I stopped in at Azie for lunch, figuring the first Friday of Lent was an excellent excuse to try some “refreshingly global” sushi.
Upon stepping off of chilly, rainy State Street into Azie, it was easy to see this is a beautiful Japanese restaurant. The white floor is inlaid with pebbles in various flowing patterns. Funky music played on the loudspeakers. I chose to sit at the bar. The top of the bar is pure white, underlit with an orange glow. From my seat at the bar, I could see the second floor dining area. The whole space feels as though it’s been designed with feng shui in mind.
As I waited for the bartender to find her way out, I took a look at what was on tap. A few micro and foreign beers were available, including some Japanese brews. The Victory HopDevil looked as though it would pair best with sushi.
Checking out the menu, the lunchtime Sushi Roll Set looked just right. The Sushi Set comes with Miso Soup, a small green salad and choice of two sushi rolls for $12. I chose the spicy tuna roll and the shrimp tempura roll.
It was a little after one in the afternoon, but a few patrons lingered after their lunch. Women chatted over wine. A few guys sat watching ESPN on the flat screens at the far end of the bar.
The miso soup was a good way to warm up. Diced up tofu and scallions in an excellent fish broth.
The display of the salad and the two sushi rolls was beautiful. The long plate was divided into three sections: salad in the first, spicy tuna roll in the center and the shrimp tempura rounded out the plate. The sushi rolls had both black and toasted sesame seeds which made for a nice decorative touch. The tuna appeared to be almost pureed, not diced, in the spicy tuna roll. Ample amounts of ginger and wasabi were also provided.
Both the tuna and shrimp rolls tasted excellent and the Victory HopDevil proved to be a worthy accompaniment. Fiona Apple sang “Sleep To Dream.”
In addition to sushi and sashimi, Azie offers lunch entrees such as Black Angus Filet Steak, Pan Roasted Diver Scallop, and Teryaki Chicken – all in the $15 range.
Azie is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 am – 2:30 p.m. They have Sunday Brunch from 11 am – 2:30 p.m. They also have an outdoor deck which will open in another month or so. They are located at the corner of State Street and Orange Street in Media, PA. They can be reached at 610-566-4750 or online at azie-restaurant.com.
Photographs credited to Azie Restaurant and Jim Breslin.
