Azia & Caterpillar Lounge

07/31/10

Unfortunate

by MicroLV at Citysearch

After visiting Azia for the sixth time, I had to write up my findings so others can be informed before visiting.

In late July in MN the weather can be completely unpredictable, and Azia has no air conditioning. If you are going to eat there don't order anything spicey because you will be dripping sweat.

The menu at Azia has a lot to offer but the consistency was absent from my second visit onward. Ordering the jalepeno walleye the first three times I visited Azia it was substantially different every time. Moving on to other menu items I experienced the same inconsistencies from the crab cakes to the sushi rolls. Ensure you ask your server what cuts of sushi they are out of PRIOR to ordering. All six times I have been to Azia it's an ordering fiasco. Hence I went back to dishes I already ordered due to lack of inventory all on Friday evenings.

The service seemed to be knowledgeable on the menu items and pushing hard what items the kitchen wanted sold that night. Ordering drinks from the bar takes some time so ensure when they offer you a second when your only half empty take them up on it. I will focus on July 29th service. There were several times i got up to find either our waiter or the hostess to find him. They are pushing the new location that is opening downtown at least 9 times in the 2 hours we were there, just annoying.

I did speak with the manager at the end of the evening and he offered no solution to the issues i presented to him. There did seem to be a language barrier so i am not sure if he understood our concerns. Again, all he could push was the new location downtown and give them another try. On a $250 tab for four I will not be going to the new location. Inconsistency, poor service, lack of management and disregard for patrons Azia will last only several more years.

• Pros: diverse menu
• Cons: High prices, spotty service, NO A/C

06/21/10

Salad as dessert?

by ethereal3 at Citysearch

The food is overly sweet - WAY too much sugar in most entrees. The other night I had a crab noodle salad, and it literally tasted as if someone had poured sugar syrup all over it. The chef's palate must be shot.

Five years ago, Azia was one of my favorite dining spots. Now, the food has grown less impressive and the sugar in each savory entree grows more overpowering with each visit. My visits grow longer in time in between. The added sushi bar isn't anything spectacular. If you go, enjoy the music at Caterpillar Lounge - that's the one savior of this venue.

• Pros: great happy hour
• Cons: Food is way too sweet

06/21/10

Meh....

by Jaycee88 at Citysearch

Dined here on a nice Sunday evening & were able to sit outside - a bonus. Overall, the service was attentive and polite, which was impressive. It wasn't terribly busy; however, food and drinks seemed to take a while. We got lucky & got happy hour prices on the drinks, but the food prices seem to be too steep for what is served. I agree with other reviews that food of the same or better quality can be had at other places for a more reasonable price. Didn't try the sushi, so I can't speak about that...the mussels were pretty good, but the noodle dish was pretty salty. Almost immediately after trying the noodle dish, I had a reaction that I normally only have when I eat food that contains MSG. The waiter assured me that "we don't add MSG to our food"....not sure if that means that some pre-prepared items contain MSG or not. Ultimately, I cannot be sure that the food contained MSG, but I was highly suspicious. Probably wouldn't return for dinner.

• Pros: nice ambience, outdoor seating, courteous staff
• Cons: over-priced

05/05/10

A response to BAYSHA5

by LoBM at Citysearch

I am a regular customer at Azia and find the entire management and staff to be exceptional. I have had the pleasure to have met Paulo Morales and find him to be extremely professional, educated in the food industry and management, and is extremely customer service orientated. He is top of the line! Azia is lucky to have him!

Maybe your behavior brought on the bad experiences at Azia. If the card was charged twice,it was an error.

Azia is first class. Paulo and staff are incredible, service oriented and educated in the food industry. Paulo ensures all customers leave satified and happy with the food and service. Food, by the way is incredible!

Maybe McDonalds would be a better choice for you in the future.

04/02/10

Love the food

by Julie7644 at Citysearch

Kitty, our waiter was awesome and made sure we had the best night! Thanks

• Pros: Great food, awesome staff
• Cons: Not one thing....