Japanese-inspired dishes, cocktails, and sake in an upscale setting






















"Yes, Zuma, is at the Four Seasons, but unlike a lot of other upscale spots on this list, here you have the option to order a la carte or do a full omakase. Save the tasting menu for other spots, though—a la carte is the way to go. You really want to be here on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night when there’s a DJ and order a bunch of plates to share like sliced sashimi with yuzu and yellowtail with green chili relish and pickled garlic. The cocktails, like the chili passionfruit margarita, are also delicious, and better than what you can find at other sushi spots in town." - tanya edwards
"Zuma in the Back Bay is the type of high-end place where a lot of people are probably discussing frequent flyer programs. In other words, it’s a good place to go when you need to impress someone. It isn’t cheap, but if you’re charging the meal to the company, come here for good sushi and an even better selection of robata grill stuff, like the Chilean seabass with green chili and ginger dressing." - dan secatore
"Yes, Zuma, is at the Four Seasons, but unlike a lot of other upscale spots on this list, here you have the option to order a la carte or do a full omakase. Save the tasting menu for other spots, though—a la carte is the way to go. You really want to be here on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night when there’s a DJ and order a bunch of plates to share like sliced sashimi with yuzu and yellowtail with green chili relish and pickled garlic. The cocktails, like the orange milk blossom punch, are also delicious, and better than what you can find at other sushi spots in town. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE" - Tanya Edwards

"An international sushi chain that expanded to Boston with much fanfare in mid-2019, Zuma excited local diners who had visited its locations in London, New York, Hong Kong, and beyond; however, its arrival ran into a legal dispute with an older, locally trademarked restaurant and Azumi Limited was ultimately ordered to change the name of its Boston restaurant." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

"A high-end international Japanese restaurant in Back Bay’s One Dalton that aims for a luxury dining experience and carries a price tag (around $150 per person) that leaves its value dependent on what diners are seeking. The sushi chef and nigiri receive strong praise for properly cooked rice and perfectly sized bites; decadent dishes include scallops with sea urchin and truffle slices, and the robata-grilled offerings—particularly various steaks and a notable ribeye—are frequently singled out. A rice hot pot with wild mushrooms and truffles was described as a sleeper hit, and the reviewer ultimately awarded the restaurant two-and-a-half stars out of four, between "good" and "excellent." - Dana Hatic