Cuisine:

• Asian
• Pan-Asian
• Sushi bar
• Japanese

aja Description:
It's not a complete surprise that ajasteak---the pricy Asian and Kobe beef-minded hotspot in the Dana Hotel & Spa---morphed during tough economic times. Now called aja (pronounced "Asia"), it's shifted its focus toward more affordable sushi, rice and noodle-based dishes and traditional and modern, though still showy, fare. Standouts like tempura rock shrimp---gussied up with fiery sambal and sweet roasted pineapple---marry with classics like shrimp and pork shu mai. Then there's the "fat noodles," its namesake sourced from Chinatown and rich with soy. It is the Vietnamese-inspired greens salad, though, that particularly excites us. Piled death-defyingly high and loaded with an endless array of crisp veggies and fresh herbs, it is something we'd eat---without complaint---each day. Little touches, like house-made vinegars and sauces on tables, are a nice touch, too. Less than stellar, however, are dishes like five-spiced Duroc pork, its sauce biting and, frankly, bitter. Still, we get where chef Joshua Linton---who worked with Takashi Yagihashi at Tribute in Detroit---is headed. And it'll be interesting to see where this ends up.


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