First off, I am not a food critic or anyone associate with the industry. However, I am a person that has been lucky enough to dine in some the world's finest restaurants. From Sydney to New York and everywhere in between.
Maybe I was just lucky, but my experience at Karu was wonderful. As everyone has noted, the setting is gorgeous (once you are inside since the surrounding area is admittedly grungy). The initial free drink was a very nice touch and there are many many staff available to care for you. During my meal, we had no less than 5 different wait staff checking on us. As with any fine dining establishment, the wait service is not going to hover and bother you. However, whenever they saw we might need something, they were there.
As far as the food goes, you must know what to expect before you arrive. The dishes are not going to be a normal run of the mill chicken, beef, or fish. Everything is done with a very special touch. If you give their form of culinary art a chance, I cannot imagine that you will be disappointed. This, to me, is what has led others to give negative reviews. People are not expecting dishes with such interesting combinations. As an example...I had lamb with a pumpkin puree that was phenomenal, but on the same dish was a small piece of sausage with grilled grapes. The combination of the grapes and the spicy sausage was amazing! Other dishes that I recommend are the conch with gashpacho appetizer, the stone crab appetizer (not like Joe's since it had a puree that I can't recall), and the chicken cutlet with pepper sauce entree.
If you are open minded and want to try something completely different, you won't be upset that you went to this restaurant. It is as much an experience as it is a meal.
Bon Apetit!
Pros: Ambience, wait staff
Cons: Price
more