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Daruma Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
45 N Dean StEnglewood, NJ 07631
(201) 567-9600
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Daruma Japanese Restaurant
19 reviews in English
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Review from Bob A.
Tenafly, NJ
11/14/2011
Rainbow Roll and the "Scottish" Salmon/Bass combo in the orange/carrot sauce are my standard fares here. Ask for the extra sauce; it came a bit thin on occasion. It has the fake Japanese floor seating that kids like (dangle your legs in to the hidden bottom under the table).
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Review from Haris H.
Englewood, NJ
6/5/2011
Excellen eats, very good sushi, and interesting "in the floor" seating available. Gets very busy on the weekends so reservation recommended.
I recommend the soft-shell crab sushi like the dragon roll and the sweet hot roll. -
Review from Lena B.
Teaneck, NJ
8/17/2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!!!!!! This is my favorite sushi restaurant ever! (and i've had a lot of sushi in my life)
My favorites are:
1. Splendid roll (truly splendid)
2. Passage to India (aaamazing)
3. Tuna Pizza (what could be better??)
4. Vegan Gyoza
5. Miso Cod Fish appetizer
6. Very Tuna Roll
7. Godzilla
These are just a few off the top of my head... but honestly everything i tried on the menu rocked!!!
The staff is very courteous and attentive and accommodating!!!
it's BYOB, which i love.
Tasteful decor and dimly lit for a romantic evening. -
Review from Leela D.
New York, NY
3/28/2011
I've been to Englewood twice, and both times were wedding related.
The first time, we stumbled upon this place while walking around the area. As soon as you enter, it is such a nice surprise! I love the decor and the spacious-ness. We loved it some much the first time, we wanted to go again the second time.
The both times we went there, we tried a little bit of everything and I wasn't disappointed in any of it! I like all the different rolls and Daruma has certainly produced some pretty good experiements.
The service is great and you certainly don't feel rushed - we tried little things and kept on ordering more and more afterwards. I'm sure they appreciate the business, tho.
I honestly don't remember the things that we ordered b/c we tried so many, but that might be the best part of it. I'll get to enjoy it all over again when we visit again next time.
FYI - it's BYOB. -
Review from ted r.
Hoboken, NJ
4/21/2011
In my opinion, this place is better than Akai Lounge which is right down the street. The fish is fresher, the sushi tastes better, the service was better...Akai was just OK, but not up to par with all of the rave reviews I have read online.
We went to Akai on a Friday and Daruma on a Wednesday so that might have been the difference, but Daruma just impressed me a lot more across the board. -
Review from Princess M.
New York, NY
10/1/2008
Nice atmosphere, large portions, so-so taste.
This restaurant has a slightly more upscale feel to it than your local neighborhood Japanese joint. It has some semi-tatami seating in addition to a sushi bar and regular table seating.
The menu has a good selection of creative rolls and American/Japanese fare such as teriyaki, miso cod etc.
We tried the miso cod and grilled squid appetizers (taste wasn't fantastic) and various rolls and the sukiyaki for entrees. Sukiyaki was very hearty and the portion was large. An order of two special rolls would be enough for one person. We tried the tempura ice cream for dessert.
Overall, service was nice and the place was quite crowded when we were there on a Saturday night, so there must be some regulars. But my main gripe is that the taste of the food wasn't fantastic. -
Review from G P.
New York, NY
1/23/2009
I have to agree with Princess M. The service is attentive and decor is inviting but the food is just average. I had the chicken hibachi. Certainly edible but nothing to write home about. The sushi rolls are quite expensive but they are fairly larger and more complex than your typical california rolls. The tatame seating is "semi" because you can put your feet down underneath the table. There's a large space beneath the table. It's like sitting on a chair.
There's one caveat that may or may not sway your decision to dine there. Daruma does not have a license to serve alcohol. It's BYOB. My party and I was informed of this very important detail by the hostess from another japanese restaurant named Akai Lounge (I think it was previously called Koi since Koi and Akai lists the same address on yelp) that's situated 1/4 block south of Daruma. We wanted to eat there but the wait was at least 40 minutes. The hostess apparently knew who I was from a very short meeting two years ago but that didn't seem to help us get seated quicker. (I still can't remember meeting her.) So we decided to try Daruma. We brought our own beer and sake that was purchased from a place just around the corner on Palisades Ave.
This place would've garnered only two stars if it weren't for their BYOB policy. Even though Daruma is forced to a BYOB policy because liquor licenses are exhorbitantly expensive ($500K+), I don't mind it. -
Review from Sylvia B.
Manhattan, NY
5/19/2011
decent sushi. ill be straight with you. i have a hard time rating inauthentic sushi/sashimi places when the people that make it are not true 'masters' of this technique.
i won't get into the details.
the fish seems fresh, but some of their dishes are really salty. i assume this is because it's been adjusted to the american palate.
it's BYOB, which is a plus. -
Review from Sue K.
Englewood, NJ
12/13/2010
nice local japanese place. i find myself going back here time and time again. i recently went back twice and thought that the quality of the food went down a bit. (for what it's worth, despite thinking that, i went back again...)
have had several of the special rolls, the hot entrees and hot and cold appetizers. the food is good. not great, but definitely good. the interior is clean and neat. who am i kidding? this is probably one of my go-to sushi places in the area...
also found out it's byob which is a nice plus. oh, and although you can usually find lots of parking on the street, for those times you can't, daruma has it's own parking lot. -
Review from Liz E.
Flushing, NY
1/15/2010
Both times I've been here the service has been very kind, gracious, and somewhat stiff, but still good. The first time was a birthday party - six of us were adeptly served by a young waitress, who swiftly opened our wine bottles (BYOB) and laughed at our silly jokes. It was her birthday too - I have to give her credit for working so hard.
The setting is dim, modern, and made to look rather upscale, though the food isn't much different from most sushi restaurants. One signature that Daruma has, that I haven't seen too often, is seating without shoes around tables that go into the floor - it's very cozy.
Both times I've been here, I've opted for the various maki rolls, and not much else in the entree department. The edamame are as firm and delicious as they are pretty much anywhere else, while the roti canai (hardly a Japanese dish) is thicker, and more pancake-like, than one would find in a Malaysian restaurant. Though these appetizers are good, I'd go straight for the rolls if I came back by myself.
The Park Avenue one is a keeper if you like a sweet and spicy edge to your meal. It has mango, "super" white tuna, and a host of other little morsels wrapped in a pretty cylinder. For something much simpler, the sweet potato tempura roll is crunchy and delicious, but who can go wrong with a deep fried sweet potato? I can't think of anybody.
My boyfriend is in love with their soft shell crab roll, and with good reason. It's a giant amongst Lilliputians when you compare it to the other maki, and quite tasty too. The legs are the best, even though I feel like I'm eating a tarantula when sinking my teeth into them.
Overall, this is a fine Japanese restaurant that one can look forward to. Give it a try, and stick with the rolls. -
Review from Tom S.
1/2/2011
Daruma is definitely a hidden gem -- finding excellent sushi in Englewood was certainly a surprise. The rolls are innovative and great. As an appetizer, the spicy tuna avocado boat is incredible -- a staple of my visits.
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Review from Julia P.
Paramus, NJ
11/9/2009
Daruma certainly exceeded my expectations! (Though not without a few disappointments) Our party of four arrived around 7:00PM on a Saturday night (without a reservation) and they seated us in the front of the restaurant, away from the tatami and general seating. I hadn't realized they had tatami seating, so I made a request to change our seating to that of tatami once one opened up... which one soon did, about ten minutes later. Thank goodness I did, as I began overhearing complaints from the table next to us, regarding inattentiveness of the servers. They had been waiting for some time to take their orders, and were not even offered tea or water. Daruma was pretty busy, and unfortunately was neglecting customers in the front- a problem I did not have to worry about since my party had changed tables. (It is wise to make a reservation and request seating in the back!)
The highlight of our meal was most definitely the appetizers, steamed Chilean sea bass, and the desserts.
For the appetizers we ordered:
Vietnamese Spring Maki - AMAZING PEANUT SAUCE. No. SUPERB. If I could, I would buy jars of that to bring home. In fact, I am fiending for some now.
Crab Cakes (I forgot the exact name): The guacamole ?? type of concoction they put on the crab cakes was very delicious and complimented the dish without an overpowering flavor. Subtle but very yummy!
Lobster Dynamite: Basically fried lobster drenched in spicy mayo .. Overpriced and average in taste.. unless you like that sort of stuff.
Their steamed chilean sea bass was succulent and glazed with a black bean sauce.. So delicious, and definitely worth a try. Not to mention, the portion of the sea bass is much bigger than that of other restaurants.
Honestly, the maki rolls were expensive .. and so-so. They look/taste like your typical Japanese restaurant...if not worse. Rather plain in taste, in my opinion.
We also ordered the sashimi deluxe .. and received not only tiny pieces of sashimi, but also selections of the cheapest fish... they were still fresh ... but it was very disappointing. BUT .. their white tuna (my favorite) melted in my mouth .. oh I want some more .. .
For dessert, we had their Tempura Pumpkin Ice Cream .. SO DELICIOUS! I am not a fan of pumpkin in general ... but it is so delicious and such a huge portion, I am now a fan of Daruma's pumpkin delicacy. Their green tea ice cream is also simple but delicious. Next time I would like to try their Green Tea Tofu Cheesecake. (They were sold out!)
All in all ... There were ups and downs. I am definitely coming back, but certainly not for their sushi/sashimi/maki. They are a bit expensive, but their cooked dishes are very delicious! Our waitress was very attentive, and our dishes arrived faster than I expected from a packed restaurant. Their restaurant is also aesthetically pleasing. which is always a plus.
FYI, if you sit at the tatami seating, be sure not to wear socks with holes or very restrictive clothing! -
Review from bruce s.
Englewood, NJ
8/15/2011
Always enjoy Daruma. Everything they serve is very good. Tempura is excellent and sushi is fresh and inventive. Service however is and always been funky so patience is a must. BYO adds to the whole groove.
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Review from Karin M.
Englewood, NJ
11/21/2010
One of my favorite sushi places in New Jersey. Great decor, service is friendly and attentive and the food is superb. BYOB, so bring your favorite Sake, wine or beer for dinner - liquor stores right around the corner.
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Review from john h.
Edgewater, NJ
3/21/2011
The inside looked interesting. The tea guy came around every 3 mins. The grilled Hamachi collar bone was decent. Then everything went downhill after that. Our waiter was too occupied messing around to pay attention to the customers. The spicy tuna roll was soggy and dripping. The salmon was cut into cubes (not long slivers with max surface area) and their hand rolls should be called feet rolls. They looked like they were made with their feet and were also dripping. What a mess. The others were overcooked, sauces were too sweet or salty and just overpowered the flavor and texture of the meat/vegetable. This fusion is diner with (Chinese knockoff of) Japanese.
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Review from michelle c.
Hudson County, NJ
4/19/2010
i don't like rolls with seaweed. "what?"
you say: "what other rolls exist?"
me: "ones that are wrapped with the refreshing deliciousness that is cucumber"
you: "really?"
me: "yes!"
you: "interesting. i must try that."
me: "yes, you should."
and you can do so at daruma. they have a few rolls pre-made OR you can suggest your own to make your very own original cucumber wrapped delectable roll!
YATTA!
oh and they have (pseudo)tatami seating. if you swing that way =) -
Review from Hoyd B.
Englewood, NJ
8/30/2010
Service: awesome Dishes: well crafted. Rating: well deserved. Why not 5 stars: perfection is an approximate good.
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Review from Cocomero M.
Irvine, CA
6/20/2009
Daruma is simply delightful. The appetizers are very creative and combines different Asian flavors to create a neo-Japanese fusion style cuisine. The main courses are more traditional Japanese and the fish is always fresh. The service was great. The owner, Angerli Lin, came out to greet us and recommended fresh fish of the day for sashimi. They were all very tasty. The decor of the restaurant was also very nice. I highly recommend it.
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Review from Jonathan W.
New York, NY
1/11/2008
you know - when you are stuck out in the middle of nowhere new jersey for work - you are kind of limited on the places to eat situation. we have found a good little japanese place we go to often for sushi lunches. slightly pricey but always satisfying - you can walk away spending $20 and feeling that it's worth it. if you ever find yourself in englewood (and why would you ever find yourself there) check it out.
