Kooma Restaurant

02/02/11

FAIL sushi restaurant

by realfoodconnoiseur at Citysearch

So my girlfriend and I were looking for the closest sushi restaurant to the Hyatt, and the Japanese Steak House was more so for hibachi so Kooma it was. Sorry, but this restaurant was pathetic compared to any sushi restaurant I've had in Columbus and the Cleveland area. I don't remember what I ordered, but I do remember their salmon roll was so small and meager that I could eat the six little pieces in one bite. I might as well have ordered one slice of sashimi, which would have been the equivalent to the amount of fish the put in their sushi. Just to try it I ordered some calamari, and sadly enough it looked like some out of the box mini rubber bands battered and fried served with some spring roll sauce and sesame seeds in teriyaki sauce. I could get better calamari anywhere that doesn't even specialize in sea food. I ordered three other rolls, one normal and two special, but I guess they were so bad I don't remember. I did try the kooma roll #2 it was just ok, mediocre, average. The portion wasn't that great either, I've seen bigger and better for less. Basically, try the 10 or 15 rolls that the Japanese Steak House had, you might be a little more satisfied, or just drive out to somewhere better. Oh yeah, there was a very strong fish odor.

08/21/10

Decent sushi restaurant

by kayla842 at Citysearch

This is place is very modern and does have really good, interesting music. The fish was very good quality, my only complaint is the portion size. My nigiri was a small sliver of fish, I have gone to other sushi joints and have gotten twice the size of fish. Me and my fiance both were still hungry after our meals. It did take quite long also to get our food, the waitress did inform us though that there were a couple of take out orders that were going out. Another down fall is parking, you may as well add at least another $5 to your night for that, but thats what you get in downtown.

Overall they did have good quality fish and the atmosphere was very nice.

02/22/10

Great Atmosphere - WAITED FOREVER!!!

by TOOPRETTY at Citysearch

I went to Kooma this past weekend for the first time. We park in the parking garage went inside and the place was crowded great music and lots of friendly faces, mainly the customers. We were approached by a male / possibly the manager or owner and we were told it would be a 30 minute wait so we told him we were going for a walk and would be right back. 20 minutes later we return to no communication other than they gave our table away and we had to wait another 30+ minutes. We were finally seated in a corner next to a very loud group of people who were getting drunk crammed 6 people into a 4 spot table the people were practically sitting on my lap. Service was with a smile but very delayed we were told it would take 30 minutes to get our food but it was about an hour. Once the food arrived it was delicious but think they need to learn how to communicate or learn how to manage your staff....

over all i'd eat there again but next time it will be through the week.

• Pros: soup wine atmosphere
• Cons: wait staff and food preperation

05/27/09

Noticing a trend

by earnestearnesty at Citysearch

Kooma could indeed be one of the trendiest restaurants in the Columbus area with its top notch sushi and ethnic cuisine, however I have noticed a trend in the recent reviews. Most here would claim their accolades are stifled by a lack of aptitude in the service, which is wholly justified, as the management does not see it fit to properly train servers.

When I was hired, I seemed more like a body in an apron rather than an investment as an employee, and the staff was sure to reaffirm that belief. The management was poor with communication, as one would contradict the other with information and technique. The only way I was every going to taste the stuff was if it was snuck off a discarded plate, or I came in on my day off to pay the full price for a roll. Being too personable with the customers was discouraged as they would stay longer than necessary. My least favorite technique was the constant criticism of performance IN FRONT of customers, which is grossly unbusiness-like. I resonate with the general consensus, which is again a lack of investment in the face of the restaurant.

The staff knows how to put on a good show, but for those with a keen sense of observation, the attitude prevailing at Kooma will leave a bad taste in their excellent fish.

• Pros: great looking food, atmosphere, variety
• Cons: service, staff, attitude

03/09/09

Better than most in Columbus.

by cdubya1971 at Citysearch

This is my go to sushi place in Columbus - far more dependable than others (Haiku, Shoku, etc...)

The service has vastly improved over the years and the sushi is still great.

The Sunday Morning Roll is prolly the best roll (heavy on cream cheese though) in Columbus, second only to their Sunday Morning #2, which is on special from time to time. Spicy Tuna Roll is also the best in the city. Cooked food is tasty as well for those who don't care for sushi. Park in the North Market parking lot for cheap, secure parking and arrive early on weekends as Kooma is quite small.

• Pros: Sunday Morning Roll, Spicy Tuna, DJ on Friday and Saturday.
• Cons: Parking, Service is sometimes spotty.