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Ajna Bar
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants Asian Fusion Restaurants French Lounges, Asian Fusion, French [Edit]
25 Little W 12th St(between 9th Ave & Washington St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhoods: West Village, Meatpacking District
(646) 416-6002
- Nearest Transit:
-
8 Av (L)
14 St (A, C, E)
14 St (1, 2, 3)
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 6 pm - 2 am
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 4 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
298 reviews for Ajna Bar
Review Highlights
"My friends and I had a wonderful time at Buddha Bar."
(in 114 reviews)
"I had the Chilean sea bass and it was delish."
(in 8 reviews)
"Wonderful selection of starters, sushi and main dishes."
(in 62 reviews)
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298 reviews in English
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Review from Lauren L.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I initially came here for a night out with a George Clooney clone (less hot obviously and without that amazing voice) to meet a friend of mine but it was so packed I never found my friend and I didn't have the best time so naturally I blame the clone. I came here for restaurant week knowing it was the G.C.c.'s fault and not the place itself for my lack of a good time.
The place reminds me of some of the nicest hotel lobbies I have been in when I was in Asia. High ceilings, majestic, great subtle lighting. To juxtapose this walk into the bathrooms (leaves something to be desired). The service is slow but friendly. The drinks to get are the kanji (tart and delicious) and the coconut mojito was very good but just a bit too sweet for me I am more of a tart drink gal. The food was excellent. We had the yellow tail with jalapeno which was very good, the fried salmon was flavorful and fresh, the chicken entree was decent. The coconut chicken soup was phenomenal. The molten lava cake dessert was just okay but I didn't come here for dessert, I rarely order it so who cares?
This place is everything that I wished Spice Market if you are choosing between the two this one will not disappoint. I would come here again in a second for dinner & the lounge after but I need to save up some because it is pricey...sigh -
Review from Isabel L.
2/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I agree with Andre L. "A very large Buddha, a very large bill, and a very large disappointment!"
I have basically gave up on all these club / restaurant establishments especially in the meatpacking district...
Should have went to tao instead ..... -
Review from Jess C.
Jersey City, NJ
2/3/2012
The meatpacking district is always known for its pricey restaurants/bars but I made an exception for a friend's birthday dinner which also happened to coincide with Restaurant Week.
In addition to the atmospheric decor, the food was excellent, especially the Crispy Atlantic Salmon which had great flavor, as well as interesting texture. But the standout for me was the Coconut Mojito which was refreshingly delicious. A perfect combination of mint and coconut, it would definitely be my go-to summer drink if it was offered anywhere else.
I would be keen to return as long as it's before the whole nightclub scene. There's nothing more unappealing than eating in a speakerbox. -
Review from Buba A.
KEW GARDENS, NY
2/8/2012
I celebrated my 25th with a party of 7 and was seated at one of the circular tables at the center. The decor is trendy, elegant, eclectic. The amazing music in the background just adds to the chilled yet funky atmosphere. I don't remember the drinks being that special but we ordered family appetizer (very pricey) and the caviar was delicious! Sushi for main entree was "okay" since i have tried better sushi elsewhere. But like most trendy restaurants in the city, you are paying big bucks for the ambience than the food. Regardless, I'd always go back for the cool experience.. Y'all should too!
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Review from Kristin A.
Norwalk, CT
1/31/2012
Upon entering Ajna I was wowed by the decor. I don't think it gets any better atmosphere wise. Hands down, the most beautiful restaurant I have ever seen in NYC.
I had 930 reservations but wasn't seated until 1015, with MAJOR attitude from the hostesses. They insisted I check in with them "in ten minutes." After going up to the desk three times, I finally asked if they could just find me when my table was ready. They said no, but eventually did.
The ambiance was by far the major draw of the restaurant. The food was average and overpriced. I had two special sushi rolls that were not a bit special and quite boring. The rock shrimp appetizer just wasn't good and too spicy considering it wasn't even mentioned in the menu. I ordered a standard field greens salad and nowhere in the menu did it mention that there would be walnuts in it, which i'm allergic to. The chocolate molten cake tasted like it just came out of the freezer and should be skipped.
DRINKS! Delicious! I can't remember the name of my cocktail but its key ingredients were frangelico, muddled strawberries and chili peppers. One of the best drinks I have ever had...and I've had a ton of specialty cocktails!
If I could I would give the ambiance of AJNA a 5, the food a 2, waiter service a 5, and the drinks a 4 (Great tasting but could have been stronger).
I say try it! A great place to impress out of towners.
JUST GO FOR THE AMBIENCE AND AN AVERAGE MEAL -
Review from Joel D.
NY
1/30/2012
Formerly "Buddha Bar".
Cool place for dinner, but I wouldn't advise staying for the party.
Aside from the ample space, this restaurant in disguise SUCKS as a club.
The space is too big for the sound system and sounds like crap.
Also this place gets disgustingly hot and humid. It's unreal and made me want to leave right away.
This place only get 2 stars for the restaurant portion. They should remain a restaurant and stop trying to be a night club, -
Review from Olga F.
Fort Lee, NJ
1/27/2012
What happened to BuddaBar? I was really sad to see a change in ownership in the past year. The BuddaBar that I'm familiar with had waiters walking around in chains, fire-eating performers, and umbrella-twirling Geishas on plush couches. Needless to say, BuddaBar definitely stood out among the rest. And now, Ajna Bar blends into the regular Meatpacking ambiance.
Yes, the decor is still gorgeous, yes, the bartenders still wear those leotards from American Apparel that I claim to hate but secretly want, yes, the the Coconut Mojito is still on the menu and still costs $24 but all the important things that would make me come back to Ajna Bar like cool DJs spinning European mixes and house tunes and the crowd that enjoyed the above mentioned are gone for good when Ajna took over. -
Review from DeShaun C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really don't use the word "sexy" to describe establishments too often. That's probably because I don't get to go to very many sexy places. Cute, cozy, yes. Sexy? Not really, and definitely not to the same degree as Ajna.
As can be expected in the Meatpacking District, Ajna's entrance is inconspicuous. If you don't know the address, don't expect to really find it. As I waited for my party to arrive, I took a peek through the double doors and saw this beautiful scene. A deep red tunnel that leads down to some candle lit tables as well as a wall of candles (yes, actual candles) in the rear. Silhouettes of slender servers and high-heeled hostesses moved busily through the establishment. I was in for a treat.
I was here with coworkers for Restaurant Week and I was hoping it would turn out well, especially after my fiasco with RW the night before. I was the first one there so I alerted the front desk that the others were coming, checked my coat, and made my way to the bar. The whole place has a great mood. Dark wood, the red lighting, the subtle music (which gives way to more booty-shakin' friendly tunes once the DJ arrives), even the business cards are sexy.
The Restaurant Week menu was pretty nice. I had the mini-chirashi as an appetizer, the crispy alaskan black cod as the entree, and the molten chocolate cake for dessert. Before that, though...drinks!
The rest of the party arrived before I could grab the attention of anyone at the bar, so drink orders were taken at the table. I had the Kanji, which is: Don Julio Silver Tequila, Malibu Coconut, Passion Fruit Juice, Triple Sec, and Lime Juice. I was pretty happy with this. Happy enough to get two.
So, the appetizer comes, and you know what? It was pretty tasty. The menu just describes it as "sushi-quality fish over rice" and that's what it is. There's a disc of rice with an assortment of fish diced over it, and some roe and a shrimp to top it off.
The black cod had a smooth texture and a nice light crust. The flavor on the fish itself wasn't very strong, but the sauce they provided, as well as the slaw that accompanied it, were both very delicious and complimented the fish well. There were also fingerling potatoes that were tender and flavorful.
I love chocolate, and I usually like my chocolate cakes to be heavier, but this was a nice cake. There was a really smooth cocoa flavor, and the molten insides had a good consistency.
I'm thinking of coming back before RW is over. You really won me over, Ajna. -
Review from Valerie G.
New York, NY
1/9/2012
The first time I attempted to go to Ajna, my dear (yet extremely drunk friend) got into a fight with my promoter. We didn't go in.
Imagine my surprise when the SAME friend invited me to Ajna this past weekend because he had gotten a table. Talk about irony!
I arrived around midnight to a short line & with 2 girls and 1 guy, we got in without a problem. There was no mandatory coat check which was a definite plus in my book. Ah, reminds me of the good ol' college days when me and my girls would freeze in our short dresses in the dead of the winter. We refused to wear jackets because we didn't want to pay the $3 coat check...good times.
Anyhow, Ajna is really spacious! I had no idea as I thought it was just a small lounge and from the outside there was no indication of the size of this place. The bar was pretty long too and never seemed too crowded. There was a good mixture of people and the music was tight, nice mixture of hiphop and house. Our table was a little elevated from the rest of the crowd and was legitimately a table... with real sitting chairs haha, but still sweet & exclusive! It was pretty hot in the club, but not to the point where I would classify it as stuffy. I had a lot of fun & would defffff come back in a heartbeat!Listed in: Left my head & heart on the…
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Review from Erin M.
1/19/2012
Been here twice recently. I went here with a promoter for some after work drinks and some sushi. The sushi was good but I wasn't too impressed with my overall experience. The space is beautiful and has amazing decor, but I still felt cramped in the lounge area, but then I realized that it was due to being with a promoter. I gave this place another chance a week later for winter restaurant week dinner (a total different feel than coming here with people looking for free handouts).
The dining area is much more spacious and very comfortable. My friends and I actually decided on getting the largest sushi platter instead of trying out the winter restaurant week menu. The sushi without a doubt, was amazing! The service here was good for the most part- my friend sat down at the bar and they missed some sticky part which got on the sleeve near his elbow on his blazer- the manager not only came over but will take care of his dry clean bill.
Other than great sushi and delicious drinks, I didn't like feeling like our waiter was trying to make us order more and more food. They need to make their menu a little more clear because the platter we ordered, we thought we were picking out three special rolls (part of what we ordered). The waiter didn't tell us that we weren't allowed to pick and added the extra rolls instead... which was actually more food than we were ready to eat. Besides that small tiny mix up, I enjoyed my food and drinks, but I'm not sure if this is my absolute go to spot. I probably will be back in the future, but not any time soon. -
Review from Canan C.
Linden, NJ
2/4/2012
Talk about an overly commercialized restaurant in NYC. I suppose if you're visiting, it's a cool space to have dinner. Food and drinks were overpriced and only average. Nothing to remember the next day. Listen, you're not going to leave this place thinking you had a horrible dinner, but you're also not leaving feeling like you had fireworks in your mouth. I prefer quaint restaurants with a great vibe, and this space is just TOO large. We were a group of four at a large table, and felt so disconnected to each other that we moved our chairs closer together. No intimacy, eh on the food, blah on the drinks, Horrrrible service, i certainly won't be going back unless i was forced to.
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Review from Caroline C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Note: this review is solely based on a company holiday party.
Ajna is a beautiful space with deep red lighting and interesting decor. You are welcomed by a grand entrance that invites you to the warm yet sophisticated space. The decor and ambience worked well with the Asian fusion theme. The space is well utilized and makes you feel like youre not in a typical squeezed NYC layout.
However, don't expect the food to be as good as the ambience, decor and space. We started off the night with h'ordeurves, which were a mix. My favorite was definitely the shrimp but everything else was just subpar. The yellowtail rolls and egg rolls were just ok. What surprised me the most was that the tuna tartare was fishy and far from being fresh. I was hoping the dinner buffet would be better. Indeed it was, although there were some misses again. For instance, the lemongrass chicken could have used more flavor. On the bright side, the fried rice was good (really how can you go wrong with fried rice?) and my favorite was the salmon, not only was it really tasty but it was cooked perfectly. It had a soft delicate texture, not overcooked like most places that serve for large parties. -
Review from Matt B.
ASTORIA, NY
1/31/2012
I went here once for Restaurant Week and had a pretty good experience. I don't go to Meatpacking District a lot, this was a good pick. The decor is grand and alluring, it has a classy touch to it without being too stiff. The Restaurant Week menu was very limited, only a couple of options. Had the lobster soup which was OK, but a bit bland and soggy.
Got a bit annoyed when the waiter frowned when I ordered from the discounted menu instead of the regular menu.
The dishes on the menu feel a bit overpriced in general. Our waiter was friendly, but the service was a bit too fast, which is good when it comes to taking and getting your order, but not so nice when you grab your plate the moment you put down your fork having hardly finished your dish, and it happened through all three courses. I understand they get busy, but we felt too rushed to leave before we had spent two hours there. I would come here again mainly for the ambiance. -
Review from Zinat M.
2/4/2012 1 photo
Went here for Restaurant Week with a large group of girls. We had a great time, the food and drink were fantastic, and for our large group and the busy-ness of a friday night, the waitstaff handled us pretty well. Some places tend to skimp or put out subpar food during RW but not this place! We were all very happy with our experience here, esp the food. It is the old Buddha Bar, they've kept much of the similar decor. It's a gorgeous space, on the trendy side. What I like about this place is it's not all looks, the food has substance. The plates were beautifully presented, and tasted delicious. For appetizer, most of us had the mini chirashi, I wish I had taken a pic of this. It was different types of fish in a round mold over a bed of sushi rice, with a jumbo shrimp. It was delicious and looked like a mosaic on the plate. For entree, we had the cod, and dessert was the molten chocolate cake which was heaven. The cocktails were also delicious, especially the house drink, black buddha. The music is kinda loud, dancey, trancey, which is part of their sexy chic trendy atmosphere. I love Buddha statues/art and marveled at all the different kinds and posed statues everywhere. The place turns into a lounge later in the night, which is an area set off to the side. This place is great for groups, but I wouldn't recommend for an intimate date night. It's in MP district so lots of venues to hop around when you're done here.
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Review from Priyanka P.
Manhattan, NY
12/14/2011
This is for the partying side for AJNA!
I went there for my friend's birthday and although I cringed to spend 100$ a person for table service it was a big birthday and so I didn't want to be the party pooper.
It was great fun! great music, great crowd, polite table service and all in all a really good time! -
Review from Rosa C.
1/19/2012
WINTER RW REVIEW
So I have been wanting to go to this place for quite some time now. I've always heard good and bad things. From the outside you can't even tell it is a restaurant/lounge. Upon entering in the establishment - I fell in love. The decor is so beautiful! The lighting is just so sexy and putting statues along the hallway is such a great idea. Kudos to the decorator.
When we got to our table - for cocktails we ordered the black buddha, fashionista and some hawaiian drink. My favorite drink was definitely the black buddha. I had hoped it was a little bit stronger to offset the sweetness of the mango puree. It literally tasted like mango juice. The fashionista had more strawberry tones than berry tones. The hawaiian drink was a little bit stronger than I had anticipated but it was also a little too tart.
For appetizers we ordered the mini chirashi and the spicy chicken and coconut soup. The mini chirashi was extremely tasty. The spicy chicken and coconut soup made me think of some sort of thai coconut soup. Not as impressive as the mini chirashi. For entrees we ordered the alaskan black cod and the lemongrass chicken. I was surprised that both of the dishes were cooked well and were not dry. The black cod came with this slaw that was such a perfect complement in the dish. The ginger sauce went very well with the black cod. I really enjoyed the chicken. When cutting into it it was easy to cut into with a simple table knife and the chicken was moist. The "roasted chicken jus" was just the right partner for the mash potatoes and the vegetables. Our waiter suggested we order at least 2 more side dishes because of the portion size. I think that if we ordered one side dish it would've been enough. We ordered the bok choy and the vegetable fried rice. Both of which any one of us can make. Not worth it. Onto dessert we had the molten chocolate cake and the passion fruit mousse. What show stoppers. Definitely the favorite of the entire meal. One of my favorite desserts ever is molten chocolate cake; so in my opinion - it's good but nothing special about it. The mousse however was delicious. It looked like some sort of cheesecake but it was absolutely flavorful and fluffy. I could probably buy 10 of them and eat it all day.
I would definitely come back because I want to try their specialty dishes and have the passion fruit mousse again. ;)
~happy eatings! -
Review from Jason k.
Manhattan, NY
1/27/2012
Always have fun here, its a club atmosphere later through out the night. With some great friends and a party attitude your guaranteed to have a great time. 4 stars because its pricey as hell, but only expected due to the location of the club. The decor is very nice, the moment you walk in it has a very eastern atmosphere with the Buddha statue and ornaments. Great place!
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Review from Jillian C.
Manhattan, NY
1/24/2012
So not a fan wish it was still Buddha bar
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Review from Emily B.
Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012
Enjoyed Ajna with friends on Friday night and took advantage of the Restaurant Week menu. We had a 8PM reservation and were seated right away. Our party of 8 had a fabulous time and everyone enjoyed their meals. I would definitely recommend trying Ajna Bar.
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Review from Jeff W.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
I don't know why so many people hate on this place. I liked it. I've been here late at night and I've been here for dinner. I thought the food was pretty good. I really liked the tuna roll. The cocktails in particular were tasty. A little on the pricey side. But it's Meatpacking so it's expected. The waitress was really helpful and the staff was attentive. We were sitting by the door at first and since it was cold outside, it was kinda chilly where we were sitting. When I told the waitress, she instantly moved us farther into the restaurant.
In terms of the lounge at night, I've never had a problem at the door. The bouncer is generally pretty nice. Maybe because this place isn't as popular as its nearby neighbors Tenjune, Le Bain etc. But anyway, I've never had to wait. I did see the bouncer make a party of people wait for a bit though, while I was out making a phone call. MIt seemed that one of the members of the group didn't have a collared shirt? Who knows.
The clientele is a bit on the older side. Ladies are in their early to late 30s, some 40s. Nonetheless, I had a good night here but ended up at Tenjune, across the street afterwards. -
Review from Denean P.
10/16/2011
Ajna is a neighborhood spot, that is everything but the neighborhood feeling. Went here twice, once with two of my guy friends and it was beautiful, but empty. We had a few drinks there, and the bartender was pretty friendly.
The second time I came was last night. My friend had his birthday there and it was pretty fantastic because of the company. He had a private area that was pretty amazing, and ordered over ten bottles of patron, champagne and grey goose. What I didn't like was first, the music... it was pretty lame and second, the fact that they started charging members of said friends party and only expected cash before 11:30 p.m. If someone has planned a party, charging friends to attend the party is pretty crass and because it was unexpected, not having an ATM or any solution nearby is pretty weak too. -
Review from olena p.
Brooklyn, NY
11/22/2011
This place looks really nice.. the staff is rude food is not good.
If your a corny tourist or a bridge and tunnel person... then maybe you'll love it.
They play pretty good tunes.. and thats about it.!!!!
If you like this place your wack! Lmao -
Review from M M.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
As always amazing ambiance, food and service.
Been there a few times already and never had a complaint -
Review from Slurms M.
Jersey City, NJ
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went here with a few friends for their New Years Eve bash, we had general admission tickets so we got in after 12. there was a wait of about about 12 people ahead of us, but they got us in fairly fast and I must say I was Impressed. The floor layout of this place is impressive, and the decor is very nice, everything feels seamless despite the fact that is not the highest quality. All in all, we had a great time but I noticed two major problems that hurt this place's ratings for me.
Aside from the high price point, getting a drink from the bar was murder. I know it was super busy and a holiday, but that is what businesses should be planning for and more than 2 people at a bar serving 200 (per side) seems like an obvious necessity. My second beef also had to do with the staff, or chiefly, the lack thereof. In three hours I saw maybe 4 bus people on the floor and no other staff at all. I wasn't expecting a rough time or anything but I did feel uncomfortable about being essentially being left alone in a room with 700 drunk people and no enforcement. Maybe they were there somewhere, but I like to see security in a big place like that. -
Review from June Y.
Manhattan, NY
9/7/2011
I didn't have dinner here, so I can't say anything for the food. But Ajna as a club is another typical Meatpacking district venue. It's not the mid twenties crowd, mostly everyone is in their mid to late 30s, if not more. A majority is showing wear and tear from over tanning at the salon, and girls, the tranny make up won't class up that dress.
However, if you drop by with a group of friends, it's a good place to dance. The music is good, the club is dark, and your friends will undoubtedly protect you from any unwelcomed advanced. Drinks are pricey and not spectacular, so I would pregame. My group went with a promoter friend and got drink tickets, so I can't complain. We went on a Friday night, and at 11 the dance floor is still pretty empty. By midnight it was getting crowded, and by 1am you won't be able to yell over the music or the other patrons.
Overall, the PROs are:
- good music
- good decor and a lot of space to dance, the venue is definitely set up for group events
- not as exclusive as the other places in Meatpacking, so you shouldn't have trouble getting in
CONs include:
- not the best looking clientele, or at least, not the youngest. You won't see any models in here. There are a lot of pictures at http://Royale-Marketin... that showcast Ajna summer Friday nights, you can judge for yourself.
- I'm not sure when the music starts, but I can see the dining room from the lounge (the rooms are interconnected on the same floor). I would definitely advise against having a late dinner on the weekends, your waitress won't hear you over the volume.
But hey, it's NYC, go with good friends, dance your tushie off, and nothing else will matter. -
Review from Sonam B.
Fremont, CA
10/27/2011
I don't understand how anyone can give this place less than 5 stars!!! Simply not possible for me!
We had dinner here on a friday night and then stayed for a bit after when it turned into a club. Here are the high lights of my night:
-Wonderful area.. getting out of our cab and walking to Ajna on a gorgeous summer night. Streets were packed with people dressed up walking around on their way to dinner or clubs.
-The decor is gorgeousssssss. This place is HUGE, tons of space! They have all different sizes and shapes of tables. We sat in a huge round table. I saw a lot of large groups!
-Amazing cocktail selection! They have signature cocktails as well as all the original ones
-food was amazing!!! i ordered a sea bass with a glaze and it was delicious!! i highly reccomend that!
-they played the BEST songs that night! every single song after another was playing my favorite songs!
-they actually had a big dance floor area around the bar and tons of people had bottle service. On the other side of the dance floor, they leave the tables and chairs from dinner so if you want to grab your drinks and sit at a table, you can still do that! -
Review from Jane P.
9/25/2011
I couldn't decide whether to rate this as 2 or 3 stars, but given that we were able to cut the line and get in for free (even though there was a cover) and the beautiful venue, I'll give it a 3.
Seriously, this is possibly one of the prettiest venues I've seen so far. But everything else about it was gross.
THE MUSIC: I like a DJ who can mix songs creatively and take it back to the good old days, and go back to top 40s - basically hip hop. But the music was awful (to me). It always started with a recognizable song, and you get your hopes up, and after 10 seconds it turns into house again. I hate house music.
THE CROWD: Much older and I'm sorry but raunchier crowd. I want to watch Jersey Shore on TV, not be a part of it.
Overall I just felt really uncomfortable here and am probably too afraid to go back. I wish they played amazing music and attracted a younger crowd.Listed in: NYC Nightlife
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Review from Asim B.
Austin, TX
10/30/2011 2 photos
THIS REVIEW IS FOR DAY AND NIGHT PARTY AT AJNA
We (3 guys) were at Ajna for the day and night party on saturday brunch (halloween party). Got there at 2pm and the place was not ready so they asked us to wait outside. stood out in snow with no covers for almost 2 hours. First ones in line and the last ones to enter. was it worth it?
YES. Once inside, the place is beautiful with two sections. One was the main area (club) and the other side (brunch). The male-female ratio was amazing at around 1:3. Overall the crowd was a mix of locals and foreigners (including us).
- Food servings were huge (and yummy)
- Staff was friendly and attentive
- Girls were super hot (met a really cute one)
- The music was pumping.
Had a blast ! -
Review from Michelle M.
Brooklyn, NY
12/12/2011
Came here for my friends birthday. Food was alright nothing worth remembering for the amount we paid. your basically paying for the ambiance and decor. i guess its nice for someone's bday but if your just looking for a nice meal to enjoy you can get your money's worth somewhere else.
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Review from Joyce S.
New York, NY
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
It totally deserves a one star or no star. The reason being: we were tricked by the place!
We ordered table service for my friend's birthday and required to order two bottles. So we ordered a bottle of Vodka and a bottle of Champagne. The Champagne we chose was mid-range around 500 dollars and the waitress brought it to us when we were singing bday song. Everything looked fine until we got the bill.
We were charged $980 for the champagne simply because they brought a 1996 year champagne to our table, not the one we ordered! We were totally tricked because everyone was singing bday song and nobody checked the bottle when the waitress popped the bottle!
So definitely be aware of the waitress there and check your bottles before drinking! Otherwise you have to pay the bill since you drink something you cannot simply identify by taste and color! But the price can be ridiculous. -
Review from Nicholas B.
New York, NY
12/15/2011
I went here for my company holiday party. The location is very spacious and looks great. The décor is Asian Buddha. The furniture is odd. Each piece took up a lot of room and it got in the way. They should reorganize the furniture better or remove some pieces. The band was fun. They had a trumpeter walking around playing to the DJs music. The staff was good. One of the staff members spilled a drink on me, said sorry and left (didn't try to clean me up).
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Review from Paul D.
New Rochelle, NY
9/24/2011
Went here to Celebrate someones birthday so I can only comment on the drinks and overall Vibe of this Place I thought the atmosphere of this place was cool typical Meatpacking pricey cool music dim lights.
food looked good but I didn't get a chance to eat maybe next time. -
Review from Wendy C.
Irvine, CA
7/18/2011
Loud and so noisy I couldn't even hear my girlfriends over the music. We paid 100 a head for dinner, not impressed with the food.
On top of that I left my cardigan by accident and called first thing the next morning to pick it up. The hostess told me she saw someone turned it in on her stand but oops apparently someone took it. What a bunch of crap. -
Review from Diandra D.
New York, NY
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I remember this place back when it was Buddha Bar. Since then, I've observed ..
the atmosphere is pretty much the same, except instead of a huge buddha, the main wall is now filled with candles. The contrasting dim lighting gives the spacious restaurant a romantic, low key-vibe.
the food was really not good except for the one sushi roll we ordered, which was decent.
drinks were OK, but nothing that would differentiate Ajna from any of the numerous other restaurants/ bars (or, more specifically, neuvo Asian-fushion establishments) that populate the Meatpacking district. -
Review from rachel b.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
DAY & NIGHT BRUNCH:
Probably the worst treatment I have had at door in NYC ever. The food is okay and the party is pretty amazing however it was clear that the doorman would prefer not to have minorities at the party. Had way more fun at Bagatelle. -
Review from Alka J.
Manhattan, NY
9/20/2011
This review is for the restaurant, not the night club. Came in after 10 pm to eat and was carded. The dining area is huge - it was not super crowded for a place in meatpacking on a Friday night. The atmosphere is pretentious which is why I am not giving it more stars, but being in the meatpacking district, what else can you expect?
You must order a cocktail! They are amazing!!! The Black Buddha was so good - it's a mango concoction that seems like it will be too sweet but is not at all. There is also a spectacular watermelon and vodka cocktail that was refreshing.
As for food, we had:
Steamed Shrimp Dumpling - pretty tasty and definitely not frozen. There were 5 pieces in the order.
Tuna Tartar - some of the best i've had. it was served with 2 crispy wantons, but even without, the tuna was fresh and the mix of ingredients was perfect.
Duck - ordered it medium rare and it was so very tender. i'm a huge fan of duck and this is some of the best I've had.
Filet Mignon - my boyfriend had this and enjoyed it. he cleaned his plate.
I'm not a huge fan of the area (in case you couldn't figure that out) but i liked Ajna. however it was super loud which was kind of annoying. There are way too many places I want to try in the city so I probably won't be back, however do recommend it to anyone looking for a decent meal around little west 12th. oh, this place is great for groups. -
Review from Laura L.
New York, NY
4/17/2011
Very nice decor, solid music, & a good party atmosphere--but the place is filled with people who are too drunk and have more money than they know what to do with
There's no cover charge, which is a rarity for clubs in Meatpacking, so that's a bonus. Drinks are $14, which I expected for fancy cocktails, but even shots were $14 and bottled beers were $8. Way overpriced. Still, all in all, a very fun place.Listed in: Best places to dance
-
Review from Yuanchao Emily B.
New York, NY
8/11/2011
I went to this place for dinner with my friends. Our experience was good. The food was YUMMY! The service was also good. The music was nice as well.
The only problem i might want to point out was the price. It was a little bit overpriced.
But i would recommend to go for special events. -
Review from Henali P.
Manhattan, NY
7/16/2011 1 photo
We came here during the Restaurant Week to try their 3 course dinner :)
The Food - Was sooo delicious. I'm a vegetarian but they had options for me in every single course meal..which doesnt happen at every restaurant! You definitely get your money's worth here. The quantity is between small-medium and enough for one person. If you are looking to try a fancy place or a birthday dinner with bunch of friends, this is definitely the place to try! The place is huge and so many waiters running around. Our food took a little while to get but I guess cuz it was a Friday night so they get really busy :)
The Lounge - It's pretty chill and upscale kind of lounge... and away from the restaurant area. There are soo many loungy couches near their bar area. Drinks are good too and the bar doesnt get super packed so you can hangout w/ ur friends and not having to worry about the place getting too crowded. They also have belly dancers during weekend nights!
I will for sure come back to Ajna :-) -
Review from Tisha K.
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
This rating is specifically for the restaurant.
WOW! Amazing. The ambiance was just superb. You walk inside and there are statues on both sides of the short hallway which eventually opens up to the dinning hall. While waiting for our table, the girls and I had a short photo session. The DJ was spinning house music during dinner which eventually turned into pop/dance music with some interjections of old school 90s (WAHOO!). But that is beside the point.
The food! Oh the food. Ajna, I will return again because you impressed me so fabulously! I ordered the six spice beef salad and the saketini as a starter. For dinner, and friend and I split an order of the sweet soy glazed sea bass fish dish. I took the first bite and my eyes rolled back; the fish literally melted in my mouth! Perfetly glazed, not a thing was overdone about it. For dessert we ordered the molten lava cake and I ordered a cappuccino which really helped me stay up through our last night in New York.
Such a fabulous dinner, such a memorable night. My only complaint would be that the wait staff, although quite kind and accomodating, seemed like they had no idea what was going on during most of the dinner. At one point, one of the random 3 servers that were busing our table tried to take my dish to change it when I hadn't even touched it in the first place. Good intention, but there was no sense behind it. Perhaps the music was too loud, or perhaps they were new... either way, I'd suggest a little more training and voila - five star rating!
