New No Da Ji Restaurant

10/21/09

need new sushi

by sushibub at Citysearch

has anyone found a replacement buffet sushi restaurant for no new da ji?

my friends and i miss our old standby. the food was great, the atmosphere was friendly, the buffet was attractive, fresh and appetizing and best of all the price was more than reasonable. need a new spot for pigging out on sushi that's good and reasonable!!

• Pros: used to be great
• Cons: new owner = not worth going

03/19/09

Great buffet, great bar, great house menu!

by HLT at Citysearch

I have been eating here since 2004, and have watched this restaurant change hands many times. But no matter who is in charge, I have never left disappointed or hungry.

If you are skeptical about a sushi buffet, give this one at least one chance. Even if you aren't all about the sushi, buy a buffet meal and you will get plenty of variety with things other than sushi (delicious bean sprouts, steamed mussels, BBQ ribs, glazed chicken, etc). I have taken friends along for the dinner buffet, and even those that were totally against the sushi idea still ate well and left with loosened belts!

If you want to interact, you can sit at the sushi bar and have your rolls made to order right in front of you. While sitting at the bar I have sometimes been treated to exotic delicacies by the chefs. If you prefer a more intimate atmosphere, take a seat in the dining area and you will still be waited on by the friendly staff. About mid-meal, you'll be brought out a plate of complimentary steak which is always my favorite part of eating at The Daj.

I would recommend this restaurant to those looking for a great sushi place to call their own.

• Pros: Buffet is the #1 pro, service is friendly, price is fab!
• Cons: Selection on the sushi buffet could be bigger

01/15/09

The love (and sushi) is gone

by rudienyc at Citysearch

Well, not _all_ the sushi... I went to NNDJ last week after a several-week hiatus and immediately noticed something was different when I entered. It was virtually empty, the usual staff was not there (save Julio) and the vibe was, well, there was none. When I got to the sushi end of the buffet, excited to load up on niguri sushi, there was none to be found. Instead, there was a small variety of maki, nothing special, and half without fish in them. Julio immediately explained that there were new owners. And just like that, this may be the end of the Daj for me. As you can imagine, no more complimentary BBQ beef, no more complimentary sushi salad. The service was uninspired. This was not the same New No Da Ji.

To be fair, I was told you could order niguri sushi for $1 a piece -- not the same! I kept going back to the sushi section hoping to magically find something yummy that hadn't been there during my last rtrip up to the counter...but to no evail. I tried some of the hot stuff, which I usually don't eat much of, and it was lackluster. This was the first time I have ever left the Daj hungry!

True, the buffet is cheaper by a fewebucks, but I'd much rather pay more for what I used to get. I'll give it another go in a few weeks to see if it gets any better but I suspect I'll have to search for another AYCE sushi bar -- are there any left? I've been through a few NNDJ management transitions over the past decade-plus but this has been the most painful. I hope the essence of Old No Da Ji returns and soon.

• Pros: reasonable variety for a buffet though not high quality food
• Cons: No more niguri sushi at the buffet; no more complimentary beef or salad; hot food lackluster; mediocre service