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    Umami Omakase

    4.3 (203 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 10:30 PM

    Umami Omakase Photos

    UMAMI OMAKASE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Umami Omakase

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    Gloria L.

    Gary and his team were absolutely amazing at this omakase. They explained every bite and even showed the full fish so we knew what we were eating. We also had the sake pairing and our waitress did a great job catering the sake to our needs. I loved the intimate setting of the bar and everyone was so nice and attentive. Definitely coming back here when people visit. 10/10 omakase experience, I think my favorite bite was the umami spoon and wagyu nigiri

    Joy G.

    So much of omakase (and food in general) comes down to taste but I thought many of the pieces/dishes at Umami were just okay, with a handful of standouts. For the price point, especially since a kitchen appreciation fee is not included in the base price, I was expecting to walk away wowed. My impressions: 1. Umami is a 30-person omakase with counter + tables. Even though we sat at the counter and got to see the chefs at work, I thought it took away from the intimate ambiance a little, especially when the chef had to shout to the rest of the restaurant to indicate what we were eating. 2. In other omakase places, you have one chef explaining the fish and how it's presented. Here, it got messy - with some pieces, the chef did the explaining; other times, our waiter did; and the recurring theme of showing us the actual fish on a platter beforehand wasn't necessary. Nor was showing us the certificate for the wagyu, which just felt weird (yes, I trust you are serving me what you say you are serving me). 3. Some of the flavors did not mesh well together and there seemed to be more of an emphasis on jamming different ingredients together rather than letting the flavor of the fish shine. I'm a sushi purist so already I'm starting at a baseline of just give me the fish and rice. - I was turned off by the raw fish and fruit jello at the beginning (a strange flavor/texture mishmash and frankly a disservice to the fish). - Same for the sashimi and pineapple salsa. The combo of sweet, spicy, and fishy was strange. - Fatty tuna, regular tuna, and caviar may sound good on paper but in practice, the taste of fatty tuna just overwhelms everything else. A slab of the tuna on its own would have sufficed. - The non-fish dishes ranged from stellar (noodles with crabmeat and roe) to eh (duck breast was overcooked, wagyu could have used with less seasoning). I am not a fan of fois gras so the appeal of that piece was lost on me. 4. Where Umami excelled were the simpler dishes and pieces (like horse mackerel topped with green onion and some sesame; the crab noodles; and a stunning hand-roll of unagi and silky tamago). 5. Parking: On busy Mass Ave so budget some time in advance to find a spot.

    Oyster starter
    Kate C.

    Incredible dinning experience from the food to the service. It's a very intimate ambiance - It was only and us and two other couples. This made the entire dining experience feel very personal. We did the 18 course experience and opted to add a 19th course. While I was full at the end, I was "the right kind of full." They have a great sake selection as well and you can choose to do a pairing. The staff showed us each of the full fishes that were eating and explained where they came from, which was such a nice touch. Our waiter found out we were getting married and celebrating the wedding countdown, and he brought out a dessert with sparklers. All in all, it was such a great experience and I'd return here in a heartbeat.

    Hursuong V.

    An intimate, cozy setting with on point ambience and service -- truly perfect for a special occasion. It was funny because nearly every single table/reservation there the night we dined was a birthday celebration (including us). Each dish was fresh, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully created. The pacing was great, the sake recommendations were amazing, and we left feeling like we just had a wonderful meal and dining experience. The staff, including the chef, all took the time to talk to every customer, on top of introducing every part of the meal. Definitely get a counter reservation to watch the magic happen up close. It's pretty amazing to think the small, intimate staff work so hard to produce a flawless night for the first round of reservations, then do it all again for the second round.

    Searing of the foie gras

    If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Umami was nothing short of perfection. The restaurant is intimate, the service impeccable, the food... the FOOD! The 18 course omakase menu is a well crafted, well thought out, incredible dining experience. This was my first Omakase meal and after Umami... it will not be my last. I was a little nervous going into this - but the way the menu is laid out and the way the fish is presented and prepared - it was amazing. The staff is knowledgeable and patient and they will happily discuss each course with you.

    Japanese fluke sushi
    Greg W.

    Some things are unassuming - whether it be by looks, size, or substance. Umami at first glance is indeed all of these things being located in small space with not much signage or ability to see into the dining room that fits about 35-50 people total and has a very clean but minimalist decor. However, to write it off without truly understanding WHAT they are trying to accomplish is a tragic mistake. My wife took me for my birthday, citing we were going to a "special occasion" spot, and there is truly no greater description for Umami. Umami was a truly ethereal experience from start to finish. I will say that it was probably THE most expensive meal we've ever had, but it's not a place that we walked away from feeling cheated at the price point. That is one of the things that worries me with high-end places in Boston... about 50% of them you walk away thinking "that was good, but for the price "x" place was better"; well, that was NOT the case for Umami, which made it that much more impressive of an experience. Umami is not your run-of-the-mill omakase place, there is no ala carte menu except for their blackboard specialty items (more on that later). You have a choice of two different omakase offerings during two fixed seating times and either drinks by glass or an expertly selected sake pairing. What this does is allows the chefs to shift and morph the menu to whatever is seasonal and available (mostly from Japan for the proteins), eliminating the sometimes daunting amount of choices to make during a fine dining experience. No, here you show up, make ~2 choices, then sit back and enjoy the show and experience... because that is what Umami is: an interactive experience that is centered around a 2-3 hour meal. I wouldn't come here expecting your usual sushi rolls or nigiri... this is Japanese food taken to the next level and beyond. There's no jars of soy sauce or saucers of wasabi and pickled ginger to destroy and overwhelm the delicate, top of the line ingredients. No, Umami and its chefs create some of the most thoughtful and nuanced bites and dishes that will ever grace your palate. This may be offputting to some people, who believe they know best and refuse to change or try something different... but believe me, the chefs know what is best in terms of handling and transforming these ingredients into something that I don't know I could have ever imagined. While you may see the commonly known and ordered sushi such as ahi/bluefin/bigeye/yellowfin tuna and the fatty/regular salmon, they are not the selections that pop out as unique or imaginative (but they did account for some of the best sushi I've ever had in their respective categories). You will find many different fish that can only be found in the waters surrounding Japan and are flown in fresh 2x/week. This includes Japanese Fluke, Hokkaido A+ uni (considered the best in the world), and Wagyu beef (including the certificate of authenticity and credentialing). You also get a look into ingredients I have never seen treated in the ways they were at Umami such as the Japanese langostina and foi gras dishes, both quickly seared with a blow torch to add a little bit of texture to an otherwise smooth and sweet protein. Even if you do not fancy a specific protein or ingredient (such as foi gras for me...), you should indulge with an open mind. There was not a single mediocre or "okay" bit of food that was served during our experience. Even the tomago (baked/steamed egg) was stepped up from your typical, bland offering in the sushi world. There are two different seating choices: the sushi chef bar or standard seating. I would recommend the sushi chef bar so you get to interact with the chefs and see how much work, effort, and talent goes into the creation of each dish. As a home cook myself, seeing the art of butchering the fish and the slight of hand demanded to create such dishes gives an additional level of appreciation for the experience and how the menu is executed. I cannot put the overall experience into words, even after everything I've laid out above. It exceeded any and all expectations for a meal, even at THIS price point. I have been to various Michelin-starred restaurants and even those couldn't have prepared me for the Umami experience. The combination of food, service, entertainment, and atmosphere was at times almost overwhelming as I tried to take it all in. Did either of us have any regrets, especially at the price point? Absolutely NOT. Will we be back? Most definitely. Will it be soon? Not as soon as we would like; perhaps for the next special occasion, whenever that may be... but I WILL be back. If I had the means, I would frequent Umami whenever I could (and plan to do that!). It is one of the only places in Boston that I would say MUST be experienced at some point or another, as it changed the way I will view fine dining in the city. It has raised an already high bar in an amazing food city, and may have stolen the crown.

    Ti W.

    Great omakase place! Considered how expensive omakase is in Boston in general, I think this place is good for the price. Most of the pieces are delicious. I love the seafood egg custard (especially the sauce on top), the squid nigiri and the scallop nigiri. The chef is very friendly and accommodating. I would say the signature dish, the one with uni, quill egg and salmon row is a bit disappointing though since all three have specific flavors, and when you put them all together, their unique flavors are cancelled out. Maybe I prefer their original flavors a bit more. The ambiance is a bit lagging in my opinion. I would expect a place with such price point to be a bit more delicate with ambiance. In general, definitely worth a try especially if you haven't been to any omakase before.

    Definite could be a upper-mid tier omakase on my list that fits its price range. Food is delicious but still have rooms for creativity, instead of just torched nigiris and wagyu. The restaurant could do some refurbishment to add more omakase atmosphere. Servers are super nice and attentive to customers but I still confused they have us wait about 10 minutes before seating. BUT, Overall it's worthy the money, will try again to expects some course designs for the chef, he's a great guy!

    Spoon and Toro were only GOOD ones
    Katherine S.

    1.5-1.8/5 TL;DR: SUPER LONG REVIEW - not a true omakase and more of a tasting menu. Modern sushi fusion gone wrong. SO overpriced. Took 3 hours My friends and I wanted to try an omakase spot when visiting Boston and decided on this spot due to all the good reviews. The interior is cute, and service is nice. We quickly realized that everyone in the restaurant were doing the omakase, so they are serving ~30-40ish people simultaneously. RED FLAGS/Negatives: --Serving 30-40 people at once: can cause delays/timing issues --A lot of the pieces of fish/nigiri were pre-cut --First dish of Miso Soup was so bland (bad start) --Sushi chefs were handling iPads with their hands then handling the food directly after --They tried to upsell dishes (like Japanese uni) party by party: when we declined the salesman made a condescending comment "oh, you don't like uni?" Like no, we do; but you are aggressively upselling it to us --It was ~10+ minutes in between dishes --Experience took almost 3 hours (they said they were down a sushi chef) --Rice was so weird (each grain was a different size and was coated in something weird) FOOD RATINGS by order (see pics for more): ~Miso Soup (2/5): bland and clam was overcooked ~Oyster with tomato puree (2/5): oyster was raw and temperature was on the warmer side. Tomato puree seemed like an odd choice ~Assorted cuts of fish with fruit and fruit gel (1/5): what even was this. It tasted like a fruit cocktail with jello and pieces of fish ~The spoon (5/5): toro, quail egg, ikura, uni, and caviar on a spoon. Tasted good ~Spanish Mackerel (3/5): mid ~Chopped salmon with yuzu tobiko and sweet cream cheese (1/5): I assume this was their play on like a bagel and lox. They said to mix it up and eat, and it just tasted like sweet cream cheese, and the texture was off-putting. Honestly, disrespectful to the fish. ~Aji (I think)(2.5/5): Mid ~Snapper (3/5): Mid ~Multiple types of toro with caviar (4/5): can't go wrong with toro, but rice and temp made me dock a star ~Chawanmushi (2.5/5): had a shrimp and scallop on top which were both severely overcooked. The egg was decent, but the soy gel on top was tasty but strange texture (maybe too much agar agar or something) ~Baby squid (2/5): Could only taste mayo ~Scallop (3/5): large piece of scallop; but just wrapped in some nori ~Another type of snapper (2.5/5): meh ~Smoked duck breast (2.5/5): great presentation; half warm, half cold. Very dry ~Wagyu (3/5): can't mess up wagyu, but it was just okay and the topping did not complement the wagyu ~Foie Gras (4/5): Foie gras was torched and tasty but ruined by the bad rice ~Unagi Tamago (3.5/5): decent but nothing special ~Mango Mousse (1/5): As a lover of dessert, I was so disappointed. Overly sweet, and again had some kind of gel. I haven't had a disappointing meal like this in a very long time. It took WAY too long; was WAY too expensive; was NOT an omakase; did NOT taste good.

    Irene H.

    I appreciate the intimate setting with the diners all around the counter overseeing the chefs at work. While each of the courses was delicious, I was a little disappointed in the various non-fish dishes - not that they were not good, they were but I usually expect the focus of the experience to involve mostly fish. While in concept majority of the courses were yummy there were some courses where there was a lot going on that it took away from the main focus of that course, the fish which then cause the flavor of that fish to be masked and over powered by the various sauces and garnishes. There is a fine line between creativity and flavor. At the end of the day, taste/presentation is subjective - the experience was still great, the food was good, the staff friendly, I like how they would bring around some of the fish (the whole fish) and talk a little about the origin and the taste profile. Still a spot worth checking out and great for if you aren't a huge raw fish person but want to dabble in it since there is a good variety in the courses like duck, shrimp, crab, wagyu.

    Mango dessert
    Liz J.

    I highly recommend this place for omakase! It's reasonably priced as far as omakase goes (less than $200pp). I recommend the saki pairing. Service was great and food was phenomenal. Everything was unique and delicious.

    Kate G.

    Fantastic! I have only been here the once, but I was advised from another friend that has been here, that their menu doesn't change frequently, so while amazing, a wait between visits is the best way to have a new experience. The atmosphere was great, though they provide everything to the entire group, discuss the dish, at which point you take your bite, which is a departure from other Omakase experiences that I have had. I look forward to returning possibly for my birthday!

    Eggs galore. Ikura, quail egg, uni, caviar
    Thomas A.

    Took my wife here for a birthday dinner. The experience was great. On a Wednesday night, the sushi bar was full. They only serve omakase style dinners. It's a great multi-course experience that will leave you full. They also offer drinks to accompany the food. We did the omakase with sake pairing. The waiter was knowledgeable about his sake. They were also attentive to refill our waters. The sushi chefs noticed I was a lefty and angled my nigiri accordingly. Very friendly staff and a very intimate setting. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar then you can opt to sit at a table where a waiter will bring the omakase to you. But i recommend you eat at the bar.

    Shrimp. Fun preparation decent flavor

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    Umami Omakase Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Umami Omakase

    Do they serve wine and beer in addition to sake?

    I can't remember if they had beer but I do remember seeing wine on the menu

    What is the parking situation around Umami?

    There is street parking in the area with meters.

    For sashimi, can I have it torch instead raw? I am not a fan of sashimi.

    I really don't think this is the place for you. This is a chef decided menu using lots of raw ingredients throughout all the courses.

    Is this place reservation only?

    They aren't required, but I would STRONGLY suggest them. Showing up and them not having room at a seating would be a bit of a bummer.

    Do you have to make reservation?

    Yes, is better to make reservations ahead, then we can have better service for you, thank you.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Sakana - Snow Mountain Roll

    Sakana

    4.5(312 reviews)
    2.1 miCentral Square
    $$

    Still my GO TO sushi place cuz I love their Cambridge Garden roll. Very unique!!! However, the…read moreportions and their prices are becoming more and more ridiculous. $20 for a tiny roll?! $10 for a small thing of shishito peppers?! Outrageous ... especially during these times. I still fully recommend this place for the taste and quality, but the amount you get for the price is pure heartache. Can't comment on the ambiance cuz I always UberEats this, but for the service, it's always very quick and exactly how we order it.

    My friend and I came here one weekday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read moredespite not having a reservation and also the overall size of the restaurant being relatively small. We were quite lucky as I noticed more people standing by the wall waiting around as the night went on. Few things make me as happy as seeing a gluten-free sushi menu, so I'm super grateful that this restaurant is able to accommodate my allergy! Our server was very welcoming and patiently went through all the different rolls that could be made gluten-free and brought out tamari sauce without me even needing to request it. My friend had been here several times before and told me that she's really enjoyed Sakana's specialty rolls, especially the ones with truffle oil. I'm not the biggest fan of truffle oil, but I also thought all of their specialty rolls looked really enticing. It was a bit of a bummer that the ones that I wanted to try the most couldn't be made into a gluten-free version... I ended up going with a roll that had tuna on the inside and scallop on the outside, as well as an extra Philadelphia roll. The specialty rolls are about ~$18 or so and the more regular rolls (that come with 6 pieces instead of 8) are about $8. As other people have noted before, the portion sizes were a bit smaller than I expected, especially for the specialty rolls. However, other than that, we had a wonderful dining experience. Our food was brought out super quickly and they continuously checked on us throughout the evening. Overall, I can see why this place gets quite busy around Harvard Square, definitely a solid local option if you're in the mood for sushi!

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    Sakana - Rocky Road Makimono

    Rocky Road Makimono

    Sakana
    Sakana

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    Fuki Japanese Cuisine

    Fuki Japanese Cuisine

    4.6(133 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    Outdoor seating
    Full bar

    The love boat ($69) for 2 was EXCELLENT. We both left dinner completely stuffed to the brim, and I…read morewas thrilled with both the value and the quality of the meal. It comes with 2 bowls of miso soup, which were perfect on a cold winter night. The boat also includes a martini glass with seaweed salad, providing a refreshing, upscale palate cleanser when you need a moment's break from the fish. I was very impressed with the thick cuts for the sashimi, and the toppings on the nigiri also gave a tiny twist to the meal - while yuzu and jalapaeño are common pairings with raw fish, for example, the strawberry-on-salmon was a novel combo for me! The rolls also add appeal for any eating partners who enjoy their fish in another form. There isn't a lot of natural light/windows in the main seating area, so the lighting is dim and gives off an intimate ambiance that's perfect for a date night - no complaints about the service!

    Fuki is a modern Japanese and sushi restaurant located near the popular Bow Market. The food,…read moreservice, and ambiance here are excellent! It's the perfect spot for a date night or grabbing drinks and dinner with friends. For appetizers, I highly recommend getting the 3 sampler of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail dumpling to try them all. While called dumpling, it's more like a delicious fish rice ball with special sauce. The house special udon with shrimp, scallop, and fish cake was also really good. I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken hibachi! It's good for being hungry because it comes with soup, veggies, rice, and some shrimp. It comes with yum yum sauce which goes well with everything and a sauce for the vegetables. The service was good, we did ask our questions about appetizers and she gave good recommendations. We didn't wait too long for the food. The ambiance here is great! They have Japanese decor on all the walls including paintings of cherry blossom, koi fish, Mt. Fuji, and even flowers on the roof. Overall, the food here is really good and this is a staple restaurant that I'll keep coming back to!

    Photos
    Fuki Japanese Cuisine
    Fuki Japanese Cuisine
    Fuki Japanese Cuisine

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    Ebi Sushi Bar - Torched Miso Salmon Sashimi

    Ebi Sushi Bar

    4.1(576 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Woah Nelly I truly enjoyed my time in this eating place. Came out here on Valentines day and…read moreskipped the line because we needed a table for 7. Already serving us a side of awesome sauce! I personally love eating sushi because I love rolling around my bed and wrapping myself in blankets like a sushi roll. Honestly maybe I'll do it later when I get home, I don't have a date today. Anyways you didn't come here for a rolling around review you came here for a sushi review. I got the pork bun to start and I swear it must have came from an ancient boar, the portion was dinosaur sized. Definitely a steal, please don't raise the price I'm begging you don't take this away from me they already took the kids. I ordered the miso salmon sushi and it was absolutely fantastic. The staff was very apologetic about how I was the only one of 6 to have my order take a little while longer and I don't think they realized I didn't care too much. Maybe I would if I was retired and didn't understand the plight of the working man anymore. I intended on giving the restaurant 5 stars after eating, but the waitress saw me writing the review. I was gonna drop it to 4 for that reason because I thought it was funny but I think they deserved every one of my fun filled shining stars. Come here if you like sushi, it's ALMOST as good as the feeling of evading getting ticketed on the permit only parking spaces you'll need to park at.

    Very fresh sushi for a reasonable price and a great ambiance. Walk in only…read more I like Ebi sushi and this is despite the fact that it's a walk in only! Rolls were very fresh, and I particularly liked their options that included eel sauce. Ordered: Blue dragon: more of a unique roll. I got it to try because it looked different from standard sushi rolls, but I found that I didn't like how crunchy it was. I think the bean sprouts inside it contributed to this Miso salmon: it sounded delicious and it was. Fish was fresh and didn't have any sort of smell but was pretty clearly high quality Veggie gyoza: I am always charmed when restaurants have green dumpling wrappers for veggie options. I got these pan fried and liked them! Six per order Service was decently quick and attentive even on a Friday evening. I have no complaints! I'd come again

    Photos
    Ebi Sushi Bar - Interior

    Interior

    Ebi Sushi Bar - Miso soup

    Miso soup

    Ebi Sushi Bar

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    Cafe Sushi Shoten - Otoro sushi, tomato zuke sushi, and seared avocado sushi

    Cafe Sushi Shoten

    4.0(802 reviews)
    2.0 miHarvard Square
    $$

    Very cute little place between Harvard Square and Central Square but would definitely recommend…read moremaking a reservation as it's relatively small (probably on the harder side for larger parties of 6+). My wife (vegetarian) and I came on a Wednesday night and we were able to be seated 15min early ahead of our 615pm reservation. The service was amazing, our server Ivy was very knowledgeable about both the sake and food menus. We started with the edamame w curry salt (an interesting and fun spin), cabbage (my wife LOVED it), and the maiitake tempura. Alright, I love mushrooms y'all and this dish was fried perfectly and didn't leave a greasy aftertaste, but there was a lot of batter so it mostly tasted of batter and the mushroom itself was in the passenger seat. Also the yuzu aioli was fine but i would've preferred a traditional tempura dipping sauce. For our mains my wife got the seared avocado sushi (her favorite of the night), tomato zuke sushi (it came out and I legitimately thought it was akami tuna but it blew my mind that it was a cured tomato), and the veggie maki roll of the week (also delicious). Vegetarians you are seen here and there are many options! I got the shrimply the best maki - I mostly got it for the name and was expecting a big shrimp flavor but looking at a cross section of the roll, the shrimp itself was rather small and was a little let down Toro maki - treated myself to some fatty Toro but I feel like there was too much pickled veggie which helped cut the overall fattiness of the tuna but became the main flavor Otoro sushi - my favorite dish of the night by far! An expensive two bites but the flavor of the fatty tuna with a speck of wasabi and the flavorful sushi rice (no soy sauce) . Next time I come back I will probably just splurge on multiple of these or try the hand rolls Expensive but delicious sushi with excellent service, will definitely be coming back!

    Grabbed a table here for dinner one night and had a lovely experience. This place does get crowded…read moreso I would recommend reservations. Luckily the restaurant is split for a dine in and takeout area making it easier to wait for a table if needed. We ordered several items from the menu and found all had an air of freshness to them. I especially like the chicken karaage which came with a spicy mayo sauce. The chicken was fried well giving it nice crisp without feeling heavy on the oil. The dipping sauce was also a nice added touch complementing the flavors of the chicken. For rolls I ordered the tomato zuke, seared avocado, shiitake, and tuna taku. Interestingly, the tomato was my favorite. What an innovative way to use tomato that felt flavorful and mimicked the texture of a tuna based roll. I also liked how the avocado was seared with some sea salt - it gave it a nice balance of roasted and salty with just a little rice. For the shiitake, I enjoyed how the mushrooms were prepared the most and would have likely been more ok to eat those on their own rather than in a sushi roll. While I was the most excited about the tuna take, it felt a little more basic to me after having the more innovative vegetarian sushi first. The combo of crunchy and soft from the roll was a bit confusing. The takuan felt more minced and so you'd have a soft bite of the tuna mixed with more crunchy bits of the takuan, but since it didnt seem balanced it felt off from a texture perspective. However, this is also a personal preference and the ingredients individually were all super fresh. Our server was also super friendly and very on top of our ask to let us know which items had shellfish. She consistently checked in with us and on the kitchen to ensure there weren't any issues with my food allergy. I very much enjoyed coming here and would definitely come again. While it was busy, the food still came out quickly and it was still quiet enough that you could have a conversation with your table. In general this place makes a great date spot or place to come with friends.

    Photos
    Cafe Sushi Shoten - Order counter

    Order counter

    Cafe Sushi Shoten - Edamame w curry salt

    Edamame w curry salt

    Cafe Sushi Shoten - Signature sampler (5/5)

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    Signature sampler (5/5)

    Umami Omakase - japanese - Updated May 2026

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