The Mad Monkfish Review: 12Sep26 My fiancé and I were in desperate need of nourishment right before our show at the Middle East downstairs. We were going to settle with pizza as we walked the strip along the venue. The Mad Monkfish caught our attention and was definitely more exciting that a slice of pizza. Now, we only had an hour before our show and it didn't look too busy in the restaurant, since it was before the dinner rush at 4pm.  We were quickly seated outside so we can enjoy the streets of Boston (or Cambridge, if you want to be specific). The menu was pretty elaborate as they have different Asian fusion dishes. I went with their chicken pad thai, extra spicy. They said they have a scale of 1-5 for spice level, and I asked for level 5. By the waiter's reaction, I was nervous that I might regret my choice, especially right before a concert. My fiancé went with their beef noodle soup, as he wasn't feel too well and wanted something hot.  Our food came out pretty quick and my fears of my pad thai being too spicy definitely subsided. It smelled amazing, but was not covered in red flakes of scorching heat. It actually was pretty plain looking, so I was now worried about the lack of flavor. I limed up that baddie and took my first bite. Oh my goodness was I wrong about the flavor! It was bursting with Pad Thai goodness--the heat from being freshly stir-fried, the tanginess from the tamarind, and the subtle spice all melted together in my mouth. The noodles, tofu strips, and the generous amount of chicken were all cooked perfectly. Wow. It was exactly what I needed to prepare for the show ahead. I will say, though, their spiciest level, 5, was no where near my limit. I was afraid it may be Buldak level, but it really was hardly spicy. I think the waiter may have tipped off the chef, given my small, dainty appearance. However, I love spice. I never turn down a nice burn. Either way, I was incredibly satisfied with the dish and would ask for a 10 next time, if we ever stop by. My fiancé liked his noodle soup as well, but didn't have such a raving reaction as I did with my dish. I tried his soup and it wasn't anything too crazy. The beef slices were quite large and hefty.. I think if it were sliced more thin it would be a more pleasant experience.  Both of our dishes came out to a little under $40, which, wasn't terrible but definitely not cheap. We both left so stuffed and satisfied throughout the night, so it definitely did the job.  We aren't from the area, if we were ever to come back (unlikely, as there are so many different restaurants to try), we would love to try their sushi, Thai tea, and more! read more

The Mad Monkfish - Chicken Pad Thai and Beef Noodle Soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

After living near Central for like 3 years, I FINALLY made it to the Mad Monkfish. They have a spacious interior as well as a full patio, the latter of which we opted for on a beautiful summer night. They have a pretty extensive menu with mostly Japanese and Thai selections. My fiancé got the green curry, and after seeing pretty good reviews for the sushi, I got the #1 Monkfish Maki Combo. I was pleasantly surprised by the sushi quality!!!! The only downside was that the salmon was slightly fishy, but the tuna and hamachi were solid. I was impressed that they served whole pieces of fish, rather than finely minced filling. Probably not the BEST sushi in all of Boston, but a solid spot if you want a varied menu and a nice outdoor patio in Central!! read more

The Mad Monkfish - Green curry with chicken - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Definitely on the pricier end for sushi.. but the ambiance is EVERYTHING! We came here on a night where they had live jazz and the night was just so fun! Quality of sushi is great and service was alright. They were pretty busy that night and it took a long time for our server to come back to us. Food came out fast but our server was missing for a long time. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sake Donburi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Creative Asian dishes with a Japanese and Thai flair. I tried the Tom Yam Spaghetti for the first time- topped with crispy mixed seafood and fresh cilantro sprigs, and wok fried with onions and a fragrant, spicy tom yam paste- it's so good! read more

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My daughter stumbled on Mad Monkfish for a spur-of-the-moment dinner for us without a res. The place has this old-fashioned banquet hall vibe, but honestly in a warm, nostalgic way. Big space, lots of character. And the ceiling is lined with these metal cage light fixtures. Kind of quirky, kind of cool. What stood out for us is the jazz room right next door. You can actually dine while a live jazz band plays- which gives the whole restaurant a pretty unique feel and you could hear the music on the opposite side where we sat. We ended up in the main dining area on the left- plus I'm sure you really need to book for the music. Food started out fine. Avocado salad, cucumber+shiitake roll- simple, nothing to complain about. My daughter got the Green Frog roll with yellowtail wrapped in avocado and it was actually really good. I ordered a Princess-something roll with pineapple and mango and some pieces were great but others had almost no fish at all. Like... tiny scraps. Just disappointing. She'd also ordered a Spider Roll but once she tried one piece, she sent it right back because the crab had that old oil taste. The roll was removed from the bill without any issue. My Tiki drink was the thing that annoyed me the most. $17 which read well on the menu with Chinola passion fruit. What I got was basically a glass of ice to the brim and zero alcohol. The service was nice, though. No attitude and no pushback on the returned roll. read more

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We had a fun time coming here for dinner and some jazz! It was definitely an interesting experience. The food here is fine. Their menu is absolutely massive, which is usually a red flag that they make a lot of things to mediocrity instead of focusing on excellent dishes. But if you just want Americanized Asian food and aren't expecting fine dining, then you're in for a treat with the hundred or so options on this extensive menu. We tried some sushi rolls, and then I had a fusion Japanese-Thai dish. The rolls were pretty good, they tasted fresh. And the udon and green curry combo in my dish was fine, I wasn't disappointed. Cocktails were similarly okay, nothing worth writing home about. In terms of atmosphere, the half of the restaurant that has live jazz was very unique. Great performance and the acoustics worked well, it was easy to hear the musicians get after it on the makeshift stage at the very front of the space. The jazz was the main attraction, obviously, so don't come if you're looking for quiet conversation. Service was a bit hit or miss; at first they were slow to bring drinks out but it picked up once they got everyone seated for the 6:30pm jazz. Be warned that you'll be asked to leave around 8:15pm to allow them to seat the 8:30pm performance. All in all, a fun option for basic food and drink with some live entertainment; if you're jonesing for some jazz then I can see you rating this place a little higher. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Generally yummy. The chirashi is a good deal. Extensive cocktail list too but I usually go for sake. They often (daily?) have live jazz in one room but the option to sit in the other too. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The outdoor seating area was really cute and made the whole experience feel relaxed and fun. Service was quick and everything came out pretty fast, which I appreciated. The sake was really good and probably my favorite part of the meal. The sushi was decent overall and fresh enough, although it was not the most memorable sushi I have had. Still, it was a nice spot for a casual dinner, drinks, and a cute outdoor atmosphere. read more

This was a quick stop after bi-annual Boston appointment. When we walked in, it wasn't busy. Within ten minutes, the side we were in was three-quarters full. Food was good, seasoned and plentiful. My friend enjoyed hers, though she felt it was too much rice. I had enough to take home. I'm happy. The Thai tea... yummy! The real deal: the beautiful decor. I didn't take pictures as there are a lot up already. The ceiling with the lights encased in bird cages, some with fame birds in them. It is gorgeous! One thing to note: only ONE gender-neutral bathroom. So, don't wait if you have to go! I enjoyed read more

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Great atmosphere, good jazz quartet, and good food ... abysmal inattentive service ... I shouldn't have to go to the bar to ask for a bottle of soy sauce after my sushi was brought without it read more

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This restaurant appears very high-end, but the prices are fair, and the food is quite casual. The patio area is a pleasant place to eat. We ordered a sushi roll and the Japanese Chicken Katsu. The portion sizes were average leaning-to-large. The food was enjoyable, but not necessarily amazing. I'd come here again to try one of their sushi platter boats with a bigger party. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Live music on a Friday night Is a sight to see at mad monkfish! We heard a jazz band in town and it was Great upbeat vibe. We tried the banana rolls, as a dessert, they are miniature spring rolls, stuffed with bananas topped with powdered sugar, and seem to be missing flavors. Service was good, servers were busy. If you want to try The culinary experience here, I recommend dinner, so you can have access to the entire menu! read more

The Mad Monkfish - Banana rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Hopping and youthful vibe, pleasant service, but wish the food was better. While the sushi is fresh and probably their strongest suit, their other dishes are rather meh. We shared appetizers of tempura vegetables, fried chive dumplings, takoyaki, and chicken karage. They were uniformly rather bland and oily (the best was the takoyaki). I had the shoyu ramen - which had a rather strange flavored broth. being on the sweet side; and the noodles were like an instant ramen. The pork cha siu was nice though. My daughter had a noodle soup dish and though this broth was good, the toppings were so-so. Go for the drinks and atmosphere - and maybe the sushi. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Shoyu ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A bigger group of friends and I ate here. To account for the large number of us, we made a reservation the day of. We ubered to the restaurant and it was a little tough to find the restaurant from the outside. There was no big sign that told us were to go. Eventually we saw the name on the window. Upon arriving there were no issues. We were able to be seated shortly after we arrived. Not everyone from our party was there (the majority was) and seated us immediately. Shortly after being seated, we were asked for our drinks/appetizer order. Which arrived shortly after we ordered and then our food. Similar to the drinks, the food arrived shortly after. We had a mix of sushi and meals that were ordered. All arrived at approximately the same time. Overall, I thought the food was okay. However, it was kind of pricey for the protion that we got. In addition the service was okay. They delivered the food promptly,however, they never check in on us, never asked if we wanted dessert and we had to ask for the bill A couple things to note: 1. If you are driving in - there appeared to be only street parking. 2. For bigger parties, a 20% gratuity is automatically added to your bill read more

The Mad Monkfish - Spicy scallop sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Absolutely fell in love with this place!! Love their live jazz nights and the food was great as well. The bartender was extremely kind and funny and made delicious drinks all night long. Highly recommend their duck noodle soup and their pad see ew! I asked for spicy and they delivered lol. read more

I got a reservation in the jazz room on a Friday night to see the Yoko Miwa Trio and had such a fun time!! Yoko Miwa is such a talented pianist and the bass and drums players who I can't find the names of were excellent as well. We sat at 8:30 and quickly ordered some rolls and drinks which came out right before the music started around 9. The room was full but the conversations of fellow patrons were quiet enough that the music was the main focus. I couldn't stay long after the jazz show but it sounds like there's is a jam session and singer until 1am! read more

The kind server gets it the third star. Wow, don't even try to say something is too spicy. They replaced the meal but with a bland greasy noodle that I would never go back for. In fairness they did serve some tempura but one can't get by on fried food alone. Spendy dinner for so-so food. read more

needs something with humor on the menu, but nothing too spicy and too sweet but no alcohol. If you can think of anything that might be a good fit for the restaurant. Food is boring maybe a dance or something moving around. read more

Lesson of the day - if you hear your servers at a fusion restaurant speaking more of one language than another, chances are that cuisine might be performed better than others. Took another shot at the Mad Monkfish on a Monday evening and walked into a noticeably empty restaurant, which was slightly off-putting but made for faster service. As per my advice above, this time I opted for a Thai option - the Lychee Duck curry. I was absolutely blown away by the difference in quality between the food from my last visit and the food from this one. The duck skin was crispy and the meat incredibly tender and flavorful, and although my initial bite of the lychee curry sauce was shockingly sweet, it grew on me almost instantly and more with each bite. I would come back for this dish alone, and if this is any representation of their Thai food selection definitely be open to trying more of those dishes. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Roast Duck Lychee Curry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I thought the food was very good, we ordered two maki rolls and a few drinks. Ambiance was amazing especially by the bar where the live jazz was playing read more

The Mad Monkfish - Before the jazz - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Thoroughly average Asian fusion cuisine in Central Square. My dad and I stopped by on a Saturday night around 6 and the place was pretty empty so we had our choice of seating. We decided to sit outside so I can't comment much on the ambiance, but I always appreciate an outdoor seating option. Service was friendly and prompt. To eat, we split the vegetarian spring rolls, vegetable tempura, and chicken cashew nut. The spring rolls were tasty. I loved the unique addition of taro and the dipping sauce it came with was flavorful. The vegetable tempura was texturally satisfying but flavor-wise very bland, and the dipping sauce it came with was lacking in flavor too. For the chicken cashew nut, we were expecting more of a curry-type dish, but it reminded me more of a General Gao's Americanized "Chinese" dish instead. The chicken was breaded and glazed in a sweet sauce. All in all it just wasn't really to my taste. I didn't hate anything but I'll be giving the other restaurants in the area a try instead of coming back here. read more

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Mad Monkfish Lots of great places in central whether you want to go out, drink or eat. This time I tried mad monkfish and it wasn't bad but it did have its faults. First thing which is good is that there are way TOO many choices on the menu. They have sushi and noodles, soup and curries but if i'm being honest might be best to skip the sushi because it is way overpriced.Caterpillar roll for $23 is crazy and I just shared an una avocado which was $13 and i swear it was the tiniest sush roll I have ever seen and was gone in two seconds. I'm sorry I am basic and love my pad thai. It was delicious. They used thinner noodles than I am used to but you cannot go wrong with it and it is a big portion. I did not even finish half of it...They have live jazz music playing on one side of the restaurant in the evening which adds to the vibes. Overall a nice spot but no surprise overpriced. They do have gluten free options though so that's something to keep in mind. Food 7 Atmosphere 7 Service 8 Pad thai read more

The Mad Monkfish - Pad Thai - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ordered the yellow curry with chicken and beef drunken noodles (GF) for $50 total. Nothing too bad, but nothing too special, also has live jazz music as well in the restaurant. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Yellow Curry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The food is very good here and the patio outside is lovely on a summer evening. They also have live jazz in the evenings--check the schedule before you go. read more

fun atmosphere to go for live jazz. the food was decent but would not come here for the food alone. - pad see ew had good flavor - pan's ecstasy roll had a lot of interesting elements that all went well together - rising sun and C Jam's Blue roll both looked pretty amateur, like they could be rolled at home and the flavors were similar. C Jam roll had very little meat would likely only come here again if someone really wanted to listen to live jazz read more

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Great spot for dinner! The ambience is nice and there's the option for live music while you eat. I love the variety offered on the menu: you can order both thai dished AND sushi! I went in a large group and everyone was able to find something to cater to their taste preferences. I ordered the panang curry and thought the flavors were delicious. It's a classic and it was executed well. I also had a bite of the pad see ew and it was also delicious! Would definitely recommend trying. As for the other dishes that the group ordered, I did not try but from what I saw: if you order pad thai with veggies in it, expect more veggie than pad thai; the rad na came out super soupy and didn't have much noodle in it. Also note that our server gave a warning that many people did not like the thick texture of the rad na so we had an idea of what to expect. (However it was still definitely more soupy than it should've been.) Overall, I had a solid dining experience here. The food was flavorful and the portions were great. I would come back to try other dishes! read more

The Mad Monkfish - Pad See Ew - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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My friends and I here for late night bite, and the restaurant has a dinning room with live jazz/ piano music. We sat the bar, and order a sushi boat, an eel rice bowl and 2 glasses of red wine. The food is okay, I was not impressed by the food here, even their plate presentation is very basic. However, the waitress and bartender are extremely nice and helpful. Plus the ambiance of the live musics. I think this place is a nice place to grab the drink at the bar to chat and enjoy the ambiance. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We came here late Sunday night and everything was delicious. We sat outside but could still hear the jazz. The pad see ew was great with the crispy roast duck with the different textures and flavors. The soup was soooo good. I would buy that broth. The drinks were so cute and also delicious. read more

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Great food! My friends and I got the Fried Tofu Basil, Duck Noodle Soup, and the Dynamite roll. The tofu and soup were delicious and great portion sizes. The Dynamite roll was good, but slightly small for the price. We also got the Blue Lagoon scorpion bowl which didn't taste the best but was very strong and a good amount for four people to share. I would definitely come back. read more

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I am a musician who came to see the live music and the open jam session. The restaurant/venue is nice, the drinks were expensive but okay (17$ a cocktail) but the service staff does not treat musicians very kindly. I recieved a bit of attitude from the hostess when asking about the music. I understand I have to spend money at the resturaunt, but the way in which they comunicated with us was quite unwelcoming. For example, "Are you actually going to spend money??" The owner/manager also has an attitude. After having a couple drinks by the bar, I decided to move closer to the stage for the jam session. I had set my instrument at a seat one one of many empty booths while waiting to participate in the jam session, and he called me and my friend over. He told us we're not allowed to sit there, which is totally fine, I said I can go move my stuff. He then held his finger up to me and told me to hold on one moment, and then started to bring a table of 5 or 6 over there and sit them down while my stuff was still there. I had to reach across the table over all of these customers after they sat down to grab my instrument. It was quite an awkward moment that could have been avoided, especially because I offered to move my stuff beforehand. Meanwhile the place is full of empty seats and tables. Definitely would not come back to the jam session again. read more

Had planned to go and try the new Vietnamese place Cicada but it was pretty busy. Was around 12:30-1pm So ended up walking around Central sq for another option. This place had enough variety so decided to give it a try. We were seated right by away but it took waited a little longer than normal for our order to be taken. We ordered one of their special "fairy tale" maki rolls for $26. It tasted fine but definitely not worth $26. I eat a lot of sushi and this roll shouldn't have been more than $18 at most, at most. I got a ramen noodle bowl while my friend got a chicken dish with rice. The ramen had good broth and the noodles were fine. The 2 pieces of pork didn't have much flavor though. Overall it was just alright. Sadly my friends chicken dish arrived only lukewarm like it had been sitting out for a little while. Clearly the cooking of the chicken dish and putting the ramen together was not planned well. The taste was a little bland as well. Service wise, no one came to check on us after the food arrived. And when we were finished it took quite a while to even grab the attention of the server even when he was just a couple tables away. We saw him come near at least 3 or 4 times but never looked up to check our table. Finally we had to speak up a bit louder than needed to have him come over. The food wasn't bad but was also nothing spectacular. The maki roll was overpriced but the ramen and chicken price was acceptable. The service was less than desirable and needs to be more attentive. But the servers were friendly and had a smile on their face. Lastly the place at quick glance was clean for the most part. But when you looked up at these birdcage light fixtures they needed a serious dusting. This is not a place we will be going to again. There are plenty of other Japanese places with maki's priced better and has better service. But as always never take my word and check it out yourself. read more

I've been to The Mad Monkfish plenty of times, but this was the first time I came for their Live Jazz night. It was really easy to make a reservation in advance online and all the seating in the jazz room was booked up. There is a $25 order minimum per person for that room, so just make sure to order a drink or appetizer with your entrée if you're under that amount. There's also a nice outdoor seating option for something more casual. I'm always a fan of this restaurant because they have a wide range of options. Everything hits the spot, from the sushi, to the noodles, to the soups. I usually go for the Thai noodle options because I think that's where they really shine the most. Great option for anyone looking to dine out in Central Square! read more

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I went here for the first time with a reservation for dinner with a group of 6 people, and I really enjoyed my experience! Ambiance: Pretty spacious restaurant considering the area, and pretty relaxed atmosphere. Can get a bit loud, but still easy enough to have conversations in a group. Service: Great service! Friendly waiter, food came out in reasonable amount of time even though it seemed to be a busy night. tofu katsu kare is a standout on their menu - perfectly crispy and golden fried tofu served with a generous portion of rich and flavorful Japanese curry. The dish also comes with a side of rice and a small salad, making for a well-rounded and filling meal Food: Drinks were good, and as a vegetarian, I quite enjoyed a non-sushi option for dinner -Tofu katsu kare: This dish was a true standout that I would just come back for this alone. It had perfectly crispy and golden fried tofu served with a generous portion of rich and flavorful Japanese curry. The dish also comes with a side of rice and a small salad of cabbage & carrots, making for a well-rounded and filling meal! Excited to come back whenever I'm in Cambridge! read more

The Mad Monkfish - Tofu katsu kare - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The Mad Monkfish is a one-of-a-kind place that offers all of these restaurant virtues: exceptional hospitality, fair portions & pricing, delicious food, and unique, knock-your-socks-off jazz performanes every single weekend day. One of my favorite places, let alone restaurants. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've come here on and off over the past few years and it's always a reliable spot to catch up with friends over a wide selection of Asian food. To be honest, the food isn't anything to write home about, but I appreciate that they have so many options (sushi, fried rice, noodles, curries) so there's something for everyone (including lots of veggie options)! I also really like their outdoor patio area when the weather is nice - they take reservations by phone and I've been able to coordinate large reservations (10 people) very smoothly. The Thai iced tea is excellent! Knocking off one star because the most recent time I went, I ordered a fried rice, and it tasted quite flavorless relative to when I've ordered the same thing before, so maybe they were just having an off day. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Thai Iced Tea - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Went for Friday night dinner and jazz. The jazz was nice. The food was terrible. I hate saying that, but it was just bad across the board. We each had miso soup and shared three rolls - spicy tuna, crunchy salmon skin, and shrimp tempura. The soup was warmish, and the rolls were not good. Like mediocre supermarket sushi. Service was fine. Disappointing overall. read more

Sushi here was okay. Nothing too special. However, the lychee martini was not great. It was so strong and my teeth had never felt so clean. The flavor was just not mixed well. It was a struggle drinking that entire cocktail. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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IF U WANT A SHORT SUMMARY GO TO THE BOTTOM-I ordered the spicy tuna maki shrimp tempura maki and the red dragon speciality roll and to be honest it was all mediocre. The quality of the tuna was poor. Service was questionable to say the least. And as I was walking to bathroom a waitstaff stared at me intensely like I did something to them. Keep in mind I work in the food service industry myself so I would never do something out of pocket. The restaurant was dark inside and the tables were sticky as well. Would not be returning. TLDR - food was mid, service was mediocre, restaurant might not be the cleanest. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Spicy Tuna Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

If you're looking for a fun date night, the Mad Monkfish is a great place to enjoy jazz and have great sushi! We ordered one of the sushi boats to share and it was the perfect amount for two people. Staff is super efficient and brings out everything quickly, while you're enjoying the live music. read more

The Mad Monkfish - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We've been here twice on Friday evenings after concerts, and really enjoyed it. The jazz music playing in the background is entertaining and diverse. We've been seated quickly in the large dining area, which is spacious and nicely decorated. Service has been good and the special sushi rolls are amazing. We also had some yummy appetizers and great draft beer. The only hitch was the waitress missed one item that had been ordered. When we pointed it out, the kitchen prepared it and brought it out as soon as it was ready - it was actually quite delicious. While I've read the reviews and agree that that staff is efficient and not highly personable, we go here for the food, and that I recommend! read more