Had a chance to dine here for dinner with a girlfriend. Reservation is a must otherwise you might not get a seat. It's a small restaurant with bar seating and 4 tables. Everyone is seated facing the sushi chefs. We were served 15 courses, one extra course for July 4th celebration. Normally it's $99 for 14 courses. I was impressed by some of the flavors of the dishes at the beginning. The nigiri's served the second half felt repetitive (similar fish and tastes). It's definitely a good dining experience. Dining time was from 6:45pm to 8:30pm. They have 2-3 dining times a night. Definitely a good place to try omakase! read more

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The omakase at Akami could make any day a special occasion and even more so if it is a day worth celebrating! The full staff puts in the work to ensure an amazing experience. Food: The menu was a perfect blend of new unexpected flavor combinations, decadent fish cuts prepped with great care, and even normal fish cuts elevated to new flavor peaks! Service: The chefs gave enticing descriptions of the dishes that really emphasized an appreciation of food and the wait staff kept the meal flowing with ease. Atmosphere: The standard sushi bar was great for watching the staff, so even between bites we had something to talk about and get excited by. The interior is not only neat and clean it helps take your mind off of everything beyond the front doors. read more

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such a cool experience! For $99 and 14 courses that came with great care and attention, akami was a great omakase experience. Being omakase, the menu will change every 3 months but I loved each and every piece of our meal. There was great variety, the fish was fresh and buttery soft, and the chef was thorough in his descriptions. Akami is a small space and intimate experience as everyone dines together so be sure to make your reservation on time! Service is efficient and very friendly and attentive read more

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A cute (New) little Omakase spot in Brookline. $99 for 14 courses is a pretty solid deal. Boston has a lack of cheap(ish) Omakase. Compare that to NYC where you have an Omakase spot on every corner almost. There is a liberal use of the torching technique here. Quite a few items were torched, which I find usually reserved for a Wagyu or Foie Gras type of item. Nonetheless, the assortment was very good. The staff is amazing. They probably average 1 staff member for every 3-4 guests, which means you are getting solid attention. You can add on individual pieces at the end of the meal for an extra charge, which is a good opportunity to get full. These is a course with Uni, but oddly, they opt to use Maine Uni, despite having Hokkaido Uni on hand. You can buy the Hokkaido Uni as an add on later, at the end of the meal. I was a bit disappointed that the price point didn't include Hokkaido Uni. A small piece is dropped on top of the fatty tuna, so it's not even an entire Uni sushi piece in the course. They are missing signature Wagyu and Foie Gras, which keeps it from feeling like an elevated experience. The price point is enough to not make it a casual meal. It's a difficult space to straddle. The courses were good. More sweet flavors than spicy, if you prefer that. I tend to lean toward spicy myself. Overall, you should certainly give it a shot. It might be among of the cheapest Omakase dinners in Boston. Reservations should be made well in advance. read more

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Akami Omakase in Brookline is truly a 10/10 must-try. Even if it's a bit expensive, you're going for the experience, and it absolutely delivers. From the moment we sat down, Chef Jam's passion and dedication were obvious. He even showed us the fresh fish flown in from Japan and Norway that we'd be enjoying that night, which made the whole meal feel even more special. We had an incredible 14-course omakase for $100 per person, and every bite felt like a little work of art. Watching the chefs prepare each course right in front of us added so much to the experience. You can see the care and creativity that go into every dish, and it makes you appreciate each course on a whole new level. Our favorite dishes of the night were definitely the salmon and tuna. They were fresh, buttery, and unbelievably delicious The menu changes with the seasons, so every visit feels new and exciting. If you love sushi or have never tried an omakase before, this is your sign. Book a seat the next time you're in Brookline. It's worth every moment and every bite. read more

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Such a fun and casual evening with the lady and good friend. Akami is entertaining, as you take on their i omakase journey. We opted for the premium which gets you some better cuts of fish etc and extra items. Items i tried to right down as they came out! Akami premium omakase Shabomushi - Japanese steam egg smoked dashi kambu broth flavor. Hamachi- yellow tail - white truffle yuzu ponzu sauce - crispy fried shallots Mackrel saba - vinegar and sake - 3-5 hours. Torched skin high heat. Good fat content Salmon two tone color - placed in salt beet root. Not as fatty. Natural color . Fish roe spicy mayo and wasabi fish roe sauces Nigiri - white fish. Pickled yuzus flavor of the kenpachi Sea bream (MaDie?) white fish one of highest qualities? Better then the last course. Nigiri Stuzuki - white fish Black Sea bass - yuzus gel and sauce nigiri Shimai-aji slapjack white fish brushed soy. Nigiri Ika- squid slippery, hold it tight - hot water run 3-5 seconds. Bouncy texture torching after brushing on nigiri sauce. White truffle paste on top Hakkaido hotate - scallop with paste of yuzu miso. Brings flavor together Akami red fish tuna nigiri sauce with hisami wasabi pickled wasabi Shutoro fish hand roll Otoro - dry aged tuna less fatty but still melt in mouth with Uni fresh from Japan on top the o-toro Shutoro Bogan Ebi - sweet shrimp tender creamy nigiri sauce, white truffle oil, topped with cavier oremium Torched unagi handroll Crispy black sesame rice puff I really like our first dish in the cup steamed egg dashi so tasty and the otoro piece. Everything was fresh, a bit of something for everyone. Would come back again to try other things i did think there was too many white fish dishes but i also don't mind. Wish there was more toro haha Service was great! Definitely kept us engaged and it felt like an intimate experience! read more

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My wife and I tried Akami tried today and was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food and friendly staff. The sequence of 14 piece omakase was well formatted to keep the experience interesting. The meal included a noodle dish, fish soup with fried tofu, several nigiri's, and an ending desert. Chef Jam is devoted to his craft and to providing a great dining experience to every customer and it shows with each piece he served up and his genuine interaction with customers. We recommend and will be back. read more

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Great place to take a date and make sure to try to request to sit by the bar. The sushi chef will provide you a description of each sushi right before servicing so it's nice to be up front. The food was amazing and we enjoy each piece. I went with girlfriends and because of the time limit of 90 minute seating time and closeness of spacing sitting next to patrons, it's not the greatest place to have a conversation to catch up/gossip. A lot of the other patrons were there on a date so we tried to quiet down as to not bother everyone else. But we def enjoyed the experience. I would do it again and go back. The sushi chef shares that his goal is to have a different menu each time depending on the fish they have so I expect it to change it up at least every few months. read more

Akami - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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As an early birthday gift to myself, I booked a solo seat at Akami Omakase, a new sushi counter in Brookline that's already making noise...literally... This wasn't some hushed, serious omakase temple. It was high energy, full of laughs, good music, and chefs who actually want you to have fun. And somehow, they still delivered one of the most polished omakase experiences I've had in Boston. I went in solo, expecting a quiet night. By the end, everyone at the counter was raising sake shots to celebrate my birthday including the chefs. It was unpretentious, joyful, and absolutely unforgettable. I chose the Premium Omakase ($109), and it delivered! The fish was fresh, the rice was perfect, and the vibe? Immaculate. You're not just eating here, you're part of the energy. The chefs talk to you. They pour you drinks. They cheer with you. It feels like a celebration even if it's not your birthday. Akami might be new to Brookline, but they already feel like seasoned pros. If you want sushi that's refined but fun, elegant but not uptight, this is your spot! Their reservations fill up fast so book your visit now! read more

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Omakase-only restaurant - a very decent experience for a relatively affordable price, though not as high quality as omakase you might find elsewhere. We did the 16-course premium omakase for $109 per person. I thought 11 courses were excellent, with the others ranging from fine to slightly disappointing (in particular the salmon, which is usually my favorite, but was lower quality than I was expecting). My favorites were the hamachi (amberjack), akami, otoro, and hand rolls. I was also quite surprised by the low Yelp rating, which reflects only a few extraordinarily poor reviews based around the strength of the wasabi. While many of the courses did include wasabi, the kick wasn't strong at all, and it certainly wasn't overwhelmingly present. Service was also excellent and quite enjoyable. It's a small interior that quickly books out, so be sure to make your reservation in advance (especially for a prime weekend time slot), and be sure to sit at the sushi bar for the best view! read more

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Akami Omakase is such a great addition to the omakase scene around Boston. It's the first omakase in the area that I've seen come in under $100, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Even with the lower price point compared to many other omakase spots nearby, the quality and freshness of the fish never felt like it was lacking. Every course tasted thoughtfully prepared and well balanced, and you could really tell care was put into the ingredients. What really makes the experience stand out though is Chef Jam. He keeps the atmosphere fun and engaging while still delivering a great omakase experience. It doesn't feel stiff or overly formal like some sushi counters can -- just great sushi and good energy. If you've been wanting to try omakase but were hesitant because of the price tags around Boston, this is the perfect place to start. Great value, fresh fish, and a really enjoyable experience. read more

Akami - Japanese Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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First omakase experience! It was wonderful. The chef was really nice along with the staff they were attentive. The space is clean and fresh. The price for the omakase is more affordable than most in the Boston area. There's two different options, $89 /109. I went with the premium option 109 one because it comes with 15 course +1 dessert. The $89 comes with 12 courses+1 dessert I believe. My favorite courses were the madai, chutoro, and the mackerel. Had to reorder more because it was soooo good. Chef knew his stuff and prepared / marinated his fish well. I was surprised with some dishes like the mackerel and squid. Usually, when I eat these dishes they aren't that great, but chef made sure the texture was soft enough to eat not too chewy and avoided the fishy taste by torching em! The mochi dessert was surprisingly good as well. Chef said he bought it from NY but the skin of the mochi was extremely soft and the ice cream wasn't too sweet which ended the meal nicely! read more

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The food here was amazing! All the courses were really good and unique. The only one thing was the chef would yell out each course making it seem less intimate and feel kind of rushed at times. Sometimes I felt like I had to move faster and missed what he said about what the course was. read more

The I really wanted to like this place but it's simply very overpriced for what you get. The fish is cut too thin. There were a few standout dish to start and then it was all normal uninspired nigiri afterward. Dessert was a piece of defrost red velvet cake...the kind you get from Restaurant Depot. read more

We had a wonderful time at Akami! The 14 course Omakase experience was well worth the price tag. We tried an array of different fish prepared in front of us as we sat at the food bar. The presentation of each course was like a work of art. Textures and sauces all completely unique and a wide variety of flavor profiles. Service was impeccable. Highly recommend. Give this place a try. read more

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If I could give 7 stars of 5 I would. Perfect omakase experience, fresh fish, insane combos of flavors, appreciated explanations and storytelling for some pieces, got to talk to the owner as well, didn't feel stuffy or corny, just a room of people that genuinely enjoy good eats, loved the size and operations of the place overall read more

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My partner and I enjoyed the premium chef's choice 14-course omakase (full list below), chika sake cup, and special hand roll - TASTE: 4/5 - highlights included #4) king salmon belly: indulgent, #9) suzuki: excellent, #11) sweet shrimp: buttery, and #12) dry-aged otoro w uni: so rich, fatty, and creamy! TEXTURE: 5/5 - more highlights included #2) tuna tataki: loved the crisp cracker, #3) Japanese steamed egg custard: pillowy perfection, #10) scallop: soft and buttery w a dollop of miso, and #13) unagi hand roll: salty seaweed w crunchies PRICE: 5/5 - thought the value was great. Definitely worth the $99! SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - felt satisfied after and opted to get the uni hand roll special as an add-on at the end! SERVICE: 5/5 - reserved a week before and walked in on time for our 5pm Sunday dinner. The entire staff was friendly and professional, and appreciated that Chef Jam described each course before it was served. Also appreciated that they accommodated my partner's shellfish allergy (swapped shrimp w fish roe) and the birthday candle that came w #14) ube tiramisu! ATMOSPHERE: 5/5 - small space that felt elegant and intimate. Seats by the wall are next to each other vs. across a table PARKING: 4/5 - got lucky w a metered street spot right on Harvard St 1 - Squid (ika) 2 - Tuna tataki 3 - Japanese steamed egg custard 4 - King salmon belly (sake belly) 5 - Yellowtail (hamachi) 6 - Red sea bream (madai) 7 - Amber jack (kanpachi) 8 - Striped jack (shima ahi) 9 - Suzuki (sea bass) 10 - Scallop (Hokkaido hotate) 11 - Sweet shrimp (botan ebi) 12 - Dry-aged fatty tuna (o-toro) 13 - Japanese eel (unagi) hand roll 14 - Ube tiramisu read more

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I had an amazing dinner at Akami! I will admit that I was skeptical about how good it would be, given that there were a bunch of videos popping up on social media about them. From my experience, most places that have lots of social media coverage that we've visited were not so good. Akami definitely proved me wrong! We did the 8:30pm time slot for 3 people and there were two couples who also joined for that time. We were all seated at their bar area but it looked like they also have a couple tables in the back. We opted for their premium omakase menu, which was $109/pp & included 16 course meal, compared to their traditional omakase at $89/pp with 13 course. I really enjoyed the entire experience! It was unlike any omakase that I've been to. It felt intimate but I loved that the staff interacted with us throughout the entire meal. Very good vibes, all around! We were served mostly white fish (mackerel, hamachi, etc), with a couple fishes towards the end being red fish like o-toro & salmon. My favorites include: the steamed tofu with shrimp and ikura fish roe that had a dashi base, toro w/ uni hand roll, and the hamachi! Each course, the fish was extremely flavorful & unique. I also liked that for the mackerel, they made it to be less fishy in taste, though I do enjoy mackerel in general haha. The menu, like most omakase spots, changes all the time, so they definitely keep it interesting! This is definitely a more casual omakase spot, and I can totally see myself coming here often! Once you're done with all the courses, you can also order from their add-ons menu. This includes basically all the courses in the omakase, if you wanted seconds of anything! For us, we all ordered more hamachi & I got the toro + uni hand roll ;) Highly recommend! Great addition to Brookline's food scene. Parking: street meter parking & tends to have a bunch of spots available at most times of the day! read more

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I experienced my very first omakase here and I was very impressed! We opted for the cheaper $89 omakase experience which came with 13 courses, starting with a Japanese dish called chawamushi which is a dashi-base steamed egg dish. This was such a flavor bomb of umami and was a great way to start the courses. There were multiple nigiri, sashimi, and one hand roll dish that followed with explanations in between from the chefs. The experience ended with dessert, which was green tea flavored mochi ice cream. The ambience was very nice inside and provided a cozy, semi-private feeling experience. read more

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Good for its price and in Boston where the omakase options are limited. It was $109 for the premium omakase set for 16 courses which I thought was a really good deal. My issue with the dining experience was that almost every piece was dry aged or seared and I felt like that took away the fresh fish experience I expected from omakase. I think they're still soft opening so I don't want to be too critical but I'm uncertain what kind of vibe they were going for. I'm used to either a calm, quiet dining experience where the chef hands over each piece with a quick description, or a more upbeat, party-like one where the chefs are joking around, laughing with guests, and turning the whole meal into a fun, lively hangout. This one fell a little flat in between. I don't think I'll be back unless they change their fish preparation but would still recommend to those new to omakase. read more

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Amazing spot! Food was fanatic and service was phenomenal. A MUST go-to in Boston. Must check it out! read more

For the affordable omakase price and bc it is Boston I understand a bit. The first three dishes were good. Every nigiri has wasabi, and the taste of wasabi was taking over the taste of the fish. There was one dish specifically for wasabi, and I unfortunately dropped some tears on the spot bc of the wasabi spice Rush on time, feels like someone is rushing us to eat quick. Both my boyfriend and I got upset stomach later that night and the day after. Semi food poisoned/too much wasabi definitely didn't help our GI system. It's not those high price range omakase but it was still 150 per person after tax and tip. If you are a wasabi lover, I would say this is the place. If you are a lowkey fragile stomach person, I wouldn't recommend. Playing K-pop (?) background music?? I was confused a little read more

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A friend took me here for an early birthday dinner. People kept mentioning about this omakase place and how it was $99 per person which is a steal so we decided to see what the hype was about. Some pieces were a little too fishy which left a weird aftertaste in my mouth and there was wasabi on almost every nigiri. read more

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I like this omakase, especially for the price! The head chef Jam is super friendly and gives you the background of each course, where it came from, and what flavor notes they added. The space is intimate, quiet, and minimalistic enough that it's not overwhelming, and spacious enough that you don't feel cramped. read more

I absolutely loved my experience here! I got the 14 course omakase here and it was such a unique experience. There were about 8 teams that were seated in the restaurant since the place was kinda small. Once the omakase started, the chef prepared the sushi for all teams and explained what was being served with what sauce and paired with what toppings. All the sushi we had were absolutely delicious and I would absolutely come again! read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Akami! The 14 course omakase was very delicious, featuring fresh ingredients that created a mix of traditional Japanese pieces and some with a special touch of Thai flavors. We added on the salmon and uni hand rolls at the end to round out our meal. The team at Akami were friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be back! read more

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This place is more like 3.5 to me. We went on Christmas Eve, so we had special Christmas menu. Seating: We sat at the table instead of the bar and I don't like that (well, the bars were fully booked when we made the reservation). At the table is more private so we can talk more freely, but we didn't get to see the process of sushi making. Also, as they had to serve the food with plates or bowls, the waitresses were busy serving food and taking the plates. That process adds time and reduces the time to eat. A lot of the time, we felt rushed to enjoy the food at our pace because they already collected most of the plates when we were half way. They rushed more in the beginning than later probably because the first few dishes needed a few bites. Also, they gave out a small plate of ginger in the beginning. But they didn't refill it automatically when we finished it in the middle of the meal. Food: they are good in general, but: - We were told some fish are top grade of sushi. Maybe I'm still new to omakase, but I can't really tell the difference. - The egg dish has wood smoke and it's interesting. Unfortunately, it's just the smell. It has nothing to do with the taste. - I really like the coconut soup/cream in the first dish. Even though I think it goes better with rice than the fish. - the squid is good, but the skin is chewy and I had to spit it out. - some of the dishes were torched. But to be honest, it's barely noticeable when I tasted them. - omakase added different sauces or pastes. I don't think some combination tastes balanced to me. - the red valvet cake at the end looks cute with decoration. But it just tastes like normal velvet cake that one can get at a normal super market. Nothing special. Drink: hot tea is $5 per person. They came with a cup with hot water and tea bag. When we almost finished one cup, they took the whole cup away and served another new cup of tea. The tea smells like jasmine tea with some green tea taste. Value: after the tax and tips, it's $130 per person. The meal is filling, but I can definitely eat more. Of course I can add on, but i just didn't feel like it (probably I was not too impressed with the taste. I'm not saying it's not good, but nothing stood out). Compared to the NY omakase with the exact same price, this value is far lower. Maybe this place has more premium fish during Christmas, but the dish in NY is more memorable. The NY one also has free add-on at the end and free alcoholic/non-alcoholic drink). So I think this place is good to try, but I wouldn't come back here again unless I have to. read more

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What a fun and affordable night. Akami is the new omakase on the block, and the first more 'affordable' omakase in Boston. It is located in Brookline between Brookline Village and Coolidge Corner in a neighborhood with lots of street parking. The experience itself was lovely. Staff is incredibly welcoming and quickly gets you seated. The restaurant is small so it feels very intimate. We sat at the bar where we had a great view of all the food preparations, but the two person tables behind the bar would be nice for a date night too. The staff helps you decide if you want the $89 13-course option or the $109 16-course. In terms of the food, I was honestly so impressed with the quality of fish for the price. They served both traditional sushi pieces and unique flavor combinations. Most of the courses were nigiri but they also had a few sashimi and hot dishes. The meal started with chawanmushi with a cooked shrimp which was super tasty, followed by a tataki course and a cooked mackerel. I'm not a huge mackerel person but theirs was incredible! Then they had a salmon sashimi course infused with dragonfruit, which was pretty but I don't think it enhanced the fish very much. Then the sushi courses started. They had a range of whitefish, squid, scallop, tuna, and shrimp. All the bites were good but one of my favorites was truffle with squid! I will say a few of the flavor combos were a bit overpowering over the fish, but they have just opened so I'm sure they're still working out the kinks! They ended the meal with a piece of otoro with Uni on top which was amazing. Then the finale was an eel handroll which was super tasty, although could have had a little less rice. Finally they gave mochi for dessert from a seller in New York, which was soooo good--definitely one of the best mochi bites I've had. I also want to highlight how fun the whole experience was. Definitely a really nice date night option as the staff create a very ~fancy~ atmosphere. They explained every course and did a lot of show and tell to make it such an experience. Lastly, the price is SO worth it for the quality of fish. I got the 16 course and was absolutely stuffed. Overall I will certainly be back for my next special occasion! read more

I had a really disappointing time here as a solo diner. I was really looking forward to it, as my money is just as good as anyone else's , but they sat me at a corner table while everyone else was at the bar. No one else was at a table. I couldnt hear the chef talking about the fish...that's the reason why I come to omakase. I had to ask for him to speak up, so that I could know what the hell I'm eating, since I'm paying hundreds for it, which drew attention to me by others and it was humiliating. The food was fine. I've had much better omakase in NYC for half the price. Nothing was memorable about this except how unfairly I was treated and how humiliated I felt. Overall another overhyped place in Boston because we have nothing unique here and when something unique does come around, they price people out. $125 later and I wish I'd kept my money. You're lucky I gave you 3 stars. read more

I wanted so badly to like this place after seeing so many raving reviews on social media, especially since this was my first omakase experience. We chose the premium set which was 16 courses. It started off strong with the steamed egg dish, red salmon and mackerel. When the nigiri dishes started, there was way too much wasabi. It overpowered the fish and left my nose and eyes burning. I asked the waitress if the chef could leave out the wasabi for the remainder of the courses and her response was "the chef only puts a little bit" and walked away. So... I guess you're not allowed to have food preferences for omakase? For the next probably 6-7 courses, I had to pick out the wasabi and chug water immediately afterwards. Not exactly a 5 star experience. The otoro was not "melt in your mouth" as the chef had described, it had a meaty chew to it. I do appreciate how none of the sushi had any fishy taste or smell to it, but I left hungry, disappointed and $144 poorer. read more

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This was my second time having Omakase here, and it was an excellent experience once again. The fish was very fresh, the flavors well-balanced, and the price reasonable for the quality. The staff and sushi chef were attentive and professional, making the meal even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely return. read more

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Food/Service/Ambiance are all great. They treat you well here. I've been here 4x and it has been consistent every time. The chefs care about the whole experience. read more

After seeing the reviews, we decided to give it a try -- but sadly, it was a big disappointment. The portions were small, and the fish cuts were inconsistent. This is definitely not a true omakase chef experience, more of a wannabe version. Overhyped and overpriced. Save your money and head to NYC instead -- there are so many real omakase spots worth the price they're charging here. read more

Ok for the price. Nothing particularly exceptional or memorable. Somewhat cramped seating/ claustrophobic. Still a bit hungry afterwards.

Was about hesitant trying omakase since I like to pick what I eat, but just wanted to do it for the experience. Great quality sushi, knowledgeable chef and food was really tasty. Even the dessert was delicious. Had to ask for more ! read more

The question is when can we get a reservation!! We loved it and will be on our list of places to go for quality and special occasions!

Nothing compared to 311 omekase in South End and not worth the more affordable price. Sushi was nothing spectacular and basically all followed the same format of having wasabi underneath which by the 7th one feels boring and overdone. My companion asked for no more wasabi in hers and they wouldn't accommodate her request. The shrimp made both of us nearly hurl as the texture was slimy and unappealing--the flavor was nothing remarkable either. The otoro was disappointing and did not "melt in our mouths" as promised, so either we got a bad cut or it was not great quality (I'm willing to bet the latter). Dessert was an impressive store bought Mochi cut in half with some whip cream. We liked maybe 4 out the the 16 total dishes, but we're overall disappointed with the experience. Sure some were well presented and pretty, but the flavors were not there and I think the better option would be to save your money for 311 omekase or for a flight to Japan. read more

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