Disappoint for the food based on the high price. We got ink noodle, which is soggy, salty, and nothing taste special. We got lamb chop, which is cooked pretty well, but the sauce is nothing special.We went for a good Japanese food, but nothing taste very Japanese.The menu is full of Wagyu beef…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Nicole Bartner
Okay, this was entirely my fault. I got a little carried away by what I “thought” was the newly improved restaurant scene in Boston after having a few excellent meals at Japanese Spots here. This was not one of those meals.In my defense: I scoped Oishii out extensively online. Looked at many pics, read through multiple online versions of their menu (which were very misleading…).Here’s the problem at Oishii: I’m going to go out on a limb and say that at least 90% of the menu items are deep fried/tempura. Not kidding. There is this huge, long sushi bar fully staffed with chefs and they’re deep frying every, damn thing. I’m sure that sells. It’s probably not a problem for them. Deep Fried sushi is not my thing and not why I came. So….my bad.I had actually planned what I was going to order/eat from reading thoseonline menus. Pretty much none of the items I was planning to order actually appeared on the menu last night. I’m assuming they serve what sells for them: Tempura Everything. #eyerollThe spot itself is very beautiful. Multiple levels, multiple bars and dining areas. Really lovely furnishings and serving plates, etc. Also? EXCELLENT Sake List. One of the best, most extensive I’ve ever seen. Super impressive. If they had had even just a “basic” sushi section on that menu Oishii might have worked for me. As in you can’t just order some ala carte pieces of sushi and/or some simple rolls. (I was not given a menu including that. I can see one online. Maybe I should have asked. I just assumed the fancy, bound menu they gave me was the entire menu??) You must choose from a large page of very elaborate rolls. I managed to find two that did not contain deep fried ingredients. And one of those was a California Roll.Oishii is A Lot of Show and very little substance. Looks good. Decent vibe. Underwhelming food. What they’re serving is trying too hard. Everything is muddled. Too much tempura. Flavors and ingredients are not able to stand on their own.On the upside: Portion size is ginormous. One roll will likely do you. So you could have a wonderful bottle of Sake and eat one giant Tempura something and be good!What I had:Cucumber Salad: EXCELLENT. Best thing I had. Led me to have irrationally high expectations.Fried Vegetable Dumplings: really disappointing. Fast food type dumpling that was overcooked.Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice: Very meh. I have no idea what was mixed in with the spicy salmon. But it was A LOT of stuff which made the entire piece too large. Almost impossible to eat. Which is a clear failure in the world of sushi. You must actually be able to get the piece into your mouth…Scallop Crispy Shiso (I think this was on the appetizer menu): Okay, this was DELICIOUS. But this is also an entire meal. Tempura shiso leaf with a scallop on top and then piled high with shredded, fried Taro. This is one of dishes you can order with your excellent Sake and be one and done!Mixed Green Salad: I needed to cleanse my palate from all the fried…basic salad. It was fine.“Real” California Roll with King Crab. It was good. Basic. Fine.For the Love of Salmon Roll: Tobiko, Avocado, Cucumber, Seared King Salmon, Ikura, Shiso, Spicy Mayo. Really good, gigantic roll. Very “busy.” Lots of things going on. Not usually my thing. But again, order one of these and you’re good!I tried their “signature dessert” which is the definition of trying too hard. Hahahahahaha. So much going on. Presentation over substance. Cannot recommend. It’s something like a big, frozen coconut egg with some espresso mousse inside sitting in a little base of yuzu with some berries. #eyerollNice Date Spot. If you live in the area also nice spot. Not worth making the effort to travel to.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Daniel Pe
Good sushi, but price level is beyond
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sharon Hwang
Pretty dissapointed by my experience here. I spent close to $2000 in a night and expected the service to be better based on the price point. When I initially asked what the omakase menu consistent of, I was surprised to have him say he didn’t want to ruin the surprise. I would like to know what I’m paying for and what exactly to expect or the general ballpark. It was a very interesting response but We ended up doing the omakase 9 course with the sake pairing for three people. It took a very long time for us to even get menus initially, the server kept bringing things in twos even though there were three people seated at the table. For example, he only brought to of the soy sauce trays and never brought a third - when I asked for one he never brought it until halfway through the omakase course.And I understand I tend to order more food than necessary but I didn’t appreciate the look of disdain and skepticism every time I asked if I could order something else or if I like take a look at the menu again. It really left a bad taste in my mouth and again, I feel like I came here more so for the experience and ambiance just as much as the food. At the end of the night, I honestly felt like it was such a waste coming here because whole party felt ignored, it was impossible to get the bill let alone order anything else. Our waiter disappeared constantly even though there was really not too many people that night. I don’t think i will be coming back or recommending this to anyone unfortunately. There are better, more attentive omakase and fine dining sushi restaurants in Boston that I frequent and I was hoping to make Oishii another restaurant on my list of go-to’s but after my lackluster and frankly rude experience with the waiter. I will not be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
SabeehH
Overall loved the sushi, the wait staff, and the experience. It was a little darker than what I would have wanting in terms of lighting. But other than that would book again for sure. The sushi was so good. And our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.
Michelle Yuan
We went for omakase to celebrate my husband's birthday. The food was good, high quality with good flavor. However, while the prices suggest a high-end experience, the restaurant falls short in delivering a luxurious atmosphere/services. I mean, paying $300 per person (before tips), you'd expect a chill vibe and top-notch service. Our waiter was nice, but he struggled with remembering the names of the ingredients/fish. He kept apologizing like five times while introducing dishes. Plus, omakase offers no interaction with sushi chef, we also didn’t see the chef preparing our dishes. There’s no separation of omakase and normal sushi roll seating, and the seating was a bit cramped, we could hear everything our neighbor tables were chatting about, definitely didn’t feel the desired chill ambiance for Omakase.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Sherrad Abdool
Food was phenomenal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jay Suave
Excellent service with very solid dishes! We ordered lobster dumplings, salmon on fire, wagyu sliders (not pictured because I inhaled them), the treasure spoon, the toro truffle maki, and the red bean creme brulee.The lobster dumplings were well sized and served with an oyster like dipping sauce. Lots of texture and very crispy. Salmon on fire was tasty, well presented and served alongside a raspberry vinaigrette that paired really well. The wagyu sliders were delicious and came with a wasabi aoili that I loved although I added some extra wasabi for an extra kick. The treasure spoon was a fun experience and full of umami flavor while the toro truffle maki was a bit mild for my taste. I found myself dipping it in the soy sauce as a "need" vs a want but I'd love to explore other maki options. The red bean creme brulee was perfect with a crunchy top and was delicious to pair with the red bean ice cream.Our server Brenden was very well versed with the menu (flavors, portions, etc) and made great, honest recommendations. Brenden along with the other staff members were attentive and polite from start to finish. 10/10! The ambiance was dim and moody with interesting decor and water installations that elevated the space in a unique way.Ask for a Japanese old fashioned, it's not on the menu, but you won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paula Bartlett
Oishii has been one of my favorite restaurant for years. From the incredible staff (particularly Adam in the bar) to their amazing cuisine. The General Manager Luke always makes the experience so much fun. I highly recommend trying their Lamb Chop and exploring their vast Sushi/Sashimi selection. Perfect for dates or solo dining at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu, Hamachi or Toro Truffle, Sashimi Duo of Baby Hamachi with Red Miso and King Salmon with Jalapeño Sauce
Hardy Chen
Came here for the 9-course omakase menu as I'd heard a lot of praise about it. While it is pricey, it is very filling despite being 9 courses, compared to some omakases which can be 12-20+ courses. Additionally, the presentation of each item was impressive and the food itself was amazing as well. There is flexibility in the omakase as well if there are certain preferences or allergies which is helpful. The only downside was that you don't necessarily get a chef making it in front of you and narrating as you do in some traditional omakase experiences. That said, the servers know what they're handing you and can explain it all. Service was very friendly and accommodating.
Our server was incredible and based on his recommendation I had the best hamachi I've ever had in my life. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is top notch—beyond our expectations. Would eat the deserts every day forever —the red bean ice cream and crème brûlée changed my life!
Shonta19125
I've been traveling to Boston for many years and I love this restaurant. It's one of my “must visit and must enjoy the food” places when I come for a business conference. They are always considerate and consistent. The food is always on point and fresh/tasty and quality is evident! Thanks for making my experience, yet again; exceptional!
Foodie1845
I had high expectations from Oishii. Walking in it seemed like a really nice place. They may have short staffed but the wait to get our order in was bad. The waiter kept apologizing but it wasn't corrected. The food all sounded great but everything we got was just ok. The dishes were just no flavor or overpowered with burnt fried garlic. We love sushi and we didn't enjoy anything there except the green tea. The flavors were all off and the prices didn't match the food. We don't mind spending money on quality food but this felt like a waste. Not sure if they were having an off afternoon but we will not be returning. Super disappointed.
Hann Solo
NOT worth the prefix. Got the 6 course and the food was fine, but I had a hard time deciphering what could possibly make this worth $225. Ive spent the same amount for higher quality and more food in Monaco at Niwaki. The hot stone for cooking beef popped grease everywhere and stained my very nice silk shirt. Didn't even eat the dessert, as it was disappointing. Atmosphere, service, and food was fine. Just severely underwhelming and overpriced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef's Special Chirashi
Ren Unu
This place was a miss for me. Had the tasting menu. The food was just ok, but they served what was basically a small steak on course 3 which filled us up for the entire meal. Half the courses were too rich. The fact you could watch the multiple sushi chefs standing there idle, bored, and chatting in what sounded like Cantonese while it took way too long between courses was a very weird vibe for a "fancy" Japanese restaurant. I don't think people realize how Chinese this place is, but most people probably don't realize almost all the sushi places around Boston are Chinese run too.
Disappoint for the food based on the high price. We got ink noodle, which is soggy, salty, and nothing taste special. We got lamb chop, which is cooked pretty well, but the sauce is nothing special.We went for a good Japanese food, but nothing taste very Japanese.The menu is full of Wagyu beef…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Okay, this was entirely my fault. I got a little carried away by what I “thought” was the newly improved restaurant scene in Boston after having a few excellent meals at Japanese Spots here. This was not one of those meals.In my defense: I scoped Oishii out extensively online. Looked at many pics, read through multiple online versions of their menu (which were very misleading…).Here’s the problem at Oishii: I’m going to go out on a limb and say that at least 90% of the menu items are deep fried/tempura. Not kidding. There is this huge, long sushi bar fully staffed with chefs and they’re deep frying every, damn thing. I’m sure that sells. It’s probably not a problem for them. Deep Fried sushi is not my thing and not why I came. So….my bad.I had actually planned what I was going to order/eat from reading thoseonline menus. Pretty much none of the items I was planning to order actually appeared on the menu last night. I’m assuming they serve what sells for them: Tempura Everything. #eyerollThe spot itself is very beautiful. Multiple levels, multiple bars and dining areas. Really lovely furnishings and serving plates, etc. Also? EXCELLENT Sake List. One of the best, most extensive I’ve ever seen. Super impressive. If they had had even just a “basic” sushi section on that menu Oishii might have worked for me. As in you can’t just order some ala carte pieces of sushi and/or some simple rolls. (I was not given a menu including that. I can see one online. Maybe I should have asked. I just assumed the fancy, bound menu they gave me was the entire menu??) You must choose from a large page of very elaborate rolls. I managed to find two that did not contain deep fried ingredients. And one of those was a California Roll.Oishii is A Lot of Show and very little substance. Looks good. Decent vibe. Underwhelming food. What they’re serving is trying too hard. Everything is muddled. Too much tempura. Flavors and ingredients are not able to stand on their own.On the upside: Portion size is ginormous. One roll will likely do you. So you could have a wonderful bottle of Sake and eat one giant Tempura something and be good!What I had:Cucumber Salad: EXCELLENT. Best thing I had. Led me to have irrationally high expectations.Fried Vegetable Dumplings: really disappointing. Fast food type dumpling that was overcooked.Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice: Very meh. I have no idea what was mixed in with the spicy salmon. But it was A LOT of stuff which made the entire piece too large. Almost impossible to eat. Which is a clear failure in the world of sushi. You must actually be able to get the piece into your mouth…Scallop Crispy Shiso (I think this was on the appetizer menu): Okay, this was DELICIOUS. But this is also an entire meal. Tempura shiso leaf with a scallop on top and then piled high with shredded, fried Taro. This is one of dishes you can order with your excellent Sake and be one and done!Mixed Green Salad: I needed to cleanse my palate from all the fried…basic salad. It was fine.“Real” California Roll with King Crab. It was good. Basic. Fine.For the Love of Salmon Roll: Tobiko, Avocado, Cucumber, Seared King Salmon, Ikura, Shiso, Spicy Mayo. Really good, gigantic roll. Very “busy.” Lots of things going on. Not usually my thing. But again, order one of these and you’re good!I tried their “signature dessert” which is the definition of trying too hard. Hahahahahaha. So much going on. Presentation over substance. Cannot recommend. It’s something like a big, frozen coconut egg with some espresso mousse inside sitting in a little base of yuzu with some berries. #eyerollNice Date Spot. If you live in the area also nice spot. Not worth making the effort to travel to.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Good sushi, but price level is beyond
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Pretty dissapointed by my experience here. I spent close to $2000 in a night and expected the service to be better based on the price point. When I initially asked what the omakase menu consistent of, I was surprised to have him say he didn’t want to ruin the surprise. I would like to know what I’m paying for and what exactly to expect or the general ballpark. It was a very interesting response but We ended up doing the omakase 9 course with the sake pairing for three people. It took a very long time for us to even get menus initially, the server kept bringing things in twos even though there were three people seated at the table. For example, he only brought to of the soy sauce trays and never brought a third - when I asked for one he never brought it until halfway through the omakase course.And I understand I tend to order more food than necessary but I didn’t appreciate the look of disdain and skepticism every time I asked if I could order something else or if I like take a look at the menu again. It really left a bad taste in my mouth and again, I feel like I came here more so for the experience and ambiance just as much as the food. At the end of the night, I honestly felt like it was such a waste coming here because whole party felt ignored, it was impossible to get the bill let alone order anything else. Our waiter disappeared constantly even though there was really not too many people that night. I don’t think i will be coming back or recommending this to anyone unfortunately. There are better, more attentive omakase and fine dining sushi restaurants in Boston that I frequent and I was hoping to make Oishii another restaurant on my list of go-to’s but after my lackluster and frankly rude experience with the waiter. I will not be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Overall loved the sushi, the wait staff, and the experience. It was a little darker than what I would have wanting in terms of lighting. But other than that would book again for sure. The sushi was so good. And our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.
We went for omakase to celebrate my husband's birthday. The food was good, high quality with good flavor. However, while the prices suggest a high-end experience, the restaurant falls short in delivering a luxurious atmosphere/services. I mean, paying $300 per person (before tips), you'd expect a chill vibe and top-notch service. Our waiter was nice, but he struggled with remembering the names of the ingredients/fish. He kept apologizing like five times while introducing dishes. Plus, omakase offers no interaction with sushi chef, we also didn’t see the chef preparing our dishes. There’s no separation of omakase and normal sushi roll seating, and the seating was a bit cramped, we could hear everything our neighbor tables were chatting about, definitely didn’t feel the desired chill ambiance for Omakase.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Food was phenomenal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent service with very solid dishes! We ordered lobster dumplings, salmon on fire, wagyu sliders (not pictured because I inhaled them), the treasure spoon, the toro truffle maki, and the red bean creme brulee.The lobster dumplings were well sized and served with an oyster like dipping sauce. Lots of texture and very crispy. Salmon on fire was tasty, well presented and served alongside a raspberry vinaigrette that paired really well. The wagyu sliders were delicious and came with a wasabi aoili that I loved although I added some extra wasabi for an extra kick. The treasure spoon was a fun experience and full of umami flavor while the toro truffle maki was a bit mild for my taste. I found myself dipping it in the soy sauce as a "need" vs a want but I'd love to explore other maki options. The red bean creme brulee was perfect with a crunchy top and was delicious to pair with the red bean ice cream.Our server Brenden was very well versed with the menu (flavors, portions, etc) and made great, honest recommendations. Brenden along with the other staff members were attentive and polite from start to finish. 10/10! The ambiance was dim and moody with interesting decor and water installations that elevated the space in a unique way.Ask for a Japanese old fashioned, it's not on the menu, but you won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oishii has been one of my favorite restaurant for years. From the incredible staff (particularly Adam in the bar) to their amazing cuisine. The General Manager Luke always makes the experience so much fun. I highly recommend trying their Lamb Chop and exploring their vast Sushi/Sashimi selection. Perfect for dates or solo dining at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu, Hamachi or Toro Truffle, Sashimi Duo of Baby Hamachi with Red Miso and King Salmon with Jalapeño Sauce
Came here for the 9-course omakase menu as I'd heard a lot of praise about it. While it is pricey, it is very filling despite being 9 courses, compared to some omakases which can be 12-20+ courses. Additionally, the presentation of each item was impressive and the food itself was amazing as well. There is flexibility in the omakase as well if there are certain preferences or allergies which is helpful. The only downside was that you don't necessarily get a chef making it in front of you and narrating as you do in some traditional omakase experiences. That said, the servers know what they're handing you and can explain it all. Service was very friendly and accommodating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Our server was incredible and based on his recommendation I had the best hamachi I've ever had in my life. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is top notch—beyond our expectations. Would eat the deserts every day forever —the red bean ice cream and crème brûlée changed my life!
I've been traveling to Boston for many years and I love this restaurant. It's one of my “must visit and must enjoy the food” places when I come for a business conference. They are always considerate and consistent. The food is always on point and fresh/tasty and quality is evident! Thanks for making my experience, yet again; exceptional!
I had high expectations from Oishii. Walking in it seemed like a really nice place. They may have short staffed but the wait to get our order in was bad. The waiter kept apologizing but it wasn't corrected. The food all sounded great but everything we got was just ok. The dishes were just no flavor or overpowered with burnt fried garlic. We love sushi and we didn't enjoy anything there except the green tea. The flavors were all off and the prices didn't match the food. We don't mind spending money on quality food but this felt like a waste. Not sure if they were having an off afternoon but we will not be returning. Super disappointed.
NOT worth the prefix. Got the 6 course and the food was fine, but I had a hard time deciphering what could possibly make this worth $225. Ive spent the same amount for higher quality and more food in Monaco at Niwaki. The hot stone for cooking beef popped grease everywhere and stained my very nice silk shirt. Didn't even eat the dessert, as it was disappointing. Atmosphere, service, and food was fine. Just severely underwhelming and overpriced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef's Special Chirashi
This place was a miss for me. Had the tasting menu. The food was just ok, but they served what was basically a small steak on course 3 which filled us up for the entire meal. Half the courses were too rich. The fact you could watch the multiple sushi chefs standing there idle, bored, and chatting in what sounded like Cantonese while it took way too long between courses was a very weird vibe for a "fancy" Japanese restaurant. I don't think people realize how Chinese this place is, but most people probably don't realize almost all the sushi places around Boston are Chinese run too.