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Green Tea Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Chinese Restaurants Sushi Bars Chinese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
24 Elliot StNewton, MA 02461
(617) 965-2260
- Nearest Transit:
-
Woodward St @ Boylston St (59)
Woodward St @ Boylston St (59)
Elliot St @ Charles St (59)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
84 reviews for Green Tea Restaurant
Review Highlights
84 reviews in English
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Review from Heather K.
Schuylkill Haven, PA
5/10/2011
Yelp helped me find this little hidden gem and the Sonny Special Hand Roll inspired me to write my first Yelp review. Sonny (the owner/sushi chef) ROCKS too - he always remembers me and comes to my table for a chat ;-) It's my home away from home!
I travel to the area for business regularly and my hotel is not far away. I searched online for sushi and found decent reviews so I drove over on one of my first business trips.
Since that first trip, every time I come to the area, I come here! I always order Sonny's Special Hand Roll with salmon. YUM!!! A little crunchy, a little spicy, and ADDICTING! I cannot come to the area without making a stop here!
I have only ordered from the regular menu once and had the salt and pepper shrimp which were so good that I packed the left overs in a bag to bring home for my husband!
I wouldn't say this is the best sushi I have ever had but, I am truly a fan and would recommend that anyone give it a try.
LOVE this place! -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
10/5/2011
It's pan-Asian but there's a pretty decent selection of Taiwanese dishes bizarrely called and located in the "Hong Kong" section of the menu.
I came here for the beef noodle soup, because that is the best Taiwanese dish ever created (besides stinky tofu). It was decent but not the best I've ever had.
The 3 cups chicken was moist and tender, the bamboo stir fry was quite good and the jellyfish was plentiful and fresh. So skip the noodles and go for the other Taiwanese staples.
We indulged and had some of their kitschy, "exotic" cocktails for $6 each. They were mostly juice filled with watered-down alcohol. Skip those too.
Service was okay but a little inattentive and abrupt at times. If you live in the Newton area, I can see coming here but don't go out of your way from Boston. -
Review from William T.
Waltham, MA
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
inattentive, fail to keep table clean. mediocre food quality
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Review from Jackie B.
Brighton, MA
3/24/2011
found this place on my epic ride home...avoiding the mass pike via route 9.
Anyways...loved the spicy tuna makki! Sushi chef sonny said I shoulda tried his own sonny handroll, but I have zero interest in trying eel. I now make it a point to get takeout sushi a few times a month after work! -
Review from Crystal G.
Brighton, MA
3/22/2011
Not a dim sum review- sorry, I like to make that more an experience, carts and all (which Green Tea doesn't do). I have eaten here once for dinner and just today for lunch. After my dinner experience I would've given it 4 stars, but the stark light of day bumped it down a notch....
Service is kind of spotty, also not the cleanest place. At night it reminded me of the Chinese places of my youth, but by day it made me a little sad. Both times the food came out fast, was above average, and portions were generous (all of which probably explained the only other people in the restaurant during today's lunch hour: construction workers).
If I lived nearby I would probably cast this place in a more favorable light, but don't drive to it unless you really have no better options. -
Review from Nicole L.
Brighton, MA
5/28/2011
I went here numerous times and the food is good. So why 2 stars? Every time we went to get food, they would make me feel awkward and a bother to them because I wanted to use a credit card. They take American Express but, on some occasions, they even lied and said they did not just so I would use something else. It got to the point that I no longer go there as I don't like to feel guily about using my favorite card (or even a card at all since I rarely carry much cash anymore).
The owners prefer cash (obviously) so they don't pay the charge. Well, I pose them this question: How much is it costing you now that I don't eat there and we order Chinese and Sushi at least a few times a month? You may have been paying 3% for me to use my card (which equates to $30 for every $1000 I spend) but now you are not getting the $970 you would have... -
Review from Bill G.
2/21/2011
The owner, Sonny, sat down at my table shortly after I arrived and talked to me about what kind of food I like. He suggested a few items such as Sonny's hand roll. After reading the reviews here I was already planning to order one, and I'm glad I did. It was sublime.
Major props also for Adam's Maki. It's heavy on the tuna, light on the rice, and nicely spiced. One of the best maki rolls I've ever had.
I ordered several pieces of nigiri as well. They were okay but nothing special. That plus the complete lack of ambiance in the restaurant keeps me from giving it a 5 star rave (okay, plus the fact that I learned to eat sushi in Tokyo so I'm hard to impress). But I'd definitely go back to Green Tea again next time I'm in Newton. -
Review from Cassie B.
1/31/2011
Atmosphere in the restaurant when i went to pick up was kinda nil, but the owner/sushi guy was great. Super personable, conversing with regulars who stopped in for their orders, assuring us that ours was coming right out and would be worth the wait.
Now the important part...the food! The sashimi we got was really generous portions, and tasted quite fresh. No complaints there. The rolls however, were kind of hit or miss for me. We ordered about 7 different ones to share around (yes, glutonous). Most were good, but a couple weirded me out...Not a fishy taste, just something was off. I think it was something to do with the tempura. Old oil? Weird recipe? I dunno.
The chinese food selections i got (Thai noodles, and Moo Shi) were very generous sized portions. And came in those reusable tupperwaresque containers! I love those...Noodles were slightly bland, but i can always doctor that up with some siracha and citrus. Moo shi was really tasty, although oddly sweeter than normal.
Its so odd that i enjoy the chinese offerings more than sushi...i am perplexed by this restaurant, but i'd go back to see Sonny in action. -
Review from Janet G.
Needham Heights, MA
2/2/2011
This review is for dim sum. I think Green Tea does a superb job with dim sum. They don't have the carts, but the food overrules.
I judge a dim sum spot by its har gau and so far it has been the best I've had in and around Boston lately..even Chinatown. Its tastey, the shrimp tastes like shrimp and the skin isn't too think or gooey.
Also really good is the Sesame Pancake with Beef. The beef is really flavorful, almost like a bbq beef. The Szechuan Style Beef Noodle Soup is spicy and delicious. The Steam Fried Dough Cheung Fang is fresh. The dough is crispy like it should be. My favorite noodle is the Lo Mein Shanghai Style (I think thats what it is). The sauce is finger lickin good.
My parents and grandma come here a lot and love it (and they're definitely multiple times more Chinese than me)
I also love that I don't have to trek into Chinatown for dim sum
Keep the quality going...good job! -
Review from Reuben S.
Boston, MA
3/1/2011
What is it with so many reviewers giving this place high notes?
The decor and ambiance is poor, practically a dump.
The service is among the worst I've sen anywhere:
1. The waiter was unprofessional, and mostly never available in spite of it being a very quite time with just 2-3 tables occupied
2. The sushi arrived more than half hour after the appetizers.
3. Our order was missing one of the sushi plates we had ordered.
4. The bill showed the missing sushi plate (they agreed to remove it from the bill after we pointed out the error).
So yes, the food is tasty and reasonably priced, but when I go out for dinner I expect a nice experience too. This place does not offer that. -
Review from Anastasia R.
Cambridge, MA
12/16/2008
Well if the whole career thing doesn't work out, I finally have a backup plan: being adopted by Sonny and Pandora, the owners of Green Tea so they can teach my how to make awesome sushi and Fried Rice. We'll have family dinners, play ball in the yard, and I'll grow fat on Spare Ribs and Love.
In the meantime, the food is out of control tasty. I've taken to walking down the street to sit in the bar, letting Sonny make me whatever he feels like from the sushi bar (he is quite the culinary adventurer) and chatting with the locals. The people I meet have been going there for years, and still say it's the best Chinese food / sushi bar around, and I'd have to agree that it beats out most every other place I've eaten even in Boston.
I guess I never realized that I wanted this, but I couldn't be happier that the closest bar can not only make a great mai tai, but can sate my killer miso soup cravings as well. WIN!Listed in: I have so many Asian…, My Favorite F*cking…
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Review from TheBostonBachelor.com ..
7/28/2007
Here's your pal The Boston Bachelor with another review...
GETTING THERE: A mile from the I-95 / Rt. 9 junction.
DRESS: Casual.
FOOD: The sushi is very good. I went there with a friend who had never tried sushi before, and he really liked it as well. The Chinese food is also quite good, and the portions are generous.
DRINKS: N/A.
SERVICE/STAFF: The waiter service was ok but the waiter was pretty aloof and you could tell he wasn't very happy to be working that day. The sushi chef, Sonny, however, was very friendly and personally came to our table to talk about the sushi dish he prepared.
BOTTOM LINE: If I could give the place 4 1/2 stars, I would. It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you don't want to worry about parking or driving into the congested city. Props to Sonny as well, he's probably one of the main reasons why people keep coming back. Truck on, my Asian brother.
AND FINALLY: Try the "super white" sushi- you won't regret it. -
Review from JJ G.
Cambridge, MA
3/9/2006 1 photo
Green Tea is often noted for it's very good Chinese, and appropriately so, but for some odd reason the sushi is rarely mentioned. And it is the sushi that makes this place more than just another good Chinese restaurant. The chef, Sonny, is Chinese, but a trained French chef. He uses stunning, fresh and flavourful ingredients to create little works of art that it is a shame to merely call 'sushi'. It's a little bit hard to find Green Tea, but when you do you will discover a friendly, large and rarely crowded place (with plenty of parking) where all you have to do it ask, if you want something special created just for you.
Try Sonny's "Superwhite Tuna Handroll". Really. It's incredibleListed in: Current fave eateries
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Review from Kevin B.
Newton, MA
12/21/2006
Is it me, or does Newton actually have some decent Chinese food? So far, I've been pretty happy with this place, Jumbo Seafood, and CK Shanghai. All cleaner than standard Chinatown places, though the Newton places are slightly pricier.
Kind of an easy turn to miss, but quite worth it! The pea green shoots are starting to get a little expensive ($12 or so) but at least they're very tasty! -
Review from James S.
Newton, MA
10/12/2008
It's about a 10 minute walk from my apt and the food happens to be great as well.
I usually order Orange Chicken with Broccoli, or their Sesame Seed Chicken lunch special. Both are great! I've also enjoy the Matrix and their Chicken and Beef Lo main.
Oh and the drinks are made to perfection! -
Review from Adri Y.
Boston, MA
3/26/2011
Very disappointing...
After reading fairly good reviews about this place, I have been wanting to try this place out for awhile. Most dim sum places are in Quincy or in Chinatown, both of which are pretty far for me so we were pretty excited to hear that there's dim sum in the area!
We ordered:
-har gao and the skin was just super thick and kind of dry.
-beef and chive dumplings - I'm pretty sure these were the frozen ones that I could easily bought at an Asian supermarket
-pork soup dumplings and the crab/pork soup dumplings as well - where was the soup????it was completely DRY and the wrap here was also super thick
-sushi - got the caterpillar roll and the spicy tuna - the rice was COLD...I've never had a piece of "fresh" sushi that was this cold before...it must have been pre-made and stuck in the fridge
Everything else we ordered was just EHH....will definitely not go for visit #2. I'm sticking with dim sum in Chinatown and Quincy. -
Review from Galina R.
Brookline, MA
9/12/2008
Very convenient for take-out! Good Kung Pao Chicken, not too spicy as you typically get. Also pretty good sushi maki. I certainly like the atmosphere and style of PF Chang but for a quick, casual dinner, Green Tea is not too bad.
If you're driving by Rt.9 or live in Newton and want a good quality take-out with acceptable wait time then try Green Tea Restaurant. -
Review from E. F.
Middlesex, MA
Updated - 5/9/2011
Seriously, I eat here way too much. The food is absolutely incredible. I have never had a bad experience at Green Tea. I either dine in or order about 4 times a week. The food is insanely fresh, Sonny is hysterical, it is extremely clean, and everything is just so delicious. Whenever my family comes out this way for dinner, out of all of the restaurants in the area, they always ask for a meal from Green Tea. Seriously though, whats better than fresh delivery sushi? I am a customer for life.
Jackie B.- you can have the Sonny hand roll with tuna instead of eel!!! So good!Listed in: Best Happy Hour
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/14/2009
Really great, fresh sushi.
INSANELY fast delivery.
If you order the dinner or lunch specials you… Read more »
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Review from Karla M.
Chapel Hill, NC
1/24/2009
I was a little dubious based on some of the comments, but I needed a place that would deliver in Waban, and have had enough poor sushi delivered in Waban to give it try.
I am pleasantly surprised! First of all, they have white tuna. GOOD white tuna. The green tea roll was a nice change, and delicious. Not too spicy, and a nice change from rice sushi. The sashimi (yellowtail) was fresh and flavorful (in a rich, not fishy way).
They included more than enough soy, wasabi and ginger, and cookies, all free of cost (unlike Oishii delivery, which is only available through Grub Hub, and costs an arm and a leg without asking for amenities). They delivered the sushi faster than anticipated (20 minutes - I was quoted 30 at 6.30 on a Saturday night).
It is not my favorite sushi ever, but it is my new favorite delivery for nights I work late.
PS - I've eaten at many many sushi places in the area. Maybe the nay-sayers aren't ordering the good dishes, but I found everything to be fast, fresh, and delightful. Give it a fair chance. -
Review from Jason F.
Newton, MA
10/28/2009
While you will read many great reviews on Green Tea I hope mine really leads you to them. It all started 2 years ago when I made a wrong turn on rt 9 call it fate if you may. We spent years driving into town for sushi and now we no longer have to go anywhere else for almost any meal. Infact Sonny will make you maine style lobster and crack it for you if you want (try a 10 pounder just no alone).
First and most importantly is the food. Hands down some of the best sushi I have ever had!!!!
Jason's picks
Sonny's Amazing Hand-roll
Celtic's Maki
Tuna Tostado
Golden Pillow
If you are looking for a new soup try ordering Jason's soup (sizzling shrimp with rice) always a favorite
On saturday and sundays at noon he has authentic dim sum
The staff and management are amazing
Sonny, Pandora, Oscar, Chen, Joe, Tan D
Make sure you get there and tell Sonny or Pandora that Jason sent you and try the soup!!!!
Heck I may be sitting at the table next to you
-Jason -
Review from Cyn C.
Chicago, IL
9/7/2006
I've been here three times, and was NEVER disappointed. The food here is so authentic, that I swear it's my grandma in the kitchen, except maybe better (I can't believe I admitted that...)
The owner told us (my parents and I) that she has different chefs to make the different specialties. She has a chef specializing in cantonese (and the dim sum), someone specializing in Taiwanese foods, and one for the hong kong style foods. No wonder everything is made SO well that I could swear I'm on the street corner in Taiwan.
My recommendation? The spicy beef noodle bowl. Huge chunks of tender beef, in a tangy and spicy broth with chewy noodles. They also have excellent spicy string beans.
EDIT: OMG!! I went back recently and had some sushi. The sushi chef, Sonny, is super friendly and hilarious. I think next time I might go by myself, sit at the bar, and let him pick out whatever he wants to feed me. We ordered our regular pieces, and he came to check on us. Then, he recommended the Adam maki roll. IT IS NOT TO BE MISSED. It's a special spicy tuna roll, with a very special twist. I can't wait to go back!!
EDIT #2: Went back AGAIN for the dim sum this past weekend (3/3/07). I am now making it my personal mission to find something at this restaurant that they don't do well. The only thing I would stay away from is the 'peking ravioli' ie potstickers. Too filling and not worth it. The har gow are some of the best I've ever had, the chive dumplings, shrimp and chive steamed dumplings are abs. mouthwateringly delicious. -
Review from Sarah P.
Boston, MA
3/20/2011
If you're looking for amazing decor and a waiter that is always checking on your table, this is not the place for you. If you're like me and you want good food, fast, you'll like it here. The food is very tasty. The hot and sour soup was really good. The very important pork bun was delicious. This isn't outstanding chinese food, but it's very good. The dim sum is good, there are no carts, but you just circle everything you want on the menu and they bring it right to your table. Service is good and fast. The owner walked around and earns this place an extra star. He is great! We'll definitely be back for dim sum another weekend.
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Review from Emily S.
North Hollywood, CA
8/14/2007
Green Tea is a pearl you can find one turn off of Route 9 in Newton Upper Falls. It's a quiet little Asian restaurant where you'll find some of the best Chinese and sushi outside of the city and which offers a range of styles of food that can accomodate to many different tastes.
You've got your Cantonese and Hong Kong style dishes, comparable to what you'd find in Chinatown (select dishes are superior to Chinatown). If you don't know how to order authentic Cantonese dishes, there's always the "Chinese soul food"-- fried rice, chicken wings, lo mein, etc. I also hear that the dim sum hours on weekends are pretty busy, which I have yet to try. Chef and owner Sunny loves to make friendly conversation with his customers throughout the meal to check up on how they like his dishes. A plus is that he is willing to accommodate to what you want to eat and how you want to eat it.
The pearl of the Green Tea menu is definitely the sushi selection, with Sunny himself manning the sushi bar. Aside from your typical California and Philadelphia rolls, Sunny's got a great taste for creating his own awesome rolls, with designs that match popular names like Lord of the Rings, Matrix Maki, and Dice K (all very tasty!).
In many of his original rolls, he features a generous dallop of tobiko and his tasty house sauce. I hear he has a secret recipe for that sauce and makes it by himself when the restaurant is closed, even after his cooks have gone home. Whatever he puts in it, it adds a punch to each of his rolls on top of the fresh fish and other ingredients.
I'd recommend his original Pandora's Box, which he's presented on TV before and which he takes much pride in. It's a green pepper stuffed with an avocado/cucumber/mayo salad topped with fresh fish and tobiko.
The only setback for ordering sushi is that the descriptions for each roll isn't very detailed, so you'd definitely have to go to Sunny himself if you want to know what each roll entails. You can definitely trust his taste when he makes suggestions on which rolls to try! -
Review from Amy L.
Green Lake, Seattle, WA
1/5/2008
We went there for dim sum today and really enjoyed it - no wait, good prices as always, quick (with no talking incidentally) service.
We tried most of the standard dim sum fare (shu mai, sesame seed balls, spareribs with black bean sauce, sticky rice, turnip cakes and singapore rice noodles.) After circling the items we wanted on the menu a waiter eventually came and took it away without saying a word. The spareribs and sticky rice came out immediately, with the rest of the items coming out over the next 15 minutes.
The sesame seed balls and singapore noodles were particularly good - the sticky rice and spareribs were good but not mind blowing.
Overall definitely going to be the place we go to dim sum over Chung Shin Yuan - less wait, faster service, and the food is nearly (or just) as good! -
Review from Hayley M.
4/2/2010
I just love this place. I really do. They serve both Chinese and Japanese and do both so well. The owner is the nicest, funniest guy ever.
My brother discovered this place first and hounded me until I would go with him. Ok, ok. He didn't really hound me, he asked me politely and since I crave maguro (raw tuna) constantly, I obliged. I loved it immediately. We tried a host of different makis including Adam's Maki and a yummy white tuna one, and even threw in General Tsou's chicken. The service was great too. We brought our parents back on Christmas and they both loved it. They wrote down all of our first names so when we pick up orders, they will know who we are. Last time we ordered, my dad went and picked it up, and because it wasn't ready, the owner brought him a cup of tea and chatted with him until the food was done. My dad loves good service and this was no exception.
The best part about Green Tea? It eliminates the veto vote in my family. While everyone else wants Chinese, I can still eat my raw tuna and everyone is happy. Now that's a great restaurant! -
Review from Dawn S.
Needham, MA
8/24/2010
Green tea is without a doubt the best restaurant in the area. Without going into Boston, there are especially few places that measure up to Green Tea's dim sum.
Every dish is amazing, so I won't even bother getting specific.
They also have great valued drinks as well if you're looking for a cheap bar in the area. -
Review from Lauren v.
5/22/2008
FACT: My office orders from here on almost a monthly basis.
FACT: I probably wouldn't order from or visit here if it wasn't being provided by my work.
That being said, Green Tea Restaurant is very decent. The lunch combinations are your standard, fatty, drenched in sauce platters. This isn't to be degrading, sometimes that is EXACTLY what you want and if so, Green Tea will cater to that craving. The maki can be pretty bland and for some reason, the Spicy Tuna rolls always gross me out a bit. I do like the edamame and Buddha's Delight because the vegetables are crisp. Nothing is worse than steamed, formless, mushy veggies. Barf.
The prices are also reasonable and the chef is friendly. Or tries to be. My coworker went to pick up lunch and he asked for her name and upon learning it pronounced that since he knew her, she could go nowhere else ever again. I shudder to think of the death sentence that is.
So yeah, very decent. I would suggest heading a few miles down the road to Oishii for better sushi if you can. -
Review from Jackie C.
Brighton, MA
10/6/2010
I've been looking for good dim sum place outside of chinatown so I decided to come here based on the number of good reviews. I have mixed feelings on both the food and service.
For the food, they had a good variety, there were some dishes that were really tasty, but others made me wished I didn't order it. I love shanghai soup dumplings, and I rarely see it served at a Chinese restaurant in MA so I was excited it to see it on the menu. When I got it, they were bone dry, not juicy at all- they weren't even moist to my disappointment. A lot of the dishes were like that, some came out dry and overdone, while others came out perfect.
The service was also mixed, one waiter kind of rushed us, another passed by me a few times when I tried to get his attention. One guy was really nice and attentive though whenever he was near us, I think he may be the owner.. but he was very helpful.
Although its not the best dim sum I've ever had, I think I had a good amount of tasty dishes here that I would want to come and try it again. -
Review from Tim S.
Irvine, CA
4/19/2008
Do take-out. Because as far as the sit-down experience goes, I get the sense that would-be imitators would have to train day and night to attain the proper level of mediocrity. The location, right off Route 9 at the Eliot T stop, is all right, but subjects the drab, dated, strangely decorated building to the constant shaking rumble of the MBTA's pride and joy. Table service for our party of eight was miserable. Hassled-looking waiters scurried past with their eyes down to avoid catching our gaze despite walking right past us back into the kitchen, though they were responsive when finally cornered. Dishes came out suuuuuuper slowly and certain items disappeared into the aether, never to appear again. An extra order of California rolls appeared at one point without explanation -- perhaps it was conciliatory? Perhaps it was someone else's. It was unclear! We ate them. They were tasty.
The food was really good, though, despite the glacial, half-hearted service.
I wanted to like Green Tea, but it didn't really work. It's geographically convenient and reasonably priced, though. I'll probably go back with friends just to avoid ye olde dining hall. -
Review from Jackie O.
Brighton, MA
12/14/2008
This is hands down the best Chinese food I've had in Boston, even compared to China Town, and I'm a picky New Yorker who usually steers clear of ordering Chinese in New England.
I went with a group of 7 people and we had a blast. The decor is great, the staff is super friendly, and the food is EXCELLENT! The owner even came over and talked with us, making sure everything was satisfactory, and even gave us a complimentary appetizer.
In addition to the food, the scorpion bowls are awesome too.
I highly recommend checking this restaurant out. -
Review from M C.
New York, NY
1/15/2007
I didn't have their sushi, although the owner seemed really insistent that I come back and try it. The beef noodle soup was very good, however, they used udon noodles which made it less interesting. The dim sum good overall (really liked the black bean pork spare ribs). The shao-bin were giant, but looked undercooked. Overall, pretty good, and it's nice that it's in Newton. It has the advantage of being much cleaner and less crowded than Chinatown (with free parking!). I would definitely come back if I happened to be in the area.
Edit (09/15/07): So I had the sushi here. I split the sushi for three with another person. The waitress warned me it was a lot of food, which I responded with a chortle. The sushi was underwhelming. It didn't taste super fresh, and the nigiri and rolls seemed sad looking and sadly, well, rolled. We also tried to be courageous and tried the strawberry maki. It was so disappointing. I think I expected something entirely different. It was strawberry on sushi rice, doused with mayo and black fish roe. It was strange, and not in a good way. I still really like the beef noodle soup though. -
Review from Mike S.
Auburndale, MA
1/27/2008
Per the reviews, I went to this place thinking that the sushi was going to blow me away. For starters, inside the futo maki all of the vegetables has been fried Hong Kong style. I felt led astray by the yelpers who gave this place a 5 star (sushi) rating and then I went back and saw that maybe the people who rated it aren't the sushi experts. Restaurants like Green Tea expose a problem with yelp. It isn't really fair to have one single rating for this restaurant. They do some things well like their Dim Sum and some of their dishes, but their sushi is not really up to par with others in the area like Yama and New Ginza. For what they charge.... it really should be. I found it to be the most disappointing sushi experience I have had to date. Too much sauce. Too much cooking/frying. It's almost like they are trying a new form of dumpling rather than a sushi.
The Chinese fare I ordered for my kids was reasonably authentic and I would go back to explore that more, but their sushi will not touch my mouth again. -
Review from Erin E.
Somerville, MA
9/18/2008
Green Tea is about a three minute walk from my house, so I go there quite often. Greasy, yummy Chinese food in a sit-down atmosphere. I've never had to wait to be seated, but that might be because I go around 9pm on weeknights most of the time.
Not the best Chinese food you've ever had, but still delicious. I'm a particular fan of their scallion pancakes and dumplings. -
Review from Bevin C.
Cambridge, MA
9/6/2007
Things that are good:
1. Ridiculous maki rolls named after blockbuster movies! You've got your choice of "Star War" (nicely spicy tuna maki arranged in a star shape mounded with a shocking bounty of tobiko), "The Spider Man" (soft shell crab maki, of course), "Lord of the Ring", and "Terminator" (a t-formation of rather unappetizing broiled salmon unagi maki, again mounded with heaps and heaps of tobiko). Or if you're not into blockbuster movies, you can choose the sleeper hit, "Tony's Special Kung Fu Maki", which was my favorite - a tempura sweet potato roll covered with broiled eel and even more tobiko. I hope you like tobiko!
2. Adorable suburban atmosphere, replete with lavender walls, a big parking lot, and low ceilings. Also a nice chef who makes sure to come around and make nice while you are eating.
3. I asked if they had fried banana (it was not on the menu but it was on a yelp review!), and they made it special for me, and they did not charge me for it (but for the complete story, see "Things that are bad" below).
Things that are bad:
1. Major, major problem with the fried ice cream (the boyfriend's favorite dessert). It was fried, but it was not fried today! It came out greasy, soggy, and cold! In my book, this is a cardinal sin. If something is advertised as "fried", one assumes that it is fried recently, not fried and then stuck in a freezer and served sometime later.
2. Something fishy was going on with the bill - we were initially overcharged by 12 bucks. And this is on a computer printout, itemized receipt, not a handwritten receipt. The waiter took five bucks off the bill (and they forgot to charge me for the bananas), so it ended up being okay, kind of. I dunno, maybe it was a mistake, maybe a communication mix up, but it was an unsettling way to end a meal. Double check your bill when you eat here. It is weird that there would be addition errors on an itemized receipt that comes from a machine, no? -
Review from Sutee D.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2007
Best piece of advice is to introduce yourself to Sunny, the sushi chef, on the first visit. He always makes time to chat with you and ask you how your food was. If you come a couple of times, he will remember you and make recommendations based on what you like (he remembers). My friends and I now refer to Green Tea as "Sunny's".
I usually order Sunny's newest creation, and on special occasions, he's invented rolls on the fly for my friends and me. Some classics include Dragon Balls and his Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls. Call ahead to make sure he's in if you're going for sushi.
Green Tea is actually about three restaurants rolled into one-sushi, Hong-Kong Style entrees, and Dim Sum on weekends. I usually order the sushi, but when I bring a big group, we order entrees family-style. It's all delicious, definitely among the best Chinese food I've had in the Boston area.
The Dim Sum is good, but a little off in minor ways. The dough for certain dishes are a little heavier than they should be, etc. It's still a good option if you live in the burbs and don't want to head into Chinatown. -
Review from Freelunch L.
Hudson, MA
10/22/2007
For the price and location... Dim sum on Sat and Sunday is good... (It could use some improvement in everything about the food... like previous post says... everything is a little bit off...)
The real disappointment is TEA.... Taste like colored water... or should I say tasteless.... Why can't they have better tea? It is part of the experience... isn't it?
Also, the decor is Chinatown like... not the most comfortable... but again the price is right... Bernard's... is much more comfortable... feels much more like a restaurant...
Again.. good location, reasonable price... not much competition... -
Review from rxrfrx r.
Cambridge, MA
6/30/2007
There aren't too many places around to get Cantonese dim sum off a menu, and Green Tea fills that void nicely. Staples like ha gau and jaa long benefit from the cooked-to-order freshness, and are worlds better than the stuff from Chinatown carts. All the classics are here, though I found the cha xiu bao to be rather tough. Ham seoi gok are amazing and crispy and fresh from the fryer.
There's also a second full menu of Taiwan-type dim sum, with pretty good xiao bing and sweet soy milk and such. The XLB are tough and mostly broken when they arrive at the table, but still entirely edible. For better Taiwan-style stuff, go to Shangri-La or Chung Shin Yuan. -
Review from Jenny Y.
Newton, MA
4/1/2009
I've only been here for dim sum, and I had a horrible experience both times. The cheong fun fell apart on contact. The steamed dumplings were undercooked. The phoenix talons and the spare ribs were ok, but the tripe was much too chewy and flavorless.
I found service rather inattentive. Though it sounds like I'll have better luck not at dim sum but eating sushi. -
Review from Anoni M.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2008
Typical Chinese grease pit. Recently, I ordered takeout and feeling unadventurous ordered sesame chicken and Mongolian beef. I really got to wonder, have the chefs in the back just given up? Please taste the sauce. I could make better sauce with the packets of soy sauce and some freshly ground pepper.
My recent grievances:
(1) Sesame chicken - what is the difference between your sesame chicken and orange chicken. Probably just the sesame seeds, because it tasted exactly the same. Wait, never mind, you gave me a appetite-busting 3 pieces of broccoli.
(2) Mongolian beef - Every fifth piece of beef had a noticeable piece of fat on it. The sauce was bland and the veggies swimming in it tasted even worse than the sauce. And where were the green onions?
(3) You gave us three packets of soy sauce. Exactly three. While I understand the concern for waste, I think two dinner orders calls for at least two per.
(4) Where were the damn chopsticks!! It was careless of the staff to not include chopsticks or napkins. This sounds like a no brainer.
All in all, that's the last $25 they're seeing from me. I'm a bit boggled as to why people think Green Tea is better than some of the Chinatown restaurants. -
Review from Julia W.
Framingham, MA
1/29/2010
My husband and I have a nickname for the owner of Green Tea, Sunny. We call him the Alpha and the Omega. Why you may ask? Because he is a sushi god!
It is as close as you are going to get to a family business. The waiters are fun and quirky, the owner will stop by at everyone's table to make recommendations (take them!) and say hello, and the food (both Chinese and Japanese) are out of this world.
If you are going to get only one thing go for Sunny's Special Hand Roll. It will make you see Jesus.
