I might do take out from here once in a while but nothing more.
(3)
Randy D.
Did someone just say 'unexpected from this little city'? When did Akron go from 300k people to a little city? -- Anyway, Cilantro is average Asian cuisine. Nothing special. It's yummy, it's hot, they have a good selection. Service is alright, didn't wow me. Check em out!
(3)
Kevin D.
This Japanese-Thai fusion restaurant was decorated well (everything is from Ikea). The service was weird because we waited over 20 minutes to be seated, but there was plenty of empty tables in the restaurant. Also, our server was extremely annoying and overbearing. He spoke too loudly and rushed us in ordering, making the meal feel less comfortable. I had the cilantro sushi roll, which I don't recommend. It was not fresh tasting, and the sauces that topped the roll were overpowering and cheap tasting.
(2)
Steve P.
Generally, good Thai food at a fair price. The ginger stir-fry is quite good, but I suggest having them hold the green peppers as they overpower the ginger flavor. Also if you like it spicy, they will spice things up for you, but be aware that spice level 5 can vary greatly from night to night: anything from "meh", to" very nice!", to "Oh my god- what have I done to my tongue?!" I did ding a star here because last time I ordered carry out, there was a paper label of some kind in my rice. There's no quicker way to ruin a meal than to find some kind of crap in it...
(3)
Bryan V.
I am typically here for the Thai food and thus only reviewing the Thai part of the restaurant. Unlike some other area restaurants, Cilantro knows how to do hot. This is a nice spot for lunch, but everyone seems to have this same idea whenever I go near noon. However at 1 pm for lunch, it is not too difficult to get a seat. The curries are all quite flavorful (but not fully authentic for all of them). I generally go with either a 5/5 or up the heat level to the Thai-hot. One warning about Thai-hot is if the chef is not in a great mood, the food can be almost inedible. My last time ended up in this manner with the number of red chili flakes being almost identical to the number of grains of rain in the pinnapple fried rice. The Thai-hot also uses chili oil for an extra kick. So on the food side, my one complaint is lack of consistency in the spice for Thai-hot (the standard 1-5 seems to be quite consistent). The service can be spotty, especially at night. During lunch, things tend to be better in terms of service. On my last visit at night, the waiter must have been marinated in his cologne or something, which I could smell from 2-3 tables away. This was really annoying as it interferes with the smell and taste of the food.
(4)
Dana B.
This place had really good sushi!
(4)
Brad G.
Great sushi roll!! The duck dish I had was average but everyone I was with really enjoyed their meal. Will return.
(4)
Ralph D.
This is a great place! There are not too many places in downtown Akron that offer a nice atmosphere, great service and excellent food. I am a regular here and recommend it to anyone that lives in the area or visiting.
(4)
Gary P.
Tai style and Japanese style. Not very spicy even I order level 5
(4)
Sheri G.
Cilantro is just around the corner from my office and a great place to cure the thai itch. The curries and noodle dishes that I have tried are all delicious. Though crab rangoon is chinese and not thai, Cilantro does an excellent job on them. I am not a fan of House of Hunan and am surprised that some people feel their few thai dishes are tastier than Cilantro - I would strongly disagree.
(4)
The Lover and I I.
Cilantro is a Thai/Sushi restaurant located in the heart of downtown Akron, OH. Ambiance was a little confusing, if you will. The decor was excellent but it didn't vibe with the noisy and casual background. Nevertheless, the food was superb. During our stop, the Lover and I had the following: Satay chicken with peanut and sweet n' sour cucumber sauces = Definitely an A+. Thai sweet and sour chicken soup = the layers of flavor on this one is astounding. I can have this any time of the day. Panang beef curry = one of the reasons why I only gave them 4 stars. I ordered a spiciness of 3 out of their 5 levels and it about took my tongue off. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED how it tasted. But the spiciness was a bit too extreme for me. I'd hate to taste what the level 5 is. Overall, for a quick stop, it was delicious. We are actually considering on stopping by again the next time we head that way.
(3)
Sheila A.
I moved from DC and I was used to great Thai food. When I moved to Akron I tried several other local Thai places and gave up the hope of ever getting good Thai in this area until I found Cilantro. Although the menu options are not tremendously authentic (i.e. perhaps a bit too exotic for the average American customer), the menu has many of my favorites; the food is fresh and delicious and made from good quality ingredients. While it is my experience that Cilantro is almost always crowded, it is worth the wait and the atmosphere is nice enough for a special occasions. Street parking is not a problem in the evening/on weekends.
(4)
Jerica S.
We went for dinner on a sunday. It wasn't very busy and kind of late, but we were pleasantly surprised when we got amazing food, drinks and service. The lychee fruit cocktail was delicious. We got the hot wing app and two sushi rolls - all of which were amazing. I am not sure why more people weren't there - it was fantastic!
(5)
Kitty T.
The best parts of the experience are the ambiance, very trendy and great lighting for a very open space. The half price martinis till 7pm were also good. The food pricing is also less than I expected also, although not for the quality of the sushi or the meals. Too much salt too much spice. Dial down the spice here when ordering and expect to wait on the bar drinks. The service was slow too. We will not be going back. Great time with friends though!
(2)
Neil B.
Just had lunch at Cilantro Thai. First off the decor and ambiance is excellent. The dining room is pretty open with modern touches. Up a few steps is a Sushi chef and bar. The food was excellent. I ordered the Thai Sweet and Sour. They really nailed this dish and made it just spicy enough (I ordered a "4 out of 5" spice level). Their prices for lunch are cheap! Two of us ate for 20 bucks. In downtown Akron for this quality of food, that is a steal. Service was very efficient and polite. They even tolerated me trying out some Thai words on them. This is a fairly new place in Akron and my first visit will not be my last. Can't wait to try their seafood Claypot.
(5)
Sarah T.
Delicious! Super food for the prices. Clean, healthy plates in fresh atmosphere. Yay!
(5)
Ron G.
The Philadelphia roll is fantastic! My wife and I made a great dinner out of an order of their crab rangoon (their sweet and sour sauce is great) and a Philadelphia and California roll. Great dinner and service!
(5)
Andy L.
I've had a few rolls and dishes here on a few separate occasions. Everything is just average. Portions are decent. Taste is okay. Prices are okay.
(3)
Lewis G.
Very good Pad Thai, good service, good prices, nice restaurant.
(4)
Brad G.
Great pan-Asian selections. Service can be slow during peak hours. Great sushi.
(5)
Jeff T.
My favorite sushi place in NE Ohio by far. Have been their at least 30 times and ordered everything I've been curious about on the menu. Everything is great. Even the Lard Nar Meecrob which might be my favorite dish there if they still have it. Outside of the sushi of course.
(5)
L. D.
This was my first visit to Cilantro and I was pleasantly surprised. The 1st thing that got my attention is that this is a NICE place. It's ALOT larger once you get inside and the decor was fantastic. I think if you took a date here, they would be impressed by the looks alone. On to the food. I've only had Pad Thai once before and really didn't care for it. Erika was my server and I asked her what a Thai newbie should get (keeping in mind that I'm a wuss when it comes to spicy). Erika pointed out which sections of the menu to avoid and which entrees might be good for a beginner. I decided to try: Rod Man Kai Pod (Corn Cakes) for an appetizer - these were tasty but a little on the dry side. They came with a dipping sauce, but it was too spicy for me after the 3rd dip. Next was Pad See Ewe - a nice stir fry with rice noodles and chicken. I ordered it at spice level 0 and it was good. Dessert was Mango Sticky Rice - hmmm, I'm still on the fence about this one. It was kinda good and it was kinda weird. The sesame seeds gave it a weird taste but the coconut cream mixed in with just the rice was doable. I will definitely visit Cilantro again.
(3)
Malia G.
We enjoyed the meal at cilantro very much. We found that the menu was unique. We had Pataya salad which was full of flavor. We also had soup and a vegetable sushi roll. The sushi had a little too much rice for my taste but it was still good. They had many vegan choices and our main meals were very tasty and spicy (which we requested). Portions were good and prices were very fair for a nice restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kush S.
I came in on an early Saturday evening and was surprised to see the place fast filling up and rightfully so! It has a touch of class to it, which I haven't much seen in Thai restaurants, and also has a nice romantic vibe as well. I ordered the Mock Duck Curry and the Tofu Salad (both spice level 5) on the recommendation of my stewardess and it simply blew me away! The tofu in the curry was crisp and the curry was spicy enough. The chily-lime sauce in the salad was both refreshing and a delight to savour. Also, the price of the food items was justified by the quantity and definately by the quality!
(5)Andrew H.
What a surprise. We ate at the sushi bar and ate both Thai and Sushi. Very good and the service was friendly and efficient. Not fancy and not expensive. Definitely worth the try.
(4)Mark M.
Love coming to Cilantro for lunch. Always quality service, good rolls and great dishes. I've also held a dinner banquet here in their basement room, they served my group of 40+ very well.
(5)Jeff K.
This was my second visit. It has a nice clean look. I've had the Thai Spicy stir fry, once with chicken (level 3), once with shrimp (level 2). Both dishes have great flavor ant the level 3 is not too spicy. The downside, the speed of service. If you're in a hurry, this is not your spot. I haven't been there when it's been crowded. So, if you have time to eat, sit, chat, and truly not watching the clock, this is your place.
(3)Michael K.
My wife had dinner here prior to us attending the Rob Thomas concert at the Akron Civic Theater. For an appetizer, we shared a spicy crab salad and we each shared a sushi roll. I'm not a big spicy fan, but this salad was good because it wasn't overly spicy, but enough spice that you could sense it in your mouth. The sushi rolls we ordered were good. The one was a Volcano roll that we liked and would order again. While the other one was as good, I don't remember what it was called. For dinner, I had the Pad Khee Mao with a level 2 (of 5) spice with chicken while my wife had the Singapore noodles with chicken and a level 2 (of 5) spice. Both had good flavor to them, but my dish had a little more spice to it. It isn't all about the spice with us, but we do like a little heat occasionally. The chicken was cooked very well and all the dishes had a good presentation. The only negatives I have would be that there is too much of a selection on their menu. I would cut it down some. Plus our waitress, while she was nice, was a little slow in getting back to us to take our order, to remove plates from our table and in getting us our bill. I would recommend this place to anyone that like Thai and/or Sushi and is in downtown Akron for a ball game or attending something at the Akron Civic Theater. Both are in walking distance of the restaurant.
(4)Lorena G.
The miso soup was sour and the shrimp tempura roll had asparagus in it which I've never had before. It was not a good surprise. They didn't even bring me soy sauce. When they served our food we had 4 servers come to deliver it and my order was wronge. They argued in front of me and took it away and said it would be out soon. No apology fir making me wait.
(2)Christopher S.
I ust to frequent this place and I always got sushi. The sushi is good but after the customer service nightmare I had. I will never return. I ordered 2 rolls to go. As per my usual I waited at the bar while my food was being made. I ordered a coke like I always do. There was an issue with the coke the co2 had ran out so it was just flat coke water. I mentioned this to the bar tender (she happens to know who I am) and she just continues to fill it with soda water. So now its flat coke soda water. I get my sushi and I leave without paying for the coke. Since I never got the check for it I assumed they comped for this abortion of a beverage. So while eating my $25.90 worth of sushi in the comfort of my own home. I receive a phone call it was the restaurant saying I ran out on my check of $2.50 for the coke. I explained that I figured it was comped since I never got my check and there was an issue with the c02. She explained that I told her it was fine to just mix the coke with club soda water. I do not recall this but all of that is a miscommunication and horrible customer service. So I was forced to give my card number and pay for this drink. I average anywhere from 14 - 50 bucks when I go here and this was my second trip this week, So they lost a customer over a $2.50 coke. They should have just comped it and I would have been happy. No, instead I was harassed. I will never return. Twisted in Medina makes better sushi anyways. Goodbye forever Cilantro! I will never return. You lost a regular. I am not one of the bums that came in off the street and ripped you off for a ton of money. I paid for my food.
(1)Kate B.
I remember a day when Thai food was totally, well, foreign to the Akron area, so Cilantro is a welcome presence. It doesn't feel like your typical Thai joint - it's in an old post office, with bright lighting, high ceilings, & modern decor - but it's enormous, with lots of space for diners & never a very long wait. I love their corn cake appetizer (that sauce is divine!), & while I their chicken kaprow -my usual dish - is good, what I REALLY love is their red curry. It's to die for - smooth, flavorful, as spicy as you want it to be. I always take half home so I can leave room for a lychee martini & mango sticky rice for dessert. I haven't tried their sushi menu, but I'm excited to give it a whirl soon. My mom, who only recently decided to make a foray into Asian food, really enjoyed her Cilantro experience & has now asked to try more authentic Thai places. I think this is a great restaurant, period, but it's especially good for suburban Midwesterners who aren't sure whether they'll like Thai food. There's nothing scary here - just delicious.
(4)Stephanie S.
SERIOUSLY GREAT SUSHI AND MARTINI'S. I came with a friend for happy hour on,a Friday and the our bartender Erin was great. Very attentive and helpful. Food came out correct and tasting fresh! I will definitely being going back for sushi and cocktails.
(5)Kim K.
I like Cilantro but when I crave curry, it isn't the first place that come to mind. It's always been good and I keep forgetting to have them kick up the spice a level. I typically get a roll or two, also and they have always been good. The service has always been good and attentive. I know it's trivial, but the dusty exhaust fan is a huge turn off! Other than that, it is a classy place.
(3)Lisa H.
Pretty good food, but way to big of a menu...I never know what to get. I've had their pad thai, sushi, and curry, and while they were all tasty, it's pretty standard.
(3)Hannah B.
This is a beautiful restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere. The food was delicious and was presented beautifully. The server was attentive. Shiitake mushrooms were amazing.
(4)Roxanne L.
Delicious food and excellent service. Far exceeds most Thai places. This food will make the Thai you usually eat seem like cheap take out. Seriously. This place is the real deal. I recommend the Tofu Rama. They can make the food wicked hot too if you ask!
(5)Brian D.
Awesome. Greeted by friendly staff, cool decor, and a large menu with allot of choices. Our server, Kaleigh was excellent. She explained their menu. their 1-5 "spice level rating", answered all our questions and checked on us frequently to insure we had everything we needed. Started with the tempura fried shiitake mushrooms were were done perfectly and cocktails. For dinner we ordered the red curry with chicken and beef, the Cilantro role, and two pieces of Himachi. We went with level 3 spice on the red curry and were very pleased with just enough spice to offer some kick without overpowering the dish. Excellent flavor and the chicken and beef were cooked just right. the Himachi was fresh, well presented as was the cilantro role. Order this....you won't be disappointed. We will be back again, and I know it will be tough not to repeat our order it was that good. Too many options not to try something new next time!
(5)Cortney R.
The sushi here is excellent! Super fresh and delicious! It's also very affordable. If you're looking for an upscale restaurant but want to save a few pennies, go here and get a glass or wine or a beer and a sushi roll. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I thought the hot dishes needed some work. Most are soup/broth based and are lacking depth of flavor. My husband and I got two different dishes that ended up tasting almost exactly the same. Spicy and bland.
(4)Hari J.
Probably the best Thai restaurant I have been to, so far. The place looks upscale (I think a 60s official building that was remodeled). The service is good. They have a vast variety of food, and it tasted great. An icing on the cake was that their pricing was very nominal. I will say a must-go-to place. Next time I pass by Akron, I'll make sure I stop by here and try something new.
(5)Matt A.
Very good Thai and Asian cuisine. They also run nightly specials of half off martinis. The atmosphere is great, as this is in a historical downtown building.
(5)Kris M.
The food was ok, but the service was poor. The waitress kept dropping things, my friends food was cold, they told us the kitchen was closing before offering dessert, the brown rice didn't come out with our meal, if felt like like they were pushing us out. I'm sure there is better on the same block. Keep looking.
(2)Dylan B.
Hands down my favorite place for sushi. The prices are a little higher than most but you REALLY pay for quality and their sizes are big too. I constantly crave the Cilantro Role now.
(5)Mike O.
Great service and the pad thai is fantastic. We also had sushi and we felt that the cilantro role was too salty and we are traditionalist when it comes to the volcano role. We were a small group so we did not get to order more sushi. I'm sure the others were better. Service was great. My water never reached empty and our server checked on us every few minutes. I would recommend to others.
(3)Vince B.
I have eaten here many times. My fav place for sushi hands down! I have had some of the tai curry dishes and the have been very good as well, but I come can't make it past the sushi it's always excellent! Very clean restaurant, service is great and a great location.
(5)Rick M.
I have had some very poor service at this place. Wrong food, food not showing up, getting seated and not getting waited on. Today I decided to try again. It had been a while. Waitress was fantastic. Food was prompt and excellent. Might give another star if they can duplicate this performance next week. I had a bento box. I asked if I could sub and eel asparagus roll for the California. Not a problem. No up charge. Looking forward to going again.
(4)Charla C.
We have eaten here several times but we are done after our last visit. Our waitress was nice, not the most attentive and boy did she get everything wrong..... We took my wife's father on Friday for his birthday dinner. We got to the table early so we could order a birthday dessert for him. We asked the waitress to make sure to bring him a dessert for his birthday. The table next to us also had a birthday and she brought out a cake and even sang happy birthday, which was great for our neighboring table. Toward the end of the dinner she asked if anyone wanted dessert then proceeded to give us the check. I called her on it and she apologized and got a little snarky, saying she did ask if anyone wanted dessert??? Seriously....... So much for having a birthday dinner. Let's continue, I ordered crab cakes for an appetizer, she brought out fish bites, and she brought them out about 5 minutes prior to the entrees being served. I asked her what happened to the crab cakes and she said she thought I ordered the fish bites?!? Now, I have never even heard of a fish bite, they were deep fried and the inside was the color of a sweet potatoe, they tasted awful and it was like eating rubber, I think I could have bounced one up to the sushi bar but my wife wouldn't allow it..... Here's the real kicker, there was a small black hair protruding from one of them. Our waitress seemed pretty indifferent to it and left it on the side of the table after she had been informed of the problem. It's always fun to find a hair after you took a bite! I never did get my freaking crab cakes! The food was O.K., but certainly nothing spectacular. There are too many menu items for them to focus on any signature dishes, it's almost overwhelming. The amount if choices makes you wonder if everything in the kitchen is frozen? The amount of sauce they applied to my steak was applied to the steak to mask the blandness of it all. I ordered it medium rare and it was closer to well done...... Overall, I'm not coming back and am pretty disappointed with this place. I will go around the corner and hang out at Paulo's or head to the valley and enjoy the Saffron Patch if I need something spicey......Seriously, I cannot say enough nice things about Paulo's, best flat bread pizza you will ever have. If you stop in, tell Paul and Karlie that Scott says hi!!!
(2)Bobby C.
The service was very friendly. I had the dragon roll which was pretty good. The veggie tempura with dipping sauce was decent. The green curry was a bit watered down and bland.
(3)Dare A.
Great food, great service ...one of the most juicy chicken satays I've had ...the teriyaki chicken was fantastic too
(4)Liz L.
Very nice atmosphere. Delicious dinner. Very good service. I've only been once, but looking forward to coming back again! Note: A little hard to find. Signage outside is hard to see when driving down the street. Parking is on street. There was plenty around the corner.
(4)Josh K.
My wife and I are visiting from Wisconsin and we do not normally go for Thai food, but we decided to venture out of our comfort zone. It was well worth it! The service was good, and they made sure to check if they cooked their fish separate from everything else due to my wife's see food allergy. This was huge for us because of troubles in the past. The food was great and no issues for my wife. Definitely would recommend to others to give this a try.
(4)Ana W.
I'm visiting from out of town and thought I'd give it a try based on other reviews. The inside was very pretty and very clean. The food was so-so. Coconut milk soup is one of my favorite foods and I usually consider it my bench mark for comparison. I felt theirs lacked the depth of flavors and that rich lime flavor I've come to expect from this dish. I also tried two sushi rolls, which were also just kinda average.
(3)Jessika G.
I was visiting Akron for the weekend and went here on a Friday night with a group. Lots of people recommended the mock duck curry so that's what I ordered and it was exceptionally good. So good, that I went back on Saturday night to get some takeout. Even though I ordered mock duck curry and the receipt said "mock duck curry", it was full of animal flesh. If you order it, thoroughly inspect it to ensure you don't accidentally eat a dead animal.
(1)Maria B.
Great ambiance here, and the food is delicious. I do feel, however, that compared to other sushi restaurants in the area, their sushi rolls here are relatively small.
(3)Cory S.
For those who are gluten-free: the menu has tons of gluten free items, and they denote gluten free items with a symbol so it is really clear of what is gluten-free. I told the waiter that I am on a gluten-free diet, and he put a mark down to make sure they fry the rice in a separate pan etc. I got the pineapple fried rice, it was really good + enough to satisfy! + sencha green tea
(5)Greg M.
New server didn't know the menu. Hot & sour soup was horrible. Sushi rolls were ok at best.
(2)Big E.
LOVE this place! I was working near Akron for a job a little while back and we ended up going here twice out of the two nights we stayed in town. The decor is apparently vintage deco as far as I can remember and the food was very good. I would actually go to Akron just to eat at this place again and I live hundreds of miles away. I really wish we had a Thai place this cool near where I lived. Mmmm mmm mm.
(5)Todd R.
Who knew Thai could be so good in Akron of all places? Nice staff, attentive and best of all the fresh ingredients made the food rock. Yes...I'd return again.
(4)Fred F.
Limited happy hour and no free refills. Nickel and dime on small value tends to show the willingness to cut other corners to superficially increase level value.
(3)Patience P.
The Thai dishes leave something to be desired but the sushi is very good. Their signature roll is great. The hostesses can be a bit rude and sometimes I feel like I want to tell them that they are in Akron, Ohio and not that trendy so calm their shit about reservations. They are not 5 star.
(3)Ben S.
A really cool space. Natural light. Very wide open feel - they could have added a lot more tables. A nice spacious lounge greets you upon entry. There is a sushi bar in the back of it. To the left is the restaurant area, the rear dining room of which is surrounded with floor to ceiling windows. The place smells amazing. Reservations are needed - it was completely full at 9pm on a Friday night. They have some cool ways of serving things as well. A 8 top table near up ordered a ton of sushi and it came in a very large wooden boat that was placed on the table. The chicken satay appetiser was a large portion - four good sized pieces of protein which could have made a nice small plate for someone all by themselves. I liked the sweet sauce with cucumbers in it that came with it; the version of the peanut based sauce served here was not my favourite compared to other restaurants. The chicken was well done, but not burned or dried out, but it had an interesting flavour to it in and of itself. My red curry with chicken was good. Very flavourful curry made with coconut milk. Good veggies in it and chicken, again with that interesting flavour I still can't decide if I'm a fan of. The meal came with a large side plate of rice. This curry was very soupy compared to other curries I have had. There was so much broth to it that after I ate all the chicken and veggies out my bowl looked like I hadn't eaten anything. Good waiter service. I went for the Thai experience this time. If I ever go back I'll treat it as a sushi restaurant and see how that goes.
(3)Rich H.
Nicely done Thai in downtown Akron, right next to the ball field. Happy hour (half price martinis!) until 7pm. The espresso and chocolate martinis are both excellent choices. I always get the Massaman Curry with chicken. I always tell them spice level 5 (on a scale of 1-5), and add "Thai hot, please"... I often have to get some extra peppers to heat it up a bit more though. The Tom Ka Gai (chicken & coconut soup) is also very well done, though it also needs more heat. The super spicy dishes pair well with a Thai Iced Tea and a FBI (Fried Banana & Ice Cream) for desert. This place is on my list of regular stops when I come to Akron.
(4)Rob C.
We spent a year in Thailand, and loved Cilantro. It's more upscale than your typical "authentic" Thai place, with some dishes we haven't had before and may not have been entirely authentic but were nevertheless delicious (I'm referring to the very tasty corn cakes here). For main dishes, we had two curries -- the Mussamun chicken, one of our favorites, and the red curry with tilapia, a great flavor combination. We didn't have any basil dishes, which are a good measure of the quality of a Thai place (do they use real Thai basils, especially kraprow? Is it plentiful? Is it fresh?) So we can't attest to that dimension of quality. Service was very pleasant, though not as warm and friendly as that provided by real Thai people (our servers were White). The building was great, a kind of 70s modernist interior. Half price happy hour martinis were a bonus!!
(5)Abigail C.
Since my fiancee just move down to Akron for school, he and I have been trying to find him some place to replace his Michigan favourites. Based off of reviews we tried this place first and weren't disappointed. The food was good. By far the Chicken Coconut Milk Soup was the best of it, which I ordered because a fellow Yelper recommended it, and crazy filling. I almost didn't want the rest of what we ordered. Which is insane, because I never, ever pass on sushi. Roll wise we got the Spicy Crab Roll and the Cilantro Special Roll. Both came out well displayed and tasted good. Really it only gets 4 stars because we couldn't figure out on the menu which rolls are raw or not (we may have missed it, but we scoured the crap out that menu trying to find it) and after great service all meal, it took almost an hour to try and flag down the bill. Our waiter was just... gone. Last note, holy crap hot staff (and I had no problem telling my fiancee that... Or how I wanted to touch the waiter's muscles or that the guy's hands looked amazing. Yes, I'm always this blunt). Meal and eye candy= me tipping a little too much.
(4)Rachel K.
The sushi here is pretty solid, but I tried 4 Thai dishes and they were all despicable. I hope they are also forgettable. The service was fine, but we did find 2 hairs that did not belong to us in our rice. I won't be going back when The Lockview is so close by.
(2)Leah N.
AWESOME atmosphere inside- I really don't feel like I am in Akron at all. Also there is a pretty large patio outside but on game nights can be annoying since it's right next to an entrance. The service is OK. I have had really slow service or really amazing, nothing in between. It's also a little more on the pricey food for about the same quality food you can get elsewhere for less.
(3)Mike D.
Fresh ingredients, well made. They give you a range for how spicy you want your food, 1-5. I chose 2 and a colleague chose 3. I'm from California and enjoy spicy mexican, and she's from the south and enjoys spicy everything. Both were too spicy for us to enjoy fully, though I didn't mind as much as she did.
(4)Eric C.
The food here is fantastic. Once I get it on my mind I will dream about it until I can have it. BUT, that's where it ends. The service is consistently slow and all around awful. The staff can't get s carry-out order right to save their lives. Policies are changed on a whim and when questioned you are told that it's always been that way and you must be thinking of somewhere else (I've had the crab fried rice upwards of 25 times and ALWAYS happily paid extra for extra crab, but I'm told that never happened and that I can't have extra crab at ANY price). Domestic beer is around $45 dollars a bottle (only a slight exaggeration), and the manger who is all of 10 years old is a rude little know it all who doesn't know the first thing about how the SERVICE industry works and clearly takes great pleasure in saying "no". It is clearly more important for this nice young lady to put her title and ability to rule with an iron fist on display than to have a long time customer ever come back again. I have made my last visit to Cilantro regardless of the quality of the food. I'm not some internet troll who makes a habit of complaining either. In fact, I have never once taken the time to write a negative review, until now. I hear great things about the new Thai place, Basil in Green. It's my new go to Thai restaurant before I even give it a try.
(2)Rebecca D.
My second visit. Very good. The cilantro roll was as good as I remembered. My sister and I ordered yum na, the beef salad. They were really good. I ordered a 3 in heat, and it was great. My sister ordered a 4, and her lip was burning. My other sister ordered Tom Yum chicken soup. We all sampled it, and it was quite good. It came as a one in heat, since we didn't specify heat. However, it had pretty good heat on it. She also ordered shrimp stir fry, which they seemed to really enjoy. I can't sample shrimp, allergic. We were all given our own sides of rice, which were cooked well. I didn't expect a rice side with a salad, but I ate it anyways. The service was very good. Nothing to complain about. I really like this place, and which it was closer to home, so I could eat that salad more often!
(4)Jenna H.
Love this place! The cilantro roll is delicious!!! Love the atmosphere and friendly staff!
(5)Katie B.
I went to this place for the first time a couple years ago on a date, and it was amazing! The atmosphere is very cozy and intimate despite the large size of the dining area. It felt like we had the place all to ourselves, which is saying something since it was a crowded Friday night. The wait staff was also on the ball for it being so busy that night, and we got our order in and our food at super fast. I got the seafood hot pot soup and absolutely loved it. If you love seafood then it's impossible to resist, it's got an incredible variety of critters in it. The only thing I'd be careful about is the spice level. I normally get food as hot as possible, so I went with level five for my soup. I probably went through four glasses of water during the meal because it was so mindblowingly hot. Thank god for a diligent wait staff, haha. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone who loves Thai, and I'd especially recommend it for dates!
(5)Jennifer C.
Gorgeous restaurant, mediocre food. Hostess REEKED of perfume. And when I take my family out for dinner (ages ranging from 14-50+), I DO NOT want your tits to be on display. If Cilantro is trying for up-scale and classy, toss the trash out. I'm hardly a prude (see: rave review of Brickhouse), but the combination of her attire and perfume completely put me off my meal. There is a time+place for that. Cilantro is not it. Also, please clean the ceiling around the air vents. Disgusting. We had quite possibly the most idiotic waitress possible. Didn't know the food, the menu, or how to refill drinks. Much better Thai food found at House of Hunan (across the street) or Pad Thai in Fairlawn, much better sushi found at either Sakura in Fairlawn or Sushi Katsu in the Valley. I really wish I could give this place 0 stars.
(1)Ashton S.
Best thai in akron, sushi is good also
(4)Nicole S.
Chocolate Lover Martini is the best. Huge portions. Food tasted great too. Ask for Aaron and you will have a fabulous night. Great personality and his recommendations were really good. Lots of fun.
(5)Devon F.
Must improve the service here! Literally had a server spill beer on me last night and didn't even get an apology. As a frequent customer, i say with utmost sincerity...Get it together Cilantro! The food is really good, but until level of service improves, there are better places to go. See ya.
(3)Amy H.
Nothing says 'romance' like golden tofu, sushi, and vegetable udon. Throw in an order of chicken pad thai, massaman curry, and beef yakisoba and you have yourself a love affair. Thank you, Cilantro, for making our Valentine's Day so flavorful. The live music was a nice touch, even if the service was dodgy. We will be back!
(4)Stan W.
Ok, not phenomenal. Nice dining area. Suggestion is to go with the Thai food over the sushi.
(3)Michelle S.
I have never dined in but have ordered take out for lunch several times. The food has always been delicious and the prices are very reasonable. They are a little slow but only because they are busy at lunch time.
(4)Jennifer W.
I would give this place a review but I never got to eat. When we got there, the wait was 10 minutes. After 20 minutes of waiting I had to inquire as to the status of our table and I was told 10, maybe 20 minutes more. We left. I'll give another try as I have heard the food is pretty good. Hoping the service improves.
(2)Navami V.
Enjoyed some excellent panang curry with fresh ingredients!Satay was just ok.. expect Long waiting periods though
(4)Katie H.
I have always enjoyed the food I get at Cilantro. The curries are quite delicious and my husband tells me that the sushi might be smaller than some restaurants, but it is a very high quality and good price. Good service and convenient location. Bathroom is in the basement and it's kind of scary to get to it (the bathroom itself is very clean). This is an unfortunate issue with probably everyone downtown. Maybe better lighting in the basement hallway would help? Also, I am not normally a dessert person, but I always try to leave room for the mango sticky rice. AMAZING! Great place to take husband, friends out for a night on the town, and business luncheons.
(4)Hana G.
Yikes, just had a birthday dinner here last night (I had no choice in the matter). Akron folks: Drive to Cleveland for some real sushi. Server did not know what nigiri is and forgot to put in a friend's order. Ordered soft shell crab app (fried whole crab) and came out cold. My dragon sushi roll was mush in my mouth and yellow tail was unflavorful :( Had a bit of a friend's Pad Thai that reminded me of the Thai food bowls I could buy at the grocery. Hate that my bill was $40 (including tip) and confused that the place was packed (lots of naive youngsters?) I haven't done my research, but I hope this is not the only sushi that Akron has to offer?
(1)Michael S.
Their Seafood Hot Pot Soup (entree) is unrivaled and is a MUST for a seafood lover who can stand the acidity of a tomato base (with a spicy punch of your choice). It is currently my favorite soup EVER and I am only loyal to taste. If you ever order sushi that has "spicy" in the name; tell them to go light on their spicy sauce. They consistently go heavy duty on that stuff and it does not let the sushi speak for itself. They also do a very good pad thai (for those who like pad thai) and their atmosphere is clean, open and hip.
(4)Catherine J.
First of all, I love the decor of this place. Akron often leaves me aesthetically starved, but this place feels "designed." I also enjoy the location for a night out on the town-- start at Cilantro, and you are within walking distance of a few other areas to grab a glass of wine or other adult beverages. In most cities, this would be a common aspect of most restaurants, but as Akron lacks many successful "districts" I think it is worth mentioning. Sorry I always hate on Akron, it's just.... well, Akron. The menu is good, if a little large. I dunno if it is just afraid that there won't be enough people to support a completely Thai menu, but there's pretty much any kind of asian cuisine on this menu. I wish there were more non-fried appetizer options, but man... those fried appetizers are good (tempura shiitakes were slices of fatty heaven). The dessert menu is also very unique. I would almost use the word "authentic" but I don't really know enough about Thai cuisine to go around calling things authentic. I've found that when they ask you how spicy you like it, be a little generous with your estimate. Everyone's "spiciness" scale is relative, so it's hard to come up with an accurate system of communicating the desired level. When I say "medium" or "5" I always wish I went just a little bit higher, though my nose will still run. The service is a little inconsistent. Twice I've gone and the servers have barely spoken enough English to communicate my order-- so forget asking questions.
(4)Beth S.
Ok I like the food here.... But am I the only person disappointed that they left all the old decor of piatto? Come on ...different lights and orange napkins didn't really do the job.... I wish roger Thomas wouldn't have sold out to become a hotel chef......
(4)Jason H.
thought i try this for lunch since a friend always eat here. i get there i had to wait 5 or more minutes to be seated i don't know why there were two girls at the hostess podium one was on the phone the manager didn't even acknowledge me then when i finally got waited on she asked me if i wanted to sit at the sushi bar. it was not busy at that time there were a lot of empty 4 seat tables then she decided to seat me up near the bar anyways it felt like i was sitting behind the bar. food was ok i had better at other thai restaurants.
(2)Marilyn J.
Delicious. Our spice levels are never the same. We ask for the same each time, but it changes. Not a huge deal, we'll eat spicy or mild. The palce is ok to eat at, we prefer to get take out because I'm not a huge fan of the atmosphere, but still good! Sushi is fantastic!
(3)Andy H.
Food was great, had the basil seafood (temp 2 was still spicy!) and a couple of rolls. Three stars because service was really poor and restaurant wasn't that busy. Would prob go back and give it another shot.
(3)Eric S.
Went here with some business associates. Food was really good with exception of the crab cakes. Martini's are half price on Tuesdays from 5-7.
(4)Krystal D.
When you walk in the front door of the building Cilantro is nestled in, you're greeted with a foul odor which is rather unfortunate. Thankfully, when you enter the restaurant, all you can smell is delicious food. We felt a bit disoriented walking in the restaurant because the hostess isn't directly in the front door. When we found her, we were seated by the door, so it chilly. Also, it felt like sitting in a lobby instead of a restaurant. So really, my first impressions weren't all that great. Our waiter was very friendly. He reminded us that it was happy hour so all martinis were half price (about $4 each). When the drinks arrived, they were very watered down. We began our meal with the spicy tuna roll. There was so much spicy mayo on it that it detracted from the taste. But when I scraped the mayo off, the roll was truly delicious. For my main course I opted for the Seafood Hot Pot Soup at spice level 4. I love spice, but level 4 totally overpowered my dish. That's my own fault. The serving was HUGE and the seafood abundent. The boyfriend ordered the Singapore Noodles at level 3 which was the best dish of the evening. I wanted to trade dinners with him, but he wouldn't let me. Jerk. Two drinks, two meals, and the sushi roll cost us about $45. Personally, I thought many of the dishes were overpriced. If I come back, I'll get sushi instead of the Thai dishes.
(3)lizette r.
I like the place. The food is really good and the atmosphere is great. The only negative is the service - it is always, always, always painfully slow. I have been to Cilantro at least a half a dozen times and every visit it's the same thing - slow, often forgetful service. This place could really be great if they'd hire some good servers.
(3)Amanda F.
My favorite part of Cilantro by far is the food. As a vegetarian that often travels with a meat loving pack of friends this place is by far the best compromise for all involved. The vegetarian options are just as delicious and creative as the meat. The ginger tofu entree is my absolute favorite. The portions here are large enough to allow me enjoyment for more than one meal. The food here is so great that a friend from New York city was so impressed with the quality of a Thai food place found in Akron, OH and asks to go here whenever he's in town. The restaurant atmosphere also keeps me coming back. The restaurant has acheived a more up-scale decor without seeming too snobby. I have been here on several different occasions from dates to casual eating after Aeros games. Another nice quality is it's laid back and enjoyable atmosphere. This is not the type of place to duck in, consume, and leave. It's a great place to consume enjoyable food and spend time with friends or family.
(4)Nicole W.
Living in Kent for 3 years was quite depressing because I missed my weekly sushi dates. Then Cilantro came along and has made me SO happy! Best sushi in NE Ohio that I have found!! :) I recommend the Cilantro roll, the presentation and taste are guaranteed to make you return.
(5)Kristen B.
absolute favorite Thai place. great atmosphere and the food is phenomenal!! their chicken satay is the best in Ohio. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)N K.
The service is terrible!!! But the food is really good. Lunch has good options as well.
(3)Joe I.
So I have read the reviews of this place and here is what I have to add: This place has good food for Akron. It's really good, and that can't be denied. The food is creative and well prepared, cooked to order, and the wait-staff does their best to persuade patrons to choose a heat level below their normal number. The alcohol list is unique(the sake martinis are wonderful) and full of craft and domestic beers for any taste. The sushi is expertly made and even non-sushi eaters at my table sampled the sushi based on how it was prepared. Honestly, the food is exactly as good as is to be expected from an upper-scale thai-fusion restaurant in downtown Akron, OH. My only issue was that the service is slow. Far too slow for a restaurant which has seating for hundreds of people. By now, they should have their kitchen times down and their bar times down and their service times down. None of that is true. If you aren't in a hurry, eat here, enjoy the atmosphere, eat the awesome food. If you have somewhere to be, McDonald's is up the street.
(4)Abigail L.
Good sushi, good environment they had non sushi meals for my non-sushi loving friends. Cheap, yet good bottle of wine. Nice bar area, but family friendly too, we had a baby with us and did not feel unwelcome in a sushi place, which is nice for a change. No, we did not feed raw fish to the baby. Only thing that really caught me off guard was the patio. Never eat sushi outside, my friends. It makes no since. Also, my friend is new to sushi, the waitress was very helpful by explaining things and not getting impatient. Good sushi surprise for Akron, OH. Fresh fish!
(4)Ashley C.
Cilantro has great sushi and even better Thai food! Massaman curry with tofu and a Thai iced tea. YUM.
(5)Cindy W.
My first time in OH atteding my sister's graduation, I didn't think I could find such yummy Asian food there, especially in Kent. When we walked in, the place has such beautiful, warm ambiance. It was modern and trendy. The food was excellent. We especially loved the seafood basil dish. The sauce was so good that even after we finished the dish, we wouldn't let the waiter take the plate because it made such good dressing for the rice. My husband is a fan of sushi, so we were good getting thai and sushi all in one place. The sushi was pretty good too! I love the wait staff. They were very kind and courteous, also very patient and friendly especially with my 15 month of daughter who can sit still. They played with her and made sure we got what we needed. Wish there was a place just like this in LA or OC.
(5)Jennifer S.
Really really good. Unexpected from this little city. On my four day trip to akron for a conference, I ate here twice and loved it both times. Portions are quite large.
(4)Meredith C.
I love Cilantro. They are vegetarian friendly and the food tastes fresh and healthy. The environment is lovely, clean and relaxing and they have a great outdoor patio. I especially love their cashew nut veggie stir-fry, vegetarian spring rolls and veggie udon soup. Their mango sticky rice is also unbelievable! While the service can be lacking, everyone is really nice and helpful. The prices are also very reasonable as well given the serving sizes and quality of the food, especially at lunch time.
(5)Ashley H.
Very nice atmosphere, made a reservation on a Friday but didn't really look like we needed to. Half price martinis from 5-7, good wine selection by the glass or bottle. We got the crab cakes and they were delicious. Satay chicken skewers were okay, your basic chicken on a stick. The cucumber sauce was very good. The menu is huge and a little intimidating. I asked to get a wok dish with the sauce on the side and was told it couldn't be done. I felt like an idiot. Switched to a different chicken dish that was supposed to have baby corn, bamboo shoots, broccoli, etc. The only veggies I saw were broccoli and cabbage. They do have steamed brown rice which was a plus. Dinner for 3 people with 2 appetizers and 5 drinks between us came to $116 with a 20% tip. The server was quick and friendly even though she had at least 5 tables. She spoke little English, but was not too difficult to understand. Probably wouldn't go back, but if I did I'd get sushi instead.
(3)Prakit D.
I've been to Cilantro several times and all I can say is "meh." I was not impressed. Not to mention that the quality of food seems to deteriorate each time I visit. Not consistent at all. The food was above average for typical Thai dishes like Pad Thai or Basil Chicken but nothing really stands out or make me want to come back for more. The curry was subpar and too sweet. I did not try Sushi so can't comment. However, if I want sushi, I'd have gone to Japanese restaurant. Modern decor and aesthetic atmosphere do not resemble anything Asian whatsoever but they make Cilantro more attractive and inviting nevertheless. I might do take out from here once in a while but nothing more.
(3)Randy D.
Did someone just say 'unexpected from this little city'? When did Akron go from 300k people to a little city? -- Anyway, Cilantro is average Asian cuisine. Nothing special. It's yummy, it's hot, they have a good selection. Service is alright, didn't wow me. Check em out!
(3)Kevin D.
This Japanese-Thai fusion restaurant was decorated well (everything is from Ikea). The service was weird because we waited over 20 minutes to be seated, but there was plenty of empty tables in the restaurant. Also, our server was extremely annoying and overbearing. He spoke too loudly and rushed us in ordering, making the meal feel less comfortable. I had the cilantro sushi roll, which I don't recommend. It was not fresh tasting, and the sauces that topped the roll were overpowering and cheap tasting.
(2)Steve P.
Generally, good Thai food at a fair price. The ginger stir-fry is quite good, but I suggest having them hold the green peppers as they overpower the ginger flavor. Also if you like it spicy, they will spice things up for you, but be aware that spice level 5 can vary greatly from night to night: anything from "meh", to" very nice!", to "Oh my god- what have I done to my tongue?!" I did ding a star here because last time I ordered carry out, there was a paper label of some kind in my rice. There's no quicker way to ruin a meal than to find some kind of crap in it...
(3)Bryan V.
I am typically here for the Thai food and thus only reviewing the Thai part of the restaurant. Unlike some other area restaurants, Cilantro knows how to do hot. This is a nice spot for lunch, but everyone seems to have this same idea whenever I go near noon. However at 1 pm for lunch, it is not too difficult to get a seat. The curries are all quite flavorful (but not fully authentic for all of them). I generally go with either a 5/5 or up the heat level to the Thai-hot. One warning about Thai-hot is if the chef is not in a great mood, the food can be almost inedible. My last time ended up in this manner with the number of red chili flakes being almost identical to the number of grains of rain in the pinnapple fried rice. The Thai-hot also uses chili oil for an extra kick. So on the food side, my one complaint is lack of consistency in the spice for Thai-hot (the standard 1-5 seems to be quite consistent). The service can be spotty, especially at night. During lunch, things tend to be better in terms of service. On my last visit at night, the waiter must have been marinated in his cologne or something, which I could smell from 2-3 tables away. This was really annoying as it interferes with the smell and taste of the food.
(4)Dana B.
This place had really good sushi!
(4)Brad G.
Great sushi roll!! The duck dish I had was average but everyone I was with really enjoyed their meal. Will return.
(4)Ralph D.
This is a great place! There are not too many places in downtown Akron that offer a nice atmosphere, great service and excellent food. I am a regular here and recommend it to anyone that lives in the area or visiting.
(4)Gary P.
Tai style and Japanese style. Not very spicy even I order level 5
(4)Sheri G.
Cilantro is just around the corner from my office and a great place to cure the thai itch. The curries and noodle dishes that I have tried are all delicious. Though crab rangoon is chinese and not thai, Cilantro does an excellent job on them. I am not a fan of House of Hunan and am surprised that some people feel their few thai dishes are tastier than Cilantro - I would strongly disagree.
(4)The Lover and I I.
Cilantro is a Thai/Sushi restaurant located in the heart of downtown Akron, OH. Ambiance was a little confusing, if you will. The decor was excellent but it didn't vibe with the noisy and casual background. Nevertheless, the food was superb. During our stop, the Lover and I had the following: Satay chicken with peanut and sweet n' sour cucumber sauces = Definitely an A+. Thai sweet and sour chicken soup = the layers of flavor on this one is astounding. I can have this any time of the day. Panang beef curry = one of the reasons why I only gave them 4 stars. I ordered a spiciness of 3 out of their 5 levels and it about took my tongue off. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED how it tasted. But the spiciness was a bit too extreme for me. I'd hate to taste what the level 5 is. Overall, for a quick stop, it was delicious. We are actually considering on stopping by again the next time we head that way.
(3)Sheila A.
I moved from DC and I was used to great Thai food. When I moved to Akron I tried several other local Thai places and gave up the hope of ever getting good Thai in this area until I found Cilantro. Although the menu options are not tremendously authentic (i.e. perhaps a bit too exotic for the average American customer), the menu has many of my favorites; the food is fresh and delicious and made from good quality ingredients. While it is my experience that Cilantro is almost always crowded, it is worth the wait and the atmosphere is nice enough for a special occasions. Street parking is not a problem in the evening/on weekends.
(4)Jerica S.
We went for dinner on a sunday. It wasn't very busy and kind of late, but we were pleasantly surprised when we got amazing food, drinks and service. The lychee fruit cocktail was delicious. We got the hot wing app and two sushi rolls - all of which were amazing. I am not sure why more people weren't there - it was fantastic!
(5)Kitty T.
The best parts of the experience are the ambiance, very trendy and great lighting for a very open space. The half price martinis till 7pm were also good. The food pricing is also less than I expected also, although not for the quality of the sushi or the meals. Too much salt too much spice. Dial down the spice here when ordering and expect to wait on the bar drinks. The service was slow too. We will not be going back. Great time with friends though!
(2)Neil B.
Just had lunch at Cilantro Thai. First off the decor and ambiance is excellent. The dining room is pretty open with modern touches. Up a few steps is a Sushi chef and bar. The food was excellent. I ordered the Thai Sweet and Sour. They really nailed this dish and made it just spicy enough (I ordered a "4 out of 5" spice level). Their prices for lunch are cheap! Two of us ate for 20 bucks. In downtown Akron for this quality of food, that is a steal. Service was very efficient and polite. They even tolerated me trying out some Thai words on them. This is a fairly new place in Akron and my first visit will not be my last. Can't wait to try their seafood Claypot.
(5)Sarah T.
Delicious! Super food for the prices. Clean, healthy plates in fresh atmosphere. Yay!
(5)Ron G.
The Philadelphia roll is fantastic! My wife and I made a great dinner out of an order of their crab rangoon (their sweet and sour sauce is great) and a Philadelphia and California roll. Great dinner and service!
(5)Andy L.
I've had a few rolls and dishes here on a few separate occasions. Everything is just average. Portions are decent. Taste is okay. Prices are okay.
(3)Lewis G.
Very good Pad Thai, good service, good prices, nice restaurant.
(4)Brad G.
Great pan-Asian selections. Service can be slow during peak hours. Great sushi.
(5)Jeff T.
My favorite sushi place in NE Ohio by far. Have been their at least 30 times and ordered everything I've been curious about on the menu. Everything is great. Even the Lard Nar Meecrob which might be my favorite dish there if they still have it. Outside of the sushi of course.
(5)L. D.
This was my first visit to Cilantro and I was pleasantly surprised. The 1st thing that got my attention is that this is a NICE place. It's ALOT larger once you get inside and the decor was fantastic. I think if you took a date here, they would be impressed by the looks alone. On to the food. I've only had Pad Thai once before and really didn't care for it. Erika was my server and I asked her what a Thai newbie should get (keeping in mind that I'm a wuss when it comes to spicy). Erika pointed out which sections of the menu to avoid and which entrees might be good for a beginner. I decided to try: Rod Man Kai Pod (Corn Cakes) for an appetizer - these were tasty but a little on the dry side. They came with a dipping sauce, but it was too spicy for me after the 3rd dip. Next was Pad See Ewe - a nice stir fry with rice noodles and chicken. I ordered it at spice level 0 and it was good. Dessert was Mango Sticky Rice - hmmm, I'm still on the fence about this one. It was kinda good and it was kinda weird. The sesame seeds gave it a weird taste but the coconut cream mixed in with just the rice was doable. I will definitely visit Cilantro again.
(3)Malia G.
We enjoyed the meal at cilantro very much. We found that the menu was unique. We had Pataya salad which was full of flavor. We also had soup and a vegetable sushi roll. The sushi had a little too much rice for my taste but it was still good. They had many vegan choices and our main meals were very tasty and spicy (which we requested). Portions were good and prices were very fair for a nice restaurant.
(4)