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Uni Sashimi Bar at Clio
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
370 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 536-7200
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Commonwealth Ave (1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Commonwealth Ave (1, 193)
Hynes Station - Outbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Parking:
- Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
80 reviews for Uni Sashimi Bar at Clio
Review Highlights
"The rock shrimp tempura was incredible."
(in 18 reviews)
"Highlights include the tuna ceviche with its rich coconut..."
(in 9 reviews)
"It's supposed to melt in your mouth like foie gras."
(in 13 reviews)
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80 reviews in English
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Review from Lily L.
Cambridge, MA
Updated - 12/16/2011
I recently came here for the Chef's Omakase menu, the $85 version, which is the cheapest one possible. At about half the price of the cheaper Chef's tasting menu at O Ya ($160), I'd say this is pretty great. I'd say the difference between O Ya and Uni is the type of food you'll be served. At O Ya, we received a variety of food--oyster, fish, shrimp, mushroom, foie gras, etc. Each course was more or less one bite and you get at least 10 courses. At Uni, it's more or less fish and uni--I think we had maybe 6 courses of fish and 1 uni and 1 uni with fish. I think the portion of the fish is definitely more generous than the one bites at O Ya. So as long as you just want to, more or less eat only fish, then I think Uni's omakase menu is a great deal and better value.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/16/2011
Uni has one of the best, or perhaps the BEST restaurant week menus ever.
1st course: Poke or… Read more »
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Review from Carol W.
Watertown, MA
9/4/2011
For our first wedding anniversary, my husband and I came here. We ordered 7 things and some of it wasn't that good, and then other things were over sauced in my opinion, and I normally like sauce...so I guess that tells you a bit about the place. Even though they call themselves a sashimi bar, I didn't feel like it was Japanese food, more like American food with Asian undertones. Overall, it was okay, but I probably wouldn't come back here again. It was a little "too American" for me...the sizes and the over saucing, a little disappointed. Here's how the night went...
Seaweed Salad - 5 difft kinds of seaweed, even a red and a white kind, excellent dressing
Fish Taco- fish was cold and on a cruchy shell that reminded me of the Taco Bell cinnamon twists - disappointing and not worth it - East Coast Grill in Cambridge does it way better for half the price.
Tuna Takaki - delicious when all eaten in one bite, the creamy texture of the bite came from some foie gras that was place on top of the tuna
Wagyu Beef - great presentation, 3 oz - little pieces (about 10) with three different salts, freshly ground wasabi, house made pepper seasoning, two house made pickles, one with ginger and the other one made with plum, which I preferred much more, and a hot cooking stone, which allowed you to cook each piece of meat on the spot to your desired doneness
Fish Collar - the night's speciality, my husband had it before in Canada, but it was my first time, very good, although I felt it was a bit over soy sauced, but I think it might have to do with the fact that inner parts of the flesh were lodged within in the fish's collar bone leaving it unseasoned upon cooking and when taken out needed some salt
Rock Shrimp Tempura - very disappointing to me, didn't taste like shrimp at all, had the texture of vegetarian shrimp or fake shrimp, came with some Korean chili threads that didn't do much for the taste. I didn't care for the way it was fried and sauced with an orangesicle colored mayo sauce
Tako (Octopus) - very interesting presentation, but looked way over sauced to me, but maybe it needed that much sauce for it to be palatable. I don't ordinarily have tako when I go our for sushi, but did like the fact that they served it in thinly sliced mini bite sized pieces. The tako was laid out on a square dish (4 in x 4 in) with some cilantro (?) and then seasoned with some heated sesame oil that was drizzled on top of each piece thereby cooking it partly - it was interesting, tasty, but a little too much - they could have served half the amount and it would have been enough
No Dessert - the desserts are the ones offered by Clio, and none of them appealed to us. -
Review from Sophie P.
Boston, MA
11/19/2011
This place deserves a 1, but I'll give it 2 because the dessert menu is from the adjoining Clio restaurant, and the desserts were outstanding.
Other than that, I thought that place was a complete ripoff.
The fish quality was absolutely disappointing given the prices that they dare charge, and the (excellent) quality of the adjoining restaurant, which I have tried on a separate occasion.
I had a number of small dishes. In general, the preparation was such that it didn't allow me to enjoy the fish. When it did, the fish quality was underwhelming.
For example, I had an expensive order of toro (fat tuna belly) which was chewy. It's supposed to melt in your mouth like foie gras!
Overall we paid a lot of money, would have walked out hungry if it wasn't for the terrific desserts, and didn't have a good experience at all.
Try O Ya or Oishii if you're looking for similar food and prices, but infinitely better quality.
Service was excellent, though. -
Review from Yuko I.
Malden, MA
10/29/2011
Simply overrated and over-priced.
The receptionist was rude - I made appointment more than 2 weeks ago to Uni to celebrate my B'Day but somehow the appointment was made for Clio - the receptionist insisted that I SHOULD have told it was Uni. He even told me he was the one who took the appointment and I booked Clio etc etc. I ended up pretty pissed by arguing this receptionist. If I made a mistake, so what, I was expecting to go to Uni and that's that, not Clio. I am not there to get preached or scolded by paying money.
Food was interesting, definitely not Japanese. I am a big fan of Toro but I was a bit disappointed as I expected modern Japanese which you find in Tokyo with French twists. Fish was good quality but as the chef masked the natural fish flavour with something else, the ingredient was not expressing its own good. Meat was also not the best quality, certainly not Kobe. I honestly had better in California and many other restaurants in Tokyo. -
Review from Chad T.
6/12/2011
Great fresh fish and ingredients. We had the tasting menu and it was enjoyable, but for my money in Boston I'd still rather to go Oishii or O Ya.
I will say, the sake list is excellent and not overpriced here at Uni, which is a plus since I hate it when people try to make their money in obscene liquor prices. -
Review from Renee B.
Bedford, MA
11/25/2011
We ventured in and we are so pleased but I wouldn't put it in the category of a typical sushi bar. We went with the omakase and were not dissapointed. The chef has a real sense of flavors and playing with inventive ways to present the fish. Our fish was incredibly fresh and was outstanding quality. You have to be ready to hang out there for awhile as the service is a little slow but very friendly. We will be back!
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Review from Melissa N.
Brighton, MA
3/16/2011
I went last night for restaurant week, and it was really great! We had a 6:30 reservation, and we were seated right away by a friendly hostess. It's a very small place, but it doesn't feel too crowded and it has a nice atmosphere. Our server brought over a little bowl of steamed salted edamame right away, which was a great start!
We both ordered the poke for the first course, which is a bowl of cubed yellowfin tuna sashimi, sweet onions, sesame, seaweed, and bean sprouts. It was GREAT. We both agreed it was our favorite course! There was a generous amount of sashimi, and all the flavors worked so well together. It was addictive!
For the main course, we both had the chirashi, which was also excellent! The bowl had 3 pieces of salmon sashimi topped with pickled Chinese bean (or something like that), 3 pieces of tuna topped with some kind of special roe, and 3 pieces of hamachi topped with a grapefruit sauce. All of this was atop a bed of purple-brown rice that had a really earthy flavor. All three sashimi selections were extremely delicious and fresh-tasting. The salmon was my favorite, it really tasted great with the pickled bean and it melts in your mouth.
Before the meal, being the regular sushi-goers that we are, we were both questioning whether we would want soy sauce with our sashimi (and whether we would bear the embarrassment of asking for it at a fancy place like this). After we started into our chirashi, we both knew immediately that it was not needed! The flavor of the fish was so good, and the toppings complemented each one so nicely.
For dessert, we had the mandarin caramel with coconut noodles and aloe ice cubes. It was served on a big plate with a tiny bowl in the middle, and it looked very fancy. I didn't really taste the caramel or the mandarin, and I found the aloe ice cubes a little bit odd, but overall the dessert tasted good! My favorite part was the small scoop of coconut ice cream on top.
Minor gripe: I ordered a Harpoon IPA, and my boyfriend ordered one of their special cocktails (the "Polaris"), and the drinks still hadn't arrived when we were finished with our first course. I asked another server, and she brought them right away. The Polaris was VERY small, but also very delicious and potent! Also, they made up for the drink snafu by not charging for my second Harpoon. Score!
Ordinarily, Uni is a bit out of our price range. The a la carte menu looks reasonable, but I'm sure it adds up fast. However, our server gave us a $20 gift card at the end of the meal and told us that he hoped we would come back to try Uni again! And judging by the top quality of the food, the nice atmosphere, and the good service, we definitely will! -
Review from Heather R.
Cambridge, MA
3/16/2011
I love Uni. I'd been wanting to go for a while and finally got the chance a couple weeks ago. The space itself is very small, with maybe 6 or 7 small tables, and a couple seats around the small sushi bar. I liked the ambiance - it was cozy and cute without feeling crowded at all. Uni It was just the two of us at dinner, but I don't know how well they'd do at accomodating larger parties, the biggest table sat 4 comfortably.
Uni Sashimi Bar is true to its name - go there for the interesting variations of raw fish, itsdefinitely not a sushi spot. In fact, I don't even remember there being sushi on the menu. The sashimi was delicious, my favorite was the poke (yellowfin tuna with some delicious marinade), but the salmon sashimi was the freshest I've tasted in Boston. I can't speak to the meat dishes, but my friend, who got the kobe beef, said it was delicious. We also split an order of shishito (fried peppers), on the waiter's recommendation. He described it as "russian roulette" because most peppers are sweet, but randomly one will be super spicy.
Overall, I loved the food, ambiance, and location. Only drawback to Uni is that its so pricey, otherwise I'd come here on the regular. -
Review from Juliana N.
Boston, MA
9/11/2010
My girlfriends and I came here during restaurant week to celebrate 2 of our engagements! Surely, we had a good time.
It's a tiny restaurant. Not sure what the exact number of seats were, but I'd say somewhere around 20. There is bar seating as well. The seats are quite comfy. Okay, so we're here for food, not comfort of seats =x
Ambiance. Great.
Service. Excellent.
Food. Yum. Modern Cuisine.
Drinks. Deliciosoooo but small?
FOOD:
Hamachi (Japanese Yellowtail) \ $16 with grapefruit vinaigrette, cubanelle peppers and shiso ----- SO GOOD. Melt in your mouth good. Just the right amount of vinaigrette without totally dismissing the natural deliciousness of the Hamachi.
Shishito (fried Japanese sweet peppers) \ $8 with sesame, kabayaki glaze and tuna flakes ---- These are one of my most favorite japanese vegetables, so I can't really complain no matter where I get it, since they really don't offer them everywhere. I devoured them! While having to hold back and offering them to my friends as well. It was difficult. Delicately drizzled with the glaze and flakes.
I chose the special chef's assortment of sashimi over a bed of rice and I thought the fish served was one of the most fresh sashimi I've ever had in Boston.
Because if you're having sushi... you better go sashimi! It's the only way!! =) So good.
Oh, drinks! I almost forgot... We all ordered the lychee martini, because this is our new obsession. I would say it was just mediocre. More sashimi please!!!
They gave us a gift card when we left. I'm definitely going back =)
Yum... shishito. -
Review from Daniel P.
Boston, MA
2/20/2011
I brought my friend here for her birthday a couple months ago and loved it from the moment we walked through the door. The hostess was super friendly and not in the "oh I'm getting paid for this" way.
I believe I had a French 75 at the bar whilst waiting for our table..and fell in love. We then began our culinary adventure with the uni spoon. Words cannot describe. Next was the spicy tuna tataki, followed by the oysters, shima aji, and the fluke sashimi. All delicious. And yes, get the scorpion bowl. Good times.
We were in Heaven. -
Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2008
I'd been waiting for the right time to venture to this diminutive spot tucked into a nook of the Eliot Hotel as it had been enthusiastically endorsed by everyone under the sun.
The fuss? I get it.
The price tag? We got it too.
(Though not nearly as badly as I'd expected. O Ya ran almost double.)
Commendables:
*Ming Tai cocktail - fresh cucumber and green apple juice, vodka, fleur de sel, and OLIVE OIL. Weird, I know. Delicious? Absolutely.
* Incredible sauces. Each dish had many components which complimented/contrasted in tongue-is-having-a-party ways.
* Top notch fish. Certainly get the chef's sampler ($45, 80 or 105).
Passables:
* Chill, cordial service. Not to knowledgeable, nothing Michelin approved but courteous.
* Rather boring selection of sashimi. Where's the exotics?
* Ambitious flavors which were sometimes too exaggerated. Skip the unagi.
* Low-key ambiance. Ideal for an intimate date as long as you're not sitting at the bar though music can get rather loud.
Bottom line:
Fantastic, really. But for sashimi connoisseurs more authenticity and/or innovation will be desired. For the rest, a relaxed, tasty and pleasant experience awaits.Listed in: Boston & Bay Area Sake
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Review from Keith O.
Boston, MA
10/13/2009 4 Check-ins Here
I have held off on this review for a long time because I try not to post super negative reviews. That said this is more a review of the owner rather than the restaurant - I have since sworn off all KO restaurants and am happy to tell this story to everyone who asks.
My wife and I went into Uni to have some sushi one evening. We had a reservation but were told that it would be a little wait once we arrived. We were fine with that and sat at the bar to have a cocktail while we waited. Well, the wait was going on 1/2 hour when we noticed someone come in and jump right downstairs and sit in the two seats that the hostess said were being cleared for us. When I asked the hostess what happened she was evasive and apologetic but could not answer my question.
Apparently she was flustered because the owner/chef came out and explained to me that the person who jumped in was his cousin and that he told him to sit there - knowing that we were waiting. When I pressed him on the fact that we had been waiting for 30 minutes he said that it was his restaurant and he could do whatever he wanted to do.
Now, that is true, but I also have the ability to vote with my feet and I have never been to Uni, or any other restaurant owned by him, in over 2 years.
The main issue was not that the seats were given to his cousin but his arrogant and rude demeanor. He was not apologetic at all and I came away with the impression that he did not care for his customers.
A chef who does not care for his customers will not have to care for them long in my book. -
Review from Kabir H.
Cambridge, MA
10/30/2008 ROTD 5/25/2009
Sake bomb Sundays are where it's at! I'm not sure whose bright idea it was to invite folks to bang on tables and chug beer at an upscale sashimi joint, but I'd like to buy them a beer. And a shot of sake.
The food was solid as well; we started with octopus gazpacho in a martini glass, followed by tempura rock shrimp. The gazpacho was eh, and the rock shrimp tasted like bad chinese, but in a good way. My doubts were erased though when they brought out the entree: sizzling salmon searing on sea rock. If you're starving when this arrives, my heart goes out to you as you'll be tempted to jump right in, but you'll miss out on the spectacle of watching your salmon cook through before your very eyes.
Also, don't lick the rock. Just trust me.
Dessert was more than passable, mostly because the dot of ice cream they serve is maybe the best in the city.
My suggestion? Head here with your rowdy clique and be prepared to throw down. For the full effect, institute a belching contest post-sake bomb as you bask in the horror of the prim and proper clientele, another treat unto its own. -
Review from avalon e.
Sunnyvale, CA
3/19/2008
Hip atmosphere, delicate presentation, fresh ingredients, gimmicky recipe (worht mentioning is the barnacle, which I don't think has any barnacle meat in it, it's chopped hokkigai+tako+I think crabmeat!), hot waitress who rivals any brazilian supermodel.
Be prepared to spend in excess of $100 per person for several light snacks each and be still hungry.
Great place for bankers to rendezvous their you know who (Back Bay is known for that if you know what I mean) or to impress a high-maintenance first date with irrational exuberance.
Highly recommended for those who have made their loot shorting subprime papers (or those who sold everything in time :) ), or to celebrate a fresh M and A deal well done.
Why 5 stars? If you have the means, why the hell not!
As for me, I had to balance that expensive meal with many many outings to Micky Dees. -
Review from Mihir S.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2008
Uni has the freshest - tasting hamachi I have ever had. AND it is complemented with jalapeno and green apple. Very unexpected but possibly the best hamachi I have had. We also ordered:
Lobster tempura maki rolls -yummers
Tuna ceviche - very fresh and very generous portion but the coconut clashed with the rest of it.
Crab tacos - overflowing with crab served in a homemade shell - shell was sugary sweet though. I wasn't fond of that.
Seaweed Salad - Mmmmm
Obe Beef - melted in mouth
The hostess was a bit rough around the edges. She seemed frustrated explaining that Clio and Uni are two separate restaurants even though there is no blatant separation. Technically, she's the hostess of Clio and told us that at Uni we can just grab a seat. The service was casual yet professional and attentive. The prices at Uni are surprisingly reasonable. I would have given a 4-star rating but here is what pushed it to five stars:
1) They have scorpion bowls!!!
2) My friend asked for his martini extra cold. The waitress brought it over and there was vapor coming off of the top of it. She explained that without diluting it, they cooled it with a nitrogen floater. There is a first time for everything.Listed in: EAT IN BOSTON
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Review from erica c.
Boston, MA
12/16/2006 1 photo
Located inside Clio, Uni = delicious mouth watering sashimi that melts in your mouth and leaves your tummy begging for more......
I would give it five stars but I think it's ridiculous that in this country good food costs so damn much. -
Review from Tristan B.
Cambridge, MA
8/4/2008
Ehhh.... What can I say, I've been spoiled. Very spoiled.
Uni has started up their "Sake Bomb Sundays" once again, and for 35 bucks, you get a Sapporo + Sake shot (more on this later), and a 4 course meal. Not a bad way to slip into a new work week, really.
I've always been intimidated by Uni, being on Mass Ave, too fancy compared to the Otherside, my preferred locale for Mass Ave/Back Bay dining. When I actually got in, I saw a semi-intimate little downstairs nook, with a usual bar, leopard print rugs, and some heavily padded bench seating. Seemed a bit overly feminine for my tastes, versus O ya's dim and minimal approach. Music was varied, from once again, "Hey Now", to cheezy J-pop love songs, and could get overbearing at some points... but to be fair, we were sitting on a sub-woofer.
First out was the sake bombs. While fun, they were, how do you say it.... Very awkward. Like, you set up your little sake over the glass, and then the waiter goes into this embarrassing little script of "When I say 'Sake,' you say 'Bomb!'" and the follow up. If I was drunk, this would've been an excellent fun thing to do in a typically 75 USD a head location, but for a first drink of the evening, I was a little less enthusiastic.
Food? I didn't get a chance to try the Sashimi, but the four courses ranged from okay (Fruit/Octopus/Tomato Gazpacho mix) but too fruity, Good (Spicy Rock Shrimp Tempura), as the strands were more interesting than the shrimp themselves, Ehh (Fish served on sizzling rock), and wonderful, (teeny tiny artfully presented Dessert spreads).... Portions were small, per usual, but decent if you aren't really hungry, and are bigger than O-Ya's.
Cocktails were meeeh. Too much sugar, too much fruity, my "Enter the Dragon" tasted like Sunny D mixed with some hot pepper powder. The Saketini was okay, but not worth 12 dollars. Stick to Sake, Sapporo, or something else... To be fair once again, I have yet to have a good cocktail at any "Japanese Fusion" restaurant.
Service was passable, nothing really horrible, nothing superb however, and the drink ordering was a little awkward as they were moving drinks from the bar at Clio.
Price for 4 people was more than adequate with the amount of drinks we each had, but it's not something that I'd go out for on a whim again.
So a high three stars you sit Uni. I'm going to come back to try the Sashimi, but I think I might be more tempted by some of the other offerings near by right now...
Epilogue: Afterwords, I went out and grabbed a Patriot Dog at Spike's, and crammed it down within moments. Being hungry sucks sometimes.Listed in: WEE A BOO!!! WEE A BOO!!!!
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Review from Stephen L.
Quincy, MA
11/7/2010
I was recommended to this restaurant by a friend. At first I was impressed by the service I received by the host, who graciously took us in and took our coats. We were told it was about a 45 minute, which was perfectly understandable since it was a Saturday night. Things started turning sour soon after. We ordered two drinks at the bar and patiently waited for 15 minutes. The host came up to me and apologize, since the bar was "slammed". About a minute after, a group of 4 came in and ordered their drinks and they got it right away. I nicely asked the host what that was all about and he came back and explained that they ran out of an ingredient for a drink I order. Fine, but it took them 20 minutes to let me know? Ten minutes later, I finally received my drink. Thirty minutes for a drink. Inexcusable.
We waited for about 45 minutes or so and finally got seated. I ordered about 8 dishes or so.
1.The razor clams wasn't so great, had two bites and that was it.
2. The Dozen oysters was really fishy and didn't really taste the garnish that came with it.
3.The uni-spoon was interestingly good.
4.The hamachi was my favorite dish there and was really tasty.
5.The fluke sashimi tasted like something I can order at any Japanese restaurant.
6.The tuna ceviche was moderately good, not bad, but not great either.
7.The spicy tuna tataki was fantastic, but I didn't taste any of the spiciness.
8.The fish taco was over salted.
9.The steak teriyaki was also interestingly delicious.
The bill came out to $280 something with the tax included. Surprisingly, they still charged me for the 2 drinks we waited for 30 minutes and the razor clams that I only took two bites out of.
Over all it was a busy night for them, but still, I was disappointed in the service I received. Yes, it was a Saturday night, yes it was packed, but it doesn't excuse them for having just one bartender on that night. I expected them to be on par with O Ya, but it seems like they have a long way to go. I highly doubt I'll ever come back again. -
Review from Frank S.
Boston, MA
6/17/2010
Uni is a very cozy sushi bar located inside the Elliot Hotel. Without a doubt the best sushi bar I've been to since I've moved to Boston which has almost been 3yrs now! I would highly recommend this place to anybody who indulges themselves in exquisite tastes.
This place can tend to be very pricey but I think it is well worth it as I have no regrets paying the high prices for this type of quality of food and service. The service was probably one of the friendliest services I have ever experienced in my life. The waiter was very attentive and describtive when explaining the menu to us. He also seemed very genuine when suggesting certain foods to us based on his experience.
For dinner we had the oysters with uni, the kobe beef & the tuna tataki. My friend and I had two oysters each. One with uni and one without. The oysters were very fresh and the oysters with uni were incredible and would highly recommend getting the oysters with uni over any plain oyster. The kobe beef was perfectly cooked and the presentation of it was very nice. The tuna tataki had foie gras on top which was mouthwatering. It was so mouthwatering that my friend and I had to order a second plate!
I definitely see myself returning here to get another taste of the tuna tataki as well as try the Uni spoon which I have only heard good things about. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
8/24/2010
Ahhh....An upscale, high-quality sushi/sashimi restaurant without the excessive sleek 'n' chic decor, pretentious snobbery and pulsing "lounge" music.
Uni is a tiny but cozy little nook of a restaurant in the Eliot hotel that delivers when it comes to fresh, melt-in-your-mouth tender fish. The boyfriend and I came during Restaurant Week (because we like our wallets too!) and had a fantastic experience from start to finish.
Service? Great.
Music? A tad too loud at times but they play lots of '80s rock for all you 80s-philes.
Decor? Simple but lovely.
Clientele? Rich yuppies and their benefactors, but harmless in small doses.
OK, let's move on to the important stuff: Fooooooood!
Suzuki Ceviche of Atlantic Striped Bass with lime, beets and coconut green curry
- Gorgeous light grey cuts with pink edges that meld perfectly with the curry sauce and crunchy beets. Beautiful to look at too.
Poke (yellowfin tuna) with sweet onions, sesame, seaweed and pickled mung bean
- Similar to Northern Chinese/Taiwanese cold noodle dishes with soy/sesame/peanut sauce in taste. The boyfriend's from Hawaii and apparently Poke is a real Hawaiian thing, so this got the seal of authentic approval from him. It was really good, I must say, and about twice the size of my Suzuki Ceviche.
Broiled Salmon with bok choy and yuzu pineapple salsa
- Bok choy's my favorite vegetable so I loved this dish. The salmon was unbelievably moist and tender and the pineapple salsa had a sweet juiciness that somehow missed being tart.
Chirashi with assorted pickled vegetables
- Also about twice the size of my dish for some reason, which means they don't skimp on the fish. Fresh, perfect cuts in a light marinade with pickled ginger and yellow beans over a purpley seasoned rice (I think it had to do with the stuff they cooked the rice with). Very filling.
Lime Curd with elderflower and sorbet and St. Germain granite
- Sour and sweet and gorgeous to behold
Miso Dark Chocolate Cremeux with cashew butter and banana ice-cream
- How can you go wrong with this?
We also added some a la carte dishes to the meal:
Hamachi with grapefruit vinaigrette, cubanelle peppers and red shiso
- Oh my GOOOOOODLINESS! OK, so if you've seen any of my other reviews, you know that yellowtail is my favorite fish in the world. This dish was so ubelievably good. Simplicity is all you need for a fish as delicate and flavorful as hamachi. I could not have asked for more tender, lovingly-handled slices. And yeah, I could taste the love.
Kobe Beef
- I guess nothing can ever really compare to the kobe beef I had at O Ya, but this was pretty good. Not as tender, even though it was seared and bright pink in the middle, but not bad either. It was presented with 3 kinds of salt in addition to the dipping sauce--fleur de sel, a spiced salt with anise and a smoked salt. I liked the spiced one best.
And for cocktails, I got the Southern Beaches. It....was not as good as I'd hoped. Too much ice and not enough sweetness. But the drink menu is awesome. Quite tongue-in-cheek funny, especially for a nice place (e.g. One page is called, "Drinks that don't cost $13"). How can you not love that? -
Review from Tiff C.
Harrison, NY
1/18/2007
Uni reminds me of Nobu. Small sized dishes with a pretty presentation. No miso black cod, though. These were more inventive and everything on the menu sounds finger-licking. The edamame is fabulous with rock salt. I ordered unagi and the miso soup. The soup came in a mug - with hijiki and scallion. A bit on the salty side, but that's the first time I had it in a mug.
EC and MW ordered the more intriguing items. Uni Spoon - EC devoured this, Hamachi Sashimi, Crunchy Maine Lobster, the Lacquered Foie Gras and Barbequed Eel. We ordered the Tempura of Seasonal Vegetables because we weren't full. Three of the dishes had UNI in it - EC claims "it was good, but not crazy good." If you're not into Uni, don't bother coming here. I agree it is pretty pricy, but it might be worth it if you're looking for the not-so-typical sushi/sashimi. -
Review from Ed Konagaya K.
Boston, MA
10/7/2006
Very nice but very expensive place!
I just went there one, and decided not to go next time cuz it was very expensive... If I had money I would go there, but I prefer to go other cheaper places... -
Review from Mina K.
Dallas, TX
5/13/2008
Amazing, yes. Expensive, yes.
This is not a place you come to, if you're starving because in order to eat to fill up you're going to pay for it. Meaning you'll probably spend $100 easy on yourself to fill up. In my opinion, its more of a place for foodies! =) The food is amazing, it's perfectly portioned to tantalize your palate.
There's a Chef's special, $40 for 5 courses, dessert, and a sake bomb. I would say this is the best way to go, because you get to sample 5 dishes (in smaller proportion than if you were to order directly from the menu). The chef gives you 5 courses on whatever he chooses... but in my opinion, you should trust the chef?
This is what was received at our table: the Uni Spoon (the best way to eat this dish is with a spoon! Amazing...) the Rock Shrimp Tempura (also good, kinda tastes like a Cheeto, anyone? heh). Hamachi Sashimi had this amazing apple wasabi. Dessert was a rhubarb sorbet with shortbread crumbs and a lemon custard? If I remember correctly, *sigh I definitely savored that. Cocktail - Enter the Dragon (tastes citrusy and tart... very strong stuff).
Love food..? this place is a must! -
Review from Pilan C.
2/28/2007
On food quality alone, this restaurant deserves 5 stars (though if "value" was part of the equation, I'd probably have to drop it to 4 stars). We went in a pretty big group, so I got to try a lot of different things. I loved the Kobe Beef (it was cooked just perfectly), as well as the Blue Fin Tuna Tataki (with Foie Gras on top) and the Tuna Ceviche.
We ordered the $100 chef's special "sampler" and it was a bit disappointing. It was a little bit overpriced for the amount of food we got, but most of it was still really good. I would recommend ordering whatever looks good on the menu to you, a la carte, as opposed to ordering a big platter.
Come with a big wallet and you'll leave happy. -
Review from Kit C.
4/22/2009
Sake Bomb Tuesdays are a great deal.
$35 price fixed
Sake + Sapporo
3 course meal
(depends, but its usually an appetizer like a really different but really good shrimp tempura, tuna in three ways, and then something on a hot stone, like this meltingly tender and luscious seared salmon)
And then you can order little items off the menu to go with your meal, or a bottle of really high end sake. -
Review from Brian P.
Washington, DC
5/5/2008
The Rock Shrimp Tempura was the first and best dish we had. From there, the rest of the sashimi and tapas style dishes were decent but not incredible. At $120 for 2 two people (2 drinks), I was expecting more. The atmosphere is fun though the music selection was very odd. The selections ranged from Barry Manilow to Outkast, and they were back to back.
Good place for a date but remember to bring your credit card. This one will set you back over $125 for two people (without a bottle of wine). -
Review from Chu C.
Belmont, MA
10/8/2009
This place is semi-fancy, and the food is good, but you have to understand exactly what this place is before you go. Uni sashimi bar is literally a bar, not really a place you go for a meal! It's about a 10x15 ft space inside the Clio Restaurant inside the Eliott Hotel - that's IT. They have doormen to usher you into this crammed little space. You go here if you have extra money you just HAVE to spend.
Went here for a special occasion with my friends, and was just SHOCKED by what they charge. Try $7 for a bowl of miso soup. That's highway robbery; I'll make you a pot that amply feeds 30 people for under $10. We got one of the combo platters, which lists about 100 pieces of sashimi for $150 or something like that. Sounds good, but to call these slivers of fish "pieces of sashimi" is a real stretch.
Uni offers "dressed" and "undressed" sashimi, which is to say you can get it with rice vinegar and finely-shaved red peppers instead of the usual soy sauce and wasabi. More of a novelty thing to me; if I'm paying that much for fish, I want to taste it, not the non-traditional toppings.
Don't get me wrong, the food was very good here (for people who have had gastric bypass surgery). The quality of the fish was great (I think), and the rock shrimp tempura which was recommended here was excellent. The fish tacos tasted like tuna fish in crispy fried tortillas.
Just not worth my time and money. We had to go somewhere else to eat after spending over $30/person here. -
Review from Jason S.
MA
3/21/2009
Uni is sea urchin in Japanese...which is my favorite type of sushi/sashimi, but somehow I missed it on the menu.....damn.
I'd been interested in trying the Clio/Uni combo for some time, and this place lived up to my expectations. The food, the setting, the cocktails, the vibe...all great stuff. The difficult thing with a sushi/sashimi joint is how to rise above the rest (I mean Boston has a sushi place on every corner), and this place achieves by combining the quality food with some fine dining disciplines. I was also pleasantly surprised that pricing was not as high as I would have expected. This place should be more approachable to more people because the pricing is not as crazy as you may think.
The setting: Tucked down in a basement cove section of Clio, the area has a unique subdued Japanese pop feel as compared to the Italian/French fine dining room feel of Clio. The music was upbeat and young, a good mix which made the whole vibe less stuffy.
The food: Fresh fish? Check! Interesting flavors intermingling in your mouth? Bring it! Portion size? On the small side...but this is Japanese influenced folks. Highlights include the tuna ceviche with its rich coconut flavor. The Himachi sashimi with green apple sauce which literally melts in your mouth, and the salmon which was probably the best cooked piece I've ever eaten. The gourmand in me appreciated the delicate plating of all the dishes as well.
The drinks: Lately I'm a beer guy, so I appreciated their selection of several domestic and foreign...but only two Japanese beers? The sake list is extensive and looks interesting (next time) and the fruity cocktails were done right. Something here for everyone I guess.
The service: The wait staff was average, but here's what tipped the scales to the 5 star rating for me. The chef/owner Ken Oringer presented the entree to our table himself. I have alot of respect when a chef comes out and introduces himself to the table, and Ken even let us quiz him on his "Iron Chef America" appearance.
Overall a pitch, a swing, and a homerun. This place delivers on the hip, upscale, sushi scene in Boston...and adds alittle bit of fun. Sake Bomb Tuesdays? I'll bring my college buddies. All You Can Eat Maki Mondays? I'll bring my sumo wrestler friends. I think this place needs a better PR plan...because the goods are all here. -
Review from tania t.
Los Angeles, CA
6/26/2007
A-MA-ZING!
The perfect stop for dinner before an evening at the Boston Pops. We glided in and were guided to our cozy booth and chair seat immediately.
A Must Try: the Uni Spoons. They are a scrumptious surprise of layered flavors; absolutely decadent in a mouthful, with lingering, impressive taste after that one delicious spoon is gone.
The presentation of all the small plates is inventive and well-chosen to highlight the unique food, and sake selection is incredible.
I'll definitely go again next time I am in Boston. -
Review from ryan c.
Cambridge, MA
9/30/2008
There is a time and a place for everything - except for a $17 plate that you can eat in less than one bite. We literally laughed when we saw the dish, it was a joke. I think it was good but I'm not sure because there wasn't enough to get a full taste.
I guess this is partially my fault for thinking that this was a sushi place but regardless, I can't think of any occasion when I would want to eat here. In order to get a reasonable amount of food one would have to order around $200 worth of mini-plates. I spent $65 and immediately got pizza afterwards.
Our server was a nice guy though.
I am embarrassed that I got tricked into going here. -
Review from David p.
Cambridge, MA
11/25/2010
PFFFFT! Went here a year and a half ago or so for their inaugural all you can eat maki Mondays for $30. They offered giant clam and hamachi rolls. The giant clam rolls were actually quite nauseating with their slimy texture and uncharacteristic not so fresh scent (strategy on their part to curb appetite and increase their profit margin? hmmm) Strike 1. The hamachi (of the little that they provided) was much better but relatively so...in that they were edible. Both rolls were made with tremendous amounts of rice...UNDERcooked brown rice! (Authentic maki rolls are made with white rice...I've never seen maki rolls with brown rice within Japan.) Undercooked brown rice to markedly expand your stomach and increase your satiety. Strike 2.
So my wife has 2 rolls of 6 pieces each and stops. I'm in my 2nd round also, when the server asks how I'm doing to which I reply, "fine." So she proceeds to bring me the check. I'm thinking, "huh? I just said I was doing fine. Not that I wanted a check" Strike 3. Now I'm just peeved. So I tell her that I'm not done yet and want another roll. (It's the principle of the matter!) At this point, I just want them to be on the losing end of this promotion. So I proceed to eat another 4 rolls (7 rolls total) for a total of 42 pieces ingested.
This was my first public overeating experience stemming from a conspicuously egregious attempt to foil the consumer and maximize profits. Good job of showing your lame maki-making skills!
If you're thinking that I'm a moron for partaking in this type of promotion, then let me remind you that fine establishments should provide a decent promotional experience. Instead it was an affront to my palate among many other things.
Me 1 Uni/Clio 1...took a week to burn off those maki rolls :( -
Review from Charlie L.
Seattle, WA
8/24/2007
Rich and I are total sushi fanatics, and we have hit every sushi joint in town. Uni is unique in that it's all sashimi.
The chefs all know their fish, and know exactly how to bring out the extrodinary flavors of each and every fish or shell fish. We literally tried the ENTIRE menu... this is how I found out I was allergic to fluke - a fish I never eat. Too bad, 'cause I loved it.
Quite amazing, really, but minus one star for being insanely expensive. We got out of there with a $200+ tab (for the two of us no alcohol), still feeling a bit hungery. -
Review from Velina L.
11/8/2008
Tucked away in a corner of Clio, Uni is a small sushi/sashimi bar that serves modern Japanese fusion cuisine. The menu is relatively small, but everything seems innovative, with Chinese and French influences.
You can choose to order a la carte, or select one of the several omakase (chef's choice tasting menu). I had the $105 tasting menu, which included about 7 courses and 2 desserts.
The service was friendly, but very slow. Our dinner lasted about 3 hours, with extremely long waits between courses esepcially toward the latter half of the meal. Our waiter seemed very knowledgeable about the menu but there was something about the way they presented our dishes and explained what each one was that didn't seem to excite me, and I usually get very excited about food.
Overall, the food was good, but not amazing. It was interesting to see a modern application of ingredients and flavors on the fish, such as Chinese fermented black bean on fresh salmon sashimi and hamachi with wasabi-green apple puree, but for the most part, the accompaniments overpowered the fresh flavors of the fish.
Raw fish has a delicate flavor that, given the right ingredients, can be enhanced and complemented. However, adding very strong flavors such as fremented black bean can mask the flavor- definitely not suitable for sashimi.
It was an interesting meal that I don't regret having, but I don't think it's a place I would return to.Listed in: Boston
-
Review from Tracy C.
Boston, MA
4/24/2009
I don't care what others say about this place being over-rated, over-priced, too small, not a real restaurant.......blah blah blah....
WELL GUESS WHAT?! IT IS "NOT" A RESTAURANT! They know it, I know it, apparently some people don't... Look at the name: "Uni SASHIMI BAR at Clio" so NO, they do NOT serve sushi and NO it is not a restaurant where you'd normally go to get a full meal... Do that at Clio if you want.
But this is Uni and this is where you come appreciate the bold and creative combination of flavors bursting in your mouth along with the big fresh slice of perfectly cut sashimi. I have had sushi and sashimi at many places in Boston, although you can find food of similar quality (freshness) you can hardly find the same kind of explosive/impressive flavors elsewhere that will rock your mouth! I especially love love love the scallops and black-bean flavored salmon; as I put a piece of salmon in my mouth, heavenly music started playing in my head while the exuberant texture/flavor combination started dancing on my tongue. According to my friend who was there with me, my eyes lit up and my face automatically show a most satisfactory fulfilled serenity.
Honestly, I am not too sure how good the alcohol drinks are are this place. I have never had the extra attention to give to notice anything else about this place other than it's amazing food... completely bewitched. -
Review from Eric F.
3/21/2010
***The 5 stars is ONLY for the food (see below)***
My party and I had RW dinner here just a little while ago and I was simply blown away by the quality of the food! Amongst all the dishes we ordered, I got a chance to try the:
Tuna Ceviche - The tuna sashimi pieces were absolutely delicious with the curry sauce and the cilantro/green onion added a distinct layer of texture that rounded the dish out nicely.
Rock Shrimp Tempura - What a twist on the usual shrimp tempura! Great consistency with the tempura batter and I was especially impressed with the mildly spicy sauce that doused each piece as it made the dish really stand out.
Poke Sashimi - Fresh with a nice, smooth sesame flavor from the oil.
Fluke Sashimi - Clean and creative presentation with each piece rolled up, lined in a row, and garnished with the blood orange.
Braised Pork Belly - Good flavor and had an almost creamy texture, not the best I've tried by any means but still a solid execution.
Chirashi - Far and away the highlight of the meal, it was the BEST Chirashi I've ever had! The tuna, hamachi, and salmon were all extremely fresh and simply excellent. They all melted in my mouth within moments and the salmon had a buttery and unbelievably silky texture to it. To top it all off, the rice was a completely different style of sushi rice, dark red/brown in color and seasoned with a delicious sauce that was somewhat reminiscent of Ponzu though thicker in consistency. SOOO GOOD!
Coconut Tapioca - I can also say that this tapioca was the best I've had so far, though by a much smaller margin than with the Chirashi XD The tapioca itself had a "springy" texture to it and wasn't at all mushy. Overall, a very light and refreshing dessert.
Japanese Yuzu Curd - Lovely presentation. The curd had a robust, lightly tart flavor that complemented the whole milk ice cream perfectly.
Now, you may be wondering about my disclaimer at the beginning of the review. Though the food was excellent, the service was something left to be desired. Our waitress was very kind and took care of our questions and orders without a problem. The Caucasian waiter, however, needs some serious work on his manners and, sadly, his understanding of common sense. We inquired as to whether the steak teriyaki that my friend ordered normally takes that long of a time to prepare. This kid actually had the nerve to say that it does and explained the slow roasting process, all while completely oblivious to the fact that the rest of us had finished our entrees and were visibly annoyed. I reprimanded him for his insolence and we hardly even received a "Sorry," for his errors. Fail. Epic fail.
To end on a positive note though, Uni Sashimi Bar has accomplished the feat of being the first sushi spot in Boston to earn 5 stars. Go for the impeccable fish, but be wary of the idiot roaming around the place. -
Review from Ellie W.
8/19/2009
Uni is a great sushi bar...if you can afford it. The sushi is good, sort of reminds me of fusion food. Not really traditionally made sushi, just a slightly different take on it, if I remember correctly.
VERY pricey, but then again, it's right inside Clio, which is equally pricey. Really nice atmosphere and good food, but I'm not sure the sushi is worth what you pay for it.
I've had sushi in Japan, at a fraction of the price Uni charges, and sushi from Japan is AMAZING, so I have a hard time justifying the prices they charge here. Yes, sushi is generally a more expensive cuisine, but you shouldn't have to pay an arm, a leg, and your kidneys for decent sushi. Mostly, I think you're paying more for the atmosphere and the shi shi nature of this place. -
Review from angie k.
Arlington, MA
3/22/2011
Since I first saw him on Iron Chef America, I've been a huge fan of Chef Oringer and his culinary art! I tried almost all of his restaurants and have been extremely please every time!
Last week, I tried Uni and it was another home run! It's not just another sashimi bar! The space and decor actually reminds me of a tiny sashimi bar I ate at when I was in Japan last year (memoriesss...). The wait staff and sushi chef were extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. The dishes were outstanding!! I highly recommend the Lacquered Foie Gras and Barbequed Eel (melt in your mouth yumminess!), Gochujang Shrimp Tempura and Poke! Delicious! Delicious!! Delicious!!!
Aside from the great food, atmosphere and service, the best part of the night was seeing Chef Oringer in person!!! -
Review from Charlene H.
Boston, MA
8/31/2011
Dinner at Uni was amazingly delicious! My husband and I ordered a la carte during restaurant week. The highlights for us were the pork belly bun, rock shrimp tempura, and chutoro sashimi special. Each dish was so flavorful and balanced. I loved the creativity. The experience was a huge treat to the taste buds! Service was excellent and speedy. We walked in without a reservation, and they were very nice about it and accommodated us. Diners have to expect the pricy menu though and be ok with that.
-
Review from Mike S.
Manhattan, NY
11/18/2009
I was alone and hungry when I went in to Uni. This is a really bad combo. I ordered one of the larger plates of sashimi I think it was $75 or around there. Took a while for the food to come out, which was fine because I was watching all the work that goes into making the dishes from the chef in front of me.
The sashimi came and went and I still was hungry. I decided on the tuna ceviche (amazing) and the foie gras with eel (amazing). The foie gras cam out last, which was good because the sweetness could have been dessert. But I took a look at the dessert menu anyway and yes I ordered.
All of this was washed down with a couple bottles of Sake and tea. I would go here when someone else was paying. Yes it's next to Clio and they decided to turn a seating area, which wasn't producing any income into a tiny sashimi bar. I think the price is quite steep for what you get. The food is great; however, if I'm going to spend this kind of money, I have other options I would choose. -
Review from Seth T.
Boston, MA
So my good buddy Adam is heading west and what better way to send him off to his new life in LA than feasting at Uni?
We ordered a sh*t load of food--
-Uni Spoons (Maine sea urchin, quail egg and osetra caviar): I think this is more of a textural experience than a tasty one
-Shishito (fried Japanese sweet peppers): nothing special, avoid these
-Tako (Japanese Octopus): this was a nice dish
-Tairagai Ceviche: this was good also
-Hamachi: I liked this because the quality of the fish is excellent but I don't like the yuzu sauce, thought it ruined the dish
-Poke (yellowfin tuna): this was really nice
-Rock shrimp tempura: this was really tasty but $17 for a small bowl of fried shrimp-- ouch
-Lacquered foie gras and bbq eel: this was my favorite, really tasty combo
A few desserts each were also ordered up: Dark Chocolate and Caramel Biscuit Coulant (with salted peanut ice cream, chocolate sauce and saltine tuille) and Strawberry Fields (coconut sorbet, cocoa soil and rose dew). The desserts were the way I like em-- small and not too sweet.
We washed it all down with copious pitchers of warm saki and called it a very good night.
Other things to be aware of: Uni is a tiny space but very comfortable, the dishes are small and extremely expensive, staff is excellent.
