First impression was the horrible odor. Somewhere between cleaning liquid, fish and a chinese supermarket. My compadres echoed the same sentiment. The waitress was nice enough. The fish was bland (previously frozen). I thought I would try the native fare and order the Kung Pau chicken - close to the blandest KP I've ever had. read more

Our experience there was pretty mediocre, especially considering the price. I got the banana leaf dried curried beef. The curry was good, but the beef was terrible. It was low grade stew beef, which was extremely rough to eat and was very fatty. I would not get this dish again, even if it was cheaper than $16. We also go the spicy seafood kim chi soup. The seafood in the soup was too big (couldn't take a full bite) and it was not very flavorful. We also got the snow white roll. The roll itself was ok, but the white tuna on top was way too fishy, probably not the best quality ingredients. Sierra Nevada for $4 was a decent price for the area. read more

In the area for a couple of days. My (adult) daughter - a sushi aficionado - and I decided to try Ponzu as a result of scouring the other Yelp reviews (as opposed to some of the other sushi places listed in Waltham). This smallish cozy place on Moody Street is adequately described in other reviews. However, I found it interesting and odd that (1) many local reviewers thought that their rolls were somewhat overpriced and (2) many of the out of town reviewers thought that the sushi itself was either tasteless or not memorable. We went on a Friday night about 6:40. We were told that there was about an hour wait, even though there were some empty tables, so we decided to sit at the Sushi Bar. The wait servers were not very attentive, having to flag her down several times to get our water glasses refilled. We only ordered sushi rolls. Six to be exact, most from their specialty maki menu. Total bill was only $75 before tip. We were both surprised at how inexpensive we thought the bill was, compared to what we would have paid in the South Jersey/Philly area. The portion/size of the rolls were typical of what we've been served in many cities and states where we've travelled. We both felt that the presentations were good, but overall the rolls were underwhelming. The fish - tuna, yellow tail, scallop, crab (imitation not mentioned on their menu), salmon - had no taste. Disappointing. Outside of the vegetable ingredients in and sauces on the rolls, we were not able to differentiate what fish we were eating. I've eaten in many little hole in the wall local sushi places in different states throughout this country that are really, really good... And that I go back to when I travel through the areas. Unfortunately this is not one of them. Ponzu may be a great local spot, for locals.... But if you really like sushi, and know what you're eating, find another place to dine. read more

I had dinner here with my boyfriend last night. The menu is interesting, and the sushi rolls in particular were very good. The service was sub-par, and we were seated near the kitchen and I could smell hot bleach while I was trying to eat dinner. The atmosphere is okay...I didn't get why other people were marvelling at how "zen" it was...it's not. read more

The first thing I'll say is that I'm not a Waltham person. I'm from SoCal, but I don't think that sushi standards magically change once you change coasts. This is going to be a long review, because I feel like I need to explain exactly how this experience went. I was automatically wary of the place because it was an Asian fusion place, but it was a recommendation from my hotel for sushi, so I decided to at least try the sushi out. I will say that I'm somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to Japanese food in general, but I am open to new experiences and have been pleasantly surprised in the past. I ordered the Sushi and Sashimi plate because that is basically what I always order my first time going to any new sushi place, as it allows me to taste the range of fish it has, and the relative freshness and cleanliness of cut. The first thing I noticed when I got my plate was just how... strange it looked. I won't give it the insult of saying it looked awful, but it was a far cry from artistic or appetizing. The sushi was cut fairly normally, even if it didn't look as fresh as I've seen it, and it was placed on the plate normally, but the sashimi just looked bizarre. One set was shaped into a flower like thing, and the salmon was just cut in these blocks that looked.... just unartistic. Thicker slices than traditionally done. You may criticize my tastes at this point, but please consider why sashimi slices are a certain thickness. I am very adept at using chopsticks by virtue of my Asian upbringing, but I had trouble grasping the pieces because they were so large. I ended up just compressing it as hard as I could to hold it properly, which just isn't the way I'd like to have my favorite sashimi. Ironically the best cut fish was the tuna, which happens to be my least-favorite fish. The shrimp just was not good, and the yellowtail(?) was tough and chewy. Frankly, unless you're having octopus, your sashimi should not be even be remotely tough nor chewy. I want to say it looked like yellowtail, but it didn't quite look like it usually did. Continuing on: I always mix my soy sauce with wasabi in a bowl---only a little bit as I am not a wasabi person. I ate one of the pieces of sushi and found that it had more of a kick than I was used to. Okay. Maybe I hit a chunk of wasabi because I didn't mix it well enough. I then eat my next piece. I think I almost choked from the amount of heat that seared up through my head. Anyone's whose ever experienced wasabi knows what kind of heat it delivers. It bypasses your tongue and goes straight up almost through your nose, feeling quite possibly like a miniature migraine if you get enough of it. I wasn't expecting nigirizushi. This may or may not be my fault based on what was written on the menu, but the fact remains that the fish was not that good and the wasabi did not help. The salmon, at least, was fresh and tasted good despite its lackluster appearance, but a lot of the other fish tasted sub-par. The cut of yellowtail-looking thing was just strange. I took apart the flower---because it's not like you can just stuff it your mouth at once--and found that the cut of the fish was just... strange. I seem to using this word a lot. It was distinctly lacking in smoothness and almost uneven. Almost like a novice had done it. All the sizing of the cuts were different. This, I can understand, but they weren't even sorted in order of size, which is really the only way how it could have been excusable if the desired end result was a rose/flower shape. The miso soup was also really salty and just not very good. I think what really drove the idea of substandard food home was my father's plate. He had the Martini something (it was also a sushi sampler of sorts), and the martini glass was stuck to the plate with a giant blob of WASABI. I almost started laughing, because it really just looked ridiculous. I know I was at least giggling internally. I gave this place two stars on the sole basis that art is subjective. I've had far better sushi elsewhere. read more

Duck over cooked and dry. Vegetables clearly from frozen and not reheated properly. Salmon Maki bland. "Sweet potato" roll made from regular potato. Overall unimpressive. read more

The sushi is fine, but dine in only - don't bother with takeout. I live right down the street (so yes, admittedly, I could have walked down to get it)...but the last two times I've ordered it's taken over 90 minutes to be delivered - meaning the sushi is no longer fresh. The restaurant doesn't seem to care when I call (I was hung up on when I called to check where my delivery was) and they refused to make a new order and deliver me a fresh one. Sushi is good - service, not so much. read more

Craving some sushi/sashimi but while in the waltham area, I wasn't sure I could find a good enough place to scratch the itch, but I was pleasantly surprised - Fast, courteous, attentive service, food i give 8/10, OK pricing Decor could use a make over but overall for the money & location I really cannot complain. Will be back read more

This probably has the funkiest, most expensive vibe on all of Moody St. It's a good place to impress a business client over lunch, or possibly a cougar. The menu is adventurous enough to let you pull the wool over someone's eyes and act like you know more about Asian cuisine than you do. read more

YUMMAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is one of the few places where I can eat raw sushi and really enjoy it...it really does melt in your mouth. The little kitschy touches, like the "water feature," are neat, too. read more

Average and over priced. Fits my pet peeve of over priced small town sushi ho hum. I've had this kind of sushi in northern california. The locals maybe don't know great so good seems great. Sorry. Maybe that was rude but it was spot on food wise. This place was gushed & gushed about so it was an even bigger let down when we ate. Service was great & the decor was serviceable but with that much hype, this place should have really had better sushi. Seasoning wasn't there. The flavors were kind of bland. The worst part was there were some weird textures in the rolls which I couldn't tell if they were over prepared or overcooked. I wouldn't say it was bad but really confusing/unfocused. read more

Small, never too busy, and friendly staff. The sushi is great, and most of the time you get a free appetizer and dessert type thing. Never once has a bad experience here! My go-to sushi spot in Waltham, for sure. read more

The dish is just stunning, especially the sushi ad hand rolls. I heard the chef was originally from Oishi and started his own business half a year ago. Anyway, great service with awesome food. read more

Very good food, freshest sushi I ever tried. thumb up on the Dolsot bibimbap with beef, they made the rice very crispy, pot was still very hot after we finished the food. Will definitely go back again read more

People talk about this place as if its the be-all end-all of sushi in Waltham, and truth be told, I really wanted to love it. But after having given it a few tries, I think it its pretty average, and no better or worse than the offerings at Baan Thai for sushi. I will give a shout out to the freshness of the sashimi, but while their lunch portion was more than reasonable, some of the fish was flavorless. The tuna and salmon are decent, but the octopus was touch gummy. Their Boston Roll was simply underwhelming. A good place for lunch, but I wouldn't splurge on dinner here with the other options in the area being what they are. read more

After returning back to Mass from college I was taken to Ponzu by a friend who was shocked when I told her I hadn't had 'real' sushi before. Well I am so glad that she brought me here! We started out our meal with miso soup. It was fantastic! a good amount of tofu and seaweed. We then ordered one of each the four seasons maki, tempura shrimp roll, philadelphia roll and the caterpillar. I discover that I don't like eel but everything else was amazing! The four seasons and shrimp are my favorite. we paid $26 a person and walked away full. I've also tried the California roll which is fantastic as well! since that first time I have been back at least three more times in the past month. read more

A wonderful time at ponzu! They serve Korean foods there which is very fabulous. I love the soup and the teriyaki! Serves are very nice and kind, they gave us small dishes for Korean dishes. I heard that their boss are from Korea, it's a wonderful experience at ponzu! They will be my first choice of restaurant for Korean food and Japanese food. Eat two different countries food at one time read more

Best dumplings I have ever had. The rest of the $60 bill was terrible. Bought the groupon and spent well over the $30 without even ordering drinks. Service was good but food was not. The two stars are only because of the dumplings (veggie). I'd avoid. read more

Ponzu isn't a cheap place to get sushi, but it is really good and they have some unique rolls that are worth getting. The caterpillar and snow white rolls are two of our favorites. The sashimi roses and carpaccio are also good appetizers. We also ask for a table by the window so we can watch people walking by. This is a very cute place for a nice date night that isn't too expensive. They also usually have a free dessert of fruit or pudding, which is a nice touch and way to end the meal. read more

Such delicious food! Tried small plates (sushi pizza, wasabi crab rangoons), dinner entre (general tso chicken), sushi rolls (Idaho, black widow, crazy maki, and house maki), and Bob's special (jalapeño stuffed with lots of spicy tuna). All were amazing and I highly recommend. read more

I'm not a sushi person, so this place was just OK for me. As with any type of Asian food, I wish they would specify which of their chicken dishes are breast meat. I hate digging in to find they've served me dark me, which makes me sick. I had the red chicken curry, which was half white, so half of it was really good. My husband had a variety of sushi - goldfish, octopus and spicy tuna - and he enjoyed them all. The service was good and the atmosphere was interesting, so we'll likely go back again. read more

I have been here a couple of times now. Not outstanding, but there are some things they do very well. the calamari is excellent, the spicy pork dumplings are outstanding, the sushi is good but overall for the price it is a good find read more

I agree with another reviewer - what's up with the waiter and waitress. They are always in a hurry to remove the plates or the drinks. They hurry up once you signed the check to see how much tip you have paid. Extremely unprofessional ! Food is pretty decent - sushi and entrees. I hope the owner reads these reviews and takes control of the freaky waiter(s). read more

I heard that Ponzu was great, but having been, it is pretty much the definition of standard sushi quality. It was okay, but definitely not anything special. The decor is strange, I'm not really sure what they're trying to go for. The miso soup was wayyy too salty and some of the fish didn't taste as fresh as I had hoped it would from the praise I had heard. Overall, decent sushi but not worth the price with so many other options nearby. read more

So I went there a couple of days ago after the gym for a healthy lunch. They did a custom sushi order for me which was cool and they have some interesting special rolls there. I had a roll with avocado and spicy tuna and then another with Fried sweet potatoes and salmon. Overall I was pleased the staff is nice enough but seems kind of distant. But the sushi there is good, I didn't have any entrees or cooked food so I cant comment on that. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. It's been a few months but I still remember how good the food was. My favorite dish is their appetizer with tuna on a wonton crisp. They also often have groupon deals. Good food at a steal! read more

Quick bite to eat needed and wanted to keep it healthy. Saw the Yelp reviews and thought to give it a try. Service seated me near the portable heater after I said how cold it was outside. Nice touch. Quickly took my order and just as quick brought it out. Got to people watch, listen to the waterfall and sit by a nice heater while having some sushi. Doesn't get much better than that. read more

This place has never disappointed. The staff is super friendly and helpful, the food is always good, their dumplings and fried calamari are fantastic. highly recommended. read more

The food and service is of the highest quality. We are regulars and the owner always greets us. Samples of dishes we have not yet tried are brought to our table to entice and broaden our future selections. I have always been hesitant to try sushi and here it is the best quality, fresh and delicious and the presentation is fantastic. read more

This was great sushi and there were some very unusual items on the menu. The choices for nigiri are somewhat limited (only 9-10 types) but the ones they do offer are fantastic. It is a little more expensive than the other sushi places in the area, but the quality of the rice and the fish is much, much better. read more

Ponzu is a great place to go for lunch on a weekend. I haven't tried their dinner menu but their lunches are reasonably priced and tasty. The lunch specials include miso soup, rice (they have a few flavors to choose from-- including "chicken flavored brown rice" which I never order because the only thing I want to be chicken flavored is chicken) an entree, and a small mango salad. I ordered the General Gau and it I wasn't super impressed but I also was not disappointed. Sure, it was tasty, but the beautiful presentation of the food heightened my expectations for the flavor. I enjoy their sushi more than any other sushi I've had in the greater Boston area. Your sushi order will always come out fresh and beautifully presented. It's really a delight to eat the sushi at Ponzu. I'm not all that picky when it comes to service at a restaurant. My one strict requirement is that the food arrives at the same time for everyone I'm eating with. This didn't happen at Ponzu, and the place was not busy at all. The waitress also seemed like she wanted us out of there as soon as possible despite their being at least five empty tables. I'd recommend this place for a quick lunch but I wouldn't go there for dinner or with a date. read more

Mediocre. Beef tataki was delicious but got some chewy fat...I guess it's ok, but I just didn't like chewing raw fat. Curried pork dumpling was...interesting: dumpling was fine, curry broth was kinda weird. It tasted...grainy, instead of smooth. Uni shooter had good ingredients combination, but the uni itself could be fresher. I have no real complaint, but I also have no memorable food to recommend. Overall, mediocre. read more

I have gotten very lucky at this place every time! And the atmosphere is very pleasant:)

Actually more of a 4.5 star restaurant in my opinon. Go for the sushi and appetizers. They are awesome. I particularly love the special rolls here. I normally will just get sushi as an appetizer, and then get a main course, but the sushi at ponzu is so good that I just have to order more of it. They have one roll with eel and tuna that they tempura fry that is out of this world. Also high marks for the sea urchin shooters and the ponzu hot ribs. The entree's themselves are more hit or miss. The duck was very tasty, but the beef with Asian sausages was boring. In summary, make a meal of sushi and appetizers and you will love this place as much as I do. read more

No need to look at a menu if you can get a seat at the Sushi Bar and let "Billy" the owner know your favorite fish and preference, from there let him take you and your taste buds on a fabulous journey. I have had sushi all over the world and this was truly a great experience. read more

The sushi plates were sizeable and tasty. Drink prices weren't that bad. We had a decent meal for 4 people without breaking the bank!

Ponzu has the best sushi in the Newton/Waltham area for sure! I try to swing by once a week to get my sushi fix. Now, their sushi could be deemed a little Americanized, as the menu lacks the traditional rolls, but it works for me regardless. I love their spring rolls... the gyoza (get them steamed - better for your health and they're just sooo delish). I've tried many of their maki rolls, but the stand out is the X-Max Maki. It's shrimp tempura topped with spicy tuna mixed with roe & tempura. Their spicy salmon and tuna are pretty tasty too. The Dragon maki is also worth a try! My boyfriend has had the sesame beef and it was a surprise hit. Very tasty. Another great bonus to Ponzu is the prices on their wines and beers. 3.95 for bottles of craft beer... unheard of! Can't wait to go back this weekend! read more

Always fresh here! I love the lunch menu (more food for less $) Makimono lunch is a great start if your new to sushi :) They have a great delivery service usually less then 30 min wait and just as fresh as eating in restaurant. read more

best lunch special around. delicious and tons of food. you get so many different things! thank you ponzu :)

Ponzu is a wonderful addition to Moody Street aka Waltham's Restaurant Row. The food was fantastic, especially the Kim Chi soup. My husband had two bowls. The presentation of the Martini sushi dish was lovely. The decor was quite refreshing, Asian inspired and zen-like, without being tacky and gaudy, The service was excellent. The wait staff was quite attentive without being intrusive. All together, my husband and I had a lovely experience at Ponzu and intend to return. read more