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Anyone been to Aji?

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    1. brooke lynn knight
      Brooke Lynn Knight

      Coffee Shop Regular
      Joined: Mar '07
      Posts: 296

      As I walked up 9th St from the subway, I noticed that Aji had a sign up saying their grand opening would be on May 9. That was Friday. Anyone go? Veets?
      i blame such comments on boredom and drinkng, this is why we need more green spaces
      -- Karl the Druid
    2. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Funny you asked... I did pass by on Friday night and there were people in there but frankly the flavor was... Private Party.. owners' peoples.

      Will the curse be lifted?

      I hope so.

      Brooke We should get some people together and go in and have a drink or something so we can finally meet. Can we bring the kids and the strollers and such? (Only kidding!!!!)
    3. User has not uploaded an avatar
      new2hood

      ...but not so much
      Joined: Jun '07
      Posts: 822

      OH, come on, someone's got to go! The guy has been so cute and entertaining in the Spirito thread. Although, if I remember correctly, the opening is May 19, no?

      Anyway, the new owner seems eager to please and a friendly guy to boot, and the idea seems pretty unique, so I'm hoping it does well.

      Is it going to be kid friendly?
    4. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      new2Hood.. This place might be "kid friendly" but the set up is not expansive enough for strollers and there a lot of those small round high tables with bar stools...not a kid friendly arrangement.
    5. User has not uploaded an avatar
      new2hood

      ...but not so much
      Joined: Jun '07
      Posts: 822

      Veets, thanks for the insight. We'll save this one for a babysitter night, after a few pints at Dram Shop...if I can be convinced to walk away from the burger and mac n cheese....

    6. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Subject: hello

      hello to everyone!!

      you guys talking about me ahmmmmm.

      May 9th it wasnt a private party it was like first day we open to the public.

      But may 16th is the grand opening.

      we are working really hard to get everything done by friday.

      The menu still small but getting bigger everyday.

      About the stroller thing......

      I had my wife coming las sunday for brunch and she brought my 2 babies...the last one is only 2 months old and they had no problem with the stroller.

      Feel free to stop by anytime and have a talk... i mean please come and take a look to the place and let me buy you a beer.( we have a large selection of beer).

      I will recomend you to come on friday the 16th so i have everything ready and also you can enjoy CHICHA LIBRE!! PERUVIAN AMAZONIAN FUNK MUSIC.

      well i hope to meet all of you guys one day and have a brooklynian night up there in the roof deck.
    7. User has not uploaded an avatar
      new2hood

      ...but not so much
      Joined: Jun '07
      Posts: 822

      see what I mean? I love this guy! (but then again, I'm a sucker for free beer, with or without baby!)
    8. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Stop by anytime...

      the weather is getting nice out there.... im thirsty...lol

      we have six points...blue point.... chimay....omegang.... sierra nevada.

      bottles we have beer from spain to argentina.

      Ill recomend you peruvian beer.

      chau
    9. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Hey Piero.. made me a little sad when I passed by last night at about 9;45pm and there seemed to be no customers.. just afew people hanging at the bar.. who were probably you and your co owners. I know you are not "officially" in business till the 16th.

      So you have a sandwich board out that says 15% off ( great idea) of any bill BUT there is no menu posted. Even if you don't have what you are offering printed in menu form to put in that glass frame to the right of the entrance...put out a chalk board that shows at least some of the food being offered.

      Fellow Brooklynians we need to make a group venture to introduce ourselves to Piero and try this place.
    10. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      dont be sad.... i should be sad because we had no customer, actually there was a group of people upstairs in the deck.

      You are right im going to start putting the food in the "A" sing we have out in the street.

      Should i put all broklynians get a free draft beer???

      we just got a delivery this morning, so we are expanding the menu a little bit more.

      You dont need a big group to come.... just come and introduce yourself to us.

      thank you veets for your good vibe ...... looking forward to meeting you.

      chau
    11. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Nope.. Don't offer US free beer.. Us Brooklynians already know you and we WILL check you out and hopefully spread the good word. But bringing attention to your new business in any way you come up with is what you need to do and the 9th street location means thousands of people pass by your place.. make Them See you are there as they pass by on the way home from work and put the idea in their minds that they want to check you out.
    12. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Ok no problem.... dont get mad.lol

      Im working really hard to get attention from the public.

      I just went to digipix and get some posters for tonight.

      Thank you for your support veets and actually thank you to everyone in this forum.\

      Just cant wait to meet everyone from here.

      chau.
    13. User has not uploaded an avatar
      Anonymous



      Posts: 9,622

      Hey Piero -

      It would be great if you can get your menu on to Menupages and Menutopia. I usually check out those sites to view a menu before going.

      Best of luck to you and thank you for being open to feedback
    14. sweet tea
      sweet tea

      Cooler Ham
      Joined: Feb '06
      Posts: 5,181

      wait! you can offer me free beer! i'll have veets's for her!

      after all -- i'll be schlepping all the way from crown heights.

      seriously, can't wait to check the place out, though it may have to be after the graduation craziness of the next couple weeks.
      Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
    15. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Good...thank you fot tips.

      sweet tea ... im sorry but i can only offer you a Super Sweet Iced tea.. just kiddin...

      you can have everybody's beer here.... wait remember that we have to pay our bills too.

      see you one day...i hope.

      chau
    16. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Piero is just toooo adorable!!! I just passed by and there is a chalk board outside Aji that welcomes "Brooklynians" with $2 Budweisser and $3 Sangria!!! Just totally sweet..

      The place was empty.. but hopefully not for long..people are coming home and I hope they pass by and decide to visit.
    17. carmen
      Carmen

      Mayor of Snark Slope
      Joined: Jun '06
      Posts: 3,254

      damnit i was just out looking for a place to drink and I forgot all about this spot! Next time!
      whoa hey whoa hey whoa
    18. raw
      raw

      rocking it
      Joined: Jun '06
      Posts: 2,037

      Subject: Re: hello

      Piero » hello to everyone!!

      you guys talking about me ahmmmmm.

      May 9th it wasnt a private party it was like first day we open to the public.

      But may 16th is the grand opening.

      we are working really hard to get everything done by friday.

      The menu still small but getting bigger everyday.

      About the stroller thing......

      I had my wife coming las sunday for brunch and she brought my 2 babies...the last one is only 2 months old and they had no problem with the stroller.

      Feel free to stop by anytime and have a talk... i mean please come and take a look to the place and let me buy you a beer.( we have a large selection of beer).

      I will recomend you to come on friday the 16th so i have everything ready and also you can enjoy CHICHA LIBRE!! PERUVIAN AMAZONIAN FUNK MUSIC.

      well i hope to meet all of you guys one day and have a brooklynian night up there in the roof deck.

      Damn. This person is so friendly, I'll have a hard time panning Aji even if the food sucks. It would be like attacking Santa Claus.
      I blame such comments on beer.
      © karlthedruid 2007
    19. raw
      raw

      rocking it
      Joined: Jun '06
      Posts: 2,037

      Flexichick » Hey Piero -

      It would be great if you can get your menu on to Menupages and Menutopia. I usually check out those sites to view a menu before going.

      Best of luck to you and thank you for being open to feedback

      Menupages is a must. I use it more than paper stuffed under my door.
      I blame such comments on beer.
      © karlthedruid 2007
    20. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Raw... Sometimes you say things that are so annoying but now I am thinking that YOU are adorable!!!!!! (as well as Piero). Seriously, it is rare that the owner of a new business seems so sweet, engaging and welcoming it to people.

      I really think we should make an outting of this and all us "Brooklynians" should meet up at this place.

      If anyone is interested... perhaps Pm me.. I am willing to set up the arrangements and coordinate. For me it would be really easy since I live as close as you can get to Aji... unless I lived in McDonalds, which would be a smidgen closer...

      No kidding Raw...It would be a really hard thing to pan this place. Frankly, whatever I thought after a visit or two.. I would just keep it to myself and not post my opinion here.
    21. User has not uploaded an avatar
      Anonymous



      Posts: 9,622

      veets » Raw... Sometimes you say things that are so annoying but now I am thinking that YOU are adorable!!!!!! (as well as Piero). Seriously, it is rare that the owner of a new business seems so sweet, engaging and welcoming it to people.

      Another cumbaya moment brought to you by Brooklynian

      I'll try to remember to stop by, although I'm not drinking Bud - no matter how cheap it is for us
    22. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Flexi... There is an extensive bar choice... But isn't it a good idea to do the "come on" and come in with the cheapest possible choices. I think the previous owners of this place ran in to the problem when they took on aires and were too high falootin (I have no clue how to spell that/ first time I ever needed to write it down).

      I think Piero made it clear there were more expensive and imported and perhaps better tasting shoices than Budweiser Lite!!!
    23. User has not uploaded an avatar
      Anonymous



      Posts: 9,622

      Yes, I'm sure he has some better choices in there, and I'll happily spend more than $2 to drink them.

      I applaud Piero for seeking and accepting feedback/suggestions
    24. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Subject: hi

      Just reading the posts this morning @ home ..... thank you guys for your support.

      Last night we got some people in... more than tuesday, i think is getting better everyday.

      Veets your idea was awesome and seems to work...... thank you.

      About the $2.00 bud light... we have more selections of beer and they are not 2 bucks.

      All i want to say,is just keep it real, if you guys come one day all i want is your comments good or bad.. that will help the business to fix the problem.

      thank you.

      big hug to everyone.

      chua
    25. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Good for you Piero.. Passed by tonight and two attractive people on the street in front of the place were there handing out flyers and chatting people up.

      Yeah might seem aggressive in theory but this guy and gal were engaging. Even though we were not headed to your place for dinner tonight... it encouraged us to try another time. It announced your presence on the street. Bravo!
    26. User has not uploaded an avatar
      flux

      above average
      Joined: Mar '08
      Posts: 378

      Would love to check out this place with the wife tonight. Whats the address?
    27. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Once you are on the block you can't miss it. 9th street between 4th and 5th Ave... right next door to Mc Donalds.
    28. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      287 9st.

      thank you... veets thats the kind of people i hired, people with good vibe.

      jejeje

      The big question is: when veets is coming?

      let me know so i can do best of me to impress you.
    29. carmen
      Carmen

      Mayor of Snark Slope
      Joined: Jun '06
      Posts: 3,254

      I might stop in tonight after my apartment hunting (wish me luck, hopefully I'll be having a celebratory drink!) Is you're name actually Piero?
      whoa hey whoa hey whoa
    30. User has not uploaded an avatar
      flux

      above average
      Joined: Mar '08
      Posts: 378

      Piero...ill check out your place with my wife.

      Carmen....I have a 1 bedroom apartment on 5th and 6th!
    31. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Yeah Piero.. I need to know your real name if that isn't it. Us Brooklynians want to come in and greet you and get a beer that is much finer than Bud Lite!!!!!
    32. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      My real name...... come on guys dont tell me you dont post your real name here.

      so Veets is not your real name? or Sweet Tea is not your real name?

      Ohhh my god in what kind of world we are?????

      Everybody have fake names!!!!!!

      lol.

      Yeah my name is Piero, you can see it in my chef jacket.

      Cheers......

      arridiberchi.
    33. User has not uploaded an avatar
      flux

      above average
      Joined: Mar '08
      Posts: 378

      So I checked out the place last night (5/16) with my wife. We showed up at around 8:30pm and were happy to see the place very busy (always a good sign). There was a band in the corner setting up and the first floor was packed. Every stool on the bar was taken as well. We asked for a table and were led upstairs to the roof deck. Upstairs did not have a heating source and it was cold. We had to keep our coats on. We ordered a pitcher of sangria which came right away and was very good.

      Both my wife and I ordered this chicken pattie ($4 each) and I ordered a chicken dish that came with homemade mayonnaise on a heated role and french fries ($7).

      Both chicken patties were beef instead of chicken and I could not taste any chicken in my sandwich. It tasted more like a mayonnaise sandwich!! The waiter said that they are trying to reflect the kind of foods you would find if you were to walk in the streets of peru. After he left my wife said "if we ever go to peru remind me not to buy any food from the street".

      I could not finish the sandwich because all the meyo made my stomach turn and very very thirsty. The $4 beef pattie was good as well as the fries. We also ordered desert an coffee at the end which were good as well.

      All in all we were dissapointed with the food and the cold roof deck. We go out to eat in the slope almost every day and I don't think we will go there for dinner again. However, the place seems like a great hang out if you just want to meet up with friends for drinks. I loved the bar.

      Piero, what happened last night? did you guys run out of chicken???
    34. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Hello Flux.....

      I dont know exactly what happenned with the chicken sandwich, but we were not low in the chicken.... and we are using organic chicken which is more flavorful than the chicken you buy in the supermarket and mayo is made to the order. too.

      .... but thank you for that and i will fix the problem im going to talk to my guys in the kitchen.

      We have a heating system in the deck but it was off.... we though i wasnt nessesary, but we are going to keep an eye on that.

      The empanadas are homemade, desserts made from fresh ingredients, organic coffee and the service was good??? i guees so.

      We are going to fix the chicken sandwich and turn on the heat in the deck when is nessesary.

      This was offcially our first day to business and i open to hear all kinds of comments from you guys.

      Thank you.
    35. User has not uploaded an avatar
      flux

      above average
      Joined: Mar '08
      Posts: 378

      Service was great as was the coffee, beef empanadas, and the dessert. Seems like everyone at the place was running around and working hard. Mistakes do happen (no big deal).

      The place looked great and had a good vibe. I wish you guys all the best on this new venture.
    36. User has not uploaded an avatar
      eggcream

      rocking it
      Joined: May '06
      Posts: 1,355

      veets » Yeah Piero.. I need to know your real name if that isn't it. Us Brooklynians want to come in and greet you and get a beer that is much finer than Bud Lite!!!!!

      After all these postings about the place just stop in and eat then give us a review.
    37. User has not uploaded an avatar
      Anonymous



      Posts: 9,622

      Look! Aji's menu is online now:

      http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=53103&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0

      I'll skip the Bud and go straight for te Negra Modelo
    38. pastoralia
      pastoralia

      above average
      Joined: Jan '07
      Posts: 678

      Chimay on tap and chicken empanadas? That's an evening right there.
    39. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Subject: hello

      still waiting for you guys...!

      Hey i have an idea.... i checked the weather last night and seems that the following saturday is going to be high 70 degrees....

      We have a big back yard and will be perfect for a BBQ day....

      Everything will start @ noon till sun is gone.

      Anyone interesting in coming this saturday?

      BBQ, cold beers, brooklynians... what else can you ask.
    40. sweet tea
      sweet tea

      Cooler Ham
      Joined: Feb '06
      Posts: 5,181

      just back from a wonderful evening -- i'll write more details later, but suffice it to say that y'all should get over there, pronto.
      Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
    41. User has not uploaded an avatar
      Anonymous



      Posts: 9,622

      Oooh, look, there's even a website and picture of Piero

      http://www.ajibarlounge.com/
    42. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Which one of those guys is piero?

      The one with the bandana?
    43. User has not uploaded an avatar
      Anonymous



      Posts: 9,622

      the guy on the right (with the bandana). You can see their names in the caption/story to the right of pic
    44. sweet tea
      sweet tea

      Cooler Ham
      Joined: Feb '06
      Posts: 5,181

      veets, you need to walk yourself the teensy tiny distance over to their place and say hello! piero was asking after you.

      as i said, we had a lovely time last night. piero and company were attentive and sweet (even before we outed ourselves). the space is BEEE-youtiful, and the atmosphere was calm and easy. we had a little tour -- there is a nicely dim bar/cafe area, a downstairs patio with a blue spruce overhead, and a divine upstairs terrace. we sat on the terrace, on soft couches. the "roof" there was clear plastic, which let in the evening light and kept out the rain. there was a lovely view and just enough shelter to keep us from freezing while still admitting fresh air. it was perfect.

      piero made us pisco sours, which are my new favorite drink. yumyumyum. we also had juanes (a rice tamale-esque thing with chicken, wrapped in a banana leaf), Lomito, Palta Y Perejíl (a steak sandwich with avocado and homemade potato chips), Enrolladito De Peferrey (raw fish wrapped around carrots and cucumber, with a divine sauce), and crepes with dulce de leche and strawberries.

      the enrolladito was OMG WOW. i want to get that every time. the steak sandwich was great, and the crepes were too, although we'd like to try one of the other desserts next time -- i'm very curious about the fried pumpkin dough with fig syrup. the rice tamal wasn't bad by any means, but i found it a bit bland.

      all in all, this place is fantastic. you need to go. (especially you, veets!)
      Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
    45. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      Sweet thanks for that review. As someone said on this thread.. (paraphrase).. "Let's stop talking about it and try it out and report back."

      I do have every intention of stopping in. I am trying to gather a group of people from my circle to stop on in. That is not happening this Memorial Day weekend... but if it doesn't happen in the next week I will just drop by and say hello.

      I am so happy that you had a great time and you can recommend this place to us all. I can't remember my feeling so positive towards a business having real sucess in the Slope.
    46. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      It was a pleasure to meet you Sweet Tea.

      I hope you come back soon for more Pisco Sour.

      thank you.

      chau
    47. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Subject: hello

      ITS sat.... beautiful weather out.

      bbq anyone?

      as i said big backyard big roof deck....

      cheap beers.

      ciau
    48. veets
      veets

      rocking it
      Joined: Feb '07
      Posts: 2,535

      We finally made it to Aji this evening. We ate in the garden which is a delightful space. The way the space is set up it feels far away from ninth street.

      We had two empanadas, shrimp and beef and they were plump and yummy. . The ceviche was terrific ... even the little corn on the cob with it was sweet and not overcooked. . . The skirt steak sandwich came on a beautiful bagette and was smothered in caramalized onions. The fried potatoes were just the perfect go-along with this sandwich. Jaleita, combination litely fried seafood was perfectly seasoned and fresh tasting..

      This menu is not huge but sometimes less is more. It was just obvious that care was taken with every plate that came out of the kitchen. The service was attentive but not aggressive. Though Aji has not been open very long there was no hint of that, "Hang in for a while till we figure this out." These guys have experience in the restaurant biz and everything about this place is professional and polished. and welcoming.

      Piero and his partners are all charming and so enthusiastic about making Aji special.

      Try it!!
    49. piero
      Piero

      getting it
      Joined: Feb '08
      Posts: 56

      Thank you veets for showing your support.

      Was a pleasure to meet you and i hope you can come back some other time.

      Specially in those JAZZ nights that we are going to have.

      Chau
    50. mamacita
      Mamacita

      Stuck in the middle with you
      Joined: Dec '06
      Posts: 9,491

      Wow, I just saw this thread!

      I just happen to be eating lunch, tamales made by my grandma with salsa, and thinking about good food and low and behold! Aji!

      Sweet, I'll be there Piero. But you better watch out if I try the Tamales, the bar is set high
      (\__/)
      (=’.'=)
      (”)_(”)

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