Snappy Sushi

 

0

9

Amy K.

Somerville, MA

Yes! Snappy Sushi is INDEED open now!

The sushi is delicious, even with the brown rice, though I wish regular rice was an option.  I had the spicy tuna roll and the futomaki and both were super fresh and excellent AND prepared in under five minutes (though I was the only customer). The only thing that's weird is the set up. There's just one big table in the middle of the place, and the sushi bar. No individual tables or anything. I don't know if this is how it will be permanently, but it stuck me as a little weird.

So yes! Just wanted to spread the word that they're open and yummy and giving out 10% off coupons, but I don't know how long that will last

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Elite '08

56

65

Nate Y.

Jamaica Plain, MA

It wasn't until I had sushi in Japan that I realized why so many people loved prepared raw fish. The texture and simplicity of well prepared sushi is absolutely exquisite.

From a friend's recommendation we decide to have dinner at Snappy Sushi before catching a movie after. The location is very conveniently located within Davis Square.

The seating is either at the sushi bar or at a communal table. This reminded me of similar seating at a restaurant in Tokyo that served inexpensive noodle dishes.

The use of brown rice was interesting. I found it well with the fish. The sashimi was firm and fresh, although cut somewhat slimmer than others I had. The price is hard to beat. I had the regular combo and for $9 and for that you get seven pieces. Ordering sushi by the piece is very inexpensive as well.

Even with the screaming kids in the background, who were there only temporarily while the parents waited for their pick-up order, it was a momentary annoyance. Parents have to eat too and at least they had the sense to not dine there with the little rug rats.

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Elite '08

59

71

Vanessa C.

Jamaica Plain, MA

I feel like I'm in the minority with a 3 star review, but I'm sticking to it. I wouldn't necessarily say there are negative aspects to this place, maybe "extremely mediocre" to be fair.

the biggest attraction which many have mentioned is the price point. this is perhaps the cheapest sushi you will find anywhere. and yes, its very fresh. BUT! it is also sliced very thin - much thinner than I am used to. for me, I dont care how cheap it is, I would rather pay $5 for two fat hunks of salmon than $3 for three little slivers. coming here really makes me appreciate the value at Symphony Sushi (see my review) that much more.

as far as the brown rice goes, it does not taste bad at all & I did not find it detract from the delicate flavors in the fish, either in the nigiri or sushi rolls. I also ordered the salmon donburi and my only problem regarding the rice is that by the end of my meal, I was far more filled up by rice than by fish. I didn't spend $20 to fill up on brown rice that I can make at home. I WANT SOMETHING'S FLESH. I dont care if I have to pay more for it.

lets talk about the interior of this place for a moment, namely the acoustics. now, as others have mentioned there is just one large table  in the middle of the small restaurant, but there is also a sushi bar. of course, we sat at the sushi bar. I dont like eating in close proximity of strangers unless the food is something really spectacular.  if I want to eat with strangers I will go visit my relatives. but even if you can get past the communal feed table, the acoustics in this place are unforgivable.

loud is one thing. but  allowing shrieking devilspawn to run rampant through the tiny place is unacceptable. (I believe it was actually a species of small child  but it was hard to distinguish anything intelligible with all the flailing and howling). WHY SHOULD MY DINNER BE RUINED BECAUSE YOU FORGOT TO INSERT YOUR DIAPHRAGM?? these people need to leave their gremlins at home or the restaurant should have a "no small animals/children" rule because the acoustics (and my patience) really do not allow for it.

I left with a headache and a belly full of rice.

if I were to go back, I would order differently to make it worth the money. my recommendation? order only sashimi and just get a side of rice. and get it TO GO! that is the only way to make this place really worth the money.

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Elite '08

29

33

Betty L.

Somerville, MA

I find the most troubling thing about moving from San Francisco to Boston was not only the lack of great Mexican food, but also great sushi places.

They are few and far between here, and I believe finding "culinary jewels" in this city is easier said than done.

Nothing like a great laid back atmosphere than that at Snappy Sushi, relaxed and comforting sitting at the round table with people I did not know, indulging in perfectly made sushi rolls.

It seems that only in this country are we so against sharing a meal amongst strangers at a large open table. I think it's funny that a lot of people are uncomfortable with this, and I actually enjoyed it quite thoroughly. I guess that says a lot about who we are.

There is of course the classic sushi bar for those who can't quite seem to grasp the openness that they are trying to achieve with the space and light here.

No white rice?Amazing complimentary flavors of the nuttiness and fullness of the brown rice really achieve a perfectly balance rich flavor to the fish. You could say I actually prefer it. Try with the spicy salmon avo-roll. Delish! And the Lunch box? $8.00. Get out of town!

Snappy sushi not only offers the comforts of food but also the comfort to your wallet -  affordable and tasty. This is a place that reminds me of something I would find at home.

Welcome to Davis Sq. This is exactly what we needed! Hooray!

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Elite '08

29

133

Tristan B.

Roxbury, MA

Snappy Sushi is the extension of the old Shino on Newbz (Which is also following suit), except now it's brown rice in the hopes of being trendy and "healthy". Sushi was never really a bad food to begin with, so I find it rather redundant to try to make it healthier.

ANYWAYS, the place looks pretty decent with the communal table and the 6 person bar, awesome bathroom light that shows off how tired you are, the four trees, it's really cute for what little space they have in Davis. Kudos.

So sushi? SUSHI!! I want SUSHI! And Eel on rice because I'm extra extra hungry. Our waitress stops by as my partner and I mull over the menu to fill our waters. I grab the Unagi Don (Eel over rice with sauce), some salmon, some salmon roe, and two pieces of tuna. We're interested by the Battera, which is box rolls, and order a rainbow box rolls. Easy enough, right?

Okay, bad news first: The rice's flavor and texture completely overpowers any delicacy of the fish. Shino has never been known for exactly excellent sushi, but man oh man, I felt like I was chewing on a big piece of brown rice for a while. How do I put it, it's like the sushi had cankles. Every piece was like another bite after the same. The only piece that could stand up to the flavor was the salmon roe, and that's because it had enough texture to differentiate itself from the rice.

Good news: The eel on rice was scha weet! Finally, the sauce from the eel could actually overpower and make the brown rice actually add a different feeling to the meal rather than just plain white rice, without detracting from the flavor. This was totally the best I had, and I recommend it for the price. Speaking of price, the entire meal (which was a LOT of food), was about 20 bucks a head. Not quite old-school Shino prices, but still quite affordable.

Drink menu is pretty limited to tea and water. Maybe they have soda, but I didn't see it, nor do I really want to slurp down a big ole coke with my meal.

Overall, it's filling, but it's definitely an acquired taste. I can't really see myself going there again unless they switch to good old traditional white sushi rice. I guess I could do some more rice on eel or their non -rice entries, but it's hard.

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Elite '08

28

58

Nancy L.

Arlington, MA

Snappy Sushi manages to make sushi eating even more hip and fun than it already is, but at an affordable price.

First of all the decor is very modern, minimalistic, fun, and cute. Lots of greens and textures due to the plants. Small but brightly lit with a sushi bar where you get to see Hispanic/Mexican (?, I'm pretty lost when it comes to race/ethnicity) people roll your sushi and a large rectangle table that seats about 12. Great for people gazing if you get the prime seat at the head of the funky giant table or if you are the socialable type that don't mind sharing a table. If you feel anti-social, just wedge yourself at the bar.

If the non-Japanese sushi makers scares you, don't because the servers are all Japanese and speak Japanese to one another. The sushi is excellent and is made of brown rice, which I was pleasantly surprised by. I expected the rice to be harder but it tastes soft, like normal sushi rice. The seafood is fresh and does not have that fishiness taste to it.

Nice chic simplistic presentation on elongated white plates. Free green tea. Friendly staff. No alcohol or desserts. Great addition to continually jazz up Davis Square.

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0

2

Anna T.

Somerville, MA

Not bad, especially for the price, but not memorable.  The rolls I had (spicy yellowtail & salmon) were bland.  The fish was generously portioned but still had some skin on.  Service was cheerful and attentive.

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Elite '08

82

197

Maria V.

East Arlington, MA

One of the easiest five star reviews I've ever given.

Now it's official. Highland Avenue is no longer the ugly stepchild of Davis Square. Dare I say it, Snappy Sushi's arrival really nails it that this street is getting way better than its neighbor Elm St.

Anyway. Snappy Sushi is perhaps named after it's snappy-fast service? My friend and I got two sets of rolls, the basic tuna and salmon, and almost as soon as we ordered them they were there, fresh-made. Our chirashi don? Also no more than a few minutes.  Cuts of fish were really fresh, and the brown rice was fantastic. My friend and I were wary about the brown rice but it's delicious. Definitely worth trying.

The restaurant itself is very chic, very fresh and open. Lots of attention to detail, just everything is right in its place and has been attended to. Food presentation is fabulously cool (our chirashi sushi came in one of the coolest bowls I've ever seen), the floral arrangements are simple but very unique, the walls are a lovely shade of citrus green, there's sweet soft bossa nova music, big open space, no wall art, very funky minimalist decor -- check out the awesome bathroom mirror! Seriously!  And there's one big table in the middle for seating, which is one of the dining fads of the past few years that I actually like. It works well here, too. Makes the restaurant seem really big, open and airy.

(If you've never been to Davis, you might be wondering why I'm going on and on about how the open feeling of this spot. Well, a lot of establishments in Davis, because of space constraints, have a tendency to feel a bit cramped. It's not really their fault. But when you *do* go into a place in Davis like Snappy Sushi, it really is an unusual and refreshing experience.)

The prices are definitely worth mentioning here. They are really competitive, you will pay about the same at the sushi joints in Porter -- except the cuts of fish here are better. That said Snappy is sushi and just sushi -- no dessert and the noodle selection, while there, is not the focal point of their menu. And that's just fine -- they are sticking to what they do best, and kudos to them.

I can see this place becoming a Davis hot spot really fast. This is an awesome addition to the neighborhood, and I'll definitely be back for more.

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Elite '08

19

72

Ger T.

Arlington, MA

I was so psyched to see a new sushi place open in Davis, and even more psyched to go in and try it to realize that 1. it is really good! and 2. the waitstaff and chefs speak Japanese! It's always kind of a weird experience to go into a sushi place and hear the staff speaking Chinese or Korean, so I was especially ecstatic to hear the Japanese coming from the back kitchen, which most of the time means that the sushi is going to be pretty darn good.

...and it was. Fish was fresh, arrangement was superb, on these awesome white porcelain plates and bowls, and the decor was really natural-inspired and open and bright, which will appeal to the younger crowd that usually hangs out in Davis in the evenings. And the prices were REALLY reasonable! I think we paid about $15 each for a meal that left me comfortably full and had me feeling like I definitely did get my money's worth even if it wasn't kaiten sushi (conveyor belt, my favorite kind). Not the best sushi I've had, but worth the money.

You've also got to go just to check out the brown rice...yes, they make their sushi with brown rice, and no, it really doesn't taste much different! Actually, I liked the brown rice a lot, as it made the meal seem a lot more substantial and have more "body" to it. The rice as far as I could tell is seasoned the same as regular white sushi rice, and it was fluffy and soft, not hard and undercooked like a lot of badly done brown rice is.

In a nutshell: fabulous service, great fish, and awesome decor...the only thing I'm wondering is who came up with the name "Snappy Sushi"? Because that's the only thing I'm not a fan of.

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Elite '08

19

111

Eric S.

Somerville, MA

This place does one thing and it does it well. They exclusively use brown rice with their sushi, which I prefer.

Snappy Sushi has one large communal table that can seat about twelve people. Everyone sits at the same table. I think this is great.

If I'm not mistaken, the large communal table was part of La Contessa Bakery (in back for baking, not for eating), which used to occupy the space. It's cool they incorporated it into the new design.

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3

15

ali c.

Cambridge, MA

I'd give this place 5 stars, but they don't serve alcohol and they're not BYOB. Maybe that says more about me ;)  However, excellent and fresh sushi at pretty reasonable prices. I LOVE that they use brown rice-so much healthier and satisfying.

Great customer service and, as an added bonus, they're offering 10% off for the next couple weeks. I picked up a menu and the hostess gave me a coupon (good for take out too).

The environment is great, though I'm not crazy about the big communal table either - mostly b/c they could probably fit more customers with regular seating. Oh well, take out works for me, then I can have my sake too...!

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0

4

Charles B.

Somerville, MA

Sushi rice should be white rice. I'm very disappointed that they have brown rice here - Davis really needed a quick, fun sushi place - like Shino _used_ to be before they jacked up the prices and switched to brown rice.

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0

2

Su Z.

Concord, MA

Yikes!  It's about time.  Not only do we finally get a sushi bar but
it's beautiful, funky and fun.
The sushi with brown rice is fantastic.  The brown rice is soft and moist -
it doesn't overwhelm the toppings at all.
Actually, the brown rice is more filling so I spend less money.  The prices
are great anyway.
The miso soup is lots better than even sit-down Japanese restaurants.
This place is better than the real deal.  It's the real deal with some
added oomph and variety.
Try the amazing Shino de Samba.

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1

3

Alison M.

Somerville, MA

First of all the staff is fabulous and the sushi was amazing. My friend and I had 5 different sets of rolls and the sashimi appetizer. Really fresh, super yummy. I have to admit although previous reviews mentioned the brown rice, I have to admit I did not notice it! Maybe I was too hungry to notice, maybe it was just that good that it didn't matter, I don't know. My only reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the seating arrangement, although I don't mind eating with strangers (it is actually fun meeting new folks that way), with the lighting being so bright + the seating there is kind of the impression that you shouldn't feel free to linger too long. Still, I highly recommend trying them!

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0

21

Scott M.

Somerville, MA

This place is great.  Very fresh, yummy sushi, the people are super friendly, and the environment is comfortable, simple, and beautiful, with lots of bamboo, moss, and fresh flowers (at least on opening day).  I enjoyed the large communal table - it reminds me of the shared seating at Medicine, a more upscale Japanese restaurant in San Francisco.

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Elite '08

42

105

Ben L.

Allston, MA

Normally if someone on the street walks up to me and tries to hand me a menu from their restaurant I'll stare at them like they have two heads.  Well that isn't quite true because I can't think of another time that it happened.  But the day before Snappy Sushi opened I happened to be in Davis square and when the employee handed the menu to me I accepted  it  with a big grin on my face.
I really like the layout inside.  The colors are bight and the fixtures and furniture match very well and give the place a happy modern feel.  It did seem like there could be more table seating but I prefer the sushi bar anyways.  
I ended up getting a bowl of miso and a couple of rolls.  The miso was ok but it seemed a bit salty and the organic soy seemed a bit off.  The sushi was a bit of a disappointment.  The brown rice threw off the flavor so I was left wanting something different.  
I do really like the place and the staff are very friendly and polite.  Unfortunately their organic and natural take makes it so that I would rather go somewhere else for my regular sushi fix.  
I'd like to see them come up with some featured rolls that are designed with the natural rice in mind.  
I would recommend this place, just with a side note that you are best off if you select rolls that you aren't familiar with.

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