Review: A&J Restaurant

The Place:

A&J Restaurant

4316 Markham St, Annandale, VA 22003

The Meal: 

• Pickled Cabbage
• Dried Bean curd with Peanuts
• Spicy Cucumber
• Sesame Wide Noodles with Powdered Peanuts
• Fried Dough Cruller
• Shanghai Style Wonton with Spicy sauce
• Sesame Biscuit with Beef
• 2 diet cokes (because caffeine cures all)

The Price: $22 dollars (cash only folks — come prepared)

So here’s the deal, we arrived at A&J in Annandale at about a quarter till two and it was packed.  After taking a number and waiting about 30 minutes for a small table to open (there is only seating for probably 30) we began our adventure.  Let me preface that this restaurant prides itself on small dishes.  Arriving from an equally small kitchen, these dishes are a Chinese equivalent that hits somewhere between Dim Sum and Spanish Tapas.  That said, its fantastic.  Each dish rolls out of the kitchen in mere minutes. 

The pickled cabbage and cucumber sufficed at first, as Aaron and I were blindingly hungry after our respective Friday night plans.  Tangy, crunchy, ahhh the headache is disappearing as we speak.  Next, a big bowl of wide noodles in a delicious milky sesame sauce and dusted with peanut powder.  Now, I can’t complain too much about this dish — its extraordinary.  But someone, somewhere, needs to figure out a way to eat these, and to serve yourself, without spraying sesame sauce all over your face and shirt.  Aaron nearly lost an eye. 

After that, the Sesame Biscuit and Beef which was flaky, and warm on the outside and temperate in the middle and just a wonderful mix of textures and tastes.  I’d eat that every morning for breakfast if, the thought of food before 9am didn’t make me nauseous.  But that’s another story… The wontons came next submerged in a reddish-soy sauce that in classically Chinese fashion managed to mix the salty with the sweet with the sour and the salty.  The little wontons that swam in it were warm and savory, a perfect compliment. 

A first for both Aaron and I, the cruller was similar to baked goods found in Chinese and Korean bakeries.  It was hot out of the fryer, thicker than the average Cruller, and less sweet.  It was, in my opinion at least, a revelation and something I’ll know to order next time.  While we finished off the dried bean curd and peanuts, an unassuming but delicious combination of slippery and crunchy textures, we realized it was over, we were full, and it was extraordinary.  When the check came we couldn’t help but laugh?  $22 dollars for all that food? Real food. Comfort food, stuff that you would honestly wake up—middle of the night— and be like, dammit I’d have a root canal to get some of that right now.  Compare it to Quiznos, or some other pseudo gourmet fast food joint, You’d spend 17 dollars for 2 large subs and 2 medium drinks and what would you get?  Mediocre food.  (or in Mike Smith our future brother in law’s case, wicked bad food poisoning)

So what’s the lesson on this first of many Saturday Lunch Series meal reviews?  Be adventurous, find the 30 seat hole in the wall, filled only with native speakers, and sit down.  Avoid the intimidation, or the fear of the unknown, tackle textures that would otherwise make you queasy, try food that has a color or sauce that, in its description alone might turn one off.  I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  And if its all too intimidating still, call Aaron or me, we’ll take you.  We’ll give you the beginners guide to ethnic cuisine.  Cause if you haven’t had this stuff yet, you’re missing out.

The Rating:  **** of *****