Staff was friendly and offered great reca. Lobster Roe Pasta with Lobster meat . Worth the $$$. GET IT!!!!! Ribs were super tender. Salmon neck could've used more char but still good. Tuna poke fresh. Matcha ice cream was nice. read more

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We came here with a reservation for Friday dinner and were seated promptly. Service was great, with our server informing us of the freshest items of the day and our orders being taken and brought out pretty quickly. For food, we got: * Oyster mushrooms. Very flavorful and delicious, our favorite dish of the night. For $20, it's pricier than similar dishes at other places. * Tuna sashimi bowl, which contained half fresh tuna sashimi slices and half minced tuna meat over rice. Fresh, delicious, and made the meal feel like a special occasion. But worth 55$? No. * Pickles and kimchi sides. Tasty, but an incredible ripoff for the tiny portion sizes at $5 each. * Mapo tofu. Despite being colorful, it was neither spicy nor salty enough to have much flavor. At $16, it was the only reasonably priced dish of the night. Overall, the food was tasty, but not worth the prices for the portion sizes. read more

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Judy's Bay is super cozy and homey, a hole in the wall izakaya joint compared to your run of the mill sushi restaurant in Cambridge. A few of the things we ordered blew me away, though I will say the price point for every dish was very steep (a tad incongruous with the atmosphere) and the portions not large. What I'd get again: 1. Toro nori bowl - fun to assemble on your own and a very, very generous amount of fatty tuna. We made the mistake of ordering this AND two orders of the toro temaki handrolls, not realizing we were going massively overboard with the fatty tuna. 2. Chicken wings - beautiful roasted soy sauce flavor. I could have eaten more of these. 3. Pork katsu - I'm not a pork fan but I loved the light crisp on this. 4. Cabbage salad - very crunchy and refreshing in the summer. What I'd skip: 1. The lobster roe pasta - not bad, especially with the lobster chunks, but nothing about the noodles themselves stood out and the primary flavor of the sauce was butter. For almost $50, this one missed the mark for me, especially since it's the restaurant's specialty dish. 2. Oyster mushrooms - my husband raved about this dish, while I found it too heavy on the salt and oil and needed a longer blot. 3. Black sesame ice cream sundae - meh for $14, just a large scoop of ice cream that you can find anywhere else and the toppings of red bean and strawberries didn't add much. The presentation was also a little sloppy, with all of the food pushed to just one side of the bowl. Parking: Very challenging, almost all permit only spots. If you go a bit further down the street in the opposite direction of Central, you'll find a cluster of meter spots that are free after 6pm. read more

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*Limited Street Parking (Resident Pass Required) The vibes is here are great, it has dim lighting and is pretty busy but small so I would recommend getting a reservation. They have a limited menu with some items being seasonal but the waiters are very helpful and will let you know. I strongly recommend the toro, it is on the pricey side for $55 but it is one of their most popular dishes and I would say it's worth it. One dish that was recommended by everyone that I was a little disappointed about was the lobster roe pasta. It was good but I didn't enjoy it as much as expected and it started become gummy like so if you don't eat it quickly, it may become like this. It is a little plain without the lobster meat but there is an additional $15 charge so that is up to you. We also got another dish, I forget the name I think it was some black bean octopus over rice. But this dish was great with a little spice to it. Enjoyed the sake flight as well, the menu is pretty descriptive so you can pick and choose which ones that look good to you. read more

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I visited about 3 months ago so some of the menu items I tried might be outdated, but I wanted to share some thoughts about my experience because some of the dishes were exceptional. We started with the temaki sushi ($32) which came with two handrolls that had a good balance of rice and fish. They weren't super large but were fresh and had good flavor. We then got the miso-braised pork shoulder ($18), which was a larger portion than expected. This was our favorite dish, as the pork was very tender and flavorful. The dish had pieces of cabbage which were soft, naturally sweet, and soaked up all the flavor of the sauce. I would get this again, but with some rice because it was seasoned strongly. As this seems to be one of their most popular dishes, we also ordered the lobster roe pasta ($34). While the noodles were creamy and tasty, I think this dish is more worthwhile if you add the lobster (+$15). It does become even pricier at that point, but the noodles on their own were not super memorable. At the end we had some stomach space left and were still curious about the menu so we ordered the monkfish katsu ($25). I regretted getting this! The breading and fish basically tasted like the frozen fish fingers you can buy from the grocery store. While the yuzu tartar sauce was tasty, the rest of the dish was just not worth it. Overall, I thought the fish was good quality and really loved the pork shoulder. I would definitely eat here again, but would do more research on different menu items ahead of time. read more

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Judy's Bay is one of my favorite restaurant in Cambridge, MA. The food is yummy, the restaurant is cozy and homie, and it really does feel like you are stepping in to Kim & Lukas' home. They are the owners. You can usually find Kim hosting in the front of the restaurant and Lukas walking out of the restaurant with hot food. The menu is inspired by locally caught seafood, the East Asian cuisine that they grew up eating, and the warm feeling of eating at Grandma's dinner table (Hence the name, Judy). Here is what I had for dinner and my thoughts about it: Lobster Roe Pasta w/ actually lobster meat - The pasta color is bright orange and always takes me back as a kid because it looks like craft mac and cheese. When you take a bite of it, you realize it's not. The orange comes from the lobster roe, and it makes the pasta really cravable. You should want to take multiple bites. It doesn't come with lobster meat so I always add it to reinforce the point that it's a lobster pasta. It is one of my wife's favorite dishes here. Blue fin tuna sashimi - They get it fresh and locally, so I always order sashimi when they have it on the menu. When they can't get it, they won't serve it. This is for sushi fans. Blue fin tuna temaki - I always order anything blue fin tuna here when they have it on the menu because they get it fresh and locally. When they can't get it, they won't serve it. This is for sushi fans. Temaki comes with rice and wrapped with seaweed so you can pick it up with your hands to eat it. Uni Temaki - Their uni taste different and richer. It comes from Portland, Maine, usually. It's fresh and local. When they can't get it, they won't serve it. This is for sushi fans. Temaki comes with rice and is wrapped with seaweed so you can pick it up with your hands to eat it. Grilled mackerel - Because mackerel are so oily, having this fish grilled is perfect. I recommend a side of rice. Mapo Tofu - Their mapo tofu is different than how I usually have it. It's made vegetarian I think and has mushrooms in it. It's really tasty, not too spicy, and come with the side of rice. I usually eat a version with meat but really enjoy this one. Pork Shoulder - It's made with cabbage and stir fried with oil and soy sauce, I think. This dish comes off a balanced meal because it comes with vegetables. Oyster mushroom - Grill oyster mushroom so it's a bit smokey. It comes with grilled vegetables. It's one of the best dishes on the menu and having vegetables really balance dinner. Strawberry tapioca is my favorite dessert. I am still asking the owners to make a giant batch for me. Old Fashion Buzz - Whiskey heavy with a hint of coffee. Matcha Fizz - Not as better as you think and the citrus help. Iwai 45 - Very smokey whiskey. It makes me think of Islay Scotches but never realize Japanese whiskey can me this smokey. I like it so it works for me. Ordered it on the rocks. Whiskey highball - If you are craving a highball, this really hit the spot. Not sure what tonic they used but this highball came off very balanced. It's not that whiskey forward and really refreshing. When available: Sear Scallops - Salty and fatty from the soy sauce butter that it is cooked in. Seared perfectly. It's one of my favorite things on the menu. Order every single time when I have a chance. Sword fish - It's cooked in butter and served in a delicious soy sauce-based sauce with scallion oil on top. It reminds me of steam fish from Chinese cuisine but the butter and scallion oil on top makes it tastier. It's savory, salty, and oniony from the scallion which a meaty sword fish can handle. Because it's heavy sauce, I recommend having rice with it. Fried rice or a side of rice. Lastly, If possible, I recommend making a reservation for the weekend because it does get popular here. Everyone in the neighborhood walks over for dinner. There is a cute and cozy fireplace spot for a table for 4-6 people. For a special dinner for celebratory occasions, I recommend booking that table. Hope you enjoy the restaurant. read more

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This place is so cute! The friendly service when we were there. We felt very welcomed. Our server explained how the menu works and how most of the dishes are to be shared (tapas style). We chose a few items to split. We tried to Uni which was good but had a weird after taste (maybe not use to it since its the first time trying sea urchin!). The rubs were AMAZING. Fall off the bone, smokey, sweet and sticky. Big fan of these ribs. We also split the veggie fried rice which tasted fresh and sauteed with crisp veggies. My friend order the mussels which had a hint of spice. Now out of everything you MUST get the swordfish. The fish melted like butter and tasted really good. The miso butter sauce was to die for! I often dream about this fish days after I had it. This fish went really well with the veggie fried rice. This was our last meal in the Boston/Cambridge area and we were so happy to come here :) Would def. come back when we are in the area again. I've already suggested this place to a bunch of my foodie friends :) read more

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First, let me give credit where due to my husband who always seems to find some real great gems. It's no wonder I married him and consider him my partner in foodie fun (I'm just the one who writes all the reviews and takes the pictures). Judy's Bay was excellent. Alright, the details. I had to really control not ordering EVERYTHING on the menu because it all sounded so good. My husband picked this spot to celebrate my birthday and he really hit it on point with things that I would enjoy. Oden was on special and very welcomed as it's winter in New England. We loved that they make their own seafood based balls/cakes and the broth in house. So many different types of seafood all freshly made. We also enjoyed Sake flights, which my husband said was his favorite Sake he's ever had. The Monkfish Katsu bites were plentiful and flavorful, with the perfect sauce pairing of yuzu kosho tartar sauce. As avid mushroom fans, we said yeah sure let's get the Oyster Mushroom appetizer. The way we devoured them so fast and even wondered how the baby cauliflower included with the dish was also so good. We still think about the char on those mushrooms. The dish that has made me pull out my phone to show everybody is the Lobster Roe Pasta. WOW. They really did it right. While we treated ourselves by adding fresh crab meat to it (and they were VERY generous in the portion), we know when we come back the Lobster Roe Pasta does well on its own. The flavors were savory and melted in our mouth. We kept saying "wow this is divine" out loud. We actually kept eyeing the table next to us who had the fresh crab fried rice and now we know to get that next time too. My husband LOVES anything with black sesame so he already admitted he was leaning to Judy's Bay for our date night options because of the ice cream sundae with black sesame option. I loved it too and especially due to the fresh in-house mochi and matcha crumble. It's clear Judy's Bay puts in a lot of love and effort to make it fresh and quality ingredients. That's what we like. We'll be back soon and spreading the word! read more

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Food was alright. We ordered 3 dishes shared between two and thought it was a good amount. We got the monkfish Katsu, mussels, and the pork shoulder. All were fine taste wise. The monkfish katsu was crispy but no unique flavors with the way it was served. The gochujang mussels were disappointing in my opinion since I expected more flavor- it was very one note. And lastly the pork shoulder was also only fine as well- the pork was tender but didn't taste very marinated outside of the sauce it was cooked in. Overall, food was cooked well but lacked depth in flavor. I think this place has a wide selection of drinks that make it a fun bar spot to try but wouldn't come here for just food. Service was a little slow but wasn't anything of an issue. For drinks, I got the sake flight and I enjoyed being able to try out different sakes without commuting to a bottle so that would be something that will make me return here. read more

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Judy's Bay is a soulful gem that has umami as its focus. The sauces and condiments add layers of creativity and depth that are unusual, even for a metropolitan area with many excellent restaurants. We had: - tuna paté with fried wonton: this showed us the technical skill of their chefs in our first dish. The wontons were wafer thin and fried to perfection. The fish was smoked (in-house, I'm guessing) and transformed into a paté that married smokiness with a multidimensional blend of spices and flavors. For any die-hard New Yorkers out there, this dish beats anything that the Zabar's ever made in their 1980s culinary heights because the innovative flavors distinguish it from most others. - the scallop crudo: fantastically creamy scallops with a shiso reduction that prompted me to scrape the plate clean. - seaweed salad: I've had innumerable seaweed salads, and this one is *the best*, with seaweed that retains its true texture and comes with a fragrant, multidimensional dressing. Because it came out later in the meal, it was given to us on the house, even though we had not said anything and didn't mind at all. I don't know any of the chefs or staff, but to me, that shows that they care deeply about the arc of the meal. - steamed dumplings: this brought me back to my childhood, but was elevated with a delicate, savory sauce that was out of this world - pickles and homemade furikake: who makes their own furikake?!?! Another invocation of a childhood favorite, but they use combinations of mushrooms, sesame, and spices to replace the ever-present MSG found in commercial versions of furikake. - lobster roe pasta with the lobster meat - a glorious riff on a carbonara. If you order this, I highly recommend getting it with the meat because this is what synthesizes the flavors of the dish. I can't imagine carbonara without bacon and couldn't imagine this without the lobster meat! The focus is on the food here, even though I loved the casual, neighborhood ambiance with great artwork. The price point may appear high, but when I think about the innovation, creativity, sourcing, and the critical importance of providing sustainable wage to the restaurant's staff, the meal was a bargain. The servers were efficient (I loved the ability to pay on my way out - I wish everyone did this!) and kind. My husband and I work a lot and make good food a priority in our budget and travels. He is a phenomenal home chef and we have had the privilege of eating at many Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe. Amongst all those fabulous meals laden with dazzling technique and "unobtainium", the one we had at Judy's Bay is one of the most memorable because of how the chefs transform childhood favorites into something that celebrates old memories whilst making it new again. We will definitely be back, with friends! read more

Mussels 3/5 Tartare 3/5 Skate 3.9/5 Lobster roe pasta 2/5 Black sesame icecream 2/5 Overall, mid unfortunately. Made a reservation but got seated in a bar like setting, which is fine! Still felt private Mussels with gochujang tastes exactly like the description. Did not wow me Skate - I have never had before but it tastes just like a white fish. Tuna tartare - generous with the amount of tartare but it felt like pretty one note to me after a while. Lobster roe pasta - way too creamy for my personal taste Black sesame icecream - was thick , not as nutty as I would have wanted the black sesame to taste and also a small scoop. read more

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Lucas (the owner) is the man. Came here for my graduation dinner and my fellow jumbo delivered a fantastic meal with delicious cocktails. We ordered the scallop crudo (to die for), oysters and mushrooms, mussels, and salmon handroll. For drinks we ordered th matcha fizz, yuju spritz, japanese negroni, and the herbalist. I like sweet beverages so the matcha and yuju were a 10/10! I am coming back the food was soo good and the ambience is perfect to accompany. read more

I decided to try out Judy's Bay after my husband received a gift card to this restaurant. The person who sent the gift card had never been either but had heard rave reviews about the restaurant. After trying it out I wholeheartedly can say that Judy's Bay is a hidden gem. It is on the pricier side, but I think it's well worth it for special occasions. I have come back for various birthday dinners and once even for a special fixed menu valentines dinner. I believe you can also specially request to be seated at a table by a woodburning fireplace that is kept going through the cold months. I would strongly suggest making a reservation as the interior is relatively small and from my experience there are likely only one or two servers during service. With that being said, you can tell that this is a locally owned restaurant. The service has always been exceptional and the cocktails and food are insanely good. The ingredients are high quality and each dish is crafted with care and attention to detail. My go-to cocktails are the matcha fizz and yuzu spritz. Very tasty drinks that are well-balanced. As for food, the ribs and the seafood pasta are part of our usual order. The menu selection does change a bit seasonally so it's always fun to see what has changed over time. Overall, if you're looking for a new cozy restaurant to try out, run don't walk to Judy's Bay. read more

We had a reservation for Thursday evening and the restaurant got quite full throughout the night. We ordered a variety of plates to share among three people. The dishes all felt well portioned - large enough to share but small enough that we could order multiple things. The decor inside is cute, and they even have a small booth with a fireplace by the window. What we ordered: Lobster roe pasta - one of the favorites of the night. Not as saucy as we were expecting but well executed. Sake chicken wings - juicy and flavorful Oyster mushrooms - delicious, get this dish! Ribs - tender fall off the bone with a similar flavor to charsiu Baby cauliflower - good but the sesame sauce was a bit overpowering Pork shoulder - tender pork chunks with well seasoned cabbage Black sesame ice cream sundae - wish this had a bit more black sesame flavor Yuzu cheesecake - indulgent, creamy texture with an interesting twist from the yuzu read more

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This place is so cute and cozy inside! Definitely make a reservation since it's so small. The lobster roe pasta is a must-try!! read more

Judy's Bay - Lobster roe pasta - Seafood Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

More like 3.5 Quality food for sure but flavors were very muted. Lobster pasta was best of the dishes we had. read more

What a wonderful and cozy find. The first thing we noticed was a real fireplace and lovely decorations. Great vibes. Service was warm, friendly, and inviting. We ordered a variety of dishes, each was delicious and well executed. The flavors are Japanese and Korean, and kept fairly simple without over elevating. Cocktails were pretty nice too. Pricing felt on point and I'd be delighted to come back anytime. read more

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I was intrigued by the concept of a "New England izakaya," and Judy's Bay mostly pulls it off! * Pork belly: I liked the smoky flavor, but the pork was a little tougher than I'd like * Monkfish katsu: GET THIS. I thought I didn't like monkfish until I had this. Very tender, not rubbery like I've had it before * Uni potatoes: the uni was good but the potatoes were disappointingly plain/bland read more

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Cozy and comfortable. It's like walking into someone's home and treated like family. So much on menu to try and the dishes are just right size to share but also experience several tastes. The lobster roe pasta is an indulgence not to be missed and the variety of sake rivals any Izakaya in Japan. Great date spot. We'll definitely be back. read more

I went there with my parents and we were a party of 4. The waitstaff charged an automatic 20% tip to our bill when the menu said it may do that for parties of 5 or more. I saw another table of 4 getting an automatic 20% tip added to their bill (they split the bill in half), and they seemed to be a bit surprised too. If you're charging automatic 20% tip for a party of 4 or more, then make sure to clearly state that in the menu. Otherwise, it makes your diners feel like getting scammed. read more

No lobster roe in the $35 lobster roe pasta. Nice Scam! If they are going to call it their signature lobster roe pasta, they should at least put some lobster roe in it. Pasta was also bland. Toro temaki was fine. Service was inattentive, they were too busy talking amongst themselves. read more

A cozy & unassuming spot, in the middle of nowhere-ish, with Izakaya vibes and yummy Japanese dishes. Seafood options change daily depending on the ingredients available! Start with the temaki - if they have scallops, choose that. Super plump and sweet The rice is seasoned well and perfectly fluffy too. Kinda wish we got two each. The sushi bowl is excellent too. More scallops, very good uni, and fat lobster meat! Rly the rice makes it even better We we're so impressed by the specials so the lobster pasta was meh. It has a cream base so gets kinda heavy, would like it more if it had a spicy kick. Don't skip out on dessert! The sundae comes in classic Asian flavors: matcha, red bean, and black sesame. We LOVED how creamy and delicate this tasted. Not super sweet so even better. Housemate mochi was kinda hard tho. scallop temaki $9* shellfish trio sushi bowl $58* lobster roe pasta $28 black sesame ice cream sundae $14* pear sorbet $7 올해 먹은 관자중에 베스트!! 완전 통통하고 달고 감칠맛 난다. 두개 시킬걸 샤리가 맛있어서 그런지 테마키도 맛나구 스시볼도 굳. 재료 여부에 따라서 해산물 디쉬는 맨날 바뀌는것 같은데 관자 있으면 꼭 먹기!!! 추천 받아서 시킨 랍스터 파스타는 비추. 너어무 느끼함. 약간 매콤했으면 괜찮을텐데 음... 마무리 디저트는 흑임자 선데이 추천! 너무 달지 않고 고소하다. read more

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This place is small and amazing! The owners are really nice, funny, and genuine people! I didn't know much about sake so the flights are pretty cool. All the dishes are fresh and unique. To eat here you must be decently adventurous especially with seafood. read more

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I don't envy the job of a place that serves raw fish. I (naively) imagine it's a very hard thing to set up storage, processing, etc. But also if you're going to charge me $40 per square inch, you're gonna have to make it worthwhile. Judy's Bay...doesn't. The place is nice and cute - very "cozy" in the Cambridge real estate sense (see: small). Coming here for some of their interesting sakes would be nice, for sure. But their menu is kind of confusing. Eye-watering prices on fish, assorted vegetables and...pasta? Like not even a Japanese twist, straight up creamy pasta with lobster...juice? Btw - skip that pasta - you can simulate the experience by making some macaroni and eating an entire stick of butter. Service-wise, our server seemed shocked to be there and very eager to go home. I felt bad asking her questions about the dishes because she honestly had no idea and was very sorry about it. A lot of the dishes had this "add crab" option. Like - if the dish is supposed to have crab, include the crab. I'm not shredding $20 on top of my pasta because "it might be nice". read more

The food was great. I especially loved the spicy squid salad appetizer; the lemon citrus flavor was a really good match for the salad. I had the lobster pasta with uni for my entree, which was good, but nothing mind-blowing. Since I'm not a big seafood fan, it was just okay for me, but my boyfriend loved the mussels. I really liked the sauce. The seating was really cozy, and with our group of six, the owner was very nice and attentive. read more

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Such a cute little place! Came here with a party of 2 on a Saturday evening. Place was packed so be sure to make a reservation! Staff were so friendly and also explained the menu a bit We were intrigued by their Japanese and Korean fusion-esque dishes and so wanted to try it out. We started off with two of their sake flights - the Classic and the Variety. The staff member for our table was very helpful is giving us brief descriptions of them. Love the opportunity to try new sakes! Their dishes were great!! (apologies for the terrible photos - it was a bit dim in there). We got their pork dumplings, pork belly, and Maine mussels. Overall, all the dishes were on the very salty side which I expect of Japanese cuisine but it was quite a bit salty. Other than that, the dishes were all delicious. The gochujang butter was to die for - what a combo! Salty savory richness paired with mussels - amazing!! I would definitely recommend this place for those wanting to try interesting dishes! read more

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Tried Judy's Bay for a birthday dinner. The space is a small, quaint restaurant suited for couples and small groups. It's the type of place that is probably warm and cozy in the winter. Food came out freshly prepared. Our top dishes were the pork shoulder and lobster roe pasta. Pork dish had various textures (crispy and tender pieces). Lobster roe was satisfying but heavy (we split it among 3 people and thought it was the perfect amount). read more

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This is my new favorite restaurant. Small and cozy dining room that is thoughtfully simple and relaxing. Food is super fresh with delicious seasoning... The tuna paté, mussels, swordfish, pork fried rice and flan were all perfection. Chef Lucas is living his dream and his joyfulness infuses his whole restaurant--ambiance, menu, and attentive servers. read more

We had a group of 6 come in for dinner on a weekday. We had reservations and were immediately seated, and I think generally wait times weren't that long - turnover was pretty quick. But at times there was a bit of a queue (maybe one or two tables) so probably still best to make a reservation. Between the 6 of us we must have tried half the menu haha. Too many to describe individually, I think, so I'll just cover some of the highlights. My favourite things we ordered were the lobster roe pasta, monkfish katsu, and the pork belly. The lobster roe pasta was very delicious, with well cooked, and I loved the creamy sauce. The pork belly was juicy and tender and the accompanying veggies were also surprisingly flavourful (and thankfully not over cooked). Monkfish katsu was the perfect combo of crispy outside and soft inside, and the yuzu tartar sauce was so yummy. What should we have avoided? The spicy squid salad was a bit of a miss (squid decent but greens rather tasteless). The miso ribs were fragrant, but the meat was really chewy (in a bad way) and overall not a great choice. The dumplings were decent but (as I'll get to shortly) ridiculously overpriced for the quantity and quality. For desserts we had the strawberry tapioca (which has long been recommended to me) and the matcha ice cream sundae. Both were OKish. The strawberry tapioca was a bit bland and felt soggy at times. The matcha sundae was good, but I think that about everything matcha, and ultimately not worth $14 I'm afraid. Overall, indeed, I'm not sure I'm very keen on returning, mostly because of how crazy pricey everything was. Even the best options I didn't think were worth the 20, 30 dollar price point, and things like the hand rolls, easily around 10 dollars apiece, were definitely not worthwhile; not to mention the more disappointing options like ribs and the beef stir-fry. Good experience to have tried once. I liked the interior and atmosphere, and the service was great. But ultimately I think the quality and quantity of the food is simply not commensurate with how much they are charging, so I do not envision a future visit. read more

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1. Broccolini 2. Squid salad 3. Lobster roe pasta 4. Uni handroll 5. Scallops 6. Porkbelly and cabbage Described as a "New England izakaya" and thought all the food was p good- maybe lacking in salt sometimes but the common theme is fresh and quality ingredients. Wouldn't say it's izakaya food or gives off those vibes, just very comfy and cozy + almost family style portions. Lobster add on feels pretty worth for the amount of lobster meat u get (if you've been scammed before raise ur hand ) . Bluefish pate (not pictured) AMAZing. Broccolini was fire (I'm a huge sucker for a sesame sauce and it also included crispy shallots omgggg) read more

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Cozy neighborhood izakaya-style restaurant! I loved the moody ambiance and romantic vibes. We managed to snag a last minute reservation on a Friday night and we were asked to limit our dining time to less than 2 hrs before being seated. Our server recommended 2 starters, 2 proteins, and 2 carbs as a starting point for our group of 4. We ordered the lobster roe pasta, oyster mushrooms, scallops, miso ribs, pickled veggies, and chicken skin (on the specials menu). The food was fantastic! Everything tasted very fresh and we could tell that it was prepared and plated with care. I enjoyed the lobster roe pasta (reminiscent of an elevated mac and cheese) and the oyster mushrooms (lovely smoky flavor). However, many of the dishes were quite small, especially the seared scallops which was 4 half scallops. We ended up ordering sushi bites to supplement. Service is very friendly and our food/drinks were brought out quickly. Unfortunately, there were limited vegetarian entrees - most of the vegetarian options were appetizers or small sides. read more

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Located at the former Bondir space directly across from the Lamplighter Brewery, Judy's Bay is a New England-inspired izakaya centered around local seafood with their own twist. Upon entry, you'll be greeted with a coziness with various warming hues of red, wood, forest green, and black contrasted with egg-shell white on the upper walls. Came here on a Friday night early on with a reservation and within a half hour, it started to get packed. They had their main menu and a special menu, the latter of which we ordered off the most from. The seaweed salad description was a kinda funny and had a nice vinegary tartness to summon up your appetite (if you didn't have one at the time). Not often that we come across uni from the shores of Massachusetts but would have to say that it was bright, clean, creamy, and sweet, and so much so that we topped it on New Brunswick salmon sashimi, which was nicely thick, soft, and lengthy. If you want something that's melt in your mouth sweet and salty, order the roasted salmon belly and you won't regret it. I could've easily - easily! - ordered three more! The shellfish trio was a dish to behold since it was a small bowl packed with uni, scallops, lobster meat, sushi rice, and edible flowers with sheets of nori standing at the rim, waiting to be plucked. We knew we were making our own handrolls and to be as creative as we could be. Everything for this creation worked very well. The lobster roe pasta must be eaten with an extra order of lobster meat to obtain fulfillment and satisfaction -- creamy from the roe, good bite from the pasta, and the sweet salinity from the extra lobster. Something almost unnoticeable was the basket under the table used for the menus. The staff were very attentive and kept checking on us every so often. In a separate reservation request with a $300 minimum, you and your guests get a chance to sit at the table next to the fireplace which the staff periodically stokes and adds firewood (can be soothing on a colder winter night). Parking is street; otherwise, Uber it. read more

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This place is right across the street from Lamplighter Brewery and still seems pretty new. The inside is cozy and has several tables and a bar area. The food was overall delicious and draws inspiration from various cultures and ethnicities, and has an izakaya vibe! We got the Yamitsuki Cabbage and Oyster Mushrooms to start. My favorite of the two were the oyster mushrooms because they were fleshy and had a nice smoky taste - mushrooms truly are the meat of the veggie/fungi world. The yamitsuki cabbage reminded me of Gyu Kaku's addicting cabbage, which I also love! For entrees we got the miso ribs, fried rice with chicken and onsen egg, and miso pork belly. They all were delicious but the chicken in the fried rice stole the show for me. It was soft and melted right in your mouth, perfect consistency and wasn't dry at all. For drinks I got a matcha fizz and my friend got a yuzu spritz. Both were great! I would definitely come back here. One thing to note is that the front door is a little heavy. read more

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Came with a large party and tried over ten dishes. Highlight was the lobster pasta: creamy and delicious. Other dishes were solid or okay, although for the price I would have hoped for more than that. Atmosphere was fun and service was solid. The only do not orders would be the pickles: ($4 for a couple of bites of lightly seasoned carrots and cucumbers) and squid salad (dressing had too much vinegar and did not meld well). read more

Judy's Bay - Squid salad and pickles in the background - would skip - Seafood Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We had meant to come here for years, and a birthday gave us an occasion to actually do it. We were surprised, upon entering, how noisy it was (they could make it quieter with padded tables and table cloths rather than the plain hard wood tables). Another surprise was how Japanese it felt -- the descriptions had indicated "Pan-Asian", but it definitely felt Japanese. The music was not traditional Asian, which we would have preferred over the pop muzak. The wait staff were very helpful and accommodated our food allergies (MSG and raw onions) thoroughly, telling us what we could safely order. While the menu was small, and less seafood-oriented than we expected, there were still several quite a few things we could order. We had a huge sesame salad that was very fresh, with especially tasted crispy noodles. The tuna sushi was delicious, and the pork dumplings were especially good. The swordfish was sliced a bit thin, but tasted great. My negroni with cherry syrup was satisfying. For dessert we shared a tapioca with strawberries and a cheesecake, and found that they weren't too sweet, which was good. The service was excellent throughout, prompt without feeling rushed. We would definitely return. read more

Really charmed by Judy's and eager to return. The decor feels like home with plants all over, sweet touches of rabbit figurines in dishes and towels on doors, baskets to carefully place purses and accessories. The food is thoughtfully assembled bursting with flavor and light to the palette allowing for a satisfying meal in all regards. We started with a Matcha Fizz which was impressively refreshing, and a warmed Yuho sake which made the evening cozy. The flavor of the Yuho sang from the amazing cup it was served from. Thoughtful hearth dishes accompany your meal and small saucers with adorable critters join to generate smiles and space for resting chopsticks and placing sauces. The oyster mushrooms are savory and bursting with the umami you'd expect from such a dish, the tuna tataki special of the evening served an unexpected spice but was balanced. The scallop uni sushi bite was more scallop than uni for my taste but still very impressive with a complex stacking this bite deserves a few moments for ingesting, digesting, and experiencing. The sesame salad is so full of crunchy joy it's the perfect pair to the seafood partners. For dessert we tried the mochi and tapioca pudding. I was surprised by the mochi delivering a much less bouncy texture than expected but a wonderful flavor that really tasted like homemade in the best way. The tapioca pudding was a true delight with a berry undertone, fantastic texture and delicate berry topping. Looking forward to my return visit and grateful to stumble upon Judy's read more

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Fantastic meal here tonight with my wife for our anniversary! The service was friendly, food was delicious and unique and drinks were on point. Space is cozy and just the right level of bustling. Prices were on point for quality and style, not sure what others are complaining about there read more

Judy's Bay - Seafood Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Got reservations here weeks in advance because of all the great reviews and they did not disappoint! The service is super friendly and helpful. Everything we ordered was so delicious. I especially liked the oyster mushrooms and lobster fried rice! The food is pricey because it's tapas, but it's so delicious. read more

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Cozy and intimate spot in the heart of Cambridge. I recommend making a reservation since the place has only a few tables with some counter seating. Although the menu is small, every dish was cooked to perfection. Here's my review on what I ordered, listed from most favorite to least favorite: Miso Ribs ($18) This is a must-get from their specials menu! The ribs were so tender that the meat literally fell off the bones. What sets these ribs apart from any other ribs I've had is the miso glaze on top. The miso glaze had such incredible umami that it elevated the ribs to a whole other level! Absolutely delicious! Oyster Mushrooms ($16) This was a simple vegetarian dish with oyster mushrooms and caulilini, but it was so flavorful. The marinade on the mushrooms was superb and the char gave the mushrooms a nice smoky flavor. The caulilini balanced the dish out with its crunchy texture. Sake Flight - Variety ($21) Good selection of sweet, classic, and dry sake to pair with the dishes. Lobster Roe Pasta ($26) Solid pasta dish with the butter cream sauce and bits of salmon throughout. It was good, but compared to the other dishes, the flavors didn't stand out as much, even with the lobster roe on top. read more

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I was excited to try this out! It's been getting rave reviews, which were helpful in choosing what to get. I'll review each item and the service separately below. Miso ribs ($18): This came with three pieces. It was super soft, and flavorful, and the meat came easily off the bone -- just as it should. This was decadent, and I wish we got more. Uni maki ($14): This was really flavorful and creamy too! I'd have liked a bit higher of a uni to rice ratio. Lobster roe pasta ($26; I didn't get add-ons): A lot of reviews mention this, and perhaps my expectations were too high. It felt relatively 2D, and not decadent. The flavor wasn't very bold. Charred shishitos ($12): These were great; just the right amount of spice. Negitoro rice ($35): You get 4 pieces of seaweed with this, and just a little more rice and tuna than is necessary to fill the seaweed. It was good, but I wish the portions were larger and/or that the tuna were creamier. Matcha sundae ($14): This was a good end to the meal. It came with red beans and mochi. I wouldn't say that you have to get this, though. They were out of oyster mushrooms when we got here; I'll be sure to try them if I ever come here again. I've heard good things. The service was friendly throughout. Final word: The miso ribs and the uni maki were awesome, and I'd order those again. The rest was good, but nothing too exciting. read more

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