I was real excited to do a review on O-Dai-Ba after the many positive experiences I've had at this establishment. That was until I seen the rating as three stars. It made me judge my initial rating. Was I being too lenient with my reviews? As you can tell by the five stars, I decided that I had given it an accurate rating:
Food: Understand that I am not a fan of sushi. I actually discovered this place by friends and family begging me to come here. If you are looking for more info on sushi, I encourage you to look at another review. However, if you're like me and you're one of the five people in the world that hates sushi, then you are at the right review. I will say sushi lovers dragged me here, so that means something.
In regards to what I've had at O-Dai-Ba is their teriyaki chicken plate and ramen noodles. I usually only order the noodles when it's cold, and it's a perfect blend of veggies with pretty good noodles. But, my favorite dish is the teriyaki chicken which is grilled to perfection. The sauce is tasty, but still has the right amount of char. It comes with two sides and you can choose from a variety of salads or miso soup. The miso soup is a nice portion with just the right amount of tofu and greens. Believe it or not, I love the steamed rice. It tastes really clean, and exactly how steamed rice should taste. The plate also comes with a veggie skewer which consists of: onions, red and green bell peppers, zucchini, carrot and my favorite, mushrooms. It's hard not appreciate that platter.
Quite possibly the item I look most forward to when dining at O-Dai-Ba is their potstickers. Seriously, they are worth a try. I've tried both their steamed and fried versions and both are amazing. Their sweet and sour sauce is made from scratch and isn't the generic red goop you normally see.
Staff: So common consensus for low ratings is the staff. This was the only reason I considered removing a star. I had some similar experiences where I was left waiting for awhile and was even forgotten about once. They didn't bring my miso soup on one account. But, that was really the only times that I can remember the staff not being on their game. (Yes, I eat here frequently don't judge me. ^_^) But recently, there hasn't been an issue with staff, and they have gone beyond expectations which is an effort of the owner's to find the correct staff. And we all have our bad days people, let's be a little forgiving.
Atmosphere: It's a cozy little place which is kept clean and looking fresh. The decor is nothing special, but not my primary interest. They do have a couple of TVs and sports is generally shown. This is greatly appreciated as a sports fanatic, but something to consider if you're not. Also, bathrooms are kept clean too, which is an added bonus for me.
Price: If none of the above impresses you, the prices will. Really, this is quite possibly the best priced menu I've ever seen. Don't believe me? Try and find a teriyaki platter similar to the one I described for under $10. It's price at $7 and that is money will spent. The potstickers are $2.50 too, which is the best $2.50 I've ever spent.
Overall: I have much love for this place. I can't help it. If I'm wrong, I don't want to be right. You see?! It even has me doing lame expressions! Seriously though, looking for a good meal, in a comfortable area, for cheap, O-Dai-Ba is a great option. read more