I like that it locates in a small town which gives you the small town feel. The inside environment is average. It has a home-like feel but it's not homey.Ota-Ya's rice isn't cooked right - hard. Sushi is a little dry, not that it has to be drowned in sauce but to me sushi needs to have a certain softness& hardness to it. I think AHI Sushi on Grant and Bustleton PA achieves this texture and makes their sushi better than Ota-Ya. The service is average. I guess because it has the home-like feel so the treatment is quite the same. If you're out of town, you should bring quarters since they still have street meters. Just in case you have to park there. read more

My family has been coming to Ota Ya for years, and we always enjoy our meals here. The food is fresh and well-executed, the specials are creative, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the ladies who run the front of the house are very sweet. We've eaten at many Japanese restaurants, from NYC to SF, but we always look forward to coming home to Ota Ya. This is where the locals eat, and what lucky locals we are. read more

The sushi was very good and the people were super nice that worked there. But they're a little unorganized with the people waiting because the building is awful. It looks like a crack house from outside and doesn't get much better inside. read more

Very nice and pleasant meal. From the outside resturant looks like a dead beat but once inside it's a happening First floor Sushi second floor 4 hibachi tables read more

Good for Hibachi grill, but downstairs is a little cramped. All in all, I would say it's the best Japanese food in the Lambertville area. BYOB, I would suggest getting a group together to eat upstairs at Hibachi - the chefs are fun up there, but kind of rude downstairs from my experiences read more

I have been here a few times, wasnt a huge fan at first, but enjoyed my most recent email. While the fish is not of the highest quality its a very nice and well prepared. I enjoy their specials rolls and tempura. read more

We had a very disappointing dinner here tonight. Hostess asked if we had reservations & place was more than half empty. I wish they would have turned us away instead of being seated in an unfriendly way. The salad wasn't fresh & the ginger dressing was watered down & had a vinegary taste. My husband & I both ordered chicken, shrimp & vegetable tempura. It was very bland & coated in a thick batter. Would not recommend or return! read more

The place isn't the best sexiest dining room in the world, on the plain side really, and I can't really comment on anything on the menu except the sushi and sashimi. But since the sushi and sashimi are the beginning and end of what I'm looking for, it is first-rate. read more

Very average. Can't hold a candle to Sakura in Princeton. We ordered sashimi deluxe for $25 and it was fresh but we felt the portions were small. Sakura's sashimi deluxe is $26 and we don't always finish it, there is so much. Was especially disappointed by the very small scoop of spicy salmon, which let's face it, is made from the trimmings so at least be generous with that. Then, because we were still hungry and our waitress very aggressively alerted us that it was "last call" (even though there were still 3 tables in the place) we ordered three more rolls. All I can say is they were meh. I guess there isn't much in this area so it's fine if you have a craving for sushi but it's just OK and the staff isn't very friendly. read more

I'm not sure if I'm more disappointed in the steep decline in quality of this restaurant or myself for ignoring it. I've been to the restaurant many times over 15 years but the last 4 have mainly only been for take-out because of the attitude of the waitstaff (I've been a server before so I get some days are off but come on!) A few days ago I ordered takeout despite the growing number of poor reviews on yelp. The sushi was tasteless and mediocre until I went to try the salmon roe, one of my favorites and the reason I ordered from here instead of Wild Ginger. It was disgustingly slimy and fishy. I did not swallow it for fear of getting sick. Sad to say this place has been resting on it's laurels. They haven't gotten a zagat recognition since 2007 but the awards are still plastered everywhere, which is misleading. Unfortunately I won't be ordering from here again unless they bring themselves back to their former level. read more

Very bad service. We were gonna spend about 7 dollars each and they said it was a ten dollar minimum, and said "that's what you do at a restaurant" and then talked about us to each other and were very rude. I suggest you don't eat here. Also didn't understand our friend was gluten free read more

Horrible sushi. Mushy rice. Tempura oil was old and added a terrible flavor to it. Frozen gyoza. They deaerve 0 Stars.

As always, the food was delicious, and timely served. One warning, don't laugh too loud, or the wait staff will ask you to keep it down!! I've never been to a restaurant where they ask you to "keep it down", when your table is laughing. For a BYO, one of the better Sushi restaurants, from a food quality standpoint. read more

We tried this restaurant twice and both times it smelled like dead fish when we walked in.

This is my FAVORITE sushi! Everything is so fresh and reasonably priced for the quality of fish. My friends and I go here all the time, we've become regulars. If you're in for trying something new I suggest getting the Volcano salad and the King Kong roll - it's a lot of food, and it's all delicious!! read more

The sushi here is consistently fresh and the wait staff professional and sharp. We have eaten here regularly since 2007 have not yet had a bad meal. We have to get the Shiraishi because it's a great value and you get to sample many different kinds of sushi. They also have special rules that are a little pricier. We love the otaya special and also the naratu maki special rolls. read more

We love this restaurant. The service is attentive and very friendly. We go so often it is like visiting friends. Great sushi too!

So far I am not impressed with the looks of the place. It's almost dingy and could definitely use a refresh. The bathroom is nasty. The sushi is mediocre at best. One roll is just drenched in sauce and it's all I taste. Also, the Boston roll had avocado in it even though the menu said it didn't. My wife is allergic to avocado and spent the rest of the night with an itchy/swollen throat. Not cool. People that say this is the best sushi they have ever had need to expand their horizons. The price was totally not worth it. I have had better sushi from grocery stores. Blah. read more

Our favorite sushi place in NJ! I've never tried anything better. It is BYO, but there is a liquor store right across the street, and another one a couple of blocks down. Reservations are strongly recommended. read more

The worst service experience I had in a long time. 1/2 hour in to our dinner, they started clean the table and asked if we are done with the food. We felt rushed throughout the meal, and finally the waitress told us we have to leave because they have "more clients coming". They cleaned our table unceremoniously and ask when we intent to pay the check. It was quite annoying so we decided to find a different sushi place. read more

We have been coming here for years and it is always great. We just went again this week and we were not disappointed. The Spicy Tuna Pizza (not on the menu) is fantastic. Also, we tried the New Style Sashimi and couldn't believe how fresh the sashimi was. All of the rolls are delicious. This is a must-try! read more

Although they have some good sushi rolls the atmosphere is awful. The people that work here are very rude, and aren't helpful at all. I don't find it that clean here. But at least try the shrimp tempura roll if your going to go. I would say do a to go order, but you'll wind up being on hold for 15 minutes on the phone. read more

You don't go here for the Hibachi, you go here for the sushi. I can honestly say I have not had sushi from any other location that can compare to Ota-Ya. The quality has been unmatched in my travels. The Spicy Rock Roll, out of this world. Go with a group and share a sushi boat, you will not be disappointed. read more

Great sushi, prepared fresh in front of you. The spicy tuna roll is especially good. The entrees aren't as good as the sushi, but not bad anyway. Waiters/waitresses are very courteous, but do not understand Japanese (it doesn't matter, it's just curious.) Overall, a very good experience. I'll be back for hibachi soon. read more