Ojaswi Restaurant & Bar

Just came from Ojaswi, the owners are the previous owners of Ruben’s Original House of Soul, the food was awesome! This is the best soul food in Sacramento. I am from Oakland, where soul food is everywhere. This is in the top 5 of any soul food restaurant in Oakland. The owner and his wife are friendly, servings are real sizes, not miniature, the fish is fresh and the ribs are flavorful. The mac and cheese is cheesy and the greens take like home. I can say enough about this place.
It’s in the cut, but well worth looking for. It’s across the freeway (160) from the Raddison in the Canterbury Inn parking lot. It’s not busy, but it will be once the word gets out. I recommend Ojaswi to anyone who loves great food!

I feel a little shameful for giving this place 4 stars, because I have only tried 2 dishes on the menu.*but* I feel this place has tremendous potential to be a wonderful place to eat/​drink/​chill/​watch a game.
I was so so excited to see a Southern restaurant. After getting my hopes shot to hell after visiting Sandra Dee’s. I was a little worried this place would do the same thing to me. It did not. (Yes, I realize I will probably be shunned for knocking SD, but do I look like I give a damn? In case you can’t see my face at the moment, No. I do not look like I give a damn.)
Last week, I met up with fellow Unilocalers Eduardo C., Mike H., and his wife. unfortunately the place was closed. but yesterday we tried again. unfortunately two in our previous party could not make it.
Yeah, the restaurant is kind of in the middle of nothing. right next to a hotel that looks like it belongs in a death movie. but don’t let that fool you. The interior of the restaurant is actually very nice. Remodeled. Fresh paint. Very lovely.
They still have paper menus, but I am guessing that is until they work out the kinks and figure out the final touches.
They were out of sweet tea, so I ordered unsweet and sweetened it myself. No biggie.
Our server brought a mixed appetizer on the house. I think they are trying it out, seeing if people like it. I did not care for it.
I had the fried pork chops, a side of green beans and macaroni and cheese. The pork chops were tender, and the breading was quite nice. Although it is not the breading that I am used to when I fry my pork chops, the dish did not disappoint. I wanted pinto beans. but they were out. (We were told they had a huge party during lunch, and were wiped out of beans.)
The green beans were good, but still. not how I cook mine. That is okay though, at least they didn’t have any of the shit that SD puts in theirs.
Now the macaroni and cheese. Here is where the major plus is, yall. In the South. we *bake* our macaroni and cheese. And the mac and cheese here is (gasp) baked. This is how you do it where I’m from. We don’t just mix some elbow mac with velveeta. That ain’t how you do it. I’m not gonna tell you how we do it, but my heart melted when I was finally able to have a bite of home when I ate.
I was able to taste Mike H.‘s fried chicken. It tasted good, and I enjoyed the breading.
Our server was quite peculiar, but very nice. We also had ‘the busser’ check on us often as well. I say ‘the busser’ because that is what our server called her. I have a feeling they were being a little harsh on her, and I hope they give her a break. She was rather delightful.
After we ate, I asked our server to bring the chef out. I had spoken with him on the phone on the phone the week before, and I wanted to introduce myself. He pulled up a chair and chatted with us a bit. Very nice guy. Very personable. You can tell he really cares about the place, and wants it to succeed. He nicknamed me «Alabama», so when you go. tell him «Alabama» sent you.
After we paid the check, we walked around a little bit. We headed over to the bar, which was a very nice bar. Very classy looking. There are tv’s, which were showing sports. While we were looking, we were offered to sit and watch the game. I think it was the chef’s wife. Very nice, very soft spoken, very beautiful woman. (If it was not, oops. sorry)
All in all, I was very pleased. I think they are off to a great start, and I really hope this place stays around. And I could definitely see myself having a few cocktails at the bar.

This place will probably turn out to be a hidden treasure!
Do not be put off by the location, which seems to be away from any other retail establishments. You need to be on the other side of Highway 160 from Costco and REI.
Do not be put off by the relatively empty parking lot, because there is an old motel (Canterbury Inn) next door that is supposed to be modernized and turned into a Days Inn.
Do not be put off if the place is not crowded, because this is a start-​up operation at the moment.
Now, what you SHOULD do is enjoy every bite of the wonderful Southern cuisine that comes out of the kitchen.
After living for many years in southeast Texas, we have some experience with that kind of food, and Ojaswi is the best we have found in Sacramento.
We are fixin’ to return for a whole passel of repeat visits with our extended family and friends.
By the way, the available space is quite extensive, with several rooms for banquets, parties, or private dining, and one room has a dance floor. There is also a full bar. So consider Ojaswi if you have a party of one, two, or twenty.

While the place is still small you will be able to truly «give your compliments to the chef;» the chef and his wife are delightful!
Go now and enjoy, so that you’ll someday be able to say that you knew them when they were new and undiscovered by the masses. You’ll be glad that you supported a small business when it needed the support, and most of all, you will leave with happy taste buds and a full belly.

They are new and we are forgiving. Off to a good start. Very friendly and accomodating staff. Nice place in a dicey hotel.

Been searching for Southern fried chicken and waffles since I left LA and world famous Roscoe’s. After reading a review in the paper, I had to try this place out. They did not disappoint. The chicken was tender and juicy with a crispy flavorful crust. The waffles were light and buttery and a great compliment to the savory chicken. And what a value at $ 6.50! I am definitely going back for more.
This place has the usual soul food fare and I sure look forward to trying it all. If it’s half as good as the chicken and waffles I’m sure to become a regular. The most expensive item on the menu is $ 14 (beef short ribs and gravy w/​choice of 2 sides), so the place is sure to please your belly AND your wallet.