AJ's Art of Sushi
By Gabrielle Ceconi ('22) and Noelle Belliot ('24)
The faint sound of traditional Japanese music floats around the room. The sharp sound of a knife cuts through soft, tender avocado, soon to be packaged delicately into a sushi roll. You hear the sizzling meat in the kitchen not too far from your table and the sweet glaze of teriyaki filling your nose. Suddenly, it is as though you have been transported to a rural Japanese Ryokan restaurant.
Located in Suffern, New York in a small strip mall, AJ’s Sushi and Cajun Seafood transports those who dare to indulge in a whole new world of sushi. The restaurant seems to look like an average run-of-the-mill restaurant. However, the food is enough to shock one’s taste buds.
Once you have sailed into your seat, the staff quickly informs you of the “All-you-can-eat” sushi menu, from which there are many diverse options to choose from. To cleanse the palate first hand, we ordered the seaweed salad. Although it was a bit out of our comfort zones, we were pleasantly surprised, as the dish had no salty or fishy smell or taste; it was refreshing and vibrant in color. The subtle crunchiness and similarity to cold soba noodles made the dish quite comforting. The sauce that encompassed the seaweed was sweet yet tangy with vinegar.
Next up, for an appetizer, we ordered the squid tentacles in barbeque sauce. Now, we know this dish sounds like the last thing you’d want to put in your mouth, but you’d be surprised by its flavor. The sweet barbeque sauce mixed with the charred flavor of the squid is oddly enticing, as your chopsticks keep reaching for more. The squid was definitely a little strange but a truly mesmerizing dish.
Finally, we ordered shrimp shumai dumplings. When the dumplings arrived, they were piping hot, looking like small little presents due to the ruffled wrapper. Served with a jaw-zinging sauce, the dumplings were probably the best present at the table. The crunch of the wrapper was phenomenal, making for a great compliment to the soft shrimp mixture inside. With a great set of appetizers settling in our bellies, we prepared ourselves for the largest voyage—the entrées.
Upon glancing over the menu, the endless options for sushi rolls seem intimidating. However, with a little guidance from the short descriptions of each roll, it wasn’t hard to decide. We ordered a variety of different sushi rolls, including a Dragon Roll, a Soft Shell Crab Roll, and a Rainbow Roll. Again, journeying far from our comfort zones, we decided on a Soft Shell Crab Roll. The roll appeared similar to a Shrimp Tempura Roll, yet the taste of this roll was entirely different. When we popped the sushi into our mouths, I was surprised by the subtle crunchiness of the crab. The sweetness of the crab mixed with the avocado and eel sauce made for a luxurious smooth transition to the stomach.
Next up on the list was the Eel Avocado Roll. This roll was a bit deceiving, as it seemed to be posing as a basic Avocado Roll, but the taste of the eel comes in to surprise your taste buds. The delectable charred eel flavor mixed with its crunchiness was soothed by the soft and tender avocado. The chance we took with trying this roll was definitely worthwhile, as it left us with a new perspective on sushi.
After having our delicious meal, we decided to end our meal off with some dessert. We both decided to go with a classic dish: ice cream. Though we were both stuffed from a great meal, we wanted something good to end it off with. We ordered Green Tea and Vanilla Ice Cream. Though it was just a simple scoop of ice cream, it gave a nice satisfying end to the meal.
Pros and Cons:
AJ’s Sushi and Cajun Seafood pleasantly surprised us. The restaurant itself is always kept in great, keen condition, and is never seen in bad quality. It was definitely a very relaxing and well-experienced meal. Temperature is always kept at a manageable rate and the restaurant is always kept polished and clean, perfect for the world’s current situation. The service is quick with a kind, welcoming staff. You’re able to get as much sushi as you want and are always able to order more. The food they serve is not only fresh quality and presented in a lovely manner, but it always impresses one. It always peaks one’s taste buds and will never be able to turn one away from a plate of their sushi. Another upside to AJ’s is that they had other delicious kitchen/hibachi options for people who don’t enjoy or can’t have sushi. However, although the restaurant may be a godsend in terms of quality and service, there are some downsides. The price per person for the “All-You-Can-Eat Sushi” is $22, which can be pricey if you are going with a large group of people or on a budget. The restaurant also tends to get somewhat crowded and busy on certain occasions, usually during nights, meaning a reservation is sometimes needed, or else you won’t be able to get a seat in the restaurant. Another downside is that you aren't able to take any leftovers home due to the “All-You-Can-Eat Policy” but if you do, you will be charged extra. Despite all of these drawbacks, the positives definitely outnumber them. The restaurant’s atmosphere, top quality food, and kind staff truly made the experience worthwhile and leaves you craving for more.