Be careful how you pronounce the name!
Written: Sep 28 '02 (Updated Mar 13 '04)
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Pros: over the top decor including sushi moat, videos and house fascade, great seafood.
Cons: pricey, service can be brusque, name of restaurant sounds like an insult.
The Bottom Line: Go for the decor and great sushi and other seafood on the menu. Don't have high expectations for service.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Fugakyu |
DECOR
I have to talk about the decor first because it is really over the top. When you walk in, it is as though you have entered a small garden terrace. The main part of the restaurant appears to be a two-story house. You are standing under the eaves on a path. There are park-type granite benches and a small fountain. The hostess station is right by the door. When you are walked to the table, you walk along the outside of the house and then enter the house to find the dining rooms. There are several enclosed private dining rooms with tatami mats to sit on. However, most diners sit in rooms with regular tables that are somewhat close together. As you sit inside the "house", out of the windows you can watch video tape of beautiful Japanese scenery and celebrations including a parade and drumming session.
The sushi bar is in a separate area. A small river surrounds the sushi bar at eye level. The river is filled with small boats. On the back of each boat is a small plate of sushi. These are made of wax and are for entertainment only. (I remember eating in San Francisco many years ago at a restaurant with a similar gimmick, except that the food on the boats was real and you could help yourself.) The sushi bar allows you to watch the sushi chefs work efficiently trying to meet the demand. You can also see of all of the interesting and beautiful sushi offerings being made.
FOOD
The owners of this restaurant also own other seafood restaurants in Boston's Chinatown. It is apparent at Fugakyu that seafood takes center place. The seafood is all amazing, including the sushi, sashimi and cooked appetizers. They won a Best Sushi award in 2001 from Boston Magazine.
There are tanks of live fish just past the sushi bar in case you wish to offer a "see you soon" to your future dinner. The sushi and sashimi offered include all of the basics plus some rarer items and other creative offerings. Adventurous sushi eaters will be happy here.
If you are not into raw fish, there are some vegetarian and cooked sushi offerings plus plenty of fully-cooked appetizers and entrees. There are also poultry and beef offerings but I have not tried these. There are the typical Japanese desserts plus tempura ice cream, which is basically fried ice cream. I haven't had it but a dining companion loved it.
This is the most expensive restaurant in the neighborhood. Entrees run from about $15 to $30. Sushi is about 10-20% higher in price than local competitors but is also bigger. Desserts are around $5.
SERVICE
There are several greeters when you walk in. Each of them sports a walkie talkie. They greet you quickly, take your name and will eventually walk you to a table, all the time talking on the walkie talkie. I think the walkie talkies are supposed to convey efficiency, but I find them annoying.
When you arrive, there is sometimes a short wait whether or not you have reservations. The greeters are sometimes brusque and sometimes pleasant. I have never received what I would call a warm welcome.
Table service is efficient. On busy nights, they are looking to turnover tables and service is brusque. There can be a long wait for sushi on busy nights and sometimes the entrees show up before or immediately after you have just gotten your plate of sushi. We have had a couple of bad experiences with service, for example, one waitress couldn't be found for over 20 minutes. However, servers are usually pleasant and available. Fugakyu won't win awards for their service.
LOCATION
Fugakyu is located in Cleveland Circle in Brookline. This vibrant neighborhood is near Boston College and Boston University so there are lots of students in the area. It is also part of an area with many kosher restaurants and a kosher supermarket.
GETTING THERE
The restaurant is almost directly across from a Green Line stop on Boston's T (trolly). There is a lot of on street parking with meters and a few meter parking lots nearby.
RESERVATIONS
They take reservations. When the restaurant first opened a few years ago, there was always a wait. Now, you can get a table immediately on most nights. If you plan to eat on Friday or Saturday night, have a large group or want a private dining room, make a reservation.
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
There is no children's menu. It can get expensive if you have hungry children and have to order them each a $20 entree. They have high chairs. We have taken our kids here, however our kids are adventurous eaters and can find something they like on the menu. If your kids only like pizza, burgers and chicken fingers, they won't be happy. One upside is that the decor interests kids and the videos usually keep our kids mesmerized throughout most of the dinner.
It is possible to take kids here, and you will see some in the dining rooms, but it is not really a family place. Fugaku is best for dates, special occasions and groups of friends.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
If you are a sushi fanatic and want the freshest seafood and the trendiest and weirdest options, you will love the food here. If you like sushi and Japanese food at all, the decor in Fugakyu is an attraction as it is really elaborate and worth seeing at least once. This restaurant is also great for groups because of the private dining rooms that add a sense of occasion to any dinner eaten there.
OTHER INFORMATION
Address: 1280 Beacon Street, Brookline
Phone: (617) 734-1268
OTHER OPTIONS
There are several other Japanese restaurants within walking distance of Fugakyu. For example, if you are looking for a cheaper Japanese dining experience, try Mr. Sushi, about three blocks away. My epinion of Mr. Sushi is at http://www.epinions.com/content_75676946052.
Tsunami is about half a block away. My epinion is at: http://www.epinions.com/content_106183429764.
Another option is Takeshima, also about 3 blocks away. My epinion of Takeshima is at http://www.epinions.com/content_77473943172.
A really fun place for anyone who loves Japanese Food is the Porter Square Mall in Cambridge. They have several Japanese food stalls, a Japanese supermarket, Japanese stores and a sushi restaurant. My epinion of the Porter Square Mall is at http://www.epinions.com/content_76305108612.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? TRY THESE BOSTON-AREA RESTAURANTS:
BOSTON: Radius; Caffe Vitoria; Excelsior.
BROOKLINE: Anna's Taqueria; Zaftigs Delicatessen.
NEWTON: Appetito; India Paradise; Blue Ribbon Barbeque; Ice Cream Works; Baker's Best; Bill’s Pizzeria; Cafe Nicolas
CAMBRIDGE: S&S Restaurant; The Japanese Mall; House of Blues.
WEST ROXBURY: Café Misono.
BRIGHTON: Tasca.
ESSEX: Woodman’s.
SAUGUS: Kowloon.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS: Not Your Average Joe’s; Bertucci’s; Legal Sea Foods; Cheesecake Factory; Rainforest Cafe; Fire & Ice.
Thanks to Megugrrl for adding Fugakyu to the database.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations All of the seafood is good: sushi, sashimi and entrees. Ask for the specials which feature very fresh fish.
Best Suited For: Trendy Crowd
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modernmarvel
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