Cafe Sushi Shoten

"Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived.Around since 1984, Café Sushi was not a place that you went for ambiance exactly—it was located in a nondescript building near Harvard Square, between a shoe-repair shop and a Dry Bar—but now, in its new iteration Café Sushi Shoten which has been around since 2022, there are new reasons to love it. What's the vibe? Who are your fellow diners?The dine-in omakase counter has sadly departed, but in its stead, Café Sushi Shoten has adopted a to-go model paired with Japanese groceries and sundries that is no less authentic, engaging, and delicious. Peruse the shelves as you wait for your to-go order, and you’ll seeneighborhood residents exchanging a smile with the host before grabbing takeout, and Harvard kids pushing in for a break from the dining hall. Great sushi demands good sake (or at least a Sapporo). What's on offer here?Sake, reasonably priced Japanese beer and wine are all available for purchase. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown.The magic of experiencing a could-be-in-Tokyo omakase counter doesn’t quite translate to an (albeit gorgeously packed) bento box, but the sushi is still excellent here. The menu skews a lot more traditional than some of Boston’s other sushi joints, but there are still some experiments that are worthy of attneiton, like the kelp-cured branzino with wasabi oil and lemon, or the truly wow-worthy salmon nigiri with poblano pepper miso and twelve-spiced pineapple. Sure, the dine-in ambiance has been sacrificed; but the menu here is as delightful and exquisite as ever. Anything else we should know?On a beautiful evening in the warmer months, we can’t think of a better date night than grabbing some sushi and Japanese beers to go, then strolling a few blocks over to Harvard Square for some people-watching. If anything, Café Sushi Shoten has only helped to further integrate excellent sushi into the surrounding community." - Elizabeth Wellington