AJA — Restaurant in Haryana

If only the service of this place was half as good as the captivating views outside and the chic interiors, I would have given AJA Panchkula a full give stars!

Allured by the visual stunning pics of this place, I decided to celebrate my birthday with my family. The weather was perfect with afternoon sun playing hide n seek behind overcast clouds, and we were anticipating a memorable birthday lunch.

But as we settled in to order, we had to call for the service staff twice before someone came up to help us with our order.

I understood that the special dietary preferences of my parents would mean limited options, and hence discussed with our server to recommend something that could be prepared without onion and garlic.

He confirmed that falafel and hummus will not have onion-garlic. But I still insisted that he double-check with the chef as my parents are very strict about it. He took orders from the others, but returned after 10 mins saying that falafel would have garlic.

Though I couldn't understand what took him so long to get back, but I asked for any other options that would work for us, and he said that he would check and let me know.

He was gone again, and while he was serving other tables, he did not update me despite passing our table couple of times. After another 10 mins when I called over someone to let us know what we could order, the person mentioned that only salad could be served without onion and garlic.

I was almost in disbelief that a fine dine place as AJA couldn't conjure a single dish without onion and garlic. At any other place like this, chefs would have gone out of their way to accommodate such a request.

And to top it all, I had to repeatedly call when I had requested that we be updated about the options. The indifferent service staff did the same thing when it took us couple of requests to receive some plates for my birthday cake.

The rest of the food that we ordered would have tasted better had we had a decent service quality so I wouldn't even get to reviewing our food.

But suffice to say that it was quite a dampener to have chosen AJA Panchkula for my birthday celebration.

I do hope that this was a one-off case with regard to sub standard service, and that they find some way to accommodate customer choices and dietary preferences (they mustn't forget that they still operate in India, where even KFC and McD had to tweak their international menus...

It was like going back in time discussing 'The Good Bar' at @ajaindia with Rajkanwar. Ajá still stands by its core values & principles with which it was conceptualized & started. Natural fresh ingredients, organic wherever possible. Rajkanwar also inculcates the Saatvik principles in his food where he focuses on not serving foods that increase 'Pitta' or indigestion, heat, inflammation, and acidity in the body. One of the reasons I love Ajá is the effort they put into their food and at times a concept stays so and is reworked through countless trials until it's acceptable to be put on the Menu.

The Good Bar at Ajá Panchkula was long time coming, they weren't sure if a 'Farm to Table' concept was possible in Cocktails. It's unthinkable to substitute the mixers & yet maintain the flavours that are acceptable to the palate. But Ajá has managed to create simple syrup using Jaggery & Honey, & no sodas etc., Infact Ajá doesn't serve Sodas at all. The Amaretto is made by extracting bitter almonds in-house and they're also using the fantastic 'Aamada', a Sour Mango Ginger sourced from Kolkata, examples of going back to the source.

Consequently, the Cocktails exhibit Clean Flavours, Light & Fresh on the Palate, & Easy Drinking without bloating you. That said they aren't short on flavours!! While we tried a few Fantastic Cocktails, there are two that I loved!

Rani - a fantastic cocktail made using Vodka, 'Aamada', Fresh Lime & Honey. It's refreshing with little hints of Mango Ginger. Served in brass glasses specifically sourced for this Cocktail alone. It's one Cocktail that the Ajá team is proud of, and rightly so!

Revolver .45 - I've realised that Bourbon & Coffee work extremely well, two of my favourites in one Cocktail and this stood out for me. Made using Bourbon, Coffee Liqueur, Sweet Vermouth & House-made bitters, it's my top recommendation at 'The Good Bar'

It's heartening to see young restaurateurs pushing the envelope in the city. Rajkanwar's insatiable appetite for perfection makes me proud of him as a senior from school, a friend & food lover.

Way to Go...

Alright, let’s get one thing straight – I rarely hand out 5-star reviews. I guard stars like Netflix guards passwords. But AJA Café? Absolute exception. If this place were a movie, it’d sweep the Oscars and get a standing ovation from Gordon Ramsay and Gwyneth Paltrow simultaneously.

From the moment you step in, the ambience hits you with that clean, plant-parent, minimalist charm that whispers, “Yes, we compost and yes, our Wi-Fi is faster than your chakras realigning.”

Now, the food. Oh sweet quinoa-laced heavens. It’s like a love letter to your tastebuds. Every dish arrives looking like it just stepped out of a Vogue wellness shoot – high fashion, but edible. The flavors? A mindful explosion. It’s as if your stomach is being hugged by a very talented, very zen nutritionist.

And if you’re gluten-free, vegan, or just pretending to be because your date is – this place will make you feel like royalty. They don’t just cater to dietary needs, they elevate them. No sad salads or tofu-with-trust-issues here – everything is delicious and morally superior.

The service? Impeccable. The staff are like food monks – warm, calm, helpful, and probably able to sense your aura. They know the menu better than I know my own tax history, and they’ll guide you through it like a nutrition-savvy Gandalf.

This place isn’t just a café, it’s a spiritual experience disguised as a health-forward eatery. You come in hungry and leave feeling like you could run a 10k, write a gratitude journal, and finally open that Etsy shop you’ve been dreaming about.

⭐ 5/5. Would trade my cheat day, therapy session, and maybe a kidney just to...