AJLA is named after the four women 'tied by family and friendship' - Anne, Judy, Lisa and Ali - who run this elegant casual dining restaurant and also operate the highly-regarded Poppyseed group of cafés in Galway, Oranmore and Clarinbridge.
Situated along the banks of the Clarin river, The Bridge Centre offers some interesting shopping - and, on the first floor, above their well-established Poppyseed café and with its own separate entrance, you will find this opulently decorated restaurant with lush fabrics, soft lighting, mirrors, artwork and plants creating an elegant and relaxing ambience.
Head Chef Judy Forde has been a key part of the team for two decades and her cooking is focused mainly on the terrific produce that's available locally. Steak and seafood are the specialities at AJLA - the latter no surprise, perhaps, in a village that's famous worldwide for its oysters - and she is also known for creative vegetarian food.
Menus are carefully devised to suit the mood at different times, with an imaginative à la carte offering a great range of contemporary dishes for late week evenings out, while 'brunch to lunch' menus offer flexible afternoon dining on Friday and Saturday, and Sundays bring a more structured set menu for the day that's in it.
Popular dishes include starters like a Galway Goats Cheese fritter, served with courgette and sun-dried tomato, perhaps followed by delicious John Dory with dauphinoise potatoes, glazed salsify, baby carrots, samphire and a red wine jus... They're also well known for good - and sometimes unusual - desserts, like Chocolate mousse with chocolate salami and blackcurrant - and excellent coffee.
The wide-ranging wine list is extensive, often drawing customers to share a bottle with one of their Mezze Boards of mixed meats and cheeses (including, perhaps, Smoked duck, Gubbeen chorizo, Cashel Blue and smoked /unsmoked Gubbeen), or an equally tempting Veggie Tapas board of house-made hummus, with cashew nut butter, roasted vegetables, falafel. All are served with a selection of house breads, home made chutneys and olives, making for a tasty casual bite.
AJLA is predictably popular locally for private parties and family dining, including a more traditional Sunday lunch - and there's a children’s menu offering freshly prepared dishes for junior diners, including seafood chowder and house-made fish and chicken goujons.
Definitely a place to know about when visiting Clarinbridge - and with good service led by the manager, Lisa Forde, too.
