Address: (Edit Info)
4430 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ, US
Page Views: 169
5 positive - 2 negative = Net Rating (3)
Positive (5)
Negative (2)
Posted on: 2008-05-16
I love AJ's! You may think, why, their prices are so high. Yes some things are more expensive than other stores, but then again I don't do my weekly grocery shopping here.
AJ's is great for freshly brewed coffee (cheaper than the big name chain), muffins, desserts, pastries, fresh meat, sandwiches, sushi and cheeses. If you need a 12-pack of Coke go to Basha's instead.
Everyone here is very friendly and the location is great right at Camelback and 44th.
All I can say is don't think you're going to pop in and out because all you need is an onion. And don't bother coming unless you just got paid. Because if you're anything like me, that onion will cost you about $80 by the time you leave.
Because AJ's is so pricey, you won't see my buying paper towels and cat litter here. But you will find an assortment of cheeses, pastries, or whatever else I can't live without in my basket. Their meat department is far superior to any supermarket I've been in. And the produce always looks picture perfect.
The staff is always exceptionally friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for many of the snotty patrons you may encounter. Don't let that deter you from the experience. And, oh yea, don't forget the onion.
Coming here, I'm reminded of the feeling I would get in elementary school when I would excitedly look at the lunch menu and find out that it's chicken fried steak day.
It can be a little pricey but you can't beat the selection. Albonidgas soup? Fish tacos? LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE?? Hell yes! I've never had a problem with the staff, the sandwich-maker dude is always super friendly and patient. In fact, I feel more sorry for them for having to do deal with the demanding yuppie scum that the place is crawling with. I was here this morning grabbing some coffee and the line seemed to consist entirely of crabby old ladies.
Despite the crowd, I love AJ's! If only they served chicken fried steak...
I love AJ's and have never encountered attitude from the people who work there...the patrons, yes. Having just moved here from Los Angeles I have to laugh at Scottsdale attitude...but I digress.
My favorite purchase at AJ's is a box of chocolate truffles. A close second is their version of a devil dog...holy cow, this is a great place for foodies. AJ's is also a nice place to go for breakfast pastries...can you see where I spend too much time.
Another thing, this is a great place to go if you are having a dinner party on any night and didn't have time to cook. And you can pick up an exotic bunch of flowers for your table.
This is the hidden AJ's. Not just anyone can come here. You can't even see the sign from the street unless you're going really slowly and/or not paying attention to the road. And even then it's further back enough that you can't tell exactly where to turn in or where the entrance is located.
Once you've found it, the side entrance and the low ceilings just add to the mystique. I swear this location is actually darker than other locations as well.
And I will say - not even the one in Paradise Valley has quite the same feeling as this location. There is something extra special here. It's not just me. Folks I used to work with felt the same way.
Best meat quality in the valley will always be found at AJ's. Bar none. And it's right at the top of the list for produce as well. For everything in their aisles that's non-alcoholic you'll find a great selection of new and different fare right next to the mundane. But the mundane is at FULL price like you've never even seen at normal stores. And don't expect to see a sale any time soon. Oh yea, they get ya. Because while you're in there to get your 2-3 things for a special dinner, you end up also remembering to get mustard, Wheat Thins and a 2 liter of soda and that's an extra $10 here whereas at another store it might be $5.
So bring a list to only get what you came for - and don't forget to wear your dark sunglasses so you too can be oh-so-cool in the super exclusive AJ's.
My friend kept telling me how good their lunches are... I tried it, but it didn't do anything for me. The sandwich tasted like something you can get at Safeway, but twice the price. For being called a Purveyor of Fine Foods, I expected the food to taste like not just any ordinary sandwich.
What I had: Ham, cheese with portobello mushrooms on a panini with 2 sides of pasta, one was parmesan and the other was macaroni. Maybe it was the panini bread. I think the parmesan pasta was made there, but I know for sure the macaroni was not made there, it tasted like something I had at a picnic which was in a carton. It wasn't anything to brag home about.
I found out the head chef made my sandwich... keep him in the kitchen and away from the customers, no personality whatsoever. I asked for his suggestion, and his reaction was "anythings good."
Normally, when I go to AJ's, I go for their desserts. Their desserts are fabulous and you can get individual servings at a reasonable price. I can take an assortment home and have them for later.
Our company does use them for their catering and I've had many compliments on their dishes, but pass on the lunches.
This is probably the most awful AJ's ever, strictly because of the awful Boulangerie manager and staff. They're the least genuine counter staff ever. I get being nickel-and-dimed about things, that never really bothers me. But the attitude, oh god the attitude. The incompetence is just as bad. I get the same thing, all the time. Iced honey soy latte. I give them the packets of honey, and it doesn't matter who, every. single. time, they tell me that the honey won't melt in the ice.
Think about that.
Go ahead.
I bet if we all put our thinking caps on, we could find a really wonderful solution to this problem. LIKE ADD HOT LIQUID TO MELT IT? Duh? This place is retarded. So I tell them what to do and sometimes they do it. Or sometimes they take on an air and just leave the honey solidly and complacently cemented to the bottom of the damn cup.
Oh, and they add corn syrup to the seaweed at the sushi bar. That's bad juju.
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