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Oyama
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Oyama
17 reviews in English
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Review from George K.
10/5/2011
Ordered a small salad (which the restaurant comped for no reason, pretty sweet) and it was a salad, so if you need an explanation on it, you should be eating more salad anyway. I tried the Godzilla roll and the Salmon Delight roll, both were delicious. The fish tasted fresh and the avocado was a nice touch. The waiter was excellent as well, made the meal rovery!
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Review from Laura J.
6/27/2011
Things I did not expect to witness at Oyama:
-Vegetables flung at my face
-Saki shots administered by a squirt bottle
-firey habachi flames extinguished with the chef's plastic "Pee Pee Doll"
Entertainment: 5 stars!
SO why only the 3 shiners above? Well, the food was just average for me. The fried rice was slightly under cooked, the steak and shrimp were bland, but what really did not sit well with me was the traditional accompaniments that always arrive with the meal...the steak and seafood sauces. First of all, I'm all for innovation and setting yourself apart. It's necessary to thrive in the food industry, but serving a warm ginger dressing as the seafood sauce and a honey mustard slurry as steak sauce...no sir. Not acceptable. When it comes to hibachi, its the white seafood sauce that makes it all worth it! And teriyaki sauce for steak. Take notice....STICK WITH WHATS GOOD. -
Review from Robert H.
West Hartford, CT
5/5/2010
The Chill of the (frozen) Fin; the Agony of Deceit
Edamame: $6.00
Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura (App. portion): $11.00
Tuna Sashimi "Martini" Salad: $10.00
When I see menu pricing that's a little (and sometimes a lot) higher than what the normal, local traffic will bear, it leads me to believe they perhaps have a better product. We tried this place at the recommendation of a person we met at a favorite Japanese restaurant elsewhere.
Tuna was watery and flavorless. It'd been frozen. Ditto salmon. Red snapper was returned as inedible. The server came back with the same pieces (on a different plate) and lied through his teeth that it'd arrived fresh that morning.
A specialty roll involving tuna tataki and several other ingredients, with a tasty sauce, saved us from utter starvation. But it took them 25 minutes to make, and was small for a roll priced at about $18.
After the lackluster sushi-bar appetizer fiasco (accompanied by some small and poorly-prepared cocktails) we moved to a dining table (no, not the hibachi) to complete our meal. The celebrated beef dish had been artificially tenderized and was covered in a cloying, gelatinous, salty sauce that would be more appropriate on a Swanson's frozen meat loaf dinner.
Two other diners continued with the masochism and had more sushi for dinner. The only thing really worthwhile on our dinner table was a bowl of Nabe Yaki Udon, fragrant with a mushroomy-funkiness about the broth, laced with the requisite seafood and fish cakes and filled with perfectly-cooked big fat Udon noodles.
In the middle of the (tuesday) evening meal, the entire dining room could hear a verbal fracas going on in the kitchen featuring men's and women's voices. It was so loud we expected to hear breaking glass (or gun shots) next.
A dining partner's sake arrived (in a ceramic bottle intended for hot service) ice cold. Same silly waiter lied again; "it's not meant to be served as hot as other restaurants serve it." I had long given up on the tiny, not-cold-enough martinis and moved on to vodka and soda.
Cold warm sake: $4.75
Finally, if I'm spending about $80-$100 (per person, before tax and tip) for dinner please, please don't nickel-and-dime me. I'm usually not dreadfully price conscious about eating out, but don't ask me "do you want more Kani salad?" while I'm waiting for dinner and then charge me for it, after I've eaten one as an appetizer. And a dinner salad was charged as a side (it was taken off the bill by manager). If you want white rice with your meal, it's going to cost you $2.95 a bowl, by the way. That $2.95 charge appeared three times on our bill (it was a Chinese friend who eats lots and lots of rice). Hey, Oyama. In New York City you can charge for rice. Not in Cromwell. They're greedy.
Dinner salad (side): $4.00
White Rice: $2.95
Brown Rice: $4.25
We opted-out of dessert but ordered green tea and some brandy. All they seemed to have was Hennessy V.S. (they showed us the bottle). I'm used to upscale Asian restaurants always having a nice stock of X.O. on the top shelf. After we'd put a dent in the Hennessy, one of the managers, a slick-looking younger fellow, offered up some Courvoisier or something of the same ilk. We'd had enough to drink so we opted out. Hey, we'd probably have been charged for either the Hennessy or the X.O. or worse, both.
And yeah, they charged us for the green tea as well.
Green Tea: $2.50
These people want to believe they're Feng in downtown Hartford. Hell, they've got a lot of competition in central Connecticut and I can think of places that're about 25% less expensive with food that outshines this by miles.
We will put up with an awful lot from a restaurant that many diners won't abide. This place pushed me to my personal limit. I couldn't wait to get out.
Finally heading out the "exit" door: PRICELESS.
DISCLAIMER: Virtually all my reviews are after two visits, at least. This was based on a single horrible experience that we're just not courageous enough to reprise. -
Review from Jenny F.
10/31/2007 2 photos
We were shopping in Cromwell and decided to grab a bite to eat. We checked our GPS to find out what restaurants were in the area. The first restaurant to show up was Oyama. I double checked a review on my Blackberry because I will not randomly try a sushi restaurant. We found a good review in the Courant so off we went.
Oyama is a Japanese restaurant which also has a few hibachi tables. The dining room is large and extremely clean. The first thing I noticed was that the prices were a little high compared to Sono Bana and Akasaka.
We started our meal with two appetizers, spicy grilled squid and black seaweed salad (hijiki). The squid had the right amount of spiciness and saltiness. The sauce was more of a chilli sauce than a bbq sauce. It is definitely worth ordering. The hijiki was the same as everywhere else I have had it. Good but definitely an acquired taste. My husband can't stand the stuff.
For our meal we shared 3 different sushi rolls: the peanut avocado roll, red dragon roll, and a special roll that I can't recall the name. It had freshwater eel on top! The sushi rolls were tasty but I have had better. The eel, however, was fantastic. It was very lightly coated with bbq sauce, not drenched.
My husband and I both decided that if we eat at Oyama again it would be to try one of their meals. They had a wide variety of different meat options as well as noodles, soups, and basic Japanese fare. Next time I would probably have the eel over rice.
The waitstaff was extremely friendly. A main issue I have with the restaurant is that tea is not complimentary. The charge over $2 for a cup. -
Review from Adrian W.
South Glastonbury, CT
12/26/2008 1 Check-in Here
If you're in the area, this is a reliable and very yummy Japanese restaurant. I usually go for lunch, but have had the hibachi on a few occassions. The sushi is great, portions are good (not too huge but not tiny either) and specials are always interesting. Best sushi I have had outside of Boston or NYC.
The hibachi is pretty standard, however the last time I visited they offered noodles as part of the typical meal. Most hibachi restaurant's charge extra for the noodles, so it's a nice touch. No complaints, but no stand-out amazingly different hibachi offerings either.
Waitstaff is usually attentive and a smile does go a long way. I've noticed some of the corporate lunch crowd can get snippy or rude, so I can't blame the staff if they're not running to get their noses bitten off.
Overall, if you've got about $15, you can get a satisfying lunch that won't leave you weighed down for the rest of the afternoon. -
Review from Michele T.
Hartford, CT
2/24/2008
Our waiter was horrible! Luckily the food was fantastic. First it took 45 minutes to get our drinks because he failed to verbally put in our orders with the bartender when he knew the computer was down. It took at least 30 minutes to order our entrees. Luckily we were a bit forward when ordering our appetizer, vegetable and beef gyoza, so that didn't take too long. We noticed immediately our server was inexperienced when he didn't know the menu. Once we put in our initial drink and app. order we hardly saw him again.
We changed tables in between being ignored due to very drafty windows. I ordered the chicken hibachi, I sampled the filet mignon hibachi which was awesome in every way. The chicken was really good, but I was skeptical with the filet that it would be over cooked and chewy. No-it was prepared medium, and each small bite had a warm red center, perfection!
The men ordered various plates of rolls and sashimi. The men were satisfied with their rolls and everything was finished. My boyfriend thought his was "good" and creative.
Following our meal we were promptly given the bill. Hm, the only thing that actually came promptly, but he never took our dessert/coffee order. We were fairly stuffed but I am positive I would have convinced my friends to split some ice cream with me.
Go for the Hibachi whether seated in the dining room or at the actual Hibachi tables. -
Review from Christopher B.
Derby, CT
11/1/2009
I checked out Oyama on a whim after getting done officiating hockey games at the rink down the road. The location is very convenient, right off exit 21 from I-91.
I then noticed that the atmosphere was pleasant; it's mostly soft reds, with soft lighting all around. There are main dining tables, a sushi bar, and a couple of hibachi tables in the back. I sat in the main dining area for an entrée.
The first thing I noticed was that the menu was pricey, especially for Cromwell. I didn't see any appetizers for under $6.50, and though I didn't eat hibachi, the prices for that were the highest I've seen in Connecticut. With that said, the menu has good variance, with a nice mix between sushi and regular entrees for people like me that don't like sushi.
I started with an appetizer of Chicken Tatsuta Age. This was well done, and came with a nice dipping sauce. Then my entree came out, and I was blown away. I ordered the Oyama Steak, described as a thinly-sliced sirloin steak cooked in onions and vegetables, covered with house sauces. The sauce was sweet but with enough of a kick to let you know it was there, and the steak was cooked to perfection, with good portions for a Japanese restaurant. Though it was $21, this was worth every penny.
The wait staff was competent. I received everything I needed and they neither ignored me or were overbearing, but they certainly didn't make me feel like anything special. A smile does go a long way, and though the owner was very friendly, I'd like to see that same warmth from someone who's financial future isn't tied to the restaurant.
Overall, the food is good enough to override the high prices and non-inspired staff. Oyama is a good place to eat for groups, as are most Asian restaurants. -
Review from Kristopher B.
Herndon, VA
4/22/2009
I went here this past Monday for a lunch time get together with my co-workers.
I've been here before, so the experience was nothing new. We had Hibachi grill entrees along with sushi. The staff at Oyama are always very friendly and funny. The Hibachi chef puts on a little show when sitting around the grill. It is great fun for the whole group. Their sushi was of the average variety, nothing to special. They have some pretty tasty rolls, but the hibachi really steals the show.
They give you great portions of food. The perfect place for a group outing.
I really like this place. 4 Stars to Oyama -
Review from Amy T.
Wallingford Center, CT
11/12/2010
The only reason I keep coming back is the "Sexy Girl" roll. While maybe a bit overpriced, like most items on the menu, it is always delicious. Portions are very large.
Listed in: Sushi in Central Connecticut
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Review from Amlan S.
3/11/2008
The waiter, there is just one dude who serves here with a suck ass attitude. He is not helpful and a border line ass.
Their food is ok. I thought their udon was decent but $15 for udon bowl i thought was expensive for Cromwell. -
Review from Scott P.
Middlesex, CT
3/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Went here tonight for my daughter's 6th birthday, along with my 3 year old and 1 year old girls. We went with the Hibachi, of course, thinking that the little girls would really love to see a giant wall of flames up to the celing. Yes, there were some tears, but not completely unexpected.
As for the food and show, it was the usual Hibachi experience. The chef did the usual tricks (egg into the hat, volcano, etc.), the food was excellent - nothing better than piping hot fried rice, chicken and shrimp served right on your plate. The dinner portions are very large, enough to take some home. The service was above average and attentive.
Prices were a bit high, but you're really paying for the show in addition to the food.
Nothing much more to say here. Great place for kids (at least over the age of 4) and a lot of fun. We had a really great time! -
Review from Kelly S.
Middletown, CT
2/13/2011
A little overpriced for Cromwell but the portion sizes are huge for hibachi. You get rice and noodles with your meal while most places have you choose. Mediocre service most of the time.
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Review from Shaun L.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2011
For me, Oyama offers the best sushi in Connecticut. The rolls are creative and flavorful. Although a bit expensive, the price doesn't put me off because I'm used to paying higher prices for good sushi. I would also recommend trying the hibachi, as it's pretty entertaining and fun especially when you're with a group of people.
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Review from Nathan P.
Middletown, CT
11/7/2010
Good hibachi, not the best I ever had, but getting the big size and taking leftovers home can last for a couple meals later, kinda nice.
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Review from Rich P.
Plainfield, NJ
5/9/2010
Very average meal for a lot of $$
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Review from Holey P.
West Haven, CT
9/25/2010
I would never eat here again. The rice was okay, noodles had no flavor, chicken was not tender, lobster tail was too salty. (Hint for the chef) Never add any seasoning that will make it saltier to seafood because it is naturally salty to begin with, practice more on utensil acrobatic skills because hibachi was suppose to be very entertaining, more speed on the vegetables and meat chopping and slicing so guest would not be bored.
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Review from Andy M.
Middletown, CT
2/4/2010
The sushi is not worth what they charge. Japanica 2 in Middletown has the same quality sushi for less. The service is not bad but it's also nothing special.
