“ Secret gem of Raleigh. A bit tucked away in a neighborhood but this one of the most unique dining experiences in Raleigh. Definitely suggest adding it to your list of places to dine in Raleigh. ”

“ Fun and interesting restaurant off the beaten path. We started with an old fashioned, espresso martini pickled season vegetables and the warm Moroccan Hummus which was a huge hit! For dinner we enjoyed the King Trumpet Mushrooms and Chicken Kabobs which was the better of the two. The service was just ok especially since we were few of the first patrons for dinner. Definitely a unique dining experience with a good neighborhood vibe! We will return for more Dips and Spreads. ”

“ CHEETIE KUMAR AND PAUL SILER have been a core part of Raleigh's independent business community for many years. They first opened music venue Kings in 1999, after years of touring the US and Europe with their bands The Cherry Valence and Birds of Avalon. In 2013, Kings moved to downtown Raleigh on Martin St, and soon after they opened their cocktail bar Neptunes, and Cheetie's first restaurant, Garland. Garland was a downtown eatery that closed in 2022. If you must drive to them, you are welcome to use the parking space at the front of the Electric Supply Co building next door to Ajja, as well as the adjoining lot. Their neighbors at Urbage, Hair of the Dog, Bungalow, Wild Art and Little Oak Collective also generously allow us to use the space in front of their shops as parking in the evening. There is also some free street parking along Bickett Blvd and Fairview Rd. They do ask that you are mindful of their neighbors as you park, and ensure that you do not block anyone's access to their homes. We did order some yummy small plates- WARM MOROCCAN HUMMUS - Marinated sweet peppers, tahini yogurt, sumac onions, savory corn flakes, chili oil, sultanas, poppy seeds GF* V VG*. Also, MUHAMMARA - Roasted Piquillo and sweet peppers, toasted walnuts, pomegranate molasses, dill, parsley GF* VG and Lamb dolma-stuffed savoy cabbage rolls, jasmine rice, tomato braise, sweet and sour kashk, toasted almonds and dill. All so yummy! By the way, I did have a great drink - HAPPY TEARS Reposado tequila, raspberry, cardamom, rose, lime. It was so delectable! Tali, was out waitress and she was very attentive! And to top it off- my friend got the WINTER BERRY POSSE--Rose Chantilly cream, basil seeds, sugared crispy rice GF V. And aimirdered an Americano-the coffee was just so so. Also next time I would balance out with the small plates and remove one and order tabbouleh instead. I like the ambiance . It's very eclectic. We sat at the bar and I didn't live the cold from the open door blowing in. I put the blanket on my chair and the big heater was on as well. So be careful when you make your reservation where you will be seating! ”

“ Ajja offered us a very unique and romantic evening. We explored new foods and great cocktails. And the service was very friendly and welcoming. We started with drinks and warm olives and seasonal pickles at the outdoor bar (both covered and heated). Then for our reservation we chose the indoor bar. Here we tried hummus, stuffed savoy cabbage, hasselback squash, and beets. Each dish was delicious as the next. My favorite was the squash. I'll be craving another or may even try to recreate it at home. So yummy. If you're in the Raleigh area you will not go wrong stopping in for a drink or dinner. ”

“ I confess I somehow never made it to Garland, so I didn't want to make that mistake again and not get to experience this Chef's award-winning food. Nothing about this Mediterranean restaurant is usual. The location, ambiance, food, drinks...everything about it is very unique. Make reservations! Even early on a Wednesday night they were hopping. We had reservations for the bar on the covered patio. Excellent service. Each of us found a wine we liked from the uncommon selection. Mine being a Blazic from Slovenia. For the two of us, we shared Fisherman's Dolma, Charred Broccoli Crowns and the Whole Fried Trout. Both of us were unimpressed with the Dolma. The shishito peppers needed to be blistered more. A few were very raw. Neither of us could detect any seafood flavoring in the stuffing. Nor eggplant. They could also have really used some extra seasoning, especially salt. Now the Broccoli on the other hand was both of our favorites... A wonderful balance of flavors and textures. Yum! As for the Trout, it was quite a visual marvel. Gotta love the work that went into it. Deboning a whole fish has got to take some serious talent. Sis thought it should have been served hotter. I think the sauce that was put on it made it cool off faster. She also thought it could have used a touch of salt. I thought it was very good, but a bit of a spicy spice (cayenne perhaps?) might have really helped balance out the other sweet elements. There was just enough leftover for me to have a light lunch and I have to say it was all very tasty mixed up together warmed over LOL. I will say we had read from previous reviews that wine pours are inconsistent. We would agree with that. Had also read about flies on the patio, and we did experience some pesky ones at the bar. Bartender was kind enough to bring out a special fan that helped keep them away. But otherwise it's a really nice ambiance. Dining rooms looked really nice as well. ”

“ Greater experience! Food: ordered the fried trout to share and a few side dishes. Everything was amazing! Great flavors including the cocktails. Nothing was greatly overpowering just a great balance. Dishes are shareable. Note that if you have dietary restrictions they do use the same oil to fry fish and meat. Service: our server was very attentive, gave great recommendations and was constantly present for questions and to check on how things were going. Ambiance: loved the decor! There's a nice surprise outside! It was raining and could not enjoy but there is plenty of seating outside and a fire pit. Apparently they do markets outside once a month. It's a nice rest with a chill vibe. Very warm and welcoming. ”

“ Called day of and got a patio reservation. Most of the seating is outside, and it's a great vibe! I tried: + Frozen hibiscus rum punch - perfect + Peas-y does it cocktail - also loved this; really impressed at the snap pea flavor + Warm Moroccan hummus - awesome, like a chickpea curry + Whipped feta - excellent + Heirloom tomatoes - can skip + Chard eggplant dolma - good + Whole fried trout - excellent + Chicken kebab - can skip + Pearl couscous - good + Spanish anchovies - incredible, would get these again + Seasonal sorbet coupe - coconut + Blueberry ekmek tart - my fave of the two desserts, but both were great Easily a contender for one of the best restaurants in Raleigh. ”

“ I came on a Saturday evening with my wife, arriving at 5pm without a reservation and promptly getting seated. We started with the Warm Moroccan Hummus, which came with some of their housemade bread. The hummus had a lot of texture to it - not only were there whole chickpeas inside the hummus, it was also topped with sweet peppers, sumac onions, sultanas / raisins, and savory corn flakes, which all added an extra layer of crunch, sweetness, and acidity that went so well together. The bread was also delicious - it was probably my favorite thing about the meal. I loved the bread so much that I ordered another plate of just bread. It had a nice crunchy crust but was soft inside - definitely a must-try. I ordered the Spare Ribs, which had a peach-tamarind glaze and came with pickled cabbage. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of tamarind, the tamarind was not overpowering and actually went well with the sweetness of the glaze and tartness of the cabbage. There was smokiness in the seasoning that wasn't too spicy but added depth of flavor. The texture of the meat was perfectly bite-off-the-bone - a nice crust with a soft, juicy interior. My wife got the whole fried trout, and it was also enjoyable. The trout came out whole, but was fully deboned, so it was easy to eat. It came over a sweet potato puree, farro, tabbouleh, and parsnip and apples. The fish itself had such a crispy exterior, which I loved, and perfectly cooked interior - very moist, and not dry. The tamarind was a little heavier on this dish, but I thought the flavors overall were still good. The service was very friendly and prompt, and with it being a nice day, the outdoor seating overlooking Raleigh was perfect. Parking was no problem at all, and the space is clean and well-kept. Overall, we had a great experience! ”

“ Had a great experience at Ajja. The ambiance of the place is incredible. Very good use of lighting, subtle music, and interior design. A very cozy, yet modern setting. We came without a reservation, and they were still able to accommodate us and get us seated. Our waiter was very nice and gave us great recommendations on the menu. The food was spectacular. Ajja is a place where you come to experience and to try new flavors. Each dish was something new and an interesting take. Like many others, I do think that the portion sizes were rather small. They sort of pushed the food to one side of the plate, which made it feel even smaller. Overall great experience, come for the taste and vibes, not to have a large meal and leftovers. ”