Ajian Japanese Restaurant
Earlier this week, smarriveurr took me to Ajian Japanese Restaurant for dinner, located east of us on Rte. 22 Westbound. The atmosphere was very much epitomized by the small wooden sign hanging on the front door, hand-painted, reading "Open" or "Closed." The dining area is relatively small, seating at most fifty, plus a handful more at the sushi bar. The decor was simple but elegant, with rush mats, Japanese watercolours, and painted lanterns. The service was friendly and attentive, but not rushed; we received the next course as soon as we were finished and ready for it, and dishes were cleared almost as soon as they hit the table.
Ajian's shumai dumplings had just the right amount of salt, and were still pleasantly firm. smarriveurr had the beef negimaki, scallions wrapped in thin slices of beef and covered in a savoury sauce, served with sautéed cabbage. I had the chirashi sushi, a selection of sashimi and vegetables. Their cuts of fish and seafood were incredibly fresh, with a wonderful texture, even the cooked pieces; the octopus was cooked perfectly, and the whitefish was some of the most pleasant sashimi I've ever eaten. The presentation was breathtaking--my sashimi was arranged on a bed of rice to resemble a mountain landscape. I wish I'd had my camera with me, so that I could have taken a picture.
"Aw, nuts," said smarriveurr, "we'll just have to come back."
Ajian's shumai dumplings had just the right amount of salt, and were still pleasantly firm. smarriveurr had the beef negimaki, scallions wrapped in thin slices of beef and covered in a savoury sauce, served with sautéed cabbage. I had the chirashi sushi, a selection of sashimi and vegetables. Their cuts of fish and seafood were incredibly fresh, with a wonderful texture, even the cooked pieces; the octopus was cooked perfectly, and the whitefish was some of the most pleasant sashimi I've ever eaten. The presentation was breathtaking--my sashimi was arranged on a bed of rice to resemble a mountain landscape. I wish I'd had my camera with me, so that I could have taken a picture.
"Aw, nuts," said smarriveurr, "we'll just have to come back."