Yama

The Scene – It may take you a couple of tries to find Yama, a Gramercy sushi restaurant located in the basement of a house that Washington Irving lived in. During dinnertime, however, the gang of people waiting for one of the closely packed tables should tip you off to the location. – – The Food – Tasty appetizers like crackling fried soft-shell crabs with a sweet ponzu sauce, wasabi-flavored steamed pork dumplings, and Japanese eggplant with miso paste make a good segue into fresh-tasting sushi entrees like the sushi deluxe, which represents one of the better values…

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User Reviews (42)

ambiance	83.33000183105469% positive	“like this place, always consistent,serve large pieces, and large rolls, prices are decent also, not much of an atmosphere, u can show up in a tshirt and wont feel out of place.” “This past weekend we tried Matsuri and this is our new favorite sushi spot - the food, service, and ambiance was great!” “The sushi was good, but the customer service and atmosphere were horrible.” “Sushi was overall very good, nothing spectacular, but I liked the overall no-nonsense and casual atmosphere of the place.”
dessert	0.0% positive	“My boyfriend and I spent over a $100 for food alone (we did not order drinks or dessert - just an appetizer and sushi) and walked out of the restaurant dissatisfied.”
drinks	50.0% positive	“(don't bother for a table, the sushi bar is just as pleasant).” “My boyfriend and I spent over a $100 for food alone (we did not order drinks or dessert - just an appetizer and sushi) and walked out of the restaurant dissatisfied.”
food quality	71.93999767303467% positive	“So my friend left hungry and there was no music and a very loud obnoxious girl who took over the room and we were not able to enjoy our meal.” “Although the sushi was extremely delicious, albeit expensive, I couldn't help but wish that I was at the other Yama on Carmine street since I was forced to listen to the 2 conversations around me b/c of the unbelievably small dining area.” “Yama offers good sushi without robbing the bank.” “eat sushi at least once a week and Yama is still the best sushi I've found in New York for the price.” “The sushi was good, but the customer service and atmosphere were horrible.” “Yama is by far the most consistent place for good quality sushi in NYC!” “Next time I want excellent sushi, I'll be inconvenienced by Nada or Mishimi and at least get good fish.” “really enjoyed the white tuna tataki (the sauce was scrumptuous), and the hijiki.” “Your pleasant dining experience has now then turned into a labor intensive race against the clock to finish the meal before you lost interest.” “bad sushi rolls” “Very good sushi” “Fish are not fresh enough because, it's rather warmer than cool to keep the taste up.” “horrible service for average sushi” “The fish is always fresh and I have never been disappointed with it.” “"the best sushi in manhattan" oh so true!” “was walking up Irving Place one day, and I heard some guy say to his friend "that place over there is the best sushi in Manhattan” “But Yama's sushi isn't good; its just big.” “Now, the problem with Yama is that if you know good sushi, you will be very disappointed because other than size of the rolls (which were just large, uneven cut chunks of fish) a place like Yama has no redeeming qualities -- lines to get in, a dull interi” “The food was delicious.” “This past weekend we tried Matsuri and this is our new favorite sushi spot - the food, service, and ambiance was great!” “And the fish is just not as fresh or buttery or whatever as it used to me.” “After reading the reviews about Yama, I was wary to try it, but both my sushi-snob Japanese fiance and myself enjoyed it.” “(don't bother for a table, the sushi bar is just as pleasant).” “The only "positive" about the experience is that the sushi rolls were big - but the fish itself was fatty and did not go down like "butter" - the rolls were poorly made (they fell apart consistently - no joke!” “To some, the size of the fish is offensive as it is not properly sized to convention.” “Great, expensive sushi, cramped quarters” “Sushi rolls are not fresh at all!” “good sushi joint” “Go to Yama if you appreciate good fish and well prepared rice; that's where it is best--in nigiri and sashimi.” “Fresh fish, great rolls.” “love sushi.” “They rush you the whole entire time so you can't even enjoy your meal.” “Yes, the sushi is a big chunk of fish, but you are paying for it, they just don't cut it up in little pieces like the other sushi restaurants.” “The sushi was AMAZING.” “Yes, the pieces are gargantuan but the fish is tasteless, the rice even more so, dried out with rice kernels falling all over the place, not memorably melting in your mouth.” “Those who flock to this restaurant will invariably find fresh fish beckoning to them to take a seat and dine on the mammoth-sized portions of sushi.” “If not, Tomoe is just as crowded, just as tasty but with less 'energetic' sushi.” “Where fresh sushi meets poor execution” “My boyfriend and I spent over a $100 for food alone (we did not order drinks or dessert - just an appetizer and sushi) and walked out of the restaurant dissatisfied.” “the sushi is awesome.” “have tried all sorts of sushi places in NYC (yo, choshi, bond, east, samba, hiro, butai, ginger, mizu and the like) and nobody comes close to Yama's fresh sushi and decent prices.” “The fresh sashimi portions were gigantic, but the maki rolls that i ordered had more vegetables than fish inside.” “This is a great place to go with friends who really love sushi.” “If you are accustomed to 'blossoming' sushi rolls and revel in the experience, then by all means, come on down and enjoy the show.” “Not only is the sushi fresh and good, it is served in large portions and decently priced.” “Its not a restaurant for romance, its a restaurant for good food.” “Recently I've realized that I don't even enjoy any sushi besides for Yama.” “Americans tend to think big sushi is better.” “ve been to Yama a couple of times but I think the appeal of it being hard to find over shadowed the fact that this place has very poor service, bland fish, and mediocre rolls that are not at all creative.” “My fiance thought the large proportions were good, that the other ratings were way too low, but that he still prefers Tomoe sushi.” “The eel here is also quite delicious, they prepare it extremely well, with minimal bones.” “good food” “If a restaurant is going to make you wait a couple of hours, mix up the waiting parties, and give you cramped service in a cramped space, the sushi better be good.” “the fish has a great taste.” “Yama is authentic, and the quality of the fish can't be beat unless you're willing to break your pocketbook.” “great food - long wait” “think it is truly insulting that they would hand me such terrible quality food, I was absolutely disgusted at what I saw.” “Now if you don't know good sushi, perhaps Yama will pull off something in appearances -- they make large rolls and there really is a line to get in.” “will not be returning for this tasteless, expensive sushi.” “For good sushi, a cramped and crowded space is worth it.”
menu variety	50.0% positive	“Now, the problem with Yama is that if you know good sushi, you will be very disappointed because other than size of the rolls (which were just large, uneven cut chunks of fish) a place like Yama has no redeeming qualities -- lines to get in, a dull interi”
overall	70.0% positive	“Now, the problem with Yama is that if you know good sushi, you will be very disappointed because other than size of the rolls (which were just large, uneven cut chunks of fish) a place like Yama has no redeeming qualities -- lines to get in, a dull interi” “This is a great place to go with friends who really love sushi.” “Sushi was overall very good, nothing spectacular, but I liked the overall no-nonsense and casual atmosphere of the place.” “shouldn't be telling you this since it will only increase my waiting time but it's just a great place.” “not a good place for groups - best in pairs as you will get seated faster.”
return potential	0.0% positive	“Even given all that, I would still go back except now the service is so bad.”
service	62.96000003814697% positive	“horrible service for average sushi” “was seated immediately and the service was very attentive.” “The service is great.” “Even given all that, I would still go back except now the service is so bad.” “This past weekend we tried Matsuri and this is our new favorite sushi spot - the food, service, and ambiance was great!” “If a restaurant is going to make you wait a couple of hours, mix up the waiting parties, and give you cramped service in a cramped space, the sushi better be good.” “ve been to Yama a couple of times but I think the appeal of it being hard to find over shadowed the fact that this place has very poor service, bland fish, and mediocre rolls that are not at all creative.” “The sushi was good, but the customer service and atmosphere were horrible.” “Great service.”
value	86.11000061035156% positive	“The fresh sashimi portions were gigantic, but the maki rolls that i ordered had more vegetables than fish inside.” “will not be returning for this tasteless, expensive sushi.” “Those who flock to this restaurant will invariably find fresh fish beckoning to them to take a seat and dine on the mammoth-sized portions of sushi.” “Huge portions” “The Fresh large portions of Sushi are worth the wait.” “Not only is the sushi fresh and good, it is served in large portions and decently priced.” “like this place, always consistent,serve large pieces, and large rolls, prices are decent also, not much of an atmosphere, u can show up in a tshirt and wont feel out of place.” “Though the cuts were huge, who cares when the taste is so unmoving?” “Food with good value with no pretense.” “For good sushi, a cramped and crowded space is worth it.” “Although the sushi was extremely delicious, albeit expensive, I couldn't help but wish that I was at the other Yama on Carmine street since I was forced to listen to the 2 conversations around me b/c of the unbelievably small dining area.” “it's a rushed kind of dinner but worth it - the rolls and the sashimi are very good, better than most of the NY Japanese restaurants in the same price range.” “small restaurant with huge portions.” “have tried all sorts of sushi places in NYC (yo, choshi, bond, east, samba, hiro, butai, ginger, mizu and the like) and nobody comes close to Yama's fresh sushi and decent prices.” “bit more pricey, but you won't feel like you've just sucked down raw cardboard for an hour.” “eat sushi at least once a week and Yama is still the best sushi I've found in New York for the price.” “Great, expensive sushi, cramped quarters” “Good value”
wait time	100.0% positive	“great food - long wait”

07/14/10

Average at best

by crsdiving

I live in the neighborhood and wanted to try a new place for lunch. I had the sashimi for one. Very disappointing. The pieces of fish were both large and tasteless. To my surprise, they served surimi with my sashimi. Need I say more.

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04/09/10

Best Sushi in NYC

by Lazzie

I've lived in NYC for 17 years and have tried many sushi places, from Nobu (I'd put a "Boo!" in Nobu) to the local low-end joint. Yama is hands down the best. For a humorous but insightful review of Yama, go to this site: lgreport.blogspot(dot com)/2010/01/lg-report-restaurant-review-best-sushi and you'll see why this place rocks. I shouldn't be telling you this since it will only increase my waiting time but it's just a great place....enjoy!

Pros: Big Fresh Pieces, Awesome Spicy Mayo
Cons: Doesn't Take Reservations, Waits Can Be Long - But Worth It

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08/06/09

Recycled fish

by oceanblu9

Ordering take-out from this restaurant without looking at the food before I left was a big mistake. If I had opened the bag while still inside the restaurant I would have immediately asked to speak to their manager, the sushi I received (if you can even call it that) wasn’t at all what I had asked for, nor did it look like it was prepared for human consumption. The rolls were small, the fish looked as if it had been cut by a three year old and to make matters worse, there were chunks of what looked like recycled fish thrown on top of the rolls. The fish was greasy (not at all fresh) and the rice looked as if the had put some type of sauces on to of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took these rolls off someone else’s plate after they mutilated it. I think it is truly insulting that they would hand me such terrible quality food, I was absolutely disgusted at what I saw. I’m amazing that this place hasn’t been closed down because of health complaints; I could only imagine what this food would do to someone’s stomach. This place doesn’t deserve a single star.

Pros: Nothing
Cons: Greasy Recycled fish, Disgusting presentation

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03/06/09

Best sushie!

by CSMobileUser2

Love this place! Great service. Amazing sushie. Creative rolls no one else has.

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08/18/08

I'm a Regular--and its so good I hate to promote it

by nybapfood

I have been in love with Yama for quite a long time now. The sashimi/nigiri sushi comes with quite a big piece of delicately cut fish - custom that I've heard is from a particular region in Japanese. The fish is always fresh and I have never been disappointed with it. The eel here is also quite delicious, they prepare it extremely well, with minimal bones. I oftentimes get my sushi to-go on the way home and savour it there, but the cramped style within the restaurant is just part of its personality. Lunches are as busy as dinner, and its much easier to get a table, with the same menu plus the lunch specials. Yes, you can hear the conversations all around you because of its tiny-proportions, but so many a times people have joined into my table's conversations, and it's all in good fun. Its not a restaurant for romance, its a restaurant for good food. The waitresses and sushi chefs are not all Japanese, but then again, are they ever in today's sushi restaurants? Its getting fewer and fewer. Actually, I know the origins of most of the staff, and I can't at the moment think of any particular Japanese staff member.

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Yama

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User Reviews (42)

07/14/10

Average at best

by crsdiving

04/09/10

Best Sushi in NYC

by Lazzie

08/06/09

Recycled fish

by oceanblu9

03/06/09

Best sushie!

by CSMobileUser2

08/18/08

I'm a Regular--and its so good I hate to promote it

by nybapfood

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