Sunday brunch has become a welcome addition at many local restaurants. Relaxing with bountiful plates of cuisine, taking in the scene while drinking a mimosa in an upscale casual and contemporary setting is an appealing way to chill out on a Sunday. We stopped in at Azie Restaurant on a Sunday afternoon to see what their brunch is all about. I’m a sushi fan, but my date is into more traditional breakfast fare. Azie’s buffet brunch offered a wide assortment that pleased us both.
During our brunch, the light streamed in from State Street, giving the space a bright, relaxed, and friendly feel. Azie is casual but contemporary, with mahogany tables and cream colored chairs, and this morning’s brunch drew a good crowd. A few families sat nearby, but there were also a few tables with twenty-somethings searching for the “hair of the dog.”
The selection at the buffet holds choices for everyone, whether your dining friends are carnivores or vegetarians. We took our time scanning the set up, which included New York Strip, Chicken with Orange Sauce, Japanese Chicken Nuggets, Veggie Fried Rice, Sauteed Broccoli, an assortment of sushi and a dessert table. After our meal, we sat down for a few minutes with General Manager Stephen Deisinger, who explained, “many people don’t know we offer a brunch. You can start out your Sunday on a positive note.”
Here’s a few of my favorites from the menu.
The Miso Hawaiian Butterfish was spectacular for me, and a surprise since I had never had this fish before. Each bite consisted of a lemony tang, followed by a buttery finish that was simply sublime. From the first bite, I knew I’d be going back for seconds. The Salmon Olive Tapenade came in a close second, beautifully tender.
The Crab Cream Cheese Spring Rolls were packed with cream cheese that oozed out with each bite. Stephen informed us these spring rolls are the biggest hit for kids, and it is easy to see why. They are fun, if not a little bit messy. The chicken dumplings were slightly crispy on the top, but tender inside. We also enjoyed a sampling of the New York Strip or Chicken with Orange Sauce and the Japanese Chicken Nuggets.
The sushi selection included an assortment of spicy tuna, spicy salmon, shrimp and vegetable. In addition, jumbo shrimp and cocktail sauce was offered.
The omelet station is one of the recent additions to the Sunday buffet. A chef will created my date’s cheese omelet to order, adding in her favorites from the choice of mushrooms, chicken, tomato, cheese and onion. She also selected some sausage and bacon with her eggs.
We can’t forget the dessert table, which tempted us at first sight. The gluten-free chocolate cake was decadent, thick and creamy throughout. The cheesecake was so light, I felt at though it were floating across my tongue. Tiramisu and strawberry crepes rounded out the sweets table nicely.
We made our way up to the buffet a few times, and the team at Azie busily kept the buffet trays refreshed. My date enjoyed a mimosa while I paired a Victory HopDevil with my sushi. We sat back and listened to the casual tunes from the likes of Josh Groban and Sheryl Crow on the loudspeaker. A good way to start a lazy afternoon in downtown Media.
Azie is located at 217 West State Street, Media, PA. Sunday Brunch is served 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. For reservations, call (610) 566-4750.
Photographs credited to Nina Lea Photography. View more photos from Azie’s Sunday Brunch by clicking here.
