Restaurant Ash, Mills Ave - Closed

I went to this American restaurant at the old Funky Monkey space (daughter of the owner who was just on Hell's Kitchen) on Wednesday. It's in the middle of Mills. I was coming back from the airport in between lunch and dinner and my initial choice seems to believe that they are good enough to only serve dinner though they are a pizza place. We'll see (someday if they are lucky). Maybe they should post their hours on the door. Since it was almost dinner and I hadn't eaten all day, I had two courses. I tried the stuffed avocado for $12 and the mahi sandwich for $9. The avocado was stuffed with quality ahi tuna atop an avocado half seated in a nest of wakame (tons). I found the teryaki sauce and the mayonnaise sauce and the sriracha to be a distraction. Too much going on here, but, they aren't the only ones to serve it up this way. Still it kind of hints at the level of sophistication you can expect. The avocado was also a little "entrenched" in the shell. They give you a fork and chop sticks to attack the dish. It would be better if they "loosen up" the avocado so you can just use the chop sticks. The mahi was fresh and cooked perfectly. A wide hunk. And the bun was nice. However, they overdo it again here by covering it with cheese and tons of cabbage (slaw) AND sauteed onions. It also came with a fresh field green salad that was properly dressed (quantity) with a crushed apple vinaigrette. A great value. Now the "and" is what will make you love or slightly dislike this place. If you love "kitchen sink" cooking then you will love how they have crafted this menu. They "jenga" a dish until it is about to fall over. If you prefer to let the ingredients (and they aren't distracting you from inferior ones) speak for themselves, then you may wish they practise a little more self restraint. In any case, the results aren't bad. The menu is a little blase. Pot pie, pot roast, burgers, sandwiches, etc. I expected a bit more panache. It doesn't stray far from its "funky" roots and we already have that. I'd like to see them take a few more chances. Service was good. I don't think the "Ash" was in the kitchen. They place seats around forty. It has a girlie decor. Prices are reasonable. They serve beer and wine. A nice gastro pubby type place. I believe it opened in March.