Oya Hell

Oya is a DC hipster sushi bar and lounge that has great atmosphere and a great bar.

This is the second time I have been for sushi and the imaginative rolls are hit or miss and the himachi and tamago were mediocre. This is the kind of place that over does it. Too many rich ingredients and sauces coupled with mediocre grade fish which just burns a hole in your pocket. For example, the shrimp tempura roll should be simple fry the shrimp fresh, chunky avocodo, a little spice mayo, roll and bam perfect. At Oya the shrimp was fried way too early and it became cold, the rice was so dry that they had to dump a honey sauce (gag) to make it moist. Then it was topped off with dashi flavored tempura strings. The soft shell crab roll was again friend to early and it became tough. I do think with more polished cooking and attention to detail these rolls could be interesting, tasty and worth it. But for right now, the lobster tempura is the best.

If you are going to be a decent restaurant for God sake remember customer service. TT had the prix fixe menu. His main dish wasn't brought out until our sushi dinner was 70 percent complete. Our waiter had gone missing. When his food came out it was over heated, seemingly like it was microwaved. TT mentioned this to our waiter who promptly told the kitchen staff and out came the sous chef who insisted that nothing was microwaved. It wasn't a pleasant exchange more of an indignant proclamation. If his food actually lived up to his protest I would understand but your food is mediocre and service was lousy.

Because service was lousy only go for cocktails.