Akbar Restaurant

Akbar’s history began with Mr. A.N. Malhotra, the patriarch, who modeled his first restaurant after Emperor King Akbar; who was not only the most powerful Mogul emperor but also a very hospitable host. Over the years, Akbar and Mr. Malhotra have acquired an enviable reputation internationally.

Mr. Malhotra started as a modest manager for the British-owned Spencer & Co. in the 1940’s. By 1952, Mr. Malhotra had launched Gaylord in Mumbai and continues to remain, part owner, today. Subsequently, Mr. Malhotra expanded Gaylord to London and later to Hong Kong.

In 1976, Mr. Malhotra opened Akbar in Manhattan. The delicate cuisine and elegant ambiance found at Akbar restaurants can be traced back to the 16th century in Northern India – specifically to a Mogul emperor of the same name who had a flair for dining in unique surroundings.

Today, thanks to his culinary expertise and almost 70 years as a talented restaurateur, Mr. Malhotra has succeeded in spanning the ages. With authentic recipes prepared by centuries-old methods and chefs from Mumbai, he has made it possible for modern-day gourmets to enjoy specialties that were virtually unheard of in the U.S. until the late 1970s.

Mr. Malhotra emphasized the quality of service and food from the beginning. Thanks to its popularity, Akbar now has branches in Garden City, NY, and Edison, NJ. While the latter is managed by Mr. Malhotra’s son Pradeep and his wife Meenakshi, the Garden City branch of Akbar is managed by Mr. Malhotra’s daughter, Meena. Mr. Malhotra’s son, Vijay, is an accomplished restaurateur in Pune, India. 

As all of this beautiful history and tradition continues today, we encourage you to visit all of our family of restaurants and if you happen to see yourself in Mumbai, please do visit Gaylord and say hi to Mr. Malhotra, who well into his 90s, continues to be an active and graceful presence.

We are excited to announce that Akbar Restaurant is now open for outdoor dining in our spacious and lush garden, in accordance with state regulations. Our focus is and always will be on the health and safety of our employees, guests, and community. That said, in addition to requiring that all customers wear a face covering when outside of 6ft of others, we are taking the following precautions:

– Orders can be placed prior to arrival to expedite services and reduce interaction. Either order online below and write “For outdoor dining at Akbar” in the notes section, or call (732) 632-8822.
– We will be utilizing disposable paper menus to place orders
– Patrons will have the option to be served using one-time use dinnerware
– All tables will be placed six feet apart
– Customers and staffers will be required to wear face coverings at all times
– We are conducting daily health screenings for all employees
– Regular disinfectant procedures are in place post every service (e.g., tables disinfected after each service)

We are here serving food to bring families together to enjoy a meal, whether at your home or ours. We thank you for your support, stay safe and healthy!