Anju Above
220 E Front St, Bloomington, IL, 61701
Anju Above Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
220 E Front St
Bloomington, IL, 61701 - Phone (309) 828-8704
- Website https://www.epiphanyfarms.com/anjuabove
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Veronica K.
Took my husband here on a lunch date Friday afternoon; I got a glass of white wine and he ordered a bottle of beer (after being disappointed that they were all out of the Destihl on draught he wanted). Ultraman episodes were being played on the TVs, which we found quirky! We took turns ordering from the small plates menu where things are brought out to you as they're ready. Pork buns had a delightful spiciness with the dollop of Sriracha sauce on top, and came out in a matter of minutes - a great choice if you're in a rush, though why rush through such good food? Both plates of sushi we ordered - the Spicy Salmon and the Spicy Thai Tuna - were delightful. The Thai was my favorite, the salmon my husband's. The pretzel balls were tasty, and my husband is in *love* with the beer cheese sauce they're served with. I wasn't as impressed with the other (mustard) sauce served with them, though. Had to take some of the tuna rolls and a couple pretzel balls home for later, where they were enjoyed as a pre-dinner snack! Would definitely come back, but probably won't wear a white dress again - my clumsy husband ended up splashing me with soy sauce!
(5)Marina V.
Found (and loved) Anju Above because we tried to return to Epiphany Farms for lunch (after loving the dinner the night before) but only Anju Above was open. It is run by the same awesome people, same farm-to-table approach, just different menu and a more casual style. We had their mac and cheese (delicious!), a salad (same as at Epiphany Farms - outstanding!!) with salmon (I asked it cooked rare and they made it beautifully rare, it was so delicious!) and cookies for dessert. Okay, these were THE BEST cookies I had ever had. Period. Loved it. If for nothing else, go to Anju Above for the cookies!! Thank you to Epiphany Farms for caring about the world (with their sustainable farming and farm-to-table approach) and for caring about the palates of their customers :) P.S. Forgot to mention, both Epiphany Farms and Anju Above filter their tap water which ends up tasting great!!! Why can't more places be like this?
(5)D H.
I liked the "everything à la carte" approach, it was a fun place to eat. The way you order there is not as a "meal" it more of a "now I want this, I'll order this", after you eat it, if you're still hungry then you order something else. The wait staff was very nice too and let me try differnet beers before ordering them to make sure I'd like them. Super friend, will definetly go back. The price was a little bit high, but fair for an à la carte style resturant.
(4)Connie F.
This was the best night ever! Food was superb, and the service even better! It was my son's 21st birthday, and Kaylee, our server, and Chris, the manager went all out in making it a wonderful celebration. Chris personally concocted a "flight" of cocktails for my son to try, after discussing with him his likes and dislikes. He hit the mark right on! And Kaylee was charming, attentive, made great suggestions about the menu - very professional! We ended up ordering lots of different choices from the menu, and everything was delicious! This restaurant is a MUST! It's what you would find in a bigger city, like Chicago or Denver, with it's varying range of tastes and eclectic atmosphere. Will definitely go again!
(5)Lisa M.
Super well priced sushi, great drink specials. Very young/hip atmosphere. Went here a lot during my last year of college.
(5)Gp C.
Banchan Gucci sushi rolls Pork steam buns Silken tofu doughnuts Everything was fabulous. So delicious. We will be back!
(5)Frank V.
Saw all the great reviews so I had to try it as I was passing thru Bloomington for business. Sat at bar. Three servers behind bar. Interesting menu - sushi meets tapas meets pizza. Good selection of craft beer. Asian Pork Buns were just ok. Korean wings were tasty / tangy and with crisp skin. Spicy salmon roll was good. Wondered why there wasn't any sushi on the menu I was presented with(?) Downside was the service: I had to ask twice (two different servers) for silverware and chop sticks. Then had to ask if soy sauce was available. Then had to ask for saucer to put soy sauce (in). Finally, was presented with dessert menu where the sushi was on the other side. Got an apology when I asked why sushi wasn't made available with menu. It's amazing how service colors the experience.
(2)Will G.
Great spot for lunch. Love coming here for a relaxing lunch. Easy to forget about the clock as we staggered our ordering to meet our appetites. Casual atmosphere and professional staff. Excellent wine, beer and cocktails.
(5)Tiffany D.
Great vibes! Food are always done perfect! Even my kids loves coming here, kids are not easy eater.
(5)Brittany M.
Something for everyone. Great for a casual happy hour, work lunch and even a fancy New Year's Eve night on the town! Menu options are Asian inspired and far from predictable. The food is delicious! See photos for specific comments on the food and get your chopsticks ready.
(5)Edward B.
My girlfriend and I stopped here for lunch during the week while on a road trip. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the atmosphere (Japanese monster movies on the TVs....quite funny) and decor. The service was good and our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and answered our questions nicely. I say we were surprised, because I've stopped in Bloomington for meals 20-30 times while passing through, and was never terribly impressed. Anju Above impressed us.
(4)Darrell S.
First trip and was impressed. Service was prompt and friendly made us feel at home. My wife got the fish bowl and was very pleased with the quality of the ingredients. I ordered the Korean BBQ wings and they were great sauce had a tang with the sweet BBQ influence. We also got the spicy tuna roll which was very good as well. Next time I will just get 5 wings instead of of 10 so I will have room for pork dumplings which look good in the Yelp pictures. They have a limited supply of craft beers on tap but they do range from ale to ipa to stout so something for everyone. There is also a long list of bottled beer as well. We definitely will be back excellent experience.
(5)Mike N.
Double date night with my wife and our good friends. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and layout. They converted a former DJ booth / stage into an open kitchen above the dining area. Opposite is the Rustic Pizza oven and kitchen. The bar is in the center, back wall of the room and from what I can tell, it would probably be best sitting at the bar. They did not appear to be rookies and the cocktails on the menu were tasty and got the job done. We tried a wide variety of dishes and cocktails. The service and atmosphere were exceptional. Tapas order: Sushi: Spicy Salmon Rolls, Gucci Cali Roll Nigiri: Bluefin Tuna (very good) Steam Buns: 2 orders of Pork buns Dumplings: 2 orders of Anju Pork (very good) Rustic Pizza: Confit Duck (exceptional) Classics: 10 Korean BBQ Wings Cocktails: Rock Lobster (it's the last cocktail in the list and it's not on the online menu. Red Lobster, Rock Lobster or something like that) - Crown Royal, Cranberry, some kind of a liquor. It was very good. Anju House Punch Spice and Stormy The drinks were very good. Small portions but big flavor and I had a manageable buzz after three drinks. The food portions were perfect. We split all dishes between four adults and we were all full. The sushi was okay and a good value. The dumplings were a table favorite as was the Confit Duck pizza. The pizza had shredded duck, cranberries, feta cheese, scallions, and olive oil. I really liked it. We all had a good time.
(4)Shirley B.
Made reservations online (yelp), called the day before to confirm, and tell them we may be 10-15 minutes later than set time. Was told that would not be a problem. When our party showed up they could not find our reservation. We had tickets to a show, so time was an issue. There were several tables available, but we were told that those tables were for people with reservations. I showed the hostess my yelp confirmation e-mail that showed we DID in fact HAVE reservations. (Wasn't this a Seinfeld episode??) Since this restaurant is within walking distance of US Cellular Coliseum, it provides a great place to dine before an event, thus reservations are important, that's why people make them.
(3)Terence S.
Wonderful time with family. Seating through Yelp Reservations was fast. Our wait time was minimal. We had a wonderful server and helpful staff keeping our drinks and water glasses full. Overall perfect evening!
(5)Kate E.
My family and I went there recently after moving our daughter back to school. Food was fantastic - so fresh! We had the veggie and pork steam buns, the farm 2 table roll, and a pizza. Great wine, too! Unfortunately, our service did not match our food experience. Mack was our waiter, and he was overly pushy and gave off a discomforting vibe... He rudely interrupted our conversation several times, and seemed overall impatient. We will be back, hopefully with less awkward service next time.
(4)Manas S.
It was an awesome place, but today I got the pizza and it was soggy and burnt!! Really?? I liked station 220 a lot, but I'm not sure what is up with this place.. Sorry Anju Above, I will not come here next time
(2)Jen B.
I might have over-hyped this place by studying the pics and reviews on here first! It was a very good restaurant with good sushi, fun atmosphere and yummy drinks. I felt like the service was not as smooth as I had hoped for 5 stars, we were told our table would be ready in 10 minutes and when I said we would wait at the bar, I felt like that was discouraged. We had a main server and then our food was carried out as it was ready by various other people. We missed an order of sushi rolls because of that which they took off the menu and comped another 2 sashimi orders which was very nice of them to do! White tuna was amazing here, some of the best I've been able to find in the Midwest outside of Chicago. Also, Korean BBQ wings were just sooooo good!! The sauce was a perfect blend of sweet and spice that didn't leave your tongue on fire. Wow, I will return for those alone! The pork dumplings didn't resemble the ones shown on here in pics at all, no sauce and just a couple of the green onion shoots on the top, very blah and underwhelming. It made me make a last minute decision to cut out the pork buns in case they were equally boring. The rolls seem very expensive at $12-14 a roll but they are HUGE. Maybe about 12 pieces? Definitely worth that price. Our server just seemed overwhelmed with her tables, I wish I could get over here on a weeknight to try it out. I'm sure it would be a full 5 stars then! It was just a little hit and miss both on food and service this time.
(3)Kelly S.
Great experience! My son and I visited last night. We started with funghi pizza. It was very tasty but the crust was too thin in the center and was soggy with standing water - probably from the mushrooms. It has a unique crust - more of a soft bread dough style with a cornmeal dusting which is typical Neopolitan style. We followed that up with a kampachi sushi roll. It was so pretty on the plate, it was almost a shame to eat it. Again, really tasty and Iiked this better than the pizza. Our drink selections: Anju punch and an old fashioned were PERFECT. Even the ice cubes were awesome, perfect little cubes. My drink had two smaller cubes and his had one big cube. Last but certainly not least - the star of the show for me: cookie bites. This was a small Chinese takeout container with mini, freshly baked cookies inside. Super cute and right out of the oven! The selection included: oatmeal pumpkin seed, macadamia orange, cranberry and chocolate chip. EXCELLENT and buttery and decadant! mmmmmm We sat at the bar and the service was great. The space is really comfortable but loud. They have a big bottled beer selection. I didn't see any tap handles but I know they have some draft because I saw several servers come and pick up poured pints. It also seems they use freshly squeezed juices in the bar based on observation. The two things that they could improve to garner 5 stars: eliminate the watery pizza center and add some textiles to dampen the echo/noise. Ohhhh and NEVER remove those cookie bite/crack things from the menu. EVER. :-)
(4)Mark And Connie D.
It's not only that it is consistently good but it is consistently, surprisingly better each time we go. Last night my wife and I had a wonderful dinner of Spicy Salmon & Gucci Cali Rolls and Diablo Pizza topped with a fried egg. I know, fried egg? But it was wonderful. The sushi was the freshest I can remember eating anywhere. The lemon sauce with the Gucci Cali was such a delight and the spicy mayo with the Salmon was exceptional. We never have to think twice about where to go when we want the best in town.
(5)D O.
We love coming here! Everything we've try makes me have a vocal reaction and want more. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is intimate, yet the room is open. This tapas style restaurant is very accommodating. Their farm to fork quality really shows in the flavor of the ingredients used. We were there on Valentine's Day with 8 adults and a highchair and were comfortably seated at a round table with a lazy susan in the center, which was perfect for sharing each plate. Everything reached the table in great time and came to us slightly spaced out, so we weren't overwhelmed with the amounts we'd ordered. This trip, I tried the 20 & 40 year tawny ports...heaven. I know they didn't make it, but the fact that they have it makes me want to come back. We will return again and again.
(5)Gemma B.
Wait, did I really not review this place yet? Holy cow. The pizza made me angry in that there's no way I'll ever make something that good. I want a crispier crust, but the topping combinations are almost genius. This is one of the few places I'll get steamed buns in town, too, so I always order one of those, and either a pretzel, a few tamago hand rolls (they have no right to be that good but they are), and the sushi roll with the egg and bacon. Very casual air but still trendy enough to be date night material. Husband loves the wings. I always make room for the silken tofu doughnuts, which also make me angry -- I don't *want* to like tofu but dammit I love these doughnuts.
(5)Saeah Y.
GREAT pizza, wings, salad, and Anju Pork dumpling. I did not enjoy the Nigiris.
(4)L F.
Cool place to take friends or a date. Have been there for both lunch and dinner. Lunch time the place was a lot slower (crowd wise) and brighter inside. Dinner time the atmosphere was better in my opinion. The food is great. The korean bbq wings had a great sauce. The sushi is yummy (spicy salmon!) The pizza is fresh. Wasnt a fan of the drinks. The house punch which is a favorite there tasted like a mint julip. There is no mention of mint in the drink description, so if you are not a fan of mojitos or julips, you probably wont like it. Drinks also seemed to be on the 'small' side compared to places like Rosies or Reality Bites for the same price. But that doesnt take away from the experience. The cookie bites are awesome. They bake them fresh so they come to the table warm!
(5)Ethan W.
Very cool atmosphere with unique lighting and a modern vibe to it. We had the sushi, which was very good and filling. Slightly limited menu but it works. The house punch was delicious but a very small serving for $6 a drink. We also tried the Korean bbq wings and they were great. I would definitely recommend this place as it is something different and a change of pace for the Bloomington-Normal area.
(4)Shelley H.
John was the best bartender ever!!! The food was legit!! He gave us the freshest picks! Just ask him! Love shell & Lauren
(5)Jimmy G.
I went here with a friend and it was awesome. this was my first time here and wasn't sure of where it was. the waitstaff sat me downstairs at the epiphany farms restaurant which I saw online but was a bit pricey. after having looked at the menu and seeing nothing that I had read online, I quickly realized and asked the waiter if this was Anju Above. obviously it wasn't, but quickly my friend and I were seated upstairs. after looking at the menu and actually seeing the items I thought would be there, both of us ordered sushi rolls. my date ordered the Gucci Cali Roll and I ordered the Spicy Yellowfin Tuna. we both enjoyed our rolls. I like mangoes and I like spicy, but together?.. a winning combination. we did order a couple of liquor drinks so nothing exceptional about that. the dessert I ordered (cookie bites), I thought would be good after having read some reviews. I wasn't displeased, but I definitely thought I should have ordered something else. the cookie bites are simply just that.. small cookies to eat. the variety of flavors was a nice touch, but they were just 10 or so simple cookies. I will definitely be back !!
(5)Harry P.
Drinks (cocktails) are super expensive. It's not a place you can just hang out and enjoy drinking. The menu is a little weird, being all over the map with different styles of food represented. Some dishes are good... But unfortunately it is hit and miss. The staff is good, but they can't makeup for the other shortcomings. Overall, for the quality of experience and the price, there are better options in town.
(2)Zach N.
Update time. Went to Anju on Saturday for an early dinner with the family. Chefs Stu and Ken blew the doors off yet again. We ordered a decent cross-section of the menu. Pork dumplings, vegetable steam buns, gucci cali roll, pork ramen, korean BBQ chicken wings, pretzels, and several pizzas: confit duck, farmer's favorite, funghi. Everything was amazing. I'm so grateful that the chefs at Anju have such a passion for food, because Bloomington can get a bit depressing at times. Highlights were the vegetable steam buns, cali roll, chicken wings, and farmer's favorite pizza. Really, you can't go wrong. I'm a bonified carnivore and I think that the vegetable steam buns might have been the best thing I ate all night. I'd like to mention the ramen as being excellent as well. I guess it would be similar to a tonkotsu-style traditional Japanese ramen, but it's not by-the-book. Honestly, I doubt the Anju kitchen crew was "trying" to make their ramen anything but their own. Either way, it was excellent. Chef Mustard's pizzas continually steal the show every time I eat here. They're unbelievably delicious and for the money, you get a pretty good-sized pizza all to yourself. The crust/dough is perfect. Chewy, crunchy, perfectly puffy. The toppings are of excellent quality and perfect distribution. It's the best pizza in town. Chef Stu sent out a few surprises for us, which is always appreciated. One of these was a bacon-wrapped pork pate with fresh-baked pizza oven bread. This was the highlight of the night for me. It was unctuous, in the best meaning literal definition of the word. I was told that they were considering making it a regular menu item, and I definitely think they should. As usual, the staff are well-trained, helpful, and knowledgeable. They're more than happy to talk nerdy to you when it comes to food. I can't wait to go back and see what else they've got.
(5)Matthew M.
Much hype was given to Anju Above before its opening, and although I was tempted to try to score a reservation closer to their opening, I decided to wait until the summer to give Anju Above a try. (Sometimes, the best things are worth waiting for!) First walking into Anju Above is an experience itself, where you actually have to walk through the entrance of Epiphany Farms Restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, while being somewhat eclectic at the same time. I have always been warmly welcomed, and promptly directed to a table or the bar. I think the cocktails offered are the most unique and well-thought of in town. I continually order the Old Fashioned (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Bitters, Demerara) topped with a black cherry and their now-signature large ice cube. The drinks are on the small side, but pack a punch and are well worth the premium price. Other drinks, like their House Punch and 'The Best Sour' are equally as good. It can be likened to an Asian-style tapas restaurant (plus pizza), but if you go in with an open mind, Anju's menu is diverse. The sushi rolls are a must, but I usually stick to several orders of Nigiri. The cut on the fish is fairly remarkable, a tribute to their skilled chefs. (I would hesitate to label them 'itamae', with some improvement to be desired.) Their steam buns are some of the most flavorful items on the menu, and I really enjoy the pork steam buns. If your budget and stomach allows, the Korean BBQ wings, while not as good as wings you could get from Mugsy's, pack a unique universe of flavors, combining sweet, savory, and spicy. I do, however, stay away from the pizza. It is not necessarily bad, but nothing that stands out significantly to me. Anju Above is a fun place for a first date, meet friends, or to simply enjoy a lot of flavors at once. I enjoy the low-stress/no-nonsense atmosphere the servers and staff portray, and their guidance on the menu is helpful on your first visit. The best part about Anju Above is how directly you can control your experience: from drinks and a snack to a full meal, the choice is solely yours. I will continue enjoying this restaurant for the rest of my time in the community!
(4)Shauntona M.
We love the idea of this restaurant - shared dishes that come out as they are prepared. It's great being able to eat a roll of sushi and then enjoy a tasty pizza...all of my favorite foods in one place. The drink menu is as unique as the food menu - we enjoyed several craft beers and creative mixed drinks. The French Martini was good, according to my friend, and I had Vieux Carre. My boyfriend had a couple of beers that hit the spot. We had a very unique farmer's breakfast sushi roll, pork steam buns and el diablo pizza. Everything was very good, except the buns could use a minute longer steaming. Overall, the experience was really enjoyable - and the service was terrific. The atmosphere at Anju Above was really great - especially loved the light fixtures and drapery used throughout the restaurant. Fun, classy place...a great departure from your typical chain restaurant, but the price was the same!
(4)Jessi S.
Love the modern loft atmosphere and unique menu selection. Delicious sushi. Drinks were a bit expensive for the size but overall I loved it. Will be returning to try Epiphany Farms, the restaurant below.
(4)MJ E.
I really loved this place right down to the rustic decor. I think the 4 of us tried every plate. Ok. Just a large number of delicious small plates! Loved the wings, the bao, and all of the sushi rolls. The pizza diablo was also excellent! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Catherine H.
My boyfriend and I ordered and shared the pork buns, Bianca flatbread, Thai sushi rolls, and the brownie with ice cream and salted carmel. Every dish was AMAZING and we were in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes. Food was great and so was the service. Just make sure to reserve a table because there was a seriously long wait as we were leaving!
(5)Workin O.
This place is amazing. The food is innovative and wonderfully prepared. The atmosphere has wonderful ambiance and a great eclectic feel. The food is the shining start here. The fresh local ingredients create some really incredible dishes. The pork buns were lucious, soft and bursting with flavor. The salad i had was simple yet had real depth of flavor. The sushi was unique, tasty and beautifully presented. The staff is super friendly and you are treated attentively. This is a perfect little gem in Bloomington, IL. I only wish I had been here when the downstairs restaurant was open to check it out. Perhaps on the next vist...
(5)Taylor A.
The team from Station 220 nails it once again in the Bloomington dining scene. While Station 220 is a higher priced restaurant more for special events or when you're looking to splurge, Anju Above is more approachable, but still churns out fantastic food. The menu is incredibly diverse (especially for Bloomington), which makes me really happy because that diversity includes sushi, pizza, steamed buns, wings, and dumplings. Usually places that have this much diversity don't do well on all of them, but I've had almost the entire menu and everything is excellent. The pizza is may favorite and EASILY the best in Bloomington. but the Korean style wings are a close second. If you like sushi, the few rolls they have are excellent too. On my second visit there was a major hiccup, but how the chef and staff handled it blew me away. I had the buttermilk wings (which I actually wouldn't recommend because of the white sauce they're doused in) and ate a couple and they seemed a tad undercooked inside. My friend bit into one and it was almost totally raw. We informed the bartender who apologized, took them off the bill, and gave us free beer. The chef then came over and apologized, and then at the end of the meal he brought over some tofu donuts. Anju Above is easily my favorite restaurant in Bloomington. Go before everyone finds out!
(5)Julia S.
This place is awesome. Cool vibe, delish food and cocktails. Anju house punch is dangerously yummy. Pork dumplings great flavor. Kimichi soup has a great spicy kick, just the right amount of heat. Midwestern sushi is spectacular. Cannot say enough great things about this place! Their homemade pizzas are soooooo good. Go hear get a Hemingway and take a load off ;)
(5)Tony H.
Awesome experience! We had reservations and we're seated right away. The hostess was very professional and friendly. We started with a Kale salad and enjoyed the cranberries, almonds and the vinaigrette dressing. Outstanding flavor. I had the BBQ pork pizza which had a little spice and the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. My wife had the Diablo pizza which had andouille sausage, jalapeños with a white sauce. From the very first bite she loved it. We finished with a brownie topped with vanilla ice cream. We both said we should come here more often and we will. Also I might add our waiter John was on top of his game. He was very attentive we could not have asked for more.
(5)Rommel A.
Great selection of beer and variety in menu. Great for groups and sharing dinner family style. Will definitely return.
(4)Jim O.
My entire direct family (and spouses) were visiting, so my wife and I took them to Anju Above. There's 8 of us so an upscale tapas restaurant sounded like the perfect place to go, and it was absolutely the perfect meal. We're all foodies and everyone agreed this was the best meal we've ever had as a family. Let's start with the table itself: It was a large round table 75% surrounded by booth and 25% chairs. In the center of this table was a glass lazy Susan (big spinning circle for those not familiar). This table was exactly what was needed for a large party looking to share food and drinks. You want to give the person across the way a sip of your beer? Set the beer on the glass and spin it over to them. Done. Now the food: Everything, and I mean everything was fantastic. The Korean BBQ wings were almost everyone's favorite. However, the sushi rolls (Spicy Salmon, Spicy Tuna, and Sweetheart), pork steam buns, dumplings, Neapolitan pizza (Bianca, and El Diablo), pretzels, and Tuscan Kale were prepared perfectly. Considerations: My sister-in-law has some of the most unfortunate allergies possible: garlic, beef, and onion (I know, right?). However, since Anju Above hires chefs and not cooks they very easily were able to provide her with custom versions of what she wanted, which was a wonderful change of pace for everyone involved. Special Alcohol Note: My wife isn't a huge fan of alcohol. She most enjoys alcoholic drinks that don't taste like alcohol (again...I know, right?). Over the years, one of the drinks that she's found works really well for her are Tawny Ports. These guys have a very good brand of Tawny Port and several age options (10, 20, 30, and 40 years). We've never even heard of a 40 year old Tawny Port before, but were excited to try one that's older than we are. Let me tell you, it was the smoothest, most delicious drink we've ever had. Well worth the cost, which was also pretty sizable, but it was a special occasion. Staff: Exceedingly friendly and helpful. They clearly enjoy their jobs and are very good at it. I'd once again like to note how helpful they were in working with my sister-in-law's allergies, which can be quite painful if the staff isn't on their game. Timing: The last thing I'd like to note is that the food items always come out as they're ready, and not as one, huge meal. This allowed us to share and eat the food while it was hot and/or fresh, and, more importantly, it allowed us to enjoy the large amount of food over 2 hours rather than all at once. The importance on this point can't be overstated, it turned what would have been a meal into an experience for us. What else can I say? 5 stars, perfection. Thanks, Anju Above!
(5)Sean K.
Korean influenced pizza, sushi, and small plates. The ambiance is sexy with Kung Fu movies playing, excellent decor, and an attentive staff. Best place in Bloomington so far.
(5)Kira K.
Love the sushi and pizza! Great atmosphere. The nigiri sushi is really good, but limited options. They cold smoke their own fish, so you'll not find the wide array of sushi as with a Japanese restaurant, but what they do have is great. Kampachi is a must try. They can serve, sashimi, maki, nigiri. Although I haven't asked I bet you can also get it in temaki form as well. The Anju Pie is own of their specialty pizzas and really good. Never really thought about eating Sushi and Pizza, but it's really great with beer. Good beer selection as well. I'm usually a wine person, but when I go to Anju I drink beer.
(5)J H.
This restaurant offers an excellent selection of small plates, sushi, and pizza that contains fresh artisanal ingredients and expertly made. The service was also excellent with the staff knowledgeable and the recommended selections right on. This is exactly the type of restaurant Bloomington/Normal needs more of. Gave it 5 stars for providing the area with a unique, very satisfying experience We will be back for what may be the best food in the area.
(5)Renee H.
Overrated...expensive drinks with not a lot of variety... food ok but nothing remarkable... few vegetarian choices. Atmosphere was good but the night our group was there it had to be 80 degrees inside!
(3)Laura C.
deeeelicious. atmosphere was great. Make sure you grab a few friends because sharing is the best part about this place!
(4)Pam J.
Loved Anju! Food was wonderfully fresh and wine list was interesting and innovative. We started with the Anju dumplings, then I had sashimi and a a house salad and my husband had a pizza and the fudge brownie for dessert. Everything was delicious. We were especially knocked out by the fudge brownie...perfectly baked with a crispness on the outside and fudgy gooiness on the inside! We will be back!
(5)Mike J.
Beer, sushi, za and family. Great way to spend a birthday. Another awesome time.
(5)Craig L.
We've been 3 or 4 times. Service has always been friendly and helpful. They are will take the time to answer any questions. Food is excellent, favorites include - spicy salmon sushi and barbecue pork pizza.
(4)Adam W.
We had a party of 6. The food was good...we ordered both pizza and sushi, and both were prepared well. Service was a little slow, otherwise 5 stars.
(4)J O.
Pizza was excellent. Can't say enough about the crust, perfection!! 4 stars because my companion for lunch is in her 80s and she was really winded by the time we got up the stairs. And of you're not a sushi or pizza fan you're sol on choices. Would like to see one or two permanent sandwich choices.
(4)Samantha C.
The best food in town! Amazing sushi and steam buns that I can never seem to stop eating! The pizza is always perfect and tasty! Love that the menu is designed for sharing so you can try a little bit of everything!
(5)Sam W.
I was traveling through Bloomington when I found this little gem. I was very surprised to find such a chic asian tapas place in the middle of the city. The food was delicious. Myself and two others had the pork steam buns (hearty and mildly spicy), the Mandoo dumplings (delicious), the jerk shrimp roll (the best), and the Gucci Cali roll (a bit too sweet for my taste). The house punch was a chamomile-orange concoction and was really sweet and good. Also, the pork steam buns came out late, so the chef gave us complimentary tofu dumplings. They can be late all they want if they give me free food!
(5)Benjamin L.
First time here last week. Very good food and when I am in town you better believe I'll be back!
(4)Connie H.
Great place. Service, food and atmosphere is great. Food is always fresh and yummy. Never had a bad experience. Pork dumplings and pizzas are awesome at Anju Above! :-)
(5)John P.
Great atmosphere. Delicious sushi. Great beer. Great wine. I will definitely be back.
(5)Caleb F.
One of the best in town. Great for small plates and sushi. Avoid the 'earthy-bacon' or whatever role. Try the dumplings!
(5)Rebecca H.
UPDATE: Have been twice more since this review and I stand by it. They are open on Monday now, which I really appreciate. Food is still excellent service has improved. One thing to note: The cocktails, while excellent and made from good ingredients, are very expensive. Last night it was $10.25 for a Vieux Carre and $8:50 for a martini. We will be sticking to beer, wine or water. This is a long review, so I will save you from TL;DR - Great place for a group of friends, neat concept, yummy food not available anyplace else in BloNo, priced well, good drinks. Service has some kinks to work out. Full review: I'm a fan, but they still have a few kinks to work out. We've been twice now, once during their opening weekend, when they had a set menu, and once tonight to order off the normal menu. Both times the food was delicious, but the service nice, but slow, especially from the bar. First, the setting. In a loft space, with neat lighting, high ceilings, and both both and table seating, the room is dominated by an elevated sushi station. It is a pretty neat interior, and there are a couple of TVs, playing kung-foo movies both times we were there. There was loud music both times, but not so loud that you couldn't have a conversation. Next, the food. We were really put off by the "sushi for a Mid-western palate" stamp they put on things. Not how you should brand your restaurant to the type of people likely to come to a place like this! We were told that it really means less spicy and no "weird" ingredients. Thus, we asked for some extra chili sauce and were very happy with the subsequent spice level. Across both visits we tried various sushi, the wings, the veggie and beef steamed buns, the pork dumplings, the pork ramen, the kimchi soup, and one pizza. We were THRILLED with the pork ramen and the steamed buns, pretty darn happy with the pizza (too much cornmeal on the crust, however) and kimchi soup, and thought everything else was good. Everything was of high quality and presented well. I think the one of the huge benefits of this place is that there is both interesting (sushi, steamed buns, and soups) and completely safe, even to a "Midwesterner" (pizza and good wings). Everyone should find something they like, and given that it is sort of tapas style, hopefully you will encourage those a little less adventurous to try a bite from your plate. There are also a few snack items likes pretzels. The cocktails and other drinks...there a fantastic cocktail list but the bartenders don't seem to be able to make things fast or beyond the set list. They are also trying a bit too hard with some of the presentation. The old-fashioned comes with a tube shaped block of ice in it that gets in the way of consumption. We also waited an inordinate amount of time on both visits for rounds of cocktails. We watched the two women working the bar tonight hesitate, dig for stuff, drop strainers, and just generally not seem confident in their jobs. The first trip was better, but they ran out of a couple of things by the night's end (it was really busy). There is a solid beer list and a limited but good wine list. I really like what I they are trying to do with the bar, but the cocktails from Station 220 (and Eleven, down the street) are better. The service was mixed - our waitress had another large table tonight and had to be helped by the manager. She forgot part of our order, and greeted us not with the specials, but with a 'you ready to order"? and we had to ask if there where specials. I also just retrieved a cocktail from the bar myself, as it had been sitting there for 10 minutes. She was really nice, so I feel terrible saying that. Oh, and we used their online reservation service with absolutely no problem. Overall, we will be back, and it is a fantastic place for a group of friends or a date. It is a fun concept that really only has Reality Bites playing in the same field, and I think Anju might win that contest. I will update my review (especially about the service) if things change on the next visit.
(4)Duncan P.
I agree with other reviewers Steamed Pork Buns outstanding. Service was excellent, a great stop.
(4)Mike V.
Yep, it's official, there is a new Hip place to be in town. Wow! What happens when you combine a really cool space with great food, great bar tending and excellent service....ANJU ABOVE. The Epiphany Farms group really knocked it out of the park again. I knew the food was gonna be on point, but I didn't know I'd describe the restaurant as FUN, but that's exactly what it is. Sushi, dumplings and steamed buns, some of the best wings you've ever had in your life, unbelievably good pizza from Rustic Pizza, in a funky and cool space, with a casual but attentive staff, a top-shelf bar with some really interesting new cocktails, all enjoyed while great music is coming across the house system and kung fu movies are going on the TVs. Where else can you find anything like that?
(5)Z Z.
Pretty great for the area, excellent veggie sushi rolls! Wouldn't mind a few more salad options. Overall excellent in atmosphere, service, & price! BloNo is lucky to have anju and epiphany farms to dine at!
(5)Shelby H.
Anju is my new favorite! They're livin' up to the hype and you can already see how successful this place will be. For a second I forgot that I was in Bloomington, IL. We started off with a couple cocktails, house punch and french 75, which were both fresh and delicious. Followed by pork steam buns, pork dumplings and the farmer's favorite pizza...all were incredible! I especially loved the pizza...not too cheesy and the sausage was full of flavor. This is not just another restaurant...Station 220 and Anju go above and beyond to give each customer a great experience. You can tell a lot of hard work and dedication went into Anju. Their love for fresh and great tasting food should be appreciated by everyone. Returning to Anju tonight for round two to try the sushi! I don't foresee disappointment. :-)
(5)Joe H.
Came into Anju last week and had an amazing experience. The atmosphere is very cool and reminds me of the trendy restaurants in the Chicago area. The service was superb. I wish I could have remembered our serves name (Maggie?) because she was very helpful and had a great sense of hospitality. She made a recommendation to try the thunder cat roll. Knocked it out of the park with this sushi roll. Best place to get sushi in Bloomington. Keep up the great work! Will definitely be back. Only suggestion would be to add more variety of rolls to the sushi menu. :-)
(5)Kimberly K.
First time at Anju Above and we were not disappointed. The sushi was top-notch, the margherita pizza was delicious. The vegetarian steam rolls . . . wow. They were like little pillows of goodness that melt in your mouth. I also thoroughly enjoyed the house punch and the brownie dessert was the perfect end to our meal.
(5)Chris M.
We were attending a show at the BCPA on a recent Saturday night and decided to give Anju Above a try after hearing good things. We were not disappointed. Our waitress was very helpful with several questions we had about the menu. We decided on the Yuba Nigiri, Anju Pork Dumplings and BBQ Pork Pizza. Each item selected was wonderful. We were very pleased with each selection and were amazed at how flavorful they were. It left us wanting to try other menu items but had to get to our show. We'll definitely be back soon!
(4)Andrew C.
Amazing food at reasonable prices! I'm not a big seafood fan but I can't get enough of the sushi! Everything i have tried has been great especially the pork steam buns!
(5)Andy O.
Everything was really good. Especially liked the Vegetarian Steam Bun and the Silken Tofu Donuts. Fun atmosphere and great food to share. Definitely going back to try more!
(4)Pamela L.
Always a great place -- the servers are always great and the food equally as good.
(5)Micah N.
I went to Anju yet again last Saturday and as always I loved it. I went with my girlfriend who can be picky so I ordered her some pretzel bites, wings, and we ordered a margherita pizza. I also got some pork steam buns for myself. She loved the wings and pretzel bites and I of course loved everything. To finish everything off we ordered two fudge brownies for dessert. It was so rich I couldn't even finish it. I love this restaurant.
(5)Jim B.
Anju is barely Above the lamest restaurant in Bloomington Normal... I arrived with my friends and ordered coffee with cream and sweetener. The server, Megan, brings my coffee and then asks me again what I wanted with my coffee, so I repeated, sweetener and cream. She brings it and of course, the cream isn't cream, it's milk, so I don't make a scene and settle for the milk. So far the service is nominal but after all, I'm up north and I can't expect the Southern hospitality I grew up with and have come to love and expect... Meantime, Megan comes back and takes our orders. She gets to me, I order the Pasta Fagoili and then ask her about the Tuscan Kale. She's enthusiastic about it and highly recommends it, so I order it. The soup arrives and is fine. I figure the salad will arrive with everyone else's entree. Entree's arrive and no salad. This goes on for some time so one of my friends speaks up to a server and mentions my salad hasn't arrived. He mouths some excuse about the chef being backed up, blah, blah, blah. In the meantime, Megan has yet to check back with us. Still no salad. Finally, Megan comes back and is ready to finish up with checks, etc.My buddy points out that I never got my salad. She's looks at me in surprise, briefly apologizes and asks if I'd like the salad. I decline and ask for my check. She never offers anything in return for the poor service...nothing, Not free coffee, not free dessert...nothing but a lame apology. I've been traveling back and forth to Bloomington-Normal for over 2 years and never have I experienced such terrible service in this town. I will tell everyone I know at the office, Twitter and Facebook how awful this place is. They should be ashamed of this pathetic performance. I always leave a 20% tip and I was tempted to leave nothing, but I know these servers rely on tips and I've worked in the service industry (bartender in college), so I took pity on this poor server and left 10% in protest, but I'll never ever give them my business again. Just plain lame...
(1)Katy P.
I could not be more excited for as Asian fusion restaurant in BloNo. Attended the opening party last night and was very impressed. Service was excellent from start to finish. Favorite dishes were the steamed buns, the veggie and pork dumplings, and two of the sushi tastes (tuna and salmon). The wings were yummy too, and the cookies for dessert are a must. Right amount of sweet and salty. I definitely recommended going and getting small tastes of everything if you can. I will be back here for sure. My only complaint is that the drinks weren't very strong. Would like to also try some different pizzas. Fun atmosphere for a date or a group dinner!
(5)David B.
I found the restaurant to be quite good but being a new place it still has some things to figure out about itself, as is typical with any new place. Finding out what works, what doesn't, etc. The food was very good but needed just a touch more seasoning and strengthening of flavor. Unfortunately I didn't find the "korean wings" to be anything korean (I lived in Korea town for quite a while in Chicago). Good... but nothing like Crisp in Lincoln Park or Great Seas in Albany Park. I also found, like Little Goat, that the menu was rather scattered and unfocused. I don't see how korean soup goes with pretzels. Both were very decent but not harmonious. I will definitely come again. Service was superb and the beer selection was great. I just think the menu needs a bit more refining and deciding what it wants to be.
(4)Michael D.
My girlfriend and I have been here once before and we enjoyed enough to try it again. We started off with their kale salad and their spicy salmon sushi roll. Oh my were they both fantastic. Our waitress helped us figure out a few items on the menu and I have to say that she hit the nail on all of her recommendations. Next we had dumplings which were another huge hit. Normally I like a fried dumpling so you get that one side crunchy but these were steamed and steamed to perfection. Pizza was up next. This is their spicy pizza (cannot recall actual name) but it is fantastic to those that like spice. The crust is delicious, nice and light but has a nice chew to it. Finally up was dessert. Another suggestion by our waitress were the tofu donuts. I was slightly skeptical but they were quite good. I would ask for a bit more of that wonderful drizzle they put on them, but it was very good!! All in all another great night had. Would definitely go back and recommend this place.
(5)Katie B.
The food is amazing, creative, Delian. Great drink menu and great service. Upbeat atmosphere- very popular, so make sure to make reservations on the weekend.
(5)J J.
We make it a point to order different pizzas, rolls, etc each time we visit and we haven't been disappointed yet! You can taste how fresh the ingredients are and how much effort goes into each menu item. By far our favorite place in town.
(5)Lola P.
My group shared the steamed pork buns, pork dumplings, Korean BBQ wings, Bianca pizza and Sicilian pizza. All were good. The Sicilian pizza had rosemary on it and it was strong. I personally like the flavor but some of my party did not. The Bianca pizza had a creamy base and more neutral in flavor. The steamed buns were ok. The texture of the buns was good but they lacked enough filling for any real taste. Where was the pork?! Dumplings were so-so. The favorite at the table was the Korean BBQ wings! We all agreed they had great flavor. The atmosphere is nice if not a little loud inside. The amount of food we ordered was for 3, and we took home some leftover pizza. All-in-all we liked the place.
(5)Katelyn W.
We had something from every section on the menu except soup so I feel qualified to say its great! The drinks are AMAZING. Everything we had was great! The steam buns were a little odd for someone who has never had them but good! A must go!! All they need is brunch and i would be set!
(5)Cortenay C.
I love this place and not just because I live so close to it! The staff are friendly and the food is hard to turn down. No matter what I plan on eating when I go, I always get waaaay more! I have yet to be disappointed and highly recommend the pizzas, sushi and pork dumplings! Don't forget the perfectly crafted cocktails either!
(4)Tabitha B.
This is a great spot in Bloomington for when you feel like getting dolled up and having a night out. Full of energy with great food and drinks. Parking in that whole area can be tricky on Friday and Saturday nights but well worth the hassle.
(4)Patty B.
Loved it. Very nice but casual place. The wings are very very good-- many flavors! Pizzas good too.
(4)Julie M.
Love Anju Above! Best sushi in town. Plus I really appreciate that they identify GF and Vegan options rather than asking a bunch of questions to deduce what is in or not in the dish. The service is exceptional, and the ambience makes you feel like you are out for a special evening.
(5)Beth H.
Didn't love it. I had high expectations after some great food from Epiphany, but was disappointed. A group of us had dinner and shared 2 pizzas, 4 sushi rolls and wings. The pizzas were a little undercooked in the middle and the toppings were bland. Since pizza is one if the specialties, this was surprising. Two of the four sushi rolls were very good (spicy salmon and spicy tuna) but the other two were nothing special. Service was fine, nothing great. Our server forgot one of our orders and brought one wrong item as well. The atmosphere was warm and lively. This would be a great spot to frequent with friends, but unfortunately the food won't bring me back.
(3)Kayla S.
The food is amazing!!!! It has such great ambiance...awesome place for a "date night" or "girls night"
(5)Brittney C.
My husband brought me here for our first wedding anniversary. It was a bit busy but I can see why! Great atmosphere and friendly staff. The drinks they offered were on the smaller side but definitely made to perfection! The idea of serving small portions to share with your mate is a wonderful idea for date night. The pork dumplings were absolute perfection. We were blown away by their deliciousness!! We also had a pizza which was the perfect size for the two of us. I look forward to going back and sampling more from the menu!
(4)Erica L.
I love everything about Anju Above! Great atmosphere, it gives off a "big city" vibe, like you step outside of Bloomington-Normal for the evening. The house punch is delicious and easy to drink. I have ordered several different menu items, and I've never had one I didn't like. My favorite sushi roll was the Spicy Salmon. I do wish they had more variety on the sushi. The steam buns have a good flavor and are perfect for sharing between 2 people. The farmer's favorite pizza is fantastic! The best part is they have extremely reasonable prices. Be sure to make a reservation for Friday or Saturday night!
(5)Maureen C.
Good, but not a great meal. Spicy salmon roll was outstanding, as were our cocktails. The Bianca pizza was a little weak - too much of a heavy cream feel to it and the Gucci Cali roll was only okay. Also, the women's bathroom definitely needs some updating. We'll still be back to try more menu items, though - this place was packed and fun, with a great ambiance!
(3)Kimberly M.
Wow!! The kale salad was unbelievable! The sushi was outstanding. Best sushi in the Blo-No area.Very cool atmosphere and a fun vibe. The service was great! We will be back very soon!!l
(5)Jess J.
The ambience was fun, and reminded me of my old times at the Loft. Our server Allison was phenomenal!!! She was very informative, had great patience and was attentive and friendly. the pork dumplings were about average, the salsiccia pizza sauce was good but the pizza itself had very little toppings and as a result very little flavor. The Korean BBQ wings were crispy and flavorful but they were slightly more than a dollar a wing, making them not as great as Rosie's wings. Overall I would come back, I really want to try their pork ramen, however they aren't unseating any of my favorite restaurants in town.
(3)Nate G.
Had the chance to eat here after the initial rush and I was very impressed. A great menu that's different from any other in town and a fun atmosphere with good music and asian films playing in the background. Kate was our server and she did an excellent job. We triend thinhs from every section except for the pizzas and everything was flavorful and fresh. The beer and wine selection complimented the food wonderfully and the open kitchens allowed us to interact with the chefs in a fun way. A great option that I will return to regulalrly.
(4)Jim A.
Good work, Anju! This place is a welcome addition to Blo-No. The sushi was spot on and the duck confit pizza with the cranberries was super tasty. The best part was my super picky kid jammed out in the Korean BBQ wings. The service was also really good. My only criticism is that they couldn't make me a rusty nail... Is it weird that I like scotch and Deambuie with my pork ramen?
(4)Lea C.
I love the food and the concept. But, I am not the biggest fan of the noise level. I took my parents there and we came in early as to avoid a crowd. We were seated next to a speaker and, when I asked about lowering the volume (the music had a loud base, almost club-like and my father is hard of hearing -- such a base noise will mean that, even with his hearing aids, the noise would be very bothersome). They decided to move us...to just under another large speaker. I asked again about the noise and they agreed to lower the volume some. This was a Tuesday night in winter, at 6:00. If it were a packed Saturday night, I would not be complaining about the noise. I have been there on a Saturday night with friends when the noise was loud enough that we (30 years old) had to almost yell to hear each other. I understand that the atmosphere is supposed to be casual and fun but the noise level needs to come down as to make the place enjoyable to people older than the young staff.
(3)Jason C.
Atmosphere inviting and relaxing, staff was friendly, food was delicious and fast. I highly recommend checking out this place. We will be going back again.
(5)Chong K.
Very good combination of authentic tastes with an updated twist for the better. Best place to dine in this area for sure. Highly recommend you stop by, sit back and enjoy a few IPA brews. Staff was great as well.
(5)Phillip W.
We went for the opening tasting last night and we were really impressed. Some of the dishes were better than others but everything that came to the table was good! I really liked a couple of the Sushi rolls, the wings, steamed buns, and duck confit pizza..the cranberry cookie was a great finish. I had an Old Fashioned that was really tasty and a couple of the ladies had the Paloma, which they loved. There are a few operational kinks to work out (coat rack, drink timing, fresh share plates, etc) but those are to be expected. The server, Brent or Brett I think, was knowledgable and attentive, was clearly handling too many tables but again, it's opening wknd. Overall nothing was bad, everything was good, and several things were great (atmosphere is in the great category). We are really looking forward to seeing the full menu and going back again soon!
(4)Lisa M.
The ambiance & food was spectacular! Great cocktails! Try the sushi - Anju Roll & pork dumplings! And ask for Meghan - her recommendations were perfect!
(5)Craig L.
I've been to Anju Above twice now, and I'm very impressed. Overall, it's a fun, well thought-out and well run restaurant. The menu can be divided into two halves: Asian and American. The Asian half features a limited number of sushi rolls, nigiri sushi, hot buns, and dumplings. They are all tasty. I was very impressed with both the pork and beef buns, and the rolls are some of the largest rolls around town. The pizzas are tasty, and the pretzel appetizers are very good too. They also offer a few desserts and a nice drinks menu. Service was very attentive both times I've been there, and prices were what one would expect. As a side note, the food comes out as it's prepared, so you might get one or two items first and then a few minutes later get another item; you get the idea. This is a unique restaurant to Bloomington-Normal. Definitely give it a try.
(4)Jackie B.
I can't say enough about this place! Finally tried it for the first time last night and it was amazing. Unfortunately I couldn't have any meat because it was Friday and it's lent but let me tell you the was the best non meat meal ever!! First the house punch was amazing very different flavor than I've ever tried but I was impressed! We got the vegetable steam buns and I've never had anything like them before but they were awesome, very flavorful! I also had the margarita pizza and it was awesome! And last my favorite was the Cali roll, best sushi I've EVER had!! This place is a must go, new and different! The staff is all very friendly too and the food came out soo fast
(5)Britt O.
I had the pleasure of dining at Anju Above for dinner with a friend and boy did I find my new favorite restaurant! Everything was amazing from the server, to the host, to the busser, to the chef! It was the most pleasant dining experience I have ever had! The food was so delicious and fresh and the customer service at this place was outstanding! The chef made a customized sushi roll for me and came over to ask what I would like in it, that to me was wonderful aside from being the best sushi roll I have ever had! We also had the pork buns, pork dumplings and Korean wings which all were so delicious and the taste was so fresh! We had some great conversations with both the chef, our waiter and the host and my friend and I could not stop talking about how that was the best dining experience we'd ever had! This restaurant truly cares about their customers! This will definitely become a local favorite for me!
(5)Annalise V.
FUN ATMOSPHERE!! Came here while passing through town. Was a great choice. Laid back yet sophisticated, all of the ingredients taste fresh. Have great daily specials and good wine. The steamed pork buns are a MUST! (Not too spicy, no worries!)
(5)