Friday, November 20, 2009

Who needs Chinatown?

Last Friday we finally got around to checking out Aja, the newest restaurant in the Here to Serve family. Well ok, it's probably been open about a year. But there are so many places to try, so I still feel like it's "new." We had a giftcard to use up, so we decided to make it a night on the town, complete with drinks, appetizers, and meals. So I feel like I can share a pretty good opinion of the place, since we tried so many things on the menu haha. 

If you have ever driven past Aja on a weekend night (old Emeril's on Lenox Rd. by Phipps Plaza) then you likely have noticed the crowd outside. This place was ON. People were crowded into the bar area, and the couch seating areas were already filled up when we arrived at 8pm. It seemed like a perfect after-work spot. We had a reservation, so grabbed drinks for a bit at the bar before heading to our seats. The place is gorgeous inside, with high ceilings and awesome Asian art everywhere, including a Giant Buddha. The tables feel quite intimate though, despite the sheer size of the rooms.

Aja's menu boasts pretty much any type of Asian cuisine you are looking for. But unlike those sketch buffet places that say "Japanese-Chinese-Indian!"  on the outside of their restaurants, Aja does it all in a classy Asian Fusion style.

Try some Dim Sum (aka their appetizers) to start off the meal. We had some shrimp dumplings in rice paper, pan fried pork pot stickers, and steamed BBQ pork buns. All three were fantastic. For dinner, we split the Chinese Roast Half Duck with Steamed Buns and Hoisin Sauce. I am currently drooling even just thinking about it again. We had trouble deciding on that one though, because they have a ton of fantastic looking entrees, and a big sushi menu too.

Go grab a drink and some dim sum at Aja - I can't wait to hear how you like it!

4 comments:

DuffGT06 said...

Sounds yummy! I'm heading to South City Kitchen tonight, although not new, I've never been and am looking forward to trying it out.

Unknown said...

I love South City Kitchen! You will have a fab dinner there, can't wait to hear what you get!

DuffGT06 said...

It was great, had a cocktail, naturally and their peach martini was delicious. Fried green tomatoes for appetizer, and I had the shrimp and scallops with grits for my entree. Ben got the jambalaya. I tasted his as well and all was delicious! They tried to sell us on dessert but just no way that was happening!

I highly recommend it.

Unknown said...

Wow that sounds like exactly what I would have ordered, I love fried green tomatoes, and shrimp and grits!! :) I am so glad you enjoyed it, I am going to put it on my short list to go to again.