New York Restaurant Blue Ribbon Sushi Expands to Boston’s Kenmore Square | Eater Boston

"Opening June 23 in Kenmore Square at the Hotel Commonwealth, Blue Ribbon Sushi is the first of three Blue Ribbon projects at the hotel and comes from New York–based Blue Ribbon Restaurants (no relation to the Greater Boston mini-chain of Blue Ribbon barbecue joints). The Bromberg brothers—Bruce and Eric—launched the first Blue Ribbon Sushi in New York City in 1995 with master sushi chef Toshi Ueki and have long worked with New England seafood purveyors, so this expansion is framed as a bit of a homecoming. The Boston team includes chefs Dan Bazzinotti and Keith Pooler (Pooler previously chef/owner of beloved local spots, and Bazzinotti is known for his charcuterie), with Boston native Allan Tidd as general manager. The menu offers sushi, sashimi, maki and more from New England, Japan and beyond, with an extensive à la carte menu and an omakase starting at $145 per person. The beverage program emphasizes sake (including several proprietary Blue Ribbon offerings), Japanese beer and whisky, wines from Italy, France and California, and a succinct cocktail selection featuring Blue Ribbon classics like the lychee martini. The restaurant fits 120 seats into the intimate former Hawthorne space at 500a Commonwealth Avenue, including a 14-seat sushi counter, six-seat cocktail bar and a 50-seat private room; it will open Tuesday–Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. starting June 23, with extended hours and lunch to be added later, and reservations are available online." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal