AJ's Fine Foods — Local services in Scottsdale

*Update 11/30/18 --TOM MGR HELPd me FIXED PROB NICE!recently REALLY discovered AJ's for dinner I have a cancer patient neighbor whom I've been getting dinner for every night. Due to her conditn, it's difficult for her to get out or prepare food. It dawned on me why not take advantage of their Deli and sushi bar- She loves sushi so let's start there.

Sushi: Jeremy is the sushi chef extraordinaire! He knows his way around raw fish. And they have the best rice there. They test it before they serve it! It's cooked w light dose of sushi oil, makes it sticky- tasty! The most popular item is soft shell crab hand roll. The prices are very reasnbl, esp compared to N Scottsdale seafood places. Delicacies at a workingperson's price🌠. Katya is the other sushi chef. She is a most Pleasant smiling person Thurs is Pasta Night- Robert pan sautees: bowtie/penne/ linguine/whole wheat/more--Alfredo or Red sauces-- meat/ fresh garlic/ onion/ sun dry tomat/ SHRIMP/ too much to mention. Will try post video...Try it. An experience.. Floral: Tammy does it's so very very well. I had added two pictures of her beautiful floral department. They have some very good quality gifts, they are unusual. They look a lot more high-end and they are price wise I recommend stopping here for a gift. Last time I was in AJ's, I met two of the brightest smiles and that would be the above-mentioned Sarah & Tammy. They both love their jobs!! Mgmt: Jessica- thanks-Totally Above and Beyond. Another manager is Sarah. She is most helpful and very pleasant☺! They keep AJ's running wonderfully well under Jonathan- Store Director. Now in THE DELI itself, there is always a selection of several dinners which are freshly made there's usually is a beef a fish and a pork or turkey and fresh vegetables homemade potatoes deeply breaded fried non-greasy chicken, tapioca & choc pudding, crusted potato pancakes...just a lot of diff items- this is what I like the most. I can go there on any given night and feel like I'm add a New York hotel selecting world-class food from behind a counter. You really have to see to experience I've only given a glimpse here that's it. I'm just so glad discovered how easy and doggone good this coming here 4-5 x a week. I forgot-- the pizza! I'm rarely going to order pizza delivery from anywhere else now because they give you a GIANT piece for $2.49 plenty chz-($3.29 w topping) 4 pc = @1 Pizza. Now I can't forget my very favorite person at the deli and her name is ADA!!! Ada, I so love talking to you! Your expertise in culinary is apparent, and your smile= usually the highlight of my day. Mario and Phillip , also make deli what it is-the best! My favorite cashier is would be LINDSAY V!! . Lindsay, I like the way you learn people's names, & greet/ say goodbye to all. You Apprec. them!! Forget about good people skills, you're just very pleasant & epitomize the reason I come to AJ's for the People First. I don't know if you're aware of what a special person you areAlso thanks to Jennifer V- great cashier, greatest on the phone. Nobody better complete follow-up ano courtesy! Hon. mention to) Jennifer B & Mariela. Personality++ So my fav restaurant nearby is ... AJ's ( groc). Ironic but true. And so close it's been right under my nose all this time.

AJ's at Thompson Pk at FLW checks all the boxes. Beautiful store, but the people & their personalities are of the best of all. Hats off to Rob Johnson -corp cust relations- he oversees/ motivates staff. Good call! It's just like.. "what will Mom cook" on any given night..UPDATE 7/11/18 "AYE" was my sushi chef, I never had him before as he is in Meat Dept a lot. He did a grand job and was fun to talk to.*And "RICHARD" was in the busy deli running everything smooth as silk while effortlessly making all cust feeling special. Myself too. He really lends still another level to that place, exper/knowledge and service. I called in asking if they had BB Q chicken--he had it all wrapped -n ready for me when I...

THE OUTSIDE GRILL... Staffed by hard-working people who really make sure they’ve got everybody’s order correct and are extremely pleasant, especially given how busy they get sometimes!. They have a great selection out there from Kobe beef burgers to really good bratwurst,to a wonderful chicken sandwich which is grilled and super oversized, which is my favorite!!! ...I really like the pretzel bun. Soooo fresh- smells great!! ..They also make a tasty nice-portioned ribeye and you have your choice from a very large shallow, refrigerated condiment bin where you can pick fresh lettuce/tomato/ onion, sauerkraut, pickles, ketchup/mustard/ mayonnaise the works! You also can make it a “meal” by adding some really good chips that they carry and /or macaroni salad and they have other good sides

“Ernesto “ is usually the grill master...he really keeps up as you see behind clear partition your own dish. It’s fun, as sometimes you can identify your own entree and “track” it from refrigerator to stay hot container..

When I spoke with Ernesto today, this proud gentleman was BEAMING, as he had something very SPECIAL to announce—he JUST got his USA citizenship!! Congratulations!

“Stephanie” and “ Chris” are the other main players, operating well asa relaxed, efficient team. No panic, just good fare fast... Make sure you tell them what degree of cooking you desire as, sometimes you may not be asked.. Also my recommendation when you order grilled chicken is to specify not to overcook it. It may be on the tough side otherwise,, Just once this happened to me, they did a redo, and it was awesome tender-fresh!! So please take that to heart for best!!

“Chris” is just a great, smiling, smart, sincere, true foodie,, who really, really cares.. He went “over and above” big time today for me—on something that he was not even involved in-/ I forgot something, left it on table. I came back for it.. So he found out by being nice and asking me what I lost.. Then he disappeared inside. He emerged back out to me, smiling, with a replacement//at NO CHARGE! ..Cool. Thanks, C!...Also sometimes “Teresa” is outside, not so much lately tho’ unless needed as sub, I think. She and Stephanie and Juan were the first people I ever had help me outside. ..been awhile... )).

So,,, Last but DEFINITELY not least is Super Stephanie. She would be the main part in the success story of AJ’s al fresco. That says it all. She is indispensable for sure..Yes, she has been there since I moved nearby (7-8yrs ago..) , and she just gets nicer and NICER each time I see her!!...I do not even know how that is possible, lol! Seriously, tho’ ,,she’s just a delight//helps everyone like family. (Yes, Chris & Ernesto do too!😊 )

Inside I had some groceries to get and Jenny B was my cashier. She is very nice and she kept the line moving quickly. Also a thank you to Preston, he has been there to carry out groceries in past as needed. Great staff! ALL cashiers are A+ )) -friendly skies everywhere abound at AJ’s!!

THANKS,

Janis

PS...

Kudos to the bakery department for being wonderful and kind and solving a mix up for us. I am only giving two stars because the cashier and the store manager were initially curt and annoyed with me at a mix up on an order and over charge on payment, that was not my fault, it was yours AJ"s. Thank you for fixing it, however, I am not your "typical" and "entitled" customer. I work just as hard as you ladies do, sometimes 12 hours a day or longer and sometimes 7 days a week. I realize you are short staffed and probably annoyed with the treatment that you receive from some of your customers; however, we are not all like that. Entitled and spoiled. I would venture to say that most of your customers work hard for what they have achieved in life and while some, perhaps even several come off as entitled, I would encourage your management to recognize that there are several other customers that are appreciative and kind. The reason I am posting this is because of how I was treated by the cashier up front and the manager when I returned. Your snarky looks and demeanor were most unbecoming and undeserving as I too had just worked a very long day and only wanted to go home. For all of the "Scottsdale entitled" reading this, please move somewhere else and or start treating the AJ's crew with respect. If you are so unhappy with how slow they are to service you, then apply for job and be part of the solution for AJ's, not the problem. AJ's, I don't know what to tell you, but you are going downhill and fast. I am going to be reaching out to your district manager and whoever else I need to. I will be enlightening them of my experience and observations, along with the names of the two ladies that found it difficult to treat me...