Our story:
Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler have been a core part of Raleigh’s independent business community for many years. They first opened music venue Kings in 1999, after years of touring the US and Europe with their bands The Cherry Valence and Birds of Avalon. In 2013, Kings moved to downtown Raleigh on Martin St, and soon after they opened their cocktail bar Neptunes, and Cheetie’s first restaurant, Garland.
In 2023, they opened Ajja in Raleigh’s Five Points, an eclectic, vibrant, fine-casual neighborhood restaurant focused on the food of the Mediterranean, the Middle-East and the Levant, brimming with sharing plates, fresh locally-sourced produce and protein, signature cocktails and adventurous wines.
The patio is the perfect spot for outdoor dining in the summer, and becomes fully enclosed for the winter, with heaters and cozy blankets to keep everyone warm. The jeweled toned indoor dining rooms are warm and opulent, perfect for date night, business meetings or casual dinners with friends. Our large firepit is a great spot for a quick bite and a drink; and our stage and big lawn have hosted special events, private parties, musical guests and small weddings.
We are proud to be a James Beard Award Nominee for Best New Restaurant 2023; one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America 2023; and to have been recognized by Eater, Axios, The News & Observer as one of the best restaurants in the Triangle.
Let the outdoor patio at Ajja transport you
Our values:
Ajja became a reality after many years of cultivating businesses that have centered art, music, farmers, and a global, surprising approach to local ingredients.
Our practices are informed by our collective experience in the world of hospitality, culinary excellence, independent music and business ownership. We recognize that this is an ever evolving process. We are committed to the pillars that inspire us to keep learning and fostering a love for the life we have chosen in this industry.
They are: community, intentionality, respect, sustainability of the planet and people, joy, and all things delicious for the tastebuds, ears and eyes.
We strive to nurture a team that is enriched by diversity and strengthened by intentional collaboration.
Our business is informed by, and upholds these values – and empowers us and our team to continually grow.
Our Team
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Cheetie Kumar
Chef & Owner
Cheetie is Ajja’s chef and owner. An India- and Bronx-raised Southerner and musician, Cheetie earned two James Beard Foundation Award nominations (and five semifinalist nods) for “Best Chef: Southeast” for her multi-cultural menus that blended the flavors of South Asia and the surrounding regions with local agriculture at the beloved Garland, which closed in 2022. Ajja builds on the legacy of Garland and continues telling the rich story of North Carolina’s growers, farmers and purveyors in a vibrant indoor-outdoor neighborhood restaurant.
Cheetie has been profiled in The New York Times, Southern Living and The Wall Street Journal, among many other national publications. She is active in food advocacy and serves on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of both the Independent Restaurant Coalition and the Southern Foodways Alliance. She also serves on the board and the Government Affairs Committee of NCRLA. Cheetie is part of World Central Kitchen’s Chef Corps, a global network of culinary leaders who champion World Central Kitchen’s work providing fresh meals following crises.
When she’s not taking Ajja to the next level, Cheetie likes to spend time attending to Messrs Disco and Boondi, her rescue cats, and going to catch some live music. She’s recently had her mind blown by Air, Caribou, Kraftwerk and Beak>. -
Paul Siler
Co-owner, Director of Vibes
Paul Siler is an artist in the truest sense of the word. Working via a variety of mediums, Paul’s artistic vision and works come to life at Ajja. Taking a cue from his mother, who had a “wonderful touch with arranging,” Paul’s approach to design and décor is best described as “controlled eclecticism,” a funky and fun mix of vintage and modern pieces curated over years of collecting. Real plants hang alongside silk versions, thrift store pieces hang next to family art, and 1970’s swag lights impeccably match his collection of 70’s polyester disco shirts he sports nightly while working the floor. It’s a maximalist aesthetic, but everything has its place.
A born-and-raised North Carolinian and NC State alum, Paul is also an avid basketball player, bird watcher and, to the surprise of many, a pretty solid golfer. While at NC State, not only did he meet Cheetie, his future wife and business partner, but together, they discovered their niche and inspiration within the indie rock and arts culture of Raleigh.
A lifelong musician, Paul plays guitar with Cheetie in their band, Birds of Avalon; he also performs with avant-garde noisemakers Enemy Waves, and he proudly plays the role of Roger Daltry in The Whom, his tribute band to The Who. When he isn’t on stage, Paul’s welcoming hospitality graciously complements Cheetie’s cuisine at Ajja.
In 2023, Paul received his real estate license enabling him to work with fellow Raleigh restaurateur David Meeker’s company Elm Partners that helps new food and beverage businesses navigate the tricky path to finding the right location. A champion of the Raleigh community, Paul also continues to organize and host The Great Cover Up, an annual fundraising event at Kings that has been a favorite of Raleighites since it started in 1999. A documentary is set for release in 2025 about the Great Cover Up, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local and national charities. -
Gaëlle Laforest
General Manager
As General Manager, Gaëlle is constantly working to improve our services and systems. She is always asking: ‘How can we be doing better for our team, our guests and our community?’ A lover of to-do lists, Gaëlle leads our team gently but firmly, with the focus always on growing our team’s skills and our relevance to the neighborhood.
Originally from France, Gaëlle suffers from greener-grass syndrome and spent many years travelling around, with long stints in London and New Zealand – where she found her funny accent and Kansan husband. In her free time, she enjoys being in the kitchen, the garden, or spending time with her cats Daiquiri and Gimlet. Her perfect day involves a good book, a bottle of white wine and a pint of ice cream.
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Sarah Baugher
Chef de Cuisine
Sarah’s experience spans kitchens over the East Coast, having gotten her start in Charleston, and spent the past five years leading kitchens in Pittsburgh, PA. As our CDC, she steers our kitchen team with passion, kindness and curiosity. Sarah loves to listen, tweak, adapt and organize – she knows where to find ideas in herself and others, and can make them come to life on a plate or in a team. Her cool head and positive attitude are a gift to our high energy kitchen!
A newlywed, Sarah shares her home with her wife, two dogs and two cats. She loves to be out in nature, whether that’s a trail or in her garden. A Georgia native, she relocated to Raleigh from PA in search of more sun, and better peaches! -
Lindsay Ogden
Beverage Manager
Lindsay was instrumental in building what Ajja would be – from our steps of service to our eclectic beverage menu. She is a phenomenal bartender and certified wine professional, making her the perfect person to design our wine list and drive our cocktail program. She’s also the dad of our service team – an honorary boy scout, she is our accidental groundskeeper, and is responsible for all of our best bonfires. She comes up with her best cocktail ideas while lying on the floor, or while listening to audiobooks.
At home, she tends to her pet fish, shrimp and snails; as well as her many, many plants. She loves to bake, is a gifted painter (ever noticed the intricately decorated rocks that come with your Ajja check?), and likes to listen to fantasy books and podcasts. -
Savannah Frazier
Assistant Manager
Savannah has been with us since the early days of Ajja. She boasts years of experience serving – and a degree in Teaching Design! – and was instrumental in developing our beverage systems as our former Lead Bartender. As the Assistant Manager, she leads our service team, recruits and trains new hires, and keeps service running smooth with boundless energy and creative thinking. You can trust she will have at least three new ideas every single day, and will have implemented one by the following service – she is always thinking about the next steps to make our guests and staff’s experiences better.
When she’s not managing the dining room or training our service team, you can find her on a walk to the thrift store with her dog Beatrice, making granny squares, or sipping on herbal tea. -
Chris Gamble
Sous Chef
A real human Swiss knife, Chris is a spirited and curious chef. He fell into bread by way of pizza, having been on the opening teams for both Pooleside Pies and several Mellow Mushroom branches – and worked for months with Cheetie on creating Ajja’s fully handmade bread program. Beyond bread, Chris is a meticulous chef, ingenious with flavors, and a whizz at fixing the issues big and small that arise daily in the kitchen.
Chris is at home in nature, and loves to relax and recharge in the forest or by the ocean. In Raleigh, he makes nature happen in his yard, and often boasts sunflowers taller than him! He just recently purchased his own brick pizza oven, and we’re all looking forward to taste tests…