Aji Ceviche Bar Sarasota – Peruvian Restaurant — Restaurant in Sarasota

If you're seeking an exceptional dining experience, AJI Ceviche Bar in Sarasota is a must-visit. From the moment you enter, you're embraced by a vibrant and welcoming ambiance, setting the stage for a truly memorable meal. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between warmth and sophistication, creating an ideal space to enjoy great food and wonderful company.

The service at AJI Ceviche Bar is impeccable—attentive, knowledgeable, and always delivered with a genuine smile. The staff's passion for hospitality is evident, offering insightful suggestions and ensuring every detail is perfected. They curate a personalized experience that makes you feel truly cared for.

Now, let's talk about the food—AJI Ceviche Bar elevates Peruvian cuisine to new heights. As someone who loves ceviche, I was thoroughly impressed by the freshness and complexity of each dish. The ceviches are vibrant and bursting with citrusy flavors, harmonized by the perfect amount of spice. Every bite transports you straight to Peru, showcasing carefully selected ingredients and expert preparation. The variety of ceviche options reflects the richness and diversity of traditional Peruvian flavors, offering something for everyone.

A particularly memorable moment of my visit was meeting one of the talented chefs behind this culinary brilliance. It's rare to connect with the creators of your meal on such a personal level, and their passion for Peruvian culture and cuisine shone through in every dish. This personal touch truly elevated the overall dining experience.

AJI Ceviche Bar is not merely a meal—it's an immersive experience that delights all the senses. The combination of exquisite food, exceptional service, and a warm, welcoming environment makes this restaurant a true gem in Sarasota. Whether you’re a Peruvian cuisine connoisseur or simply looking to try something new, this establishment should be at the top of your list. I highly recommend it and will certainly return to savor more of what this incredible restaurant...

This is not easy to write but it needs to be shared so that this location hopefully fixes things moving forward.

Visited with my fiancé yesterday afternoon since this is our favorite location. We ordered chicha, causa de pollo, ceviche, lomo con tallarín verde and anticuchos. The food was great as usual except for the anticuchos that were very dry and overcooked. Many of the pieces were not cut properly (they were cut into very thin pieces of meat) to ensure a medium/medium rare cook. We asked for medium but they came out well done and extremely dry.

My fiancé explained to the waitress that he did not enjoy his dish and wanted to send it back - no problem the server took the dish back to the kitchen. Shortly after, we hear the cooks in the kitchen laughing at the situation, mocking us, exclaiming we asked for medium (when I show the photo you’ll know it ain’t medium or done properly) and one of them came out to the front of the kitchen to look over at us.

Our server returned to our table and we told her that we heard everything the cooks were saying. She never denied it and instead profusely apologized for their behavior.

Why did this situation lead to inappropriate behavior by the staff? We could hear everything they were saying and their laughs were purposely loud so we could hear. We were expecting one of the cooks to come out and address the situation the way they were handling it, but nobody ever came out. Instead, they attempted to humiliate us.

Learn how to be professional and respectful of your clients. Especially loyal clients who have been coming to Ají for years. One of the servers brought us a dessert to make up for the incident and it was a nice gesture, but this behavior from their cooks is unacceptable and needs to be fixed.

This situation ruined our experience and us ever...

I want to share a serious concern about my recent visit to your restaurant on Friday evening, May 30th, 2025. I was having dinner with my brother and my son, enjoying what we expected to be a relaxing family night.

This was not my first time at your restaurant. I have visited several times before. I came with my wife when you first opened to support our Peruvian community. I returned with coworkers, celebrated my birthday last November with a group of ten friends, and even visited again on Mother’s Day. Every time, I spent well over one hundred dollars and always tipped well.

However, something different happened this time.

Our server, Karina, added the tip directly to our bill without asking. This has never happened before. When I asked her about it, she told me it was the restaurant’s policy. I found that odd, so I asked the tables near us if their tip had been automatically added. They all said no. We were the only table that had the tip included, and we were also the only Hispanic table in that section.

I used to work as a bartender. My brother is a server, and my wife also works in the food industry. We all know how tipping policies work. What happened was completely unacceptable.

Because of this experience, I will not return to your restaurant. I will also share what happened with others in my community. I hope you take this matter seriously and address the issue internally. No customer should ever be treated differently because of...