Ajia provides a fish dish best served raw
Aaron Sakulich
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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This isn't really so much a restaurant review as it is a date review, because I am going to comment on both dinner and a movie. The movie is recent Best Picture winner The Departed. To say that it is the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life is an understatement. To say that it is one of the blackest, foulest crimes ever committed by a human being is closer to the truth, but still an absolutely insufficient description. Anyone who liked it should be deported, and that's all I am going to say about that.
Fortunately, dinner was much better. I went to Ajia, a sushi place across from the ice skating rink where Late Skate is held. (Do they still have that?) It's smallish for a restaurant, and if you go, I'd suggest avoiding Friday and Saturday, because the place is usually packed, and for good reason.
I went mostly for the all-you-can-eat sushi ($22) but they have regular, platter-style meals as well. The crab tempura ($17) is a battered and fried soft-shelled crab. It was pretty good, with a light and flaky coating. It wasn't greasy or oily, which I've come across before, but I will say that the soft shells were not quite soft enough. As good as it is, eventually you just get tired of crunching through them. I'd certainly get it again, though, but not after a day of giving long speeches or something. Make sure your jaw is well rested.
Similarly, the pork katsu ($17) is pretty good, but not my top choice. It's more or less a pork chop with a soy sauce-like dressing. Nothing that really knocked my socks off, but on the other hand, I do love pork chops. If you're afraid of eating exotic Japanese cuisine and your friends are going to Ajia, don't hesitate to go along with them. The katsu is familiar enough to be good, but with a bit of a twist.
The real star of the show, the real reason to go, is for the all-you-can-eat sushi. It comes with miso soup and a salad. The soup is a hot, cloudy broth with pieces of some leafy green vegetable, chunks of tofu, and the occasional mushroom in it. It tastes good, but the smell alone is worth it. It definitely gets you ready to eat some sushi. The salad is good, but more basic, just lettuce and carrots with an excellent gingery dressing.
Fortunately, dinner was much better. I went to Ajia, a sushi place across from the ice skating rink where Late Skate is held. (Do they still have that?) It's smallish for a restaurant, and if you go, I'd suggest avoiding Friday and Saturday, because the place is usually packed, and for good reason.
I went mostly for the all-you-can-eat sushi ($22) but they have regular, platter-style meals as well. The crab tempura ($17) is a battered and fried soft-shelled crab. It was pretty good, with a light and flaky coating. It wasn't greasy or oily, which I've come across before, but I will say that the soft shells were not quite soft enough. As good as it is, eventually you just get tired of crunching through them. I'd certainly get it again, though, but not after a day of giving long speeches or something. Make sure your jaw is well rested.
Similarly, the pork katsu ($17) is pretty good, but not my top choice. It's more or less a pork chop with a soy sauce-like dressing. Nothing that really knocked my socks off, but on the other hand, I do love pork chops. If you're afraid of eating exotic Japanese cuisine and your friends are going to Ajia, don't hesitate to go along with them. The katsu is familiar enough to be good, but with a bit of a twist.
The real star of the show, the real reason to go, is for the all-you-can-eat sushi. It comes with miso soup and a salad. The soup is a hot, cloudy broth with pieces of some leafy green vegetable, chunks of tofu, and the occasional mushroom in it. It tastes good, but the smell alone is worth it. It definitely gets you ready to eat some sushi. The salad is good, but more basic, just lettuce and carrots with an excellent gingery dressing.
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