Otani Restaurant & Sushi Bar

02/04/2008 Posted by accessguy

I ordered the nabeyaki udon for my girlfriend since she had never tried it and she has fallen in love with this tasty noodle soup. I lived in Japan for seven years and visited an udon manufacturing facility and the udon at Otani was exactly the same chewy consistency as the best udon I had in Japan. The soup is very flavorful, and not the bland or over-salted kind you get at less conscientious restaurants. I had the sabe shio-yaki (salt-grilled mackeral) and it was about average for a Japanese restaurant, which is to say very delicious! I give 5 stars for the nabe-yaki udon and 3.5 stars for the saba-shioyake.

01/08/2008 Posted by dave1096

I was born and raised in Southern California and have been to hundreds of sushi bars...ranging from excellent to terrible. I now live in Philadelphia, but travel to Columbus for business. I visited Otani one time about a month ago. The sushi falls somewhere between mediocre and bad. The fish is soggy, not firm like fresh fish should be, and the rice was mushy and poorly seasoned. The spicy tuna mix comes out of a pre-packaged bag, and the selection is nothing to write home about. I only ate about 3 rolls (which are small), so I can't speak for the entire menu...but what I had was not impressing at all. A coworker of mine warned me that the sushi was subpar...I should have listened.

Pros: The sushi chefs were friendly

Cons: The sushi quality was poor

11/08/2007 Posted by mmathewson

I recently moved here from Chicago so I appreciate good food served in locally owned establishments. When I heard Otani was the oldest Japanese restaurant in Columbus I had to try it. I ate at their sushi bar and had my sushi created by none other than the owner Mr. Honda. It was excellent. From the fresh tuna to the huge shrimp that they used in their tempura it was all fantastic. I highly recommend Otani not just for the food but for the great conversation at the sushi bar. My wife and I loved it so much we came back the following night for Karaoke, we had a blast. Do yourself a favor and try Otani.

Pros: The owner Mr. Honda is a national treasure but which nation USA or Japan?

Cons: A little hard to find. It shares a parking lot with a bowling alley.

10/24/2007 Posted by julie2271

My husband and I have ate at Otani on a number of occasions and had always been pleased, however our last experience there was horrible! I ordered a Sushi combo plate for 25.00 and the selection was AWFUL! I eat alot of sushi, so I know what should at least be on a combo plate, and I am not cheap about good sushi.I tried to send it back and the waitress told me that I couldnt. I then insisted she take it away. The hostess returned a few minutes later plate in hand asking me what was wrong with it. I told her it was not what I had expected. She argued with me about it until I finally had to yell "I dont want it, it is not worth the price!" She then took the plate away, only to return a few minutes later with 2 more peices of sushi added. I have never been so humiliated in a restaurant the way I had been at Otani. My husband and I have a new baby and dont have the chance to go to dinner often. As I said, I dont mind spending alot of money on quality food. This was however not qulity food. Our bill was still 80.00 plus tip and I did not have a single bite of sushi. So yes they still charged me the 25.00 for my dinner anyways. They ruined our evening out, and have lost a good customer because of it.

Cons: horrible customer service

02/25/2007 Posted by beertram

We've tried every sushi bar in town (and dozens elsewhere). The sushi here is some of the freshest. I can not say I enjoy every roll they offer but most are very good (Polaris roll is my fav). We used to do the $25 deal but they stopped offering that.

Pros: fresh sushi, white tuna

Cons: none

12/23/2006 Posted by toeknee33

C'mon people. I have been to all the Sushi bars in town and Otani's is the best by far. Their Miso soup is better than all the rest, and their sticky rice is the best. Face it, all Sushimi grade fish all tastes the same... so it's the sticky rice that makes the difference. And Mr. Honda makes the best sticky rice I have experienced. Where else can you get two big rolls for $9 for lunch? Oh and Friday and Saturday nights rock with Karaoke.

Pros: Great lunch Specials. Great Miso Soup. Great Sushi.

Cons: None

09/05/2006 Posted by lauer777

The Sushi is good. The service was very good. It is a good place to try. Don't base your opinion of sushi bars if this is the only place you have tried. I have had better. The House Of Japan at Polaris, and the Liu Pon-Xi, downtown are great. The resturant is into the Karaoke thing. So if your into that it will be a bouns for you. Personaly I am not, I also don't care for the sports bar atmosphere with a sushi bar setting. However if it is in fact your first experience then it's a great chance to ease into the experience. I did infact like it and would go back. They advertise a all you can eat sushi for $25 durning happy hour that sounds interesting.

06/29/2006 Posted by Jasmine052376

It cracks me up that this place always gets rave reviews for their sushi. I think the Japanese food is good, but the sushi is awful. I ordered spicy tuna and I swear it had mayo with a little bit of spice to it slathered all over the top of the rolls.

03/31/2004 Posted by stoughtn

My girlfriends and I always meet at Otani's for sushi on Saturdays. You can choose from a reasonably priced buffet or order right from the menu, either way its a bargain. The waitstaff doesn't speak English very well, but none the less the atmosphere is very warm and inviting. I highly recommend trying it, you'll be hooked!

Pros: great prices, atmosphere, variety

10/26/2003 Posted by shanemathewson

Dining at Otani is more like eating at a friend's or relative's house than a restaurant. For 19 years the owner, Mr. Honda, seems to always be behind the sushi bar greeting you with a wave or a joke. The fish is always remarkably fresh even for the midwest and I love their deep fried tempura dishes. Add live jazz, karaoke, and a large variety of sake and martinis and your night is complete.

Pros: Fresh seafood, Authentic Menu, Comfortable Atmospher

Cons: Sometimes Crowded, Small smoking section