It doesn't get better than this!
Written: Jul 16 '03 (Updated Mar 27 '04)
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Pros: great ambiance, great service, great food, great neighborhood location
Cons: no nearby parking
The Bottom Line: This restaurant has it all in a very competitive location.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Tsunami |
I almost hate to write this review because it will let the secret out. There is a great sushi restaurant in Brookline, MA. I know, I know . .. there are lots of great sushi restaurants in Brookline. In fact, there are 3 within a 3 minute walk of Tsunami. However, I think this one offers the best experience and food in its price range in this neighborhood and in greater Boston.
DECOR
The restaurant is small and crowded. There are about 9-15 tables depending on how the tables are configured. The chair backs of your table just about touch the chairbacks of the table behind you. There are also a few seats at the sushi bar.
The furniture is made of light wood. There is one long bench along the wall that serves as seating for several tables. Large blue square pillows indicate where patrons sit and make sitting on the seats and bench comfortable. There is some wood on the walls the same color as the tables and occasional Japanese decor including large fish kites on the walls. The decor is rather minimalistic, yet pleasing. It is not too fancy and overdone but perfect for a neighborhood place.
FOOD
The menu was about average size and included most Japanese dishes you would expect to see. There was also a sushi bar and a separate a la carte menu for sushi. We tried the oshi tashi which is cooked spinach salad. In this restaurant it was covered by a tangy sauce which we hadn't had before but liked very much. I had a salmon sushi plate for dinner. It included 4 pieces of sashimi on a bed of raw carrot strings, 4 pieces of salmon nigiri and 6 pieces of salmon maki. All of the pieces of fish were huge and the plate cost $12.95, which is reasonable in this area. My daughter had tempura udon noodles, which were good and filling. We also ordered sushi a la carte. The sushi prices were about average, or even on the low end, for sushi, although all of the pieces were extremely large and very, very fresh.
There are not many desserts on the menu including our favorite, green tea ice cream. However, they do have fried green tea ice cream. When the waiter saw how disappointed my daughter was about the ice cream, they disassembled a pre-cooked fried ice cream to give her the green tea ice cream center. . . for no charge.
For those who need dessert and are not too hung up on flavors, there is an ice cream shop only a 3 minute walk away.
SERVICE
We were greeted and seated immediately. Water arrived shortly and food arrived quickly after our order. Water and tea were refilled frequently and dishes cleared away promptly. Clearly, English was a second language for some of the waitstaff but nodding and smiling did the trick and did not affect the service. The service was perfect, efficient and friendly.
AMBIANCE
This would be a great first date place and it looked like several couples in the restaurant were on a casual date. There were groups of friends and a few men in ties. Otherwise, it was student-casual. You could feel comfortable in jeans or dressed up for a date.
LOCATION / GETTING THERE
Tsunami in located in Brookline's Coolidge Corner. This is a vibrant area filled with shops and restaurants. Tsunami is tucked onto a side street just off Beacon street near the trolly stop.
There is some street parking and a couple of lots, although most are a block or more away from the restaurant. I can usually find a spot in one of the lots. The spaces there are on meters so expect to pay $1-2 for parking. If you want to take public transportation, the Green line of the T (Boston's trolly system) also stops right nearby.
KID FRIENDLINESS
I didn't see any high chairs and my 7 year old was the only child in the restaurant on the night we ate there. There is no children's menu.
VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY / DIET CONCERNS
I added this category because I occasionally get questions about whether there was vegetarian food. It looked like there were some options on the menu for vegetarians and, if you are willing to eat fish, you will be very happy here. The staff seemed very accommodating and might also be willing to alter a dish to make it vegetarian.
OTHER INFORMATION
They take credit cards. This restaurant is all on one floor and appears to be handicap accessible, however the tight quarters could make it hard to maneuver around.
I don't think this small restaurant takes reservations. We were there on a Friday night and the tables were turning briskly although I don't think anyone had to wait. Large parties might have a hard time getting a table due to the size of the restaurant.
The address and telephone are:
10 Pleasant St.
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 277-8008
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
Tsunami was a perfect mix of good food, decor, ambiance, service and price. It was one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long time and I highly recommend this restaurant.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? TRY THESE BOSTON-AREA RESTAURANTS:
BOSTON: Radius; Caffe Vitoria; Excelsior.
BROOKLINE: Mr. Sushi; Fugakyu; Takeshima; Anna's Taqueria; Zaftigs Delicatessen; Bangkok Bistro.
NEWTON: Appetito; India Paradise; Blue Ribbon Barbeque; Ice Cream Works; Baker's Best; Bill’s Pizzeria; Cafe Nicolas; Union Street.
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.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The sushi was very fresh and the portions were large.
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
modernmarvel
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