Aroma Restaurant & Sushi
7875 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45236
Aroma Restaurant & Sushi Menu
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Address :
7875 Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati, OH, 45236 - Phone (513) 791-0950
- Website https://www.aromacincinnati.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Dashania G.
The Philly roll is always a fan favorite with me and the kids. We came in here solely for my daughter for the purpose of getting her a roll. I am concerned that my waitress didn't ask if we wanted anything to drink though.
(4)Mike N.
OK the quality isn't the best. The sashimi I would pass. But for the amount of pretty good sushi rolls you get for your dollar is unmatched anywhere else in cincy. Think of this as a dancing wasabi but less expensive. So stuff your mouth full and drink lots of water to make yourself really full afterwards.
(5)Beth H.
I really enjoyed Aroma & would recommend to others to try out. I had my first experience last Fri for a girl's night out. My friend & I found a Groupon deal & decided to try it out. It was easy to make reservations online & it was nice that when we arrived the table had a reserve sign on it. You know how you make reservations, then they make you wait another 20 mins, not the case at Aroma. The service was good & friendly. Cocktails were delicious, I believe I ordered the Berry Acai cocktail. We then ordered fried zucchini for an app then ordered the Crispy roll, Bengal roll & the Hawaiian roll. We had plenty to eat & some to spare. All 3 were tasty & pleasing. Atmosphere was trendy & relaxed. Overall, a great experience & I will be back!
(4)Debbe T.
A bit pricey if you don't do the half price happy hour. But great food.
(5)Chris G.
We went here for lunch recently. They have 3 bento lunches; one sushi, one vegetarian, and one yahi (terriyaki.) We had one sushi and the shrimp yahi. They both had rice, a salad, and three dumplings. The sushi was not made with sushi rice and had very little rice vinegar, so the roll basically fell apart. The dumplings are either chicken, shrimp, or veggie (no pork?). We.both got shrimp and thought it tasted more like shumai than a dumpling/gyoza. The shrimp yahi bento was okay, but drowning in sauce. The sushi menu seems very expensive, but they have happy hour half-price sushi from 3pm to 6pm everyday. The service was above average, but it was not crowded during noon lunch. I don't think we'll be returning.
(2)Tom Y.
The sushi and service was very good. The rice was moist and fresh. I had the dragon roll and unagi, which were both excellent. Top that off with it being half price and you've got yourself a winner!!!
(5)Chip F.
I read some of the bad reviews on Yelp, but my wife and I had a Groupon (expired), so we decided to go. It was a perfectly nice experience. Not the best food we've ever had, but there was nothing at all bad about the food, the service, or the atmosphere. First of all, there was no bad odor. So ignore those comments. And it's now owned by the same people who own Cloud Sushi in Mt. Lookout, so the vibe is (I gather ) a lot different than it was under the former owner. The atmosphere is unpretentious without being down-scale, and our server, Nicole, couldn't have been nicer or more attentive. Blonde Man was nowhere in sight. The food was good. I had the Spicy Tuna Cocktail--sashimi tuna and pieces of cucumber in a hot sauce, garnished with thin cucumber slices--and it was excellent. I like spicy food, and this was not only spicy but flavorful. For my entree, I had Jalapeno Chicken. It was pretty simple, lightly coated and fried chicken with slices of jalapeno and a sprinkling of diced green onions, but it was tasty. The chicken wasn't overcooked, the coating was nice, and the jalapenos gave it a nice heat. I got some Sriracha sauce on the side for a little extra umph. My wife had sushi and said it was good too. Decent sized individual pieces and rolls that weren't overpriced. (The night we were there, both the wine and sushi were half-price, but even at 100%, it wouldn't have been a rip-off.) All in all, it was a nice meal in a nice atmosphere. If you're near Kenwood Towne Center and looking for a place to eat, you could do worse.
(3)Jessica N.
I went here for lunch one day during my lunch break with a group of coworkers. Was not expecting to be uber impressed, but the food was very good! Maybe it's just me, but I always (apparently wrongly) assume that restaurants attached to malls are a little mediocre. I usually don't rave about salads, either, but the soba salad was so freaking good. If you're at the mall or work in the area and don't want to hit up the Cheesecake Factory, head over to Aroma.
(4)Cellen B.
Id give no stars if could. Service was bad, food was bad. Wont be going back:)
(1)Beth F.
I went to Aroma when it first opened after being handed a flier on a piece of lime green paper. Well, it worked, it got my attention. They were having some great deals from what I can recall and we swung in before we headed back home. I for one, loved the place. I haven't been back just because it's a bit of a drive for me. I'd have to 5 star love it, to spend the money on these gas prices...But anyways, the atmosphere was awesome and so were the staff. Maybe it was because they were just opening, but I felt like we got treated above par for the normal place. They gave us a heavy discount with the coupon I'd picked up in the mall, gave me my edimame for free & even gave us a drink when it was ordered wrong at the bar. They were super attentive, joked around with us and made sure we were well taken care of. It's probably been a year or more ago now, so I don't know what exactly we ordered, but I know I really liked it, and I tried the different types of Saki that they had too. Very good. I will definitely return for a future visit!
(4)Lauren G.
Really liked it here. Went on a slow afternoon so the service was good. It was before Cloud Nine officially took over, and I told the server what roll I love there, she told the cooks, and they made me exactly what I wanted! I thought it was nice they let me get something off the menu and I would definitely go back again.
(4)Mandy F.
Some girls from work and I wanted to have a sushi lunch date and one girl, who works at Kenwood Mall, suggested that we go to Aroma. I was hesitant because I had read previous Yelp reviews about how horrible this place was. I voiced my concerns and she reassured me that she had just had lunch there the other day and it was great, so...off we went! We went during their sushi happy hour - from 3p - 6p - on a Friday. Arrived around 5p - there were only a couple other customers there. Decor is modern, but it was iceeee cold! I guess that's better than being sweltering, but I was a tad uncomfortable. Reviewed the sushi menu - it differed just slightly from what was posted online. The menu online didn't indicate that there was a difference between lunch prices and dinner prices. However, we were there during happy hour, so it wasn't much of a concern. To start, we split the chicken lettuce wraps. They were wonderful!! Each of us had two and there was still PLENTY left. Great mixture of chicken and vegetables, but I loved the sauces that came with them - three different ones, so you could mix and match. One was slightly sweet, one was spicy, and I believe there was soy sauce as well. For the sushi, I went with the volcano and the chef's special. Both were absolutely DELICIOUS! The volcano is fried (I know, I know - not traditional sushi, but really freaking good) and contained jalapenos! Loved the spice and the crunch - went well with the sauce that was drizzled on top! The chef's special was yummy - I chose the salmon and it was so sweet and tender! I also had a cocktail - I believe it was "The Aroma" - it was okay, but for $10, I felt like it could've had another depth of flavor. It was almost too sweet. Overall, great lunch with the girls!! We split the lettuce wraps - it was $3 and some change for each of us...two sushi rolls were $15...and the drink was $10. I've been craving the sushi since I left!
(4)Amy C.
Their happy hour special may be the best in Cincinnati b/c it's half off rolls in general with nice drink specials too. I've been here so often that I even know the rolls I like: Kenwood, Hawaiian, Rainbow, and Black Pearl. The decor is modern, comfortable, and there are also tv's to catch up on the latest sports. Definitely a must try, though watch out for slow service sometimes when it gets crowded. Note: Common courtesy is to tip on the pre-discounted/pre-tax portion of the bill.
(4)Abby G.
I love the sushi at Aroma! Now that all sushi is 1/2 price, we will be going more often!
(5)Jennifer P.
We decided to try Aroma today with two friends from Pittsburgh. It was about 6:30pm on a Saturday and they wanted to try Maggiano's before Aroma, but the wait was 1+ hour at the former so Aroma won out. This was our first visit for all of us. There was no wait, which surprised me for a Saturday. It was not empty, but not close to full either when we were seated. The hostess was polite and our seats were clean. The restaurant is very dark due to the black paint on the walls so the sun coming in cast an odd light about the place which was distracting to me. The menu is a decent size and there were two sushi options for me as a vegetarian. I decided to order the Veggie special roll and a side order of the Pad Thai Noodles with tofu, figuring I would take most of the Pad Thai home. I am a big fan of Pad Thai so I like to try it anywhere I go. My friends ordered two different types of sushi, one being the Red White and Blue special rolls. My husband ordered the Thai Sweet and Spicy chicken. The other couple ordered the broccoli tempura appetizer, which was delivered promptly and was pretty good. The server did not write down our orders, which always worries me. She did repeat everything back to us that we did order, and everything was delivered exactly as ordered so I was impressed. The food came quickly but not all at once due to the mix of sushi and kitchen orders. The Sweet and Spicy chicken came first followed by the pad thai and then the sushi. My husband enjoyed his sweet and spicy chicken, remarking that it was better than a similar dish he liked at PF Changs. My Pad Thai with tofu tasted okay, but it smelled very odd - almost like sweat. I have not had Pad Thai that smelled like this before. Everyone at the table commented on it including myself. There was also whole peanuts in it instead of ground which I felt made the dish lose that peanut flavor throughout. It was an okay dish other than the strong smell but I would not specifically go here for Pad Thai personally. The special veggie roll I ordered was very good and arranged simply and elegantly. Our friends enjoyed their rolls as well. We did not have any issues with the rolls falling apart as others have mentioned. The service was adequate and my leftover Pad Thai was boxed up for me when requested. I would like to try the eggplant appetizer and will come again for sushi but am leaving the stinky Pad Thai alone!
(3)Todd L.
Aroma is probably a 3.5 star rating, but I rounded down as it's not in 4 star territory. The sushi was pretty average, but we happened to get two really awesome appetizers. For the rolls, we got the Kenwood Roll - Tuna/Mango/Cucumber - which was just so, so, the Cincinnati Special - nice roll, shrimp tempura w/ spicy tuna on top, and the Rock n Roll - Spicy Tuna/Tempura Eel/Mango - thought I would like the mango, but didn't care for it... Now, the good part, the appetizers/sides. We ordered the Chinese Broccoli Tempura...not thinking much about it. It comes in long spears and it's really delicious - a must have if you go. We also ordered the Toasted Eggplant which was the star of the evening. It comes in a sweet, red flake chili sauce, sprinkled with fresh cilantro and it was amazing, . I would come back just for this side dish. All in all, it was a pretty good meal...apparently they have 1/2 price sushi from 3-6pm everyday, so if we ever go back, it will be during those times.
(3)Andy D.
Could have been a lot better... I went here with pretty high expectations...Unfortunately, once I got there the only thing that was high were the prices. The sushi was sub-par and the service, I would love to say was bad, but it would be more accurately described as non-existent. Also, why are they serving tacos and sliders there too...just thought that was kind of weird.
(2)Christian L.
Very nice sushi place, with cool decor. Being in Kenwood I was expecting very over priced food and bad service. But Aroma was actually a pleasant surprise, they have many good menu items, and some very good speciality rolls. Again this is a place I went, due a restaurant.com gift certificate, and would probably not venture up here again. Unless I was in the area and in the mood for sushi. There are just too many other options for me, since I live in Covington... But the sushi was good and the service was nice and attentive. They have a wine flight, were you can chose 3 different kinds for $12, I have not seen that before.
(3)Christopher W.
To start, I am reviewing this place based on my happy hour experience. The menu is on the pricey side if you go any time other than happy hour. I had have cheaper Sushi in California that is higher quality. The happy hour deals are pretty good! Half priced rolls, apps, and beers. The rolls come in generous portions, unlike most of the sushi spots in Hyde Park. Fish taste fresh and wait staff/ambiance is great. The beer selection is good, withstanding the fact that there are no Japanese beers on draft. My only complaint is the beer serving size. Beers are eligible for happy hour pricing, but come in long slender glasses. I would guess that each glass only holds 12 ounces, so a few ounces less than a pint. I would recommend this place for happy hour any day. Not sure if I would go during regular pricing hours.
(4)Karen B.
My dear friend and I have started the indulgent and addicting journey around Cincinnati trying all of the various sushi places ... I'm glad we decided on Aroma yesterday. Located in Kenwood Town Centre next to Nordstrom's, Aroma is a decent sized establishment with contemporary decor, the sushi bar by the front door and the huge bar located in the back. Every day they have Happy Hour from 3-6pm, not only is there half priced beer but the SUSHI is half price. Yay! We decided on five different rolls to share and our waitress, Kelly was fantastic about keeping up with us. From least favorite to favorite ... Alaskan Roll - Crabstick, pineapple, cucumber topped with sweet potato flakes (or coconut flakes if you like). We liked the taste of the pineapple in the roll but at the same time, the roll was too dry and boring for our taste. American Dream - Shrimp tempura topped with BBQ Eel, topped with avocado and eel sauce. Typically I really enjoy eel and avocado rolls and this was good but next to the other three rolls, it was average. :) Crazy Roll - Crab meat, avocado, cucumber, spicy tuna and tempura flakes. It had a drizzle of my favorite spicy mayo on top as well and I very much enjoyed the heat of this roll as well as the crunchy-ness. Deliciousness. Dynamite Roll - Minced tuna, salmon and white fish all rolled up together with spicy sauce. This roll is simple but FAWESOME. The absolute freshness of the fish and its texture and the hot flavor was to DIE for. Nom nom nom. And our FLAVORITE roll ... The Chef's Special - Tempura crab, cucumber, cream cheese topped with tuna (or your choice of salmon or shrimp) and special sauce. This roll was the Bomb dot com. As my friend said it best, "It was the perfect balance of hot and cold, crunchy and soft, and sweet and savory." Absolutely delicious and perfect with the tuna on top. We can't wait to get back there to try more rolls. Their list of sushi isn't that extensive but I would like to try ALL of them. :) Definitely recommend any sushi freaks to try Aroma.
(4)Mallory T.
Wanted to try out this location because it was closer to my home and already love Cloud 9. Was disappointed had to wait 50 minutes from the time we ordered to receive 4 Sushi Rolls, the excuse was the sushi station is backed up. We went on a Monday night and they had 2+ people making the rolls and the place wasn't that crowded. We assumed the manager was our server because she was dressed more formal.. the only offering we got was for free edam me.. no thank you .. we'll take our business back to the original Cloud 9. The sushi was good but not worth the wait.
(2)Lesley C.
Not quite sure why all the poor reviews. I have been to Aroma many times and have never been is disappointed. The sushi is fresh, the fish is excellent, the rolls are very flavorful. I prefer the Cincinnati Roll. The welcome is great, the service is friendly, and we've never had to wait long for anything. If anything, i'd say it almost comes out too fast.
(4)Adonis M.
This place doesn't deserve 1 star. They have 1/2 Sushi on Tuesday and it is advertised, but you have to mentioned it to your waiter/waitress. I found this out the hard way and it is only for certain rolls. If they offer 1/2 sushi on Tuesday then offer it to everyone! I will not be back!
(1)Jordan M.
Aroma is a nice little sushi restaurant located at the Kenwood Mall. It has a fun and well-decorated atmosphere and features a happy hour from 3-6pm that offers 1/2 price sushi and drink specials. My favorite part of this restaurant is their unique rolls, specifically those featuring fruit. Be a little adventurous and try some! You'll like it.
(4)Ben C.
The sushi was pretty good. My review is based upon their policy about tips. But this is what's frustrating: They advertise Half price sushi everyday from 3-6pm. BUT, they charge 20% gratuity on the full price of the sushi. We ordered $111 worth of sushi and was thinking "sweet this will be $55 bucks and we can tip generously on $55 like we would any other happy hour". Then the bill comes with a $23 gratuity included. That was almost half the cost of our freakin food. We talked to the manager and got it taken off but I can't help but wonder how many people pay it without asking because they just don't do the math or don't double check.
(2)Janet H.
There's something off about Aroma Restaurant - and it's the aroma! This place just smells funky - a mix between bleach and fish. I get the bleach is for cleanliness and the fish from the sushi bar, but both are much more overwhelming than any other sushi restaurant and they don't mix. The same thing goes for the dishware. My teacup tasted like they washed the cups in the same sink as fish plates - it had a soapy and fishy taste to it. This is my pet peeve at asian restaurants. The food did make up for getting off to wrong foot with the odd smell and odd tasting dishware. I had the Black Pearl and Spicy Tuna rolls. The sushi was very good - not the absolute best, but very good for mall fare. It was half price sushi when I was there, so it was a good value. Had it been full priced, though, I definitely would have chosen to eat elsewhere. All in all - a good casual place for decent sushi. Go on half price sushi night and hold your nose...
(3)Sarah A.
I will preface my review by mentioning that I have only tried menu items one would find at a sushi place (miso soup, edamame, seaweed salad). They do have other types of food which is a whole other story. I think another reviewer mentioned they are trying to be everything to everyone, which I agree with. Something about this place is off. I love that the sushi is half price but it just isn't all that great. Even at half price I would not necessarily recommend making a trip to Kenwood Mall just to eat here. It might work if you are at the mall and want sushi.
(2)Jennifer D.
The aura of aroma is a great draw. Loved the ice cube lights, but it felt like they were actually ice, because it was so dang cold in there. The fact that it was so cold actually took away from my enjoyment of my meal. It is actually the thing, in fact, that I remember most about my visit to Aroma. Overall, the sushi was decent, the Miso soup was pretty good but there is nothing extraordinary going on here. My reccommendation is to visit only during half-price sushi!
(3)Allison J.
It's 5 or 6 o'clock and you've been shopping your heart out for most of the afternoon. You need a drink and food, stat. If cheesecake and pasta aren't your thing, then Aroma is just about your only dining option within the boundaries of Kenwood mall. Mom and I arrived in time for happy hour, so our cocktails were half price. The cocktail list is long and sugary. We ordered soup and salad, sushi, and then a small plate each to round out dinner. The miso soup I ordered was a jazzed up version of the standard with corn and shredded crab added to the mix. Not bad, though I didn't find the corn until the last bites, it was sitting at the bottom of my bowl. Mom got the Asian Chicken Salad, which was pretty tasty. Next, our sushi arrived. It was sort of average tasting. My hawaiian roll was a little bland, and the sauce on top tasted like a too sweet sweet-and-sour sauce. Mom's California roll was fine. Not bad sushi at all, but nothing to drive out to Kenwood for. I ordered duck rolls for the last course, and I was a bit disappointed. They were a little flat, and really filling (maybe it was a bad idea to finish with super heavy fried food). The menu promises cucumber salad and plum sauce. I got little slices of cucumbers with a light dressing under the duck rolls, but plum sauce was nowhere in sight. There was a tangy-sweet yellow-ish sauce on my plate. Am I crazy, or is plum sauce supposed to be dark and sweet? I had an all-around nice time eating at Aroma. The space is a little noisy, and there happened to be a huge party of chattering ladies dining while we were there. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and service was well-paced. I'd come back for a bite to eat and a happy hour cocktail in the future, but I wouldn't expect to be dazzled. For a mall dining option, it's very good. And thank god it isn't another mega restaurant chain with an endless menu and a forty minute wait for dinner.
(3)Simone H.
Great sushi and nice atmosphere! If you're looking for delicious specialty rolls, you should check this place out. The fish was pretty fresh, and their Hawaiian roll had my favorite ingredients: tuna, salmon, avocado, and mango -- yum! All 3 people at my table polished off every morsel on their plates. Very friendly service as well. I will be going back!
(4)Lauren A.
I went here on their opening day with two friends (lunch). Overall we had a great experience. The sushi was good and so was the salad we ordered. The service seemed great. The prices were a bit high for lunch but not terrible. Next visit (lunch), the service was awkward and annoying. They still had a great soup and salad deal that my friend and I both ordered except the messed up the order slightly (no olives for me didn't mean no olives for her too). Next visit (lunch), service was still annoying. They eliminated the soup and salad combo. Immediately I was upset, that was my thing! So their menu offerings were more limited and there seemed to be no deals offered. My salad was so lame. It lacked color and taste. I will never return.
(2)Rich G.
Recently, Groupon did a daily promotion for Aroma ($25 for $50 worth of food or sushi). So we decided to go all out! We started out by ordering an app, the Crispy Duck Rolls. These were delicious and a perfect start to our meal! Now for our sushi order... we ordered the Soft Shell Crab roll, Spicy Hamachi roll, American Dream roll, Golden California roll, and the Rainbow roll. WHAT? We had $50 to spend... ha! Out of all those rolls, the American Dream, Soft Shell Crab, and Rainbow roll were my favorites. One major thing i noticed about the rolls as compared to some of the other sushi joints in town, the rolls were fairly large! Definitely got your money's worth.
(4)Brandon C.
Aroma is located directly between what was West Elm and the new Nordstrom's and apparently just opened. I say apparently because I had no idea that it had opened (and a friend who works in the mall had no idea either). We arrive and were the only guests in the restaurant which was surprising during the middle of the day (3pm) on a Saturday. We were seated and the server was very attentive (sometimes over-attentive). We both shared spicy salmon rolls as appetizers, they were delicious as sushi goes but the rolls weren't rolled tight enough and a few fell apart. My friend and I both ordered French Martinis; it took the bartender 3 tries to get the drinks correct (they made them with cranberry juice instead of pineapple). I didn't mind that they got them wrong but that they didn't listen or ask how I wanted it made even after I gave them instructions the first time. For our meal we both ordered a chicken wrap that was actually really good. It was fresh, light and well seasoned and I would definitely order it again. Overall I wasn't impressed, with hosts and wait staffed "just" trained I can understand the service but would definitely try it again. The space itself looks like a great place to bring friends or have drinks after work.
(2)Ashley B.
What we ordered: Black Pearl Roll Volcano Roll Spicy Hamachi Roll Coconut Lemongrass Cilantro Gelato The menu must have changed since some reviewers were there so just keep that in mind. I have to say, I really enjoyed my meal! The black pearl roll was great. The scallops were fresh, it says they are in a spicy sauce but it wasn't overpowering which was nice. The cucumber was fresh and crunchy and it really added a nice texture to the roll. The volcano roll was crazy! Because of a crab allergy we asked for it without the crab and they were happy to put both tuna and salmon in instead of crab. This is one of those rolls that you don't order on a date, not because of the taste (this roll is AMAZING) but because each piece ends up being so large that you are almost stuffing it in your mouth ( totally worth it though). The spicy hamachi roll was good but nothing special. Everything was fresh and delicious, nothing bad to say about it. The gelato.... holy cow this was good! The flavors blended so well together! The coconut made it smooth and creamy and the lemon grass gave a fresh after taste without being over powering. I have to admit that I couldn't really taste the cilantro but I'm sure it is there. It was the perfect dessert for a sushi dinner. Our server was friendly. There are many other items on the menu that I am excited to try when I go back.
(4)Rose M.
I could kick myself for not trying Aroma sooner...I was skeptical because of its location since I am, admittedly, a bit of a food snob. But a friend whose opinion I trust raved about her recent experience there so I decided to give it a try. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised! In fact, I have now been twice in two weeks (for lunch) and both meals were sublime. Why this place does not have a 5-star rating is a mystery to me. It is not, despite its location, a chain. The food is fresh and delicious, the preparations are creative, the decor is hip and modern and the staff are very helpful. My friends and I ate both from the sushi menu and the regular menu and I can honestly say Aroma is one of the best sushi places in Cincinnati. If sushi isn't your thing, I would highly recommend the eggplant side dish and the cold soba noodle salad as well. Keep it up, Aroma, I will be back with more friends soon!
(5)Brianna M.
I could go here everyday to try something different and be pleased. This is my go to place because the sushi is great and the atmosphere is very comfortable and relaxing. I've never been disappointed by a roll, and I've tried the majority! If you love sushi, you'll love it here, but they also have other entrees that are equally as appealing. Their salads have never disappointed as well!
(5)Nevena K.
This is my absolute favorite sushi place. They do "Half-Price" sushi all the time.(Read: the menu prices are twice what you will pay.) I love the adventurous flavors of the Double Dragon ( a half-and half roll) or the Volcano roll ( deep fried and with cream cheese) Yumm!! Since cloud nine bought them, the place seems to be getting a little run down ( the bathroom soap dispenser had fallen off the wall and it was clear someone had tried to tape it on multiple times previously and the bathroom was low on TP). Hopefully this improves soon because I love this place.
(4)Angela D.
Stopped in for our annual sushi night before school meal. My son moves into his first apartment tomorrow and starts his junior year of college...what better way to kick off another year! We have been here before...excellent service, half priced wine and half priced sushi rolls...even the specialty rolls! We ordered sweet chile edamame to start and it was amazing! Perfectly cooked and great flavor. My son chose the Cincinnati Special, Bearcat Roll and Spicy Lobster Rolls. I wouldn't order the lobster roll again because the lobster was overpowering. The Cincinnati Special was AMAZING!!! The touch of mango was the perfect addition to the entire roll. Probably one of the best rolls I've ever had. We will be back, in a year...or maybe when I return again!
(3)Emiley B.
Keith is cool and all but needs to work on her personal hygiene. He smells so strongly of cigarette smoke that every time he walked past the table it would linger at the table, making it hard for me to eat my meal without gaging. I normally give this place 5 stars.... I eat here all the time.
(2)Katie B.
You guys, I don't know why Aroma only has 3 stars -- it's gotta be one of my favorite sushi spots in town (since, ya know, Dancing Wasabi is no more). I used to go before it was half price, and it was good, but not $50-for-3-rolls-and-a-glass-of-wine good. So, needless to say, I was thrilled when they made the switch to half price (there's just something about it being half price that makes it taste THAT much better, amiright?). Their menu is very large, which often makes the decision-making process that much more difficult, but I can assure you that there's no such thing as a bad decision when it comes to Aroma sushi. They do occasionally half Groupons, but consider yourself warned because you cannot use them on half price sushi rolls (I learned that the hard way). Also, it's never nearly as crowded as other sushi restaurants in town. But, needless to say, the only thing standing between me going to Aroma every other day is the fact I'd have to deal with mall traffic.
(5)Elaine D.
Was in Cincy for the weekend and happened upon Aroma. Location is clean and contemporary. Was quite crowded for lunch, likely due to proximity to Kenwood Mall. Service was acceptable. Goyoza were OK. Egg drop soup with dumplings was tasty, but needed more veggies. Sushi rolls were fresh and very good.. Extensive variety to suit everyone's taste. Half price sushi all day is certainly a draw.
(4)Westley D.
Under new management! I love and appreciate the service I get here! Definitely top notch service. And although I am not a sushi person I have certainly found some dishes here that I very much enjoy (my go-to for pad thai). Sushi is good, made to order, and HALF PRICE which makes aroma 'best budget sushi' in the city. Everything I have had from here has been great, except for the service, which has been exceptional hence the five star rating! Come and sample their delightful menu convieniently located at kenwood town center!
(5)Tiffany C.
We came in ravenous after an all day shopping spree. This restaurant is located right next to the Nordstrom at Kenwood mall. We chose this restaurant because they offered a groupon for $25 for $50. They also have a daily special for 1/2 price sushi if you dine in...here's the catch, apparently you can't use the groupon and get the 1/2 price sushi. So basically, you would have been better off not getting the groupon if you only wanted sushi. This was pretty disappointing and certainly came as a surprise. We ordered a spicy crab salad that cost $7.00...where's the crab? It was almost exclusively tempura flakes and spicy mayo. Pretty overpriced and a big disappointment. As we were now getting a bit ripped on our groupon, we switched from an all sushi plan to an entree and sushi plan. We ordered the bulgolgi that allegedly came with mushrooms and onions. We saw a few onions, but mushrooms were few and far between. Sushi - ok, but not great. The specialty rolls were much smaller than you would have expected for the money. The shrimp crunch was lacking in shrimp and the Orange County was ehh. Our server forgot about our yum yum roll and brought it out late. It was almost like they slapped together extra unused ingredients into a tiny roll in one minute and called it yum yum. Not good as it was anything but yum yum. On the plus side, the servers were all very pleasant and helpful. Upon arrival, we asked for a booth and the hostess cleaned one one off for us to give us what we wanted. Our waitress checked in frequently and offered as good of advice as she could. She did let us know up front about the groupon issue, which is good because we would have not been happy if the bill came with a big surprise. All in, this place was ok, but we will be looking for other sushi places in the future.
(2)Amira B.
The food is excellent, but service is so bad, and the manager, Keith is rude and obnoxious and the general manager was more interested in who our server was then listening to me telling him about the bad manager. My boyfriend and i live around the corner and used to frequent this place once every week/two weeks but now we will never return - due to poor managment. They were SO bad!!
(1)Alex I.
We went here about 45 minutes before close so we got good service, unlike many other people who have reviewed. We had 3 rolls and they were all delicious. GREAT prices and great sushi! I would definitely recommend it and will be back!
(4)Tim L.
We dined here on a Monday night, so the crowd was very light. We were greeted at the door by a less than inviting hostess. It really isn't that hard to smile and be friendly is it? Because of that and an issue with the food delivery, I had to knock down the rating to two stars from three. I felt the server was very friendly and polite. She was prompt and we were never waiting on her to deliver or ask us if we needed anything. We had 4 sushi rolls and an order of the Bibimbap, all of which was very good from a taste perspective. That being said, the Bibimbap came out without a spoon to mix it up with, and when I asked for one, I was brought a small teaspoon. Anyone who has eaten this dish knows that you need to stir it pretty well. It was almost like they did not understand how it should be served. In all, if I was rating this place solely on the food taste, I would definitely recommend, but I am a big on good service and I just feel there are better places out there in Cincinnati. I will most likely try this place again as I have a Groupon for it that I need to use, so we will see how round two goes.
(2)Dale H.
Went here on a whim on a weeknight. Our daughter had mentioned that it was under new ownership - I believe Cloud 9 took it over. And half off sushi - had to try it. It was - okay. Still cannot compare to the quality at Ando. We ordered some nigiri sushi. It was average. We also ordered a dragon roll. It was average also. If I remember right, it had crab stick in it. I don't order sushi with crab stick in it. And it did not have it in the menu description. We also ordered the pad thai. It also was just okay. Too soy saucy for me. Not enough peanuts and bean sprouts. My husband liked it more than I did. Service-wise it was good. The waiter was a carry-over from the previous management and knew the menu well. He was efficient and personable and did a very nice job.
(3)Sam K.
Love their 50% off sushi. Prompt service. Their dolsot bibibamp and bento boxes are great
(5)Ryan H.
Greeted at the door by a beautiful but frazzled hostess who kindly forgot to call us with out ready table. That's fine because walking around the mall with my friend was enjoyable. When we were seated it took all of 15 minutes it have my order actually taken. After that the service was adequate. I never saw my server again and was consistently flagging down other servers who slothfully gave me the requested items. It wasn't until 7 minutes ago that I revived a refill on water...and I've been here over an hour. Now the check is sitting on the table before me And is waiting to be paid...12 minutes have passed away from our lives now. 12 minutes that could have been spent in the car, the grocery store, or even in the cool of the eve.
(2)Anjelica N.
Went here on after a girl's trip to the mall. The atmosphere was nice and there wasn't a big lunch crowd. I was disappointed in the slow service. There really wasn't a reason for us to wait as long as we did to be waited on AND it took forever to get our sushi. Overall, the sushi isn't bad but it's pricier than other sushi joints in the Cincinnati area.
(3)J.t. R.
I absolutely love everything about this place! The staff is friendly and attentive, without being overly assertive. I have never had a bad roll. I can't comment in the menu other then sushi as that is all I eat when I go. Half price sushi everyday for happy hour!
(4)Christiiiiii I.
I had a Groupon and I thought the food was pretty good. I wish they would offer more raw fish rolls and not so much with cream cheese, tempura etc as it claims to be a sushi bar. They have some interesting combinations though. A special role of the day was a role with Guacamole which was pretty good. The crab rangoons were also delicious. as was the other food. It has a nice twist on the asian cuisine.
(4)Jenni S.
Had a great lunch here with my hubby on a Friday afternoon while shopping at the mall. Pleasantly surprised! The miso soup was particularly good - with big tofu chunks and tons of shiitake mushrooms. We each ordered a different lunch bento box. My husband got the sushi one and I ordered the vegetable option. Both were delicious. I would eat there again.
(4)Nathan P.
(really should be 3 1/2 stars) First came when Chef Romy Jung was head chef. Super nice guy, very passionate about classic french technique and cuisine... which doesn't fit perfectly in a sushi restaurant, but he totally made it his own. I typically come for the sushi, because its cheaper, fairly decent, and in a convenient location. Anything with the BBQ eel is worth it. It's actually quite good. The braised short ribs are excellent, but pales next to Romy's duck confit. He also makes an outstanding port wine reduction. I'm not sure if they are still available or went with him. I haven't met the new head chef, but the quality of the food has not diminished. The decor of the restaurant is still an identity crisis of sorts: funky neon-bright light panels on the walls, a full sushi bar, and flat panel TVs playing sports... I still don't get it. I suppose the idea is to attract as many visitors as possible. I say find a niche; people will trust you. Focus on the sushi, which could be amazing. Definitely give it an opportunity and your support.
(4)Chief H.
Not sure if this is verboten, but here's my response to the owner (looks like the rest of his message got cut off). Jacob, thanks for the response. I don't mean to be too harsh. You guys are in a great location and I want you to succeed, but my original point still stands: you need some kind of consistency and vision for this restaurant. By pandering to everyone you end up pleasing no one, especially in light of the fact that there are so many of those types of restaurants in the area. I admit I only ate here once, and did not try the short ribs (but c'mon, it's very little labor, 3 1/2 of the 4 hours is just simmering the short ribs). There are lots of sushi restaurants in the area, if you are serious about the sushi, maybe you guys could differentiate yourselves by offering sustainable fish (as opposed to the bluefin and sea bass), which could really set you apart (as I'm pretty sure that no other place in Cincy focuses on that). The tuna tataki could have been any fish. Glad you guys took the advice to stop telling everyone the chef's resume, and it sounds like you're listening to other recommendations as well. Again, this was only my personal opinion and I'm sure many people like Aroma. I just want to help.
(2)Tara S.
Did not enjoy Aroma. Service, atmosphere, and food all left us disappointed.
(2)Rebecca S.
The only reason I give this restaurant any stars is because the food was actually very good. The service, on the other hand, was absolutely horrible. So was the atmosphere. Our waitress got our pricing wrong on our order (long story short) and literally stood there in the middle of the restaurant ARGUING with me about it. It was unbelievable. Embarassing for her, for us, and a very bad way to do business. I literally said to her "stop talking and walk away because you are making this worse." Oh, and we paid what they wanted even though it was not what she told me it would be in the beginning. I have never had that experience before and I will certainly never have it again at Aroma. BTW, I should have known to walk out before we even ordered because I saw her do the same thing with two young women who were finishing up at the table next to us when we sat down! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.
(2)lauren m.
Smallish sushi place with good sushi and decent prices. The sushi came out pretty quick, and we were pleased with the price. We got 6 rolls and edamame for about $70. For the quality, I consider this a bargain.
(4)Bridgette M.
Went with a co-worker for lunch, and we both loved the whole experience. The Thai Sweet Chili Edamame was delish. Also had the miso soup and Soft Shell Crab roll (a recommendation from our server). I'm not a huge sushi eater, but this was the best roll I've ever had. Will definitely be back for that roll again!
(4)Steve L.
We found this place after searching for a sushi place on yelp. A friend of mine and me like to travel around and try new places and we like sushi. The interior of Aroma is very contemporary and it has a nice overall ambiance. They had a card in the menu with some featured seasonal sushi and we ordered two different rolls along with a bottle of white wine. The sushi came and we were very pleased and currently feel that Aroma has the best freshest sushi in the northern Cincinnati area. The staff was very friendly and I have since gone back for more. If you have any doubt about Aroma, use this review to be the one to make you go. You wont be disappointed!! Bravo to the staff!!
(5)Stephen E.
I agree with the other yelpers here... If you want good sushi, head somewhere else. Friends and I decided to check out Aroma last Friday for happy hour. First thing, no drink specials on a Friday - aren't you a new restaurant trying to draw in a new crowd?! Second, our server (we sat at one of the bar tables) would disappear and just forget about us. My wine glass sat empty for a good 30 minutes before I could get a refill, which by that point, I was already done with the place. We did try the sushi as well, got a simple spicy tuna roll or something, I forget already. There were flakes on the sushi and on the plate. I assumed they were tempura flakes - nope...they were PARMESAN CHEESE FLAKES. The taste of this with the taste of raw fish was repulsive. I called the server over to let him know that I had thought the "chef" had made a mistake. He informed me that the chef was trying something new today. I informed him that it did not work and ruined the taste of the sushi. Not that I complain to get something for free, but hardly an apology was offered. I hope the feedback at least made it to the kitchen. What I also thought was interesting about Aroma is their menu - sushi and fettucini alfredo on one menu. Maybe this place will get better over time, but for now, I think it completely missed the mark. My friends and I left to get dinner at one of the mall's other establishment.
(1)Diana H.
Half price wine bottles on Thursdays after 9PM make it worth the trip. This place is pricey. I think their entree menu is far superior than their sushi menu, but don't get me wrong the sushi is still good. Eclectic assortment of wines and champagnes, so its a great spot to hit up after work if for happy hour if you work in Kenwood or live in the area. By the way, live music on Wednesday and Thursday nights make it even more vibrant for dinner and drinks, especially with the finished paitio outside. And if your ever trying to find Brittnai Hiudt, your best bet is to come here! haha ;-)
(4)Mike T.
I wanted to try everything on the menu. The orechiette with braised lamb was superb (possibly a top 10 dish in the city) and the Vietnamese chicken rolls are awesome. Tried some of the sushi and it wasn't as good as the rest of the food, but it's not a "sushi restaurant." Evenso, the Crazy Roll is dope. Also note that they mix up the sauces with which they serve the rolls so you can try it a couple different ways which I think is a good idea. Definitely going back. ... . Went back and tried the short ribs. They're incredible too.
(4)Charlie T.
Sushi was pretty good for Cincinnati, but over-priced. We will be looking for a better, more affordable sushi place, but may return if we get desperate.
(3)Bernie W.
We first went to Aroma on Mother's Day. Going to a restaurant for the first time is an experience on how the food or service will meet your expectations. We found the food and service to be excellent. We also enjoyed the ambiance of Aroma. We now consider ourselves regular customers. We have recommended Aroma to many of our friends and they have had the same enjoyable dining experience. All our very best to Jacob and Ted in the success of Aroma.
(4)Sara B.
My husband and I were walking by on the way to the mall, and we saw a sign at Aroma saying the sushi was half price all the time. We'd had dinner, but figured that if the price was really good we could have sushi for dessert. The prices were that good, and we had a Black Pearl roll and 4 Star Imari. The Black Pearl roll was excellent with tempura flakes and black tiny fish eggs for crunch amid overall softness. This roll was quite tasty. The 4 Star Imari was a new style to me. There were 4 tofu skin "boats", and each had a different protein (tuna, crab, salmon and shrimp) over rice. They all had a sauce and were topped with masago and green onions. It was really nice. Each of these was $7, less than I pay for grocery store sushi. I only feel sad that we didn't know about Aroma earlier in our trip because tomorrow we leave Cincinnati and the possibility of trying more of their sushi. I know some people don't like the setting, but we did. Neat lights and other decorative touches. Oh, and the sushi chef we had and our waitress were both very sweet.
(4)Paul E.
CALL BEFORE YOU SHOW UP! I went there last Saturday at 9:45 pm, only to find that they were already closed. Their website indicates that they're open until 11 pm on weekends. The hostess said that they'd "been slow" all night, so the sushi chef packed up and left. A horrible way to do business. We instead walked down to Cheesecake Factory and ate there.
(2)Mike S.
We went opening night. While I think the space is very charming, I also thing there are potential pitfalls and if they are not corrected, it will not be in business long. Number 1, the pricing of the sushi. It is very EXPENSIVE. Some rolls are pushing the $17 barrier which is is ridiculous. $13 for a tuna roll? Preposterous. There are plenty other sushi restaurants in Cincinnati that are better in terms of food, value and AMBIANCE. The wine by the glass tends to be expensive. Since they can pack and take what you don't drink home, buying a bottle may be your best bet. I may go back for a cocktail or quick glass of wine. I will not be having the sushi again. I'll go to Fresh Market across the street and get some tuna rolls to go (amost 3 for the price of 1 at Aroma) and IMHO, just as tasty.
(2)Ann N.
This is place is nothing special. I didn't try the sushi, which apparently is the big draw, so I can't comment on it, but what we did eat was OK. I had the miso soup, which is good, but not great - not too much flavor. The pad thai was nothing but a bunch of noodles with no flavor. My companion had the diver scallop special - $22 for 4 scallops - very, very expensive for such a small dish. It was topped with a cooked egg and had some greens below the scallops, and although he said it was good, it was nothing special. I won't be returning unless I decide to try the sushi.
(2)Donald B.
We ate at the restaurant on 6/16/12 and were given a card offering $22 off our next meal. We went there tonight and they refused to honor the card, demanding that the receipt had to be attached to the card. The card did not state this. Apparently the owner developed some strange concerns about being cheated in some way that the manager did not describe. She made it clear that this FOOLISH owner would punish his staff/servers if they honored the card w/out the receipt attached. The owner is without honor. We like their food, but the owner's business practice is awful. We shopped afterwards and by 8:30 on a Saturday night, the place was empty. This owner must be from some country where customers are routinely severely disappointed with their treatment and that's just OK. Look at Ben C's comment from 4/22/12. The owner must have never heard that "the customer is always right". We'll find another sushi restaurant to honor with our visits, and not fall for false promises and sneaky offers.
(1)Lena M.
We ate there on April 30th 2011, all that waitress recommended was horrible, tasteless and sushi had hardly any fish visible inside of the rice overfilled rolls. Would never recommend or advise to go there unless you never tasted sushi before.
(2)Liz S.
I went to Aroma for an early dinner on a Tuesday after classes with my boyfriend. We ordered the garlic bread with gorgonzola as an appetizer, american dream sushi roll, eggplant parmesan sandwich, and cheesecake for dessert. My suggestion when going to this restaurant is to stick to the sushi. The sushi was delicious but I was really disappointed with the sandwich. The fries were no better than some fast food place and the eggplant was bitter. I had to send it back and got mac and cheese instead. They apologized for the bitterness and gave us complimentary edamame. The cheesecake was wonderful. They have daily cheesecake. They have a different flavor everyday. The cheesecake was creamy and light with raspberry sauce (I always prefer raspberry.) Would go back but only for sushi and dessert.
(3)John B.
We visited on a weeknight. The service seemed confused. It took our waiter a while to find us. We ordered drinks and watched them warm up on the bar for a while before a waitress brought them over. We ordered salmon sliders (very good) and two salads. Portions aren't huge, but that's okay. Several of menu items look interesting, like the short ribs. Sushi looked expensive. Most annoying: the Euro dance club music was pretty annoying, and the whole chef-used-to-work-for-Michael-Jordan shtick. My wife couldn't have cared less, nor I. I'd have to think hard about going back.
(3)Pete P.
Sunday lunch, ghost town had my suck radar hackles up. I was not disappointed. Had fried calamari, squid seemed fresh, coating was not crispy, seemed like the fryer oil wasn't hot enough or perhaps they don't know how to get the batter to stick to slimy squid? Didn't seem greasy so I'll go with option 2. Family had pot stickers, good, and lettuce wraps, and was ok also. Bento box, was also ok. I didn't taste any of that, they said it was ok, but my son didn't finish his bento box. I ordered a roll, Cincinnati Special, had 'fresh' fish in it, gave me some gastro-intestinal complaints a couple hours later. This only happens when I eat any kind of bone in chicken or bad food. So my advice is, if you want to stay healthy, stay away from any place that serves 'half price sushi' because the only way they make money on it, is buying cheap and/old cuts.
(2)Chelsea C.
I knew I was going to be going here twice for a post-work get-together so I waited until after my second visit to Yelp, and unfortunately I was underwhelmed twice. Don't get me wrong, the sushi is good, the service is good, but overall it's just OK- couldn't say I'm a "fan." First things first, their prices are really outrageous in my opinion for what you get. I went for happy hour both times- thank goodness- so I got the half price drafts and sushi, but I certainly would not go back outside of happy hour. $16 for a roll regular price? The sushi is good- but I can get just as good (and in some cases better) sushi at Cloud 9 in Mt. Lookout for way less money and a way more fun atmosphere. Ok so on to the food: the Rock 'n' Roll roll is really awesome, and we tried the Crazy roll last night which was spicy but very good as well. I have also had the Ocean, Philly and the Golden California which are pretty good as well. They have a rotating tap with a decent selection (Ommegang, Brooklyn, Sam Adams, etc). My friends had the seaweed salad and the miso soup (which had fresh mushrooms in it)- they really liked the soup and I tasted the salad which was yummy too. Atmosphere is kind of meh. It's decorated kind of chic but it's really not much to write home about. Both servers we had were very good and super friendly, no complaints there! Overall it's good but I wouldn't choose this over Cloud 9. If you want to try it, make sure to order before 6 to get half price!
(3)Janell S.
First time visiting the restaurant and I will certainly not be back. Poor customer service. The waiter wasn't friendly, didn't introduce himself nor ask if this was our first visit to this restaurant. He also didn't explain anything or go over the menu, if he had asked if we'd ever been there he would have known to go over the menu and "half price sushi rules as well as groupon rules." Our party had a groupon and when we went to pay for our bill (asked for 2 separate checks-one with the entrees and the other for the half price sushi) they informed us we could not use the groupon and half price sushi even on separate checks because it is one "deal" per table. The food was decent, but even management was unwilling to work with us since it was our first visit and no one explained any "rules" prior to ordering the food that were associated with the use of groupon. Needless to say we will not be back and they have lost services from us and our friends in the future.
(1)Natashia P.
As far as the food goes, it's delicious and a very good deal for the money, but the service leaves much to be desired. I've been there three times in the past two months because I'm addicted to sushi. But, after this last time, I think I'm going elsewhere. The first time I went was with a group of friends and I ordered three rolls. They forgot one, but I didn't say anything because it was an honest mistake and I didn't want to deal with it. The second time I came by myself on my day off and also ordered an iced tea when I first sat down (which they never brought me), and three rolls. They forgot one again and this time I mentioned it and they brought it right out. The third time, I also came on my own for lunch and ordered three rolls. They gave me two that I had asked for and then got the third one wrong. When I told the guy that I ordered something else, he said he would bring the one I actually ordered out. He did and it was delicious, but then I got the receipt. He had charged me for the wrong roll! So I ended up paying for four rolls when I had only ordered three. I was so flabbergasted and upset that I just paid and left. I don't think I'll be coming back because while the food is good, the service is simply atrocious.
(2)Brandon A.
I went there last night at about 5pm, well before the dinner rush. I will start with the good. The food was delicious ( I had the Thai sweet and spicy chicken and a few peices of my friend eel roll which was also pretty good. Their beer selection was about average, nothing too crazy but also not just bud light or miller. The portion size was good and combined with how good the food was, I left almsot too full, next time I will try and just take some home. All this being said here are the downsides: Our 2 friends got there about 15 minutes before us and said they stood for 10 minutes staring at empty tables as the hostess played with her phone, ignoring them. Once seated they said it took another 10 minutes to be greeted and asked if they wanted drinks. By the time we arrived they had just received their drinks. My wife and I then had to wait our 10-15 minutes before anyone asked us for our drink order. (Keep in ind the place was less than half full, with staff walking by us every 4-5 minutes and ignoring us) After 20 minutes our drinks finally came the waiter forgot my wifes beer. I mentioned it to him andd it took another 10 minutes for him to come back with it. Can you see a pattern here? The food was very good, but after that service experience I may not be back any time soon. Take this review for face value as I may have just caught a bad apple for a server.
(2)Kevin B.
For the price you cannot find better Sushi in Cincinnati unless you go to Dancing Wasabi in Hyde Park. I hear they are both owned by the same proprietor. I highly recommend Aroma.
(4)Janine C.
Wow, their Volcano Roll is OUTSTANDING. For that alone, I'm giving them five stars. This place isn't perfect, I wasn't crazy about my dessert. But it's a nice establishment and I love the Kenwood area anyway. I also deeply appreciate that they have a half-off Groupon promotion going! Such a great deal! I'm going back very, very soon.
(5)Carrie C.
The breakdown, SUSHI- The sushi was very fresh, tasty and visually appealing. I got the Osaka and the Dragon and both were really tasty. Prices are okay with the deal they have going on (1/2 off). I can't comment on the technique but I didn't see any Japanese people working. UDON- Decent. Noodles tasted good but the broth reminded me of a sweet soy sauce broth with not much depth. Wish the soup had more fresh veggies or at least homemade fish cakes for the price. LETTUCE WRAP- I've had a decent amount of lettuce wraps in my life and I wasn't a fan of these. They were just very salty. GYOZA- I liked this. The Gyoza tasted very good but pricey for the amount. SERVICE- OK. Food came out fast and they were nice and helpful. OVERALL, I'd come back for sushi.
(3)Esther K.
Half price sushi and constant available groupons. Their seaweed salad is the best we've found in Cincinnati! Their sushi and hot food is delicious!
(4)Kate L.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this for dinner on a Saturday night around 6:30pm. We got lucky because we were able to be seated right away, but I think we got the last open table because the place was packed. I had a groupon for $50 so we decided to try a little of everything. We got the miso soup and edamame for starters and then the teriyaki shrimp and 3 sushi rolls for entrées. It was A LOT of food! Everything was good... The miso soup had big chunks of tofu and a great flavor. The teriyaki shrimp entrée was excellent as well. As for the sushi, it was good but not the best I've ever had. Service here was okay. They brought out the teriyaki shrimp well before the sushi... Had my boyfriend and I not been sharing everything, it would have gotten cold waiting for the other food to come out. Overall, I would rate this 3.5 stars. Good food and good value, especially with the groupon.
(3)Yuna D.
Is it true Aroma sushi is owned by the same folks who run Cloud 9? Never figured it out. I loveeeeeeeeeeeee Cloud 9 and their amazingly priced, good quality rolls, so it took a lot of convincing to get myself to try for Aroma. The experience went both ways. The sushi itself is good and the rolls were well prepared. The miso was okay too, and so was the seafood ramen (seriously, it's just classic Korean ramen with clams & shrimp in it.) I felt like the miso and ramen were overpriced, but that's just me. I don't know why, it just felt mediocre at best. There's a fair bit of Korean on the menu, so if you're not looking to go all the way into Covington or all the way up to Korea House (lol Korea House), I guess you can come here. I don't know why you would STILL, because Cloud 9 has the better sushi and Drunken Bento has the better Korean food. I guess maybe if you're shopping at Kenwood? But even Chick-fil-a....yum. Service was really slow, even though the place didn't look busy. That's what irked me the most. Tl;dr decent sushi and decent Korean food menu, but nothing outstanding about the place. Service is on the slow side, so carve out your time here.
(3)Alisha W.
I would put Aroma's sushi on the same level as Teak. It is very fresh and there's nothing more important! The sashimi and nigiri prices are surprisingly affordable. Unlike many sushi restaurants, Aroma offers some excellent and unique rolls. The sauces and accompaniments are different than most restaurants and are delicious. Do yourself a favor and try the Cincinnati Special roll with fresh tuna on top rather than spicy tuna. It won't cost you anything extra and yet it makes the world of difference! The volcano roll is warm, crispy, and delicious! It is the perfect roll for people who are unsure about sushi or are more comfortable with simple rolls like California and aren't sure where to start with moving up in the sushi world. Show up for half price sushi (amazing prices) and grab a cocktail. You shan't regret it!
(5)William F.
Have never had a bad experience here. The food is always fresh and the service is fantastic. I have never had anything but the sushi, so that is all that I am able to comment on. Sometimes it takes a little while to come out, but it is always worth the wait. The happy hour is great for after work get togethers and the sushi is always half priced. The only real negative I have is that it is at Kenwood Towne Center and the parking is always a mess.
(5)Stavro M.
This can't be happening, right? We pop in to Aroma around 8:20 and they tell us this: "We're open, but we're out of rice." It's a sushi restaurant, dig? But they're out of rice. How can that even be a thing? Now, it's possible that Yelp is going to kick this review back to me since it doesn't meet the "standards" of a restaurant review, but here's the case I'll make--What you should know about Aroma is that it's a competent Japanese-ish restaurant specializing in sushi. But it's also the kind of place where you could show up for sushi one night and not get any BECAUSE THEY RAN OUT OF RICE. So there's that.
(3)Maggie B.
For half price sushi you cannot beat this. The menu is extensive and has many creative and delicious rolls. Several of the rolls start with a california roll which I generally avoid but almost all of the rolls that I have tried have been delicious. The Cincinnati Special Roll is my favorite as long as you order it with fresh tuna. The Volcano Roll is deep fried and a little much for two people but it is delicious.
(4)Alesa H.
New sushi spot!! Can't rave enough about this place!! The service was outstanding!! Great vibes throughout and half price!
(5)Bob D.
Very surprised with the quality of sushi. It is my go to place in the area. The menu is affordable and offers a wide variety of unique options. One down side would be the location, mall traffic can be a deterrent expecially during the holidays.
(4)Dominique L.
I love this place especially since sushi is 1/2 off all day! It's an awesome treat to add to your shopping experience! I'm big on atmosphere and this place creates that for you. I've been to the more popular sushi spots and I'm never satisfied with the ambiance. I feel this place is clean and contemporary. The outdoor seating is a plus too. Spring and summer sun with sushi is all I need to smile. The food is great and service is typically great. I've only experienced a few delays in service, but for the most part everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. The only thing is they don't have late night hours which would really make life better for me! However give it a try and you'll be making sure you fit your crave into their schedule!
(4)Stephanie V.
Worst manager (Abby) who is apparently as she told me is also the owner. Who tells someone it's only $10 and why am I complaining?!? I'm sorry, perhaps if you had better people skills and you advertised correctly, I would be back. Instead I'll stay full for a few hours on mediocre sushi and terrible teriyaki. Won't be back.
(1)Kim C.
My family and I drive from Dayton Ohio, just to eat here. Best 1/2 off sushi in Cincinnati. Everything taste fresh and most of all delicious. The waiters are not that friendly. Parking is a little crazy because of the mall. The fried rice is also very good. Not a place for kids.
(4)Nicole D.
I just moved to Cincinnati and sushi is a part of my food regiment. I was happily surprised. Several rolls have more than 2 types of fish. The Dumpling Soup was very tasty. While I appreciate the half off sushi all day, everyday, I am not sure why they don't just lower their prices and reflect that on the menu.
(4)Lonnetta P.
3.5 rating is more accurate. It was 76 degrees today in the city and I was craving sushi. What better place to go than Aroma? A friend and I met and requested outside seating. We received good service and enjoyed great sushi. You can't beat the half off sushi prices!
(3)Emily S.
By far the BEST sushi in Cincinnati. I crave this! I go at least once a week. The service is always great and the sushi is always half price (not sure why they don't just update their menu but whatever). I love this place and swear by it. Get the Sunday morning roll, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Priya S.
This place is on a discreet corner between Nordstrom rack and the mall entrance. The ambiance is nice and I really liked the decor. The food was pretty good. I got the dolsot bibimbap and three sushi rolls, including the volcano roll, Sunday morning, and Cincinnati special. The sushi rolls themselves tasted pretty good, however some of the sushi pieces themselves were enormous and hard to eat. The dolsot bibimbap was really good, however the stone bowl did not cook it for as long as it should typically be cooked for. Also, our waiter was a little cold. He wasn't very friendly, however this did not ruin our experience. I have the Groupon, but just so you know, the half-price sushi does not apply when you have the Groupon. You must pay full price for each of the rolls. That doesn't mean you can't get a lot of food, because we still have a ton left over. Overall, I would recommend this place to my friends
(4)P. J.
Being a gin martini snob can be a lonely life when perusing local establishments. Aroma always does it perfectly.... They walk the vermouth past the martini glass...carefully avoiding to contaminate the Hendricks ...also the scallop brown is a treat- the rolls are fresh and the service always good.
(5)