The sushi here is pretty fantastic. They have good quality fish and add garnishes that complement each bite really well. I just wish the uni wasn't $26 a piece! The space is a bit odd. I wish it was not in the basement and a little more spacious, but I know space is hard to come by in downtown Boston. It can get pretty cramped if you go on a popular night. Staff here are lovely! I honestly have a hard time getting bartenders' attention but I was able to flag bartenders down successfully whenever I needed to. I appreciate the care they took! read more

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I've been here a few times and really, really want to support this tiki adjacent bar. They have cool decor, sushi, and a well curated bar. They do fail in the service department. You could be the only two people at the bar and you won't get a smile or stellar service. The drinks are good, but not well balanced. The prices are high, but it's Boston. After reading several other reviews with sentiments like mine, I guess I'm not alone. read more

This was place so cool! We stumbled across it after searching for a bar to go to after we had dinner at Capri. This was in walking distance and below an apartment building. You enter in a door and actually go town a couple flights of stars, so it a basically in the basement lol. It was unexpectedly super cool on the inside! Classic tiki bar vibes, disco ball and sushi restaurant all in one! They were actually doing a Jell-O shot contest when we came so I got to try a few Jell-O shots and voted on the best one! They were very unique! Their drinks were delicious, I had a classic tiki one which was their signature cocktail The Shore Leave! Great vibes in this place and their sushi looked super good too! read more

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Been here a bunch of times over the years and keep wanting to give it another chance. So much potential with its cool vibes, great sushi, and overall funkiness, but I'll be damned if the place doesn't win the prize on bland drinks and wicked slow and inattentive bar service. You definitely should stop by to take in the wonky feel of the place but check your expectations at the door if you are looking to be wowed by the drinks. read more

Really cool place! First time here for karaoke on a Friday night. Parking was easy right on the street across from the complex that this is around the corner from. When you get there, you have to go down a couple flights of stairs so it's in the basement of this building. It was pretty crowded when we got there. Luckily our friend had already gone there ahead and got us a table. We were all the way inside at the back. It's a really cool place quite big and fun ambiance with the tropical theme on the walls. Loved the tropical vibes all throughout. Nice lights and lighting fixtures too. The menu is mostly bar food. There is a long bar too with seating. The hubs ordered sushi spicy salmon roll and I ordered the veggie dumplings. Both were quite good. Our server was nice and service was friendly. Eventually we moved up front when the karaoke started. We chatted with the DJ who seemed nice. Hubs & I sang 1 song. We wanted to sing more but there were a lot of people so didn't get another chance. They have these huge books of songs (People's karaoke). The hubs actually went again the following Friday with his friend and this time he got to sing 3 songs!! He was happy! Overall a nice time here! read more

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We went for drinks and loved it! We went twice during our 3 day visit to Boston which should say something. It's the only place we visited twice! The first time I tried the Shore Leave signature drink and it was your basic citrusy rum tiki drink - it was okay. But my friend tried the Ramen Martini and wow was that insanely good. That martini is the drink that made us come back! I hate gin but I loved this drink. Also on our second visit the bartender recognized us and gave us shots as a send off for our last night! Definitely loved the personal touch and great vibes. We recommended this place to everyone in Boston! read more

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The omakase at Shore Leave was fantastic. It offers a similar experience with the chef (6-8 seats only) that many other places do for 2x+ the cost ($85). Food was amazing, perfectly paired and crafting the fish/sushi with the other ingredients. It is a MUST for fans of omakase and the ambiance only adds to the experience b/c you get the tiki and other vibes from the rest of the restaurant. read more

What a fun night! Shore leave is the place to go for good energy, good food, and a guaranteed good time. We went on a Sunday and were blown away by the fun ambiance with lots of string lights and cute decor. The music is fun and the servers and hostess were so kind and helpful. Now the best part of the night was when we found out we had accidentally come for their monthly Sunday drag night! Every last Sunday of the month they host this fun free event during dinner. The queens were gorgeous, fun, and incredible dancers. Could not think of better entertainment for a fun dinner. Now the food was also a highlight-- the menu is a mix of sushi and Asian inspired hot dishes. The sushi quality was excellent and I think my favorite dish of the night was the salmon nigiri flight--it comes with three different kinds of salmon and two pieces of each, which was perfect for sharing. We also got the Shore Leave roll with shrimp tempura, pineapple, and bit of a kick which was super yummy. The hot dishes were also good, and I particularly enjoyed the Pad Thai Brussel Sprouts which were very nicely seasoned. The Okonomiyaki Tator Tots were also fun, though got a little mushy by the end. The Gochujang wings had a nice kick but were slightly dry. We also had two different mock tails, the No New Friends and an Elderflower cocktail which were soooo good--would highly recommend as a great option for anyone not drinking! Overall I had such a fun time and can't wait to come back and try more of their dishes! read more

Shore Leave - Elderflower cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The other reviews are all right - the vibes here are great and the service is also stellar! I visited on a Thursday (with reservations) -- it wasn't too busy at all so I think we probably could've skipped on the reservations since there's a credit card hold. My group and I didn't order any food, just drinks! The food options all sounded pretty good and unique. The cocktails also stood out a lot, I appreciated how much variety there was! It's a bit hidden, in the basement a couple flights of stairs down. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and I loved how fun and decorated it was :) read more

Shore Leave - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went on an off-season evening for dinner, just after the holidays. We made reservations but probably wasn't necessary. The ambience was fun and lively, and food was decent. We had the tater tots for appetizer which was satisfying and flavorful. In terms of sushi, we ordered the Shore Leave Rolls and a selection of nigiri including yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and scallop. Salmon and scallop were definitely winners; it was melt-in-your mouth delicious, and I'd definitely get it again. I do think nigiri was standout so would order more of that in the future and would be curious to try the salmon set of nigiri's. We also tried the Shore Leave cocktail which we were hoping would come in a fun or special drinkware, but it was just a simple glass but still very tasty and good strength level. read more

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Great atmosphere. Pretty and tropical without being tacky. Great drink selection. Sascha is a fabulous bartender!

Came here around Christmas, absolutely loved the decor. There were lots of options for someone gluten free. I'm celiac and I had the tots, wagyu skewers, and two of the sushi sashimi rolls. The service was friendly and attentive, would absolutely be back! read more

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Who doesn't love a good tiki bar? My husband and I were in town visiting friends who live a a short walk from this bar. We were able to grab a table for five fairly quickly. Our server was great and attentive. Between the five of us, we ordered most of the drinks on the menu. My favorite was the pineapple upside down. The Jingle Bird is very bourbon forward. We ordered a bunch of food - gyozas, tater tots, salmon avocado roll and a Chicago hot dog. My favorite was the tater tots. Don't recommend the Chicago hot dog but you probably could've guessed that for a bar in Boston :) read more

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The vibes are absolutely immaculate! Such a hidden oasis tucked three flights down the stairs in the Southend. This is the spot for a good time and good bites! I highly recommend the Okonomiyaki Tater Tots. Perfectly fried and dressed with sauce. Some bites were extra crunchy and crisp. Others had so much flavor and soaked up the sauce. The Jalapeño cheese on the bottom of the plate was a delicious surprise! My other favorite dish was the Wagyu & Crab Claypot Rice. The Wagyu pieces were so tender and melted in my mouth. The yolk also added a wonderful creaminess and flavor to the rice plate. The kimchi and cucumbers were a nice brightness and acidity to the dish. I also really enjoyed the cold Dan Dan Noodles. The chewy noodles were mixed in peanut sauce and paired nicely with cilantro and cucumbers. And the spicy tuna roll was fresh and the perfect amount of spice! I came here for the food, Rupaul Drag Race Watch Party, the drinks, and I'll be back for more! I'm really interested in trying their omakase for my next visit. The servers were really nice and the food came out quickly. Drinks were served immediately. I came on a Friday night with reservation. Street parking is available but limited in the area. read more

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We came for drinks and the love island launch party was happening. The drinks were balanced and there was a good selection at the bar. I had the shore leave and the mai tai flight. I wasn't a huge fan of the spicy mai tai but the place was great and I would def suggest it. read more

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This is still one of my favorite bars in Boston! The deep fried ice is so good and a must try. I hope it stays. This bar isn't easy to find because you have to walk down a flight or 2 of stairs. The vibe is tiki bar but the bartender is cocktail focus so you can ask for recommendations or something off menu. read more

Sensory overload at Shore Leave! Wow do they go all out for Christmas. It was very impressive, but my eyes were bugging out after a while Nonetheless, I really appreciate their effort to bring customers in with their holiday spirit! I thought the service here was great. Our server was very detailed and attentive. I was really excited for my cocktail, but unfortunately it was very very very sweet (and I normally like sweet stuff). Check their website for local parking validation - a huge perk!!! read more

Came on a Wednesday night without a reservation and was seated right away. Ordered the crispy brussel sprouts and a sugar plum Mai Tai. I loved all the decorations and our server was very attentive. The drinks were classic strong tiki drinks served in the cutest tiki cups for the holiday that were also available for purchase! The music, the lights and the drinks were great! Love a great tiki bar! read more

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I agree with the reviews about the bartenders and atmosphere. Both are 5s. Food is a bit less stellar. High price relative to the quality and value. More like a 3. read more

Shore Leave - Salmon roll - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I came here for a drink on a bar crawl this past weekend and it was so cute! It's holiday ready - there's so many cute Christmas decorations up. I didn't try any food but it looked yummy from what I could see and it was BUSY Even for Saturday at 1030pm. Their drinks were so fun and the vessels they came in were even better - I loved how the Mai tai came in a fun cup , def great for groups read more

My friend and I visited Boston this past weekend and were disappointed with the food and prices. I understand that seafood will generally be more expensive than other dishes, but this was a total ripoff. This was the saddest salmon & avocado roll I've ever ordered. I hardly tasted either main ingredient. Y'all fumbled this, I would have been happy to give a 5-star review if it weren't for this debacle. On the upside, our bartender and waiter were incredibly kind and hospitable when serving our drinks. I also loved the ambiance and Halloween theme. read more

Shore Leave - The Golden Child - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My first time here and I'm already looking forward to returning. We enjoyed creative cocktails and items from a diverse menu. Shared the Brussel sprouts appetizer which we highly recommend (unless allergic to peanuts) then the Tina Tartare and salmon avocado pickled onion roll. The ambience and service are top notch. read more

Didn't know where this was until a friend told me about it - aside from the sign, you'd never know it was there, but that gives it a cool speakeasy vibe as you descend into the space. Met a friend on a Thursday night and it was surprisingly quiet. Service was friendly and fun; nice cocktails and wines by the glass, great sushi. I'd definitely go back. read more

Shore Leave - Shore Leave and Lost Girls cocktails. Yummy! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I came to Shore Leave for the first time to meet up with some people. First off parking is tough since they only have street parking. When you arrive at the restaurant you walk down 3 flights of stairs that look like a parking lot garage. Once inside, the restaurant vibes are fun, funky, and cool. The reason for the 3 stars is our server was awful. The food was just ok as well and the same for the cocktails. Not sure if I would give this one another try. read more

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For a Sunday dinner I decided to try out Shore Leave. The Japanese fried chicken sandwich proved a standout. The fried chicken, in Japanese style, possessed a light breading that provides just a bit of texture contrast while minimizing flavor impact, deferring to the juicy chicken itself to fill the palate. The portion size seemed just a touch small. I also ordered the okonomiyaki tater tots, a playful rendition of okonomiyaki (a Japanese savory pancake) flavors onto a more familiar dish. The combination of furikake (a seasoning made with nori and dried fish) and a sweet, savory, and tangy sauce made this irresistible. The meal alone would constitute 4*. However, the lead bartender, Simon, made the meal noteworthy. I noticed a cocktail incorporating both Japanese whiskey and shochu (a Japanese distilled spirit) and started talking about how he picked the shochu to stock, the grain involved, the koji used, etc. He let me sample the shochu directly and we started talking about how different shochu flavors could make for interesting drinks. That sort of experience of being able to talk to a bartender and brainstorm ideas over shared knowledge seems uncommon. read more

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The place is beautiful and the music is great. The staff was very friendly and we got a fun flaming drunk in a fun mug. The food was good as well, I just wish there were a few more options :) read more

Shore Leave - Random cocktail (the secret to get the cool mug is to have a drink with crushed ice). - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came for the "Scare Leave" aka their Halloween theme and it did not disappoint! From the entrance, to the bar/dining area, all the way to the bathrooms in the back; everything was decorated for the best holiday of the year ;). I thought I had made omakase reservations but it turns out I just had a regular reservation. Omakase reservations are on a separate form - maybe I had trouble because I was doing it on my phone. Regardless, we still enjoyed most of our food. Okonomiyaki tator tots - can't go wrong with these! Perfectly made tator tots and very flavourful. Too bad there was no seafood in it because I think that would've added a great texture. Knocked off a star because our wagyu skewers were pretty overcooked. My first bite of it was just burnt char :'). The tuna tartar was delish as were the taro chips that accompanied it. We had great service all night and even got complimentary shots. Also loved the spooky drinks that we got! read more

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Shore Leave in Boston is a vibrant restaurant offering Asian-inspired dishes and an array of tiki cocktails, all served in a fun and lively atmosphere. The friendly and attentive staff add to the welcoming environment, though the cozy size of the restaurant means you might find yourself in close quarters with other diners. However, the inclusive vibe, particularly their support for the LGBTQ+ community, creates a warm and inviting ambiance which is great. We started with the Dan Dan Noodles, which though not quite traditional, offered a peanut-infused twist. Might have called this dish Peanut Noodles or something though. The Tuna Tartare was not bad, but it was the Okonomiyaki Tater Tots that was incredible! The Karaage Chicken Sandwich was delicious and shareable if you ask! For dinner I opted for the Shore Leave Roll, a combination of shrimp tempura, hamachi, pickled pineapple, serrano, cilantro, and aji amarillo. While the sushi was good quality, it is slightly on the higher end at $20 a roll. The Eggplant Dragon Roll was very creative and tasty. Only thing is we would have liked more sushi options to choose from for the menu. As for the cocktails, they're as colorful as they are creative, with themed options changing with the seasons and holidays. We enjoyed the experience and look forward to returning to sample more of what Shore Leave has to offer! Thanks for a wonderful evening! read more

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My wife and I really enjoyed the omakase. It has a really fun atmosphere and vibe while enjoying omakase style dining. I would suggest this is more omakase style as it's open space concept, and chef preparing the sushi was not sole star of the show. It's a really relaxed , fun atmosphere. Service was great with chef and servers being exceptionally friendly. We enjoyed it and thought it was a great concept for a regular night out. This is NOT a traditional omakase experience. read more

Shore Leave - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Slightly hidden sushi restaurant with great food! The ambiance is fund and islandy, a lot of string lights and a decent amount of seating / bar. We didn't have a reservation on a Saturday night and didn't have trouble sitting at the bar. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back! read more

Shore Leave - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We made dinner reservations for four of us here and overall it was a good, but not particularly special experience. The whole place was decorated to the nines for the holidays, which was fun! The staff was all really nice and took good care of us. They had a holiday pop up with themed drinks, but my friend who lives in Boston commented that he preferred their normal drinks more. Despite not having tried the OG drinks, I may have to agree because both cocktails I tried (Yule Tide and Merry Spritzmas) were a little watery and bland. We got fried cauliflower with the fish sauce on the side, veggie gyoza, Dan Dan noodles, eggplant dragon roll, and dragon roll. It was all good and food I would order again, but it may not be the first place that comes to mind to return to in Boston. read more

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Shore Leave is located in a basement, beneath where your cell service will reach. As you descend the staircase, you enter another world and leave behind all your troubles. What you will find is a surprisingly friendly and accessible spot, replete with dangerously sweet and balanced tropical drinks and sushi and bar-food dining options. Most people are here to drink, though some eat at the bar. There are also a couple of sectioned-off areas with tables that can be reserved. My fiancee and I went for the omakase menu. Seating is at a sushi bar separate from the main bar. Our menu had 14 distinct items (plus one unlisted bonus item from the chef). I found the tastes intriguing and refreshing, though not spectacular. Just good. The thing is that half of what you are paying for in the first place is the atmosphere, which is inviting, relaxing and unique. read more

Shore Leave - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Overprice but upbeat speakeasy bar vibe. We are a group of 5 and the tapas, sushi portion are quite small, so we had to keep ordering. It is underground so when you found the door, you will still need to walk down the stairs to get in to the restaurant. The service is great, she was attentive enough. I don't know if the price justify for coming back tho read more

Delicious cocktails! Great ambiance. Did not eat but the sushi rolls looked amazing ! read more

Shore Leave - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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So I had been hearing about this place for a while and decided to take a trip there. I saw reviews mentioning it was hard to find but as long as you follow the maps the sign is simple to spot. You go down a flight of stairs and you enter this very colorful and bright and tropical bar. It was very cute and fun. There was a live band playing covers as well some groovy murder mystery vibes which I was here for. The staff right from the start was very sociable and high energy which made me really excited and the servers were very attentive. Drinks were pretty good and very tiki and beachy vibes. My drink, the bathtub time machine, made me think of Shrek's swamp but it was really good haha.. I really liked the okonomiyaki tater tots which were such a unique spin on bar food but make it better. The sushi was very delicious and unique but gives a more tropical flavor taste. I think I prefer savory rather than sweet for my sushi. They do mark things as GF on their menu which is nice and made sure to ask about any allergies before you make orders. This would be a really cute place to get dinner with friends or have a fun first date. They always seem to have reservations open so it's easy to get in. What we got Bathtub time machine Disco remedy Okonomiyaki Tater tots Salmon roll Shore leave roll Jonah crab california roll Price $$ Food 7 Atmosphere 10 Service 9 read more

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3.5 stars! Nice basement floor restaurant, a little hidden and hard to find the entrance but it was a cute place! lighting is a little dark inside but the service was very friendly. We enjoyed the food here, especially the sushi and the sandwich! Dan Dan noodles are served cold which might throw some people off but they were good, nothing over the top. I have a shell fish allergy so there wasn't a huge selection of foods here for me but I would come back for bar snack bites and to try their cocktails! read more

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The drinks here specialized in different types of rum. I like coming here for their shore leave specialty cocktail. The raw bar and entrees were great as well but I think they're slightly overpriced. Nonetheless, it's worth coming here for a great experience. This is an underground restaurant that features a tiki style cuisines. The interior decorations will remind you of the shore and having a relaxing time by the beach. The servers are nice and friendly and very helpful! There's street parking nearby the restaurant. Would recommend checking out this place for a nice catch up with friends or to unwind after a long day. Food: 8.5/10 Service: 8/10 Experience: 9/10 Value: 7.5/10 read more

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The restaurant is located downstairs, the basement of the building. The vibe was super cool, it had a disco ball! The service here was wonderful as well. I ordered the drink: Ritual Arrival, it was yummy. I couldn't taste the alcohol--dangerous! It basically tasted like a strawberry smoothie. For dinner my friend and I ordered: Shishito peppers: Largest plate of shishito peppers. It came with a creamy dipping sauce--not much taste to it though. The pepper itself was good. Salmon Sashimi: Fresh--nothing special. It has this mayo sauce, not a fan. I preferred something lighter or just with soy sauce. Spicy Tuna Roll: This was my favorite of the entire order. Wonderful rice to fish ratio. I enjoyed the spicy Mayo on top. Naruto Roll: It was light and easy to eat. Nothing special. The food was fresh but overall very standard. I think this would be a nice place for drinks, and snacks since the environment is wonderful. read more

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Very low key as i came on a Monday night. Seems like a pretty nice vibe inside. I sat at a table but i think the bar would be more fun to watch them make the crazy drinks. The bento box with various types if sushi and karrage chicken was pretty good! The wings were just ok..some bites were a bit too salty but overall fried very well! The patagonia cocktail was gram worthy on eyes and the flavor was unique. The printing press cocktail i can live without. The bread pudding was delicious!! I highly recommend. Service was a little off for some reason. Not bad but not good in a strange way. I think i will give it another shot. read more

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Absolutely love this place. The drinks are exceptional, the vibes are always good and bartenders are funny/nice, and oftentimes it's not too crowded because it's underground (literally) so many people don't know about it. They also have very good sushi and asian-fusion bar food. One of the better lesser-known spots in Boston. read more