Several people have reported that Azul 17 has closed in Columbia.
I am always bummed when a restaurant doesn't work out. I know how much work that they take, and they disappear with people's jobs when they go. Azul 17 closed down the row from where Korshi Buffet opened and closed quickly last year.
Azul 17 was a Mexican place that opened in 2009 as an upscale, unique option. Mrs. HowChow and I had had great hopes, but it was one of those places that we passed by. We never ate out as much as people seemed to think, and the Azul 17 prices meant that it had to compete with restaurants that always wowed us.
Does anyone know if restaurants will fill the Korshi and Azul 17 slots on Snowden River Parkway?
Thanks to Jim S. and other folks who left updates about restaurants.
12 comments:
Sorry to see Azul 17 go. It was nice although it felt cramped and overpriced to us. As far as the Korshi buffet, we went right after it opened and we were the only people there at 6pm on a Friday. Needless to say, we didn't have a lot of hope that it would stay open. Maybe the location just isn't that great?
I don't think the location is bad, Nichi Bei Kai lasted there for a long time. The downfall of Nichi Bei Kai was that the new owners had no experience running a restaurant. Pho Dat Than has been there for several years and they do fine. Akbar was there for years, IMHO the thing that did them in was they never updated to take on the new Indian guys in town (House of India, Royal Taj.) The only problem with their location is having to do the U-turns to get to or leave the location.
Also, no reason to be to upset about Azul 17, since Xitomate is basically the same exact formula. From what I have heard through the grapevine, they are actually the same owners as Azul 17.
Azul 17 had great food, but it was definitely overpriced. The Salsa night they used to host brought their bar a lot of business and I was surprised to see it end!
Tried Azul 17 twice, and while the food was good, the service was horrendous both times. You just can't survive in a competitive restaurant environment if you treat customers that poorly...
Welcome back HowChow! Like others have commented, I found both the food to be generally good but the service inconsistent. Plus I felt the vibe that Azul was aimed at singles or childless couples, so when Xiomate opened, we headed there.
Korshi's closing doesn't surprise me. I tried it twice and was disappointed both times. It just wasn't that good.
We've been losing a lot of oriental (lunch) buffet restaurants. Niko and Kimco have both closed as well.
I think Niko closed because of the ongoing situation with the shopping center being replaced--eventually.
I went to Azul 17 once with some friends and was disappointed. The food wasn't awful, but for the price I paid for it, I was expecting something a lot better. The service was also terrible - it took far too long to get our meals, and I felt that the server was way too pushy with the overpriced drink menu. Part of me wondered if the reason it took so long to get our meals was because they were hoping we'd order more drinks.
Yeah, Xitomate is run by the same people and has many of the same menu items as Azul 17. I'm not sure how the prices compare - I want to say Xitomate is less expensive but I can't remember. The atmosphere is definitely less formal.
~kam
Kam,
I think the prices are about the same as Xitomate just that they have more low cost options on the menu and they are more family friendly then Azul was. I tried Azul once last year and never went back. To pretentious for their own good. I have been to Xitomate a few times. Although when I found out who the owners are I have a tough time going there since I have bad memories working at Turf Valley as a college kid.
Jim,
What's the connection between the Azul 17/Xitomate owners and Turf Valley? I know the second Xitomate opened a couple years ago in the Turf Valley shopping center, but that's the only connection of which I'm aware.
~kam
Xitomate and the former Azul are owned by the Mangione family, the same family that owns Turf Valley. I actually asked at Xitomate once if the rumor was true and they confirmed it.
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