NYC E-Guide

Aja New York City

 

Address:

Aja Asian Cuisine & Lounge
1068 1st Ave
New York, NY 10022
 
Telephone: (212) 888-8008
Facsimile: (212) 888-8008

Restaurant:

Pulsing ambient music and dramatic decor, including a large Buddha statue, up-lit bamboo and a fish tank in the floor, attract a 30-something cocktail crowd. The menu offers traditional sushi, including various tunas and sea urchin, as well as signature rolls like salmon-jalapeno and spicy crab and caviar. Entrees include steak or chicken Ishi-Yaki (served on a hot stone grill), miso- and sake-marinated sea bass and sake- and ginger-glazed lamb chops.

Over-the-top decor and high-quality pan-Asian fare are served up in equal  measure at this Midtown Asian outpost. Inside the main dining area just past the  sushi bar, colored lights illuminate a six-foot-tall Buddha like a 70s-era rock  star. Underneath, the stone pond and an inset floor aquarium gurgle with live  carp. Exposed gray-brick walls and stylish dark natural wood tables add  sophistication even as the amusement park feel persists. A broad list of  starters—like Chilean Sea Bass skewers—complements a pan-Asian menu that leans  heavily on high-quality, market-fresh sushi. And for good reason: The tuna is  tender, and the mackerel and yellowtail taste as though they were pulled from  the sea the same hour. The menu's Asian-inflected hot entrees will appeal to  those with more land-based palates—Peking duck, plus steak, chicken, and lamb  chops with mild chili glazes. There's also the signature Ishi-Yaki: Thin slices  of Kobe beef, lamb, chicken, or filet mignon are grilled on a heated stone  that's placed over a miniature grill tableside. The sight of diners cooking  their own meat is apropos for a room guarded by a life-sized Buddha.

Lounge:

Aja Restaurant will delight you from the moment you enter. From the hip, but  subtle music, to the stone temple architecture, Aja will please your eyes, ears,  and most importantly, your palate. For the most impressive seat in the house,  grab a seat near the six-foot Buddha, which sits atop a two-level stone pond  filled with Japanese carp and bamboo. The soft colored, slow changing lights  offer a romantic air of charm to the temple-like structure.

For a change  of pace, be sure to check out the beautiful sushi bar, complete with friendly,  experienced chefs, that will amaze and dazzle you with their innovate styles. Be  sure to explore beyond the sushi and sashimi, as the kitchen can create  wonderful dishes, such as Char Grilled Chilean Sea Bass, or Sweet and Sumptuous  Bolo Chicken served in a whole pineapple shell. Another culinary treat is the  delicious Ishi-yaki Stone Grill Filet Mignon, Kobe Beef, or the Omakase sushi  special.

Sit back and relax as the courteous and knowledgeable wait  staff guides you through the menu. If you enjoy having wine, Aja’s wide  selection will be waiting for you, either at you table, or at the trendy lounge,  adjacent to the dining room. Sake, and an impressive list of specialty drinks  await patrons every night. The lounge and restaurant has become one of Sutton  Place’s neighborhood hotspots since it's opening. Please join the rest of us for  the wonderful, exciting, Aja experience.

Feel free to check out pictures of the Aja Restaurant in New York City.