One of the newest restaurants to open up in the Eastern Panhandle is AJ’s Diner and Bar, located in Spring Mills on Route 11. This place combines two cuisines you rarely see fused together – Indian food and traditional American food. This is a genius marketing tactic, as many people love the adventurous flavors that India has to offer, but others may not be so adventurous and prefer more regional food. From samosas to cheeseburgers to chicken tikka masala to mac and cheese, this place has something for the entire family.
Price 💲💲out of 5
The prices at AJ’s Diner and Bar are extremely reasonable, with quality dishes not surpassing $25. Whether you order a traditional Indian dish, smoked meats, or more regional American dishes, nothing will break the bank.
Ambience 🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳 out of 5
I love the potential of this place. It is absolutely massive, with multiple areas, including a kitchen and dining area, a full service bar with video machines, an event place (this still is in progress, as they just moved in), and then an outdoor seating area with a massive smoker. There is so much to do here, and I cannot wait until they have their event room situated.
Drinks 🍷🍷🍷🍷 out of 5
We got to sample a handful of their drinks. These were definitely inspired by Indian flavors, so if that is not your style, I would suggest trying a soft drink.
Mango Lassi – one of the creamiest, most naturally sweet drinks I have ever had. The mango and yogurt mixture is decadent, and we even got to try their cocktail that had rum in it.
Masala Chai – I’m not a fan of chai, but a couple of the Foodies team members tried this and said that it wasn’t overly flavorful.
Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
Let’s get down to the real reason you are here, the food:
Papadum – the first dish we tried was a traditional Indian appetizer that I had never sampled before. Papadum is lentil and/or chickpea cracker, toasted up perfectly and served with a chutney for dipping. Such vibrant and robust flavors from this!
Smoked Chicken Wings – these were the star of the show, smoked to perfection. They were meaty and smoky, and the various sauces they gave for dipping were a symphony of flavor.
Smoked Ribs – the ribs are so tender, but they didn’t get nearly as smoky as the wings did. They had a really great flavor, but I did think the wings were smoked better.
Punjabi Samosa – I’ve never had a samosa before, but so many people rave about them so I had to try them. AJ’s were exceptionally crispy and fragrant, and honestly were the spiciest thing I ate the entire trip. It definitely stuck with you for a little bit, but not in an unpleasant way.
House Grill Sampler (Meat) – the meat grill sampler was incredible, packed with chicken tikka, seekh kabab, and even more smoked chicken wings. The chicken tikka burst with flavor, while the various kababs, including beef and chicken, were seasoned to the nines.
Butter Chicken Mac and Cheese – my favorite dish all night, this was a fusion of creamy, fragrant butter chicken with creamy pasta. Some of the group said the dish gave more of a pasta vibe than mac and cheese, but that didn’t bother me at all. This dish was just incredible.
Classic Cheeseburger – we had to try another of their most popular American dishes, and we were not ready for how juicy and meaty this burger was. The masala fries that accompanied it were spiced so well.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
We love when we get to go to a new spot and make friends with the owners. This is a family-owned and operated business, with multiple members of the family serving patrons throughout the Eastern Panhandle. Once they get the event room set up, they are going to be fully operational and ready to host your next event, accompanied by traditional Indian dishes, smoked meats, and some of the best regional cuisine as well. Check this spot out ASAP!