Just what Central Square needed! Honestly. With one of the worst Thai restaurants I have ever tried (Pepper Sky) and with no other good options for noodles, curry, and my other favorite things in Central, I was so excited when Monkfish appeared. And it hasn't disappointed! Great noodle dishes, basil fried rice, an extremely expansive vegetarian menu (including lots of vegetarian sushi)--it's all pretty good (not amazing, but pretty tasty). It's usually crowded, but they do take reservations and, in my experience, they are always pretty efficient no matter how busy the restaurant is. And they live up to the name with some sweet jazz tunes playing over the speakers.
(4)
A L.
Unfortunately, due to a dearth of sushi restaurants in Central Square, I keep going back to Thelonious Monkfish out of sheer desperation. The main reason why I feel compelled to give this restaurant a low rating (and make the effort to write up a review) is primarily due to the incompetence of its chefs and their seeming inability to get my orders right. Out of the dozen or so times that I have eaten in or ordered take-out/delivery in the last month, they have gotten my order wrong FIVE times. One of those times was while I was dining in, but the other four were pick-up or delivery orders. The first two times, I just let it go because I don't like to complain (especially since I've become a regular customer and didn't want to upset the staff or chefs - you know, in case they felt the need to sneeze on my sushi or something...) but when it kept happening, I just got fed up. I would order brown rice with my rolls and get white; specify no avocado in my Alaskan rolls (listed to consist of salmon, avocado, cucumber, scallions) and get a ton of avocado and no cucumber - also, where are the scallions? never have I seen them!; spicy tuna or salmon rolls would come without the spicy mayo; etc. etc. Also, there was once when the salmon had a certain "taste" to it that indicated it wasn't all that fresh...or it might have been sitting out for too long.... I really want to like this restaurant. I really do. The staff have always been really nice and accommodating. The delivery boy is super sweet and when my order had to be replaced, he apologized profusely and refused the tip that I offered for his extra trip. But the chefs! The chefs! What upsets me the most is how they would arrogantly deny that they made a mistake so it basically boils down to my word against theirs. Last time, they adamantly insisted that they had used brown rice on all my rolls when they used white and it got to a point where I was like, "Do you want me to text over a photo of the rolls? Because I can." They don't like to refund your orders and would rather replace them instead but I always feel guilty for making the delivery boy make a second trip so it kills me to have to call in to complain. I'm generally super tolerant and forgiving of mistakes - I understand, it's not easy filling hundreds of orders every day and oversights are to be expected - but when an error does occur, please do not be an a$$ about it and either refund me or fix my order without making me go through what feels like a court trial. Anyways, I don't think I'll be ordering from them anymore. I'm going to try some of the other sushi restaurants in Harvard and Kendall Squares and even though they would be much farther and out of my way (and not deliverable), it would be nice not to have to deal with the chefs at Thelonious ever again.
(2)
Photon S.
I came here with a group of 22 (yes, twenty-two) last night, and we had a grand time. Sure, they don't yet have a liquor license, but the sushi is fantastic, the Lady Gaga Monster Roll was stupendous, the entrees stand well on their own, and the Red Elixir drink is tremendous. Our end of the table ordered both the Monkfish and Maki Party Boats (#2), and the eight of us had to send shipments of sushi down to the rest of party to finish the astoundingly tasty maki and spicy salmon rolls. The music is a nice touch, the staff are attentive, and we had an amazingly grand time. A great place to hold your next event.
(5)
here t.
Hooray... central sq. needed something like this place... we don't all have to assume that the presence of multitudes of homeless means we can't have a bit of style and attention to detail right... We shouldn't buy into that right? Let's all chant together..." We're sick and tired AND WE'RE NOT TAKING IT ANYMORE!" With only one lunch for two under the belt, the news is good. Seems like all of the Asian places around have trained us to accept mediocrity. There are one or two Thai places in CS that are frrreakin awful.. and the others are OK. This place seems to have the discipline to make good food at a reasonable price. Mind you the same prices as the other places that are often awful. And the sense of professionalism is natural not pretentious. So go forth and support 'quality' in the paraphrased words of Robert Persig. Dear Owner, Don't let your standards slip! And keep the place nice and shiny and new!
(5)
Nicole H.
Oh my gosh, the cranberry crab rangoons! Try them. They are delicious. I was hesitant about the cranberry-ness, but I am so glad I ordered them. That being said, everything else was meh. The chicken curry was fine. My boyfriend ordered the avocado maki and was happy with it, but he also ordered the vegetarian deluxe sushi entree and was not happy with it. The spinach rolls weren't good, and there was not nearly enough food to make it worth $13. I might try this place again, just for the crab rangoons.
(3)
Liz M.
LIMITED REVIEW. Lady Gaga Roll is the new fish on the block! Mack the Knife roll was yummay and fresh! Thanks for coming to Mass Ave Theolonious Monkfish! Sushi is fresh and unique... the DHARMA WHEEL SALAD was a harmonious balance, a solid child's pose selection on the menu. This was a pleasant surprise and a great addition to Mass Ave's somewhat sorry excuse for restaurant offerings. The decor is very tasteful and artful. However, the sliding door for the bathroom, cool. The ambiguous existence of a lock on the sliding door? Not cool. Some cons include the lack of a dessert menu and WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY TOO MANY THINGS ON THE MENU. It's like the wikipedia/encyclopedia of Asian Fusion.... Also -- the seating arrangement is kinda cramped and having the door along one entire row of seating is very drafty -- I'm sure there's a way to Fung Shui the restaurant differently.... I hope to go back and try some hot foods with my toes on the tatami mats in the back!
(4)
Tara G.
I liked this. I got a take-out order for lunch. I got the Nirvana Noodles; from the menu: "Egg noodles, cabbage, carrots, onions, scallions & bean sprouts wok-fried in shiitake mushroom sauce and crowned with crispy garlic elicits from the partaker feelings of bliss & understanding." Wow. Hmm... I'm not sure they did that, though they were pretty good. However, there was not a single spot of garlic on it, not crispy or otherwise which was the reason I was so intrigued by the dish in the first place. I did really enjoy the flavour of the sauce, however. On many dishes, the lunch prices are significantly lower than the dinner prices, some of which seem extremely high. (Example: duck curry is $6 more expensive for dinner than for lunch - almost twice the price.) I think I'll come back and try this place again, but not during dinner.
(4)
Aboud Y.
Monk's got something groovy going on here. I just ordered delivery and we were pleased with the food (for the most part). I still think there's alot more to explore on their endless menu so consider this an introductory review (to be continued). Here's what I tried thus far: -- Fever Wings: very tasty but definitely no match for Ginger Exchange's KO wings (which are phenomenal!) -- Salmon, Yellowtail, and Sea Urchin Nigiri: all not bad, but not great (except for perhaps the Sea Urchin which was pretty darn good) -- Spicy Tuna Roll (aka the great equalizer): above average -- Regattabar Roll: good but they use too much mayo -- Mack the Knife Roll: the biggest disappointment! After reading the reviews here, I was expecting the Heavens and Earth to shake as I bit into the roll. Instead I got a dud. There was no chili sauce to speak of...did they give me the wrong roll or is this it? I'll be back for more.
(4)
Dan B.
Excellent service: my water glass was never more than half empty. Tasty food: very nicely presented sushi rolls and the best miso soup I've had in awhile. Interesting menu: very extensive with lots of choices and some fun/humorous food descriptions. A little pricey: sushi of similar quality can be had in the area for cheaper. The atmosphere makes up for the price a bit.
(4)
Paprika F.
This is a terrific date place. You can sit close together or have an adventure with sitting on the mats in the table in the back. Feed each other sushi, and have a blast ... ... as long as you do not order the garlic fried rice. Seriously. Get the sexytime out of the way first. When they say "garlic fried rice," they are not kidding. That's not to say it isn't yummy, but it is not for Date Night. The non-sushi dishes are delicious. I haven't tried the sushi yet. Based on the Yelp reviews, I'll save that for a more leisurely evening, but the miso cod and the Burmese Noodle Soup were tasty. I plan on going back soon.
(4)
Larry M.
Love the sushi here. As good as I've ever had in San Francisco.
(5)
Cindy S.
Their ramen dish is not what the menu said it would be. Can't exactly remember what it was advertised as, but it tasted like ramen I can make myself from a package at home. The Pad See Ew was pretty tasty, though! Large portions and definitely big enough to share. Staff was nice!
(3)
Bill T.
I'm staying with friends in Boston for a couple of weeks. Even though they live practically around the corner, they didn't know about this place until we went past it a couple of days ago. After a very disappointing pseudo-meal at Bluefin a few nights earlier, we were eager to have a good night out. Not only were we not disappointed, we were thrilled. The atmosphere was clean, pleasant, friendly. The music was nice. It was loud enough to hear, but not too loud to have conversations. Since this was our first visit we wanted to try both the sushi and their regular meals. The specials menu had something which really stood out, stuffed Lychee. Now, I live in Hawaii and I love lychee, but how do you stuff them as a meal? They figured it out. We ordered these as an appetizer. You get six lychee, stuffed with chicken, cilantro and I don't know what else. Wonderful. They're served cool, each one on it's own Japanese-style soup spoon. We also ordered as an appetizer a very small amount of sushi, four pieces each of Sake and Unagi sushi. My only complaint is that the unagi was warm but should have been hotter. It had great flavor though. The Sake was so fresh and full of flavor. When the sushi chef came by and collected our platter, he asked if we wanted more. It was all I could do to stop myself from ordering 30 or 40 more pieces of various types, but we'd ordered full meals which were arriving soon, so we stopped there. My friends had the Mad Monk Noodles and the Monkfish Medley. I sampled both and they were great. I ordered the Gai Krapow, which is one of my favorite Thai dishes. It was perfect. It was a very large serving, with a good amount of perfectly done Jasmine rice (my favorite). It had spice but needed more. There's a 'pepper shaker' on the table which is filled with ground hot peppers - it added a nice extra flavor to the dish. We didn't even think to order anything other than water to drink. The glasses were kept full. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. We were all very very happy with our time here. I'll be back before I leave town.
(4)
Nho H.
It's crazy how much the decor influences the thought of people. It's not all about looks y'all!!!! Ironically I said this about a sushi place that needed to spice up their decor to get more foodies. Food wise, I think Thelonious is average. Nothing about the sushi really hits me and places that name their rolls "Lady Gaga" and such really irks me. Their Thai food is pretty good though but I think some of the people from Pepper Sky works there? Prices wise isn't the best either but I suppose for a nicer interior, they have the rights to crank up the price tag. I am also not a huge fan of Asian Fusions.
(3)
Ellen F.
We went there on Saturday night for the first time and was it ever good! To begin with, everything on the menu sounded wonderful and so we over-ordered on the appetizers. A particular nod to the cranberry crab rangoon and the brussels sprouts with sauteed onions. We created our own stir fries--I had tofu with chinese kale and brown rice, which was amazingly good--and there was enough to take home for the next night's dinner. Overall a great experience--we're definitely going back.
(5)
Jeff M.
I feel like I am going out on a bit of a limb here giving Thelonious Monkfish 4/5 stars. Maybe closer to 3.5/5. Service was inattentive, and although not rude, far from friendly. I stuck with soup and sushi even though most people in the restaurant were having hot entrees. The price and location are definitely right at TMF. They also accept Level Up. I am not too sure if TMF will make it through the years.
(4)
Ginnette P.
I tried it out for the first time after seeing a friend check in on foursquare. The food was amazing lots of vegetarian options. I'll be back!
(5)
Melissa S.
Went to Thelonius Monkfish last night and had a nice, enjoyable meal. The sushi (Alaska Roll) was fresh and recommended; will definitely try some more of the roll options at my next visit. The fried Monkfish Fried Rice and crispy chicken pad thai were also good choices - light and excellent taste. I would also recommend the crispy, coconut french fries!
(4)
So S.
Good lunch place. So, this is an asian fusion more leaning towards Thai. These people are Thai which means they are nicer. Not the best thai but 3 words which makes them earn them earn their 4 stars--! "Ancient Fried Rice" I am in love you with you, Ancient Fried rice. Bacon yes! Duck Yes! All in a fried rice? Yes! Major love!
(4)
Sevn M.
Everything on the Vegetarian menu is awesome! The Fried Basil Tofu is total Yum, i had it 3 times last week. Avocado roles are nice and chunky and the the Avocado freshrolls are the best freshrolls in town. On top of that they brew their drinking water with fresh fruit and their tea selection is top notch. The owners and servers are very friendly. This is by new regular spot for lunch.
(5)
Melissa G.
First of all I had no idea what sort of Asian food this was. We called in our order and went down to pick it up so that may have contributed to the fact that is was all cold. The Mixed Teppanyaki included the tiniest piece of steak (grizzle and fat) and a disgusting little cube of salmon. The Gado-Gado, had more okra than I've ever seen, who likes okra? Crab Mango Salad was slimy & cold with soggy fried crabs.The Tamari Garden Salad soggy. What a disaster!
(1)
Santiago A.
Almost my favorite sushi place. Not extremely expensive, great ambiance and very good and creative sushi plates. I have not tried anything but sushi though.
(4)
Kristina D.
Last week, my roommate and I got a delivery order (pad thai, papaya salad and spring rolls). The order came over an hour after it was placed, with the papaya salad forgotten. This review is for the customer service and attention to detail. The owner saw my "quick tip" about this delivery snafu, followed up, and ensured that my roommate was refunded for the meal through Foodler. Will update when I get a chance to eat sushi there in-person.
(4)
Diane s.
Have been here twice now for lunch with coworkers. Staff is friendly, ambiance is really nonexistent- pretty much a sterile environment, but it is an improvement over the previous building tenant . This is a clean new Japanese /Asian fusion restaurant in Central Square. Had a wonderful salad here about two weeks ago and decided to try the Kim-Chi with rice soup (delicious) as well as the tempura crab. They were both quite tasty and arrived hot. The restaurant seems to fill fast for lunch, so arrive early if you are pressed for time. They offer a good blend of Japanese, Thai and Korean style foods. Have not tried the sushi yet, but feel compelled since some of the other reviews on this have been less than exemplary. I would not hesitate to come back. Average lunch ~ $7-8 dollars.
(4)
Stephanie F.
I agree with other Yelpers... thank God they added a sushi place to Central Square! Sushi needs to be available in more places in Boston/Cambridge! Food-wise, not bad! My water ($0) had a hint of strawberry/cucumber/lemon/lime flavor because the fruits and vegetables were soaking in it; my chef specialty called the "Sleeping Beauty" was very tasty ($15); however, the arugula salad ($6) which was dressed in some kind of sesame dressing seemed a little overpriced for what it was (considering you could buy a bag of arugula at whole foods or TJ's for $2.50, but hey, I know we're at a restaurant). I just think they could have added something more acidic, or vinegary to offset the bitterness of the arugula, which I could still taste. My meal ended with the mango sticky rice, which was awesomely yummy. I would definitely come back here to try out their other creative sushi rolls!
(4)
Chrysanthe P.
Lots of interesting rolls to choose from, but it didn't blow me away. I think my indifference is partially the result of having high expectations and my friend and I accidentally ordered something with tempura in it, which I have never been a fan of (my stomach is super sensitive to fried food). I would definitely try this place again and perhaps give it a higher rating once I try some other options. Until then, it was just so-so.
(3)
Sophie I.
Nice ambience, fresh, tasty food, reasonable prices. I've tried some of their Thai-inspired dishes and the sushi, loved them both. Central has needed a place like this for years!
(4)
Nico N.
Love this place! It has quickly become my favorite sushi in Cambridge- especially for delivery! Everything is good and the Fairy Tail rolls are amazing! And I can't order without getting the Razzmatazz rolls. YUM
(5)
Brian H.
I met a friend for a quick lunch at TF at his suggestion and I liked the place immediately, even though I strolled right by it before my friend leapt outside to save me lost time. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and we were seated immediately right at noon. They were attentive without being pushy which I always appreciate over a lunch when we have to get back to work. The menu was full of items I will definitely want to sample later but I settled for a chicken pad Thai which was very tasty. I enjoyed the place and will definitely keep it on the lunchtime rotation.
(4)
Shirley C.
A new Asian Fusion place in Central? Finally! Now I finally don't have to trek far away from my boyfriend's place when I have my raw fish craving. I've only visited twice, but both times, the food has been completely yummy and unforgettable. I can only attest to the Lady Gaga roll as there are just so many choices on the menu to decide that I decided to stick to the one that had been proven a hit. While I haven't fully ventured out into the menu, I can attest to the cooked items on the menu. With its extensive menu, there are just simply too many choices to decide. We decided to split a bacon pad thai and a drunken noodle tonight. The drunken noodles were soooo delicious, probably one of the best that I've ever had so far in America. The noodles were fried perfectly and the beef that came with it was seasoned too (unlike most restaurants, which do not season their food). I took off a star only because it seems like service is still hectic and a bit inconsistent even after 3 weeks of its opening. My waiter almost tried to charge me for a refill of soda before he was reprimanded by his boss that refills were free (apparently he had charged past customers for each glass...ouch). Other than minor kinks, I will definitely be coming back for this yummy food!
(4)
K C.
Red Zen and Ruby Elixir rock! Love the location, the window seating, the ambiance and the fairy tale sushi rolls are awesome. I keep going back for the frog prince.
(5)
Trelawney G.
I liked my vegetarian dish quite a lot, but they wouldn't do any substitutions for my food sensitivities. So that was a challenge.
(3)
Cheryl H.
Thank god that Central Square finally got a sushi place so that we don't have to trek to the sushi mecca of Brookline every time we have a sushi craving. We've been here a bunch of times and the sushi is consistently pretty good, while the thai food is just average, not bad, but nothing special. They do have papaya salad on the menu, which although I haven't tried yet, is always a good sign. You can't be a good thai place if you don't have papaya salad. A few things we have tried recently: Temper Tantrum roll- I like that this tuna roll has a little spice, but isn't mixed with mayo like most spicy tuna type rolls, which coincidentally usually aren't usually spicy either. We like this so much that we got 2 of them last time! Mack the Knife - yellowtail with more chili sauce, the last time it wasn't as spicy, but still pretty good Sleeping Beauty roll - great except that the lime mayo or whatever it was that decorated the top sort of overwhelmed the flavors Avocado veggie fresh rolls - really good, but I wish you got more than 2 for $7 or $8 Sweet Potato roll - I was so sad about this one because usually I love everything with sweet potatoes especially sushi, but this fell short, really short. It's a tempura roll and the roll ended up being mostly tempura breading instead of sweet potato. Disappointing considering that they don't have a ton of interesting veggie sushi options.
(4)
Jodi B.
Thelonious Monkfish: A Reiku (Review in Haiku) Vegetarian Salad sphere made of spinach My palate was pleased Makimono roll Apple carrot cucumber See you again soon
(4)
Chaos M.
Sushi is a little overpriced, but some dishes have lunch version, which are much cheaper.
(4)
Stacey H.
Finally...a sushi joint in Central square! My husband and I arrived for an early dinner on on a Saturday night (6:30) just to see if it was living up to the hype. We were surprised to see the entire place almost full to capacity so early in the night. Good job Monkfish! Our table was small (which is fine), but felt really smooshed between two other tables. If you're looking to have a private conversation don't do it here - there is barely any room between you and your neighbors. Alas, the menu was extensive, offering sushi and various Japanese style dishes. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked fantastic so I wasn't too concerned about not liking our dinner. We tried the curry fries (wow, awesome), the miso soup (great!), a specialty role (fancy lady-something or other), spicy tuna and eel avocado. Everything was great. Absolutely no complaints on the food. It feels a bit more upscale than Ginger exchange in Inman square and the sushi is better. The ambiance is much better too - a muted plum color interior and great lighting. It's a cozy place, with a long wooden bench along one wall and wooden chairs. A few things that could make this place better: liquor license - or maybe just wine or beer. So far it's just tea on the menu which we ordered one pot of. Overall I would rate this place a solid A- which means it's a keeper.
(4)
Jeb O.
I've had sushi in nearly every major US city, and this place blew my mind. The menu is creative, the selection is outstanding, and the quality is exceptional. The wine selection is so/so, the atmosphere is a bit cramped (call it cozy); a reservation is recommended (I sat at the sushi bar). All things considered, price is reasonable given the price/performance ratio and Cambridge dining in general. If you're visiting Cambridge, don't miss it.
(5)
Laura B.
As I hoped in my last review, Thelonious Monkfish has improved their service! My boyfriend and I went again last night on a whim. This time we did not order sushi but rather hot dishes. We started with tea again, which they again left off our check, but we told them since apart from that, the service was wonderful. Although they still seem to send all waiters to every table, some type of pooling system, we had great service. My boyfriend had the fig jam fried rice that came with the chicken wings, SO DELICIOUS. In fact, we are going to try to mimic the recipe at home we loved it so much. I wanted to combine some items on the menu and our waiter was more than happy to accommodate my idea. I ordered tofu ka-prow. I also asked that it be made as spice-y as possible. The dish was the perfect amount of spice and the tofu was perfectly fried. We skipped dessert again for Toscanini's since there was nothing other than ice cream. I am SO HAPPY to say that Thelonious Monkfish has turned the service issues around. I can't wait to eat there again.
(4)
Andrew M.
Very tasty, fresh food served by friendly staff, but way too pricy for what it was.
(4)
samsara w.
I wanted to write an update. Jamme, the owner has very kindly refunded the money related to our delivery order (note earlier review). He took the time to write a gracious and thoughtful note, and addressed my complaint in an honest and forthright manner. I am struck by their customer service, and willingness to make this right. We will be returning to the restaurant to use the gift card, and will also be telling our friends to give it a shot. I hope you will try this spot, and support a local business owner who has his heart in the right place.
(4)
Cara F.
My interest in Thelonious Monkfish was first piqued by its clever name; I am a lady who appreciates a pun. I later learned that behind this pun was the owner's genuine appreciation for jazz, which plays all day long in this restaurant, and after whose musical terms and legends many of the dishes are named. So I was initially charmed. But the food, which is extravagantly good, elevated Thelonious Monkfish from a mere curiosity to an object of my affection. Devotion, really. I've had a couple of their entrees and enjoyed them very much; I can also attest that the curry fries and the cranberry crab rangoon are just lovely. I appreciate a restaurant that seems to take so much care with its menu options. I am a sushi novice, but I am falling pretty hard for the clever and cleverly-named maki rolls. A good example of their creative take on sushi is the Yardbird roll, which contains tempura chicken instead of fish -- surprising, delicious, and one of my favorite things on the menu... along with my ten or twelve other favorite things on the menu. (One note: I encountered slow service during one meal within the first couple weeks of their opening, but I think this is forgivable given the growing pains of a new restaurant -- and though things were slow that night, the servers were polite and apologetic. On all other occasions, service has been prompt and courteous, so I'm willing to chalk that occasion up to a fluke.)
(4)
R E.
I dream about their sushi and my mouth waters every time I think about this place. The wait staff is very nice. They are great about continuously filling up your water glass. They also put some sort of fruit in their water that gives it an added light flavor. I haven't tried anything besides the sushi, because I cannot tear myself away.
(5)
Betsy A.
This will be an interesting review, given the fact I don't eat seafood (the bulk of their menu), I can however attest to the tasty food offered here otherwise... I loved this place way before moving to Central Sq. And now that I leave close by I can't stop going. Seriously, it's an issue... I must stop. It's hilarious to see the owner's/waiters' faces every time I stop by for a "Yardbird Roll" (sushi roll with tempura chicken instead of seafood) and my Chicken Katsu Don (which given my accent I make it sound like Cat-zu Dun, they never understand me but somehow they always get it right... (must be the fact they have my voice memorized)... Anyways, the food: No frills, tasty morsels. This is no O Ya for goodness sake! But they got me into sushi (be it real or not) ;), I wouldn't go near seaweed with a 10' pole... Now I can't stop thinking about it... Why not 5 stars you ask? Well simply I love the food here so much I wish their portions were bigger. =( Seriously Monkfish, why such small portions?... Although, I should be thanking you. Without the small plates I would be rolling (not walking) to your door...
(4)
Roberto C.
After reading all the other rave reviews we had to try thelonious monk and in particular, the ancient rice. We were not disappointed. The place also had the service to match its awesome food. I would definitely recommend it and go back for more.
(5)
Lala L.
horrible service. how is it possible that I have to wait 45 minutes for a salad, asked for it 2x...and was the last to get my lunch? Drenched in a spicy mayo dressing...it ruined the salad of arugula and "tempura shrimp". there were no "tempura" there..it was deep fried w/out the japanese TEMPURA batter. talk about false advertisement.
(1)
Kylie S.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant so far, and I eat here way too often for my budget. The sushi is fresh and delicious, and there are some really unique combos, though so far I've only tried the uni-avo roll and the philadelphia rolls and one with grilled salmon--all so good that I doubt I'll ever get to try the rest of the menu. There are good veggie options too. The service is friendly and professional, the decor is attractive, and the music is great. Also you can have your choice of sitting Japanese style or American style.
(4)
Kai P.
Thelonious Monkfish Thelonious Monkfish... yeah I get it. I know my jazz so that one didn't miss me. Thelonious Monkfish is one of many small sushi joints seemly popping up around the greater boston and surrounding areas, but it does try to sell it self different with a jazz cafe vibe. The place is SMALL AS SH!T. Personally I'd rather have more than a foot of room between me and the person next to me when I'm out with my lady. They could have saved space by not building the huge classic style japanese seating that nobody actually uses. I could have done with some sake choices also but for a dry night the tea selection is decent. It was probably wasted on my no tea drinking a$$ but still. The sushi however was damn decent. Fresh and good. Freshness is something alot of these overnight sushi joints don't get. We didn't get the normal supermarket frozen section fare sushi. the one thing I can say about the atmosphere was the music was cool as hell. It felt like being at Wally's with japanese and Korean food. I like Jazz so this worked. Overall Thelonious Monkfish was pretty nice. If your not claustrophobic then this is a cool place to go in Cambridge. Cool names for the entrees BTW.
(3)
Glade W.
I'm usually not into rolls, preferring pure nigiri or sashimi. But the fairy tale rolls at Monkfish were a delight! Artfully designed with very different, delightful tastes and textures. I'm glad to have discovered this little gem of Central Sq.
(4)
Billy Y.
Honestly, I have no idea why this place has 4 stars. The food is quite unremarkable. We ordered 2 sushi rolls (C Jam Blues roll, and Mack the knife roll), bacon pad thai, and the coconut curry fries. I don't know what's the hype is with the coconut curry fries. The coconut curry fries is essentially a tiny basket of fries served with satay sauce. There's nothing coconut or curry about it. And the pad thai, it's really just mediocre pad thai with crispy bacon in it. Not sure why I was expecting more, but it is what it is. The sushi is actually decent. It's just like any other "special rolls" you can get in any sushi restaurant. Oh, almost forgot. The special menu descriptions and the staff are quite quirky.
(3)
Rob V.
Great atmosphere, our server was great / very friendly, the sushi we got was fresh, and all this shortly after the opened their doors for the first time in this space (yes, just a bit delayed in posting the review!). It's great to see Central getting more Asian restaurants in the area. And while I don't live local, I do work in the area and look forward to hitting it again real soon. PS - A good friend lives around the corner and frequents TM quite a bit / is a foodie and continues to love the visits / experience!
(5)
Gisele M.
This place has awesome food. I actually miss going here since I am no longer down the street from it. First off, lets start with the infused fruit water. Nice touch. I highly recommend the cranberry crab ragoons...delicious! I've had the shrimp and chicken pad thai - delicious with plenty of tasty chicken and shrimp. Everything is fresh. The chicken coconut soup was very flavorful. It tends to get very crowded mon-fri at 12, so I recommend getting there early or you may have a wait. Service is average - nothing spectacular. Waiters tend to be a little bit S-L-O-W ( but the food is so good, who cares) Next time I'm in Cambridge, I will have to make the trip.
(4)
Jess R.
I dropped in here for take-out appetizers on my way home the other day. The service was actually pretty quick; it's possible that the issues mentioned in other reviews have been solved. Unfortunately, I wasn't happy with the food. I ordered the pan-fried dumplings, which had a filling of shrimp and pork. They appeared to have been over-fried, and the filling tasted so horrible that I had to spit it out and throw the entire dish away. I hate wasting food, but this tasted either like spoiled fish or like it had been fried in rancid oil. Ick. I also ordered the cranberry crab rangoons, which were cooked perfectly but had a weirdly sweet filling--like a cream-cheese-and-jelly sandwich. I expected more of a tart flavor from the cranberries, and I could see the bits of crab but couldn't taste them. I'll definitely come back sometime and try some of the other menu items that other folks have recommended. Maybe I just ordered the wrong things.
(2)
Dara C.
Cute little sushi joint in Central Square, where sushi has always been welcome despite the fact that the closest places are underwhelming (Spice 'n Rice in Inman Square comes to mind.) There are more Indian restaurants than you can shake a saag at, but along that stretch of Mass Ave, nary a raw fish can be found. Until today. Thelonious Monkfish--the jury is still out on whether the name is endearing or aggravating--is a well-decorated postage stamp of a space with banquettes and two-seaters along the walls, a narrow sushi bar, and two wide tables with tatami mats on a rear platform. Guests are advised to remove their shoes and sit at the low tables; this is possibly the only semi-private dining option in a restaurant where the tables are almost on top of each other. The jazzy theme indicated by the name is limited to a pretty quiet soundtrack of American standards and a handful of creative menu names, but this is certainly no jazz bar. The food is decent to good, with a long list of classic sushi and modern makimono--surprisingly free of mayo--and Japanese and Thai-flavored entrees. The entire menu is heavy on seafood, with a sort of intriguing pan-Asian influenced salad section. Wonton soup was a good starter with three small shrimp wontons floating in an unbelievably flavorful vegetable broth. The wontons were a little bit thin and bland, but the broth, rich and salty, more than made up for it. Two pieces of sushi, octopus and yellowtail, were fresh, served over perfectly room temperature rice, neither cold nor gluey. A massive makimono roll of eel, shrimp, tobiko, and cucumber was delicious, if rolled a bit loosely. Tonkatsu curry wasn't terribly impressive; the pork was marinated well but the breading was too dark and slid right off, leaving bare pork cutlets swimming in a curry sauce that lacked complexity. My rec: stick with the sushi, which is well-priced and very fresh. Service is neighborhood-joint friendly, with attentive servers and a charmingly clever maitre d' (seeing two rowdy kids swinging from the banister of the tatami mat area, he said "And this half of the restaurant is masquerading as a daycare this evening." I am instantly tickled by snark.) The biggest snafu at Thelonious Monkfish is timing. The kitchen/sushi bar turns out food on the slower side of cold molasses, and I wonder if space is to blame? In such a small, narrow spot, the kitchen can't be terribly large, and the sushi bar itself is quite small. We waited a solid thirty minutes after our apps for our entrees to arrive, and the tonkatsu dish arrived nearly fifteen minutes after that. However, the food and service--and prices--are good enough that I can blame it all on being new to the neighborhood. With its cute, modern ambiance and laidback vibe, I can see Thelonious Monkfish being quite the success in Central.
(3)
H S.
Very nice sushi restaurant with an extensive menu including some Thai, Chinese, and even a make-your-own stir fry section. Good prices and very yummy sushi. And awesome name, btw.
(4)
Kimmy S.
Scrumptious and inexpensively priced food with a great ambience. Attention to detail is appreciated. They offer sushi and asian dishes!
(5)
Aaron G.
First, look down at the comments, especially the negative ones, and read Jamme C's responses. I think it's great that this site enables this type of dialog between customer and owner. I think it's doubly great that Jamme responds so intelligently and passionately to both good and bad comments. This place is right down the street from where I work and it has become something of a staple with the IT crowd at our company. You have to go early in the lunch hour, otherwise the wait will turn you towards other restaurants. The lunchtime ambiance is bustling, but even with the crowded space, once you're settled in it's pretty easy to focus on the food and conversation. The items that I enjoy on the menu are significantly higher than Thailand Cafe (~$7), and higher than our work cafeteria (~$8.5), so making this the go-to spot more than once a week isn't feasible on my salary, even with the level-up discount. But I think that's OK because by and large the food quality justifies the prices. I order the noodle soups when I go because I am a fan of ramen in its better forms. Everything checks out here, the ramen broth is enjoyable and flavorful, although the meat could be more tender, I understand that it's a near-unavoidable consequence of boiling meat. Also, I don't think there's any kind of serious browning on the meat, which would help bump up the flavor significantly. If there is one thing I could say about the Pad Thai, is that it's not that different from a lot of other Pad Thai's served around the city. I hope that Jamme can make a field trip for himself and his chefs to sample the offerings of a few of the better Pad Thai offerings around the city (search on Yelp!) and develop a dish that differentiates itself from those while adding something new to the mix. Push the level of Pad Thai higher! It would also be great to have a small offering of very traditional Thai dishes on a weekly specials menu. I'm talking some down-home village dishes with crazy (to English speakers) names. We get so little of that kind of seriously different food that's prepared with great ingredients, I know I would certainly find it valuable and interesting, especially coming from Chef Ginger who considers Thai her specialty. Show us the power of galangal and kaffir lime!
(4)
Bassem S.
I love the food here, but the last few times I've ordered delivery they've screwed up my order. The first time we were ordering for a group and they forgot one person's entree, so we had to wait for them to re-deliver it 15 minutes later. The re-delivery was quick, but it was still pretty annoying that we all had to wait for it. We also ordered from Thelonius last night - the managed to deliver my friend's ginger cod, but it was overcooked and disappointing, a far cry from the last time she ordered it. I ordered the monkfish maki combo #3 which I always order, and one of the rolls was straight up wrong and not very pleasant. Instead of a scorpion maki, I had a strange roll with avocado, cream cheese, and some undetermined protein. I absolutely detest cream cheese in my sushi, so that was a very unpleasant surprise - a definite downgrade from the scorpion maki. This time I made sure to immediately check the bag to make sure everything was in it...guess I'll have to do an even closer examination of each dish next time... On the plus side, the $6 fried oysters are delicious and a pleasantly good value. I love your food Thelonius, but these delivery snafus just won't cut it.
(2)
Sara S.
We came to Thelonious Monkfish for dinner last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. Being right off the Central Square T stop, it's conveniently located. Let's start with the good: *The staff is friendly. Our group had a reservation for 8 on a Saturday night, the place was pretty busy, and they were nice about it when several members of our party were like 20 minutes late. *The prices are very reasonable. Our total tab, for three entrees, was $43 before tip. Sure, we all stuck with water for our beverages, but that was still pretty impressive. *The menu features a wide selection of good salads in addition to an almost overwhelming number of sushi choices. I ordered the spicy beef salad and vegetarian spring rolls. The salad featured some really nice flavors. My husband got the cranberry-teriyaki chicken, which he enjoyed. I snuck a bite, and although I'd been skeptical about the cranberry/teriyaki flavor combination, it actually works very well. And now for the not-so-great: *The beef salad was listed as "very spicy" on the menu, and when it came it wasn't spicy at all. Also, the spring rolls were fried. This may have been my fault for not checking with the waiter, but I assumed they would be fresh rolls--instead, they were five little fried spring rolls served with what seemed to be sauce out of a jar. Not very inspired. :( *Those of us that didn't order sushi got our entrees extremely quickly, but then we all sat there while our friend who ordered sushi waited another several minutes for hers. The service seems uneven. *While the food was good and the prices reasonable, we both concluded after leaving the restaurant that we were still hungry. For $12.95, I was expecting a bit more of an entree-sized salad; what came was more of a "large-appetizer-size". If we went there and I ordered the salad again, I would probably get a sushi roll or something similarly substantial to go with it. *Finally, I understand that they don't yet have a liquor license, but in the meantime, it would be nice if there were some more options for drinks. I wasn't really in the mood for tea last night, so water it was! Not that I mind drinking water at all, but it would be good to have some other choices for a festive night out with friends.
(3)
Stephen T.
I've been here once for dining in and a few times for take out and most of the time it's been a good experience. When I ate in, the service was good, they were attentive but not too pushy. I had the pad thai with crispy chicken and it was tasty. The cranberry crab rangoons were also very good, I make them the same way now whenever I make crab rangoons. I've been here for takeout several times since then, and the food's been good almost every time. The Ancient Fried Rice was delicious, one of my favorite dishes here! The lady gaga roll was also delicious, it had a lot of different flavors in it and came 10 to an order. My other two experiences were the meh ones. I had a soft shell crab curry with rice once and that turned out to be pretty standard. I liked that they packaged everything seperately so the crab was still perfectly crisp, but overall it tasted fairly standard. One negative was that there were a bit TOO many bell peppers in the curry. The other thing I had just today was the Indonesian Fried Rice. This was a big let down. While the rice was pretty delicious, the chicken leg on top was pretty flavorless and needed to be seasoned more. Additionally, while the egg was a good over easy, it was burned throughout the whole thing which basically ruined it. I'm guessing this was just a one time occurrence, I was disappointed they didn't just fry another one instead of serving the burned one.
(4)
Julie E.
Ordered delivery from here twice. Time 1: Food arrived quickly. Everything delicious, I mean delicious! Cranberry crab rangoon and some of their special maki were simply yummy. Considered ordering again the next day. A 5 star experience. Time 2: (a few days later) Two hours have gone by since I ordered. I called and they said it was on its way. That was over half an hour ago. I live under 10 minutes from this restaurant. There was nothing in my order than would have taken more than 5 minutes to make. Now I'm sad, and they suck. Update: After 2 hours (I ordered before 7 and the food arrived just after 9), the food arrived. We asked the delivery driver what was going on and he said he left the restaurant 10 minutes earlier with our food, not 40 minutes earlier as the restaurant has claimed. Now they're liars too! This brings it down to 1 star. An Update on the food the second time: The sushi arrived warm, which was unpleasant. The hot appetizers arrived cold, as in sat outside in cold weather cold, which was particularly amusing given it was over 70 degrees outside and restaurant kitchens themselves are usually hot, so we couldn't figure out where the food must have sat. Upon heating (not even reheating as they had no warmth) the apps in the oven, they tasted fine as the previous meal. Just a warning: the tuna tataki was a good bit spicier than at most restaurants, but still good. There are only so many awesome sushi restaurants that also deliver. I do not enjoy mediocre sushi, and avoid probably 90% of japanese/sushi restaurants. At first, I thought Thelonious Monkfish was going to be a new addition to my sushi delivery possibilities, but now I'm not so sure. In the end, I decided to increased the stars back to OK. If they aren't having an off day, you will probably enjoy the food.
(3)
Nick C.
I visited a second time and thought I would write an update. All of the service issues I dealt with on my first visit seem to be fixed. The food is good. I haven't had a bad dish but have had a couple average dishes. Overall I recommend it every once in a while. In the end I find the price is a bit too high for what it is and to eat there often.
(4)
John S.
The decor inside was relaxing and urban...the food was amazing we had a salad ,dumplings, a sushi special, and an entree. All courses where amazing. Only downside no booze. I will be coming back.
(4)
sarah R.
Yeah yeah there's the yummy fruit in the water., the light is right and the place is packed but the food is nothing special. slightly over priced. Summer rolls were light fresh and delicious, perfect crispity-crunch. The Indonesian fried rice was meh, greasy, sweet and spicy with a giant fried chicken leg and deep fried egg -wet batter- Sushi was OK, but definitely not the freshest. TOP 2 REASONS not to dine here: no liquor license and the tables are made for mouse -size people.
(3)
Yael K.
In our Friday tradition my friend and I stopped here for dinner after work. We were seated immediately at the bar. The atmosphere was comfortable and clean. Our waiter was attentive and the food came quickly. We ordered the edamame and the arugula salad for starters. They were pretty satisfying as far as starters go. For our main course, I ordered the Frog Prince Roll and she ordered the rainbow roll. I am a BIG fan of the Frog Prince. The soft avocado, the tender salmon, the brief taste of sweetness from the mango... it all comes together into a delicious combination. I give this place two thumbs up, and would definitely come back here again.
(4)
Archana V.
Never had a bad experience. Love the mad monk noodles and al their sushi creations. The lemongrass chicken soup is another favorite!
(4)
ashley p.
great food, nice and spicy if you want it. I only ordered delivery and it took well over an hour, but it was worth the wait. Just... try to speed it up a little, okay? We're hungry for your delicious tofu!
(4)
Seth J.
I can only vouch for the sushi. Service/atmosphere: New Years Eve may not have been a smart time to try and find a place for dinner sans reservation, and while there were no tables available, we got an immediate seat at the sushi bar. Service was fast enough, and whatever small delays there may have been, I can understand since the place was jammed. We weren't in any hurry, and the place has a comfortable atmosphere with some appropriate jazz playing. It would be super awesome if they had a spot for a jazz combo to play, but that might be asking too much. The food: the rolls were tasty, and they had a couple creative ones that I'll be returning for (the Lady Gaga roll looks so good). Sashimi was nice, which means their fish is good quality. Beverages: they have a nice selection of tea, but unfortunately no beer, wine, sake, or liquor. Maybe they should consider a BYOB license? Overall, good experiences here. Give it a shot if you're in central square and craving sushi.
(4)
Monique K.
The fruity water is delicious, and the food is decent, but I've had better sushi. The sushi isn't BAD, but it's just not the best I've had. My husband loved his noodle dish, though, so perhaps the entrees are better? I would eat here again, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)
andy b.
This nice little sushi place had a really cool fusion style cuisine. The sushi was excellent, and the pad thai with bacon was better than it sounds, (and it sounds amazing!) I hope that I get to head over there again soon. Recommended. Check it out! Just wish they served beer wine or liquor. Come on!
(4)
Secret T.
Really yummy and fresh. I don't eat fish, but the veg stuff I got was great... ginger without dyes... black sesame seeds... and! I'm pretty sure the rice doesn't have sugar in it which most places it does. Woo-hoo! As good as it gets!
(5)
Liz O.
We had ordered here from work and got basic Thai food which was quite good for delivery Thai, especially since it was large pans of everything. They didn't get the order quite right, but what we got was very good. Then I went there this week with my parents, and I was disappointed. I ordered the crispy mandarin duck. I LOVE sweet duck dishes (like with a fruit/wine reduction) and generally I love sweet dishes in general, so when I say it was nauseatingly sweet, it really was. it was like they had dumped a jar of corn syrup on my plate and lovingly placed a beautifully crispy duck breast on top. The side of mashed sweet potatoes was nice. My parents said what they ordered was good, but no one was raving. I almost always order dessert, but after my duck, I already felt like I'd been sucking down Mrs Butterworth and didn't want anything else sweet. They do play jazz, and that made my dad happy. The service was attentive but a little clumsy and they served us our mains before we had finished the uninspired apps. I do plan to go back because I want to try their sushi. Plus, I really like their name and it's not too expensive and close to my office.
(3)
Roseanne C.
disclaimer: i'm not a sushi expert and i actually hate the texture of raw fish. but i had a great experience here. kinda pricey but i just didn't get any of the fancy $15 rolls. i got the steamed mussels with bacon appetizer, which tasted like it was thai-inspired. the bacon didn't need to be in there but i really enjoyed the mussels, and i usually don't care for them. i got a philadelphia roll (i don't think these can ever be amazing or bad. they're just always good) and the C jam roll blues, which is spicy tuna tempura, spicy mayo, and cucumber and delicious and crunchy and i wish i could order some more right now at 3 am. my boyfriend got the fig jam fried rice, which i thought would be really weird, but it had such an amazing blend of flavors. in his words, it tasted kind of like french toast or pancakes but at the same time savory. i know that sounds weird, but it's great, try it!! and i liked the atmosophere and decor, the fun descriptions of stuff on the menu, the cucumber-grapefruit infused water, good service, and all that. definitely going back for the food though!
(5)
Connie Y.
Had a birthday dinner here. The food was delicious, well-priced, and the waiters were generally on top of it. The space is a bit intimate so when it gets busy, it can feel a bit claustrophobic but overall a comfortable, tasty dining experience!
(4)
David A.
Anyone who names a restaurant this creatively certainly deserves our patronage! The food is superb, presentation excellent, pricing very reasonable, and the ambiance delightful. I really enjoyed the Feng-Shui of the establishment, and of course they play jazz all the time, what more can one ask for?
(5)
Rachel C.
Fun name! But food is a bit too fusion with the mashed potatoes at a sushi bar. The place just opened so the service was shotty but I am sure that will get better once they work the kinks out (or so I hope).
(3)
Katie O.
Delicious sushi. The place is a bit cramped, but I love the fruit-infused water, and the maki rolls. :)
(4)
Jordan B.
Went here with my book/movie club to enjoy sushi and talk about Memoirs of a Geisha. The menu is extensive, with options for every palette. Sushi, sashimi, pad thai, and even an Indonesian dish! I enjoyed the Miso Soup and a "Fashion Maki," which had eel, avocado, cream cheese, and flying fish tobiko. Delicious! Everything was plated beautifully and the prices were extremely reasonable. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Atarah L.
My roommate and I went here after work today, and were very impressed. The ambiance is great, and the sushi was out of this world. Try the Lover Man's maki if you like spicy tuna!! Also, as others have noted the cranberry crab rangoons were amazing. Great spot, we'll be back.
(5)
Hiroki M.
By far the coolest and best dining experience in Central Square, if not all of Cambridge. The interior is classy, the service is superb, and the sushi and pan-Asian cuisine is excellent. Might I also add that the owner is extremely personable and great. You can talk to him on twitter or yelp and he always responds to feedback or criticism. I checked in on FourSquare for my birthday and within 5 minutes he came over and gave me a free sushi roll. That's 21st Century service.
(5)
Ashley H.
Woohoo is right! My friend and I ventured into Central Square to do some shopping and decided to get dinner together. Fortunately, the menu is hanging right in the window, so we took a look and went inside. Right away, we were greeted by the host and seated. The atmosphere is fabulous! I ordered a seafood dish (I can't remember which one) and she ordered a chicken dish. Both meals were good! (She let me sample some of hers.) The waiter was friendly and attentive.
(5)
N A.
I took my girlfriend here for a special night out - and it totally failed. I ordered a noodle dish was that billed as spicy and asked for it to be extra spicy, and it came out extremely bland. I asked the waiter for hot sauce to give it at least SOME flavor, and he brought me some - 10 min later. We were unimpressed. My girlfriend thought her sushi was fine - but then became extremely sick later that night. I'm not saying it was food poisoning...but that was sure what it looked like. We live less than five minutes away from this establishment, but we will never be going back.
(1)
Mona M.
We ordered takeout from Thelonious Monkfish. My Pad See Ew was fabulous. It might be my new favorite takeout item in the city. The kale was perfectly steamed, the stems still crunchy. There was a nice carmelization on the chicken and noodles. The hubs sais his tamarind duck was "quite good," which is high marks from a guy who usually hates everything (she says with love). The staff seemed very friendly and attentive, and I look forward to going back for dine-in. May wanna call ahead, it looked pretty bustling already for 5:30 on a Friday.
(5)
dante b.
I am thrilled to have Thelonius Monkfish in my neighborhood. The food is not standard asian restaurant fare, and it's all quite good -- some of it is better than that -- the setting is comfortable, the service is good and the price is low (about $12-15 for an entree). And the music (no surprise) is jazz. There are certainly better restaurants, but I can't think of a better value.
(4)
Ali W.
Thelonious Monkfish is hands down one of my favorite sushi spots in Cambridge. I have been there five or six times and never had a bad experience. It is affordable, the ambiance is comfortable and chic and I mean...jazz and sushi? Waitstaff in matching seasonal uniforms? Roles named things like "Little Red Riding Hood," (one of my absolute favorites- I never thought strawberries could taste good on sushi and somehow they made this happen). It doesn't get much better than this for me. My boyfriend and I often go just the two of us but we recently went with a group of six and had an awesome time. Everything from the soup to the sushi boat was perfect- only tiny little issue- why do sushi places put shrimp on the sushi boats? It's always the last thing to get eaten, you eat all the special sushi and then it's like..."okay, I guess I'll have the shrimp." We left one shrimp (the only thing left on the boat) hoping to possibly get the message across. Also- they don't have a liquor license yet. It worked out fine for us because getting drinks before and after added to the night, just don't go hoping to get a bottle of wine with your meal. If you want somewhere fun to take friends from out of town- this is the place.
(5)
E. L.
Went back, this time for lunch and got the sushi boat. Great value and very tasty! The rolls were generously loaded with fish, and everything was very fresh. Along with getting the 40 piece sushi boat (40$) you also get seaweed salad, enough for three people! Once again, recommended!
(4)
P. K.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner after work and we had a great experience. I was really craving sushi and this place did not disappoint. The service was prompt and polite and I enjoyed the water that had fruit soaked in it. The food was tasty and fresh, bonus for punny names! I will definitely be back here again.
(4)
Roshini Z.
First off, I'm really happy that Central Square has a sushi place now. The good: I got the Lover Man Maki and the Dynamite roll. Both were excellent. The rice was cooked well and the rolls were lovely explosions of flavor in my mouth. My dinner companions got a Monk Maki special, a duck Massaman curry and a duck lychee curry. I tried a bite of the duck lychee and it was *delicious*! The service was also good - nothing to complain about there. The bathroom was also clean. The not-so-good: It's pretty cramped in there and we bumped up against other people's plates when exiting from our table. A little more space between tables for those of us squeezing out from bench seats. There were also no liquor offerings, but it seems like they are in the process of getting their liquor license. All in all, I look forward to going back and I recommend you make a visit if you like sushi and/or Thai-style curries!
(4)
stina S.
This place is... confusing. We went shortly after they first opened and although the food was impressive, we couldn't help but giggle at the ridiculously verbose and flowery menu descriptions and how frequently the waitstaff filled our water glasses. Really, every sip of water we took and someone rushed over to top us off. All in all, we were pleased and eager to return and try some of the other menu items. On our most recent visit, we were squished into the worst table in the joint with the next table pushed so close I couldn't get out of my seat without our neighboring table nudging dishes and glassware and eventually the table out of my way. Sort of off-putting when you're dropping around $75 for a meal that doesn't include drinks. The service, while not unpleasant, was the confusing part. There were tons of waiters wandering around and just like the first time, they were mad about filling water glasses. One guy brought us water, another rushed over right after him and we ordered appetizers and another one was hot on HIS heels so we scrambled to order entrees. Then ANOTHER dude brought us the food. None of these waiters spoke a word to us that was audible.They forgot one of my boyfriend's sushi rolls and one of mine was missing the sauce but since no one came to check on us after the food got dropped off, we couldn't really tell anyone. Then the host brought us our bill which had the missing roll exed out on the bill. Like someone noticed we didn't get it and just took it off the bill but didn't say anything? Strange. So all in all, the foods solid and the minor errors with our order would have been easily fixed if anyone came by to check. In my opinion, they'd be better off supplying each table one attentive waiter than 5 who don't seem to be communicating with us or each other. Hope they work out the kinks!
(2)
Yuko I.
Cool name but the food not matching its name. Simply, too expensive for the quality of sushi. OK, no other competition for sushi place at Central Sq. but does not deserve Thelonious Monk name.
(1)
luosha c.
the food here is amazing! usually fusion asian = overpriced and under-delicious, but that was definitely NOT the case here. for japanese, we got the salmon donburi (sashimi over rice), which not only had fresh fish and gorgeous rice, with little chopped up bits of japanese pickles in it, but came with five (count them! FIVE!) intense green shiso leaves. for reference, most places you can count yourself lucky with one. and if you don't adore shiso .. then surely you haven't been introduced. but that's another post. for thai, we got the drunken noodles with pork (super flavorful meat, not greasy, and this sound silly, but man i've never had baby corn so good. seriously). also the duck salad, which as far as the salad went, was as good as - maybe even better than - the thai salads at S & I, or even in NY. the only thing that wasn't pretty much perfect were the duck pieces, which were large, and on the bland side. we were a tad wary of the fusion-y looking items on the menu (bacon pad thai, anyone?), and so steered clear, but will be curious to see what others thought. even though the restaurant was maybe 90% full when we went on a sunday night, our service was prompt and friendly, and the prices were very reasonable. (3 full dishes including sushi, $43 including tip). we were totally thrilled with this place ... I can't wait to go back to try the som tum (papaya salad).
(5)
jordan n.
Huge Menu, solid food, good prices, and cool atmosphere they need a liquor license though.
(3)
Kendra D.
Pretty good Japanese / Sushi place. As expected, jazz standards are playing in the background in the dining area. Service is quick and attentive. I found the maki rolls we ordered to be fresh and flavorful. The Mad Monk noodles were also very tasty with just enough kick. It can be a little loud and crowded, great for dinner with friends - probably not for a date.
(4)
Maria R.
Really fresh & tasty sushi. Thank God for good sushi in Central Square! yay! we've waited for you!
(4)
ester k.
Most decent sushi rolls in the Cambridge area with reasonable prices and service. Didn't like the fruit containing special rolls, but did enjoy the regular maki menu, especially "Mack the Knife".
(4)
N S.
Delicious and inexpensively priced food (esp for sushi) with a hip ambience. Little flourishes like delicate fruit-flavored water added to it. Both sushi and various asian entrees available. Friends said that since the chef from Pepper Sky works here now (have not been there personally), their thai food is also bound to be great. I came here twice the same week my first time!
(5)
Alya A.
Decidedly mixed experience. The sushi was good, especially the roll that was a combination of three of four kinds of tuna. The wait was ridiculous. We had a reservation for 7, and by the time they seated us and took our order it was 7:30. The sushi took half an hour to arrive, and the tea we ordered never came until we asked a different waiter. We decided we wanted to get another sushi roll, and the wait was even longer... The people around us were having the same kind of experience. Hopefully this place will get things figured out in a few months, but right now, you should only go if you're willing to chill for a while.
(3)
Sarah S.
Oh, Thelonious, I love you so... The improvement from when they first opened is astounding. The sushi is good and reasonably priced. The Drunken Noodles are the best I've ever tasted- spicy with veggies that aren't overcooked and finally I've found an Asian place that uses veggies other than broccoli in all of their dishes since I hate cooked broccoli. The service is great although I left off 1 star because they still need to work a little on their timing (I hate waiting for someone else's meal when mine is hot and yummy in front of me, but I hate being rude also. A little variation is acceptable, but I shouldn't be able to finish my appetizer before my dinner date's arrives). Also, like others have mentioned- checking that the servers understood you is always a good practice. They have improved enormously since I first went there (1st week they were open) and are an awesome addition to Central. My one beef is I wish the sushi lunch combos came with soup or a salad since their sushi can be a little slow sometimes and I like a little variation with my meal.
(4)
Paul P.
great place for fusion cruisine, eat here and/or take out about once a week... recommend basil fried rice with fried egg
(5)
Jezzieo O.
Yummy sushi and portioned like you were ordering from Shinjuku. Yay! Only downside is no alcohol lisence yet so my hubby and I didn't linger after polishing off an embarassing amount of sushi. Looking forward to trying some of the fusion dishes.
(4)
Karen W.
I'm tempted to go back and give this place another try because I'm excited that there is a sushi restaurant in Central Square, but my first time here was a disappointment. A friend and I ordered the coconut curry fries to start (they sound tasty and interesting on paper and in other Yelp reviews, but the flavor combination didn't work so well for us), and then we shared several of their creative fusion rolls. Note that it will take you about 20 minutes to read and process the descriptions of the rolls and figure out what you really want: you eventually realize that most of them are some combination of tuna (or spicy tuna) and salmon. In fact, my biggest complaint is that all the rolls we ordered ended up tasting like a very mealy amalgam of tuna and salmon. Perhaps some of their curry and stir-fried noodle dishes are better; they certainly looked tasty on our neighbor's table -- which was within breathing distance, by the way... The fruit-infused water is a nice touch.
(2)
Aaron P.
The conceptual fusion of jazz and sushi works for me, as does the cutesy name. Killer sushi. My big complaint is that they didn't have booze the when I lived in the area, but apparently they do now! I'd love to go back and get some sake and beer to go along with their awesome sushi.
(4)
Martina R.
The name of this spot won me over. Came in for soup and a beer, but it's obvious that their strong suit is sushi. For a party or special date, they have over sized boats on which they present the sushi. It's lavish, and maybe even overkill, but definitely will add some kick to any celebration. It's in a convenience location, good prices, and generally very enjoyable.
(4)
Halle R.
I wanted to love this place- I really did. It started off so promising. My party of six ordered the coconut curry fries (on the recommendation of yelp reviewers- thanks, guys!), which were excellent and sparked a conversation about coconuts. I got a salmon maki roll, which had generously-portioned fish and was fairly-priced. Then the entrees started coming out. My brother's fried rice came out first, followed about four minutes later by my soup. There was then four minutes or so between each consecutive entree that came out, so by the time the last one came, my brother had his entree for about 20 minutes and was almost finished (we weren't going to make him wait for us). To make matters worse, my father's entree (which was the fourth to come out) was barely lukewarm, so he sent it back. Once all the food came, it was pretty good, especially the duck and the tofu curry dishes we ordered. I found my soba noodle soup somewhat bland, but I'm aware that Asian-style vegetarian soups are often geared towards a different palate, so no deductions for that. All told, I'm not sure I'd come back for dinner (or anytime it might be busy), and if I do I'll probably only order sushi.
(3)
Raenelle F.
Friday Night lets Grab Dinner date with Tara... We walked up and down Cambridge until we found a new place to try an it looked good unlike empty Yoki. We knew had the craving for some Sushi. Since Its a Friday you have to make a reservation so I made a 6pm reservation. As we got in we were promptly seated at this time it was us and two other parties. Five minutes into us sitting a number of Parties started to arrive which showed the Restaurants downfall. With a place that can get so busy it is Super small so you are interrupting the parties seated close by to get in and out your seat. So it makes you wait until your done with dinner to get up to use the bathroom even if you did have to go before. As you past you feel like you are brushing against those next to you and their food... The aura of the place was nice I think the lighting is perfect for a dinner and drinks... The waiter came promptly to ask what we would like to drink and then came back with our Drinks after that we didn't see him for another 30-45mins not until we basically had to flag him down to put in our orders. We then waited and watched as everyone who came after us got their food,ate,laughed,paid,and left all in the 1 1/2 hour wait for out food. Seafood does not take that Long Especially with Jasmine Rice and Glass Noodles. Appetizer: Spicy Lobster Roll *Yummy and The Mango helps the spicy Mayo tremendously* Drinks:Coke&Sprite*Tara said her sprite was watered down* I can't say much on the coke being that I only drank it because their was no Pepsi Dinner:I chose the Dive in the Deep Blue Sea(calamari,shrimp,scallops,&mussels galore with Glass Noodles)* this meal was tasty but nothing to jump for joy about unless your happy with the many different seafoods packed on the plate. If you are into the way a meal is presented like me you will not like this dish.Very Sloppy Looking.* Tara chose the Soft Shell Curried Crab w/ Jasmine Rice* so I had to taste and it was perfect blend if sweet,spice,crisp curry. Also looked great* After getting our food the lady basically rushed us because more people started coming in and the line was outside NOT OUR FAULT YOU DIDNT BUILD YOUR RESTAURANT FOR A BIGGER CROWD Do not recommend to go on a busy winter evening It's cold so your eating with you jacket it on because the place is so small
(2)
Eloni F.
Waaaaaaaay overpriced. I got 3 shumai for $6. They weren't even very big or tasty. The wraps on them were chewy. The atmosphere is cute but the quality of the food is average and the portions are small. I prefer going to Spice and Rice for the same foods. Also, the service was really slow. There were like 4 other tables occupied when I got there... no excuse. The quality and prices of Moksa are better and so is the atmosphere. How they won Best of Phoenix leads me to believe that they had a different chef before. Also, I am horrified that in a prior response to a complaint about MSG the respondent both denied using MSG and accused the person complaining of not doing their research. Shaaaaaaame. If I get a rude private message, like another Yelper who was called fat, that response goes straight to Yelp admins.
(2)
TnC M.
I have been here three times since they had opened and I absolutely love their food and service (: the restaurant could probably fit about 30 people and has a sushi bar. Its a cute little place. Their rolls on the menu are very creative. I have yet to try any of the fancy ones, but I hear good things about them. So far I have tried their regular makis like spicy tuna and crazy maki. I usually order one roll as an appetizer...haha. Their sushi is fresh and delicious. They have a variety of fried rice on the menu and so far I have had the basil fried rice and the indonesian fried rice. They were both very tasty. I got the lunch portion which was not small at all. The waitors are pretty quick and they were always kind everytime I went. I will try this place again and explore new food on their menu !
(5)
Mai U.
Consistently good food and good service. Very nice neighborhood restaurant!
(5)
Alisha R.
I have no idea why people give this place good reviews. There is absolutely nothing special about Thelonius's rolls besides perhaps the clever names they give them in their menu. The rice is not cooked well (as in, I believe it was overcooked), their ingredients are not fresh, and the service isn't great (service was slow when we got there). We also tried their miso soup which wasn't even good - it had a slightly sweeter taste, which was bizarre. And really, how can you even mess up MISO SOUP?! Lastly, it is clear the owner of this restaurant cannot handle the criticism and asks his friends to actively berate and bully Yelp users who attempt to provide their opinion of the restaurant (ex. a Yelp user messaged me with "You're fat!" Her first review on Yelp? Thelonious Monkfish - five stars. Listen, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.)
(1)
R T.
This is the one sushi place where I order anything that looks intriguing, because I know without a doubt that the ingredients will be very fresh. I have to say also that I've never seen sushi and sashimi plated so exquisitely. So taste and presentation (and selection and service also) get two enthusiastic thumbs up. The few negatives I have are logistical. The restaurant is always crowded and very noisy, so this is not the place for a quiet meal with conversation. There's no waiting area so if your table is near the front you get bumped and jostled. I really wouldn't recommend this as a place for children or for anyone with accessibility issues, either, and it's Central Square so parking is a sincere challenge. But if you can live with these criticisms, you'll get a great meal.
(4)
Jieyuan W.
Go for their party boats instead of À la carte menu. Simply amazing.
(4)
Candice B.
One of the better sushi spots I have ever been to! Even though I am not a fan of Cambridge, I will set foot in Cambridge just to go to the Monkfish! Delicious fruit-infused water, they also have a list of iced and hot teas to choose from. What's better than drinking tea while having sushi, like a true Japanese! Coconut Curry Fries - they are probably the BEST fries I have ever had... curry on fries are just one of the better combinations out there. The tempura battered fries are just sooooo delicious! Ikura Sake Don - Salmon Sashmi and Salmon Roe over a bed of sushi rice. Now, I have had similar "sake dons" at various sushi spots, but none can top the monkfish. The key thing is, they actually cared to flavor the rice! a lot of places just slap a few pieces of salmon sashimi on a bed of jasmine rice, but the Monkfish use real sushi rice along with some pickled veggies and sesame seeds mixed in... YUM! I haven't had a chance to try all of their "specialty" rolls, because I am pretty picky with my sushi - no cooked rolls, and no "americanized" rolls. California rolls are really created for Westerners, as with many "inside out" rolls. I like my fish fresh and raw... sashimi is my favorite... and the Monkfish serves up some fresh and delicious fish within reasonable prices. As to their cooked foods, my friend ordered their crispy chicken pad thai.... ICHIBAN!!! If I wasn't so distracted by the sushi menu, I would have ordered some of the cooked goodies such as the pad thai, or even noodle bowls! Definitely gonna keep coming back!
(5)
Alvin C.
This review is based on the take-out lunch experience I just had. The place is buzzing, hipsters of all ages are mingling with business folk from biotech companies near buy, and it looks like the place to be at noon on a Friday. I called in my order, and it took the a while to get it. Then it was placed on the counter and the person at the front did not see it until I gestured, and still no urgency. Finally, I get my food and exit the happening spot. I head to the T-Stop and start eating under ground... IT WAS GOOD! There was a roll, I did not order or particularly want in my order, but it was good too. The mixup and the time it took were forgiven. Still, there are other spots that have comparable sushi. I plan to go back and bask in the ambience. The jazz theme vibe seems exciting, and I am ready to have the 4 or 5 star experience other yelpers seem to have. Well that is my hope, because a 1 star experience at a sushi restaurant usually means bad things for one's stomach.
(3)
Jonathan W.
Seeing some one and two star reviews for this restaurant makes me question the judgement of people on Yelp. I think these are the folks making this site unreliable, as Thelonious Monkfish is definitely one of the better restaurants in Boston. I've been here with friends, family, and it has never been anything but consistently excellent. I once dropped chopsticks, seconds later a smiling waitress brought me a new pair, where did she come form? How did she notice? We finished pouring a drink, a minute later the empty bottle disappeared to make more room on the table. Aside from that, they offer anything you could want, and I've found everything I tried to be excellent. If there is any negative its that there are TOO many options and its overwhelming and it's such good food that its always busy, just book a table in advance. Oh also it's a little short on space but fine.
(5)
Josephine L.
Oh boy. This place is literally a block around the corner from my apt. Which means unless I get food poisoning, see a rat or piss off a manager, I will be plunking down a lot of moolah here for quickie lunches and dinners. For the rest of you who have to make a trek longer than 30 seconds, I suggest waiting another week or so until they've settled into their place and have their act together. I knew coming in on the first day would probably be chaotic and hectic and it was. Our lunch took a good half hour longer than it should have and was probably 1.5 hrs in total. What to get: Rainbow Roll is delicious, although they forgot to give us crabstick. To make up for it, the sushi chef happily made us a gratis roll of crabstick nigiri, which was nice. Neither of us were huge fans of the Satchma roll. It's just hard to eat with the cucumber wrap, and after a while, you get tired of the insides spilling out. Plus, no rice. And the combination of ingredients gets a little rich after a while. The Mack the Knife is delicious, though. I'm excited to try their other noodle soups (re: food obsession), but the Burmese Noodle Soup was a flop for me. I naturally go for the most exotic-sounding dish on the menu, so wanted to try this, but it was so rich and thick. Coconut curry soup sounds good in theory, but not when it's almost sauce-like in texture, covered with fried noodles that make it even more rich. Next time, I think I'll try the Duck Noodle Soup or the Beef Noodle Soup, though it's not the Taiwanese kind. The space is lovely, with bar seating, table seating and even tatami seating. If you work/live in the area, it's definitely worth stopping by. Central Sq has a lot going on but it definitely lacks good Asian/sushi eateries, and with Floating Rock taking FOREVER to open ("Imminent guys, imminent!" -Facebook page), this will do to satisfy my Asian cravings until the weather gets warmer and I can make more trips to Allston.
(3)
Helen M.
Not quite sure why this place has negative reviews. The boy and I went to dinner with a friend who works in the area and recommended this place. The staff was super nice and seated us while waiting for our friend to arrive. The food was even more awesome! We ordered so much food that we literally waddled out of the restaurant. Dynamite Roll: So good! I would definitely order this again. Sleeping Beauty Roll: My favorite of the night! The pineapple and mango gave the roll a hint of sweetness and worked so well with the fish! Coconut Curry Fries: I know... who orders fries at an Asian restaurant!? But these were really crispy and the secret was the sauce - a slight sweet curry sauce. I wanted to bathe in that! Fever Wings: After our entrees, we still didn't get these so we asked about our order and apparently the kitchen forgot so these came out last. They weren't very good. The chicken was dry and tough while the sauce didn't have much flavor. Maybe they rushed the order since they forgot but I wouldn't order these again. Ancient Fried Rice: Delicious. Love the duck in this dish Drunken Noodles with Beef: So good! Nice and spicy and they didn't skimp on the beef which was nice and tender. I'd definitely come back with a group and try as much as possible again! Although next time I don't think we'll order 2 rolls, 2 entrees and 2 apps between 3 people unless we want to continue our waddle.
(4)
Jennifer T.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon, and the place had plenty of seating for lunchtime. The waitstaff was attentive but didnt speak much to us the whole time. The sushi was funky, fresh, and unique flavors, very Japanese fusion inspired. We got the "Lady Gaga roll", "Lover Man", and I think it was called "Snow White". The portions were big and the prices reasonable. The lover man was our favorite, with the spicy tuna and unagi on top. The gaga roll was quite the experience, with the various flavors inside. The Snow white was intriguing, more like a dessert sushi, with the sweet mango and pineapple mixed in with the white tuna. We also got a spicy tuna maki, which came with plenty of meat. Definitely a chill place for lunch and could see this being a lively place for dinner as well.
(4)
Jon L.
I'm not a sushi expert, so this review reflects my experiences with all the non-sushi items here - I've come here probably 6-7 times. I personally think this place is over-priced and over-rated, but the Asian fusion restaurant niche in Central Square isn't saturated yet, so friends keep suggesting this place. Why this place gets at least 3 stars: -it's got a great ambience - jazzy music in the background, minimalist decor - it's great for dates and/or small groups. -Stuffed lychees and the duck florentine noodles were two dishes we ordered recently that I liked a lot; in general, props for some of the inventive tastes and flavors they have here - not all of them "work" but I like restaurants that take some risks Why this place gets no more than 3 stars: -The prices for the dishes reflect the cost of "ambience," so if you're ordering out from this place, you're paying too much -This place gives off the vibe of being hip for its own sake (just look at the *creative* names for some of their dishes). It's not inherently bad, but there's some over-selling. Spend more time marinating and less time over-cooking the katsu.
(3)
Marie W.
We've been to Thelonius Monkfish three times and find that it never disappoints. They have Thai food and sushi, but we come for the sushi. I like the vegetarian sushi options--especially the Frankie and Johnny roll (sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, avocado) and the Alice Coltrane roll (shitake, green apple, asparagus tempura). My husband likes the Sophisticated Lady roll (with salmon instead of tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado, eel sauce) and Spicy Sake (a spicy salmon roll). Service is good and there usually isn't too much of a wait. We would definitely recommend it!
(4)
K. H.
I have had sushi in every corner of Boston..I never would of expected to find such an amazing place in central square!! From the second I walked in to the moment I left I was very impressed. Elegant atmosphere, great service, and the sushi was perfection:) The owner even came by and greeted us as we sat at the sushi bar. Perfect date spot, or to dip in before a show at the middle east. I can't wait to go back
(5)
Lisa S.
I finally tried Thelonious Monkfish last night. My friend and I got there at 7:45pm. The inside is a lot smaller than I expected- maybe 12 or so tables. 2 of them are larger tables where you sit on the ground (Indian-style) to eat. I liked the music in the background and overall I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant. It seemed like a great date place. I ordered a diet coke, and the waiter informed me that there were free refills. The menu was huge! I definitely appreciated their large selection of vegetarian rolls- it was much larger/more interesting than other restaurants I've been to. I ordered the cracked egg soup ($4.50) and 2 vegetarian rolls- avocado & cucumber maki ($4.95) and william tell maki ($5.25). My friend ordered the drunken noodles ($9.95) and the Lady Gaga roll ($14.95). The cracked egg soup came out quickly and was AMAZING. And big. The soup was definitely a standout and I will be ordering it next time I'm here. The drunken noodles came out next. It was pretty big, tasty, and we both found it to be spicy (which she didn't mind). Then we waited and waited and waited for our sushi. We didn't get the sushi until 9pm- 1 hour and 15 minutes after we had sat down. By that point, we weren't really hungry anymore and we kinda just wanted to get the check and leave. My friend liked the Lady Gaga roll but said it would have to be pretty special to excite her after that long. I liked both my rolls- the william tell maki had apples in it, so it was nice and crunchy. Everything tasted fresh. We ended up eating about half our rolls and asking for the check- we probably didn't leave til 9:20 or so. So over 1.5 hours for dinner! And that was with us rushing our waiter near the end. I liked the ambiance, the menu (the sushi vegetarian options especially), and all our dishes were either solid or really good. However, I wouldn't come back that often for dinner during the week, since I don't usually want to spend 1.5-2 hours for dinner unless it's a date or special event (although I heard they also do take out). If they could speed up their sushi production, this place would be fantastic!
(4)
Mary G.
Aside from a clever name and menu, nothing really stands out about Thelonious Monkfish. It is just another sushi restaurant where it is impossible to find a roll that isn't based on some combination of tuna, hamachi, and salmon, just like every other sushi restaurant. Considering all three of those fish are all endangered, unsustainable, and high in toxins, it is too hard being healthy and green here to even start to be concerned about things like original, unique, and tasty. The waiter was flummoxed and unable to answer any questions I had about the fish they were serving. So, eating salmon/tuna/hamachi was off the plate, which ruled out virtually every single maki of theirs (given eel, shrimp, tobiko, octopus, etc. can also be unsustainable or just not tasty depending on where they are from). The rolls were expensive, the sashimi was expensive, and nothing was remarkable. The William Tell roll was both reasonably good and reasonably priced, so if I went back I would only explore the vegetarian rolls. If you want fun, inventive rolls, well priced (generous) portions of unsustainable sashimi, maki, etc. head over to Watertown for the much more awesome Super Fusion II. They still can't tell you where the fish came from, but its heads and tails over places like this.
(2)
Alyssa Y.
Perhaps because I'm Japanese I'm bound to be a hater. But I'm also a lover of all foods Asian and while Thelonious Monkfish spans most of Asia with its menu, its ambitious breadth fails to provide proper execution. I get that they're going for some innovative fusion but of the Thai and Japanese dishes I've had upon a couple visits, the flavors were usually overdone, meat overcooked, and ingredients only average in quality. I will say that the menu is cute-- who doesn't like witty prose to fill the time, especially if you're on a first date or such. But that's all that I'm willing to praise. Although if I'm forced to come here again, I'm ecstatic they finally have a liquor license so that I won't care so much about the food's taste.
(2)
Tanya A.
I recently ordered some straight Japanese food here, and was actually much more impressed with it than I was with the fusion cuisine. The tonkatsu was perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender on the inside, and it came with a generous serving of shredded salad of exactly the kind I was served in Japan at a famous tonkatsu restaurant. The "normal" sushi rolls were also tasty, and nicely sized. In the future, then, I'll stick to the traditional Japanese dishes!
(4)
Dillon M.
Had dinner during a recent visit to Boston. We had a great meal of mostly sushi and lots of Saki. It has a nice vibe inside, though sitting at the traditional Japanese table became pretty uncomfortable after a while (add Saki). Even still, service was prompt and the food was excellent. We will definitely consider a return visit on our next trip to Boston.
(4)
Mo N.
Finally had a chance to eat here! ...and (gasp) wait for it... I LOVED IT!!! How could you not? OR How could you? 1. (finally) a reasonably priced sushi place with high quality fresh sushi. I feel like these owners fly the fish in first class from Japan every morning right from Tsukiji! Could that be??? 2. (finally) a place that can satisfy my cravings for drunken noodles and miso noodle soup - at the same time. 3. (finally) a place in Central that has an ambiance that provides soul appeasement, when in Bohemian Central. 4. (finally) a place that does drunken noodles just right. Here they're drunken with flavor and not with the lagoon of grease and basil scraps EVERY Thai restaurant so laboriously douses their drunken noodles with. You can actually taste the crisp herbaceous comrades (the fuckin' vegetables), along with the delicate basil that attend to your palate alongside the meat and noodles! Get what you want here, its all great...or get the miso chicken noodle soup and drunken noodles - yup, I adore those damn noodles! Just my $0.02...
(5)
Jamie I.
A go-to for me in the neighborhood, both ordering through delivery service online and in person. After a bad experience with a third-party delivery service where I ultimately didn't get my order, the owner and general manager reached out and left me a message apologizing plus a gift card, which goes a long way. The great food and attention to customers means I'll be coming back.
(4)
Sarah D.
Beer, Wine & Sake are now on the menu, and the service and food are as good as ever. I stopped in the other night for some sashimi, a miso soup and a tall Sapporo. The fish was fresh. The soup was juuuuust right. And the Sapporo was beer. Perfect! And for the record, while I chose Sapporo out of habit and because everybody knows i like big cans (WHAT), they actually have some pretty nice beers available. I promised a 4th star if they got a liquor license. They kept up their end of the bargain and I feel entirely justified in doing the same. Thelonious Monkfish has more than earned a spot in my rotation.
(4)
Nicole P.
I know this place is pricey but it's awesome and it's walking distance from my house. Also, the fairytale rolls rock- I highly recommend them! They also have the typical rolls, sashimi, great appetizers (try the calamari) and the table water is flavored with cucumber. A definite go-to for Central Square residents.
(5)
H. G.
I'm glad they now serve beer, wine, and sake, but I still don't love the food here. I have now tried the sushi three times, and it's mediocre in my opinion. I HATE when the fish in a roll is minced up like you're having a tuna salad sandwich or something. I also tried the brown rice sushi and it was awful. So dry. The only place that's done well is Duozo (and Whole Foods if you can believe it). I have ordered a couple of fried rice and noodle dishes. Those, again, were pretty mediocre. The soups have been my favorite thing to order at this restaurant. In general, I think this place suffers from trying to do too much. The menu is about as big as the Cheesecake Factory's (not that I've been there in a decade). Pages and pages of every kind of Asian dish you can imagine. That never works out very well. Anyway, Central Square really needs to chill out with all the Asian restaurants.
(2)
Hilary S.
This place is hip and popular, but over hyped. The fancier, expensive sushi rolls are delicious and creative (the sleeping beauty has an unbelievable mango sauce). But, the basic sushi rolls are nothing special and the rest of their menu is pretty disappointing. Pretty much everything I've tried other than sushi was very mediocre. If it wasnt for a few redeeming sushi offerings, this restaurant would have a single star. If you're going, stick to the sushi.
(2)
Alee G.
I love Thelonious Monkfish! This place was recommended by a friend, so I decided to check it out. It's right in the heart of Central Square. The signage isn't exactly eye-catching; My friend and I passed it twice trying to find it. It was a bit smaller than I expected, but that wasn't a problem. We went on a Friday evening around 6PM, and were seated immediately. We made reservations, but if we hadn't I imagine that we would have been seated right away anyway, there were plenty of spots available. I ordered a Thai iced tea (yummy!) and the Tamarind Duck. I'm a huge fan of duck, so I like to order it at different restaurants to find out who I think prepares it best, and Thelonious took the cake! The duck was tender, juicy (not greasy) and seasoned to perfection. I was so pleased! It was served with Kale and jasmine rice. The service was wonderful. The staff was very attentive and friendly. The place did get a little crowded within an hour of us being there, and unfortunately we were asked to leave shortly after we paid the check to make some space for waiting customers. I wasn't too thrilled about that, but it was understandable, plus they offered us a free appetizer for the next time we came to the restaurant. Good move! :-) I can't wait to go to this place again! 2 thumbs wayyy up!
(5)
Gal N.
Tasty food! came here for dinner on a nice summer evening. The atmosphere was friendly and casual, and the service very quick. The food itself was quite good, and the dishes creative-- more than your run of the mill selection of asian cuisine. We had duck spring rolls, chicken satay and coconut curry fries for appetizers, then a few rice dishes (the chicken teriyaki fried rice, with pears, was a bit sweet, and surprisingly good) and a couple of orders of sushi. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food. Overall, it was a nice experience, and I won't hesitate to come here again when in the mood for good, interesting asian food.
(4)
Susan K.
Been to this place twice and its pretty cool. The atmosphere is trendy. Definitely a fusion asian restaurant. Staff are polite (pretty rare in Asian restaurants in general) and for some reason, their water is SO GOOD. It's probably because they put slices of fruit in their water pitchers. Nonetheless, their (FREE) water is pretty good! The food itself is good. Not the best but definitely has a unique selection of entrees where some are a mix of different Asian foods. For example, I had a donkastu kare, which is basically donkastu with korean curry sauce. Interesting combo. The portions are pretty big too. I had to share my meal with others. Not the best Asian food but interesting and unique. I can see myself coming back...especially for their delicious water!
(3)
Arthur H.
Excellent food and the service was great! I recommend the mad monk noodles and the sleeping beauty roll. Would definitely come back again.
(5)
Lauren D.
This is a LONG overdue review. Unfortunately, my husband and I have moved away from Cambridge, but when we lived there, we were just down the street from Thelonious. This quickly became our favorite restaurant and expanded our interest in sushi - though I will admit there were several rolls we could have done without. We quickly tended to stick with our menu favorites: Gaga Monster Roll - sooo worth $15, the Crazy Roll, the Volcano Roll, Chicken Pad Thai, Cranberry Chicken Fried Rice (oh my gosh, AMAZING) and Veggie Potpourri (when I didn't feel like meat). Usually, we would just order 1 or 2 sushi rolls and either the Pad Thai or Fried rice and the two of us left quite full - so pretty reasonably priced for 2 people to eat in Cambridge/Boston. I think my husband would be happy to go even if it was just for the delicious cucumber water. When we were feeling really piggy, we'd also get an order of the cranberry crab rangoon - such an excellent twist on an old standard! My husband also loved the chicken green curry - and we tasted one in Thailand the summer we moved that tasted exactly like it - so I'd say that's promising:) I will admit, the service was often slow. I guess the food won out for us. So much so, that when we got married in 2012 - we decided to ask the restaurant if they would be willing to let us rent them out for 2 hours for our rehersal dinner. We quickly became chummy with Jamme, the owner, and Andy, one of the managers, as they worked with us to make a fabulous (and reasonably priced) rehersal dinner. Our event couldn't have gone better - Jamme even threw in having a violinist play for us. Our guests absolutely loved the unique rehersal dinner - and the yummy food (we ordered a mix of dishes including all of the favorites listed above and a few others for veggie/beef options - and three different sushi boats for appetizers). We still get compliments. People's complaints about slow service or having to wait (even with a reservation) are justified, but let's be honest, Bostonians could use something to slow down their day once in awhile. Enjoy the company and you'll get a chance to enjoy the food:) We definitely miss being able to walk down the street to our favorite restaurant.
(5)
R S.
Awesome food but a bit pricey. Best dish: fried tofu basil. My boyfriend's favorite is the chicken drunken noodle. Would be 5 star except for the price. The place itself is kind of small so I would suggest takeout if it's crowded.
(4)
Christian H.
Thelonius Monkfish. Whats in a name? After a bit of research, I discovered it was a play on the name of famous jazz composer and musician, Thelonius Monk. That of course not really giving or taking away from experience, it was something that I had been wanting to check out. Full of interesting asian cuisine, it was worth looking into. Located in Central Square, the name and said food is definitely something to draw interested restaurant goers. One thing that is noticeable, that it has become yet another new restaurant added to the area. My roommate and I decided to check it out as we were both fans of sushi. Needless to say, we were pretty excited by the prospect. We were sat pretty quickly as it was in the mid afternoon, right between dinner and lunch. As very looked over the menu, I was surprised to see a lack of drink selection. Granted, there was a tea listing, but nothing more. However, there was a huge selection of various dishes, but we decided to stick to our guns for the sushi. There were so many things to choose from as far sushi, but we narrowed it down to a few. However, it did take time for our waiter to come over. We had to wait a bit, but when he did finally come over we ordered tempura shumai to start with, the famed Lady Gaga roll, Sophisticated Lady, The Frog Prince and finally the Beebop roll. The shumai came over it and to be honest it was ok. Granted, I like when things are fried, but the spicy mayo it came with tasted similar to chipolte mayo. I wonder it that was the point. As for the sushi, however, everything was really great. Each roll, whether filled with spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, avocado or roe, they all knocked it out the park. The Lady Gaga roll specifically had different colored roe as dressing on the top, which I thought was a nice colorful touch. Each roll came over and the presentations were wonderful. With any type of western/asian fusion place, its always a great experience to try the funky, off beat sushi rolls. I appreciated that some of them didn't require too much soy sauce to be complimented with. Each flavor came out nicely. I think the sushi was the winner for the day. Thelonius Monkfish offers a great selection of food and is a nice little place right in Central Square. Though lacking a few things, it wasn't necessarily a terrible experience. Also, for what we paid for, I expected us to get a bit more, as it was a tad pricy. Despite all this, I will definitely go back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Nick L.
Just had the lady gaga roll (not sure of the exact name)- quite possibly the best sushi I have ever had. I HIGHLY recommend this place. Great food, great location, and great vibe. I will be returning SOON and OFTEN.
(5)
Tom B.
The Loneliest Monkfish is pretty alright. Feel about as strongly about it as a handy. I'll take it, I guess.
(3)
Joseph T.
I have to say that this place has really good fried rice and can make anything spicy, but as far as for Thai fusion cuisine, I don't think that it is successful in making one. My avocado salad had too many panko crumbs and they weren't needed. I've seen phenomenal sushi and this place isn't for it. The prices are too high for small portions and I've been satisfied by better Asian fusion joints.Try it and see how you like it, but believe me that when I say that I've had it better somewhere else.
(2)
L W.
A takeout blessing to those in Central Sq. Always packed, but miraculously my 2-3 orders/week are ready and delicious in 15 minutes. The sushi is good, but the open secret is that this is a great go-to Thai place.
(4)
Noa C.
I've been here and ordered take-out from here multiple times. If you like fun, exciting sushi rolls - this is your place! They have a ton of rolls, along with other sushi dishes and a large variety of pan-Asian food. Their selection of nigir and sashimi are typical, 'normal' fish and are fresh. They also have a good sake, cocktail and decent beer list.
(4)
Heidi L.
Friends and I were here on a hankering for fried rice, and we got the ancient, Seoul Train, and fig jam fried rices. Because the place was so packed, we ended up eating our fried rice at the sushi bar...the fried rices were okay, with our favorite being Seoul Train (kick from the kimchi). I liked having chicken wings as part of the fig jam fried rice, though the rice itself was too sweet. Altogether, I think TM's value-added is the variety of dishes it offers - it's a fun place, if you can stand the line, and the theme is great.
(3)
Ari P.
The gal pals and I came in on a Tuesday night after half of Waltham lost power, along with our chosen restaurant. It was obvious that we crossed city lines when the entire place was packed (on a weekday?!) Nevertheless, the host said it would be no more than 15-20 minutes, and made good on it. What a surprise it was when we were presented with a menu that rivals the length of the Cheesecake Factory. We started with the inventive cran-crab rangoon and I followed up with Tom Yum which was a touch heavy on the lemongrass. We're talking big bits. The gals were set on sushi but I decided on pork Rad Nah, and what a stunner she was. The fusion shined on this dish with the clover honey, and the bit of fairy tale sushi I tried was good, even if not at all evocative of a frog prince. We collectively enjoyed the meal, but that menu was far too extensive to glean out on the spur of the moment. Good food on par with other Central Sq. spots and probably a good place for a swanky first date, or so I overheard...
(4)
Sasha H.
The spicy pork Ramen is just TERRIBLE. They apparently don't know how to cook ramen. The noodle tasted like rubber that lost elasticity. The pork is smelly. And everything is just terrible. Don't ever order it.
(1)
Tianyi Z.
Thanks to my lovely friends who brought me here, a solid place to go! I had the Hotel California Roll, and it is so good. The environment and the waiters are all so good. Love it! Gonna try their Ramen & Fried Rice next time lol~
(5)
Niv B.
Came here on a Thursday night with a friend and we were seated surprisingly quickly, even though the restaurant was pretty packed. The atmosphere in the restaurant was loud but casual, and the Jazz music was definitely a lively touch! We ordered the Coconut Curry Fries as an appetizer and oh my it was amaaaazing! The curry dipping sauce was so flavorful and only enhanced the already delicious fries. Service for the main courses took a bit longer than other places I've been but considering how busy the place was, we didn't mind. The main dishes we ordered were the Mad Monk noodles and Nirvana noodles! Both were well flavored and hot when they came out. The Nirvana noodles were a bit milder and required me adding extra soy/ spice but my friend was quite happy with the Mad Monk noodles! Overall, pleased with my experience here and will definitely come back to try more of their many options!
(4)
Aaron B.
Food was fantastic. Public parking lot about a block away is a bargain, $3 for the whole time we ate. We has sushi as well as drunkin noodles and they were both very good. The waiter was on the not so pleasant side of life but he did get the food to us and drinks just seemed to be pissed to take our order. Highly recommend getting a reservation so you don't need to wait. I'll be back again.
(5)
Phil C.
Long ago, a few of my personal friends had given Thelonious sterling and positive reviews and it sounded like this place had potential. However, upon asking these folks again about their assessment, they backtracked their original reviews of this restaurant and gave a more muted opinion. I'm wary of most Asian fusion/pan-Asian restaurants: they can't possibly do all Asian cuisines well. Those places just end up doing most of them poorly. The menu here is immense and it's difficult to be good at all of the dishes. I most certainly didn't try everything at this restaurant but my sampling didn't exactly eliminate my preconceived notion of this genre of restaurants. However, the food wasn't the only deficiency I spotted during my dinner trip here. I had made a reservation a week in advance. When my dining partner arrived at the restaurant, we still had to wait at least ten minutes for us to have a table. The table we received wasn't exactly a great one either: it was near the door and drafty on a very frigid winter's night. The service was atrocious. There wasn't a waiter to ask us for drinks or anything for at least the first ten minutes upon being seated. By the time a waiter arrived, he had already started to ask if we were ready to order entrees. Maybe I'd expect that in a very casual spot but not somewhere like this. The waiter never checked on us and only came to bring our food, tea, clear the table and send our bill. There was nothing friendly or cordial about this waiter. I ordered a small plate of salt and pepper calamari, which was okay. There was enough savoriness and crispiness to the squid. The ginger lemon tea was unimpressive as it had no flavor and it wasn't even all that hot when it arrived. I didn't try my dining partner's duck noodle soup, but she seemed to enjoy it. I really can't say the same about my beef green curry. Just because the curry is green, doesn't mean it's supposed to be lacking in spice. This tasted like heated coconut milk with some beef and vegetables. It was way too sweet, and a good curry shouldn't have that overpowering everything else. This place was picked against my own better judgment. Next time, go with the better judgment.
(2)
Maria C.
I ordered the avocado rolls. Very fresh and came quickly. A little pricer for avocado rolls than I would like, but overall good experience!
(4)
Lorenz S.
I love the authentic atmosphere in this place, and always enjoy their sushi and tea. I usually go for one of the sushi or sashimi entrees, which offer good value for money. The only complaint I have is that the place is too small and too popular, so I often have to wait a while to get seated -- luckily, they also deliver (but delivery also takes its time at peak hours).
(5)
Brendan D.
I really like this place for sushi and their cranberry crab Rangoon appetizer is fantastic. They offer quick delivery and while it's not cheap it's not too over the top, of course keeping in mind that it's in a prime Cambridge location. One star off for the in-restaurant dining experience. They really pack the tables in and you might as well be sharing the meal with the people sitting on both sides of you. At least if you are looking for some entertainment you can listen in.
(4)
Danielle K.
I'm so glad I finally made it out to Central Square to try Thelonious Monkfish! On Friday night, my husband & I met 2 friends for dinner at Thelonious Monkfish. We were all very impressed with the variety on the menu. My husband had bacon pad thai & I had the Cranberry-Teriyaki Salmon (with mashed sweet potatoes as a side). Both meals were delicious. Our friends liked their meals as well, and were happy I'd suggested that we have dinner there. I could definitely see myself coming back quite a few times and being happy trying lots of items from the menu. The one drawback is the restaurant is small, so the tables are extremely close together. So close that you have to move if the people at the table next to you want to leave their seats.
(4)
boston y.
Went for lunch yesterday.after 40 mins they gave me the wrong ramen soup, i ordered the spicy pork, gave me the seafood instead. still it was Ok, mistakes happens but then i found bits of seafood in my soup. So literally they picked out the seafood from the existing dish and substituted pork in it.. Not fair.. they took off the my entree soup form the bill, .. so that was some kind of consolation.
(2)
Rebecca Y.
Mediocre food. I wouldn't mind eating here again but it's nothing I'd go out of my way for. Monkfish Maki Combo 3: decent mainstream sushi, not anything amazing. If you're in the area and craving sushi, this place might hit the spot. Sweet Potato and Bacon Croquettes: sounds better than it tastes, but it wasn't awful Fried Oysters: Definitely wouldn't get these again. Oysters weren't plump and they just fell flat.
(3)
Suzanne C.
Ordered takeout while staying at a hotel pre-interview--and I have to say, it was pretty darn yummy. I was a bit doubtful given how 'fancy' the rolls were but the fish was fresh and combination of flavors was great. Can't wait to (hopefully) make it a local place for me...
(4)
Sam D.
I honestly was not a fan of the Sushi options in Cambridge... ... until I came to this place. It's busy, but they found a seat for my group very quickly. Their Drinks menu is on point, plenty of options for Sake, Beer, non-alcoholic. Their Tea is delicious. Their Food Menu is extensive. 30+ options for Rolls/Makis, with hilarious names, and funny little side-comments beneath their Lists. HUGE variety of sushi. Portions are big, but not too big. The one thing I regret is not getting desert. Oh, and they deliver.
(5)
Anuj V.
Came here for dinner with friends. It is ideally located with easy to find street parking. The restaurant is not large but the seating is comfortable. The tables are really close together so there is not much space to move around. The atmosphere is casual and the crowd is mostly young students. The food is really good! I had a noodle dish and it was beautifully prepared with an amazing taste. We ordered one appetizer to share but it turned out to be a must have! They call it coconut curry fries and they are AMAZING! I would suggest this place to anyone who enjoys asian food and a good environment. Loved it! Will definitely return soon!
(4)
Di L.
The atmosphere and the menu are uniquely whimsical, albeit random. Slow jazz is surprisingly soothing during a meal, but I don't understand its relationship to the food. I guess jazz was a big thing in Japan in the 50s and 60s, but I don't get any throwback vibes here. The sushi menu is so cutesy. It's like the dishes were designed by Sailor Moon. They are partial to sweet and fruity flavors in their makis, especially in the fairytale-themed rolls section. I was initially skeptical of strawberry and orange mixed with spicy kewpie and tuna, but I found the results to be clean and light. They certainly present an interesting perspective of sushi I wouldn't have otherwise considered. It's a bit pricey ($12-$16 for a "special roll") but definitely worth a try. The avocado salad in the appetizer section is delicious. They've somehow made butterfruit, mayonnaise and artificial crab taste refreshing. I haven't tried many of their non-sushi items, but the pad Thai and Indonesian fried rice tell me that these parts of the menu are mostly so-so. In general, the food here is alright, the sushi is better, and the whole experience is relaxing, weird and tasty. I imagine it to be the gustatory equivalent of watching anime on LSD. But in a good way.
(4)
Richard H.
I agree with other reviewers in saying I'm impressed by the breadth of the Asian fusion menu, literally crossing Asia as you flip the pages, but feel the curry dishes come up short. Monkfish's sushi is excellent, especially for the creativeness, flavor, and freshness. I'd come again for sushi and a fried rice, and the traditional japanese seating (requires reservation). As a jazz person, I find the Jazz references in the menu cute and appreciate the musical ambiance. During this visit, I ordered the Kanom Jeen, and was rather underwhelmed. This green curry dish has chicken with vegetables served over vermicelli. It had lots uncooked green beans in it - like literally just picked and thrown into the dish. I usually steam my green beans, and maybe this is part of the fusion, but they were cold and hard and not very good. Vermicelli was more of the spaghetti-type. Also, not much chicken was provided and the green curry was "eh" - not very spicy at all. On the other hand, the Off-Key Marie roll was great as usual. I've had their other creative maki rolls as well as sashimi - all good quality, well-prepared, and tasty. As I said, stick to the sushi and if you're daring, try a fusion dish. Their mashed truffle-oil sweet potatoes are great, but that requires getting some sort of meat with it, of which I've been rather disappointed.
(3)
Melanie W.
A-OK perfectly sums up Thelonious Monkfish. The first time I went I had a reservation, and they seated us right away. The second time we waited about 5 minutes for a table for four, but it was still pretty early in the evening, maybe around 6. The first time I got the pad thai with crispy chicken. It tasted fine, but the chicken wasn't in any way crispy. The second time I got the magic wings, and those were crispy and delicious. The pig's tears dish had the perfect amount of spice and was really tasty. The sangria was also surprisingly delicious. Service was friendly both times. The restaurant is small, so I can see why there would be a wait. I would definitely recommend a reservation. The tables are really close together, which led to an awkward encounter with a lady sitting next to us. There are still several things on the menu I want to try, so I'll be back.
(3)
Katherine L.
I came here on Christmas Eve with a friend and was really happy that they were open. We were seated right away, which was nice. But, when the waiter came up to us to ask if we were ready, I couldn't really hear him and said "water's fine", apparently he was asking us if we were ready to order(?). Not really sure but I felt really awkward after he was kind of pause and said okay and walked away. I had the Chirashi Donburi and that was really good. The slices of sashimi were really thick and nice, which I really liked! The most awkward part about the dinner was the seating, first, I personally felt like we were EXTREMELY close to our neighbors, to the point where i cold hear their conversations, and they could probably hear ours as well. This place looked pretty small, so I suppose it's not their fault. The bench height was waaay talker than the chairs, so if you were sitting on the bench, you were definitely looming over whoever was on the other side. Or ay least I felt like I was, it was kind of awkward. Other than that, it was yummy and delicious our food came out really fast (10-15 mins or less!) And they used an iPad/tablet to take our orders and check us out--pretty high tech!
(3)
Yelena Y.
Great food. I had the apple bacon pad thai today. It was a little strange mix of bacon in pad thai but who can complain about bacon in anything. I have had the drunken noodles in the past and that dish was the bomb sizzle. The only con is that you should call and make a reservation if you go for lunch, it's very busy. The wait staff seem genuinely pissed off and annoyed. Especially the dude who wears beige with a flower pinned to his jacked.
(3)
Eric W.
In town on business, I stopped in here after work just for a quick bite. Got a seat at the sushi bar and had the yellowtail carpaccio and a spicy tuna roll. Both were great and if I was ever in the area again and had more time, I'd be sampling much more of the menu. I've had to walk by this place on the way to parking each night and they are always crowded.
(4)
Brian S.
Really incredibly good. Super fresh, fairly affordable, and some interesting rolls. The seaweed salad was HUGE. I will be back!
(5)
Jen W.
Very mediocre chicken coconut soup (too sweet, partially peeled chunks of squash so I had to wrestle with separating), fried calamari tasted like cardboard and the handmade potstickers were so-so. Very disappointed.
(1)
Jill B.
Stumbled upon this place on Saturday for lunch and couldn't have been happier. Food and tea were excellent, service was great and atmosphere was nice. My boyfriend loves asian food, gets udon noodle dishes everywhere he goes, and said the udon tonkatsu he got here was the best udon dish he's ever had by far. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Star W.
The rolls here are certainly unique and they are very accommodating to vegetarians and vegans. I had the Snow Queen roll, which is very creamy and sweet from the mayonnaise and coconut. I also tasted from the table the red curry, which was delicious and pretty spicy, and the cold soba, which I wasn't as impressed with. Then again, I'm generally not a fan of soba. Although the menu is huge, they seem to execute the dishes well, with nice presentation. However, I would not order the appetizers for more than 2 people. They are truly tiny. We got 5 small veggie dumplings for around $6 and it was awkward to split them among our large party. They did give us a free fried ice cream in honor of the birthday girl though! This is a very small and dark restaurant, good for dates. 3.5 starts rounded up to 4.
(4)
J. L.
I'm picky and Thelonious Monfish is AMAZING in my book. The sushi is to die for. It is just so delicious. I have brought my friends here and they have loved it just as well.
(5)
Kurstin R.
I've been here 3 times now as well as a few take out orders - Each time we have really enjoyed the place. It is always packed which is most definitely a testament to their food, however the seating is pretty tight And service is often a bit on the slow side because if the volume if business they do. It was also a bit awkward to pay as everything is on an iPad and servers don't step away while you sign and leave your tip. As for the food, The sushi is excellent and the crab rangoons are probably the best I've ever had - they put cranberries in the filling which adds the perfect amount of tartness. I had the wonton noodle soup the last time we were there and it was amazing - the broth was so flavorful and it's a massive bowl of soup! I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Alex C.
Very good sushi! They were delicate with the flavor, and presentation was really neat. Apparently the pad thai was also really good, although I didn't personally try it.
(4)
Dave M.
I love this place. I come here whenever I am in Cambridge. However, when I came tonight, there was a sign saying they are closed for vacation July 1-7. They should have at least posted this on their website. Poor communication!
(1)
Mariel J.
Headed to Thelonious Monkfish on a Thursday night with a group of about 10 people. The location - just down the street from the Central Square T Stop - was great. The menu is like reading a novel - there's sushi, traditional Thai food, and lots of more unique items. Scanning through, I saw "Bacon Pad Thai" and read no further. This strategy was successful, and the pad thai was awesome. Enjoyed my Thai iced tea, too.
(4)
Lauren B.
The other night a friend and I were there for dinner and after waiting about 45 minutes for a table we were finally seated. The food was fine, but we noticed that the waiter seemed "overly" attentive which was unusual. Then it happened, as soon as the check was laid down, the host came over and told that he needed our table. REALLY?!? You're going to ask me to wait almost an hour to be seated and then you're going to kick me out? Needless to say, the food isn't good enough to wait that long for a table and it certainly isn't worth being herded through the place like cattle. Fail Thelonious...
(1)
Bergamot W.
It doesn't get much better than this! Excellent sushi, I have yet to be disappointed. I would recommend booking a reservation or going on a weeknight when it's less busy.
(5)
Lauren S.
Best sushi I've ever had? Quite possibly. Okay, as a vegetarian, I've gotten used to having limited choices for rolls. Luckily, I love simple avocado rolls or sweet potato rolls. However, the veggie rolls here are incredibly unique! There's some with spinach, a few with green apples (!), and even one with cream cheese! I tried the two "specialty" rolls (the Johnny and Frankie Roll and the Alice Coltrane Roll), and they were both fantastic. I don't think I could select a favorite from the two. +1 for the service as well. Our waitress noticed it was one of our birthdays when she checked his I.D., so at the end of our meal, they surprised us by bringing him some mochi ice cream with a candle and singing Happy Birthday! Furthermore, when they brought us the check, our appetizers were on the house, too! How nice!
(4)
Rich L.
We got there around 6pm. The place was packed. I called and ask if we could get a RSVP. The host that answered the phone said no reservations are being accepted. That fine we had a party of 5 so we went. We lucked out and got a table. The host/ server said ok you will have to be done in 1 hour as our RSVP guest will be arriving. Wait ......I thought they were not accepting RSVPs. Then I said the to the server us finishing in 60 min depends on you getting the food out. Ok we got sashimi deluxe - good but not. Got the shrimp tempura which came out soggy, not sure how fried food gets soggy. The Peking duck was tasty but lacking something it was their version. The Maki rolls were good jus got the usual Philly, spicy white tuna, crazy Maki. Although the pass see yue was good. I think their niche is the cooked noodle dishes. My chair kept on getting bumped by everyone very crowded. 45 min in we still did not recv a Maki order and had to ask for it 3 times. So it seemed like we were not gonna make the 60 min. So I give it 3 stars cause the beer was good 9% alcohol.
(3)
Eric J.
Three words: Monk's Dream Roll. Ah-mazing.
(5)
Jules J.
I actually really liked this place! There's a lot more value to it than indicated by its current 5-star review. The restaurant has a nice ambiance, the music is good, and they even have a couple of those low Japanese tables. They have some interesting menu items - including a series of fairy tale themed rolls - so you can definitely find things you haven't tried before. There's also an extensive drinks and desert menu, so if you are hoping to have a fun night at a nicer asian restaurant, this is probably a safe bet. I ordered the Rumpelstiltskin roll and was impressed! I wouldn't say it's as good as Fugakyu, but it's up there and a lot cheaper!
(5)
Pam C.
This place is definitely very popular - I heard about it from multiple friends before trying it out. The sushi here was pretty a-ok: they have a wide selection of rolls at pretty reasonable prices; they also sell half rolls, which is nice for the adventurous sushi lover who wants to check out a lot of different rolls. Definitely recommend sampling the maki! Definitely very crowded, and the sushi boats seem like a very popular option. I was a little irked that the sushi bar was just for show - my favourite part of getting sushi is being able to interact directly with the chef at the sushi bar. I sat down at the bar and tried to get the attention of the sushi chef, but he ignored me for a while before flagging a waiter over, who then took my order. A little annoyed that I couldn't just order directly from the chef.
(3)
Marina G.
My fav sushi, good prices, and great ambiance. The drinks are good and service is always friendly. There can be a wait, but it's worth it! I don't understand all the medium reviews because as a longtime central sq resident, I think this place is great!!
(5)
Natalie D.
Good options, good service, good quality. The strange thing about this place is that every discussion I over heard while dining there was about peoples' upcoming trip outside of the USA... It was weird so the next time I went there I totally had a fake convo about how I was traveling to Australia for business. Anyway, the name is catchy (I love jazz music), the sushi is solid, and the ambiance is cool and jazzy. The only down side is that the people that happen to eat there are pretentious. But the good news is they have take-out! :D
(4)
Katie B.
Their sushi is inventive and delicious. And, luckily, the rest of their food is also really good, so my husband can find something he likes, too. Be sure to make a reservation, because they get really busy. The fruit infused water is a really nice touch. This is our favorite date restaurant.
(5)
Cerina H.
Food: I was a bit skeptical of the fish here since I hadn't found good sashimi in the area yet. Also the fact that they serve a lot of non-traditional Japanese food made me think that their fish wouldn't be good. But we tried it anyway. We got a party boat #1 for $60, supposedly for two people. Quite pricey and yes, we took a huge risk since we didn't even know if the fish would be good. The boat came with rolls, nigiri, and sashimi. The fish was surprisingly fresh and overall it was very filling for two people. I wish it came with miso soup though. I'm not sure what their other food tastes like but the rolls look pretty cool if you like that stuff. Ambience: A bit squished and uncomfortable. Pretty casual. May be some wait for groups since it's a small restaurant. There's also a tatami seating area where you take off your shoes and sit cross-legged on a Japanese bamboo mat. Not sure how clean it is though...I'm a germaphobe. I would come back again if I don't find better sashimi elsewhere in the same price range. Not authentic but definitely a must-try.
(3)
Crystal D.
Great Asian fusion menu variety with traditional dishes as well. Unique & tasty appetisers. Sushi was fresh & delicious, chicken curry was done well, and service was great. The atmosphere, while hip & inviting, is small, a bit cramped, & quite loud. But as long as you don't mind cozying up to your neighbours & turning up the volume on your dinner covo, it's definitely worth a try! An overall pleasant experience.
(4)
Jude P.
Finally I got to experience the creative dishes of MonkFish under different conditions but it happened. It was a take out situation due to the Ronda Rousey fight at a friends house. Although busy, upon entry, they seemed accepting and grateful which is always a plus. It was a pretty quick grab and go. So down to the action, in which i actually ate it at the friends... the chicken-cranberry teriyaki was tasty and was proud to conquer it. The sauce was perfect and the chicken was a good portion. Next was the yardbird maki... A delight it was. Thick, tasty, and sorry folks but it was there was a quick ending. Wish I had gotten 2 but I have to watch my size, haha!! So far it gets the thumbs up, but we'll see if the true 4 stars holds up when I dine-in.
(4)
Marilyn C.
It's been a while since my last review and I'm torn by this place. I was a fan of Yoki down the street, which closed probably because it couldn't compete with Thelonious. I actually think the sushi at Yoki was better than the sushi at Thelonious. That said, I don't dislike Thelonious and last week I found myeslf getting take-out from the Monk on my way home from work. Positive vibes: - Take-out process was smooth - the guy at the front desk was helpful and efficient. I was told to come back in 15 mins. and it was ready when I arrived back in exactly 15 mins. - Crab fried rice comes with pieces of real crab (not imitation crab stick - it wasn't big pieces or anything just mixed in) I got a couple different items - springs rolls, sushi, fried rice and they were all ok, but nothing wowed me. I still don't understand why this place is so popular (living in the area I constantly walk by and see this placed packed). That said, I am glad they are adding to the lively Central Sq. atmosphere and I would do take-out again.
(3)
Sevag D.
I've been here several times with coworkers. The place gets packed during lunch time. They offer a large menu with a lot of variety. Having said that, I've tried dishes from multiple sections of the menu and it's all just average in my opinion. That's outside of the fact that it literally takes 30-45 minutes for me to get my food every time I go. Not practical for a workday lunch, or any time for that matter. On my latest trip there, the waiter at least warned us that it was going to take a while to get food. Which I guess was nice, but why seat people if that's the case? It appears that they're expanding the seating into the area next door. I hope they're expanding the kitchen too, because they clearly can't handle the demand.
(3)
Tim S.
A few disjointed notes: This menu is longer than most Dostoevsky novels. I'm surprised the chefs in the back don't have look-up tables for all of the meals. Maybe they do. Indecisive buyer beware! I got a tart pink cocktail for starters. It was made with yogurt and strawberries and was quite delicious. The beer selection is very comprehensive here, too. My friend and I shared a boat for $40. 48 rolls of quality sushi. I accidentally broke a glass on the floor. No problem: the wait staff was understanding and quick to clean up my mess. Nice job, guys! They play hip jazz music over Pandora on the inside. I think I heard Freddie Hubbard, but it was too loud to make it out. Good place for pretty good sushi and beer. If you like jazz and can make timely decisions about what you want to put in your gullet, this is your kind of place.
(4)
Tiffany F.
So many rolls to choose from! Wow! It's a no frills, humble establishment that offers a ridiculously larger menu. Not only do they serve a wide variety of rolls, boats, nigiri, etc - they also serve donburi, udon, and other Japanese dishes. To overwhelm customers with even more options, they also serve Thai food! Go figure! The sushi quality is decent - however, he rolls are a little overpriced in my opinion for the quality. We came on a Sunday and there was a jazz band bland playing which was really nice to listen to and really added to the ambiance. The music theme of this place is cute and I love how it's intertwined into their logo and sushi roll naming. It was all clearly very well though out.
(3)
Sophie P.
LUNCH REVIEW ------------------- For lunch, my co-workers and I came and sat right by the window, which was a great spot to eat lunch at, with the sunlight shining on our table. My co-workers ordered a variety of the fairy tale rolls, while I opted for the ikura sake don. The fairy tale rolls have a lot of ingredients that I think dilute the taste of the fish, such as mango, strawberry, and pineapple. I like my sushi by itself. IKURA SAKE DON: This was amazing! There is fresh salmon sashimi and ikura on top of a bed of "seasoned" white rice, which essentially just has sesame seeds in it. But, this is a great deal for lunch at $13, because there were at least 8 pieces of salmon and half the bowl was covered with ikura. I was beyond stuffed, and the salmon quality was really great. Thelonius Monkfish needs to choose an identity, though. They offer Japanese and Thai options that range from noodle soups to sushi to fried rice and curries. They can't possibly be good at making all of these dishes, but I really did enjoy the donburi so definitely try that if you're here! I will try some of their other offerings next time.
(4)
Tracy B.
Wanted to try a new spot at work and someone recommended TM... Got the standard, Tom Yum & some other things... The Tom Yum was ABSOLUTELY the best one Ive EVER HAD... Unfortunately it was a little cold as the driver was a little lost & couldnt find us therefore causing a delay (he kept calling to say he was here - when he truly wasnt) But hey, next time Im sure it will be easier... because trust me there will be a next time it was THAT GOOD... Shrimp Ginger was great. Lots of good veggies. Wonton soup was great & coworker said she liked. Sushi was good... Pad See Ew was delish I was told... All in all a good place & will def be back!
(3)
Jane B.
Thelonious is a fun place to stop for a quick, yet satisfying meal. Even when they are very busy, they seat you very quickly, if not immediately. The appetizers and sushi at Thelonious are delicious. I especially love the fairy tale sushi menu. All of the specialty rolls are named after a different fairy tales. I highly recommend the raspberry crab rangoons. They have the best dipping sauce! Their entrees are also very good. They have great crispy chicken. Thelonious also delivers. I've only ordered delivery from them twice, but the food was delivered hot both times.
(4)
Linh T.
**DINNER** I went to this place with a group of 5 other friends. As a big group, we got the Party Boat to share and each of us ordered our own drink. In overall, the experience at the restaurant was good! I was the first one that got to he restaurant (and 30 minutes before our plan), but the waiter was very nice to me. He put my name down as a reservation while letting me hang out until my friends arrive. It was around 6-6:30pm so there was a lot of people + big groups coming ( the place is very popular in the Central Squre area), but they made sure to still reserve a table of six for us. It was very good service! Even when we ordered, the food and drink came vey quickly. As of the Maki Roll Party Boat A, there was a complimentary seaweed salad on the side, which was very good. There was a total of 48 pieces of 5 different sushi types at the price of $40. We split it among 5 people, since one of our friends was on diet and ordered her own thing. So the party boat was a great choice at a very reasonable price. Additionally, the place's menu was insanely long. They have so many food and drink options. I would say it's worth more than 3 visits to try out different options that they have. The drinks range from cocktail to a large variety of beers and sake. Lastly, the location was very convinient. It's a 1 min walk from Central Square station.
(4)
Vivian C.
Playing it safe, I called ahead to make a reservation at Thelonious Monkfish even though we would be meeting up for a relatively early dinner. I made my way past the heavy curtain they had hung to ward off the chill rushing in when the doors opened. Two soft spoken gentlemen were stationed up front with one on the phone. I gave the other my name while mentioning that I had a reservation. He looked it up, acknowledging that he had found it, and I waited. And waited. He answered the phone, while the other fellow looked up at the folks who had come in behind me. When he picked up some menus as if to take them to a table, I mentioned that I was here first and had a reservation as well. Only then did he think to tell me to let them know when my friend has arrived. So, it seems that they do not seat incomplete parties. I awkwardly took a seat on the bench beside the line of take-out bundles, semi-hidden by the curtain. As I waited for my friend, I came to the realization that I was no longer in the mood to be able to enjoy a meal here. So I cancelled my reservation, and took myself out of there.
(2)
Kara P.
I've eaten here dozens and dozens of times, and it's always great. Diverse and myriad options Beware: Sometimes they give you less when you order delivery
(5)
Rohan K.
We went here for a late night dinner and just managed to get out order in during the last call. We got the sushi boat which is basically an assortment of 4 rolls served on a wooden boat. The presentation is pretty impressive but judging by how fast they brought it out, I'm sure the rolls were pre-made. They were not bad for the price and portion but being from Seattle, I'm used to much higher quality sushi. The boat was a filling and affordable sushi dinner for that time of night and I would probably get it again in a similar situation but not when I'm actually craving "good sushi". Overall it was average sushi, great prices and quick service.
(3)
Jo M.
I've found my new takeout Thai place. Thelonious Monkfish has a good mix of traditional dishes and adventurous fun things. The Pad Thai was particularly good. What I loved is that the dishes weren't huge, but what you get is really good quality. Well worth it!
(3)
Angelina E.
I was in town on a business trip and wanted to meet an old friend for dinner. She said she had heard good things about this place but had never been. I was a little skeptical since it only had 3.5 stars. Not to sound snobby but I usually like to stay above 4 stars, especially when it comes to sushi. It was PACKED when we walked in and they were also cranking out to-go orders so this seemed like a good sign. We got 3 rolls and they were all great! Being from San Francisco, I know good sushi and I thought the rolls were awesome and reasonably priced. We also go pot stickers and pork belly buns. The pot stickers were great but the buns were just okay. The menu is extremely long here. I suggest sticking to sushi or sticking to share-able plates (i.e. fried rice, curry, etc) or it can get overwhelming.
(4)
Alexandra M.
Huge menus worry me. I watch too much Restaurant Impossible. We walked in and there was a huge curtain over the door, which was great for keeping the cold out--except for when customers came in and out and didn't think about closing it behind them! No one sitting near the front forgot, so I guess it's just something you have to experience to remember to use. Most of the drinks have sake in them, so give it a try! Both of our drinks were really sweet, but not too sweet. Both of us love candy, so I can see other people not liking them. There's always their huge beer and wine selection! We ordered sushi, a starter and two entrees and all came at once. Timing people! We ordered our sushi about 10 minutes before we ordered the rest, so we thought it would be out sooner, as we wanted. Stuff was nearly falling off the table. I was skeptical about the fairy tale sushi, and it was okay...the scallop on top of the red riding hood was hard to eat. We also got the monks dream which will be a dream of mine for a while. So good.We tried the cranberry crab rangoons which were surprisingly great. The sauce was perfect. I got the special of spicy grilled seafood ramen which was not spicy, and parts were grilled to the point where all you could taste was burnt food. Such a bad note to end on. My friend enjoyed her mango rice. It makes me uncomfortable that they stand there as you pay on the iPad. I'm going to tip 20%, but I don't like that it felt like she was watching me.
(3)
Arthur C.
Not a terrible experience. Came in to watch Yoko Miwa Trio over sunday lunch, but the keyboard and amp set up didn't do her justice. Will prefer to watch her when there's a grand piano. The food and service were average. Spicy Seafood miso ramen and Monk noodles. Decent sized servings.
(3)
Alan G.
Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night with a party of 6. I made reservations online for 6pm. When we got there (at 6) and were being seated, we were told that there was a party coming in at 7 so we should try to eat faster and leave by then. This felt unreasonable and immediately turned me off - I felt like we were not welcome. I had the crispy duck florentine noodles. The duck was indeed crispy, and the noodles were indeed florentine. The duck felt a little dry, and overall the dish felt like greasy cheap Asian food. The rest of the group ordered various sushi rolls, ramen, and the Ikura Sake Don. They seemed to think their food was fine but nothing special. Just based on my food experience, I would have given 3 stars, but the service really turned me off. We did end up staying a few minutes past 7, but as the hour approached, our waiter kept hovering around our table and made us feel pressured to eat faster and leave, especially given what he had said to us when we arrived.
(2)
Raina B.
I was so excited to see all of the veg sushi and other vegetarian things on the menu that I insisted that a friend (also vegetarian) and I both go and try all the sushi. Decor is nice - trendy but the tables are quite close together (I heard pretty much all of my neighbors' conversation and they heard mine). Shockingly crowded for a Monday at 8 - their was a group coming in afterwards so they said they could seat us for just an hour. Food, sadly, is just ok. Frankie and Johnny roll - the best of what I've had. It tastes equally as good 3 hours later on a train or in the restaurant! Not a very uncommon roll, but the sweet potato offers the perfect amount of crunch! Mushroom maki - not good. If whole foods or stop and shop or any grocery store stocked mushroom sushi, that's exactly what this would taste like - lots of rice, ok mushrooms, and little flavor! The snow queen roll (without mayo) - interesting. I liked the green apple, but the coconut overpowered the other ingredients and made everything just lightly sweet. Maybe with the mayo it's more balanced? We also got the basil fried rice (no egg). It comes with fish sauce, which we asked to remove. It was a little spicy but overall so bland!!! The tofu was tasteless (we dipped it in soy sauce) and the dish was so flat tasting! I had previously gotten the fried tofu basil (takeout) -- which also comes with fish sauce even though it's labelled vegetarian (!! come on guys) - and it was more like the average thai basil dish. Overall, an ok restaurant. I had such high hopes! I'll go back and try the Alice Coltrane roll, but otherwise will maybe get the standard drunken noodle if I go back. EDIT: I've gone back and had the Mr. Snufflaupagus - vegetables in peanut sauce with rice. Peanut flavor didn't really come through that well, and it was just so uninspiring. I keep hoping that I'll stumble upon the right dish and I'll really like it, but I don't know... drinks do look good though.
(2)
Keivan S.
Really enjoy eating at this restaurant! It's been hit or miss, but when they get it right, they really get it right. I highly recommend the Indonesian Fried Rice and the Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna sushi. Their Peking Duck Tortillas are also pretty solid. As a side note, I was first attracted to Thelonius Monkfish because they accept Bitcoin.
(4)
Nicole G.
If there were a breakdown for what you rated restaurants on Thelonious would definitely win in the atmosphere category. Warmly lit (aka, not so dark and gloomy that you can't even see your food), trendy looking decor and some solid jazz playing in the background. The menu, i'll warn you, is HUGE. so be prepared to not know what you want if you even take the time to look at everything. I'm a sucker for sushi since I don't find it around me at home very often so I went with the special of the day, the crunchy california. Nice spin on a classic, no complaints. Will definitely take me a few more trips though to flesh out how other things on the menu are. all in all, definitely recommend! Locals advised me to go (:
(4)
Stephanie H.
wow, surprised to see this place had only 3.5 stars! this is definitely at the top of the list for places we miss ordering from. we used to live right down the street from these guys and had plenty of sushi fests courtesy of thelonious. the maki party boat A is an amazing deal ($40 for 48 pieces) and comes with a TON of sushi, even more than two fish fiends like us could polish off. as a bonus they always send a little seaweed salad, too. but often we'd opt to spend more to be able to try some of their really unique menu items. they do a lot with fruit, actually, from the red riding hood roll with strawberries, to the cranberry crab rangoons, to the sleeping beauty roll with crushed pineapple. i know what you're thinking. "really? that sounds weird." yeah, it does. and it's awesome. before we moved we worked our way through the fairy tale sushi menu and everything on there is so unique and more importantly, so tasty. the frog prince roll with salmon, mango, and tempura crunchies covered with avocado, and topped with spicy snow crab & tobiko salad is my favorite. my other favorite from their sushi lineup is the fashion maki - grilled eel, avocado, cream cheese, and flying fish roe. i've even strayed from the sushi for the drunken noodles, which are also great and the portion is enough for two. the coconut soup and calamari are just okay, but the miso soup, seaweed salad, and rangoons are excellent. thai iced tea is yummy, too. we've recommended this place a lot over the years and i think the only complaint we've ever heard is that the interior is very small. we personally always chose to pig out in the privacy of our own home, but i understand they've recently undergone renovations to open the place up a bit, so that's great. maybe now that it's a little less...well, little, we'll make it back to our old 'hood for some fancy pants dine-in eating. until then, keep on keepin' on, TM!
(5)
Tuli S.
The Pad Thai with CRISPY chicken is AMAZING. It's my favorite place to eat Pad Thai! Also, I always get a side of the sweet and sour sauce for dipping the chicken. It's a pretty big portion and there is enough for leftovers (dinner size- lunch one is small). Also- if you want you can order the pad thai spicy with extra peanuts! I also tried a couple rolls of sushi- all good/fresh but a little on the expensive side. The one issue I've had is every time I get eel there are tiny bones in it. Now I avoid it. I've noticed this at a lot of sushi places so I'm not extremely upset about it. I was curious about the fried soft shell crab so I tried it last time. Pretty good but it tasted a little too much like the ocean for me..... The stuffed lychees are a fun appetizer to try. Sweet but savory!
(4)
Louisa B.
Great food, great service, great ambience. The only negative thing about this place is that there is always a wait and not a short one (because it's really good). There are a number of rolls to choose from and the best part is that all the special rolls are named after famous jazz musicians, just like the name of the restaurant! I usually go for a curry when I go here but really anything I've ordered off the menu has been good. Whenever I had friends visiting I would try to bring them here if we found the time! Well worth the wait.
(4)
Ashraful R.
I've been going here for years now and they're actually expanding now which will be great for the nights when it is extremely busy. It can get noisy and congested on weekend nights when its packed. That has only happened on a couple occasions though. Regardless of whether is busy or not, the staff is always polite, and the food is absolutely delicious whether I get the pad thai, pad see ew or the cranberry chicken (I highly recommend because the sweet potato is bomb). They have little candies by the front for when you leave and the water has bits of vegetable soaking in them to add flavor!
(4)
B N.
I don't have high expectations of delivery - but I AT LEAST expect taste to the same as in the place ... Sadly disappointed, I ordered chicken curry, miso soup, sticky rice and a thai iced tea. I do give it to them for the quick delivery especially in the snow - greatly appreciated. BUT - the curry... was horrible - there was not flavor, let alone any actual curry, the chicken was so dry and chewy and the rice tasted old (yes rice can taste old). Thai iced tea was drowned in the milk/cream so can't taste the tea as much (then again I am a little picky and prefer less milk/cream) but all in all sad face for thelonious monkfish.... I shall not order nor come through again.
(1)
Ashley W.
Remember to ask if there are peanuts or nuts in anything you order! Sometimes they aren't listed in the menu, and I'm allergic, so I didn't ask until it was too late. Thankfully, they were very accommodating and allowed me to change my order. Other than that, the service and food was great, if a little expensive.
(3)
Jill S.
This place was incredible! The specialty rolls were all so good, 4/4 of the ones I tried! The seating is adorable and the vibe was friendly, welcoming and authentic. Also kudos for actually saving a few bucks when you buy the bottle of wine versus the price of 4 individual glasses. Most places they end up costing the same so this is a nice change.
(5)
Megan C.
Nice fusion food. Sashimi is really fresh, and their menu has good diversity. Not all fusion food tastes good though.
(4)
Manali R.
The sushi wasn't up to the mark. Rest of it was nice. The service was a bit slow..but worth a visit for the price overall.
(3)
Daniel T.
I sat in there the other day the sushi was good and fun creative names for the fairy tale sushi rolls. The seating area is kind of tight. The tables are very close together it was hard to have a conversation without the table next to you over hearing you or disturbing your own conversation. I did take out the other day and was super excited for the Ramen I saw on the menu abut it was very disappointing. The broth was more like a pho then an actual miso ramen broth in use to with ramen. The soup was very bland and it was disappointing. I will not be ordering that again. (For good ramen cross the street to Sapporo)
(2)
Pearl L.
The ambience is fab. The food is fab. Everything is fab. I've only been here twice, but I've ordered takeout several times-- it's my go-to when I feel like treating myself without breaking the bank. Fresh, delicious Japanese cuisine, why go anywhere else? Frog Prince roll, chicken pad thai, and any one of their noodle bowls is a foolproof choice.
(4)
Timmy L.
Sushi was simply edible, service was at the same level Came here for a sushi dinner with the SO and her little sister. My first impressions of Thelonious Monkfish were that it was cramped, strangely busy, and with the exception of the name, all-around unoriginal. We only ordered a large sushi boat, so my knowledge of the menu is limited. However, I would expect a sushi boat to be one of the more representative items of a sushi bar's capabilities. And to be honest, it was not that great. Pretty much the same sushi I buy at my Whole Foods down the street, just neatly arranged in a neat wooden boat. Beyond the sushi, which already meant I was never coming back, the service was very underwhelming. When we got our boat, we had to shuffle around all the items on our table in order to fit it while our waiter continued to slowly lower the boat. After it was finally set, she did not give any explanation of which types of rolls were which, and simply walked away. I did not feel welcome or cared for during my meal as well. Simply mediocre, Thelonious Monkfish is just another hip Cambridge restaurant not worth your time.
(2)
Tiana M.
The fried rice and ramen are delicious. This place is very tiny but cozy. I wouldn't come here with a big crowd though I have seen them make considerable accommodations for large groups.
(4)
Annabelle L.
Came here on a Saturday night with my best friend. Was told there would be about a 15-20 minute wait, but we were seated in about 5 minutes (woo). The place is very popular, so yes, seating was a bit tight, but I didn't mind because the food was awesome! We split the Lover Man Maki roll (can't go wrong with salmon and eel!) and the crispy duck florentine noodles. The roll was excellent, generous with the salmon and eel. The noodles were amazing!!! We both love duck, and it was soooo crispy. Before ordering, we found out from the waiter that the sauce would be hoisin based and we were a little hesitant about the hoisin overpowering everything, but the sauce was perfect. Subtle, yet flavorful. Bean sprouts and slice of gai-lan/chinese broccoli (which they call chinese kale) were mixed in through out and they added a nice crunch to the whole dish. Overall, the meal was so delicious, so definitely come!
(4)
Jared G.
Ate here once. Food was good. Had water to drink. Tasted odd. Found out after downing a glass that they mix all kinds of fruit into their water, including strawberries. I have a strawberry allergy. Who puts strawberries into their water? What else in this place might have unexpected strawberries? The crab rangoon? The tuna rolls? The bread? It's a slippery strawberry slope. Haven't been back since.
(2)
S. C.
I Have never reviewed a place before but Thank to my experience in this place I am about to do so. So I Have been in that place twice. The first Time was ok but today was the worse experience I ever had in a restaurant. I called them to make a sushi order but since I didn't Have access to the menu and knew what I wanted inside, I was expecting a little help from the person who answered. I guess this person was not in the mood for that but tried. He Gave me 3 choices and as far as I understood it (for me) I took the second choice. However he understood something else which I found out when I arrived to pick my order. A misunderstanding can easily happen on the phone and I totally understand that. So I kindly asked If they Could do something about it ( change it, or a discount....). A yes or no with a short and polite explanation would have been fine . But instead of that I have been told by the person Who took my order that " I should pay for this or leave! ..." So ÃŽ asked the young lady in the front desk and the guy from the phone If it was nornal to talk to clients like that. I got a "yes" from the lady and a " ÃŽ am not talking to you anymore" from the Guy! You should Have had a menu! ... Like If They didn't even Care! All this because I asked If they Could do something about it?! I really felt insulted and humiliated! Anyway, I didn't want to argue, ÃŽ paid my diner because I had a long day but I am sure that not how You treat people/ client even If they are making a small order!! This was rude, ÃŽ even didn't fill like eating after that and I am sure I an not and won't be the last person Have such experience there. So my point Is that life Is not only about making money, the businesses that last long are the one taking Care of their every single clients! So if You go there, be in a very good, and patient mood. Don't expect too much regarding the service! Otherwise the sushi I Have tested were very good.
(1)
Jolene S.
They offer lots of options and if you go at an "off" time like 3:45pm on a Saturday with a large party, I have found them ultra accommodating. Excellent service, tasty specials--all around a great place to accumulate good sit-down meal experiences. Liked the Frankie + Johnny and scallop special. Good selection of teas (by the pot) too. Pulled off a nice birthday surprise (fried dough encapsulating green tea and red bean ice cream!)--and I like their reservation system.
(4)
Cristina R.
What a weird name for a restaurant. Where did they get that from? Well now that I know a bit of background, I get it. Allow me to enlighten you... According to the ever-trusty Wikipedia, Thelonious Monk was "an American jazz pianist and composer, considered one of the giants of American music." Thelonious Monkfish ("M-fish" henceforth) is an Asian fusion restaurant (sushi, rice dishes, sake cocktails, noodles, oh my!) in Central Square, considered a solid place for small parties (Seriously small. Like 2 people.) to snag some grub. "Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire." M-fish has unique food offerings, from fairy tale-perfect sushi rolls enveloping ripe strawberry, pineapple, or mango pieces to coconutty fries served with crave-worthy curry sauce, which make numerous contributions to customers' enjoyment of their meals. "His compositions and improvisations are full of dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists, and are consistent with Monk's unorthodox approach to the piano." M-fish's small space is full of cramped 2-person tables and a few larger seating areas in which patrons remove their shoes, and is consistent with its unorthodox approach to the dining experience. With these tables always full and practically on top of one other, you will probably have to wait to sit, and once you do, you'll get the opportunity to enjoy some great butt-scooting action past your face during your meal. "While the other musicians in the band continued playing, he would stop, stand up from the keyboard and dance for a few moments before returning to the piano." While other restaurants continue to serve classic, predictable fare, M-fish will make you stop and appreciate the unusual. One taste may even cause you to get up and dance (if only there were more room in the restaurant to do so!).
(4)
Mel C.
I always thought it was funny when I went into Thelonius Monkfish to pick up my take out order, only to see dining patrons dressed up all fancy. I think this restaurant struggles with an identity crisis. It wants to be that nice date night or big group out spot, but the food doesn't reflect that at all. There are many many Thai places in Central Square, Pepper Sky being one of the better ones. Adding strawberries to your sushi doesn't make your restaurant hip. It makes the sushi pretty off putting. They have a wider variety of fusion Thai food which makes it somewhat a better option than Pepper Sky, but if you're looking for a Pad Thai or Fried Rice look elsewhere. The things to order here are the non-fusion sushi options - Coconut Curry fries, Fried calamari, Pig's Tears.
(3)
Kim A.
This is located in central sq and it's always busy!! There is only street parking so taking the T may be less adventurous! I love their cranberry chicken!! We've had a few dishes and the sushi and have always been pleased. Not the best sushi I've ever had but it's always been decent. They are a little on the pricey side.
(4)
Andrew Q.
Why is nobody else commenting on the fact that Thelonious Monkfish has a FANTASTIC name? Seriously, that name is way too good for this restaurant. Theolonious Monkfish was packed when my party first arrived, but we were quickly seated anyway. Place is a bit dark and cramped, but not problematically so. Service was attentive. The music's a nice touch, but the restaurant is usually too loud to hear much. The menu is too damn long. Too many opinions can be a problem. Their food, too, is quite average. I was expecting better from their fried rice and their sushi wasn't great either. It occurs to me I might've just ordered wrong, noting that there are so many options, so I might have to try again. At least with Thelonious Monk, you don't have to try. It's all good.
(3)
michelle w.
I've never seen pink sushi before. Until now. $14 for the Hello Kitty Maki roll wasn't too bad. I love the mango, lobster, avocado combo. Love the atmosphere. Crowded, but a very nice place
(4)
Audrey C.
Actually, pretty solid food! & prices normally somewhere between $11-15 for dinner. Usually I'm wary of fusion places with a million options on their menu, but this place is pretty good. I've never been unhappy with anything I've gotten there, having been there somewhere between 5-10 times. Well, I would just say, the Thai curries are kind of bland/too coconuty. HOWEVER- if you have any secrets to tell, I probably would go elsewhere as the tables are SO ridiculously tight together that you can hear the conversations on your left/right, mere inches away. Like literally, it's hard to leave without your jacket or bag hitting your neighbor's face, or your butt in their face/on top of their table when you're squeezing in/out.
(4)
Jake F.
While I don't eat inside the actual restaurant too much, thelonious is my go-to takeout spot. Food is always delicious and ready in a pinch. Pretty diverse menu with a variety of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese influence. My favorite is the drunken noodles. If you don't want your mouth scorched just specify that you don't want it too spicy and they are happy to adjust. If dining in, make sure to have a reservation or plan to wait a bit.
(4)
Ert D.
The salmon nigiri, miso soup and eel-avo roll were delicious, but the tuna was subpar and the tilapia unpleasantly chewy. I had the brown rice, which was poorly executed with little crunchy uncooked grains in it. There are other, better sushi options in the area.
(3)
Addie R.
Whoa! The menu is overwhelming!! Talk about decision fatigue. Truly Asian Fusion. So many sushi options - I was seriously tempted by the fairytale rolls. They also have Sapporo here, as well as a fun selection of cocktails. I ordered the Monkfish Noodles; buckwheat soba noodles with chicken and shrimp, in a coconut sauce, with bell peppers, carrots, onions, other veggies. It was delicious and I loved every bite! Reasonably priced too. Inside, the lighting is dim, but the noise level is medium-high. I would absolutely go back here - lucky for me, this place is just a 5 minute walk from my house.
(4)
Jordan K.
A group of 11 of us were here last night for a friend's goodbye dinner. I will start off with the bad and end with the good. The bad: No liquor and rude host. When we first arrived at the restaurant, half of our group was there with the other half coming with the person we were hoping to surprise. The host said that I had to confirm (by having everyone there) the number of people we had. I tried to explain that we were trying to surprise someone and it would ruin the surprise if we were all sitting outside waiting. I was fairly annoyed at this and my annoyance had less to do with their unwillingness to seat us, but the tone he took with me. There could have certainly been a nicer way to go about treating a party of 11 at your restaurant. The second part that bothered me about this place was that they did not have liquor and it didn't say it anywhere (at least that I saw) on their viewable menu online or the website in general. The cocktails, being "sake" cocktails were extremely weak, to say the least. Basically, it was like drinking juice. The good: Food was spectacular! Our group ordered two party boats, a Monkfish Party Boat 2 (sushi, sashimi and rolls) and a Maki Party Boat B (rolls only). The quality of the fish was very good and there was also a decent variety. In the end, this is a restaurant and not a bar so the quality of the food is key and Thelonious definitely had some good food. I am a fan and will be returning again.
(4)
Michelle L.
Thelonious Monkfish, a restaurant after my own heart....er, I mean ...Stomach? This restaurant is absolutely amazing. The ambient atmosphere, great working and friendly staff, and the sushi... THE SUSHI is just to die for. Best restaurant in the Central Square area by far. If you're a big sushi fan, I highly recommend the GaGa Monster Roll, and anything from the fairytale roll section on the menu. If sushi isn't really your style, then definitely try the Tori Katsu Don...just amazing. I have never been disappointed with a dining experience here, and the prices are reasonable, too!
(5)
Elizabeth S.
I would say the service won my heart when a man came over to my empty table and asked me where I went to school, what I was studying. I just froze since I haven't been in school for awhile and had no idea what he was talking about. A waiter promptly came over to my table and whisked this guy away. So cool! I love puns. All of the specialty sushi rolls are jazzy. BUT my favorite thing of all here, and maybe ever, was the pad thai with bacon. You heard me. I was like, this could either be kind of gross or really awesome. It was SO awesome. Wish I was eating it right now.
(4)
Priya G.
So yummy and cute! Love the jazz brunch on Sundays (til 3 pm), make a reservation if you can to be able to have a cool seating experience and to not wait as it is a bit small. Probably my favorite part of this place is the cute atmosphere with the jazzy brunch. We had the coconut curry fries, panang curry, and thai basil tofu (veggie options). The fries were okay, honestly they are just fries with a semi sweet/savory sauce (I added sriracha to the curry sauce to spice it up). The panang curry was pretty good.. I have consistently had a great experience with their curry options. The basil tofu was yummy, its mainly steamed veggies and tofu with some basil.. wish I got it spicy and with extra basil to add more flavor. I think in the past I got the drunken noodles which has been one of my favorites. The menu has a ton of options to choose from and so many awesome vegetarian dishes. They did our substitutions in the curry for free but charged $2 for pineapple which was kind of lame. Our waiter was great last time but could have been better this time. Overall the atmosphere and food makes this place one of my Boston faves :)
(4)
Bala B.
Great food. Service was OK but will attribute to a full house at 8pm. I ordered their shrimp drunken noodles and is the best I have eaten!!!
(5)
Cherry J.
Despite giving 4 stars I would have love to give 5 stars. I eat here at least once or twice a week at lunch time. Last week I decided that I no longer care for the shrimp and chicken padthai because there was an overload on the nuts. Today my coworker order the same thing and she expressed that it was not fully cooked and left an awful taste. I ordered the Monks Dream Roll and I was so disappointed that the avocado was yellow and bitter. Very disappointed. I think I will take a break from this establishment which I hate to do since I planned a birthday for March 5.
Have been here a few times and never let down with quality of sushi. The drink menu is pretty encompassing and the food menu is as well. The tables are pretty packed in and sometimes it feels as if you're eating with the people next to you but it is right in Central Square so crowded isn't surprising. The back has tables and cushions to sit on, looks great for groups. Prices are reasonable for the quality and location. There is a great vibe to the place starting with its awesome name! I highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)
Lauren P.
I will definitely be returning to Thelonious Monkfish! I'm confused by how much time I've spent in Central and I never realized this restaurant existed. A friend of mine gave me a $40 Dig coupon for TM before he left the country, so my bf and I used it as part of a thrifty date night. We ordered the spicy white tuna, vegetarian spring rolls (came crispy/fried, which I wasn't prepared for), eel/avocado roll, the "Off-Key Marie" roll, and the Alaskan roll. My bf didn't like the Off-Key Marie very much because they topped it with tobiko. Overall, I thought that all the rolls were really delicious and well-made. I also ordered a glass of wine, and my bf ordered a beer. The two cons to the experience is that the tables inside are REALLY close together. My bf was nice enough to slide between our table and the one beside us to take the bench seat... honestly, I think my butt would have knocked our neighbor's drink on the floor if I'd tried to squeeze through. It wasn't super loud, however, I think because everyone was trying to be respectful of the close quarters. There was outdoor seating as well, which maybe we'll try if it's less muggy out. The second issue was that they had all the tables sharing just a few bottles of soy sauce, which seemed kind of odd... we had to ask for the low sodium soy sauce and halfway through our meal, the waiter took it from our table to give it to someone a few table down. Seeing as the restaurant was packed, you'd think they could invest in a few more bottles! But really...the sushi was good. And I think it may be the only sushi place in Central, so it's worth a visit.
(4)
Davy G.
All of the apps are great. Sweet potato applewood bacon croquettes are my go-to. Sushi is fairly good, duck dishes are fantastic, staff is nice. Make sure to get reservations, even for lunch, because this place fills up. Try the Fairy Tale sushi!
(4)
Danielle S.
I've been here several times on the weekends with friends and it's always very crowded. Definitely make a reservation in advance. On more than one occasion, I've been forced to wait 20+ minutes even with a reservation, which is extremely agitating. They are not as organized as they should be. The food itself is consistently good, but not great. The sushi is better than most places in the area. The udon soup is also a pleasant surprise (more food than I was expecting when i ordered soup). Stop by if you're in the area, but otherwise it may not be worth the trip.
(3)
Dave H.
Best selection and best sushi in Cambridge. Hands down. Nothing more to say. Even for vegetarians!! Try the Alice Coltrane roll!! And the miso soup is exhilaratingly great!
(5)
Sam T.
I like this place a lot. Great and kinds staff, good sushi with reasonable prices, fun atmosphere. The place can get crowded easily and the tables are very close to each other, but the ambience is fun. They have boat size sushi with a great price for a group and awesome variety.
(5)
Carly H.
Great place in central sq. menu has great variety and everything we ordered was delicious, came out quickly, and hot. Great for a date night. Definitely returning soon!
(4)
Ana S.
Let's talk about boats -- boats laden with sushi. That's what I recommend you get at Thelonious Monkfish. These thing are actual small wooden boats (ok fine, I don't know if it's truly seaworthy, but close enough) with between 40 and 100 pieces of sushi on them. OK, so maybe there's a bunch of sushi included that you don't like all that much. Maybe you're there on a date and you don't want to seem like a fatty. Well too bad. The party boat is leaving and you'd better get on board. If it wasn't obvious from my rambling, incoherent discussion of party boats, I'm a bit conflicted about Thelonious Monkfish. Yes, the presentation is great. Yes, it has a fabulously punny name. But the sushi itself is fairly average -- nothing amazing and nothing to complain about. And yet, there's something that the cramped seating and jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none fusion menu leaves wanting. There isn't really a better option in Central, so you'll wind up at the Monkfish sooner or later if you live in the area. Just come for the spectacle of the sushi boat and don't expect to be discovering a local hidden gem just because of the charming name and small footprint.
(3)
Alexander L.
Summary: Good ambience, bad food, terrible service. I've been here twice and wanted to wait until my second experience to write a review. I just didn't want to believe the truth. The truth is that Thelonious Monkfish is a restaurant that serves bad food, and wants appear like one that serves good food. The ambience is fun, though. Food: The first warning sign of a bad restaurant is the size of its menu. It's simply not possible that an average size kitchen can adequately stock enough fresh food to prepare nearly 100 different dishes. Well, maybe the Cheesecake Factory can, but this is about 5% the size of the cheesecake factory, with 1% of the distribution system. So you know you're eaten frozen seafood, frozen meat, and otherwise processed foods. The second warning sign of a bad restaurant is dual mandate. Thelonious Monkfish does asian everything and sushi. It's neither Japanese, Thai, Korean or Chinese. It's confused. The reality of a bad restaurant is the quality of its food, and here it's awful. Everything from the Green Papaya salad to the curries tastes like it came from a Mary Chung prepared dinner. The dressing for the Green Papaya salad came from those small packs of sweet and sour Thai dipping sauce. The curry was from a can or powder package. The "dry sukiyaki"? a heap of celery with mushy rice noodles and seafood with freezer burn beyond recognition. I almost threw it up. Service: The front desk service is poor. My first experience I waited for a table with a reservation. When I was finally seated I was stuffed between two other tables of two people leaving no room for conversation or belongings. The second experience I had was equally bad but on the opposite end of the meal. No less than three people tried to bring us our check even though we hadn't been brought dessert menus and hadn't finished our food. I only wish I could have told the people waiting that it wasn't worth their wait. If I lived in Central I would go here in the winter because it's warm, the jazz music is nice, and the food is reasonably priced. If I lived anywhere else in Boston I would stay away, like the plague.
(2)
Sam G.
THE place to go for Thai food. They really pack people in, but its a great atmosphere and the food is always, the bomb dot com
(5)
Kavya S.
A great go-to restaurant where you are guaranteed to have a good dining experience. I went to Thelonious with one of my best friends after I received a recommendation. I am a huge fan of Asian food, and thus find many Asian restaurants to be about the same "above average" quality. Thelonious largely fits into that category. My friend and I split the green summer rolls for an appetizer, and we both found it to be great! The vegetables were very fresh and the sauce that the rolls came with was very flavorful. For entrees, I ordered the tofu and vegetable stir fry with basil and chili sauce. The entree tasted just like how a good thai dish would taste at any well-done thai restaurant. The flavors were perfect and the tofu was deep fried and dripping with sauce (in a good way!). I felt that the tofu to vegetables ratio was a little off though, with too many vegetables and not enough tofu for my liking. If you are looking for an Asian restaurant that is guaranteed to leave you satisfied, absolutely head over to Thelonious. If you are looking for something a little more adventurous or unique, I would suggest checking out some other place. NOTE: The drink menu also looks great--I definitely want to check it out next time!
(4)
Jane C.
Excellent food. Four dinner entres and a sangria (which was great. Would drink that everyday) for $40 is a steal for an upscale sushi place. Sea bass sashimi exceptional.
(5)
Christy O.
Great service and great sushi! Went with a group of four so we got a boat of sushi (48 pieces of a variety of rolls). it was So delicious and worth the drive into Cambridge!
(4)
G G.
Been here a few times and never that impressed, especially given the high(ish) prices. If you want asian food in central square go to pepper sky, so much better and cheaper.
(2)
Jessica S.
Hands down, my favorite place to eat in Central. They have a great selection of food and their sushi is amazing. I've even taken my parents here (and they usually do not care for Asian food), and they loved it! I live right down the street so it's nice to be able to order delivery from them if I don't feel like leaving the house but the atmosphere in the restaurant is cool too. It's very nicely decorated and the waiters are always really nice. Definitely worth a try!
(5)
Hubert H.
The sushi here was fine and tasty, but my main complaint is that the rice wasn't done to my specification. It was a tad too grainy, not glutenous enough, and not vinegary enough. Rice is the central ingredient of sushi making, so eateries should take note of that!
(3)
Kevin A.
Pros: Huge menu. Great selection. Sushi, fried rice, noodles, other entrees, lots of appetizers, etc. There are usually large portions also. It is also very reasonably priced (you can get a delicious entree for like $12) Cons: Big menu but nothing seems to shine out as being super amazing. Also, it is a bit cramped inside, so you'll hear a lot of your neighbors conversations.
(4)
Jen M.
Last night was the first time I ate at Thelonius Monkfish. My dinner was OK. Veggie pot stickers were gross. Two rolls (crazy and some other roll) were good. The overall experience wasn't terrible until it came time to pay the bill. The waiter hovered over us as we filled in the tip amount and within 5 minutes of us paying the bill, we were asked to leave because they needed our table. This is so, so rude!!! I was shocked, as was the table of ladies next to us. To the owners of Thelonius Monkfish- asking patrons to leave right after they pay their bill is a terrible practice! Not to mention just plain classless and you should consider the impression this gives. My friends and I were there for only a matter of an hour and a half. Our bill was $85 and we left 20%. I can understand if we were hanging out for over an hour, but 5 minutes??? Other thoughts: - the restaurant is too small for what they are trying to accomplish. They clearly overbook and their tables are squished together so people can't even get out when they are done without disrupting the neighboring diners. -The food is over-priced. If they want to charge the same prices as a more upscale place, then customers should be treated in a more upscale manner. There are too many other options in Boston. I won't be back.
(1)
Cassy H.
I have doubts when it comes to Asian fusion sushi places... so I wasn't sure if I would like this place. However, overall, I think this place was a-okay and turned out to be better than I expected. I ordered a spider roll, which was a decently sized roll. Overall, solid tasting, but nothing super amazing. Also ordered miso soup, which was solid as well but not amazing. The only thing that tasted weird was the water... I realize it seems rather silly to review my water drinking experience, but really.. it's not good. I enjoy water with lemon, but then water with lemon, grapefruit, and cucumber? Eh, you think it would taste good, but it just taste bad. So, ask for regular water when you go.
(3)
Xenia A.
The fairy tale sushi rolls are delicious and so beautiful to look at, too! If I come here, it's for the amazing sushi, but they also have a pretty diverse menu for any other Japanese, Thai, or Viet dishes that you might want. Only thing is that it really pays to have a reservation - it can get pretty hectic in the evenings.
(5)
Susan C.
Went to TM for dinner with my sister last night, and this place is an all around win. Service is friendly and attentive, food is good, and great value. For an app, 2 entrees and an iced tea it was only $46, and that was including tip and with leftovers for a round 2! We ordered the spicy salmon spring roll app, Maki combo 3, and Shrimp and Chicken Pad Thai. The fried spring roll was delicious and I would definitely get it again. Just enough spice to tingle your taste buds. The sushi was fresh and plentiful at 18 pcs. The pad thai lacked something in its flavor, maybe not enough fish sauce, but it was decent. My sister says their thai iced tea is the best she's ever had--good balance on the tea to cream ratio. Dining tip: This place is on the smaller side, and the wait during prime dinner hours may be a while, but my tip is to call 30 minutes ahead of time to put yourself on the waiting list before you arrive and you should be seated quickly when you get there.
(4)
Reinne T.
Great sushi and wide selection of choices! Would go again.
(4)
Sarah W.
Extensive menu, great food, interesting flavors, and friendly staff. I enjoy going there because you can never get tired of the food -- there's just so much to try! 10,000 bonus points for them because of how they reacted to the following scenario: 7:03 pm: I arrive with my wife for our friend's 30th birthday dinner (reservations for 10 people at 7 pm). 7:04 pm: The wife and I are seated. No one else is there. 7:05 pm: I call my friend. She has just woken up from her post-afternoon-drinking nap. At her home. 30 minutes away. Her two friends are with her. They estimate it'll take until 8 pm for them to get here. She also reveals that four other people aren't coming. 7:06 pm: I call over the waitress and explain the situation: "No party of 10 at 7 pm, but rather party of 6 at 8 pm. Is this even possible?" She would have been well-within her rights to tell us to go jump off a cliff -- this was a Saturday night and they had a line out the door. Instead she told me to give me her number and she'd call us when they had our table ready. We left and went across the street for appetizers at the Dosa Factory while we waited. 8:03 pm: Friend calls and says they're parking. 8:05 pm: Thelonious Monkfish calls and says our table is ready. Amazing.
(4)
Matthew B.
This spot is my go to for those I'm-hungry-but-don't-want-to-think moments of the week. I'd love to give them 5 stars for personality alone, but it's a bit misleading to do so. The best part -- The sushi is pretty great. They have some unique options, but all the regulars are on the ball: spider roll, dragon roll, rainbow roll, spicy tuna all to perfection. As others have noted, the specials need an update, but its good stuff. The people -- Staff here are unbelievably good as the small-town feel of service. After my 3rd-or-so time in they got my name down, by the 5th they knew my girlfriend. At that point it was sold and planned to go back as long as the food hit the spot. The worst part -- I've been frustrated on a few Th-Sat nights when a reservation was made and the seat wasn't ready for 30-45 minutes later. Either don't take reservations or keep the timing tight. Consistently good -- Beyond the sushi above, check out the Ancient Fried-rice dinner. Marinated duck, bacon and vegetables in incredible fried rice. My mouth is watering just writing it. Consistently bad -- Don't order the ramen. Seriously. I love the owners to keep going back as long as their quality stays high. So while there are a few pitfalls, this spot is my go to without a doubt.
(4)
Anonymous A.
I previously left a scathing comment on my experience dealing with the front house manager with my delivery order. Literally within 12 hours, the owner messaged and apologized for the staff''s behavior and said he is working on rectifying the contributing factor to my complaint. I am really touched by his attention to making sure people leave his restaurant happy and wanted to share that with you all.
(4)
Pivbo H.
Yelp Hassle: I drank a Sapporo from a giant 24 oz metal coffee mug. Super pro. The doors to the bathroom slide open, which is also very pro. Here is the chillest part: you can totally get the bathroom door to stay open like 2 inches even when it's "locked" with the door chain. I am a reverse pervert so rather than try to watch people pee, I use this opportunity to tantalize others with the prospect of me possibly peeing, visibly, through the crack, for all time. You can pay with bitcoin, which is why I flew out here from San Francisco. All of my money is locked into bitcoins because my roommate was the secret Silk Road guy and now I just live "off the grid" and can only eat at 2 restaurants in the U.S.A. One of them is the "bad" Chipotle on Market St. This is not a joke. I also tipped the waitress with MDMA which is also a form of bitcoin, and she was totally fine with it after I explained that it wasn't just a big chunk of salt. Here's the only weird part: the menu has this weird see-through font in addition to the menu text (which is normal, black Garamond, size 14) that says "Pleasure and Pain: UNIFIED" in sizes ranging from 12 to 36. What could this possibly mean?
(4)
arijit c.
The menu is large, the portions (for sushi) are shockingly small, and the food is nothing special. Go if you absolutely must have jazz with your sushi
(2)
Paige C.
jazz themed asian food? sushi, thai, tapas, oh my! check it out and judge. It's like someone came up with a great name for a restaurant with seafood and jazz, and then didn't really think much beyond that... Would I ever come here again? Probably not. Food is pricey. Sushi is average. I ordered the beef panang, and it was good, but very sugary and watery. I tried my friend's scallops and noodles--also sugary. Sweet potato and bacon croquettes--not bacony enough. I will say though, the menu is HUGE. Truly asian fusion. But with such a huge menu comes a lot of average things instead of a few amazing things. I guess I just prefer unfused Asian food. The decor and atmosphere is cozy and busy. Cocktail menu looked nice, but I did not partake. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly, and hey, they do some serious take-out. They have sushi boats: like an actual boat, like that you could float on.
(3)
Sabrina M.
Trendy, superb service, lightning-fast kitchen, scrumptious food. I ordered the mango fried rice with shrimp and wouldn't hesitate to order the same dish again. It's a great place to have an upbeat conversation with a friend : )
(5)
Qian L.
One of the best restaurants in town. I world recommend to everyone. They are known for their sushi and noodle dishes, I'd say. Their sushi that I've tried was amazing. The ones I haven't tried looked great as well. The lychee lullaby drink is absolutely fantastic! It's best to make a reservation ahead of time. But you can get away with it on a snowing/raining/slushing night before the college semester starts.
(5)
Ha L.
Amazing amazing amazing! I have been to Thelonious Monkfish twice now, and both experiences were wonderful! When my friend recommended Thelonious to me, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. I usually find that fusion restaurants often do not get their flavors right, and everything tastes a bit bland. However, I was pleasantly surprised my first time at Thelonious! My friend and I ordered their Green Summer Rolls + Avocado, and it was delicious! For the entrees I got the Tom Yum Fried Rice, and she got the Tofu + Vegetable Stir Fry with Basil and Chili Sauce. What I found upon the first bite was that all of the flavors were ON POINT. The thai food at Thelonious is better than most thai places I've been to, and I'd say the same about the sushi. All of the ingredients taste very fresh, and it seems like the chefs put a lot of thought into each dish. I can't wait to come back here again :)
(5)
r n.
My absolute favorite Japanese place in the greater Boston area. They also do amazing Thai. Everytime we go, we treat ourselves to Lover Man roll! Crispy Chicken Pad Thai is TO DYE FOR. Also, if they have the Spicy Miso Seafood Noodle Bowl, you have to get it! The place is so pretty and tasteful, the food so well executed, and the staff is a solid team and a well oiled machine. Go to this place, it will not disappoint.
(5)
Hannah R.
This place is classy and fresh. What more can be said? Ok, ok, I'll make an effort. Rolls-wise, I think this is the most unique menu in town. It can run a little high, but it's worth it to eat something like their Holly and Ivy special, which involves lobster, mango, tuna, salmon, seaweed salad, and tobiko. Seriously? Those are all the best things in one thing! Their cocktails are pretty good too, and I'm frequently surprised by the prices on these--only $5 or $6 for the specialty dranks. It's a packed little place, and it can be hard to get a hold of the wait staff. On Sundays there is live jazz! There is cheaper sushi in the Boston metro area, but for a nice sit-down dinner, this place is the spot.
(4)
Laura S.
Went late on a Sunday, had to wait a long time to sit down, and we had called ahead! Also wouldn't seat my party because I was 5 minutes away and not in the building yet...so we had to wait even longer and ended up shoved at the bar counter. This would have been fine because the sushi is made right in front of you...but that means waiters and front of house staff are constantly reaching over you to grab the sushi. That's why they lost stars from me. On the flip side, the food was great. I had some wonton soup that had the most amazing broth I've ever tasted. The sushi was delicious and fresh and reasonably priced. It's closer to me than my favorite sushi place and will do in a pinch.
(3)
Nef P.
Visit Wednesday 8:30p The space is cute, but long and narrow; expect to bump elbows a few times with your neighbor if it is full. However, the wait was short for our party of two which may have just been a coincidence (I suggest going in a group of 4 or less though based on the sized of the space/table arrangement). We ordered the Tortillas Peking Duck as our appetizer, then Off-Key Marie Roll, Red Riding Hood Roll, Sleeping Beauty Roll, Rumpelstillskin Roll, and the Duck Young Cocunt Meat for our main course. The Tortillas Peking Duck was pleasant but the dipping sauce definitely held the dish together but overall not too bad. Most of the rolls we ordered had fruit in them or strayed away from typical dishes (after reviewing the menu I thought it would be fun to explore their specialty rolls). The appearance of the dishes wasn't as whimsical as the names and "stories" suggested but overall not bad, but not great. They seemed to have a few issues with mixing up orders at our table and the table next to ours (I believe they forgot to put in our Duck Young Coconut order) but it seemed like it was the end of the night and they simply made a few mistakes. I will definitely go back and order other dishes/rolls. I do recommend visiting if you haven't been though. Not a lot of places have creative rolls like this place does (or as wide a selection!). Also started to empty around 9p so if you don't mind a late dinner perhaps arriving by 8:30 wouldn't be a bad idea. I'll give them an extra star because of the creativity and thought they put behind their sushi rolls.
(4)
Johnny Q.
came here for the first time. tried Spicy Pork Miso Ramen which was good but not spicy at all by my standards, even though it was the spiciest option on the menu. we also had a variety of maki rolls which were very good. the service was excellent. I would like to come back and try more things on the menu.
(3)
Alison B.
We've been here several times and have enjoyed everything we've tried. The vegetarian section on the menu isn't huge, but there are actually tons of veggie choices including sushi, and many dishes can be ordered vegan. Standouts are veggie potstickers, chilled soba noodles, and Alice Coltrane roll. The tables are packed in tight and it's pretty loud, so perhaps not for everyone.
(4)
Kim K.
Decent food, great sushi. Service is a little sporadic. Dining room is cozy and inviting. Prices are alright. I feel entirely neutral about this place - nothing amazing, nothing terrible. Not sure how quick I would be to return. Also, it took over 3 weeks for our dinner to be charged to our debit card. WTF. I'm taking off another star just for that.
(2)
Terra L.
Very crowded which is typically a good sign in my opinion, a group of us dined here Friday night at about 7:30pm this place was packed! The menu was a bit overwhelming with lots of options however I found it refreshing that a place this quaint was so diverse in the food options. Lots of sushi options, seafood, along with other meets and veggie friendly. I ordered pad thai which was pretty good and the harlem roll! Pretty fresh and tasty too! I liked the trendy vibe...shoulder to shoulder with all types of people ...small but cute! Ill be back!
(4)
Elektra A.
Ate here with a friend two weekends ago. Overall experience was satisfactory. I ordered the chirashi bowl, we shared the brussels sprouts, and my friend had the Nature Boy Roll and Alaskan Roll. While food was decent, I was disappointed with the service. Our server was very difficult to understand and not clear about order changes, etc. My friend is gf, which I know can be difficult to handle at a restaurant, but at one point when she ordered a different roll our server just never brought it. Turns out it couldn't be made gluten-free. That's fine, but he never communicated that to us so we never knew until much later into our meal. My Chirashi bowl was decent - a bit on the smaller size for the price. Fish was good but the slices were very big for sashimi. I'd eat here again if someone really wanted to, but this will not be my go-to sushi place. Too bad, it's got a great name.
(3)
Miss M.
I have had better. Overpriced for the quality and quantity. -Flamboyant host was snotty -Seating is TOO crowded for comfort -Seaweed salad was okay, just tasted like slimy wet dog from time to time -Ordered small plate of creepy fried chicken which was supposed to come with a dipping sauce and never did...didn't finish it...didn't go well with soy sauce...didn't even think it was chicken....I don't think fried chicken is supposed to have spots... -Ordered 1 Alaskan --old spotted avocado; 1 Spicy Tuna; 1 Sweet Potato maki...all sloppy, not fresh, and made me nauseous that I begged my boyfriend to finish the rest instead of the courteous "no please, you have the last piece (but I wouldn't mind having it)". -Sticky Tables -Loud Now, I'm trying to be fair, it's central square and it's a busy small place...with nice decor I suppose. There were 2 Japanese style seating areas for larger parties...but I think that section could have been more closed off towards the back for more privacy like other Japanese restaurants do. -Nice waitress I've worked at many restaurants, crappy, fair, and upscale, and tried my best, and had my crap days, the food business it hard, but you always have to try and keep on your feet. I'm just keeping it real. When the bill came, was not worth it. The food was not up to par. Disappointed, not good. Do not be fooled by the nice sign outside
(1)
Te R.
there are many reasons to love thelonius monkfish. most of the food here are thai-influenced but got extended further by the western taste without americanizing. chef ginger did a very good job creating true asian fusion. everything on the menu is very different from what you would expect from an asian restaurant. every dish we ordered was delicious and beautifully plated. we loved them so much we asked them to cater for our wedding. we kept getting compliments on the food from our guests. they also have sunday brunch with a live jazz band. and the line is not as crazy as your typical brunch places. highly recommended! dates, sunday brunch, after work dinner, or even wedding!
(5)
Karen D.
Fun name, very fun menu! Some reliable standard dishes for comfort, and a lot of really interesting twists, like the Fig Jam Fried Rice (which was amazing). The menu can be a bit overwhelming, but I love the whimsy in it. Restaurant is small and a bit crowded, but service was reasonably good and prices were reasonable as well.
(4)
Jon S.
Came here with a couple friends and we were seated at the elevated tables that required us to sit cross-legged on some cushions... It's practically summer time, I was wearing boat shoes (sans socks) and my feet wreaked... Good thing I wasn't on a date! Smells aside, wasn't thrilled about the seating situation. I prefer chairs, and I'm not sure why they don't just convert these tables to normal seating. Not only would it be more comfortable, but also probably more sanitary. My friend and I split Sushi Combo 3 and the Frog Prince roll. Initially, we were handed the take out menu which we were told was identical to the regular menu. Sure, the listing of ingredients are the same, but the clever anecdotes about the rolls were absent, so we asked for a real menu. My personal favorite: the Gaga roll = the same as the Madonna roll except we don't use old fish. The combo was good and included 3 rolls for $19. Not a bad deal. The fish tasted fresh, the rolls were standard sized. The Frog Prince roll was $15 alone, and, in my opinion wasn't worth it. Sure, they use some non-standard ingredients (like mango) to entice you, but the roll was small. No larger than one of three rolls I received for almost the same price. It's nice to read the cute stories in the menu re: the fairy tale rolls, but save yourself some money and skip them. Definitely not a bad place for sushi, can't comment on the other stuff, but they do have a pretty extensive menu.
(3)
Amy K.
Definitely coming back, if in the area. Coconut Curry Fries - definitely ordering these again... the accompanying sauce was great! Vegetarian Spring Rolls - good, solid, but may try something else next time, especially given the extensive menu Scorpion Roll - eight pieces, great balance in flavors
(4)
Ariel A.
I've been here a few times. The food is very tasty but pricey. The seating is terrible! If I am going to pay this much to eat, I want to be comfortable and not squished into a restaurant like a sardine. I do not recommend for a romantic date! It's too noisy and uncomfortable for romance.
(3)
Jean Anne C.
I've been here multiple times and have never been disappointed. Good portions and prices, and the dishes are very flavorful. Especially like the Brussels sprouts side dish, and the soba noodles. Sushi boats are great for larger parties. I like their small touches like strawberry and cucumber infused in their water.
(5)
Erica W.
Holy moly WOW. I was given a list of places to choose from for dinner and I figured why not give this place a try. With a 3.5 overall yelp rating, figured it couldnt be too bad. Okay a) 3.5 stars is bs. This place deserves 5 stars and then some. I never understood how people could have such high opinions of a sushi place - I mean sushi is sushi. And then I came here. Okay lets discuss what our party got: Spicy Duck Salad - The duck was cooked PERFECTLY! I mean truly amazing. And the flavors were out of this world. I will come back solely for this dish. Frankie & Johhny Roll - sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, avocado, wrapped in Nori with rice and bllack and white sesame. UNREAL. Truly the best vegetable sushi I've ever had. Crouching Tiger Roll - mouthwatering. Crab Rangoon - incredible. Chicken Panang - We asked for it super spicy and boy did they deliver!! Was incredibly spicy and incredibly good. Its been a few days and we are still talking about that meal. GO GO GO GO GO.
(5)
Josh L.
Came here on a random date night. It's pretty easy to pass but I heard a lot of good things about the place which is why I sought it out. Upon entering we were quickly greeted and luckily another couple was leaving so we could get a seat. The waiter gave us a good amount of time to decide but due to the extensive menu we were still not ready. When we finally agreed we ordered the Red Riding Hood Roll, the monk fish maki (I think) and the rainbow roll. I'm not as much an avid eater of sushi as my girlfriend but I must say that they were all quite delicious. The different textures of the Red Riding Hood roll were an experience for your mouth. This was also the first time I have ever had strawberry with my sushi, so they are very creative with their dishes. Overall I had a great experience here and I would definitely go back. However, one thing I did not like was the close seating, I was literally rubbing elbows with the lady beside me but she left soon after :)
(4)
Robo T.
Blown away. Every dish was spectacular. The prices are amazing - especially considering the location, ambiance and quality of the food!! The service was acceptable. The seating is a little snug for us plus size bitches but adequate. The food.... I dont even know where to begin.... the chicken satay is delicious, tender and expertly grilled. The spicy beef and grape salad....OMG... AMAZING. It is marinated beef (sa cha or some kind of shrimp paste?) with green grapes, grape tomatos, mixed greens and chili lime sauce. Its out of this world. The french fries with coconut milk-based curry sauce are delicious. The chicken graprow is top notch....flavorful, spicy and plenty or thai royal basil. The Pig's Tears is out of this world. Its like moo yang or tiger tears/crying tiger - in a delicious nam chim chaeo style sauce. If youre not familiar, its a thai chili / lime / fish sauce / ground roasted sticky rice concoction of orgasmic bliss. Forget the pig's tears, *I* was practically crying in euphoria. Highly recommended! I mean........er....... dont go here. Stay away. I dont want to ever have to wait for a seat!
(5)
Alex L.
Well it's about time we reviewed this place. Being our favorite restaurant in ALL of Boston/Cambridge/that whole area, of course Thelonious is going to get five stars. I can't tell you how many times I've been here, at least 30 by now probably. All of their dishes have this subtle signature flavor to them that guarantees that anything you get will be great, so it is one of the places where I feel comfortable being adventurous trying different items on the menu. And 80% of the time I come here, I try something different, and it has almost always been great. The only bad experiences I've had were once with the drunken noodles (way too spicy and I ordered mild, and there were almost no noodles), and the ramen (it wasn't real ramen and the soup was sugary and just bad). They might have changed it since 2012 though, because I saw another party eating the ramen recently and it looked like real ramen this time. Not sure what else I can add, having a restaurant be my favorite is already a huge deal! This is my go to place whenever I have guests over, and it is always a success.
(5)
Kate S.
Great sushi place. As someone who is a vegetarian but greatly enjoys sushi I have never had such fantastic options. Service was great as well!
(4)
Christophe V.
Good sushi, nice atmosphere. Restaurant is small and crowded, but the staff are friendly and I like it better then Yoki across the street.
(4)
Stefanie J.
Good, reliable choice for eating in or take-out. I'm from California, so I'm generally used to much better sushi, but this is one of the better places in the area. The menu has a lot of options (something for everyone) and the quality is pretty consistent. If you're eating in, the place has a good vibe. Try to reserve a table, though, because it's a pretty small place.
(4)
Lily S.
Thanks to Jamme's attention and professional attitude, I finally made my way back to TM this past weekend. Sorry it took so long but I prefer my side of the river ;) I digress. 180 on the experience. Since I was running the show this time, I had the good sense to make reservations and we had no problem being sat immediately after checking in. I also noticed the new curtain over the door. Great addition as we were sitting by the entrance and it definitely helped w the draft! Highlight: red riding hood roll. Strawberries on it?! Say what?! Yummmm Sleeping beauty roll was the bomb too. Mango? Yes please! Very creative use of flavors and the soy paper instead of nori is a lovely touch! Frog prince roll--yum. Volcano -- always a crowd pleaser--warm and savory. Frankie and Johnny roll- great bang for your buck. Sweet and good for desert. The only one I don't have much to say for is the mad monk maki...but let's be clear, we emptied the plates. So it wasn't that bad. Obviously my partner had just done a poor job ordering last time. What a shame. Bonus points for Pomelo sav blanc.
(4)
Veronica D.
My friends and I were on a mission to eat ramen. I had been searching for a location to fill my need for a warm filling soup, that would be both healthy and filling. This place hit the spot. We walked in (party of 4) and were promptly seated. The waitress was attentive and answered our questions as well as brought us out or water/drinks. Next up we ordered two orders of the lobster roll and a garden salad along with an eel roll. The sushi was delicious, fresh, and came out quickly. The portion was perfect. For our entrees we ordered 3 separate ramen noodle bowls. I got the wanton soup, my two other friends got the beef soup and the seafood soup. I can't recall the exact names. We were all IMPRESSED! The food was hot, flavorful, fresh, and just all around stellar. I can not say enough about it. This place is a gem. The 4th individual in our party ordered the duck which came with a side of sweet potato mash. He was raving about the duck, explained that it was perfectly cooked and had a crunch to the exterior. On the way out we explained to the waitstaff in front that we were so impressed and that it was our first time there. They were pleasant and answered our questions. What a great find and a must try. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Marko C.
BAD! Really BAD! It was my last day in Boston and I needed to grab a quick lunch before heading to the airport. I thought I'd try the Thelonious Monkfish restaurant because I loved the catchy name and the restaurant actually looked pretty fun. Dissapointed. For appetizers, I had the Crispy Duck Springrolls. First, the spring rolls weren't spring rolls - they were deep fried egg rolls. The rolls were stuffed with pieces of duck that were tough, dry, and really really difficult to chew. I kept on thinking to myself that it was made of old food that they didn't sell the night before. It was served with a tamirind soy sauce that made it a bit easier to eat. Grade: D-. For my main meal, I had the Asian Yellow Curry Noodles. This dish was prepared with a yellow curry (Thai influenced) with coconut milk. The soup was actually very tasty, but I realized about 30 minutes into the meal why - M.S.G. It was like a Coconut curry soup. To make things worse, the dish was served with angel hair pasta and cooked bean sprouts, and topped with deep fried crispy wonton strips. At first, I thought I should take off all the fried wonton strips, but decided to mix it into the noodle bowl. Mistake. The wonton strips actually didn't get mush - they got leathery. The wontons trips were soggy and difficulty to eat. I ended up taking a few bites of my meal and leaving the rest to throw away. It was bad and I walked away hungry. Grade: D- My biggest problem with the food here is the levels of MSG. I actually had the MSG shakes for 1-2 hours after leaving this place. Bad quality food preparation, and the MSG shakes equal a 1 star review.
(1)
Kacey B.
I came here with a friend for an afternoon lunch and will return again soon, especially for the live music. The food was delicious (she had noodles and I had sushi) and service was friendly and attentive, even when it got busy. Atmosphere was very comfortable and I enjoyed the decor.
(4)
Xin Z.
Nice environment and table settings. Food is good but nothing impressive.
(3)
Rachel C.
I'm so glad I finally got to check this place out! I had purchased a deck of City Dining Cards ( citydiningcards.com ) for my boyfriend for Christmas as a way of getting us to branch out and try new restaurants. Understanding that he wasn't a fan of seafood, I knew there were a few cards in the deck we probably weren't going to be using together. Thelonious Monkfish was one of those cards. But, I had some friends who are big fans of this place and are moving across the country soon, convince him that he would find something to eat and help me pig out on sushi! For $102, we had an order of cranberry crab rangoon, an order of avocado salad, the Rumpelstiltskin, the Frog Prince, two Alice Coltranes, a crazy maki, the cranberry chicken teriyaki (with the most amazing Chinese kale and truffle oil mashed sweet potatoes you can imagine), two Sierra Nevada's, and a carafe of warm sake. In other words, we FEASTED for less than $25 each after using the $10 off card. Service was alright, not too attentive, but not neglectful. Our glasses were always full of cucumber and melon water, which was delightful! My only wish was that they could time the dishes so that the sushi came out closer to when my boyfriend's chicken dish came out. But other than that everything was amazing! Maybe not the best sushi I've ever had, but pretty damn good! Especially the creative rolls! I will definitely be back, and maybe even skip the sushi in favor of that chicken dish! And THAT is saying a lot!
(4)
Laura B.
Wild sushi offerings that mostly work, combined with level-headed pricing. Take note of the "Fairy Tale Sushi" section of the menu. A busy, noisy place with serene and attentive servers.
(4)
Jacqueline J.
I have been here twice and I loved the food both times. Good drink selection and delicious sushi! It can crowded in the evening and the last time that I went, the host passed over us and gave our table to another group. We had to wait another 10 mins (after already waiting 45), but apart from that the service was good. I would reccomend trying to not go peak hours to avoid the wait, but if you can't help it, but your name in and go grab a drink at Brick and Mortar across the street!
(4)
Luci N.
This place is delicious every single dish I tried so far is yummy my favorite is the grilled beef panang curry and their appetizers anything with spicy mayo is delicious! Must go!
(5)
Andrew L.
The sushi is average, but the fried rice is very good with generous portions. Some of the most interesting fried rice preparations I've ever had. Cool seating but a little cramped.
(4)
Jing T.
I've eaten here twice now and definitely wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other. The decor is nice looking for a first date but it is also budget friendly. Last but not least, the food is delicious. Monkfish Medley is one of my fav dishes.
(4)
Joshua G.
I always want a martini when I step in here. I think its the chill 60s accidental hipster vibe. Every day has a hard bop soundtrack. I think they have a band with brunch (yes, Thai brunch!) and the wait staff is running around with cute matching outfits. If you see a tall blonde haired man bouncing around, he's Jamme, a co-owner. The restaurant is born from his love for Thai food and culture. He's absolutely charming and has a delightful sense of humor so ask him about his creative sushi rolls. Every one has a story. I lived in the area for 2 years and would come here or order delivery regularly. I'd get Panang Chicken with NO CARROTS! Seriously, who puts carrots or baby corns in Thai food? I hate that stuff! Anyhow. The Panang is my comfort food. I also recommend trying the bacon pad Thai and anything with duck and curry. The duck might be a bit fatty for preference but if you're like me, duck fat is beautiful so... YOLO! Full disclosure: I made the promo video for this restaurant. Check it out, above. Check out that sushi chef!
(5)
M L.
Had high hopes for Thelonious after seeing pictures of all of the dishes on Yelp and walking past the restaurant several time. Honestly, I thought it was a let down. For an appetizer, we split the wok-charred bok choy with balsamic glaze and onion. There was nothing charred about the bok choy and it definitely wasn't glazed. What we had instead was several pieces of limp bok choy in a balsamic sauce. Major letdown #1. For my main, I went for the tom yum seafood noodle soup. The broth was great - really sweet and sour in flavor. However there was barely any seafood or vegetables even! I think I had two pieces of shrimp, one scallop, a super small and thin slice of fish cake, and a couple pieces of green. What I basically received was a bowl of noodles with lots of peanuts and fried wonton strips. Seriously?! For half the price, I could've gone to Pho Pasteur or anywhere in Chinatown and received a soup with more seafood and a price tag half as high. Letdown #2. The other two I was with ordered the spicy miso seafood soup and the crispy duck noodles. Miso seafood soup had nice flavor, and his bowl seemed to also be lacking on seafood, but at least had a spoon of corn. Duck noodles was mostly noodles with a few pieces of fried duck, but mostly just bone. You'd expect more. Overall, I don't think I'd come back here unless there was some sort of deal or someone else was paying the bill. Too many places in Central where you can do better.
(2)
Maria R.
This place has good shushi, but I haven't really enjoyed the rest of the dishes. Also gets pretty overcrowded.
(3)
Kevin G.
The atmosphere was casual, energetic and overall pretty good. The sushi, however, was on par with delivery/ seamless sushi. In other words, it was not awful, but was not particularly fresh or tasty. The rolls were fairly uninspired (or overinspired depending on your perspective). It almost feels like they are trying to compensate for the quality of the fish by making rolls that were as complicated as possible. I am usually skeptical of an asian fusion since they are typically a hodgepodge of mediocre asian cuisines. My experience here reinforced that notion.
(2)
Shaina P.
Beer. wine. sake. Now.
(4)
Christopher C.
Sushi here is delicious - great party boats and I wasn't disappointed when I tried some of their fairy tale roles. I was hesitant at first because one was called Red Riding Hood - it had spicy tuna and shrimp tempura topped with strawberries - but it was excellent. Only downside to this restaurant is that it's quite small and I wasn't too fond of the curtain hanging by the entrance door (just weird). Also, there's a cool place to sit and eat on comfortable cushions in the back of the restaurant. I'd say the food is adequately priced starting to get on the expensive side, but the food is great here. If you're looking for sushi in central square, this is your place.
(4)
Jingni W.
Had the tom yum seafood fried rice for lunch! It was delicious, loaded with plenty of seafood. Will come back here again!
(4)
Christina C.
Great food, lively atmosphere, just extremely busy and can feel rushed. I was lucky to get in here by 6 pm , otherwise my friend and I would have had to join the long line that's always outside this restaurant even on weekdays before Friday. We sat near the front and it felt crowded with all the 2-person tables beside us, but I guess the restaurant is maximizing its space utilization to get more people in. Only gripe about the seating was it was somewhat near the door and the cold air drafting in every time new people came in was bothersome. The fried rice dishes came highly recommended from friends who live in Central Square. All the fried rice items looked awesome (along with all the steaming dishes waiters were hurrying to tables around us) and I asked the waitress to help me choose between 3 (monkfish fried rice, chicken teriyaki fried rice, ancient fried rice) and the answer was immediate. Ancient fried rice for sure. Not sure what exactly makes it "ancient" - I had expected something like preserved egg or whatever to be an ingredient, but it was just duck and bacon. I didn't regret the choice. The food came pretty fast and the portion size was generous. Tasted great. My friend got some kind of 6 piece sushi. Nothing to rave about but she wasn't particularly hungry. The aforementioned friends in Central are always getting take-out from here so I think I'll be trying this restaurant more often in the future. The rest of the fried rice items and maybe some of the sushi. Discerning menu browsers might notice that the sushi rolls all have some wacky story behind them. Not sure if that makes them any better-tasting, but I appreciate the inventiveness. Caveats are just to make reservations and to try to sit away from the door!
(4)
Rebekah P.
Nice place! Small cosy atmosphere and my friends and I were sitting in the traditional seat in the back where you take off your shows! Miso soup was alright, but I loved my sushi that I ordered- crazy roll and spicy tuna! My friends ordered many different dishes- soups, rices, noodle dishes and everyone really enjoyed their meals!
(4)
Michelle L.
The new birthday location for my friends... Thelonius Monkfish serves great sake for sake/beer (in the many variants of imbibing the two liquids together). They have a 80-piece sushi/sashimi boat. It's perfect for a group! The service, while slow on the food order (we did order 160 pieces of sushi.. yes 2 sushi boats), was fantastic in terms of giving us anything and everything we needed. From refilling our drinks promptly to making sure we got candles for the birthday cake we brought in, they were very attentive to our group. The quality of the fish was fine, nothing special, but definitely better than a lot of what is available in the Cambridge/Boston world. Get the sashimi boat. Whatever size you like it.
(4)
Celia Z.
5pm. I'm finally done with finals for the next two weeks. First thing I want to go after 3 hours of impossible statistics problems? Gobble up sushi. So we went to Thelonious Monkfish after I had heard through the grapevine how good it was; after endless debate, we ordered the Scorpion Roll (Grilled eel, avocado & tobiko, wrapped in shrimp) and The Snow Queen Roll (Shiitake, apple, cukes & asparagus wrapped in seaweed & rice, draped w/ young coconut meat, drizzled with pineapple mayo, garnished with coconut glakes). For creativity, the menu gets a 10 out of five. Out of all the sushi restaurants I have been to, I have not yet seen anything this creative, in name or in components. Overall thought: the maki was really good , and I would definitely come back...alas the four stars. And now on to criticisms: For the scorpion avocado eel ratio was so wrong not even partial credit is given. As a friend mentioned, the sweetness of the barbeque sauce just melts into the overwhelming avocado. In fact, I was eating sweetened avocado with a slight crunch of the tobiko with shrimp that was a little too tough on the teeth. And the fairy tale roll? A little too sweet. I was looking for a main meal here, not dessert sushi. But if there's a thing as dessert sushi, Thelonious Monkfish has got it down. Besides, the young coconut meat was fresh and simply lovely. The service is quick and friendly. Just the way I like it. Five stars there.
(4)
Lucy B.
I went with a friend and we had to wait something like 45 minutes to get a table. My sushi was not very fresh and I actually stopped eating it half way through, which is very unusual for a sushi lover like me! The ambiance was nice and fun, but I was definitely disappointed by the quality of the sushi and would not come back.
(2)
CK O.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is just great, and the food will not disappoint. I usually order some kind of curry, and though the price is a bit high, the plates are relatively large and I always come out satisfied. Apparently they also deliver!
(4)
Steve F.
I have been to this places twice, and I must say it has some of the best quality seafood I have had in the Boston/Cambridge area. It is located right in Central Square, an easy walk from the T. The place looks new and modern and very clean. Let's start off with the drinks....pretty standard drink menu for an asian fusion place...some specialty cocktails, wine, and a wide array of sake and beer. I tend to be a creature of habit, so I always order the large house warm sake, with a side of sapporro :) No complaints about the drinks. The food is what really seperates this place apart fromt the other asian fushion places in the area. As I stated above, some of the best quality fish I've tasted yet. For my money, try the white tuna appetizer...it simply melts in your mouth! I'va also had the tuna roll...equally as delicious. The thai entree's here are my favorite. I usually stick with the spicy ground chicken thai basil...it is served over rice and is a HUMONGOUS portion...seriously, I can never, ever finish it. I have also had the King Crab fried rice...YUMMY! I only have two negatives about this place. First, the service is pretty slow...the last time I was here, it took us 15 minutes to even get a menu or to have someone take our drink orders...I find this pretty unacceptable. It is also somewhat loud and kind of cramped in this place, with waiters/waitresses walking by all the time. The slow service can be a little annoying, 75% of the restaurant experience is the taste of the food, and you can definitely not go wrong with the taste at Thelonious Monkfish.
(4)
Annette A.
This is a great restaurant if you're a fan of Asian food but sick of the same ol' thing. Every item on the menu has some kind of interest twist to it, an interesting spice or creme, and interesting method of cooking... I had trouble deciding what to get. The meal itself was pretty large and quite satisfying. They give you a big portion.
(4)
Jason M.
There are two things to note: 1. I am allergic to shellfish, so eating sushi is something of a terrifying task for me. 2. I watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi with the most extreme interest. The thought of an 80 year old Asian man making me sushi warms my heart. Thelonious Monkfish isn't quite up to Jiro's expectations (in fact, he'd hate it), but I really enjoyed it. You're getting some tasty Thai food with some good sushi with cool jazz in the background. The music sets the scene and keeps the joint from feeling too tense. Service is fast because it's always busy. In fact, you'll want reservations. I enjoyed my Cranberry-Teriyaki Chicken with a few pieces of Eric's Philly Roll (and avoiding his Scorpion Roll, which he says is great). Grab a glass of their Iced Ruby Elixir tea. Good stuff. More than anything, I appreciate it when the sushi chef is chugging Red Bull as he crafts tasty little bites of goodness on rice. Jiro would not approve of Red Bull, but I do.
(4)
Todd P.
Food here was quite good, which makes the rest of this doubly annoying. Went here for dinner tonight and when the bill arrived, I noticed the prices of the dishes and drinks did not add up to the pre-tax subtotal. It was an overcharge of just 3 cents, but it still seemed very odd to me. After asking to speak to the manager - twice - I was told that "the computer" automatically "rounds up" so that the cents in the final, post-tax bill ended in a 5 or a 0. They've "asked the company" before and don't know how to change it. At that point, I didn't have any great options, so I paid our bill. Still, I wouldn't go back. Having a bill that doesn't add up - even if the difference is only a few pennies - seems particularly deceitful to me.
(1)
J C.
I had the ancient fried rice. Overall the dish was pretty standard, but the duck stood out as being well-executed.
(3)
Christopher S.
Very good sushi, nice space, good music. If you order one non-sushi item here then get the mushroom ginger soup - it was AMAZING.
(4)
Fanya B.
Love this place, from their fun/creative menu options, to the fantastic jazz, to the cucumber fruit water - this place is great. A really lovely restaurant to not only eat some delicious sushi, but to unwind as well. The waiters are accommodating and attentive but not pushy. While some rolls are on a higher price point, you can get an affordable meal if you choose carefully. Also their tofu was perfectly prepared and the sauce it came with was finger-licking good. Fresh, delicious, and fun. An excellent addition to Central Sq.! Plus a place with a pun in its name always makes a little bit more happy.
(5)
Amelia M.
The worst thing about Thelonius Monkfish is picking what you'll have to eat... because everything sounds extremely amazing. After being tormented for a long while, I settled on an old standard: tofu pad thai. It certainly didn't disappoint. Yum. Note: This place is a tight squeeze! We made a reservation for a Wednesday night, and I'm awfully glad we did. The place was packed and we were tucked in like sardines. The website makes it easy to book a table, and I'd suggest it.
(4)
Qasim R.
Came here for dinner on a Thursday few days ago. Did not have a reservation, called 15 min before arriving & they confirmed & when reached the place our table was ready. I liked their Seiza style table (Japanese style of eating in which the people eating sit on the floor, they have low tables and cushions on the floor). They are perched higher from the floor and have 2 tables. Great place to reserve for party of 8+ Great service, Water/drinks were re-filled appropriately. Small but interesting tea menu. Pretty extensive menu. Did not try sushi yet but rest of items were above par. Ginger salmon was great. They made substitutions/additions in dishes without any issues. All ingredients were fresh & of great quality. Place has lively, classy sort of vibe. Will definitely try the sushi as well next time. Great place especially if you find yourself near Central Square.
(5)
Lil O.
i'm surprised this doesn't have a higher rating. the sushi is of a really high delicious quality. they also have fun, inventive rolls that actually taste good. one of the few asian fusion places i've been to that really does a good job with everything that they make. it has a really fun atmosphere and decor. the only downside is that i've had waaay underestimates in how long we'd have had to wait for a table. i also hate complaining about waitstaff, but i've had some very clueless and inattentive waiters. this might be because they were backed up in the kitchen? not sure. one time 5 of us finished our meals by the time the sixth person got hers. they didn't offer to take it off the bill either. BUT, the food is worth it. i have not been deterred! i keep coming back
(4)
Dom K.
Soft shell crab and pork buns definite highlights. Great sushi and warm house sake too. I really like the dynamite roll. Must go when you're in central square- we will definitely be back in the future when we want a fancier meal.
(5)
Eric C.
Food is pretty good. Tried the Hello Kitty Maki and it was ok. Atmosphere is great but crowded and loud. They put too many tables and seats together.
(4)
Shelly J.
I love this place! I seriously order take out weekly from here and i have enjoyed every single thing I have tried- the sushi, the curry, and the noodles. My favorite is definitely the grilled beef panang. You can't go wrong with this place!
(5)
Sarah C.
Came here for a friend's birthday. Made a reservation for 7:30p but because the birthday girl was not present, my bf and i were not seated. I understand if the night was super busy but it was not. We were not seated till an hour late. I was overwhelmed when the waitress gave me the menu. Thai, Japanese and Korean entrees are available at Thelonious Monkfish. I almost got their special - ramen, but did not since most yelpers did not like it. We ended up with Indonesian Fried Rice - spicy goodness; arugula salad - nothing special, just like any ordinary salad at the salad bar; catepillar and salmon/tuna roll - they are alright; shumai - kind of rubbery; edamame - can go easy on the salt; and finally karaage - i love the sweet and sour sauce and the chicken were not heavily battered. At the end of the dinner, the waiters/waitresses surprised the birthday girl with fried ice cream - on the house! Obviously we have an arrangement with the manager.
(3)
jun k.
Seriously? Have the folks here had sushi before? I ordered a scallop hand roll because basically, scallop is the fish that goes bad the quickest, so it's a great way to gauge a sushi restaurant. MY SCALLOP ROLL CAME COOKED. The scallop was cooked. Not to mention, I misunderstood the waiter and apparently 1 tiny maki is $8 here. My salmon salad was pretty good though. And I like their flavored water. But the menu was severely overpriced... and the "jazz" part consists of them playing jazz music over the speakers... Uh. yeah... Oh btw, my total for a small appetizer sushi salad + hand roll? $22 (inc tax/tip). I know it's totally unfashionable to talk about price, but seriously, save yourself the trouble and go fishing or something.
(1)
Dorothy W.
I like Thelonious Monkfish despite the odd name. So far I have only had only had the sushi, but friends and family members have taken nose dives into pork, chicken and meat based dishes, all coming up quietly with a happy grin. Central Square needed a spot like this. And now that they serve beer, wine and sake, and offer outdoor seating, Thelonious is more attractive than ever. The space is modern and sleek, with a long bench reaching back to the rear of the restaurant on one side and the sushi bar on the other. Tables for two, placed way too close together for comfort, can be moved easily to accommodate groups of four or more. Each time I have been here for lunch there have been large groups of office workers eating together in addition to solo diners who often take up residence at the sushi bar. It looks like this space fits about 45 or 50 if all the seats are taken. And they usually are. It is very crowded in here. And the density of the people smashed into this place makes it uncomfortable at times. The staff at Thelonious Monkfish run around and try to ensure that you are happy. Service is usually polished and polite, if a bit detached. You will not be wondering how to flag anyone down here, as there are so many people ready to assist. The menu is enormous and somewhat confusing at first. But let's just say, if you want it they have it. From Fever Wings to Spinach Stuffed Tofu, there's something for everyone here with the exception of cheese pizza and hard core cocktails. Calamari, Coconut Curry Fries, Pad Thai, teriyaki and mashed potatoes are all available. Vegetarians and vegans will be satisfied with their sweet assortment of offerings. You won't just be getting a little green salad. There are spring rolls and all kinds of vegetarian sushi rolls for you, not to mention the hot dishes with tofu. If you eat fish, you'll be happy with the incredible array of sushi, sashimi and specialty rolls. I love the fruit flavored water that arrives almost as soon as you sit down and is always refilled. And I love using LevelUp. I do have to say that one time, we were rushed out of here and that was very unpleasant. We were a party of six, and our meal took a while to arrive. We ate it at the normal pace, but noticed an increasing amount of interest in our table from the staff. Evidently, other people were waiting for our table, and the staff was not happy with us for wanting to order dessert and coffee. In fact, we were not even given the option. Right after our plates were cleared, the bill was slapped down. Four people then stood right in front of us and stared, very agitated and eager to see us depart. Not good. Let's hope this was atypical, as it was very weird. I have never felt so pressured to leave a restaurant. We walked down the street for ice cream, glad to leave. But this should not have happened. Despite this one very disappointing experience, we have been relatively happy at Thelonious Monkfish. Welcome to the chaos of Central Square, Thelonious. You are the smooth sophisticate in the Central Square storm.
(3)
lizzie b.
I agree that it's pricy. The kind of place where miso soup is an extra $2.95. Also have complaints that there aren't that many decaf tea offerings. In any event, I loved it!! It's a cool, almost trendy NY setting that's comfortable and clean. I started with the green spring rolls, which didn't have cilantro and came really cold, crisp, and fresh. The seaweed salad was flavorful and distinctive. I really LOVED the Frankie and Johnnie rolls. Sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, and avocado - vegetarian and delicious! Also had sweet kanpyo rolls, which are usually my favorite but they weren't that great this time. Overall, I'd definitely recommend and will be coming back regularly.
(5)
Sarah G.
I wish your sushi was cheaper. Just a little cheaper? A little discount? Something? Because your sushi is definitely way better than your main dishes that involved cooked meat. Anna B. and I split your chicken pad thai, edemame the frog prince roll, and and order of Tamago (the sweet egg sushi) and it was definitely more than enough food for us--probably went a little overkill per usual ha The edemame tasted fresh but the basket wasn't the biggest in the world but they were steamed pretty much perfectly. The tomago was also pretty tasty and well made. And that frog prince roll ordered from their "fairly tale" section of the menu was pretty darn delicious too. I just wish it wasn't $15...True it was more pieces than the cheaper smaller rolls, but still without other food, this would not have filled me up and it made up half of our bill at the end too! And then we had the chicken pad thai. The noodles were pretty tasty, but the chicken was probably some of the most overcooked and dry chicken I've had at a restaurant in a while, so I say definitely stick with the raw stuff here, and if you are lucky enough, they even have one section of their restaurant where you can sit on the floor! next time, just sushi and I want that floor style seating. They did have some sushi boats on their menu that didn't really look that bad price wise....
First time here, great atmosphere, great service, great sushi. It was recommended to me and I would recommend to others. We were sat and greeted right away. Pleasant, friendly, attentive staff. We started with the cranberry crab rangoon which was amazing, but then again I'm a sucker for crab rangoon. I was really impressed with the selection and combination of ingredients on the sushi menu, they didn't have just the same old rolls. They have the traditional rolls as well as the special rolls, the musical rolls and the fairy tale sushi! The first time we tried the Crouching Tiger Roll, Spicy Yellowtail, and Frankie and Johnnie Roll. I don't usually do vegetarian rolls, but the Frankie and Johnnie roll was absolutely delicious, the perfect combo of sweet potato, cream cheese, and avocado. I have since been back for takeout, again not being able to pass up the Frankie and Johnnie Roll or the Cranberry Crab Rangoon. I also brought my family for my brother's birthday. I ventured away from the sushi this time and tried a Pork stir fry with vegetable medley. It was very good and the serving size was huge which I shared with everyone else. Definitely looking forward to the next time I come and can try something else new!
(4)
Steve L.
Came here with a group of friends over this past summer on a recommendation from a grad student in the area. Quality sushi, tea and soup. The special rolls are very creatively designed, well put-together and taste wonderful (get the avocado turtle one and the red riding hood one!). Well-priced and very comfortable ambiance and layout. Try to sit by the window up front if you want to people-watch a little bit too.
(5)
Simon C.
Had a bowl of seafood Tom yum noodle soup, found a fly at the bottom of the bowl (it surfaced after I stirred the bottom). The waiter did not apologize and just said 'ok' after we showed him the bowl. However, the owner did compensate me by not charging the noodle soup and gave me a gift card. In conclusion, I would not be posting the pic if the waiter's attitude was better.
(1)
Marc L.
Ate here on a Saturday night with five family members (party of 6). Had a 7:30 PM reservation, stood out on the sidewalk for 1 HOUR !!! I asked whether we could stand at the bar and have a drink while waiting...but a) no bar (only a sushi bar) and b) they serve alcohol but Boston won't allow us to take our drinks out on the sidewalk. By the way, they have seating outside on the sidewalk which would be terrific on a warm evening...but you CAN'T ORDER ALCOHOL IF YOU SIT OUTSIDE. I didn't know this, and am glad we chose to sit inside! So we stood around. I went into the bar next door and had a beer, felt better. Finally we were seated. Hostess offered to provide free appetizers for our party, which we appreciated. As our party got seated, we saw that the restaurant ran out of chairs and I had to stand around another few minutes while they brought a chair in from somewhere. Once we were seated, it was an outstanding experience. The free appetizers were most welcome, and we ordered a bunch of other food, each dish more amazing than the previous one. This is one of the best sushi meals I have eaten--anywhere. The hostess apologized again and invited us to return, giving us a pre-printed card for a free something on our next visit. It seems obvious that they have 'burps' in service routinely, especially on a Friday-Saturday night, and hope that their truly outstanding food will keep people coming back. You know what? It worked for me. I would be back in a flash. Maybe not on a Saturday night.
(4)
Emma H.
My boyfriend and I love this place and we order out from here all the time. The food is consistently delicious, and they deliver quickly 98% of the time. I do have to say that one time they took over 2 hours to deliver our food, and when I called to see what the problem was, they dismissed me and told me to keep waiting. I recommend the bacon pad thai, mad monk noodles, wok-charred brussel sprouts. I have liked everything I've tried from here!
(5)
Holly J.
I've now had a lot of other dishes here, and everything has been super tasty! My only complaint about this place as that its very cramped. Normally I don't care about decor-type issues, but they do so much to cram in as many people as possible (which is justified given how busy it always is) that it can be a bit uncomfortable.
(4)
Rebecca W.
Been here a couple of times. Tried the pad thai (okay) and several sushi rolls (cucumber, spicy tuna, "Frankie and Johnny", all decent). Also tried some of their tea drinks and enjoyed those (they have a great tea menu). The biggest problem here is the service. If the food were amazing, maybe I would deal with the poor service, but it's not worth it. Both times I have been here, my waiter disappeared for long periods between ordering, checking in for water refill, getting check, etc. The first time I went with my husband, who is a very patient man, and even he was commenting that the service was incredibly slow. What makes this even more irritating is both times I have been there seems to be a very sizeable staff for what is a pretty small restaurant. Won't be going back.
(2)
Dor Z.
Asian waiters in suspenders and skinny jeans? Fairytale- and Lady Gaga-inspired specialty rolls? A logo in the shape of a fish trumpet because they believe their food is so good, it'll blow its own horn? SOLD, MAMA!! This place fits in perfectly with the hipsteresque vibe of Central Square. It's not very authentic and it's going to get claustrophobic at peak hours, but the eats are good. Be prepared to spend money for fun food and a fun time. TREAT YO'SELF!
(4)
Mahina K.
Thelonious Monkfish, that is indeed its name and I love its name. They have little jazz jokes that aren't very funny, you laugh to be polite. The owners and workers are from Thailand but they serve extremely fresh sushi. They also had Japanese noodles and curry. It was pretty good, it wasn't as good as some real Japanese food that I've had recently. But I'm glad that there's a sushi place within walking distance. I had a california roll which was made okay, but it tasted fine. The maguro nigiri tasted and looked really fresh. Then I went back another time and I had the chicken katsu curry. It was good, a little sweet for katsu and curry but that's better than it being too salty. The udon was a little weird in the soup department according to my mom (who i was with) but for the most part I'm just glad to have a Japanese food place so close to my house.
(4)
P. J.
First rate! My husband and I started with the tempura shrimp, which were nice and crunchy (not soggy), served with sriracha mayo dipping sauce. We then chose the mushroom ginger soup, which was spicy and delicious (it tasted good-for-you, too!). For entrees I got the ginger cod and he ordered the ginger salmon. Both fish were perfectly cooked, as was the accompanying jasmine rice. Service was prompt and friendly. Relaxing atmosphere. I'm not a big jazz fan, but the music they were playing this afternoon was mellow and melodic, not the atonal type of jazz that I dislike. Overall, it was an excellent dining experience! Try it!
(5)
Jose K.
Awesome as always! Great noodles and sushi.
(5)
H. A.
It's an OK place. You would be fine getting most noodle or rice dishes. Sushi not the freshest-- it'd be best to stick with vegetarian stuff. On the plus side, the menu has much variety.
(3)
Sara M.
I am in love with this place and the only reason it lost a star is because they do not have a liquor license and the only beverage choices displayed are teas. Also, the water is laced with cucumber. The four of us started out with rolls: una-avo, spicy tuna, and the dynamite roll which was really tasty. Then I had the make your own curry with masaman and I asked for tofu and vegetables, which they were glad to do. It also came with rice, and was fantastic. My dining mates had the spicy duck salad, make your own stirfry with duck and snow peas, and the tillapia, and we all cleaned our plates. I am looking forward to going back to try new plates!!
(4)
Hansel B.
This place has some really special sushi rolls... it's asian fusion, so don't expect anything really authentic. It also has some good thai dishes from what my friends said, but I only had the sushi. I recommend the little red riding hood sushi. It has small sliced strawberries, taste really good.
(4)
Heather G.
Let me cut to the chase first-thing. The sushi here is great. Really great. Really really great, even. Everything is fresh, bright, and delicious. Sadly, and at the risk of sounding like an alcoholic, I can't fully enjoy a Saturday night dinner out with my man at a nice sushi restaurant without some sake. And this place did not (does not?) have its liquor license, so no sake for me. Great sushi can only get you so far, but it cannot carry the show if you're on a date and want a drink with your meal. We came in without a reservation early in the evening on a Saturday night and were seated at the bar right away, which was fortuitous because the rest of the room was full. The service, start to finish, was curt and hurried, and I felt as though the staff cared much less about my experience and much more about turning a table. The one dish we were very disappointed with was the octopus appetizer. For about $10, we were served one fat ring of octopus with a bit of garnish. Aside from the very small portion, the dish was rubbery and flavorless. I would never order this again. That said, the rolls are inventive/creative, a bit expensive, but very tasty. This place is just too expensive to go into my regular sushi rotation, but it's a nice change from getting takeout every once in awhile.
(3)
Lauren H.
If you make a reservation here for a large party, triple confirm it, as even double confirming it is not enough. I had a reservation for 20 and when I called to confirm a few days out (and also change the number to 19), all was good. When my party arrived however, someone had changed it in the book to 12 ppl. Luckily they could accommodate us but they were incredibly rude about it even though it was their mistake. On top of this, they stuck all of us at a "traditional" Japanese table-on tatami mats, no chairs, nowhere to even dangle our legs. They claimed this area could seat 20-maybe 20 little kids! They refused to move us or let us take a second table to spread out and acted like we were inconveniencing them by being there at all. I didn't realize that when I made my reservation I also needed to request chairs. Hugely disappointed in the experience. The food's fine but not good enough to make up for everything else.
(1)
Adam B.
Veggie dumplings, alright but small and left more to be desired. Pad see ew is likely not their specialty but since it's a favorite of mine I had to try it. It was alright, but again left more to be desired. Basically I should have stuck with the sushi here which is not spectacular, but I'd put down as a solid. Lady GaGa roll is probably still on their specials which I think is funny since no one seems to be talking about her lately. Stick with the sush and you'll be ok.
(3)
Jia Z.
I know this is not great sushi, but it is very consistant and cheap, has other food for people who are not in the mood for sushi. Great for large parties and get togethers. I go here a lot with groups of friends.
(4)
Jennifer H.
There was an inch-long bug in our pineapple juice, possibly still alive. I am particularly squicked out because I took a sip before seeing it :( They gave us one dish free in recompense ($12), but still! shudder. Other than that mishap: -- pineapple juice sort of watery, mostly composed of ice cubes -- ramen was good! needed a bit more salt, I thought, but I loved it anyway. -- Mandarin crispy duck was so good! I loved how sweet and crackly the skin was ... I thought the truffle-oil mashed sweet potatoes were a little too buttery, but I might be imagining.
(2)
Jennifer W.
Just wish this place was closer to my apartment, so I could get takeout! Went there for the first time on a recent Friday. Place was crowded. I thought I had made a reservation online, but the only table available to us were the traditional Japananese types seats were you have to fold your legs. We weren't too happy about it but were really hungry...so we sat. Now the food, most of what we tried were really good Balsamic glazed bak choy: really terrible...there was nothing glazed about it. I could have made it better at home. Also had some sand in it. Super unacceptable for a restaurant Pork Ribs: AMAZING! so tender so juicy and a nice sweet flavor from the glaze Rolls (spicy salmon & spider roll): spicy salmon was standard, spider was very good and large pieces Chicken teriyaki fried rice: this sounded very interesting, it was good but not enough teriyaki flavor. All in all a nice meal, if I lived close by I would get take out often, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again
(3)
nicholas w.
Great spot to physically eat there. Delivery is slow and recently added a $5 charge. Great for dates. Terrible for delivery unless you have an extra $8-10 bucks to drop on eating in your living room.
(3)
Champika F.
Ok come on cambridge....how did this place get such rave reviews? I went there for the first time recently - I was craving thai food and it popped up in a search for 'thai'. When I got there I realized it's probably more of a sushi place - but they did have an extensive menu with thai dishes. I ordred the Tom Yum soup - it was about a half a cup of soup served in a giant dish - i'm not a stickler for presentation so I just raised an eyebrow and let it slide. The soup tasted like campbell's tomato soup out of a can, watered down and heavily spiced. I tried to force myself through it but had to eventually give up. The soup was followed by a flavorless pad thai - it tasted sugary and that's about it. I asked for some chilli sauce and the waiter brought me japanese seven spice *powder*... I will definitely not go back there for thai food - the combination of sushi and thai under one roof is questionable anyway. I would however go back and try some sort of sushi dish - second chances. Oh...and because it's always worth noting ...the service was very good.
(1)
Jillu M.
We came in on Sat & were promptly back on Sun. My husband really loved his white tuna sashimi. I loved the Spider Roll. Plus even the avocado salad -- was so different & nice. The tofu in the pad thai was a little disappointing. I am come back to try all the rice plates -- soon.. Ah the Monkfish Medley sounds super. How come Boston Globe has not reviewed you?
(5)
Meg K.
It's a bit pricey, but the sushi is excellent. It's always extremely fresh. They also have a lot of really creative-- and tasty-- special rolls. (I'd recommend the Sleeping Beauty or Lady Gaga.)
(5)
Helen W.
I've eaten in and had delivery from TM. The food is good. Some of the more creative dishes are a bit hit/miss to my taste, but the standards are well done.
(4)
Santi C.
I ate at this place four times. The food is a-okay, meaning you won't get food poisoning from it. However, I really do not understand the hype. The place is crowded but the food is really just okay. I ate in Japan, and in Thailand and this place is not even close in terms of deliciousness. I just do not understand why people like this place so much. The last time I ate at this place I sat at the bar, my napkin smell like mildew and the sushi chef placed tamago (Japanese cooked egg) on top of raw tuna meat (with no syringe wrap) in the see-through cooler box. It was disgusting, you don't mix raw food with cooked food. What if the person who orders that egg has an allergic reaction to the raw fish? I question the hygiene of this place. The chilled soba was so salty and was not cooked right. I will never go back to this place ever again. There are so many other places for Asian food for the same price. This is not a place to get good Asian food though. This is a place to get fake Asian food.
(1)
Lisa H.
A little bit pricey (so more like a 3.5) and they aren't so good at dealing with crowds on busy nights. But the food is delicious. The beef noodle soup is PERFECTION. Sushi is overpriced for what it is, but it is reliable. The rice and noodle dishes we ordered were all great. For a special treat, get the thai iced tea!
(4)
Eric S.
This is my go-to place in Central when I'm craving sushi or tofu. The sushi is always fresh and tasty, the people are nice, and the place is always packed.
(4)
Eddie X.
I don't usually like Asian fusion restaurants - I figure why go somewhere and pay tons extra for less-legit food. But now I see the advantages. You get all sorts of Asian food choices all in one centralized place. And the environment here is pretty cool, I got Tom Yum Noodle - which was nice and spicy, cost $15 after tip. Pricier than I expected and there wasn't that much seafood in there (I really wanted some more calamari or even shrimp). I was able to finish it easily - didn't get tired of it as I sometimes do - but neither did I get that warm feeling inside after a really good noodle soup.
(3)
Hannah K.
It had a cool vibe, but the seats and tables were terrible close to each other. The table next to us had to eat our butts along with their sushi were so close. The pad thai was good, but not exceptional. My two friends ordered the vegetable tempura udon and it was also good, but nothing amazing. Overall, a good restaurant but nothing to get too excited about.
(3)
Anne L.
Wonderful experience here! The food was awesome, both noodles and sushi. Great atmosphere, great jazz playing while we dined. No liquor license yet, but the jasmine green tea was very nice. Prices are fair, will 100% be back!
(4)
Alex H.
Ignore all the negative reviews, this place is wonderful! Close by, yummy and prompt and professional service! Love...
(5)
Hannah M.
Nice decor, great location (if you are walking) smack dab in the middle of Central Square, cute name, innovative menu, and fruit infused water. So why not 5 stars? Well, I'd really rather give this place 3.5 stars.... Where do the deductions come in? The execution. I have always thought that restaurants who try to combine too many cuisines in one place end up not being great at any of them. So here goes - I was totally impressed with the menu, variety, and inventions. Bacon pad thai? In fact, bacon infused just about anything? Cute, not authentic, but cute. The menu boast 3 full pages of culinary adventure. Our table got a mishmash of stuff, but I only tried 1 or 2 dishes other than my own. First of all, I know it's lunch portions and probably more appropriately sized than most restaurants, but it just looked so small on this giant plate. Secondly, Pad See Ew, not the most creative Thai dish, and I should have realized that Thai is not the specialty, but it was just kind of blah. It was OK, just not anything jazzy about it and in a place like Thelonius Monkfish, one would expect jazz. I also tried a bite of the Monkfish Fried Rice, again kind of boring. And the Mushroom Soba which I did not care for. I think we'll go back, give it another try. But there are so many options in Cambridge of good food......
(3)
S T.
I've been here two times for lunch, each time ordering a variety. Standouts: CURRY. Get the curry. It's delicious, and at lunch time, a great steal for about $7. I personally like the yellow w/chicken. You pick the sauce, and you pick your meat. COCONUT CURRY FRIES. Yummy! Crispy, light , and just seasoned right! The curry mayo it comes for is to die for. The only con is that it's $6 and you only get a very small portion. So, for two people you need to spend $12 on fries ,and for a group of 4, you need to spend $24 for fries. Service is prompt and courteous. They filled my water, probably 5 times! I thought I was going to drown. I'll be back for their curry.
(3)
Dorothy C.
Tasted okay, but entire family was sick to our stomachs for the following two days, and this was the only place we'd eaten together. Yikes. Got the beef with egg noodles, beef udon soup, and two sushi rolls.... Sushi was yummy, but I wouldn't risk it again, personally.
(1)
Matt S.
Came here for lunch, nice atmosphere. Split the muscles as an appetizer and got a pad Thai for my meal. Both myself and the person I split the muscles with got sick that night. Like really sick. Obviously will not be returning.
(1)
Shannon M.
I hate to be the one to break this to you Yelpers, but: you're in Boston, and this is sushi. It's not a budget meal. This was phenomenal sushi. Granted, my dining buddy and I also came armed with the recommendations of some frequent-customer friends, and ordered The Frog Prince special roll and the Gaga Monster roll. The place was completely packed on a Wednesday night, and our rolls were out within 10 minutes. The Gaga Monster was creative, but not something I'd get again (not because it was bad! I just think there are other things on the menu that I would have liked better.). The Frog Prince roll, however, is my new favorite sushi roll anywhere. If you like tempura and avocado (and let's be real, who doesn't), you will love this roll. Get it. The service was unobtrusive and timely, we sat at these fun low-seat tables in the back of the restaurant (super awkward to get into, but an interesting experience-- definitely sit back there if you're with adventurous friends!), and the cucumber-infused water was unexpected and unannounced but quite good. The only downside is that my dining buddy and I were both hungry at the end of our meal, and were both out $18 to show for it (that's including tip). So four stars for you, Thelonious. I can't blame you for being delicious and expensive at the same time, but it still makes me sad when I walk away from a delicious meal with a hungry tummy.
(4)
Sophie P.
After been here many many many times, I discover that their strongest is not at sushi ( a little overpriced for what you got) , but at curry rice. Robinhood roll is my favorite.
(3)
Mike T.
Their table service might be one thing, but I ordered delivery tonight and it was a disaster. The food came more than an hour late (a good 90 minutes after the initial order was made), and was ice cold. The restaurant did not call me to warn that the food would be coming late, I had to call them. I guess my tonkatsu was good once, but it was slimy and congealed by the time it reached me. Won't be ordering again, won't be making a visit. Stay away from this joint!
(1)
Jay M.
There's something to be said about restaurants trying to tackle multiple cuisines and that's that it doesn't always work. That being said, Thelonius Monkfish delivers....half of the time. I've been here enough times to have tried many options from the kitchen menu. No single item was executed well, just okay. The dishes seem inspired, but lacked delivery. It definitely looked better on paper. I've come to the conclusion that Thelonius Monkfish may be the best, if not the only, option for sushi in Central Square. This is the one thing that I think that they got right. For the most part, their sushi menu has yet to disappoint-- the menu is fresh, well constructed and creative. Fairy tale rolls are humorous to the bone, but packs serious flavor combinations and textures-- I'm a fan of the Frog Prince roll. Service is spotty as with most places especially during a service rush. Flavored water is subjective. I can care less, but if someone has an allergy to any of the fruits without knowing that the water is spiked...you're shit out of luck unless you warn your waiter ahead of time. Alas, form your own opinions.
(3)
Jeannie B.
It was F.REEZing!! in there! I had a sweater with me, a little summer one, and ended up running next door to Goodwill to buy sweatshirts for me and my friend. Everything else was pretty awesome. We had 2 kinds of sushi (spider and robin hood) and both were really, really good. Keep in mind I generally don't like sushi, so a) I don't really know what I'm talking about, but b) if I'm complimenting the sushi, that means something. The salt and pepper calamari was the best part of the meal (and, at the risk of sounding like a super picky eater, which I'm not, I don't usually like calamari either). Glazed brussels sprouts were awesome. Pepper beef with eggplant was just good, not as exceptionally yummy as the other dishes. Fried ice cream was... well, how do you go wrong with a dish that is sweet *and* fried *and* frozen? We had all this, plus a good bottle of wine, for under $100. Not bad. It's a fun place, nice atmosphere, varied and entertaining menu. Plus, the servers are all wearing t-shirts and long shorts with little suspenders! It's adorable.
(4)
Saba N.
I really liked this place! The atmosphere is nice, and for a sushi spot in the city it's actually a good size. It also feels clean. I loved how you can sit on the floor - what a fun date idea! (Unless you are wearing a skirt - boys, pay attention to these details!) The service was fantastic, and the food came out so quick. We had the avocado rolls, cranberry crab rangoons, and veggie tempura for appetizers... all of them were awesome. No complaints whatsoever. The sushi itself is pretty good, not the best I've had by any means, but I was very happy with it. I definitely recommend the White Tuna roll... soooo good. The lobster roll was probably my least favorite part of the meal, which is a shame because I love lobster. What I do appreciate is that there are so many more options on the menu than just sushi. So you can bring your non-sushi loving friends as well. My friend was very happy with her pad-thai, and I thought it was a good deal for the value. Right now, they don't serve booze so watch out! But I think that is changing in September. All in all, great spot, definitely would come back.
(4)
Marjorie S.
Very well priced and varied menu, not just sushi. I had noodle nirvana which for $10 was filling and delicious
(5)
Jenna H.
I have come here for lunch a couple times as I work in the neighborhood. I have only had the drunken noodles with chicken and have found it to be good - sometimes the chicken is a little dry, but still a decent dish for lunch. I love that the servers are both efficient and friendly during the lunch hour - not an easy find in central square. I will continue to come back and try some more off of the menu.
(3)
Lauren S.
Right before my less-than-stellar dining experience at TM, I stood in Central deciding whether to partake in the trendy-looking sushi restaurant (TM) or the humble, off-street Thai place. I'd been inside TM once before to order miso soup to go and the staff were friendly and attentive, so I decided to give TM a shot. Should've gone with cheap, tasty Thai. TM is adorable on the inside-- wooden benches, sushi bar, matching waitstaff. But its food offerings are mediocre at best, and combined with the fact that its prices are probably a couple bucks more than they should be, it's not worth visiting. Should you know nothing about sushi and care only about appearances, however, you will love TM. A few good things, to be fair: wonderful waitstaff in matching plaid shirts and plentiful water refills (they put fruit in their water pitchers, though, so if you have fruit allergies, make sure you speak up before they give you any water). Also, the bathroom was clean. (Wow, doesn't that say a lot when you have to resort to describing the bathroom in order to say something positive?) But there were some definite problems with my experience: the amount of eel in my caterpillar roll was almost nonexistent-- about half the size of a dime in each piece. Go to any sushi place in Porter Square Exchange and you'll get huge chunks of fresh fish. There was also a strange piece of foreign material in my sushi-- maybe fish bone, maybe fishing wire-- that I was not too pleased about. Finally, no standard bowl of soy sauce to accompany the roll, which is odd for a sushi establishment., and the accompanying sauce had very little flavor. And I'm afraid it gets worse still-- TM doesn't have a license to serve alcohol yet, and they play jazz as the background music-- a tribute to their namesake, the jazz pianist Thelonius Monk. I can deal with that shit if the food is good, but after that lackluster experience, I wanted to smash every lucky cat in the room. In summary, if you want to plunk down some change for sushi that is adequate at best, go right ahead-- or, you can visit well-established places in Cambridge and Somerville that serve amazing food for well-deserved prices.
(2)
Robert J.
Pretty good seafood (I had the monkfish medley). Actually, everyone in our large group was satisfied with what they had.
(3)
Alyssa K.
A great place to go on a semi-casual lunch date. Everything was well prepared. The prices were reasonable. Their shrimp was fantastic. Sake prices were a little steep, but well worth it.
(4)
Jeff M.
My Japanese wife, son, and I came here for ramen. Big mistake. Whatever it was, it was not ramen. Maybe ramen for the Chinese palate, I don't know. We didn't like it at all. I also ordered a spicy tuna maki and my son ordered a tiger's eye. Both were quite good. My wife ordered salt and pepper shrimp, and that was good too. Overall, an F on the ramen but a B+ on the sushi and shrimp ... 2 stars.
(2)
Erica W.
I thought this would be a nice place for lunch with friends. Decor of the place is well done, we were seated promptly, and served in a timely manner. No complaints there. A few things I thought could have been improved: the menu was crazy overwhelming. So many options, ridiculous sushi rolls (fairy tales? I don't get it), and no clear indication of when lunch pricing ends, etc. Drinks seemed reasonably priced, and simple sushi and sashimi was on par for other places in the area. The special rolls were a little expensive, but like I said, there are tons of options. I ordered the "chefs choice" sashimi, since the freshness of the fish is much touted here. I was served salmon, tuna, something which may have been mackerel, and a fatty white fish I didn't recognize. I am a New England native, and no stranger to seafood, but I had never seen this before. When I asked the waitress what it was, she told me with a giggle that it was "white tuna". Sounds good! It was soft and buttery and delicious (though unlike any tuna I have ever tasted), and I ate my meal with pleasure. I had no doubts about the quality and freshness of the fish. My friends enjoyed their meals also. Why then, after a few hours, did I feel so ill? I have never had food poisoning before, and in fact have a stomach of steel, so I wondered, did I somehow not notice that the fish was bad? The culprit: the delicious "white tuna"!! It turns out that this fish isn't actually tuna, but a deep sea fish called escolar ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/… ), which is banned in Japan due to it's "ex-lax" like effects! Yikes. If a sushi place is going to serve this fish, a little warning is in order. As I said, it tastes great, but I have seen a few other reviews about people getting sick from eating here, so I think an "eat at your own risk" is apt for this establishment. Now I know why the waitress was laughing! Would have been a 4 star review if the prices were a little lower and if they didn't try to poison me!
(2)
Marcus S.
Sushi, fruit infused water and quantity of rolls get the 4 stars. Any of the other dishes get 2 stars. Small, chill sushi bar with a cool jazzy vibe and great service. I don't know why staff agrees to wear those odd uniforms, but, hey, I guess it is not a fashion show. Stay away from the dishes, they are just ok. The real "star" is the sushi! They are well priced, good sized and delicious! The miso soup is also good here, usually start with that and split three or four rolls with the lady and we are both full.. maybe with a little room to squeeze in a scoop from Toscanini's right down the block!
(3)
Jordan M.
I had the Tofu Pad Thai the other night for dinner. You could tell it was made to order with large pieces of tofu perfectly cooked. Overall, one of the better Pad Thai meals that I have had for awhile. The take out service was easy enough, especially since they use Level Up, though they did get my name wrong when I ordered over the phone. The place is somewhat concealed, because for some reason I kept missing the sign on the street. I hear the sushi selection is great and probably will be the item for next time.
(4)
Joseph G.
THIS is as good as it gets for Asian fusion. Not only do they slice up cucumbers and little fruits/veggies for their cold ice water, but the atmosphere is relaxing and the music choice is perfect. The Vegetarian Panang Curry is literally the tastiest curry you have ever tasted, hands down. If you meat eaters can get past the fact that it has tofu in it instead of some kind of animal, you are in for a treat. On the other side of things, the Mandarin Crispy Duck is possibly one of the best things I have ever eaten. Fully recommended. Crispy skin, juicy meat, sweet n' saucy with delicious veggies and all paired with the the perfectly unexpected side of garlic mashed potatoes. Things to remember about the Monkfish so you're not disappointed and give this place a mediocre review when it deserves nothing less than five stars... cough... cough... other reviewers. 1.) No liquor license yet - this place is new, give 'em a break. I'm sure you can BYOB and have a wonderful alcohol-filled evening for yourselves. 2.) When they say spicy, they mean spicy! If your wimpy little American tastebuds can't handle the heat, don't take the plunge. Simple as that. Asian food is spicy. * = spicy, **=pretty damn spicy, ***=get ready to cry Enjoy
(5)
George P.
I have had TWO bad experiences with Thelonious Monkfish, and I am NEVER inclined write a review about a restaurant..... but in this case, I felt inspired. First time, we got there not too long before closing, and they said we could sit at the bar and order, just as long as we put our order into the kitchen quickly. They watched us and waited for us to make every little move to get us out, putting pressure on us to the point of making my girlfriend uncomfortable. Difference in culture, perhaps? Or maybe learn a little more about the Customer Experience. Second time was last night, and for $40 we got two small rolls and 4 pieces of Gyoza via delivery.... we were still very hungry afterwards. Not to mention the somehow misheard 55 as 57 as our street address..... don't ask me how, leaving us with food 1 1/2 hours later than expected, and of course not as hot & fresh. Unless something changes drastically, that's the last time I go there. Go to Genki Ya (many times better) in Fresh Pond or Ebi Sushi (more authentic) in Union Square instead..... those are actually worth your time and money.
(1)
Christina G.
I enjoyed this place. The menu is huge and pretty creative. I only tried some of the vegetarian dishes, fried tofu basil and mushroom soba. Both were really tasty. This is the first time I've had Jazz music as the backdrop to an Asian meal. It was refreshing and made for a nice laid back experience.
(4)
Erin M.
Had a really lovely little date night here. Atmosphere was cozy and spot-on, menu was huge and eclectic and very entertaining, service was friendly and attentive. The cranberry crab rangoon had the perfect amount of tang and crunch, the Lady Gaga and Frog Prince rolls were fresh and fun (always love to try new takes on maki) and the Duck Noodles were a rich treat. We stuffed ourselves silly. We used a voucher from The Phoenix, and they didn't give us any grief about it (which I always appreciate). Next time I want to sit in the little nook where the diners took their shoes off and sat cross-legged on pillows.
(5)
Valerie L.
After reading the menu I was excited! Ordered the lobster roll 13.95 and a shiitake ginger soup 5$... When I recieved the roll I was astounded how small it was 5 pieces? It was good but nothing more. And the soup? Don't even ask. There was literally 3 pieces of shiitake mushrooms on the bottom of the bowl with a ton of button mushroom chunks it was baffling.. False advertisement. The only reason I gave 3 was because they helped me out and put a few more pieces in there after I said I did not want the soup at all. Ether the waiter did not understand English or he had hearing deficits... Who knows- he also gave me 90cents change when i specifically held up 3 fingers..and said only 3 dollars back... weird. All I can say I was disappointed. Not a great value for this underwhelming meal.
(3)
Megan C.
I'm usually hitting up delivery when I get a crab rangoon or cucumber/avocado maki craving, so in those situations Thelonious Monkfish is sliiightly more pricey than I've noticed some other places being, with equivalent quality on the most basic items. Good food, but not great value. Still my go-to. That being said, the restaurant experience probably justifies the slight uptick in price. The ambiance is great, and the jazz music really makes me feel much classier than I normally feel while devouring pad thai. Love the ideas behind the creative rolls, too, even though I usually stick with the standards. Plus it's really close to my house, it takes LevelUp (woo!), and the servers were really nice the one time we lingered too long and didn't realize it was closing. It does close kinda early by reasonable standards (but see also: every restaurant in this city). Otherwise I would have gone broke on 12:30AM cranberry crab rangoon orders by now. My one issue is that it's so close by and such a relaxing place to have a meal that I feel guilty for ordering delivery and eating in bed, but am too lazy to actually follow through on the process of walking there, sitting down, and being a real adult human. I end up being stuck between the two states until about 10:30 when I've lost my chance. This is sort of like a physics problem.
(4)
Lady Fang Y.
I go here when I just need some asian fusion noms. I like that all the waiters wear matching red and blue plaid button downs. Cah-UTE! The Lady Gaga roll is cray cray. I've always been tempted to order a sushi boat, but lets be serious, I'd just sit in it. No bar makes this girl, a sad one.... :( Look.. look how sad I am. The service is a little slow and it is always busy. But I'm happy to have at least ONE sushi place in Central!
(3)
Kit C.
Unfortunately, my online order (via foodler) was an hour late. I didn't get much help when I called inquiring about the order and the food wasn't up to par in comparison to eating at the restaurant itself. However, after posting a review, the owner was kind enough to contact me and have my money returned. I really appreciate that they reached out to me. I'll still keep them in mind for a Central Square stop.
(3)
Philip H.
I'm giving this place a 3 and will withhold the 4 star until they improve. This place has great potential, unique concept, awesome location, and asian fusion, which is lacking in Central. Service could be a notch better and the seating is really tight along the left wall. They could remove a table or 2 to give diners a bit more breathing room. I'd like to see some flowers on the tables and maybe a candle. I've dined in twice so far and did takeout once. The traditional thai dishes, rice/noodles were their strong point. I got the mango soft shell crab for takeout (not recommended). It was soggy by the time I popped it out at home. The yellow curry I ordered today with duck and brown rice was decent. Other than a little too much sauce, I found the flavor to be excellent. It would have been nice to throw in a little bit of green bean or something. The duck was really fatty, but that's what I was in the mood for. Pineapples were nice, onions sauteed perfectly, sweet with a little crunch, but onion to non-onion balance ratio was a little high. Same with the sauce to rice ratio. I had enough of the yellow curry sauce to take home and have another meal or two! Love the jazz music and concept though. I hope to see this place get to 4-5 stars over the next year.
(3)
Grains P.
I have to say the atmosphere here is quite nice. They've got dim lighting and jazzy music that makes me feel comfy and relaxed and even tatami floor seating. But the sushi... oh, I really wanted to like your sushi. The rainbow roll was pretty decent and well-priced at just below $11, but I have to say the chirashi was a disappointment. The sushi rice under the slices of sashimi in the chirashi was too dry, but maybe you can't expect too much for just $13? I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for good sushi, but maybe the dishes in the asian fusion menu are better? We had the potato fries with curry dip for an appetizer which were pretty good.
(3)
Doris K.
Very modern decor, young tall waitstaff wearing skinny jeans, and creative tasting dishes. They have regular tables along with more traditional tables where you sit with your shoes off. We started with the calamari appetizer with garlic aioli. I think that the appetizer could have used more calamari pieces. I loved the fact that they had so many different kinds of fried rice! We had a bit of trouble trying to pick one and finally decided on a duck and bacon fried rice. Bacon in fried rice is genius! Why didn't I think of it?!? The salmon and yellowtail sashimi were very fresh. We also ordered the famous Lady Gaga roll which just like Lady Gaga I really didn't care for that much. Dessert was a generous serving of mango sticky rice - one of my favorites and made perfectly. I really wish that I would have discovered this Central Square gem earlier but I really glad that I got the chance to experience it before leaving.
(4)
Mass A.
Fantastic experience. Rather than an exhaustive description of each entree let me say there are certain non-negotiable terms in order for me to have a truly great dining experience. 1. Warm, friendly greeting 2. Prompt reception from waiter/waitress 3. Immediate filling of water glasses 4. Attentive service throughout the meal 5. Fresh food. Fresh food. Fresh food. 6. Reasonable prices. 7. Pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. I am very pleased to say my visit to TM surpassed my expectations on every level. The jazz music, never overbearing, is soothing and a perfect compliment to the tasteful decor. Our waiter was extremely friendly with a smile from ear to ear and worked very hard to satisfy our party of 4. As far as the food....well let me just say my family doesn't often dine out for Asian cuisine, but thats bound to change. Three adjectives come to mind when describing our meal: creative, tasty & healthy. The fresh ingredients, gracious host, superior waitstaff and charming atmosphere convey the attitude : "We know you could have gone anywhere to dine and we're appreciative you chose us! Now let us show you your money is well spent." What a refreshing attitude indeed.
(5)
Chelsey C.
This place was exceptional for a number of reasons. The staff was extremely attentive without being intrusive. The music perfectly selected for the atmosphere, not to mention that the food was fantastic. If you're looking for an extremely tasteful and intimate setting to meet a friend or a blind date, ahem, look no further.
(5)
Keith S.
Eclectic foods for eclectic tastes. Where else can you go from Cranberry Crab Rangoon and Coconut Curry fries to Off Key Marie rolls, Gaga's monster roll and Mood Indigo Maki. They do have a sense of humor here that goes well with my mixed metaphors in taste. seriously, cranberry rangoon is better than you can imagine and the sushi is far better than the puns. All in all busy, tasty and service was a-ok.
(5)
Rebecca S.
After coming here several times and always being very pleased with the food, our experience here tonight seals the five star deal for Thelonious Monkfish. After an exasperating hour and a half wait at another restaurant for food that never arrived, we retreated to Thelonious Monkfish, which happened to be across the street and, we knew, would serve us food that we liked. The main dinner rush was dwindling when we arrived at 9:25 p.m., and the owner greeted us. We exclaimed that we were starving and briefly told him about our horrible experience at the newly opened place across the street. His response was to give us a free appetizer, rush order. We chose the curry fries because they're vegetarian and sounded good. They were de-li-cious! The wait staff were attentive and on top of things. My friend and I split the special bacon pad thai (yummmmm!). Another friend got some excellent sushi, and our vegetarian friend got veggie drunken noodles. We were all tremendously satisfied and grateful. Thelonious Monkfish is the best!!
(5)
Shendi X.
Yes, please! This place is gorgeous - fresh and modern, with sleek, geometric lines, and affordable prices, to boot! And with such an extensive menu, I intended to procure sushi, but went with a delicious noodle dish instead - mm! Will definitely revisit!
(4)
Evan O.
Great gods of bebop, that was some amazing Asian fusion! As vegetarians, my wife and I sometimes have a hard time finding, shall we say, "inspired" (and safe) Asian fare. Not here. Veggie rolls with asparagus and green apple? A woody delight. Coconut curry fries? Why didn't I think of that?! And tofu done in the style of ton katsu? It's about freaking time! We LOVED Thelonious Monkfish (and its all-too-adorable name) and will definitely be back.
(5)
Yue Z.
Service: 4 Food: 3 Ambiance: 4 Located in Central Square, Monkfish is a popular go-to place for locals. They are a Japanese Sushi place, but also serves a variety of Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese dishes. There is a wide selection of rolls and fresh sushi, as well as all types of noodles, curry, etc. I found the place a little overpriced. My sushi combo was $20 for not enough sushi. My friends orders some of the Chinese dishes, and I was not very impressed by the quality. It's nothing special. The service is decently fast, and the waiters are quite attentive. The food comes out quickly as well. It's a casual dining place, and quite crowded in terms of table set up. I had a hard time getting in and out of my spot at the table. They also have one large table in traditional Japanese style, which honestly I think is very uncomfortable to sit at since you have to sit traditional Japanese style, or awkwardly try to figure out how to position your legs.
(3)
David P.
Monkfish has a variety of unique rolls that are pretty tasty; however, their actual sushi and sashimi isn't that great. The salmon and tuna didn't seem that fresh. Also, I tried the Ramen noodles and was completely disappointed. I was so excited at the thought of getting some awesome ramen and the description sounded perfect. However, the noodles were way overcooked and smooshy. The broth wasn't flavorful and I was just disappointed. The restaurant itself isn't that big, so the tables are super close to each other. Monkfish is not good if you want to have some privacy. All in all, if you like rolls that have a lot of mayo and eel sauce on it, then Monkfish has a wide variety. But if you want super fresh fish and some other options outside of rolls then you probably want to try some where else.
(3)
Shawn L.
Sushi and crab rangoon were great! I was a little less impressed with the entrees, so I'll probably just be getting more sushi. I'll definitely come back.
(4)
Nicole K.
Only been here a couple of times and there are large gaps in between each visit, but the food here is quite good! The service is nothing spectacular, but they do their job and it's probably because of how busy they are (each time I went it was bustling or packed) A bit too pricey for my likes, but then again I'm a poor college student, so I'm a bit too biased. Nice places for dates, casual hangouts, or friendly get-togethers!
(4)
Julianna P.
Ahhh, Thelonious Monkfish. WIth a name that rolls off the tongue and cuisine that melts in your mouth, I will surely be back to this spot, and proclaiming it joyously. In preparation for my dinner I checked out their website, which is actually a Facebook fan page and unabashedly quirky and adorable. Their "likes" include other local hot spots (Cragie on Main, Flour Bakery) as well as an eclectic mix of cultural demigods (Lady Gaga, the Dalai Lama). They also frequently update their own status with cheesy little tidbits like: "The trouble with running a jazz-themed sushi bar is that our fish is so fresh it blows its own horn!" I seriously recommend checking it out before you go. Having passed the almighty Facebook test with flying colors, I had high hopes for the real-life Thelonious Monkfish, and they were one hottie who looked EVEN BETTER in person. Tucked in a snug little spot on the main Central Square strip, it's easy to breeze right by little T-Monk (which in fact I did myself before calling my friend and realizing I went a block too far). The inside is cozy and understated, with areas for traditional Japanese seating as well as regular tables. I made a reservation at the last moment which was a good call, as the joint was jumping already at 7PM on a Friday and didn't let up at all. The waitstaff are friendly and the service quick (consisting almost entirely of attractive Asian men in festive little plaid numbers). To start, my lady-date and I both had the tofu and mushroom miso soup, which sounded a little more exciting than it was (traditional miso with a few slivers of fungi), but was tasty nonetheless. My friend ordered the Crazy roll and a sweet potato tempura roll, which were hearty and filling without being too heavy. The winning item in our opinion was my spicy tuna salad. About ten large strips of perfectly seared ahi tuna came artfully placed over mixed greens, and garnished with the unexpected but lovely red onion and green grapes. The dressing was a light, slightly sweet lime marinade which you can make mild if you wish (I did this but later wished I had gone with the spicier original version). All in all, Thelonious Monkfish is a delightful edition to the Cambridge menagerie of affordable delicacies! I even "liked" him on Facebook.
(4)
E F.
FAST delivery and great maki This is the first delivery Sushi that I have done more than once in my 10 years in East Camb, so this is exciting. (I actually gave up for a long time and just jumped in the car to go to Masa in Porter Exchange.) I love the Salmon lovers sashimi/maki combo and I've been trying out all of the fun specialty maki's. There are a few I haven't liked, but not so much that I didn't eat them anyway. Reasonably priced and I hear they have a weekend Jazz Sushi Brunch. I need to try that out!! TM is my new go to delivery sushi.
(4)
Lusi F.
My friend and I tried the place as it just opened. She had sushi and I have a noodle dish. My noodle dish was REALLY spicy. The wait was a bit long I liked the seating in the back (like traditional Japanese, where you take off your shoes and sit on a cot) beware of their bathrooms, I still dont' know how to lock and unlock the thing!
(3)
K F.
Just overpriced sushi place. I live in the same block but I would never go back. In regards to sushi quality, they are just OK -nothing better than more affordable places (FYI, I am Japanese).
(2)
Nitya D.
Yay for sushi restaurants that are seriously vegetarian conscious and friendly (so frustrating having to repeatedly ask which dishes involve fishy sauces, etc.)! Went here for lunch recently with another herbivore and we shared the following: sri daya mata roll, william tell maki, avocado + cucumber maki, and asparagus maki. To be honest, we probably would have been fine with just 3 rolls as they were all very filling - not too shabby for some rolled up veggies and rice. I honestly loved the food, it was so light and refreshing; a perfect meal to avoid the afternoon/post-lunch nap craving. The water they serve is muddled with cucumber - this is an interesting touch, but I wasn't a fan as I prefer my H2O to be frills-free. The service was mostly fine, it was just a little slow for being lunch hour. Definitely going back!
(4)
Sheila B.
Sushi is by far the best hands down in these parts. The restaurant is a gem in the bowels of central sq. I love the Sushi, Lady Gaga, Avocado and Eel, sea weed salad and even pad thai. ! I have been here three times, 2x for lunch and once for dinner. My only complain- service not so good. there are several Thai ? waiters and they are not the speediest and I feel like you have to ask multiple times. That however has not deterred me from going, this is something to improve upon and I am sure it will. I have high hopes for you thelonious. Only other complaint, hence the 3*s is no boos. The 2 out of 3 times I went there was for lunch so it did not bother me, but some nice wine or even sake with sushi would make the dining experience all that much better; perhaps even bumping up a star. Keep up the good work Mr. Monkfish !
(3)
Mike R.
Decent. Huge menu (negative) and barely there service. Their fairy tale rolls seem like decent sushi at a decent price. I have a hard time imagining something that would make me want to go back. The atmosphere feels a little like PF Chang's back in high school, so maybe if you're going for a low-rent date vibe this is an option.
(3)
Heather C.
Great food, horrrrrrrible service. Granted I went on the first day they opened but there is never any reason for a sushi lunch to take over an hour and a half :-/. The waiter came back to our table three different times and still managed to royally f$&@ up our meal by not putting the order in for three of our sushi rolls. While I understand we were a group of six which can slow things down, we were the second table seated in an otherwise empty restaurant and other tables got their food before us. Despite the completely horrific service, the food was spectacular. I had the Mack the Knife maki which had yellowfin, cucumber, delicious fried scallion, and a chili cream sauce. This is the most amazing sushi I've ever had! The second roll I had was the crazy roll which had shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, spicy, mayo, and tobiko. This was also fabulous. It was my first time having tobiko so it took a bit of getting used to for me but was still very tasty. The other folks at the table had the miso soup, rainbow rolls, drunken noodles, and beef krapow. Everyone agreed that they were really happy with the quality of the food but the poor service really took away from the meal experience overall. I'll ultimately give them the benefit of the doubt and go back in a few weeks once they've had a chance to settle in. Service can easily be fixed and this is the best sushi I've had in the Boston area so far. I'd say try it out but expect some poor service for the time being.
(3)
Jill D.
My boyfriend and I decided to order delivery on NYE. For an appetizer we began with the crisp-fried calamari, which was excellent. I also really enjoyed my seaweed salad and my boyfriend enjoyed the steak tepanyaki. However, I took issue with the Chicken Kaprow. The description on GrubHub said it was extremely spicy - but there was absolutely no spice to it. I can handle spicy foods quite well so I thought maybe my taste buds were starting to give out, but my boyfriend said the same thing. I was really starting to think I had gotten the wrong order, but looking back at the description the dish had everything EXCEPT the spice. Maybe it was an off day? Has anyone had this experience with this dish?
(3)
Eric S.
Great place for lunch. It gets very busy, so there may be a wait. the soup, fried rice, and sushi are all fantastic.
(4)
Melissa T.
Ok. This place gets three stars for a few reasons: 1. Although it is the only sushi place in the Central Square vicinity (BIG plus), the sushi is kind of pricey, though still delicious. 2. I fluctuate on my thoughts on the atmosphere. It is fairly chic but I can't shake the feeling that it would be a much cozier place if it were more casual (the "chic-ness" feels a bit forced). 3. No beer.** **They got their beer license in the last couple of years. So I'm bumping this place from 3 to 4 stars :).
(4)
David V.
Since my last visit to TM was right after opening, I thought I'd pop in and see what's come together over the last few months. One thing I hadn't realized the first time was the extensive non-sushi menu, full of cooked entrees and appetizers that leaned heavily on the seafood side of things. A couple of maki rolls were plump and delicious, and the nigiri sushi had the freshness and size to match the more celebrated local Japanese restaurants. All of this would've bumped them up at least one star from last time, since I debated between 3 and 4 for my first review. But I had the misfortune of having a waiter who seemingly did not know the menu at all. I had to repeat most items several times and finally point at it on the menu, and he forgot to put in the appetizer. It was only when I asked about it while he attempted to clear the dishes did it get entered in to the computer. I wasn't expecting a comp, but it's a nice gesture when server error disrupts a diner's experience. An apology would've been nice though. Last time I sat at the sushi bar and got prompt, friendly service. I think that's where I'll stay in the future.
(3)
Anna F.
This is by far one of my favorite sushi joints in the Boston area. The fish is fresh, the rolls inventive and the service stellar. It wont break the bank either ($75 for sushi for two with sake). The only thing keeping it from being five star is atmosphere. It's very cramped and maneuvering around is awkward. Went for an anniversary dinner a week ago and it was freezing! Folks kept coming in and out and the drape was open allowing the cold air in to the dining are. Otherwise, brilliant!
(4)
Madison B.
This place is ok as sushi places go. Cool thing is they have an enormous menu so you are sure to find something that will hit the spot here. Crappy thing is that they do not serve alcohol, which is a total kill on if I am going to sushi or not. I mean come one, no sake?
(3)
Marie K.
Food was fine, but had some of the worst service of my life. I dined with two friends. After almost exactly two hours, the hostess asked us to leave because customers were waiting and they were trying to make room for them. On a Tuesday! We had spent $150 including drinks. We were almost finished with our meals anyway. We were just waiting for dirty plates to be cleared and to take the last sip of our drinks. We didn't plan to linger all night. It was kind of embarrassing. I was really annoyed. If they had waited five or 10 more minutes, I would have written a four-star review. Instead, I'm writing a one-star review. They gave us a coupon for a free soup the next time we're back, but we won't be back.
Decent food but worlds slowest delivery. Routinely takes well over an hour for the food to arrive, and I live less than 5 min away. Need to hire more drivers or provide more realistic estimates of delivery time.
(2)
Jacqueline L.
This place is awesome, really good Sushi and super tasty Pad Thai. Also, they have a few cocktails on their menu now, which are very tasty!
(5)
E M.
Local sushi spot: love that this place is consistently low-key, delicious, fast, and great service. The rolls are always perfectly done, super fresh fish, delicious vegetables. Mushroom Ginger soup is a great winter starter.
(5)
Jungmin L.
Eerrr. It's nice to finally see a sushi place in Central. However, the food really is not that great. We had some salmon, several rolls. The salmon was just average, but man the rolls were square and schizophrenic; I didn't taste any fish or any ocean, all I could taste was some sort of sweet, mealy fuity-tasting thing and rice! (So much rice, too, a hunk of it fell off the bottom of the roll every time I picked a piece up) Definitely not worth it, since the prices aren't that cheap either. Why is this called sushi rolls if I can taste no fish?!?!?
(1)
Ashley O.
This place is great!! I'm addicted to the chicken and shrimp pad thai! I haven't had an opportunity to try much else on the menu because I order that every time I order from TM (which is at least once a week). I've had a few of the sushi rolls which were also very tasty! The pricing is fair, the lunch portions are good, and the staff is polite and attentive. Great addition to central square.
(4)
Sarah W.
I think it's only fair to update my review since my original was right after they opened, now I'd give it between 3.5-4 stars. It is one of our go-to places for take out pan asian near Central Square. If you are a vegetarian you will be happy with the selection of sushi. Service continues to be slow and they made a mistake on our order missing our special instructions, but the food is tasty and there is a good selection of options!
(4)
Alana H.
I liked this place. I live that they put fruit in the water so it tastes flavored. My friend and I both got the crispy Pad Thai. I liked the crispy chicken and you can't go wrong on good pad thai. I would like to come back and try something, the table next to us had sushi that looked really good. Our service was great, everything came out quickly cooked very well. It was pretty busy in there and it was Tuesday night, but I liked knowing that other people were liking the food as much as I was. I will definitely come back here as it isn't too far from when I work.
(3)
Riki G.
Been here several times. All of the specialty rolls (named after fairy tales) are delicious. Basically, everything I've had has been delicious. Except for the drinks. Because there aren't any. This place needs a liquor license. Also, very reasonably priced.
(4)
Jeanette Y.
Appetizer: - Fried Calamari (fig-lime aioli): Great texture, couldn't really taste any fig in the aioli - Oshitashi: Very good, but not as shareable - comes in one big piece rather than split into several small ones Tea: - Jasmine Pearls: Delicious and full-bodied - Lack of liquor license/bar is definitely a miss Sushi: - Mack the Knife Maki (yellowtail, cucumber, scallions & chili sauce): Really tasty, the chili sauce adds a nice kick - C Jam Blues Roll (spicy tuna tempura, cucumber & spicy mayo): Good, but not out of the ordinary from your average spicy tuna roll. Couldn't taste the tempura
(3)
Apolinaras S.
Two visits so far and I am still planning to come back. Not really interested in sushi, since they are reaaaaaaaaaaallllyyyyyy sssslllllloooooowwwww, especially if the joint is full. BUT, the Asian fusion dishes are absolutely fantastic. Service is good too and I am surprised how many people they can pack in that small of the place.
(5)
Paul K.
Lunch review: ordered: Spicy Wings 4/5: damn good, had some manayise on em to make them a bit sticky but def in the lines of good asian wings. im a follower now. but a tad bit pricey. Coconut Curry Fries 4/5: had to order them as i could not imagine that taste in the same bite as a french frie. pretty tasty with the dipping sauce. Gaga Maki 4/5: i forget what was in it. but this thing was massive, 12 pieces for $14. somewhere cross between a rainbow and a maki. definetly a must order. This place is a quirky fusion sushi hut with pretty nice decor and ambience. I would vote this place as the most affordable sushi with decent quality. Specially over Douzo, dont know how that place got that award but this place far exceeds my expectations for 10 dollar maki. service was attentive and quick. despite the contrary sentiment during their first few weeks of opening. if theres any second thoughts? .....just do it. its worth it. if not your not squandaring $100+, its cheap and affordable that leaves a pleasent smile when walking out the door after the check.
(4)
Kristin N.
Veggie sushi and fruit infused water! I've already picked out what I want to order for the next visit. They have a large and creative vegetarian sushi menu. The Nature Boy is a little bit spinachy but the William Tell is 100% awesome (can't go wrong with apples and rice). Not sure if they take reservations but if you have anything over 4 people, you better try to make one, the restaurant is tiny.
(4)
Amanda C.
DO NOT ever order delivery from this restaurant. I waited an hour and a half for my food and they called me and said they couldn't fill my order because they were too busy after I had already been waiting a hour and a half. Will never eat there again.
(1)
Al A.
Great location! Good prices. Okay sushi. Okay service. Unappreciated Quirks: weird washroom locks, very high wall bench (who's that tall?), cold dinning area, tasteless teas Reservations! This restaurant actually knows how reservations are suppose to work. They make them on Saturdays. They have reserved tables that actually physically exist (unlike all restaurants in the North End who say they have your party reserved but don't do anything so when you arrive they then ask your party to wait an hour for your "reserved" table). They hold the table instead of giving it away to that group of cute girls that walked in just before you. They seat you before your entire party arrives. I must be dreaming. Of course, this will all probably end then they realize they are popular enough to start acting like other Boston-area restaurants. Rant: OMFG, I hate popular Boston-area restaurants for not accepting reservations on busy nights (i.e. when one would most want a reservation), only seating complete parties (a.k.a. how to lose friends and make enemies in 30-minutes' time), and giving shitting service (hire more staff or at least train them). It makes going out to supper on Fridays/Saturdays stressful and sometimes impossible to schedule. Damn it, I have plans afterwards!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Julie S.
Just what Central Square needed! Honestly. With one of the worst Thai restaurants I have ever tried (Pepper Sky) and with no other good options for noodles, curry, and my other favorite things in Central, I was so excited when Monkfish appeared. And it hasn't disappointed! Great noodle dishes, basil fried rice, an extremely expansive vegetarian menu (including lots of vegetarian sushi)--it's all pretty good (not amazing, but pretty tasty). It's usually crowded, but they do take reservations and, in my experience, they are always pretty efficient no matter how busy the restaurant is. And they live up to the name with some sweet jazz tunes playing over the speakers.
(4)A L.
Unfortunately, due to a dearth of sushi restaurants in Central Square, I keep going back to Thelonious Monkfish out of sheer desperation. The main reason why I feel compelled to give this restaurant a low rating (and make the effort to write up a review) is primarily due to the incompetence of its chefs and their seeming inability to get my orders right. Out of the dozen or so times that I have eaten in or ordered take-out/delivery in the last month, they have gotten my order wrong FIVE times. One of those times was while I was dining in, but the other four were pick-up or delivery orders. The first two times, I just let it go because I don't like to complain (especially since I've become a regular customer and didn't want to upset the staff or chefs - you know, in case they felt the need to sneeze on my sushi or something...) but when it kept happening, I just got fed up. I would order brown rice with my rolls and get white; specify no avocado in my Alaskan rolls (listed to consist of salmon, avocado, cucumber, scallions) and get a ton of avocado and no cucumber - also, where are the scallions? never have I seen them!; spicy tuna or salmon rolls would come without the spicy mayo; etc. etc. Also, there was once when the salmon had a certain "taste" to it that indicated it wasn't all that fresh...or it might have been sitting out for too long.... I really want to like this restaurant. I really do. The staff have always been really nice and accommodating. The delivery boy is super sweet and when my order had to be replaced, he apologized profusely and refused the tip that I offered for his extra trip. But the chefs! The chefs! What upsets me the most is how they would arrogantly deny that they made a mistake so it basically boils down to my word against theirs. Last time, they adamantly insisted that they had used brown rice on all my rolls when they used white and it got to a point where I was like, "Do you want me to text over a photo of the rolls? Because I can." They don't like to refund your orders and would rather replace them instead but I always feel guilty for making the delivery boy make a second trip so it kills me to have to call in to complain. I'm generally super tolerant and forgiving of mistakes - I understand, it's not easy filling hundreds of orders every day and oversights are to be expected - but when an error does occur, please do not be an a$$ about it and either refund me or fix my order without making me go through what feels like a court trial. Anyways, I don't think I'll be ordering from them anymore. I'm going to try some of the other sushi restaurants in Harvard and Kendall Squares and even though they would be much farther and out of my way (and not deliverable), it would be nice not to have to deal with the chefs at Thelonious ever again.
(2)Photon S.
I came here with a group of 22 (yes, twenty-two) last night, and we had a grand time. Sure, they don't yet have a liquor license, but the sushi is fantastic, the Lady Gaga Monster Roll was stupendous, the entrees stand well on their own, and the Red Elixir drink is tremendous. Our end of the table ordered both the Monkfish and Maki Party Boats (#2), and the eight of us had to send shipments of sushi down to the rest of party to finish the astoundingly tasty maki and spicy salmon rolls. The music is a nice touch, the staff are attentive, and we had an amazingly grand time. A great place to hold your next event.
(5)here t.
Hooray... central sq. needed something like this place... we don't all have to assume that the presence of multitudes of homeless means we can't have a bit of style and attention to detail right... We shouldn't buy into that right? Let's all chant together..." We're sick and tired AND WE'RE NOT TAKING IT ANYMORE!" With only one lunch for two under the belt, the news is good. Seems like all of the Asian places around have trained us to accept mediocrity. There are one or two Thai places in CS that are frrreakin awful.. and the others are OK. This place seems to have the discipline to make good food at a reasonable price. Mind you the same prices as the other places that are often awful. And the sense of professionalism is natural not pretentious. So go forth and support 'quality' in the paraphrased words of Robert Persig. Dear Owner, Don't let your standards slip! And keep the place nice and shiny and new!
(5)Nicole H.
Oh my gosh, the cranberry crab rangoons! Try them. They are delicious. I was hesitant about the cranberry-ness, but I am so glad I ordered them. That being said, everything else was meh. The chicken curry was fine. My boyfriend ordered the avocado maki and was happy with it, but he also ordered the vegetarian deluxe sushi entree and was not happy with it. The spinach rolls weren't good, and there was not nearly enough food to make it worth $13. I might try this place again, just for the crab rangoons.
(3)Liz M.
LIMITED REVIEW. Lady Gaga Roll is the new fish on the block! Mack the Knife roll was yummay and fresh! Thanks for coming to Mass Ave Theolonious Monkfish! Sushi is fresh and unique... the DHARMA WHEEL SALAD was a harmonious balance, a solid child's pose selection on the menu. This was a pleasant surprise and a great addition to Mass Ave's somewhat sorry excuse for restaurant offerings. The decor is very tasteful and artful. However, the sliding door for the bathroom, cool. The ambiguous existence of a lock on the sliding door? Not cool. Some cons include the lack of a dessert menu and WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY TOO MANY THINGS ON THE MENU. It's like the wikipedia/encyclopedia of Asian Fusion.... Also -- the seating arrangement is kinda cramped and having the door along one entire row of seating is very drafty -- I'm sure there's a way to Fung Shui the restaurant differently.... I hope to go back and try some hot foods with my toes on the tatami mats in the back!
(4)Tara G.
I liked this. I got a take-out order for lunch. I got the Nirvana Noodles; from the menu: "Egg noodles, cabbage, carrots, onions, scallions & bean sprouts wok-fried in shiitake mushroom sauce and crowned with crispy garlic elicits from the partaker feelings of bliss & understanding." Wow. Hmm... I'm not sure they did that, though they were pretty good. However, there was not a single spot of garlic on it, not crispy or otherwise which was the reason I was so intrigued by the dish in the first place. I did really enjoy the flavour of the sauce, however. On many dishes, the lunch prices are significantly lower than the dinner prices, some of which seem extremely high. (Example: duck curry is $6 more expensive for dinner than for lunch - almost twice the price.) I think I'll come back and try this place again, but not during dinner.
(4)Aboud Y.
Monk's got something groovy going on here. I just ordered delivery and we were pleased with the food (for the most part). I still think there's alot more to explore on their endless menu so consider this an introductory review (to be continued). Here's what I tried thus far: -- Fever Wings: very tasty but definitely no match for Ginger Exchange's KO wings (which are phenomenal!) -- Salmon, Yellowtail, and Sea Urchin Nigiri: all not bad, but not great (except for perhaps the Sea Urchin which was pretty darn good) -- Spicy Tuna Roll (aka the great equalizer): above average -- Regattabar Roll: good but they use too much mayo -- Mack the Knife Roll: the biggest disappointment! After reading the reviews here, I was expecting the Heavens and Earth to shake as I bit into the roll. Instead I got a dud. There was no chili sauce to speak of...did they give me the wrong roll or is this it? I'll be back for more.
(4)Dan B.
Excellent service: my water glass was never more than half empty. Tasty food: very nicely presented sushi rolls and the best miso soup I've had in awhile. Interesting menu: very extensive with lots of choices and some fun/humorous food descriptions. A little pricey: sushi of similar quality can be had in the area for cheaper. The atmosphere makes up for the price a bit.
(4)Paprika F.
This is a terrific date place. You can sit close together or have an adventure with sitting on the mats in the table in the back. Feed each other sushi, and have a blast ... ... as long as you do not order the garlic fried rice. Seriously. Get the sexytime out of the way first. When they say "garlic fried rice," they are not kidding. That's not to say it isn't yummy, but it is not for Date Night. The non-sushi dishes are delicious. I haven't tried the sushi yet. Based on the Yelp reviews, I'll save that for a more leisurely evening, but the miso cod and the Burmese Noodle Soup were tasty. I plan on going back soon.
(4)Larry M.
Love the sushi here. As good as I've ever had in San Francisco.
(5)Cindy S.
Their ramen dish is not what the menu said it would be. Can't exactly remember what it was advertised as, but it tasted like ramen I can make myself from a package at home. The Pad See Ew was pretty tasty, though! Large portions and definitely big enough to share. Staff was nice!
(3)Bill T.
I'm staying with friends in Boston for a couple of weeks. Even though they live practically around the corner, they didn't know about this place until we went past it a couple of days ago. After a very disappointing pseudo-meal at Bluefin a few nights earlier, we were eager to have a good night out. Not only were we not disappointed, we were thrilled. The atmosphere was clean, pleasant, friendly. The music was nice. It was loud enough to hear, but not too loud to have conversations. Since this was our first visit we wanted to try both the sushi and their regular meals. The specials menu had something which really stood out, stuffed Lychee. Now, I live in Hawaii and I love lychee, but how do you stuff them as a meal? They figured it out. We ordered these as an appetizer. You get six lychee, stuffed with chicken, cilantro and I don't know what else. Wonderful. They're served cool, each one on it's own Japanese-style soup spoon. We also ordered as an appetizer a very small amount of sushi, four pieces each of Sake and Unagi sushi. My only complaint is that the unagi was warm but should have been hotter. It had great flavor though. The Sake was so fresh and full of flavor. When the sushi chef came by and collected our platter, he asked if we wanted more. It was all I could do to stop myself from ordering 30 or 40 more pieces of various types, but we'd ordered full meals which were arriving soon, so we stopped there. My friends had the Mad Monk Noodles and the Monkfish Medley. I sampled both and they were great. I ordered the Gai Krapow, which is one of my favorite Thai dishes. It was perfect. It was a very large serving, with a good amount of perfectly done Jasmine rice (my favorite). It had spice but needed more. There's a 'pepper shaker' on the table which is filled with ground hot peppers - it added a nice extra flavor to the dish. We didn't even think to order anything other than water to drink. The glasses were kept full. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. We were all very very happy with our time here. I'll be back before I leave town.
(4)Nho H.
It's crazy how much the decor influences the thought of people. It's not all about looks y'all!!!! Ironically I said this about a sushi place that needed to spice up their decor to get more foodies. Food wise, I think Thelonious is average. Nothing about the sushi really hits me and places that name their rolls "Lady Gaga" and such really irks me. Their Thai food is pretty good though but I think some of the people from Pepper Sky works there? Prices wise isn't the best either but I suppose for a nicer interior, they have the rights to crank up the price tag. I am also not a huge fan of Asian Fusions.
(3)Ellen F.
We went there on Saturday night for the first time and was it ever good! To begin with, everything on the menu sounded wonderful and so we over-ordered on the appetizers. A particular nod to the cranberry crab rangoon and the brussels sprouts with sauteed onions. We created our own stir fries--I had tofu with chinese kale and brown rice, which was amazingly good--and there was enough to take home for the next night's dinner. Overall a great experience--we're definitely going back.
(5)Jeff M.
I feel like I am going out on a bit of a limb here giving Thelonious Monkfish 4/5 stars. Maybe closer to 3.5/5. Service was inattentive, and although not rude, far from friendly. I stuck with soup and sushi even though most people in the restaurant were having hot entrees. The price and location are definitely right at TMF. They also accept Level Up. I am not too sure if TMF will make it through the years.
(4)Ginnette P.
I tried it out for the first time after seeing a friend check in on foursquare. The food was amazing lots of vegetarian options. I'll be back!
(5)Melissa S.
Went to Thelonius Monkfish last night and had a nice, enjoyable meal. The sushi (Alaska Roll) was fresh and recommended; will definitely try some more of the roll options at my next visit. The fried Monkfish Fried Rice and crispy chicken pad thai were also good choices - light and excellent taste. I would also recommend the crispy, coconut french fries!
(4)So S.
Good lunch place. So, this is an asian fusion more leaning towards Thai. These people are Thai which means they are nicer. Not the best thai but 3 words which makes them earn them earn their 4 stars--! "Ancient Fried Rice" I am in love you with you, Ancient Fried rice. Bacon yes! Duck Yes! All in a fried rice? Yes! Major love!
(4)Sevn M.
Everything on the Vegetarian menu is awesome! The Fried Basil Tofu is total Yum, i had it 3 times last week. Avocado roles are nice and chunky and the the Avocado freshrolls are the best freshrolls in town. On top of that they brew their drinking water with fresh fruit and their tea selection is top notch. The owners and servers are very friendly. This is by new regular spot for lunch.
(5)Melissa G.
First of all I had no idea what sort of Asian food this was. We called in our order and went down to pick it up so that may have contributed to the fact that is was all cold. The Mixed Teppanyaki included the tiniest piece of steak (grizzle and fat) and a disgusting little cube of salmon. The Gado-Gado, had more okra than I've ever seen, who likes okra? Crab Mango Salad was slimy & cold with soggy fried crabs.The Tamari Garden Salad soggy. What a disaster!
(1)Santiago A.
Almost my favorite sushi place. Not extremely expensive, great ambiance and very good and creative sushi plates. I have not tried anything but sushi though.
(4)Kristina D.
Last week, my roommate and I got a delivery order (pad thai, papaya salad and spring rolls). The order came over an hour after it was placed, with the papaya salad forgotten. This review is for the customer service and attention to detail. The owner saw my "quick tip" about this delivery snafu, followed up, and ensured that my roommate was refunded for the meal through Foodler. Will update when I get a chance to eat sushi there in-person.
(4)Diane s.
Have been here twice now for lunch with coworkers. Staff is friendly, ambiance is really nonexistent- pretty much a sterile environment, but it is an improvement over the previous building tenant . This is a clean new Japanese /Asian fusion restaurant in Central Square. Had a wonderful salad here about two weeks ago and decided to try the Kim-Chi with rice soup (delicious) as well as the tempura crab. They were both quite tasty and arrived hot. The restaurant seems to fill fast for lunch, so arrive early if you are pressed for time. They offer a good blend of Japanese, Thai and Korean style foods. Have not tried the sushi yet, but feel compelled since some of the other reviews on this have been less than exemplary. I would not hesitate to come back. Average lunch ~ $7-8 dollars.
(4)Stephanie F.
I agree with other Yelpers... thank God they added a sushi place to Central Square! Sushi needs to be available in more places in Boston/Cambridge! Food-wise, not bad! My water ($0) had a hint of strawberry/cucumber/lemon/lime flavor because the fruits and vegetables were soaking in it; my chef specialty called the "Sleeping Beauty" was very tasty ($15); however, the arugula salad ($6) which was dressed in some kind of sesame dressing seemed a little overpriced for what it was (considering you could buy a bag of arugula at whole foods or TJ's for $2.50, but hey, I know we're at a restaurant). I just think they could have added something more acidic, or vinegary to offset the bitterness of the arugula, which I could still taste. My meal ended with the mango sticky rice, which was awesomely yummy. I would definitely come back here to try out their other creative sushi rolls!
(4)Chrysanthe P.
Lots of interesting rolls to choose from, but it didn't blow me away. I think my indifference is partially the result of having high expectations and my friend and I accidentally ordered something with tempura in it, which I have never been a fan of (my stomach is super sensitive to fried food). I would definitely try this place again and perhaps give it a higher rating once I try some other options. Until then, it was just so-so.
(3)Sophie I.
Nice ambience, fresh, tasty food, reasonable prices. I've tried some of their Thai-inspired dishes and the sushi, loved them both. Central has needed a place like this for years!
(4)Nico N.
Love this place! It has quickly become my favorite sushi in Cambridge- especially for delivery! Everything is good and the Fairy Tail rolls are amazing! And I can't order without getting the Razzmatazz rolls. YUM
(5)Brian H.
I met a friend for a quick lunch at TF at his suggestion and I liked the place immediately, even though I strolled right by it before my friend leapt outside to save me lost time. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and we were seated immediately right at noon. They were attentive without being pushy which I always appreciate over a lunch when we have to get back to work. The menu was full of items I will definitely want to sample later but I settled for a chicken pad Thai which was very tasty. I enjoyed the place and will definitely keep it on the lunchtime rotation.
(4)Shirley C.
A new Asian Fusion place in Central? Finally! Now I finally don't have to trek far away from my boyfriend's place when I have my raw fish craving. I've only visited twice, but both times, the food has been completely yummy and unforgettable. I can only attest to the Lady Gaga roll as there are just so many choices on the menu to decide that I decided to stick to the one that had been proven a hit. While I haven't fully ventured out into the menu, I can attest to the cooked items on the menu. With its extensive menu, there are just simply too many choices to decide. We decided to split a bacon pad thai and a drunken noodle tonight. The drunken noodles were soooo delicious, probably one of the best that I've ever had so far in America. The noodles were fried perfectly and the beef that came with it was seasoned too (unlike most restaurants, which do not season their food). I took off a star only because it seems like service is still hectic and a bit inconsistent even after 3 weeks of its opening. My waiter almost tried to charge me for a refill of soda before he was reprimanded by his boss that refills were free (apparently he had charged past customers for each glass...ouch). Other than minor kinks, I will definitely be coming back for this yummy food!
(4)K C.
Red Zen and Ruby Elixir rock! Love the location, the window seating, the ambiance and the fairy tale sushi rolls are awesome. I keep going back for the frog prince.
(5)Trelawney G.
I liked my vegetarian dish quite a lot, but they wouldn't do any substitutions for my food sensitivities. So that was a challenge.
(3)Cheryl H.
Thank god that Central Square finally got a sushi place so that we don't have to trek to the sushi mecca of Brookline every time we have a sushi craving. We've been here a bunch of times and the sushi is consistently pretty good, while the thai food is just average, not bad, but nothing special. They do have papaya salad on the menu, which although I haven't tried yet, is always a good sign. You can't be a good thai place if you don't have papaya salad. A few things we have tried recently: Temper Tantrum roll- I like that this tuna roll has a little spice, but isn't mixed with mayo like most spicy tuna type rolls, which coincidentally usually aren't usually spicy either. We like this so much that we got 2 of them last time! Mack the Knife - yellowtail with more chili sauce, the last time it wasn't as spicy, but still pretty good Sleeping Beauty roll - great except that the lime mayo or whatever it was that decorated the top sort of overwhelmed the flavors Avocado veggie fresh rolls - really good, but I wish you got more than 2 for $7 or $8 Sweet Potato roll - I was so sad about this one because usually I love everything with sweet potatoes especially sushi, but this fell short, really short. It's a tempura roll and the roll ended up being mostly tempura breading instead of sweet potato. Disappointing considering that they don't have a ton of interesting veggie sushi options.
(4)Jodi B.
Thelonious Monkfish: A Reiku (Review in Haiku) Vegetarian Salad sphere made of spinach My palate was pleased Makimono roll Apple carrot cucumber See you again soon
(4)Chaos M.
Sushi is a little overpriced, but some dishes have lunch version, which are much cheaper.
(4)Stacey H.
Finally...a sushi joint in Central square! My husband and I arrived for an early dinner on on a Saturday night (6:30) just to see if it was living up to the hype. We were surprised to see the entire place almost full to capacity so early in the night. Good job Monkfish! Our table was small (which is fine), but felt really smooshed between two other tables. If you're looking to have a private conversation don't do it here - there is barely any room between you and your neighbors. Alas, the menu was extensive, offering sushi and various Japanese style dishes. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked fantastic so I wasn't too concerned about not liking our dinner. We tried the curry fries (wow, awesome), the miso soup (great!), a specialty role (fancy lady-something or other), spicy tuna and eel avocado. Everything was great. Absolutely no complaints on the food. It feels a bit more upscale than Ginger exchange in Inman square and the sushi is better. The ambiance is much better too - a muted plum color interior and great lighting. It's a cozy place, with a long wooden bench along one wall and wooden chairs. A few things that could make this place better: liquor license - or maybe just wine or beer. So far it's just tea on the menu which we ordered one pot of. Overall I would rate this place a solid A- which means it's a keeper.
(4)Jeb O.
I've had sushi in nearly every major US city, and this place blew my mind. The menu is creative, the selection is outstanding, and the quality is exceptional. The wine selection is so/so, the atmosphere is a bit cramped (call it cozy); a reservation is recommended (I sat at the sushi bar). All things considered, price is reasonable given the price/performance ratio and Cambridge dining in general. If you're visiting Cambridge, don't miss it.
(5)Laura B.
As I hoped in my last review, Thelonious Monkfish has improved their service! My boyfriend and I went again last night on a whim. This time we did not order sushi but rather hot dishes. We started with tea again, which they again left off our check, but we told them since apart from that, the service was wonderful. Although they still seem to send all waiters to every table, some type of pooling system, we had great service. My boyfriend had the fig jam fried rice that came with the chicken wings, SO DELICIOUS. In fact, we are going to try to mimic the recipe at home we loved it so much. I wanted to combine some items on the menu and our waiter was more than happy to accommodate my idea. I ordered tofu ka-prow. I also asked that it be made as spice-y as possible. The dish was the perfect amount of spice and the tofu was perfectly fried. We skipped dessert again for Toscanini's since there was nothing other than ice cream. I am SO HAPPY to say that Thelonious Monkfish has turned the service issues around. I can't wait to eat there again.
(4)Andrew M.
Very tasty, fresh food served by friendly staff, but way too pricy for what it was.
(4)samsara w.
I wanted to write an update. Jamme, the owner has very kindly refunded the money related to our delivery order (note earlier review). He took the time to write a gracious and thoughtful note, and addressed my complaint in an honest and forthright manner. I am struck by their customer service, and willingness to make this right. We will be returning to the restaurant to use the gift card, and will also be telling our friends to give it a shot. I hope you will try this spot, and support a local business owner who has his heart in the right place.
(4)Cara F.
My interest in Thelonious Monkfish was first piqued by its clever name; I am a lady who appreciates a pun. I later learned that behind this pun was the owner's genuine appreciation for jazz, which plays all day long in this restaurant, and after whose musical terms and legends many of the dishes are named. So I was initially charmed. But the food, which is extravagantly good, elevated Thelonious Monkfish from a mere curiosity to an object of my affection. Devotion, really. I've had a couple of their entrees and enjoyed them very much; I can also attest that the curry fries and the cranberry crab rangoon are just lovely. I appreciate a restaurant that seems to take so much care with its menu options. I am a sushi novice, but I am falling pretty hard for the clever and cleverly-named maki rolls. A good example of their creative take on sushi is the Yardbird roll, which contains tempura chicken instead of fish -- surprising, delicious, and one of my favorite things on the menu... along with my ten or twelve other favorite things on the menu. (One note: I encountered slow service during one meal within the first couple weeks of their opening, but I think this is forgivable given the growing pains of a new restaurant -- and though things were slow that night, the servers were polite and apologetic. On all other occasions, service has been prompt and courteous, so I'm willing to chalk that occasion up to a fluke.)
(4)R E.
I dream about their sushi and my mouth waters every time I think about this place. The wait staff is very nice. They are great about continuously filling up your water glass. They also put some sort of fruit in their water that gives it an added light flavor. I haven't tried anything besides the sushi, because I cannot tear myself away.
(5)Betsy A.
This will be an interesting review, given the fact I don't eat seafood (the bulk of their menu), I can however attest to the tasty food offered here otherwise... I loved this place way before moving to Central Sq. And now that I leave close by I can't stop going. Seriously, it's an issue... I must stop. It's hilarious to see the owner's/waiters' faces every time I stop by for a "Yardbird Roll" (sushi roll with tempura chicken instead of seafood) and my Chicken Katsu Don (which given my accent I make it sound like Cat-zu Dun, they never understand me but somehow they always get it right... (must be the fact they have my voice memorized)... Anyways, the food: No frills, tasty morsels. This is no O Ya for goodness sake! But they got me into sushi (be it real or not) ;), I wouldn't go near seaweed with a 10' pole... Now I can't stop thinking about it... Why not 5 stars you ask? Well simply I love the food here so much I wish their portions were bigger. =( Seriously Monkfish, why such small portions?... Although, I should be thanking you. Without the small plates I would be rolling (not walking) to your door...
(4)Roberto C.
After reading all the other rave reviews we had to try thelonious monk and in particular, the ancient rice. We were not disappointed. The place also had the service to match its awesome food. I would definitely recommend it and go back for more.
(5)Lala L.
horrible service. how is it possible that I have to wait 45 minutes for a salad, asked for it 2x...and was the last to get my lunch? Drenched in a spicy mayo dressing...it ruined the salad of arugula and "tempura shrimp". there were no "tempura" there..it was deep fried w/out the japanese TEMPURA batter. talk about false advertisement.
(1)Kylie S.
This is my favorite sushi restaurant so far, and I eat here way too often for my budget. The sushi is fresh and delicious, and there are some really unique combos, though so far I've only tried the uni-avo roll and the philadelphia rolls and one with grilled salmon--all so good that I doubt I'll ever get to try the rest of the menu. There are good veggie options too. The service is friendly and professional, the decor is attractive, and the music is great. Also you can have your choice of sitting Japanese style or American style.
(4)Kai P.
Thelonious Monkfish Thelonious Monkfish... yeah I get it. I know my jazz so that one didn't miss me. Thelonious Monkfish is one of many small sushi joints seemly popping up around the greater boston and surrounding areas, but it does try to sell it self different with a jazz cafe vibe. The place is SMALL AS SH!T. Personally I'd rather have more than a foot of room between me and the person next to me when I'm out with my lady. They could have saved space by not building the huge classic style japanese seating that nobody actually uses. I could have done with some sake choices also but for a dry night the tea selection is decent. It was probably wasted on my no tea drinking a$$ but still. The sushi however was damn decent. Fresh and good. Freshness is something alot of these overnight sushi joints don't get. We didn't get the normal supermarket frozen section fare sushi. the one thing I can say about the atmosphere was the music was cool as hell. It felt like being at Wally's with japanese and Korean food. I like Jazz so this worked. Overall Thelonious Monkfish was pretty nice. If your not claustrophobic then this is a cool place to go in Cambridge. Cool names for the entrees BTW.
(3)Glade W.
I'm usually not into rolls, preferring pure nigiri or sashimi. But the fairy tale rolls at Monkfish were a delight! Artfully designed with very different, delightful tastes and textures. I'm glad to have discovered this little gem of Central Sq.
(4)Billy Y.
Honestly, I have no idea why this place has 4 stars. The food is quite unremarkable. We ordered 2 sushi rolls (C Jam Blues roll, and Mack the knife roll), bacon pad thai, and the coconut curry fries. I don't know what's the hype is with the coconut curry fries. The coconut curry fries is essentially a tiny basket of fries served with satay sauce. There's nothing coconut or curry about it. And the pad thai, it's really just mediocre pad thai with crispy bacon in it. Not sure why I was expecting more, but it is what it is. The sushi is actually decent. It's just like any other "special rolls" you can get in any sushi restaurant. Oh, almost forgot. The special menu descriptions and the staff are quite quirky.
(3)Rob V.
Great atmosphere, our server was great / very friendly, the sushi we got was fresh, and all this shortly after the opened their doors for the first time in this space (yes, just a bit delayed in posting the review!). It's great to see Central getting more Asian restaurants in the area. And while I don't live local, I do work in the area and look forward to hitting it again real soon. PS - A good friend lives around the corner and frequents TM quite a bit / is a foodie and continues to love the visits / experience!
(5)Gisele M.
This place has awesome food. I actually miss going here since I am no longer down the street from it. First off, lets start with the infused fruit water. Nice touch. I highly recommend the cranberry crab ragoons...delicious! I've had the shrimp and chicken pad thai - delicious with plenty of tasty chicken and shrimp. Everything is fresh. The chicken coconut soup was very flavorful. It tends to get very crowded mon-fri at 12, so I recommend getting there early or you may have a wait. Service is average - nothing spectacular. Waiters tend to be a little bit S-L-O-W ( but the food is so good, who cares) Next time I'm in Cambridge, I will have to make the trip.
(4)Jess R.
I dropped in here for take-out appetizers on my way home the other day. The service was actually pretty quick; it's possible that the issues mentioned in other reviews have been solved. Unfortunately, I wasn't happy with the food. I ordered the pan-fried dumplings, which had a filling of shrimp and pork. They appeared to have been over-fried, and the filling tasted so horrible that I had to spit it out and throw the entire dish away. I hate wasting food, but this tasted either like spoiled fish or like it had been fried in rancid oil. Ick. I also ordered the cranberry crab rangoons, which were cooked perfectly but had a weirdly sweet filling--like a cream-cheese-and-jelly sandwich. I expected more of a tart flavor from the cranberries, and I could see the bits of crab but couldn't taste them. I'll definitely come back sometime and try some of the other menu items that other folks have recommended. Maybe I just ordered the wrong things.
(2)Dara C.
Cute little sushi joint in Central Square, where sushi has always been welcome despite the fact that the closest places are underwhelming (Spice 'n Rice in Inman Square comes to mind.) There are more Indian restaurants than you can shake a saag at, but along that stretch of Mass Ave, nary a raw fish can be found. Until today. Thelonious Monkfish--the jury is still out on whether the name is endearing or aggravating--is a well-decorated postage stamp of a space with banquettes and two-seaters along the walls, a narrow sushi bar, and two wide tables with tatami mats on a rear platform. Guests are advised to remove their shoes and sit at the low tables; this is possibly the only semi-private dining option in a restaurant where the tables are almost on top of each other. The jazzy theme indicated by the name is limited to a pretty quiet soundtrack of American standards and a handful of creative menu names, but this is certainly no jazz bar. The food is decent to good, with a long list of classic sushi and modern makimono--surprisingly free of mayo--and Japanese and Thai-flavored entrees. The entire menu is heavy on seafood, with a sort of intriguing pan-Asian influenced salad section. Wonton soup was a good starter with three small shrimp wontons floating in an unbelievably flavorful vegetable broth. The wontons were a little bit thin and bland, but the broth, rich and salty, more than made up for it. Two pieces of sushi, octopus and yellowtail, were fresh, served over perfectly room temperature rice, neither cold nor gluey. A massive makimono roll of eel, shrimp, tobiko, and cucumber was delicious, if rolled a bit loosely. Tonkatsu curry wasn't terribly impressive; the pork was marinated well but the breading was too dark and slid right off, leaving bare pork cutlets swimming in a curry sauce that lacked complexity. My rec: stick with the sushi, which is well-priced and very fresh. Service is neighborhood-joint friendly, with attentive servers and a charmingly clever maitre d' (seeing two rowdy kids swinging from the banister of the tatami mat area, he said "And this half of the restaurant is masquerading as a daycare this evening." I am instantly tickled by snark.) The biggest snafu at Thelonious Monkfish is timing. The kitchen/sushi bar turns out food on the slower side of cold molasses, and I wonder if space is to blame? In such a small, narrow spot, the kitchen can't be terribly large, and the sushi bar itself is quite small. We waited a solid thirty minutes after our apps for our entrees to arrive, and the tonkatsu dish arrived nearly fifteen minutes after that. However, the food and service--and prices--are good enough that I can blame it all on being new to the neighborhood. With its cute, modern ambiance and laidback vibe, I can see Thelonious Monkfish being quite the success in Central.
(3)H S.
Very nice sushi restaurant with an extensive menu including some Thai, Chinese, and even a make-your-own stir fry section. Good prices and very yummy sushi. And awesome name, btw.
(4)Kimmy S.
Scrumptious and inexpensively priced food with a great ambience. Attention to detail is appreciated. They offer sushi and asian dishes!
(5)Aaron G.
First, look down at the comments, especially the negative ones, and read Jamme C's responses. I think it's great that this site enables this type of dialog between customer and owner. I think it's doubly great that Jamme responds so intelligently and passionately to both good and bad comments. This place is right down the street from where I work and it has become something of a staple with the IT crowd at our company. You have to go early in the lunch hour, otherwise the wait will turn you towards other restaurants. The lunchtime ambiance is bustling, but even with the crowded space, once you're settled in it's pretty easy to focus on the food and conversation. The items that I enjoy on the menu are significantly higher than Thailand Cafe (~$7), and higher than our work cafeteria (~$8.5), so making this the go-to spot more than once a week isn't feasible on my salary, even with the level-up discount. But I think that's OK because by and large the food quality justifies the prices. I order the noodle soups when I go because I am a fan of ramen in its better forms. Everything checks out here, the ramen broth is enjoyable and flavorful, although the meat could be more tender, I understand that it's a near-unavoidable consequence of boiling meat. Also, I don't think there's any kind of serious browning on the meat, which would help bump up the flavor significantly. If there is one thing I could say about the Pad Thai, is that it's not that different from a lot of other Pad Thai's served around the city. I hope that Jamme can make a field trip for himself and his chefs to sample the offerings of a few of the better Pad Thai offerings around the city (search on Yelp!) and develop a dish that differentiates itself from those while adding something new to the mix. Push the level of Pad Thai higher! It would also be great to have a small offering of very traditional Thai dishes on a weekly specials menu. I'm talking some down-home village dishes with crazy (to English speakers) names. We get so little of that kind of seriously different food that's prepared with great ingredients, I know I would certainly find it valuable and interesting, especially coming from Chef Ginger who considers Thai her specialty. Show us the power of galangal and kaffir lime!
(4)Bassem S.
I love the food here, but the last few times I've ordered delivery they've screwed up my order. The first time we were ordering for a group and they forgot one person's entree, so we had to wait for them to re-deliver it 15 minutes later. The re-delivery was quick, but it was still pretty annoying that we all had to wait for it. We also ordered from Thelonius last night - the managed to deliver my friend's ginger cod, but it was overcooked and disappointing, a far cry from the last time she ordered it. I ordered the monkfish maki combo #3 which I always order, and one of the rolls was straight up wrong and not very pleasant. Instead of a scorpion maki, I had a strange roll with avocado, cream cheese, and some undetermined protein. I absolutely detest cream cheese in my sushi, so that was a very unpleasant surprise - a definite downgrade from the scorpion maki. This time I made sure to immediately check the bag to make sure everything was in it...guess I'll have to do an even closer examination of each dish next time... On the plus side, the $6 fried oysters are delicious and a pleasantly good value. I love your food Thelonius, but these delivery snafus just won't cut it.
(2)Sara S.
We came to Thelonious Monkfish for dinner last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. Being right off the Central Square T stop, it's conveniently located. Let's start with the good: *The staff is friendly. Our group had a reservation for 8 on a Saturday night, the place was pretty busy, and they were nice about it when several members of our party were like 20 minutes late. *The prices are very reasonable. Our total tab, for three entrees, was $43 before tip. Sure, we all stuck with water for our beverages, but that was still pretty impressive. *The menu features a wide selection of good salads in addition to an almost overwhelming number of sushi choices. I ordered the spicy beef salad and vegetarian spring rolls. The salad featured some really nice flavors. My husband got the cranberry-teriyaki chicken, which he enjoyed. I snuck a bite, and although I'd been skeptical about the cranberry/teriyaki flavor combination, it actually works very well. And now for the not-so-great: *The beef salad was listed as "very spicy" on the menu, and when it came it wasn't spicy at all. Also, the spring rolls were fried. This may have been my fault for not checking with the waiter, but I assumed they would be fresh rolls--instead, they were five little fried spring rolls served with what seemed to be sauce out of a jar. Not very inspired. :( *Those of us that didn't order sushi got our entrees extremely quickly, but then we all sat there while our friend who ordered sushi waited another several minutes for hers. The service seems uneven. *While the food was good and the prices reasonable, we both concluded after leaving the restaurant that we were still hungry. For $12.95, I was expecting a bit more of an entree-sized salad; what came was more of a "large-appetizer-size". If we went there and I ordered the salad again, I would probably get a sushi roll or something similarly substantial to go with it. *Finally, I understand that they don't yet have a liquor license, but in the meantime, it would be nice if there were some more options for drinks. I wasn't really in the mood for tea last night, so water it was! Not that I mind drinking water at all, but it would be good to have some other choices for a festive night out with friends.
(3)Stephen T.
I've been here once for dining in and a few times for take out and most of the time it's been a good experience. When I ate in, the service was good, they were attentive but not too pushy. I had the pad thai with crispy chicken and it was tasty. The cranberry crab rangoons were also very good, I make them the same way now whenever I make crab rangoons. I've been here for takeout several times since then, and the food's been good almost every time. The Ancient Fried Rice was delicious, one of my favorite dishes here! The lady gaga roll was also delicious, it had a lot of different flavors in it and came 10 to an order. My other two experiences were the meh ones. I had a soft shell crab curry with rice once and that turned out to be pretty standard. I liked that they packaged everything seperately so the crab was still perfectly crisp, but overall it tasted fairly standard. One negative was that there were a bit TOO many bell peppers in the curry. The other thing I had just today was the Indonesian Fried Rice. This was a big let down. While the rice was pretty delicious, the chicken leg on top was pretty flavorless and needed to be seasoned more. Additionally, while the egg was a good over easy, it was burned throughout the whole thing which basically ruined it. I'm guessing this was just a one time occurrence, I was disappointed they didn't just fry another one instead of serving the burned one.
(4)Julie E.
Ordered delivery from here twice. Time 1: Food arrived quickly. Everything delicious, I mean delicious! Cranberry crab rangoon and some of their special maki were simply yummy. Considered ordering again the next day. A 5 star experience. Time 2: (a few days later) Two hours have gone by since I ordered. I called and they said it was on its way. That was over half an hour ago. I live under 10 minutes from this restaurant. There was nothing in my order than would have taken more than 5 minutes to make. Now I'm sad, and they suck. Update: After 2 hours (I ordered before 7 and the food arrived just after 9), the food arrived. We asked the delivery driver what was going on and he said he left the restaurant 10 minutes earlier with our food, not 40 minutes earlier as the restaurant has claimed. Now they're liars too! This brings it down to 1 star. An Update on the food the second time: The sushi arrived warm, which was unpleasant. The hot appetizers arrived cold, as in sat outside in cold weather cold, which was particularly amusing given it was over 70 degrees outside and restaurant kitchens themselves are usually hot, so we couldn't figure out where the food must have sat. Upon heating (not even reheating as they had no warmth) the apps in the oven, they tasted fine as the previous meal. Just a warning: the tuna tataki was a good bit spicier than at most restaurants, but still good. There are only so many awesome sushi restaurants that also deliver. I do not enjoy mediocre sushi, and avoid probably 90% of japanese/sushi restaurants. At first, I thought Thelonious Monkfish was going to be a new addition to my sushi delivery possibilities, but now I'm not so sure. In the end, I decided to increased the stars back to OK. If they aren't having an off day, you will probably enjoy the food.
(3)Nick C.
I visited a second time and thought I would write an update. All of the service issues I dealt with on my first visit seem to be fixed. The food is good. I haven't had a bad dish but have had a couple average dishes. Overall I recommend it every once in a while. In the end I find the price is a bit too high for what it is and to eat there often.
(4)John S.
The decor inside was relaxing and urban...the food was amazing we had a salad ,dumplings, a sushi special, and an entree. All courses where amazing. Only downside no booze. I will be coming back.
(4)sarah R.
Yeah yeah there's the yummy fruit in the water., the light is right and the place is packed but the food is nothing special. slightly over priced. Summer rolls were light fresh and delicious, perfect crispity-crunch. The Indonesian fried rice was meh, greasy, sweet and spicy with a giant fried chicken leg and deep fried egg -wet batter- Sushi was OK, but definitely not the freshest. TOP 2 REASONS not to dine here: no liquor license and the tables are made for mouse -size people.
(3)Yael K.
In our Friday tradition my friend and I stopped here for dinner after work. We were seated immediately at the bar. The atmosphere was comfortable and clean. Our waiter was attentive and the food came quickly. We ordered the edamame and the arugula salad for starters. They were pretty satisfying as far as starters go. For our main course, I ordered the Frog Prince Roll and she ordered the rainbow roll. I am a BIG fan of the Frog Prince. The soft avocado, the tender salmon, the brief taste of sweetness from the mango... it all comes together into a delicious combination. I give this place two thumbs up, and would definitely come back here again.
(4)Archana V.
Never had a bad experience. Love the mad monk noodles and al their sushi creations. The lemongrass chicken soup is another favorite!
(4)ashley p.
great food, nice and spicy if you want it. I only ordered delivery and it took well over an hour, but it was worth the wait. Just... try to speed it up a little, okay? We're hungry for your delicious tofu!
(4)Seth J.
I can only vouch for the sushi. Service/atmosphere: New Years Eve may not have been a smart time to try and find a place for dinner sans reservation, and while there were no tables available, we got an immediate seat at the sushi bar. Service was fast enough, and whatever small delays there may have been, I can understand since the place was jammed. We weren't in any hurry, and the place has a comfortable atmosphere with some appropriate jazz playing. It would be super awesome if they had a spot for a jazz combo to play, but that might be asking too much. The food: the rolls were tasty, and they had a couple creative ones that I'll be returning for (the Lady Gaga roll looks so good). Sashimi was nice, which means their fish is good quality. Beverages: they have a nice selection of tea, but unfortunately no beer, wine, sake, or liquor. Maybe they should consider a BYOB license? Overall, good experiences here. Give it a shot if you're in central square and craving sushi.
(4)Monique K.
The fruity water is delicious, and the food is decent, but I've had better sushi. The sushi isn't BAD, but it's just not the best I've had. My husband loved his noodle dish, though, so perhaps the entrees are better? I would eat here again, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)andy b.
This nice little sushi place had a really cool fusion style cuisine. The sushi was excellent, and the pad thai with bacon was better than it sounds, (and it sounds amazing!) I hope that I get to head over there again soon. Recommended. Check it out! Just wish they served beer wine or liquor. Come on!
(4)Secret T.
Really yummy and fresh. I don't eat fish, but the veg stuff I got was great... ginger without dyes... black sesame seeds... and! I'm pretty sure the rice doesn't have sugar in it which most places it does. Woo-hoo! As good as it gets!
(5)Liz O.
We had ordered here from work and got basic Thai food which was quite good for delivery Thai, especially since it was large pans of everything. They didn't get the order quite right, but what we got was very good. Then I went there this week with my parents, and I was disappointed. I ordered the crispy mandarin duck. I LOVE sweet duck dishes (like with a fruit/wine reduction) and generally I love sweet dishes in general, so when I say it was nauseatingly sweet, it really was. it was like they had dumped a jar of corn syrup on my plate and lovingly placed a beautifully crispy duck breast on top. The side of mashed sweet potatoes was nice. My parents said what they ordered was good, but no one was raving. I almost always order dessert, but after my duck, I already felt like I'd been sucking down Mrs Butterworth and didn't want anything else sweet. They do play jazz, and that made my dad happy. The service was attentive but a little clumsy and they served us our mains before we had finished the uninspired apps. I do plan to go back because I want to try their sushi. Plus, I really like their name and it's not too expensive and close to my office.
(3)Roseanne C.
disclaimer: i'm not a sushi expert and i actually hate the texture of raw fish. but i had a great experience here. kinda pricey but i just didn't get any of the fancy $15 rolls. i got the steamed mussels with bacon appetizer, which tasted like it was thai-inspired. the bacon didn't need to be in there but i really enjoyed the mussels, and i usually don't care for them. i got a philadelphia roll (i don't think these can ever be amazing or bad. they're just always good) and the C jam roll blues, which is spicy tuna tempura, spicy mayo, and cucumber and delicious and crunchy and i wish i could order some more right now at 3 am. my boyfriend got the fig jam fried rice, which i thought would be really weird, but it had such an amazing blend of flavors. in his words, it tasted kind of like french toast or pancakes but at the same time savory. i know that sounds weird, but it's great, try it!! and i liked the atmosophere and decor, the fun descriptions of stuff on the menu, the cucumber-grapefruit infused water, good service, and all that. definitely going back for the food though!
(5)Connie Y.
Had a birthday dinner here. The food was delicious, well-priced, and the waiters were generally on top of it. The space is a bit intimate so when it gets busy, it can feel a bit claustrophobic but overall a comfortable, tasty dining experience!
(4)David A.
Anyone who names a restaurant this creatively certainly deserves our patronage! The food is superb, presentation excellent, pricing very reasonable, and the ambiance delightful. I really enjoyed the Feng-Shui of the establishment, and of course they play jazz all the time, what more can one ask for?
(5)Rachel C.
Fun name! But food is a bit too fusion with the mashed potatoes at a sushi bar. The place just opened so the service was shotty but I am sure that will get better once they work the kinks out (or so I hope).
(3)Katie O.
Delicious sushi. The place is a bit cramped, but I love the fruit-infused water, and the maki rolls. :)
(4)Jordan B.
Went here with my book/movie club to enjoy sushi and talk about Memoirs of a Geisha. The menu is extensive, with options for every palette. Sushi, sashimi, pad thai, and even an Indonesian dish! I enjoyed the Miso Soup and a "Fashion Maki," which had eel, avocado, cream cheese, and flying fish tobiko. Delicious! Everything was plated beautifully and the prices were extremely reasonable. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Atarah L.
My roommate and I went here after work today, and were very impressed. The ambiance is great, and the sushi was out of this world. Try the Lover Man's maki if you like spicy tuna!! Also, as others have noted the cranberry crab rangoons were amazing. Great spot, we'll be back.
(5)Hiroki M.
By far the coolest and best dining experience in Central Square, if not all of Cambridge. The interior is classy, the service is superb, and the sushi and pan-Asian cuisine is excellent. Might I also add that the owner is extremely personable and great. You can talk to him on twitter or yelp and he always responds to feedback or criticism. I checked in on FourSquare for my birthday and within 5 minutes he came over and gave me a free sushi roll. That's 21st Century service.
(5)Ashley H.
Woohoo is right! My friend and I ventured into Central Square to do some shopping and decided to get dinner together. Fortunately, the menu is hanging right in the window, so we took a look and went inside. Right away, we were greeted by the host and seated. The atmosphere is fabulous! I ordered a seafood dish (I can't remember which one) and she ordered a chicken dish. Both meals were good! (She let me sample some of hers.) The waiter was friendly and attentive.
(5)N A.
I took my girlfriend here for a special night out - and it totally failed. I ordered a noodle dish was that billed as spicy and asked for it to be extra spicy, and it came out extremely bland. I asked the waiter for hot sauce to give it at least SOME flavor, and he brought me some - 10 min later. We were unimpressed. My girlfriend thought her sushi was fine - but then became extremely sick later that night. I'm not saying it was food poisoning...but that was sure what it looked like. We live less than five minutes away from this establishment, but we will never be going back.
(1)Mona M.
We ordered takeout from Thelonious Monkfish. My Pad See Ew was fabulous. It might be my new favorite takeout item in the city. The kale was perfectly steamed, the stems still crunchy. There was a nice carmelization on the chicken and noodles. The hubs sais his tamarind duck was "quite good," which is high marks from a guy who usually hates everything (she says with love). The staff seemed very friendly and attentive, and I look forward to going back for dine-in. May wanna call ahead, it looked pretty bustling already for 5:30 on a Friday.
(5)dante b.
I am thrilled to have Thelonius Monkfish in my neighborhood. The food is not standard asian restaurant fare, and it's all quite good -- some of it is better than that -- the setting is comfortable, the service is good and the price is low (about $12-15 for an entree). And the music (no surprise) is jazz. There are certainly better restaurants, but I can't think of a better value.
(4)Ali W.
Thelonious Monkfish is hands down one of my favorite sushi spots in Cambridge. I have been there five or six times and never had a bad experience. It is affordable, the ambiance is comfortable and chic and I mean...jazz and sushi? Waitstaff in matching seasonal uniforms? Roles named things like "Little Red Riding Hood," (one of my absolute favorites- I never thought strawberries could taste good on sushi and somehow they made this happen). It doesn't get much better than this for me. My boyfriend and I often go just the two of us but we recently went with a group of six and had an awesome time. Everything from the soup to the sushi boat was perfect- only tiny little issue- why do sushi places put shrimp on the sushi boats? It's always the last thing to get eaten, you eat all the special sushi and then it's like..."okay, I guess I'll have the shrimp." We left one shrimp (the only thing left on the boat) hoping to possibly get the message across. Also- they don't have a liquor license yet. It worked out fine for us because getting drinks before and after added to the night, just don't go hoping to get a bottle of wine with your meal. If you want somewhere fun to take friends from out of town- this is the place.
(5)E. L.
Went back, this time for lunch and got the sushi boat. Great value and very tasty! The rolls were generously loaded with fish, and everything was very fresh. Along with getting the 40 piece sushi boat (40$) you also get seaweed salad, enough for three people! Once again, recommended!
(4)P. K.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner after work and we had a great experience. I was really craving sushi and this place did not disappoint. The service was prompt and polite and I enjoyed the water that had fruit soaked in it. The food was tasty and fresh, bonus for punny names! I will definitely be back here again.
(4)Roshini Z.
First off, I'm really happy that Central Square has a sushi place now. The good: I got the Lover Man Maki and the Dynamite roll. Both were excellent. The rice was cooked well and the rolls were lovely explosions of flavor in my mouth. My dinner companions got a Monk Maki special, a duck Massaman curry and a duck lychee curry. I tried a bite of the duck lychee and it was *delicious*! The service was also good - nothing to complain about there. The bathroom was also clean. The not-so-good: It's pretty cramped in there and we bumped up against other people's plates when exiting from our table. A little more space between tables for those of us squeezing out from bench seats. There were also no liquor offerings, but it seems like they are in the process of getting their liquor license. All in all, I look forward to going back and I recommend you make a visit if you like sushi and/or Thai-style curries!
(4)stina S.
This place is... confusing. We went shortly after they first opened and although the food was impressive, we couldn't help but giggle at the ridiculously verbose and flowery menu descriptions and how frequently the waitstaff filled our water glasses. Really, every sip of water we took and someone rushed over to top us off. All in all, we were pleased and eager to return and try some of the other menu items. On our most recent visit, we were squished into the worst table in the joint with the next table pushed so close I couldn't get out of my seat without our neighboring table nudging dishes and glassware and eventually the table out of my way. Sort of off-putting when you're dropping around $75 for a meal that doesn't include drinks. The service, while not unpleasant, was the confusing part. There were tons of waiters wandering around and just like the first time, they were mad about filling water glasses. One guy brought us water, another rushed over right after him and we ordered appetizers and another one was hot on HIS heels so we scrambled to order entrees. Then ANOTHER dude brought us the food. None of these waiters spoke a word to us that was audible.They forgot one of my boyfriend's sushi rolls and one of mine was missing the sauce but since no one came to check on us after the food got dropped off, we couldn't really tell anyone. Then the host brought us our bill which had the missing roll exed out on the bill. Like someone noticed we didn't get it and just took it off the bill but didn't say anything? Strange. So all in all, the foods solid and the minor errors with our order would have been easily fixed if anyone came by to check. In my opinion, they'd be better off supplying each table one attentive waiter than 5 who don't seem to be communicating with us or each other. Hope they work out the kinks!
(2)Yuko I.
Cool name but the food not matching its name. Simply, too expensive for the quality of sushi. OK, no other competition for sushi place at Central Sq. but does not deserve Thelonious Monk name.
(1)luosha c.
the food here is amazing! usually fusion asian = overpriced and under-delicious, but that was definitely NOT the case here. for japanese, we got the salmon donburi (sashimi over rice), which not only had fresh fish and gorgeous rice, with little chopped up bits of japanese pickles in it, but came with five (count them! FIVE!) intense green shiso leaves. for reference, most places you can count yourself lucky with one. and if you don't adore shiso .. then surely you haven't been introduced. but that's another post. for thai, we got the drunken noodles with pork (super flavorful meat, not greasy, and this sound silly, but man i've never had baby corn so good. seriously). also the duck salad, which as far as the salad went, was as good as - maybe even better than - the thai salads at S & I, or even in NY. the only thing that wasn't pretty much perfect were the duck pieces, which were large, and on the bland side. we were a tad wary of the fusion-y looking items on the menu (bacon pad thai, anyone?), and so steered clear, but will be curious to see what others thought. even though the restaurant was maybe 90% full when we went on a sunday night, our service was prompt and friendly, and the prices were very reasonable. (3 full dishes including sushi, $43 including tip). we were totally thrilled with this place ... I can't wait to go back to try the som tum (papaya salad).
(5)jordan n.
Huge Menu, solid food, good prices, and cool atmosphere they need a liquor license though.
(3)Kendra D.
Pretty good Japanese / Sushi place. As expected, jazz standards are playing in the background in the dining area. Service is quick and attentive. I found the maki rolls we ordered to be fresh and flavorful. The Mad Monk noodles were also very tasty with just enough kick. It can be a little loud and crowded, great for dinner with friends - probably not for a date.
(4)Maria R.
Really fresh & tasty sushi. Thank God for good sushi in Central Square! yay! we've waited for you!
(4)ester k.
Most decent sushi rolls in the Cambridge area with reasonable prices and service. Didn't like the fruit containing special rolls, but did enjoy the regular maki menu, especially "Mack the Knife".
(4)N S.
Delicious and inexpensively priced food (esp for sushi) with a hip ambience. Little flourishes like delicate fruit-flavored water added to it. Both sushi and various asian entrees available. Friends said that since the chef from Pepper Sky works here now (have not been there personally), their thai food is also bound to be great. I came here twice the same week my first time!
(5)Alya A.
Decidedly mixed experience. The sushi was good, especially the roll that was a combination of three of four kinds of tuna. The wait was ridiculous. We had a reservation for 7, and by the time they seated us and took our order it was 7:30. The sushi took half an hour to arrive, and the tea we ordered never came until we asked a different waiter. We decided we wanted to get another sushi roll, and the wait was even longer... The people around us were having the same kind of experience. Hopefully this place will get things figured out in a few months, but right now, you should only go if you're willing to chill for a while.
(3)Sarah S.
Oh, Thelonious, I love you so... The improvement from when they first opened is astounding. The sushi is good and reasonably priced. The Drunken Noodles are the best I've ever tasted- spicy with veggies that aren't overcooked and finally I've found an Asian place that uses veggies other than broccoli in all of their dishes since I hate cooked broccoli. The service is great although I left off 1 star because they still need to work a little on their timing (I hate waiting for someone else's meal when mine is hot and yummy in front of me, but I hate being rude also. A little variation is acceptable, but I shouldn't be able to finish my appetizer before my dinner date's arrives). Also, like others have mentioned- checking that the servers understood you is always a good practice. They have improved enormously since I first went there (1st week they were open) and are an awesome addition to Central. My one beef is I wish the sushi lunch combos came with soup or a salad since their sushi can be a little slow sometimes and I like a little variation with my meal.
(4)Paul P.
great place for fusion cruisine, eat here and/or take out about once a week... recommend basil fried rice with fried egg
(5)Jezzieo O.
Yummy sushi and portioned like you were ordering from Shinjuku. Yay! Only downside is no alcohol lisence yet so my hubby and I didn't linger after polishing off an embarassing amount of sushi. Looking forward to trying some of the fusion dishes.
(4)Karen W.
I'm tempted to go back and give this place another try because I'm excited that there is a sushi restaurant in Central Square, but my first time here was a disappointment. A friend and I ordered the coconut curry fries to start (they sound tasty and interesting on paper and in other Yelp reviews, but the flavor combination didn't work so well for us), and then we shared several of their creative fusion rolls. Note that it will take you about 20 minutes to read and process the descriptions of the rolls and figure out what you really want: you eventually realize that most of them are some combination of tuna (or spicy tuna) and salmon. In fact, my biggest complaint is that all the rolls we ordered ended up tasting like a very mealy amalgam of tuna and salmon. Perhaps some of their curry and stir-fried noodle dishes are better; they certainly looked tasty on our neighbor's table -- which was within breathing distance, by the way... The fruit-infused water is a nice touch.
(2)Aaron P.
The conceptual fusion of jazz and sushi works for me, as does the cutesy name. Killer sushi. My big complaint is that they didn't have booze the when I lived in the area, but apparently they do now! I'd love to go back and get some sake and beer to go along with their awesome sushi.
(4)Martina R.
The name of this spot won me over. Came in for soup and a beer, but it's obvious that their strong suit is sushi. For a party or special date, they have over sized boats on which they present the sushi. It's lavish, and maybe even overkill, but definitely will add some kick to any celebration. It's in a convenience location, good prices, and generally very enjoyable.
(4)Halle R.
I wanted to love this place- I really did. It started off so promising. My party of six ordered the coconut curry fries (on the recommendation of yelp reviewers- thanks, guys!), which were excellent and sparked a conversation about coconuts. I got a salmon maki roll, which had generously-portioned fish and was fairly-priced. Then the entrees started coming out. My brother's fried rice came out first, followed about four minutes later by my soup. There was then four minutes or so between each consecutive entree that came out, so by the time the last one came, my brother had his entree for about 20 minutes and was almost finished (we weren't going to make him wait for us). To make matters worse, my father's entree (which was the fourth to come out) was barely lukewarm, so he sent it back. Once all the food came, it was pretty good, especially the duck and the tofu curry dishes we ordered. I found my soba noodle soup somewhat bland, but I'm aware that Asian-style vegetarian soups are often geared towards a different palate, so no deductions for that. All told, I'm not sure I'd come back for dinner (or anytime it might be busy), and if I do I'll probably only order sushi.
(3)Raenelle F.
Friday Night lets Grab Dinner date with Tara... We walked up and down Cambridge until we found a new place to try an it looked good unlike empty Yoki. We knew had the craving for some Sushi. Since Its a Friday you have to make a reservation so I made a 6pm reservation. As we got in we were promptly seated at this time it was us and two other parties. Five minutes into us sitting a number of Parties started to arrive which showed the Restaurants downfall. With a place that can get so busy it is Super small so you are interrupting the parties seated close by to get in and out your seat. So it makes you wait until your done with dinner to get up to use the bathroom even if you did have to go before. As you past you feel like you are brushing against those next to you and their food... The aura of the place was nice I think the lighting is perfect for a dinner and drinks... The waiter came promptly to ask what we would like to drink and then came back with our Drinks after that we didn't see him for another 30-45mins not until we basically had to flag him down to put in our orders. We then waited and watched as everyone who came after us got their food,ate,laughed,paid,and left all in the 1 1/2 hour wait for out food. Seafood does not take that Long Especially with Jasmine Rice and Glass Noodles. Appetizer: Spicy Lobster Roll *Yummy and The Mango helps the spicy Mayo tremendously* Drinks:Coke&Sprite*Tara said her sprite was watered down* I can't say much on the coke being that I only drank it because their was no Pepsi Dinner:I chose the Dive in the Deep Blue Sea(calamari,shrimp,scallops,&mussels galore with Glass Noodles)* this meal was tasty but nothing to jump for joy about unless your happy with the many different seafoods packed on the plate. If you are into the way a meal is presented like me you will not like this dish.Very Sloppy Looking.* Tara chose the Soft Shell Curried Crab w/ Jasmine Rice* so I had to taste and it was perfect blend if sweet,spice,crisp curry. Also looked great* After getting our food the lady basically rushed us because more people started coming in and the line was outside NOT OUR FAULT YOU DIDNT BUILD YOUR RESTAURANT FOR A BIGGER CROWD Do not recommend to go on a busy winter evening It's cold so your eating with you jacket it on because the place is so small
(2)Eloni F.
Waaaaaaaay overpriced. I got 3 shumai for $6. They weren't even very big or tasty. The wraps on them were chewy. The atmosphere is cute but the quality of the food is average and the portions are small. I prefer going to Spice and Rice for the same foods. Also, the service was really slow. There were like 4 other tables occupied when I got there... no excuse. The quality and prices of Moksa are better and so is the atmosphere. How they won Best of Phoenix leads me to believe that they had a different chef before. Also, I am horrified that in a prior response to a complaint about MSG the respondent both denied using MSG and accused the person complaining of not doing their research. Shaaaaaaame. If I get a rude private message, like another Yelper who was called fat, that response goes straight to Yelp admins.
(2)TnC M.
I have been here three times since they had opened and I absolutely love their food and service (: the restaurant could probably fit about 30 people and has a sushi bar. Its a cute little place. Their rolls on the menu are very creative. I have yet to try any of the fancy ones, but I hear good things about them. So far I have tried their regular makis like spicy tuna and crazy maki. I usually order one roll as an appetizer...haha. Their sushi is fresh and delicious. They have a variety of fried rice on the menu and so far I have had the basil fried rice and the indonesian fried rice. They were both very tasty. I got the lunch portion which was not small at all. The waitors are pretty quick and they were always kind everytime I went. I will try this place again and explore new food on their menu !
(5)Mai U.
Consistently good food and good service. Very nice neighborhood restaurant!
(5)Alisha R.
I have no idea why people give this place good reviews. There is absolutely nothing special about Thelonius's rolls besides perhaps the clever names they give them in their menu. The rice is not cooked well (as in, I believe it was overcooked), their ingredients are not fresh, and the service isn't great (service was slow when we got there). We also tried their miso soup which wasn't even good - it had a slightly sweeter taste, which was bizarre. And really, how can you even mess up MISO SOUP?! Lastly, it is clear the owner of this restaurant cannot handle the criticism and asks his friends to actively berate and bully Yelp users who attempt to provide their opinion of the restaurant (ex. a Yelp user messaged me with "You're fat!" Her first review on Yelp? Thelonious Monkfish - five stars. Listen, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.)
(1)R T.
This is the one sushi place where I order anything that looks intriguing, because I know without a doubt that the ingredients will be very fresh. I have to say also that I've never seen sushi and sashimi plated so exquisitely. So taste and presentation (and selection and service also) get two enthusiastic thumbs up. The few negatives I have are logistical. The restaurant is always crowded and very noisy, so this is not the place for a quiet meal with conversation. There's no waiting area so if your table is near the front you get bumped and jostled. I really wouldn't recommend this as a place for children or for anyone with accessibility issues, either, and it's Central Square so parking is a sincere challenge. But if you can live with these criticisms, you'll get a great meal.
(4)Jieyuan W.
Go for their party boats instead of À la carte menu. Simply amazing.
(4)Candice B.
One of the better sushi spots I have ever been to! Even though I am not a fan of Cambridge, I will set foot in Cambridge just to go to the Monkfish! Delicious fruit-infused water, they also have a list of iced and hot teas to choose from. What's better than drinking tea while having sushi, like a true Japanese! Coconut Curry Fries - they are probably the BEST fries I have ever had... curry on fries are just one of the better combinations out there. The tempura battered fries are just sooooo delicious! Ikura Sake Don - Salmon Sashmi and Salmon Roe over a bed of sushi rice. Now, I have had similar "sake dons" at various sushi spots, but none can top the monkfish. The key thing is, they actually cared to flavor the rice! a lot of places just slap a few pieces of salmon sashimi on a bed of jasmine rice, but the Monkfish use real sushi rice along with some pickled veggies and sesame seeds mixed in... YUM! I haven't had a chance to try all of their "specialty" rolls, because I am pretty picky with my sushi - no cooked rolls, and no "americanized" rolls. California rolls are really created for Westerners, as with many "inside out" rolls. I like my fish fresh and raw... sashimi is my favorite... and the Monkfish serves up some fresh and delicious fish within reasonable prices. As to their cooked foods, my friend ordered their crispy chicken pad thai.... ICHIBAN!!! If I wasn't so distracted by the sushi menu, I would have ordered some of the cooked goodies such as the pad thai, or even noodle bowls! Definitely gonna keep coming back!
(5)Alvin C.
This review is based on the take-out lunch experience I just had. The place is buzzing, hipsters of all ages are mingling with business folk from biotech companies near buy, and it looks like the place to be at noon on a Friday. I called in my order, and it took the a while to get it. Then it was placed on the counter and the person at the front did not see it until I gestured, and still no urgency. Finally, I get my food and exit the happening spot. I head to the T-Stop and start eating under ground... IT WAS GOOD! There was a roll, I did not order or particularly want in my order, but it was good too. The mixup and the time it took were forgiven. Still, there are other spots that have comparable sushi. I plan to go back and bask in the ambience. The jazz theme vibe seems exciting, and I am ready to have the 4 or 5 star experience other yelpers seem to have. Well that is my hope, because a 1 star experience at a sushi restaurant usually means bad things for one's stomach.
(3)Jonathan W.
Seeing some one and two star reviews for this restaurant makes me question the judgement of people on Yelp. I think these are the folks making this site unreliable, as Thelonious Monkfish is definitely one of the better restaurants in Boston. I've been here with friends, family, and it has never been anything but consistently excellent. I once dropped chopsticks, seconds later a smiling waitress brought me a new pair, where did she come form? How did she notice? We finished pouring a drink, a minute later the empty bottle disappeared to make more room on the table. Aside from that, they offer anything you could want, and I've found everything I tried to be excellent. If there is any negative its that there are TOO many options and its overwhelming and it's such good food that its always busy, just book a table in advance. Oh also it's a little short on space but fine.
(5)Josephine L.
Oh boy. This place is literally a block around the corner from my apt. Which means unless I get food poisoning, see a rat or piss off a manager, I will be plunking down a lot of moolah here for quickie lunches and dinners. For the rest of you who have to make a trek longer than 30 seconds, I suggest waiting another week or so until they've settled into their place and have their act together. I knew coming in on the first day would probably be chaotic and hectic and it was. Our lunch took a good half hour longer than it should have and was probably 1.5 hrs in total. What to get: Rainbow Roll is delicious, although they forgot to give us crabstick. To make up for it, the sushi chef happily made us a gratis roll of crabstick nigiri, which was nice. Neither of us were huge fans of the Satchma roll. It's just hard to eat with the cucumber wrap, and after a while, you get tired of the insides spilling out. Plus, no rice. And the combination of ingredients gets a little rich after a while. The Mack the Knife is delicious, though. I'm excited to try their other noodle soups (re: food obsession), but the Burmese Noodle Soup was a flop for me. I naturally go for the most exotic-sounding dish on the menu, so wanted to try this, but it was so rich and thick. Coconut curry soup sounds good in theory, but not when it's almost sauce-like in texture, covered with fried noodles that make it even more rich. Next time, I think I'll try the Duck Noodle Soup or the Beef Noodle Soup, though it's not the Taiwanese kind. The space is lovely, with bar seating, table seating and even tatami seating. If you work/live in the area, it's definitely worth stopping by. Central Sq has a lot going on but it definitely lacks good Asian/sushi eateries, and with Floating Rock taking FOREVER to open ("Imminent guys, imminent!" -Facebook page), this will do to satisfy my Asian cravings until the weather gets warmer and I can make more trips to Allston.
(3)Helen M.
Not quite sure why this place has negative reviews. The boy and I went to dinner with a friend who works in the area and recommended this place. The staff was super nice and seated us while waiting for our friend to arrive. The food was even more awesome! We ordered so much food that we literally waddled out of the restaurant. Dynamite Roll: So good! I would definitely order this again. Sleeping Beauty Roll: My favorite of the night! The pineapple and mango gave the roll a hint of sweetness and worked so well with the fish! Coconut Curry Fries: I know... who orders fries at an Asian restaurant!? But these were really crispy and the secret was the sauce - a slight sweet curry sauce. I wanted to bathe in that! Fever Wings: After our entrees, we still didn't get these so we asked about our order and apparently the kitchen forgot so these came out last. They weren't very good. The chicken was dry and tough while the sauce didn't have much flavor. Maybe they rushed the order since they forgot but I wouldn't order these again. Ancient Fried Rice: Delicious. Love the duck in this dish Drunken Noodles with Beef: So good! Nice and spicy and they didn't skimp on the beef which was nice and tender. I'd definitely come back with a group and try as much as possible again! Although next time I don't think we'll order 2 rolls, 2 entrees and 2 apps between 3 people unless we want to continue our waddle.
(4)Jennifer T.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon, and the place had plenty of seating for lunchtime. The waitstaff was attentive but didnt speak much to us the whole time. The sushi was funky, fresh, and unique flavors, very Japanese fusion inspired. We got the "Lady Gaga roll", "Lover Man", and I think it was called "Snow White". The portions were big and the prices reasonable. The lover man was our favorite, with the spicy tuna and unagi on top. The gaga roll was quite the experience, with the various flavors inside. The Snow white was intriguing, more like a dessert sushi, with the sweet mango and pineapple mixed in with the white tuna. We also got a spicy tuna maki, which came with plenty of meat. Definitely a chill place for lunch and could see this being a lively place for dinner as well.
(4)Jon L.
I'm not a sushi expert, so this review reflects my experiences with all the non-sushi items here - I've come here probably 6-7 times. I personally think this place is over-priced and over-rated, but the Asian fusion restaurant niche in Central Square isn't saturated yet, so friends keep suggesting this place. Why this place gets at least 3 stars: -it's got a great ambience - jazzy music in the background, minimalist decor - it's great for dates and/or small groups. -Stuffed lychees and the duck florentine noodles were two dishes we ordered recently that I liked a lot; in general, props for some of the inventive tastes and flavors they have here - not all of them "work" but I like restaurants that take some risks Why this place gets no more than 3 stars: -The prices for the dishes reflect the cost of "ambience," so if you're ordering out from this place, you're paying too much -This place gives off the vibe of being hip for its own sake (just look at the *creative* names for some of their dishes). It's not inherently bad, but there's some over-selling. Spend more time marinating and less time over-cooking the katsu.
(3)Marie W.
We've been to Thelonius Monkfish three times and find that it never disappoints. They have Thai food and sushi, but we come for the sushi. I like the vegetarian sushi options--especially the Frankie and Johnny roll (sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, avocado) and the Alice Coltrane roll (shitake, green apple, asparagus tempura). My husband likes the Sophisticated Lady roll (with salmon instead of tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado, eel sauce) and Spicy Sake (a spicy salmon roll). Service is good and there usually isn't too much of a wait. We would definitely recommend it!
(4)K. H.
I have had sushi in every corner of Boston..I never would of expected to find such an amazing place in central square!! From the second I walked in to the moment I left I was very impressed. Elegant atmosphere, great service, and the sushi was perfection:) The owner even came by and greeted us as we sat at the sushi bar. Perfect date spot, or to dip in before a show at the middle east. I can't wait to go back
(5)Lisa S.
I finally tried Thelonious Monkfish last night. My friend and I got there at 7:45pm. The inside is a lot smaller than I expected- maybe 12 or so tables. 2 of them are larger tables where you sit on the ground (Indian-style) to eat. I liked the music in the background and overall I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant. It seemed like a great date place. I ordered a diet coke, and the waiter informed me that there were free refills. The menu was huge! I definitely appreciated their large selection of vegetarian rolls- it was much larger/more interesting than other restaurants I've been to. I ordered the cracked egg soup ($4.50) and 2 vegetarian rolls- avocado & cucumber maki ($4.95) and william tell maki ($5.25). My friend ordered the drunken noodles ($9.95) and the Lady Gaga roll ($14.95). The cracked egg soup came out quickly and was AMAZING. And big. The soup was definitely a standout and I will be ordering it next time I'm here. The drunken noodles came out next. It was pretty big, tasty, and we both found it to be spicy (which she didn't mind). Then we waited and waited and waited for our sushi. We didn't get the sushi until 9pm- 1 hour and 15 minutes after we had sat down. By that point, we weren't really hungry anymore and we kinda just wanted to get the check and leave. My friend liked the Lady Gaga roll but said it would have to be pretty special to excite her after that long. I liked both my rolls- the william tell maki had apples in it, so it was nice and crunchy. Everything tasted fresh. We ended up eating about half our rolls and asking for the check- we probably didn't leave til 9:20 or so. So over 1.5 hours for dinner! And that was with us rushing our waiter near the end. I liked the ambiance, the menu (the sushi vegetarian options especially), and all our dishes were either solid or really good. However, I wouldn't come back that often for dinner during the week, since I don't usually want to spend 1.5-2 hours for dinner unless it's a date or special event (although I heard they also do take out). If they could speed up their sushi production, this place would be fantastic!
(4)Mary G.
Aside from a clever name and menu, nothing really stands out about Thelonious Monkfish. It is just another sushi restaurant where it is impossible to find a roll that isn't based on some combination of tuna, hamachi, and salmon, just like every other sushi restaurant. Considering all three of those fish are all endangered, unsustainable, and high in toxins, it is too hard being healthy and green here to even start to be concerned about things like original, unique, and tasty. The waiter was flummoxed and unable to answer any questions I had about the fish they were serving. So, eating salmon/tuna/hamachi was off the plate, which ruled out virtually every single maki of theirs (given eel, shrimp, tobiko, octopus, etc. can also be unsustainable or just not tasty depending on where they are from). The rolls were expensive, the sashimi was expensive, and nothing was remarkable. The William Tell roll was both reasonably good and reasonably priced, so if I went back I would only explore the vegetarian rolls. If you want fun, inventive rolls, well priced (generous) portions of unsustainable sashimi, maki, etc. head over to Watertown for the much more awesome Super Fusion II. They still can't tell you where the fish came from, but its heads and tails over places like this.
(2)Alyssa Y.
Perhaps because I'm Japanese I'm bound to be a hater. But I'm also a lover of all foods Asian and while Thelonious Monkfish spans most of Asia with its menu, its ambitious breadth fails to provide proper execution. I get that they're going for some innovative fusion but of the Thai and Japanese dishes I've had upon a couple visits, the flavors were usually overdone, meat overcooked, and ingredients only average in quality. I will say that the menu is cute-- who doesn't like witty prose to fill the time, especially if you're on a first date or such. But that's all that I'm willing to praise. Although if I'm forced to come here again, I'm ecstatic they finally have a liquor license so that I won't care so much about the food's taste.
(2)Tanya A.
I recently ordered some straight Japanese food here, and was actually much more impressed with it than I was with the fusion cuisine. The tonkatsu was perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender on the inside, and it came with a generous serving of shredded salad of exactly the kind I was served in Japan at a famous tonkatsu restaurant. The "normal" sushi rolls were also tasty, and nicely sized. In the future, then, I'll stick to the traditional Japanese dishes!
(4)Dillon M.
Had dinner during a recent visit to Boston. We had a great meal of mostly sushi and lots of Saki. It has a nice vibe inside, though sitting at the traditional Japanese table became pretty uncomfortable after a while (add Saki). Even still, service was prompt and the food was excellent. We will definitely consider a return visit on our next trip to Boston.
(4)Mo N.
Finally had a chance to eat here! ...and (gasp) wait for it... I LOVED IT!!! How could you not? OR How could you? 1. (finally) a reasonably priced sushi place with high quality fresh sushi. I feel like these owners fly the fish in first class from Japan every morning right from Tsukiji! Could that be??? 2. (finally) a place that can satisfy my cravings for drunken noodles and miso noodle soup - at the same time. 3. (finally) a place in Central that has an ambiance that provides soul appeasement, when in Bohemian Central. 4. (finally) a place that does drunken noodles just right. Here they're drunken with flavor and not with the lagoon of grease and basil scraps EVERY Thai restaurant so laboriously douses their drunken noodles with. You can actually taste the crisp herbaceous comrades (the fuckin' vegetables), along with the delicate basil that attend to your palate alongside the meat and noodles! Get what you want here, its all great...or get the miso chicken noodle soup and drunken noodles - yup, I adore those damn noodles! Just my $0.02...
(5)Jamie I.
A go-to for me in the neighborhood, both ordering through delivery service online and in person. After a bad experience with a third-party delivery service where I ultimately didn't get my order, the owner and general manager reached out and left me a message apologizing plus a gift card, which goes a long way. The great food and attention to customers means I'll be coming back.
(4)Sarah D.
Beer, Wine & Sake are now on the menu, and the service and food are as good as ever. I stopped in the other night for some sashimi, a miso soup and a tall Sapporo. The fish was fresh. The soup was juuuuust right. And the Sapporo was beer. Perfect! And for the record, while I chose Sapporo out of habit and because everybody knows i like big cans (WHAT), they actually have some pretty nice beers available. I promised a 4th star if they got a liquor license. They kept up their end of the bargain and I feel entirely justified in doing the same. Thelonious Monkfish has more than earned a spot in my rotation.
(4)Nicole P.
I know this place is pricey but it's awesome and it's walking distance from my house. Also, the fairytale rolls rock- I highly recommend them! They also have the typical rolls, sashimi, great appetizers (try the calamari) and the table water is flavored with cucumber. A definite go-to for Central Square residents.
(5)H. G.
I'm glad they now serve beer, wine, and sake, but I still don't love the food here. I have now tried the sushi three times, and it's mediocre in my opinion. I HATE when the fish in a roll is minced up like you're having a tuna salad sandwich or something. I also tried the brown rice sushi and it was awful. So dry. The only place that's done well is Duozo (and Whole Foods if you can believe it). I have ordered a couple of fried rice and noodle dishes. Those, again, were pretty mediocre. The soups have been my favorite thing to order at this restaurant. In general, I think this place suffers from trying to do too much. The menu is about as big as the Cheesecake Factory's (not that I've been there in a decade). Pages and pages of every kind of Asian dish you can imagine. That never works out very well. Anyway, Central Square really needs to chill out with all the Asian restaurants.
(2)Hilary S.
This place is hip and popular, but over hyped. The fancier, expensive sushi rolls are delicious and creative (the sleeping beauty has an unbelievable mango sauce). But, the basic sushi rolls are nothing special and the rest of their menu is pretty disappointing. Pretty much everything I've tried other than sushi was very mediocre. If it wasnt for a few redeeming sushi offerings, this restaurant would have a single star. If you're going, stick to the sushi.
(2)Alee G.
I love Thelonious Monkfish! This place was recommended by a friend, so I decided to check it out. It's right in the heart of Central Square. The signage isn't exactly eye-catching; My friend and I passed it twice trying to find it. It was a bit smaller than I expected, but that wasn't a problem. We went on a Friday evening around 6PM, and were seated immediately. We made reservations, but if we hadn't I imagine that we would have been seated right away anyway, there were plenty of spots available. I ordered a Thai iced tea (yummy!) and the Tamarind Duck. I'm a huge fan of duck, so I like to order it at different restaurants to find out who I think prepares it best, and Thelonious took the cake! The duck was tender, juicy (not greasy) and seasoned to perfection. I was so pleased! It was served with Kale and jasmine rice. The service was wonderful. The staff was very attentive and friendly. The place did get a little crowded within an hour of us being there, and unfortunately we were asked to leave shortly after we paid the check to make some space for waiting customers. I wasn't too thrilled about that, but it was understandable, plus they offered us a free appetizer for the next time we came to the restaurant. Good move! :-) I can't wait to go to this place again! 2 thumbs wayyy up!
(5)Gal N.
Tasty food! came here for dinner on a nice summer evening. The atmosphere was friendly and casual, and the service very quick. The food itself was quite good, and the dishes creative-- more than your run of the mill selection of asian cuisine. We had duck spring rolls, chicken satay and coconut curry fries for appetizers, then a few rice dishes (the chicken teriyaki fried rice, with pears, was a bit sweet, and surprisingly good) and a couple of orders of sushi. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food. Overall, it was a nice experience, and I won't hesitate to come here again when in the mood for good, interesting asian food.
(4)Susan K.
Been to this place twice and its pretty cool. The atmosphere is trendy. Definitely a fusion asian restaurant. Staff are polite (pretty rare in Asian restaurants in general) and for some reason, their water is SO GOOD. It's probably because they put slices of fruit in their water pitchers. Nonetheless, their (FREE) water is pretty good! The food itself is good. Not the best but definitely has a unique selection of entrees where some are a mix of different Asian foods. For example, I had a donkastu kare, which is basically donkastu with korean curry sauce. Interesting combo. The portions are pretty big too. I had to share my meal with others. Not the best Asian food but interesting and unique. I can see myself coming back...especially for their delicious water!
(3)Arthur H.
Excellent food and the service was great! I recommend the mad monk noodles and the sleeping beauty roll. Would definitely come back again.
(5)Lauren D.
This is a LONG overdue review. Unfortunately, my husband and I have moved away from Cambridge, but when we lived there, we were just down the street from Thelonious. This quickly became our favorite restaurant and expanded our interest in sushi - though I will admit there were several rolls we could have done without. We quickly tended to stick with our menu favorites: Gaga Monster Roll - sooo worth $15, the Crazy Roll, the Volcano Roll, Chicken Pad Thai, Cranberry Chicken Fried Rice (oh my gosh, AMAZING) and Veggie Potpourri (when I didn't feel like meat). Usually, we would just order 1 or 2 sushi rolls and either the Pad Thai or Fried rice and the two of us left quite full - so pretty reasonably priced for 2 people to eat in Cambridge/Boston. I think my husband would be happy to go even if it was just for the delicious cucumber water. When we were feeling really piggy, we'd also get an order of the cranberry crab rangoon - such an excellent twist on an old standard! My husband also loved the chicken green curry - and we tasted one in Thailand the summer we moved that tasted exactly like it - so I'd say that's promising:) I will admit, the service was often slow. I guess the food won out for us. So much so, that when we got married in 2012 - we decided to ask the restaurant if they would be willing to let us rent them out for 2 hours for our rehersal dinner. We quickly became chummy with Jamme, the owner, and Andy, one of the managers, as they worked with us to make a fabulous (and reasonably priced) rehersal dinner. Our event couldn't have gone better - Jamme even threw in having a violinist play for us. Our guests absolutely loved the unique rehersal dinner - and the yummy food (we ordered a mix of dishes including all of the favorites listed above and a few others for veggie/beef options - and three different sushi boats for appetizers). We still get compliments. People's complaints about slow service or having to wait (even with a reservation) are justified, but let's be honest, Bostonians could use something to slow down their day once in awhile. Enjoy the company and you'll get a chance to enjoy the food:) We definitely miss being able to walk down the street to our favorite restaurant.
(5)R S.
Awesome food but a bit pricey. Best dish: fried tofu basil. My boyfriend's favorite is the chicken drunken noodle. Would be 5 star except for the price. The place itself is kind of small so I would suggest takeout if it's crowded.
(4)Christian H.
Thelonius Monkfish. Whats in a name? After a bit of research, I discovered it was a play on the name of famous jazz composer and musician, Thelonius Monk. That of course not really giving or taking away from experience, it was something that I had been wanting to check out. Full of interesting asian cuisine, it was worth looking into. Located in Central Square, the name and said food is definitely something to draw interested restaurant goers. One thing that is noticeable, that it has become yet another new restaurant added to the area. My roommate and I decided to check it out as we were both fans of sushi. Needless to say, we were pretty excited by the prospect. We were sat pretty quickly as it was in the mid afternoon, right between dinner and lunch. As very looked over the menu, I was surprised to see a lack of drink selection. Granted, there was a tea listing, but nothing more. However, there was a huge selection of various dishes, but we decided to stick to our guns for the sushi. There were so many things to choose from as far sushi, but we narrowed it down to a few. However, it did take time for our waiter to come over. We had to wait a bit, but when he did finally come over we ordered tempura shumai to start with, the famed Lady Gaga roll, Sophisticated Lady, The Frog Prince and finally the Beebop roll. The shumai came over it and to be honest it was ok. Granted, I like when things are fried, but the spicy mayo it came with tasted similar to chipolte mayo. I wonder it that was the point. As for the sushi, however, everything was really great. Each roll, whether filled with spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, avocado or roe, they all knocked it out the park. The Lady Gaga roll specifically had different colored roe as dressing on the top, which I thought was a nice colorful touch. Each roll came over and the presentations were wonderful. With any type of western/asian fusion place, its always a great experience to try the funky, off beat sushi rolls. I appreciated that some of them didn't require too much soy sauce to be complimented with. Each flavor came out nicely. I think the sushi was the winner for the day. Thelonius Monkfish offers a great selection of food and is a nice little place right in Central Square. Though lacking a few things, it wasn't necessarily a terrible experience. Also, for what we paid for, I expected us to get a bit more, as it was a tad pricy. Despite all this, I will definitely go back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)Nick L.
Just had the lady gaga roll (not sure of the exact name)- quite possibly the best sushi I have ever had. I HIGHLY recommend this place. Great food, great location, and great vibe. I will be returning SOON and OFTEN.
(5)Tom B.
The Loneliest Monkfish is pretty alright. Feel about as strongly about it as a handy. I'll take it, I guess.
(3)Joseph T.
I have to say that this place has really good fried rice and can make anything spicy, but as far as for Thai fusion cuisine, I don't think that it is successful in making one. My avocado salad had too many panko crumbs and they weren't needed. I've seen phenomenal sushi and this place isn't for it. The prices are too high for small portions and I've been satisfied by better Asian fusion joints.Try it and see how you like it, but believe me that when I say that I've had it better somewhere else.
(2)L W.
A takeout blessing to those in Central Sq. Always packed, but miraculously my 2-3 orders/week are ready and delicious in 15 minutes. The sushi is good, but the open secret is that this is a great go-to Thai place.
(4)Noa C.
I've been here and ordered take-out from here multiple times. If you like fun, exciting sushi rolls - this is your place! They have a ton of rolls, along with other sushi dishes and a large variety of pan-Asian food. Their selection of nigir and sashimi are typical, 'normal' fish and are fresh. They also have a good sake, cocktail and decent beer list.
(4)Heidi L.
Friends and I were here on a hankering for fried rice, and we got the ancient, Seoul Train, and fig jam fried rices. Because the place was so packed, we ended up eating our fried rice at the sushi bar...the fried rices were okay, with our favorite being Seoul Train (kick from the kimchi). I liked having chicken wings as part of the fig jam fried rice, though the rice itself was too sweet. Altogether, I think TM's value-added is the variety of dishes it offers - it's a fun place, if you can stand the line, and the theme is great.
(3)Ari P.
The gal pals and I came in on a Tuesday night after half of Waltham lost power, along with our chosen restaurant. It was obvious that we crossed city lines when the entire place was packed (on a weekday?!) Nevertheless, the host said it would be no more than 15-20 minutes, and made good on it. What a surprise it was when we were presented with a menu that rivals the length of the Cheesecake Factory. We started with the inventive cran-crab rangoon and I followed up with Tom Yum which was a touch heavy on the lemongrass. We're talking big bits. The gals were set on sushi but I decided on pork Rad Nah, and what a stunner she was. The fusion shined on this dish with the clover honey, and the bit of fairy tale sushi I tried was good, even if not at all evocative of a frog prince. We collectively enjoyed the meal, but that menu was far too extensive to glean out on the spur of the moment. Good food on par with other Central Sq. spots and probably a good place for a swanky first date, or so I overheard...
(4)Sasha H.
The spicy pork Ramen is just TERRIBLE. They apparently don't know how to cook ramen. The noodle tasted like rubber that lost elasticity. The pork is smelly. And everything is just terrible. Don't ever order it.
(1)Tianyi Z.
Thanks to my lovely friends who brought me here, a solid place to go! I had the Hotel California Roll, and it is so good. The environment and the waiters are all so good. Love it! Gonna try their Ramen & Fried Rice next time lol~
(5)Niv B.
Came here on a Thursday night with a friend and we were seated surprisingly quickly, even though the restaurant was pretty packed. The atmosphere in the restaurant was loud but casual, and the Jazz music was definitely a lively touch! We ordered the Coconut Curry Fries as an appetizer and oh my it was amaaaazing! The curry dipping sauce was so flavorful and only enhanced the already delicious fries. Service for the main courses took a bit longer than other places I've been but considering how busy the place was, we didn't mind. The main dishes we ordered were the Mad Monk noodles and Nirvana noodles! Both were well flavored and hot when they came out. The Nirvana noodles were a bit milder and required me adding extra soy/ spice but my friend was quite happy with the Mad Monk noodles! Overall, pleased with my experience here and will definitely come back to try more of their many options!
(4)Aaron B.
Food was fantastic. Public parking lot about a block away is a bargain, $3 for the whole time we ate. We has sushi as well as drunkin noodles and they were both very good. The waiter was on the not so pleasant side of life but he did get the food to us and drinks just seemed to be pissed to take our order. Highly recommend getting a reservation so you don't need to wait. I'll be back again.
(5)Phil C.
Long ago, a few of my personal friends had given Thelonious sterling and positive reviews and it sounded like this place had potential. However, upon asking these folks again about their assessment, they backtracked their original reviews of this restaurant and gave a more muted opinion. I'm wary of most Asian fusion/pan-Asian restaurants: they can't possibly do all Asian cuisines well. Those places just end up doing most of them poorly. The menu here is immense and it's difficult to be good at all of the dishes. I most certainly didn't try everything at this restaurant but my sampling didn't exactly eliminate my preconceived notion of this genre of restaurants. However, the food wasn't the only deficiency I spotted during my dinner trip here. I had made a reservation a week in advance. When my dining partner arrived at the restaurant, we still had to wait at least ten minutes for us to have a table. The table we received wasn't exactly a great one either: it was near the door and drafty on a very frigid winter's night. The service was atrocious. There wasn't a waiter to ask us for drinks or anything for at least the first ten minutes upon being seated. By the time a waiter arrived, he had already started to ask if we were ready to order entrees. Maybe I'd expect that in a very casual spot but not somewhere like this. The waiter never checked on us and only came to bring our food, tea, clear the table and send our bill. There was nothing friendly or cordial about this waiter. I ordered a small plate of salt and pepper calamari, which was okay. There was enough savoriness and crispiness to the squid. The ginger lemon tea was unimpressive as it had no flavor and it wasn't even all that hot when it arrived. I didn't try my dining partner's duck noodle soup, but she seemed to enjoy it. I really can't say the same about my beef green curry. Just because the curry is green, doesn't mean it's supposed to be lacking in spice. This tasted like heated coconut milk with some beef and vegetables. It was way too sweet, and a good curry shouldn't have that overpowering everything else. This place was picked against my own better judgment. Next time, go with the better judgment.
(2)Maria C.
I ordered the avocado rolls. Very fresh and came quickly. A little pricer for avocado rolls than I would like, but overall good experience!
(4)Lorenz S.
I love the authentic atmosphere in this place, and always enjoy their sushi and tea. I usually go for one of the sushi or sashimi entrees, which offer good value for money. The only complaint I have is that the place is too small and too popular, so I often have to wait a while to get seated -- luckily, they also deliver (but delivery also takes its time at peak hours).
(5)Brendan D.
I really like this place for sushi and their cranberry crab Rangoon appetizer is fantastic. They offer quick delivery and while it's not cheap it's not too over the top, of course keeping in mind that it's in a prime Cambridge location. One star off for the in-restaurant dining experience. They really pack the tables in and you might as well be sharing the meal with the people sitting on both sides of you. At least if you are looking for some entertainment you can listen in.
(4)Danielle K.
I'm so glad I finally made it out to Central Square to try Thelonious Monkfish! On Friday night, my husband & I met 2 friends for dinner at Thelonious Monkfish. We were all very impressed with the variety on the menu. My husband had bacon pad thai & I had the Cranberry-Teriyaki Salmon (with mashed sweet potatoes as a side). Both meals were delicious. Our friends liked their meals as well, and were happy I'd suggested that we have dinner there. I could definitely see myself coming back quite a few times and being happy trying lots of items from the menu. The one drawback is the restaurant is small, so the tables are extremely close together. So close that you have to move if the people at the table next to you want to leave their seats.
(4)boston y.
Went for lunch yesterday.after 40 mins they gave me the wrong ramen soup, i ordered the spicy pork, gave me the seafood instead. still it was Ok, mistakes happens but then i found bits of seafood in my soup. So literally they picked out the seafood from the existing dish and substituted pork in it.. Not fair.. they took off the my entree soup form the bill, .. so that was some kind of consolation.
(2)Rebecca Y.
Mediocre food. I wouldn't mind eating here again but it's nothing I'd go out of my way for. Monkfish Maki Combo 3: decent mainstream sushi, not anything amazing. If you're in the area and craving sushi, this place might hit the spot. Sweet Potato and Bacon Croquettes: sounds better than it tastes, but it wasn't awful Fried Oysters: Definitely wouldn't get these again. Oysters weren't plump and they just fell flat.
(3)Suzanne C.
Ordered takeout while staying at a hotel pre-interview--and I have to say, it was pretty darn yummy. I was a bit doubtful given how 'fancy' the rolls were but the fish was fresh and combination of flavors was great. Can't wait to (hopefully) make it a local place for me...
(4)Sam D.
I honestly was not a fan of the Sushi options in Cambridge... ... until I came to this place. It's busy, but they found a seat for my group very quickly. Their Drinks menu is on point, plenty of options for Sake, Beer, non-alcoholic. Their Tea is delicious. Their Food Menu is extensive. 30+ options for Rolls/Makis, with hilarious names, and funny little side-comments beneath their Lists. HUGE variety of sushi. Portions are big, but not too big. The one thing I regret is not getting desert. Oh, and they deliver.
(5)Anuj V.
Came here for dinner with friends. It is ideally located with easy to find street parking. The restaurant is not large but the seating is comfortable. The tables are really close together so there is not much space to move around. The atmosphere is casual and the crowd is mostly young students. The food is really good! I had a noodle dish and it was beautifully prepared with an amazing taste. We ordered one appetizer to share but it turned out to be a must have! They call it coconut curry fries and they are AMAZING! I would suggest this place to anyone who enjoys asian food and a good environment. Loved it! Will definitely return soon!
(4)Di L.
The atmosphere and the menu are uniquely whimsical, albeit random. Slow jazz is surprisingly soothing during a meal, but I don't understand its relationship to the food. I guess jazz was a big thing in Japan in the 50s and 60s, but I don't get any throwback vibes here. The sushi menu is so cutesy. It's like the dishes were designed by Sailor Moon. They are partial to sweet and fruity flavors in their makis, especially in the fairytale-themed rolls section. I was initially skeptical of strawberry and orange mixed with spicy kewpie and tuna, but I found the results to be clean and light. They certainly present an interesting perspective of sushi I wouldn't have otherwise considered. It's a bit pricey ($12-$16 for a "special roll") but definitely worth a try. The avocado salad in the appetizer section is delicious. They've somehow made butterfruit, mayonnaise and artificial crab taste refreshing. I haven't tried many of their non-sushi items, but the pad Thai and Indonesian fried rice tell me that these parts of the menu are mostly so-so. In general, the food here is alright, the sushi is better, and the whole experience is relaxing, weird and tasty. I imagine it to be the gustatory equivalent of watching anime on LSD. But in a good way.
(4)Richard H.
I agree with other reviewers in saying I'm impressed by the breadth of the Asian fusion menu, literally crossing Asia as you flip the pages, but feel the curry dishes come up short. Monkfish's sushi is excellent, especially for the creativeness, flavor, and freshness. I'd come again for sushi and a fried rice, and the traditional japanese seating (requires reservation). As a jazz person, I find the Jazz references in the menu cute and appreciate the musical ambiance. During this visit, I ordered the Kanom Jeen, and was rather underwhelmed. This green curry dish has chicken with vegetables served over vermicelli. It had lots uncooked green beans in it - like literally just picked and thrown into the dish. I usually steam my green beans, and maybe this is part of the fusion, but they were cold and hard and not very good. Vermicelli was more of the spaghetti-type. Also, not much chicken was provided and the green curry was "eh" - not very spicy at all. On the other hand, the Off-Key Marie roll was great as usual. I've had their other creative maki rolls as well as sashimi - all good quality, well-prepared, and tasty. As I said, stick to the sushi and if you're daring, try a fusion dish. Their mashed truffle-oil sweet potatoes are great, but that requires getting some sort of meat with it, of which I've been rather disappointed.
(3)Melanie W.
A-OK perfectly sums up Thelonious Monkfish. The first time I went I had a reservation, and they seated us right away. The second time we waited about 5 minutes for a table for four, but it was still pretty early in the evening, maybe around 6. The first time I got the pad thai with crispy chicken. It tasted fine, but the chicken wasn't in any way crispy. The second time I got the magic wings, and those were crispy and delicious. The pig's tears dish had the perfect amount of spice and was really tasty. The sangria was also surprisingly delicious. Service was friendly both times. The restaurant is small, so I can see why there would be a wait. I would definitely recommend a reservation. The tables are really close together, which led to an awkward encounter with a lady sitting next to us. There are still several things on the menu I want to try, so I'll be back.
(3)Katherine L.
I came here on Christmas Eve with a friend and was really happy that they were open. We were seated right away, which was nice. But, when the waiter came up to us to ask if we were ready, I couldn't really hear him and said "water's fine", apparently he was asking us if we were ready to order(?). Not really sure but I felt really awkward after he was kind of pause and said okay and walked away. I had the Chirashi Donburi and that was really good. The slices of sashimi were really thick and nice, which I really liked! The most awkward part about the dinner was the seating, first, I personally felt like we were EXTREMELY close to our neighbors, to the point where i cold hear their conversations, and they could probably hear ours as well. This place looked pretty small, so I suppose it's not their fault. The bench height was waaay talker than the chairs, so if you were sitting on the bench, you were definitely looming over whoever was on the other side. Or ay least I felt like I was, it was kind of awkward. Other than that, it was yummy and delicious our food came out really fast (10-15 mins or less!) And they used an iPad/tablet to take our orders and check us out--pretty high tech!
(3)Yelena Y.
Great food. I had the apple bacon pad thai today. It was a little strange mix of bacon in pad thai but who can complain about bacon in anything. I have had the drunken noodles in the past and that dish was the bomb sizzle. The only con is that you should call and make a reservation if you go for lunch, it's very busy. The wait staff seem genuinely pissed off and annoyed. Especially the dude who wears beige with a flower pinned to his jacked.
(3)Eric W.
In town on business, I stopped in here after work just for a quick bite. Got a seat at the sushi bar and had the yellowtail carpaccio and a spicy tuna roll. Both were great and if I was ever in the area again and had more time, I'd be sampling much more of the menu. I've had to walk by this place on the way to parking each night and they are always crowded.
(4)Brian S.
Really incredibly good. Super fresh, fairly affordable, and some interesting rolls. The seaweed salad was HUGE. I will be back!
(5)Jen W.
Very mediocre chicken coconut soup (too sweet, partially peeled chunks of squash so I had to wrestle with separating), fried calamari tasted like cardboard and the handmade potstickers were so-so. Very disappointed.
(1)Jill B.
Stumbled upon this place on Saturday for lunch and couldn't have been happier. Food and tea were excellent, service was great and atmosphere was nice. My boyfriend loves asian food, gets udon noodle dishes everywhere he goes, and said the udon tonkatsu he got here was the best udon dish he's ever had by far. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Star W.
The rolls here are certainly unique and they are very accommodating to vegetarians and vegans. I had the Snow Queen roll, which is very creamy and sweet from the mayonnaise and coconut. I also tasted from the table the red curry, which was delicious and pretty spicy, and the cold soba, which I wasn't as impressed with. Then again, I'm generally not a fan of soba. Although the menu is huge, they seem to execute the dishes well, with nice presentation. However, I would not order the appetizers for more than 2 people. They are truly tiny. We got 5 small veggie dumplings for around $6 and it was awkward to split them among our large party. They did give us a free fried ice cream in honor of the birthday girl though! This is a very small and dark restaurant, good for dates. 3.5 starts rounded up to 4.
(4)J. L.
I'm picky and Thelonious Monfish is AMAZING in my book. The sushi is to die for. It is just so delicious. I have brought my friends here and they have loved it just as well.
(5)Kurstin R.
I've been here 3 times now as well as a few take out orders - Each time we have really enjoyed the place. It is always packed which is most definitely a testament to their food, however the seating is pretty tight And service is often a bit on the slow side because if the volume if business they do. It was also a bit awkward to pay as everything is on an iPad and servers don't step away while you sign and leave your tip. As for the food, The sushi is excellent and the crab rangoons are probably the best I've ever had - they put cranberries in the filling which adds the perfect amount of tartness. I had the wonton noodle soup the last time we were there and it was amazing - the broth was so flavorful and it's a massive bowl of soup! I definitely recommend this place!
(4)Alex C.
Very good sushi! They were delicate with the flavor, and presentation was really neat. Apparently the pad thai was also really good, although I didn't personally try it.
(4)Dave M.
I love this place. I come here whenever I am in Cambridge. However, when I came tonight, there was a sign saying they are closed for vacation July 1-7. They should have at least posted this on their website. Poor communication!
(1)Mariel J.
Headed to Thelonious Monkfish on a Thursday night with a group of about 10 people. The location - just down the street from the Central Square T Stop - was great. The menu is like reading a novel - there's sushi, traditional Thai food, and lots of more unique items. Scanning through, I saw "Bacon Pad Thai" and read no further. This strategy was successful, and the pad thai was awesome. Enjoyed my Thai iced tea, too.
(4)Lauren B.
The other night a friend and I were there for dinner and after waiting about 45 minutes for a table we were finally seated. The food was fine, but we noticed that the waiter seemed "overly" attentive which was unusual. Then it happened, as soon as the check was laid down, the host came over and told that he needed our table. REALLY?!? You're going to ask me to wait almost an hour to be seated and then you're going to kick me out? Needless to say, the food isn't good enough to wait that long for a table and it certainly isn't worth being herded through the place like cattle. Fail Thelonious...
(1)Bergamot W.
It doesn't get much better than this! Excellent sushi, I have yet to be disappointed. I would recommend booking a reservation or going on a weeknight when it's less busy.
(5)Lauren S.
Best sushi I've ever had? Quite possibly. Okay, as a vegetarian, I've gotten used to having limited choices for rolls. Luckily, I love simple avocado rolls or sweet potato rolls. However, the veggie rolls here are incredibly unique! There's some with spinach, a few with green apples (!), and even one with cream cheese! I tried the two "specialty" rolls (the Johnny and Frankie Roll and the Alice Coltrane Roll), and they were both fantastic. I don't think I could select a favorite from the two. +1 for the service as well. Our waitress noticed it was one of our birthdays when she checked his I.D., so at the end of our meal, they surprised us by bringing him some mochi ice cream with a candle and singing Happy Birthday! Furthermore, when they brought us the check, our appetizers were on the house, too! How nice!
(4)Rich L.
We got there around 6pm. The place was packed. I called and ask if we could get a RSVP. The host that answered the phone said no reservations are being accepted. That fine we had a party of 5 so we went. We lucked out and got a table. The host/ server said ok you will have to be done in 1 hour as our RSVP guest will be arriving. Wait ......I thought they were not accepting RSVPs. Then I said the to the server us finishing in 60 min depends on you getting the food out. Ok we got sashimi deluxe - good but not. Got the shrimp tempura which came out soggy, not sure how fried food gets soggy. The Peking duck was tasty but lacking something it was their version. The Maki rolls were good jus got the usual Philly, spicy white tuna, crazy Maki. Although the pass see yue was good. I think their niche is the cooked noodle dishes. My chair kept on getting bumped by everyone very crowded. 45 min in we still did not recv a Maki order and had to ask for it 3 times. So it seemed like we were not gonna make the 60 min. So I give it 3 stars cause the beer was good 9% alcohol.
(3)Eric J.
Three words: Monk's Dream Roll. Ah-mazing.
(5)Jules J.
I actually really liked this place! There's a lot more value to it than indicated by its current 5-star review. The restaurant has a nice ambiance, the music is good, and they even have a couple of those low Japanese tables. They have some interesting menu items - including a series of fairy tale themed rolls - so you can definitely find things you haven't tried before. There's also an extensive drinks and desert menu, so if you are hoping to have a fun night at a nicer asian restaurant, this is probably a safe bet. I ordered the Rumpelstiltskin roll and was impressed! I wouldn't say it's as good as Fugakyu, but it's up there and a lot cheaper!
(5)Pam C.
This place is definitely very popular - I heard about it from multiple friends before trying it out. The sushi here was pretty a-ok: they have a wide selection of rolls at pretty reasonable prices; they also sell half rolls, which is nice for the adventurous sushi lover who wants to check out a lot of different rolls. Definitely recommend sampling the maki! Definitely very crowded, and the sushi boats seem like a very popular option. I was a little irked that the sushi bar was just for show - my favourite part of getting sushi is being able to interact directly with the chef at the sushi bar. I sat down at the bar and tried to get the attention of the sushi chef, but he ignored me for a while before flagging a waiter over, who then took my order. A little annoyed that I couldn't just order directly from the chef.
(3)Marina G.
My fav sushi, good prices, and great ambiance. The drinks are good and service is always friendly. There can be a wait, but it's worth it! I don't understand all the medium reviews because as a longtime central sq resident, I think this place is great!!
(5)Natalie D.
Good options, good service, good quality. The strange thing about this place is that every discussion I over heard while dining there was about peoples' upcoming trip outside of the USA... It was weird so the next time I went there I totally had a fake convo about how I was traveling to Australia for business. Anyway, the name is catchy (I love jazz music), the sushi is solid, and the ambiance is cool and jazzy. The only down side is that the people that happen to eat there are pretentious. But the good news is they have take-out! :D
(4)Katie B.
Their sushi is inventive and delicious. And, luckily, the rest of their food is also really good, so my husband can find something he likes, too. Be sure to make a reservation, because they get really busy. The fruit infused water is a really nice touch. This is our favorite date restaurant.
(5)Cerina H.
Food: I was a bit skeptical of the fish here since I hadn't found good sashimi in the area yet. Also the fact that they serve a lot of non-traditional Japanese food made me think that their fish wouldn't be good. But we tried it anyway. We got a party boat #1 for $60, supposedly for two people. Quite pricey and yes, we took a huge risk since we didn't even know if the fish would be good. The boat came with rolls, nigiri, and sashimi. The fish was surprisingly fresh and overall it was very filling for two people. I wish it came with miso soup though. I'm not sure what their other food tastes like but the rolls look pretty cool if you like that stuff. Ambience: A bit squished and uncomfortable. Pretty casual. May be some wait for groups since it's a small restaurant. There's also a tatami seating area where you take off your shoes and sit cross-legged on a Japanese bamboo mat. Not sure how clean it is though...I'm a germaphobe. I would come back again if I don't find better sashimi elsewhere in the same price range. Not authentic but definitely a must-try.
(3)Crystal D.
Great Asian fusion menu variety with traditional dishes as well. Unique & tasty appetisers. Sushi was fresh & delicious, chicken curry was done well, and service was great. The atmosphere, while hip & inviting, is small, a bit cramped, & quite loud. But as long as you don't mind cozying up to your neighbours & turning up the volume on your dinner covo, it's definitely worth a try! An overall pleasant experience.
(4)Jude P.
Finally I got to experience the creative dishes of MonkFish under different conditions but it happened. It was a take out situation due to the Ronda Rousey fight at a friends house. Although busy, upon entry, they seemed accepting and grateful which is always a plus. It was a pretty quick grab and go. So down to the action, in which i actually ate it at the friends... the chicken-cranberry teriyaki was tasty and was proud to conquer it. The sauce was perfect and the chicken was a good portion. Next was the yardbird maki... A delight it was. Thick, tasty, and sorry folks but it was there was a quick ending. Wish I had gotten 2 but I have to watch my size, haha!! So far it gets the thumbs up, but we'll see if the true 4 stars holds up when I dine-in.
(4)Marilyn C.
It's been a while since my last review and I'm torn by this place. I was a fan of Yoki down the street, which closed probably because it couldn't compete with Thelonious. I actually think the sushi at Yoki was better than the sushi at Thelonious. That said, I don't dislike Thelonious and last week I found myeslf getting take-out from the Monk on my way home from work. Positive vibes: - Take-out process was smooth - the guy at the front desk was helpful and efficient. I was told to come back in 15 mins. and it was ready when I arrived back in exactly 15 mins. - Crab fried rice comes with pieces of real crab (not imitation crab stick - it wasn't big pieces or anything just mixed in) I got a couple different items - springs rolls, sushi, fried rice and they were all ok, but nothing wowed me. I still don't understand why this place is so popular (living in the area I constantly walk by and see this placed packed). That said, I am glad they are adding to the lively Central Sq. atmosphere and I would do take-out again.
(3)Sevag D.
I've been here several times with coworkers. The place gets packed during lunch time. They offer a large menu with a lot of variety. Having said that, I've tried dishes from multiple sections of the menu and it's all just average in my opinion. That's outside of the fact that it literally takes 30-45 minutes for me to get my food every time I go. Not practical for a workday lunch, or any time for that matter. On my latest trip there, the waiter at least warned us that it was going to take a while to get food. Which I guess was nice, but why seat people if that's the case? It appears that they're expanding the seating into the area next door. I hope they're expanding the kitchen too, because they clearly can't handle the demand.
(3)Tim S.
A few disjointed notes: This menu is longer than most Dostoevsky novels. I'm surprised the chefs in the back don't have look-up tables for all of the meals. Maybe they do. Indecisive buyer beware! I got a tart pink cocktail for starters. It was made with yogurt and strawberries and was quite delicious. The beer selection is very comprehensive here, too. My friend and I shared a boat for $40. 48 rolls of quality sushi. I accidentally broke a glass on the floor. No problem: the wait staff was understanding and quick to clean up my mess. Nice job, guys! They play hip jazz music over Pandora on the inside. I think I heard Freddie Hubbard, but it was too loud to make it out. Good place for pretty good sushi and beer. If you like jazz and can make timely decisions about what you want to put in your gullet, this is your kind of place.
(4)Tiffany F.
So many rolls to choose from! Wow! It's a no frills, humble establishment that offers a ridiculously larger menu. Not only do they serve a wide variety of rolls, boats, nigiri, etc - they also serve donburi, udon, and other Japanese dishes. To overwhelm customers with even more options, they also serve Thai food! Go figure! The sushi quality is decent - however, he rolls are a little overpriced in my opinion for the quality. We came on a Sunday and there was a jazz band bland playing which was really nice to listen to and really added to the ambiance. The music theme of this place is cute and I love how it's intertwined into their logo and sushi roll naming. It was all clearly very well though out.
(3)Sophie P.
LUNCH REVIEW ------------------- For lunch, my co-workers and I came and sat right by the window, which was a great spot to eat lunch at, with the sunlight shining on our table. My co-workers ordered a variety of the fairy tale rolls, while I opted for the ikura sake don. The fairy tale rolls have a lot of ingredients that I think dilute the taste of the fish, such as mango, strawberry, and pineapple. I like my sushi by itself. IKURA SAKE DON: This was amazing! There is fresh salmon sashimi and ikura on top of a bed of "seasoned" white rice, which essentially just has sesame seeds in it. But, this is a great deal for lunch at $13, because there were at least 8 pieces of salmon and half the bowl was covered with ikura. I was beyond stuffed, and the salmon quality was really great. Thelonius Monkfish needs to choose an identity, though. They offer Japanese and Thai options that range from noodle soups to sushi to fried rice and curries. They can't possibly be good at making all of these dishes, but I really did enjoy the donburi so definitely try that if you're here! I will try some of their other offerings next time.
(4)Tracy B.
Wanted to try a new spot at work and someone recommended TM... Got the standard, Tom Yum & some other things... The Tom Yum was ABSOLUTELY the best one Ive EVER HAD... Unfortunately it was a little cold as the driver was a little lost & couldnt find us therefore causing a delay (he kept calling to say he was here - when he truly wasnt) But hey, next time Im sure it will be easier... because trust me there will be a next time it was THAT GOOD... Shrimp Ginger was great. Lots of good veggies. Wonton soup was great & coworker said she liked. Sushi was good... Pad See Ew was delish I was told... All in all a good place & will def be back!
(3)Jane B.
Thelonious is a fun place to stop for a quick, yet satisfying meal. Even when they are very busy, they seat you very quickly, if not immediately. The appetizers and sushi at Thelonious are delicious. I especially love the fairy tale sushi menu. All of the specialty rolls are named after a different fairy tales. I highly recommend the raspberry crab rangoons. They have the best dipping sauce! Their entrees are also very good. They have great crispy chicken. Thelonious also delivers. I've only ordered delivery from them twice, but the food was delivered hot both times.
(4)Linh T.
**DINNER** I went to this place with a group of 5 other friends. As a big group, we got the Party Boat to share and each of us ordered our own drink. In overall, the experience at the restaurant was good! I was the first one that got to he restaurant (and 30 minutes before our plan), but the waiter was very nice to me. He put my name down as a reservation while letting me hang out until my friends arrive. It was around 6-6:30pm so there was a lot of people + big groups coming ( the place is very popular in the Central Squre area), but they made sure to still reserve a table of six for us. It was very good service! Even when we ordered, the food and drink came vey quickly. As of the Maki Roll Party Boat A, there was a complimentary seaweed salad on the side, which was very good. There was a total of 48 pieces of 5 different sushi types at the price of $40. We split it among 5 people, since one of our friends was on diet and ordered her own thing. So the party boat was a great choice at a very reasonable price. Additionally, the place's menu was insanely long. They have so many food and drink options. I would say it's worth more than 3 visits to try out different options that they have. The drinks range from cocktail to a large variety of beers and sake. Lastly, the location was very convinient. It's a 1 min walk from Central Square station.
(4)Vivian C.
Playing it safe, I called ahead to make a reservation at Thelonious Monkfish even though we would be meeting up for a relatively early dinner. I made my way past the heavy curtain they had hung to ward off the chill rushing in when the doors opened. Two soft spoken gentlemen were stationed up front with one on the phone. I gave the other my name while mentioning that I had a reservation. He looked it up, acknowledging that he had found it, and I waited. And waited. He answered the phone, while the other fellow looked up at the folks who had come in behind me. When he picked up some menus as if to take them to a table, I mentioned that I was here first and had a reservation as well. Only then did he think to tell me to let them know when my friend has arrived. So, it seems that they do not seat incomplete parties. I awkwardly took a seat on the bench beside the line of take-out bundles, semi-hidden by the curtain. As I waited for my friend, I came to the realization that I was no longer in the mood to be able to enjoy a meal here. So I cancelled my reservation, and took myself out of there.
(2)Kara P.
I've eaten here dozens and dozens of times, and it's always great. Diverse and myriad options Beware: Sometimes they give you less when you order delivery
(5)Rohan K.
We went here for a late night dinner and just managed to get out order in during the last call. We got the sushi boat which is basically an assortment of 4 rolls served on a wooden boat. The presentation is pretty impressive but judging by how fast they brought it out, I'm sure the rolls were pre-made. They were not bad for the price and portion but being from Seattle, I'm used to much higher quality sushi. The boat was a filling and affordable sushi dinner for that time of night and I would probably get it again in a similar situation but not when I'm actually craving "good sushi". Overall it was average sushi, great prices and quick service.
(3)Jo M.
I've found my new takeout Thai place. Thelonious Monkfish has a good mix of traditional dishes and adventurous fun things. The Pad Thai was particularly good. What I loved is that the dishes weren't huge, but what you get is really good quality. Well worth it!
(3)Angelina E.
I was in town on a business trip and wanted to meet an old friend for dinner. She said she had heard good things about this place but had never been. I was a little skeptical since it only had 3.5 stars. Not to sound snobby but I usually like to stay above 4 stars, especially when it comes to sushi. It was PACKED when we walked in and they were also cranking out to-go orders so this seemed like a good sign. We got 3 rolls and they were all great! Being from San Francisco, I know good sushi and I thought the rolls were awesome and reasonably priced. We also go pot stickers and pork belly buns. The pot stickers were great but the buns were just okay. The menu is extremely long here. I suggest sticking to sushi or sticking to share-able plates (i.e. fried rice, curry, etc) or it can get overwhelming.
(4)Alexandra M.
Huge menus worry me. I watch too much Restaurant Impossible. We walked in and there was a huge curtain over the door, which was great for keeping the cold out--except for when customers came in and out and didn't think about closing it behind them! No one sitting near the front forgot, so I guess it's just something you have to experience to remember to use. Most of the drinks have sake in them, so give it a try! Both of our drinks were really sweet, but not too sweet. Both of us love candy, so I can see other people not liking them. There's always their huge beer and wine selection! We ordered sushi, a starter and two entrees and all came at once. Timing people! We ordered our sushi about 10 minutes before we ordered the rest, so we thought it would be out sooner, as we wanted. Stuff was nearly falling off the table. I was skeptical about the fairy tale sushi, and it was okay...the scallop on top of the red riding hood was hard to eat. We also got the monks dream which will be a dream of mine for a while. So good.We tried the cranberry crab rangoons which were surprisingly great. The sauce was perfect. I got the special of spicy grilled seafood ramen which was not spicy, and parts were grilled to the point where all you could taste was burnt food. Such a bad note to end on. My friend enjoyed her mango rice. It makes me uncomfortable that they stand there as you pay on the iPad. I'm going to tip 20%, but I don't like that it felt like she was watching me.
(3)Arthur C.
Not a terrible experience. Came in to watch Yoko Miwa Trio over sunday lunch, but the keyboard and amp set up didn't do her justice. Will prefer to watch her when there's a grand piano. The food and service were average. Spicy Seafood miso ramen and Monk noodles. Decent sized servings.
(3)Alan G.
Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night with a party of 6. I made reservations online for 6pm. When we got there (at 6) and were being seated, we were told that there was a party coming in at 7 so we should try to eat faster and leave by then. This felt unreasonable and immediately turned me off - I felt like we were not welcome. I had the crispy duck florentine noodles. The duck was indeed crispy, and the noodles were indeed florentine. The duck felt a little dry, and overall the dish felt like greasy cheap Asian food. The rest of the group ordered various sushi rolls, ramen, and the Ikura Sake Don. They seemed to think their food was fine but nothing special. Just based on my food experience, I would have given 3 stars, but the service really turned me off. We did end up staying a few minutes past 7, but as the hour approached, our waiter kept hovering around our table and made us feel pressured to eat faster and leave, especially given what he had said to us when we arrived.
(2)Raina B.
I was so excited to see all of the veg sushi and other vegetarian things on the menu that I insisted that a friend (also vegetarian) and I both go and try all the sushi. Decor is nice - trendy but the tables are quite close together (I heard pretty much all of my neighbors' conversation and they heard mine). Shockingly crowded for a Monday at 8 - their was a group coming in afterwards so they said they could seat us for just an hour. Food, sadly, is just ok. Frankie and Johnny roll - the best of what I've had. It tastes equally as good 3 hours later on a train or in the restaurant! Not a very uncommon roll, but the sweet potato offers the perfect amount of crunch! Mushroom maki - not good. If whole foods or stop and shop or any grocery store stocked mushroom sushi, that's exactly what this would taste like - lots of rice, ok mushrooms, and little flavor! The snow queen roll (without mayo) - interesting. I liked the green apple, but the coconut overpowered the other ingredients and made everything just lightly sweet. Maybe with the mayo it's more balanced? We also got the basil fried rice (no egg). It comes with fish sauce, which we asked to remove. It was a little spicy but overall so bland!!! The tofu was tasteless (we dipped it in soy sauce) and the dish was so flat tasting! I had previously gotten the fried tofu basil (takeout) -- which also comes with fish sauce even though it's labelled vegetarian (!! come on guys) - and it was more like the average thai basil dish. Overall, an ok restaurant. I had such high hopes! I'll go back and try the Alice Coltrane roll, but otherwise will maybe get the standard drunken noodle if I go back. EDIT: I've gone back and had the Mr. Snufflaupagus - vegetables in peanut sauce with rice. Peanut flavor didn't really come through that well, and it was just so uninspiring. I keep hoping that I'll stumble upon the right dish and I'll really like it, but I don't know... drinks do look good though.
(2)Keivan S.
Really enjoy eating at this restaurant! It's been hit or miss, but when they get it right, they really get it right. I highly recommend the Indonesian Fried Rice and the Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna sushi. Their Peking Duck Tortillas are also pretty solid. As a side note, I was first attracted to Thelonius Monkfish because they accept Bitcoin.
(4)Nicole G.
If there were a breakdown for what you rated restaurants on Thelonious would definitely win in the atmosphere category. Warmly lit (aka, not so dark and gloomy that you can't even see your food), trendy looking decor and some solid jazz playing in the background. The menu, i'll warn you, is HUGE. so be prepared to not know what you want if you even take the time to look at everything. I'm a sucker for sushi since I don't find it around me at home very often so I went with the special of the day, the crunchy california. Nice spin on a classic, no complaints. Will definitely take me a few more trips though to flesh out how other things on the menu are. all in all, definitely recommend! Locals advised me to go (:
(4)Stephanie H.
wow, surprised to see this place had only 3.5 stars! this is definitely at the top of the list for places we miss ordering from. we used to live right down the street from these guys and had plenty of sushi fests courtesy of thelonious. the maki party boat A is an amazing deal ($40 for 48 pieces) and comes with a TON of sushi, even more than two fish fiends like us could polish off. as a bonus they always send a little seaweed salad, too. but often we'd opt to spend more to be able to try some of their really unique menu items. they do a lot with fruit, actually, from the red riding hood roll with strawberries, to the cranberry crab rangoons, to the sleeping beauty roll with crushed pineapple. i know what you're thinking. "really? that sounds weird." yeah, it does. and it's awesome. before we moved we worked our way through the fairy tale sushi menu and everything on there is so unique and more importantly, so tasty. the frog prince roll with salmon, mango, and tempura crunchies covered with avocado, and topped with spicy snow crab & tobiko salad is my favorite. my other favorite from their sushi lineup is the fashion maki - grilled eel, avocado, cream cheese, and flying fish roe. i've even strayed from the sushi for the drunken noodles, which are also great and the portion is enough for two. the coconut soup and calamari are just okay, but the miso soup, seaweed salad, and rangoons are excellent. thai iced tea is yummy, too. we've recommended this place a lot over the years and i think the only complaint we've ever heard is that the interior is very small. we personally always chose to pig out in the privacy of our own home, but i understand they've recently undergone renovations to open the place up a bit, so that's great. maybe now that it's a little less...well, little, we'll make it back to our old 'hood for some fancy pants dine-in eating. until then, keep on keepin' on, TM!
(5)Tuli S.
The Pad Thai with CRISPY chicken is AMAZING. It's my favorite place to eat Pad Thai! Also, I always get a side of the sweet and sour sauce for dipping the chicken. It's a pretty big portion and there is enough for leftovers (dinner size- lunch one is small). Also- if you want you can order the pad thai spicy with extra peanuts! I also tried a couple rolls of sushi- all good/fresh but a little on the expensive side. The one issue I've had is every time I get eel there are tiny bones in it. Now I avoid it. I've noticed this at a lot of sushi places so I'm not extremely upset about it. I was curious about the fried soft shell crab so I tried it last time. Pretty good but it tasted a little too much like the ocean for me..... The stuffed lychees are a fun appetizer to try. Sweet but savory!
(4)Louisa B.
Great food, great service, great ambience. The only negative thing about this place is that there is always a wait and not a short one (because it's really good). There are a number of rolls to choose from and the best part is that all the special rolls are named after famous jazz musicians, just like the name of the restaurant! I usually go for a curry when I go here but really anything I've ordered off the menu has been good. Whenever I had friends visiting I would try to bring them here if we found the time! Well worth the wait.
(4)Ashraful R.
I've been going here for years now and they're actually expanding now which will be great for the nights when it is extremely busy. It can get noisy and congested on weekend nights when its packed. That has only happened on a couple occasions though. Regardless of whether is busy or not, the staff is always polite, and the food is absolutely delicious whether I get the pad thai, pad see ew or the cranberry chicken (I highly recommend because the sweet potato is bomb). They have little candies by the front for when you leave and the water has bits of vegetable soaking in them to add flavor!
(4)B N.
I don't have high expectations of delivery - but I AT LEAST expect taste to the same as in the place ... Sadly disappointed, I ordered chicken curry, miso soup, sticky rice and a thai iced tea. I do give it to them for the quick delivery especially in the snow - greatly appreciated. BUT - the curry... was horrible - there was not flavor, let alone any actual curry, the chicken was so dry and chewy and the rice tasted old (yes rice can taste old). Thai iced tea was drowned in the milk/cream so can't taste the tea as much (then again I am a little picky and prefer less milk/cream) but all in all sad face for thelonious monkfish.... I shall not order nor come through again.
(1)Ashley W.
Remember to ask if there are peanuts or nuts in anything you order! Sometimes they aren't listed in the menu, and I'm allergic, so I didn't ask until it was too late. Thankfully, they were very accommodating and allowed me to change my order. Other than that, the service and food was great, if a little expensive.
(3)Jill S.
This place was incredible! The specialty rolls were all so good, 4/4 of the ones I tried! The seating is adorable and the vibe was friendly, welcoming and authentic. Also kudos for actually saving a few bucks when you buy the bottle of wine versus the price of 4 individual glasses. Most places they end up costing the same so this is a nice change.
(5)Megan C.
Nice fusion food. Sashimi is really fresh, and their menu has good diversity. Not all fusion food tastes good though.
(4)Manali R.
The sushi wasn't up to the mark. Rest of it was nice. The service was a bit slow..but worth a visit for the price overall.
(3)Daniel T.
I sat in there the other day the sushi was good and fun creative names for the fairy tale sushi rolls. The seating area is kind of tight. The tables are very close together it was hard to have a conversation without the table next to you over hearing you or disturbing your own conversation. I did take out the other day and was super excited for the Ramen I saw on the menu abut it was very disappointing. The broth was more like a pho then an actual miso ramen broth in use to with ramen. The soup was very bland and it was disappointing. I will not be ordering that again. (For good ramen cross the street to Sapporo)
(2)Pearl L.
The ambience is fab. The food is fab. Everything is fab. I've only been here twice, but I've ordered takeout several times-- it's my go-to when I feel like treating myself without breaking the bank. Fresh, delicious Japanese cuisine, why go anywhere else? Frog Prince roll, chicken pad thai, and any one of their noodle bowls is a foolproof choice.
(4)Timmy L.
Sushi was simply edible, service was at the same level Came here for a sushi dinner with the SO and her little sister. My first impressions of Thelonious Monkfish were that it was cramped, strangely busy, and with the exception of the name, all-around unoriginal. We only ordered a large sushi boat, so my knowledge of the menu is limited. However, I would expect a sushi boat to be one of the more representative items of a sushi bar's capabilities. And to be honest, it was not that great. Pretty much the same sushi I buy at my Whole Foods down the street, just neatly arranged in a neat wooden boat. Beyond the sushi, which already meant I was never coming back, the service was very underwhelming. When we got our boat, we had to shuffle around all the items on our table in order to fit it while our waiter continued to slowly lower the boat. After it was finally set, she did not give any explanation of which types of rolls were which, and simply walked away. I did not feel welcome or cared for during my meal as well. Simply mediocre, Thelonious Monkfish is just another hip Cambridge restaurant not worth your time.
(2)Tiana M.
The fried rice and ramen are delicious. This place is very tiny but cozy. I wouldn't come here with a big crowd though I have seen them make considerable accommodations for large groups.
(4)Annabelle L.
Came here on a Saturday night with my best friend. Was told there would be about a 15-20 minute wait, but we were seated in about 5 minutes (woo). The place is very popular, so yes, seating was a bit tight, but I didn't mind because the food was awesome! We split the Lover Man Maki roll (can't go wrong with salmon and eel!) and the crispy duck florentine noodles. The roll was excellent, generous with the salmon and eel. The noodles were amazing!!! We both love duck, and it was soooo crispy. Before ordering, we found out from the waiter that the sauce would be hoisin based and we were a little hesitant about the hoisin overpowering everything, but the sauce was perfect. Subtle, yet flavorful. Bean sprouts and slice of gai-lan/chinese broccoli (which they call chinese kale) were mixed in through out and they added a nice crunch to the whole dish. Overall, the meal was so delicious, so definitely come!
(4)Jared G.
Ate here once. Food was good. Had water to drink. Tasted odd. Found out after downing a glass that they mix all kinds of fruit into their water, including strawberries. I have a strawberry allergy. Who puts strawberries into their water? What else in this place might have unexpected strawberries? The crab rangoon? The tuna rolls? The bread? It's a slippery strawberry slope. Haven't been back since.
(2)S. C.
I Have never reviewed a place before but Thank to my experience in this place I am about to do so. So I Have been in that place twice. The first Time was ok but today was the worse experience I ever had in a restaurant. I called them to make a sushi order but since I didn't Have access to the menu and knew what I wanted inside, I was expecting a little help from the person who answered. I guess this person was not in the mood for that but tried. He Gave me 3 choices and as far as I understood it (for me) I took the second choice. However he understood something else which I found out when I arrived to pick my order. A misunderstanding can easily happen on the phone and I totally understand that. So I kindly asked If they Could do something about it ( change it, or a discount....). A yes or no with a short and polite explanation would have been fine . But instead of that I have been told by the person Who took my order that " I should pay for this or leave! ..." So ÃŽ asked the young lady in the front desk and the guy from the phone If it was nornal to talk to clients like that. I got a "yes" from the lady and a " ÃŽ am not talking to you anymore" from the Guy! You should Have had a menu! ... Like If They didn't even Care! All this because I asked If they Could do something about it?! I really felt insulted and humiliated! Anyway, I didn't want to argue, ÃŽ paid my diner because I had a long day but I am sure that not how You treat people/ client even If they are making a small order!! This was rude, ÃŽ even didn't fill like eating after that and I am sure I an not and won't be the last person Have such experience there. So my point Is that life Is not only about making money, the businesses that last long are the one taking Care of their every single clients! So if You go there, be in a very good, and patient mood. Don't expect too much regarding the service! Otherwise the sushi I Have tested were very good.
(1)Jolene S.
They offer lots of options and if you go at an "off" time like 3:45pm on a Saturday with a large party, I have found them ultra accommodating. Excellent service, tasty specials--all around a great place to accumulate good sit-down meal experiences. Liked the Frankie + Johnny and scallop special. Good selection of teas (by the pot) too. Pulled off a nice birthday surprise (fried dough encapsulating green tea and red bean ice cream!)--and I like their reservation system.
(4)Cristina R.
What a weird name for a restaurant. Where did they get that from? Well now that I know a bit of background, I get it. Allow me to enlighten you... According to the ever-trusty Wikipedia, Thelonious Monk was "an American jazz pianist and composer, considered one of the giants of American music." Thelonious Monkfish ("M-fish" henceforth) is an Asian fusion restaurant (sushi, rice dishes, sake cocktails, noodles, oh my!) in Central Square, considered a solid place for small parties (Seriously small. Like 2 people.) to snag some grub. "Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire." M-fish has unique food offerings, from fairy tale-perfect sushi rolls enveloping ripe strawberry, pineapple, or mango pieces to coconutty fries served with crave-worthy curry sauce, which make numerous contributions to customers' enjoyment of their meals. "His compositions and improvisations are full of dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists, and are consistent with Monk's unorthodox approach to the piano." M-fish's small space is full of cramped 2-person tables and a few larger seating areas in which patrons remove their shoes, and is consistent with its unorthodox approach to the dining experience. With these tables always full and practically on top of one other, you will probably have to wait to sit, and once you do, you'll get the opportunity to enjoy some great butt-scooting action past your face during your meal. "While the other musicians in the band continued playing, he would stop, stand up from the keyboard and dance for a few moments before returning to the piano." While other restaurants continue to serve classic, predictable fare, M-fish will make you stop and appreciate the unusual. One taste may even cause you to get up and dance (if only there were more room in the restaurant to do so!).
(4)Mel C.
I always thought it was funny when I went into Thelonius Monkfish to pick up my take out order, only to see dining patrons dressed up all fancy. I think this restaurant struggles with an identity crisis. It wants to be that nice date night or big group out spot, but the food doesn't reflect that at all. There are many many Thai places in Central Square, Pepper Sky being one of the better ones. Adding strawberries to your sushi doesn't make your restaurant hip. It makes the sushi pretty off putting. They have a wider variety of fusion Thai food which makes it somewhat a better option than Pepper Sky, but if you're looking for a Pad Thai or Fried Rice look elsewhere. The things to order here are the non-fusion sushi options - Coconut Curry fries, Fried calamari, Pig's Tears.
(3)Kim A.
This is located in central sq and it's always busy!! There is only street parking so taking the T may be less adventurous! I love their cranberry chicken!! We've had a few dishes and the sushi and have always been pleased. Not the best sushi I've ever had but it's always been decent. They are a little on the pricey side.
(4)Andrew Q.
Why is nobody else commenting on the fact that Thelonious Monkfish has a FANTASTIC name? Seriously, that name is way too good for this restaurant. Theolonious Monkfish was packed when my party first arrived, but we were quickly seated anyway. Place is a bit dark and cramped, but not problematically so. Service was attentive. The music's a nice touch, but the restaurant is usually too loud to hear much. The menu is too damn long. Too many opinions can be a problem. Their food, too, is quite average. I was expecting better from their fried rice and their sushi wasn't great either. It occurs to me I might've just ordered wrong, noting that there are so many options, so I might have to try again. At least with Thelonious Monk, you don't have to try. It's all good.
(3)michelle w.
I've never seen pink sushi before. Until now. $14 for the Hello Kitty Maki roll wasn't too bad. I love the mango, lobster, avocado combo. Love the atmosphere. Crowded, but a very nice place
(4)Audrey C.
Actually, pretty solid food! & prices normally somewhere between $11-15 for dinner. Usually I'm wary of fusion places with a million options on their menu, but this place is pretty good. I've never been unhappy with anything I've gotten there, having been there somewhere between 5-10 times. Well, I would just say, the Thai curries are kind of bland/too coconuty. HOWEVER- if you have any secrets to tell, I probably would go elsewhere as the tables are SO ridiculously tight together that you can hear the conversations on your left/right, mere inches away. Like literally, it's hard to leave without your jacket or bag hitting your neighbor's face, or your butt in their face/on top of their table when you're squeezing in/out.
(4)Jake F.
While I don't eat inside the actual restaurant too much, thelonious is my go-to takeout spot. Food is always delicious and ready in a pinch. Pretty diverse menu with a variety of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese influence. My favorite is the drunken noodles. If you don't want your mouth scorched just specify that you don't want it too spicy and they are happy to adjust. If dining in, make sure to have a reservation or plan to wait a bit.
(4)Ert D.
The salmon nigiri, miso soup and eel-avo roll were delicious, but the tuna was subpar and the tilapia unpleasantly chewy. I had the brown rice, which was poorly executed with little crunchy uncooked grains in it. There are other, better sushi options in the area.
(3)Addie R.
Whoa! The menu is overwhelming!! Talk about decision fatigue. Truly Asian Fusion. So many sushi options - I was seriously tempted by the fairytale rolls. They also have Sapporo here, as well as a fun selection of cocktails. I ordered the Monkfish Noodles; buckwheat soba noodles with chicken and shrimp, in a coconut sauce, with bell peppers, carrots, onions, other veggies. It was delicious and I loved every bite! Reasonably priced too. Inside, the lighting is dim, but the noise level is medium-high. I would absolutely go back here - lucky for me, this place is just a 5 minute walk from my house.
(4)Jordan K.
A group of 11 of us were here last night for a friend's goodbye dinner. I will start off with the bad and end with the good. The bad: No liquor and rude host. When we first arrived at the restaurant, half of our group was there with the other half coming with the person we were hoping to surprise. The host said that I had to confirm (by having everyone there) the number of people we had. I tried to explain that we were trying to surprise someone and it would ruin the surprise if we were all sitting outside waiting. I was fairly annoyed at this and my annoyance had less to do with their unwillingness to seat us, but the tone he took with me. There could have certainly been a nicer way to go about treating a party of 11 at your restaurant. The second part that bothered me about this place was that they did not have liquor and it didn't say it anywhere (at least that I saw) on their viewable menu online or the website in general. The cocktails, being "sake" cocktails were extremely weak, to say the least. Basically, it was like drinking juice. The good: Food was spectacular! Our group ordered two party boats, a Monkfish Party Boat 2 (sushi, sashimi and rolls) and a Maki Party Boat B (rolls only). The quality of the fish was very good and there was also a decent variety. In the end, this is a restaurant and not a bar so the quality of the food is key and Thelonious definitely had some good food. I am a fan and will be returning again.
(4)Michelle L.
Thelonious Monkfish, a restaurant after my own heart....er, I mean ...Stomach? This restaurant is absolutely amazing. The ambient atmosphere, great working and friendly staff, and the sushi... THE SUSHI is just to die for. Best restaurant in the Central Square area by far. If you're a big sushi fan, I highly recommend the GaGa Monster Roll, and anything from the fairytale roll section on the menu. If sushi isn't really your style, then definitely try the Tori Katsu Don...just amazing. I have never been disappointed with a dining experience here, and the prices are reasonable, too!
(5)Elizabeth S.
I would say the service won my heart when a man came over to my empty table and asked me where I went to school, what I was studying. I just froze since I haven't been in school for awhile and had no idea what he was talking about. A waiter promptly came over to my table and whisked this guy away. So cool! I love puns. All of the specialty sushi rolls are jazzy. BUT my favorite thing of all here, and maybe ever, was the pad thai with bacon. You heard me. I was like, this could either be kind of gross or really awesome. It was SO awesome. Wish I was eating it right now.
(4)Priya G.
So yummy and cute! Love the jazz brunch on Sundays (til 3 pm), make a reservation if you can to be able to have a cool seating experience and to not wait as it is a bit small. Probably my favorite part of this place is the cute atmosphere with the jazzy brunch. We had the coconut curry fries, panang curry, and thai basil tofu (veggie options). The fries were okay, honestly they are just fries with a semi sweet/savory sauce (I added sriracha to the curry sauce to spice it up). The panang curry was pretty good.. I have consistently had a great experience with their curry options. The basil tofu was yummy, its mainly steamed veggies and tofu with some basil.. wish I got it spicy and with extra basil to add more flavor. I think in the past I got the drunken noodles which has been one of my favorites. The menu has a ton of options to choose from and so many awesome vegetarian dishes. They did our substitutions in the curry for free but charged $2 for pineapple which was kind of lame. Our waiter was great last time but could have been better this time. Overall the atmosphere and food makes this place one of my Boston faves :)
(4)Bala B.
Great food. Service was OK but will attribute to a full house at 8pm. I ordered their shrimp drunken noodles and is the best I have eaten!!!
(5)Cherry J.
Despite giving 4 stars I would have love to give 5 stars. I eat here at least once or twice a week at lunch time. Last week I decided that I no longer care for the shrimp and chicken padthai because there was an overload on the nuts. Today my coworker order the same thing and she expressed that it was not fully cooked and left an awful taste. I ordered the Monks Dream Roll and I was so disappointed that the avocado was yellow and bitter. Very disappointed. I think I will take a break from this establishment which I hate to do since I planned a birthday for March 5.
(4)Vivian R.
I have stopped going to any other sushi restaurant in the Boston area because I always crave Thelonious Monkfish. The rolls are creative and delicious (even the vegetarian ones!) and the menu has continued to expand since I first tried it two years ago. The ambiance is great although we often order in as well. Our favorites are the Monk's Dream Roll and the Frankie & Johnny Roll. Food - 5 Décor - 4 Service - 4
(4)Jacqueline D.
Have been here a few times and never let down with quality of sushi. The drink menu is pretty encompassing and the food menu is as well. The tables are pretty packed in and sometimes it feels as if you're eating with the people next to you but it is right in Central Square so crowded isn't surprising. The back has tables and cushions to sit on, looks great for groups. Prices are reasonable for the quality and location. There is a great vibe to the place starting with its awesome name! I highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)Lauren P.
I will definitely be returning to Thelonious Monkfish! I'm confused by how much time I've spent in Central and I never realized this restaurant existed. A friend of mine gave me a $40 Dig coupon for TM before he left the country, so my bf and I used it as part of a thrifty date night. We ordered the spicy white tuna, vegetarian spring rolls (came crispy/fried, which I wasn't prepared for), eel/avocado roll, the "Off-Key Marie" roll, and the Alaskan roll. My bf didn't like the Off-Key Marie very much because they topped it with tobiko. Overall, I thought that all the rolls were really delicious and well-made. I also ordered a glass of wine, and my bf ordered a beer. The two cons to the experience is that the tables inside are REALLY close together. My bf was nice enough to slide between our table and the one beside us to take the bench seat... honestly, I think my butt would have knocked our neighbor's drink on the floor if I'd tried to squeeze through. It wasn't super loud, however, I think because everyone was trying to be respectful of the close quarters. There was outdoor seating as well, which maybe we'll try if it's less muggy out. The second issue was that they had all the tables sharing just a few bottles of soy sauce, which seemed kind of odd... we had to ask for the low sodium soy sauce and halfway through our meal, the waiter took it from our table to give it to someone a few table down. Seeing as the restaurant was packed, you'd think they could invest in a few more bottles! But really...the sushi was good. And I think it may be the only sushi place in Central, so it's worth a visit.
(4)Davy G.
All of the apps are great. Sweet potato applewood bacon croquettes are my go-to. Sushi is fairly good, duck dishes are fantastic, staff is nice. Make sure to get reservations, even for lunch, because this place fills up. Try the Fairy Tale sushi!
(4)Danielle S.
I've been here several times on the weekends with friends and it's always very crowded. Definitely make a reservation in advance. On more than one occasion, I've been forced to wait 20+ minutes even with a reservation, which is extremely agitating. They are not as organized as they should be. The food itself is consistently good, but not great. The sushi is better than most places in the area. The udon soup is also a pleasant surprise (more food than I was expecting when i ordered soup). Stop by if you're in the area, but otherwise it may not be worth the trip.
(3)Dave H.
Best selection and best sushi in Cambridge. Hands down. Nothing more to say. Even for vegetarians!! Try the Alice Coltrane roll!! And the miso soup is exhilaratingly great!
(5)Sam T.
I like this place a lot. Great and kinds staff, good sushi with reasonable prices, fun atmosphere. The place can get crowded easily and the tables are very close to each other, but the ambience is fun. They have boat size sushi with a great price for a group and awesome variety.
(5)Carly H.
Great place in central sq. menu has great variety and everything we ordered was delicious, came out quickly, and hot. Great for a date night. Definitely returning soon!
(4)Ana S.
Let's talk about boats -- boats laden with sushi. That's what I recommend you get at Thelonious Monkfish. These thing are actual small wooden boats (ok fine, I don't know if it's truly seaworthy, but close enough) with between 40 and 100 pieces of sushi on them. OK, so maybe there's a bunch of sushi included that you don't like all that much. Maybe you're there on a date and you don't want to seem like a fatty. Well too bad. The party boat is leaving and you'd better get on board. If it wasn't obvious from my rambling, incoherent discussion of party boats, I'm a bit conflicted about Thelonious Monkfish. Yes, the presentation is great. Yes, it has a fabulously punny name. But the sushi itself is fairly average -- nothing amazing and nothing to complain about. And yet, there's something that the cramped seating and jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none fusion menu leaves wanting. There isn't really a better option in Central, so you'll wind up at the Monkfish sooner or later if you live in the area. Just come for the spectacle of the sushi boat and don't expect to be discovering a local hidden gem just because of the charming name and small footprint.
(3)Alexander L.
Summary: Good ambience, bad food, terrible service. I've been here twice and wanted to wait until my second experience to write a review. I just didn't want to believe the truth. The truth is that Thelonious Monkfish is a restaurant that serves bad food, and wants appear like one that serves good food. The ambience is fun, though. Food: The first warning sign of a bad restaurant is the size of its menu. It's simply not possible that an average size kitchen can adequately stock enough fresh food to prepare nearly 100 different dishes. Well, maybe the Cheesecake Factory can, but this is about 5% the size of the cheesecake factory, with 1% of the distribution system. So you know you're eaten frozen seafood, frozen meat, and otherwise processed foods. The second warning sign of a bad restaurant is dual mandate. Thelonious Monkfish does asian everything and sushi. It's neither Japanese, Thai, Korean or Chinese. It's confused. The reality of a bad restaurant is the quality of its food, and here it's awful. Everything from the Green Papaya salad to the curries tastes like it came from a Mary Chung prepared dinner. The dressing for the Green Papaya salad came from those small packs of sweet and sour Thai dipping sauce. The curry was from a can or powder package. The "dry sukiyaki"? a heap of celery with mushy rice noodles and seafood with freezer burn beyond recognition. I almost threw it up. Service: The front desk service is poor. My first experience I waited for a table with a reservation. When I was finally seated I was stuffed between two other tables of two people leaving no room for conversation or belongings. The second experience I had was equally bad but on the opposite end of the meal. No less than three people tried to bring us our check even though we hadn't been brought dessert menus and hadn't finished our food. I only wish I could have told the people waiting that it wasn't worth their wait. If I lived in Central I would go here in the winter because it's warm, the jazz music is nice, and the food is reasonably priced. If I lived anywhere else in Boston I would stay away, like the plague.
(2)Sam G.
THE place to go for Thai food. They really pack people in, but its a great atmosphere and the food is always, the bomb dot com
(5)Kavya S.
A great go-to restaurant where you are guaranteed to have a good dining experience. I went to Thelonious with one of my best friends after I received a recommendation. I am a huge fan of Asian food, and thus find many Asian restaurants to be about the same "above average" quality. Thelonious largely fits into that category. My friend and I split the green summer rolls for an appetizer, and we both found it to be great! The vegetables were very fresh and the sauce that the rolls came with was very flavorful. For entrees, I ordered the tofu and vegetable stir fry with basil and chili sauce. The entree tasted just like how a good thai dish would taste at any well-done thai restaurant. The flavors were perfect and the tofu was deep fried and dripping with sauce (in a good way!). I felt that the tofu to vegetables ratio was a little off though, with too many vegetables and not enough tofu for my liking. If you are looking for an Asian restaurant that is guaranteed to leave you satisfied, absolutely head over to Thelonious. If you are looking for something a little more adventurous or unique, I would suggest checking out some other place. NOTE: The drink menu also looks great--I definitely want to check it out next time!
(4)Jane C.
Excellent food. Four dinner entres and a sangria (which was great. Would drink that everyday) for $40 is a steal for an upscale sushi place. Sea bass sashimi exceptional.
(5)Christy O.
Great service and great sushi! Went with a group of four so we got a boat of sushi (48 pieces of a variety of rolls). it was So delicious and worth the drive into Cambridge!
(4)G G.
Been here a few times and never that impressed, especially given the high(ish) prices. If you want asian food in central square go to pepper sky, so much better and cheaper.
(2)Jessica S.
Hands down, my favorite place to eat in Central. They have a great selection of food and their sushi is amazing. I've even taken my parents here (and they usually do not care for Asian food), and they loved it! I live right down the street so it's nice to be able to order delivery from them if I don't feel like leaving the house but the atmosphere in the restaurant is cool too. It's very nicely decorated and the waiters are always really nice. Definitely worth a try!
(5)Hubert H.
The sushi here was fine and tasty, but my main complaint is that the rice wasn't done to my specification. It was a tad too grainy, not glutenous enough, and not vinegary enough. Rice is the central ingredient of sushi making, so eateries should take note of that!
(3)Kevin A.
Pros: Huge menu. Great selection. Sushi, fried rice, noodles, other entrees, lots of appetizers, etc. There are usually large portions also. It is also very reasonably priced (you can get a delicious entree for like $12) Cons: Big menu but nothing seems to shine out as being super amazing. Also, it is a bit cramped inside, so you'll hear a lot of your neighbors conversations.
(4)Jen M.
Last night was the first time I ate at Thelonius Monkfish. My dinner was OK. Veggie pot stickers were gross. Two rolls (crazy and some other roll) were good. The overall experience wasn't terrible until it came time to pay the bill. The waiter hovered over us as we filled in the tip amount and within 5 minutes of us paying the bill, we were asked to leave because they needed our table. This is so, so rude!!! I was shocked, as was the table of ladies next to us. To the owners of Thelonius Monkfish- asking patrons to leave right after they pay their bill is a terrible practice! Not to mention just plain classless and you should consider the impression this gives. My friends and I were there for only a matter of an hour and a half. Our bill was $85 and we left 20%. I can understand if we were hanging out for over an hour, but 5 minutes??? Other thoughts: - the restaurant is too small for what they are trying to accomplish. They clearly overbook and their tables are squished together so people can't even get out when they are done without disrupting the neighboring diners. -The food is over-priced. If they want to charge the same prices as a more upscale place, then customers should be treated in a more upscale manner. There are too many other options in Boston. I won't be back.
(1)Cassy H.
I have doubts when it comes to Asian fusion sushi places... so I wasn't sure if I would like this place. However, overall, I think this place was a-okay and turned out to be better than I expected. I ordered a spider roll, which was a decently sized roll. Overall, solid tasting, but nothing super amazing. Also ordered miso soup, which was solid as well but not amazing. The only thing that tasted weird was the water... I realize it seems rather silly to review my water drinking experience, but really.. it's not good. I enjoy water with lemon, but then water with lemon, grapefruit, and cucumber? Eh, you think it would taste good, but it just taste bad. So, ask for regular water when you go.
(3)Xenia A.
The fairy tale sushi rolls are delicious and so beautiful to look at, too! If I come here, it's for the amazing sushi, but they also have a pretty diverse menu for any other Japanese, Thai, or Viet dishes that you might want. Only thing is that it really pays to have a reservation - it can get pretty hectic in the evenings.
(5)Susan C.
Went to TM for dinner with my sister last night, and this place is an all around win. Service is friendly and attentive, food is good, and great value. For an app, 2 entrees and an iced tea it was only $46, and that was including tip and with leftovers for a round 2! We ordered the spicy salmon spring roll app, Maki combo 3, and Shrimp and Chicken Pad Thai. The fried spring roll was delicious and I would definitely get it again. Just enough spice to tingle your taste buds. The sushi was fresh and plentiful at 18 pcs. The pad thai lacked something in its flavor, maybe not enough fish sauce, but it was decent. My sister says their thai iced tea is the best she's ever had--good balance on the tea to cream ratio. Dining tip: This place is on the smaller side, and the wait during prime dinner hours may be a while, but my tip is to call 30 minutes ahead of time to put yourself on the waiting list before you arrive and you should be seated quickly when you get there.
(4)Reinne T.
Great sushi and wide selection of choices! Would go again.
(4)Sarah W.
Extensive menu, great food, interesting flavors, and friendly staff. I enjoy going there because you can never get tired of the food -- there's just so much to try! 10,000 bonus points for them because of how they reacted to the following scenario: 7:03 pm: I arrive with my wife for our friend's 30th birthday dinner (reservations for 10 people at 7 pm). 7:04 pm: The wife and I are seated. No one else is there. 7:05 pm: I call my friend. She has just woken up from her post-afternoon-drinking nap. At her home. 30 minutes away. Her two friends are with her. They estimate it'll take until 8 pm for them to get here. She also reveals that four other people aren't coming. 7:06 pm: I call over the waitress and explain the situation: "No party of 10 at 7 pm, but rather party of 6 at 8 pm. Is this even possible?" She would have been well-within her rights to tell us to go jump off a cliff -- this was a Saturday night and they had a line out the door. Instead she told me to give me her number and she'd call us when they had our table ready. We left and went across the street for appetizers at the Dosa Factory while we waited. 8:03 pm: Friend calls and says they're parking. 8:05 pm: Thelonious Monkfish calls and says our table is ready. Amazing.
(4)Matthew B.
This spot is my go to for those I'm-hungry-but-don't-want-to-think moments of the week. I'd love to give them 5 stars for personality alone, but it's a bit misleading to do so. The best part -- The sushi is pretty great. They have some unique options, but all the regulars are on the ball: spider roll, dragon roll, rainbow roll, spicy tuna all to perfection. As others have noted, the specials need an update, but its good stuff. The people -- Staff here are unbelievably good as the small-town feel of service. After my 3rd-or-so time in they got my name down, by the 5th they knew my girlfriend. At that point it was sold and planned to go back as long as the food hit the spot. The worst part -- I've been frustrated on a few Th-Sat nights when a reservation was made and the seat wasn't ready for 30-45 minutes later. Either don't take reservations or keep the timing tight. Consistently good -- Beyond the sushi above, check out the Ancient Fried-rice dinner. Marinated duck, bacon and vegetables in incredible fried rice. My mouth is watering just writing it. Consistently bad -- Don't order the ramen. Seriously. I love the owners to keep going back as long as their quality stays high. So while there are a few pitfalls, this spot is my go to without a doubt.
(4)Anonymous A.
I previously left a scathing comment on my experience dealing with the front house manager with my delivery order. Literally within 12 hours, the owner messaged and apologized for the staff''s behavior and said he is working on rectifying the contributing factor to my complaint. I am really touched by his attention to making sure people leave his restaurant happy and wanted to share that with you all.
(4)Pivbo H.
Yelp Hassle: I drank a Sapporo from a giant 24 oz metal coffee mug. Super pro. The doors to the bathroom slide open, which is also very pro. Here is the chillest part: you can totally get the bathroom door to stay open like 2 inches even when it's "locked" with the door chain. I am a reverse pervert so rather than try to watch people pee, I use this opportunity to tantalize others with the prospect of me possibly peeing, visibly, through the crack, for all time. You can pay with bitcoin, which is why I flew out here from San Francisco. All of my money is locked into bitcoins because my roommate was the secret Silk Road guy and now I just live "off the grid" and can only eat at 2 restaurants in the U.S.A. One of them is the "bad" Chipotle on Market St. This is not a joke. I also tipped the waitress with MDMA which is also a form of bitcoin, and she was totally fine with it after I explained that it wasn't just a big chunk of salt. Here's the only weird part: the menu has this weird see-through font in addition to the menu text (which is normal, black Garamond, size 14) that says "Pleasure and Pain: UNIFIED" in sizes ranging from 12 to 36. What could this possibly mean?
(4)arijit c.
The menu is large, the portions (for sushi) are shockingly small, and the food is nothing special. Go if you absolutely must have jazz with your sushi
(2)Paige C.
jazz themed asian food? sushi, thai, tapas, oh my! check it out and judge. It's like someone came up with a great name for a restaurant with seafood and jazz, and then didn't really think much beyond that... Would I ever come here again? Probably not. Food is pricey. Sushi is average. I ordered the beef panang, and it was good, but very sugary and watery. I tried my friend's scallops and noodles--also sugary. Sweet potato and bacon croquettes--not bacony enough. I will say though, the menu is HUGE. Truly asian fusion. But with such a huge menu comes a lot of average things instead of a few amazing things. I guess I just prefer unfused Asian food. The decor and atmosphere is cozy and busy. Cocktail menu looked nice, but I did not partake. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly, and hey, they do some serious take-out. They have sushi boats: like an actual boat, like that you could float on.
(3)Sabrina M.
Trendy, superb service, lightning-fast kitchen, scrumptious food. I ordered the mango fried rice with shrimp and wouldn't hesitate to order the same dish again. It's a great place to have an upbeat conversation with a friend : )
(5)Qian L.
One of the best restaurants in town. I world recommend to everyone. They are known for their sushi and noodle dishes, I'd say. Their sushi that I've tried was amazing. The ones I haven't tried looked great as well. The lychee lullaby drink is absolutely fantastic! It's best to make a reservation ahead of time. But you can get away with it on a snowing/raining/slushing night before the college semester starts.
(5)Ha L.
Amazing amazing amazing! I have been to Thelonious Monkfish twice now, and both experiences were wonderful! When my friend recommended Thelonious to me, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. I usually find that fusion restaurants often do not get their flavors right, and everything tastes a bit bland. However, I was pleasantly surprised my first time at Thelonious! My friend and I ordered their Green Summer Rolls + Avocado, and it was delicious! For the entrees I got the Tom Yum Fried Rice, and she got the Tofu + Vegetable Stir Fry with Basil and Chili Sauce. What I found upon the first bite was that all of the flavors were ON POINT. The thai food at Thelonious is better than most thai places I've been to, and I'd say the same about the sushi. All of the ingredients taste very fresh, and it seems like the chefs put a lot of thought into each dish. I can't wait to come back here again :)
(5)r n.
My absolute favorite Japanese place in the greater Boston area. They also do amazing Thai. Everytime we go, we treat ourselves to Lover Man roll! Crispy Chicken Pad Thai is TO DYE FOR. Also, if they have the Spicy Miso Seafood Noodle Bowl, you have to get it! The place is so pretty and tasteful, the food so well executed, and the staff is a solid team and a well oiled machine. Go to this place, it will not disappoint.
(5)Hannah R.
This place is classy and fresh. What more can be said? Ok, ok, I'll make an effort. Rolls-wise, I think this is the most unique menu in town. It can run a little high, but it's worth it to eat something like their Holly and Ivy special, which involves lobster, mango, tuna, salmon, seaweed salad, and tobiko. Seriously? Those are all the best things in one thing! Their cocktails are pretty good too, and I'm frequently surprised by the prices on these--only $5 or $6 for the specialty dranks. It's a packed little place, and it can be hard to get a hold of the wait staff. On Sundays there is live jazz! There is cheaper sushi in the Boston metro area, but for a nice sit-down dinner, this place is the spot.
(4)Laura S.
Went late on a Sunday, had to wait a long time to sit down, and we had called ahead! Also wouldn't seat my party because I was 5 minutes away and not in the building yet...so we had to wait even longer and ended up shoved at the bar counter. This would have been fine because the sushi is made right in front of you...but that means waiters and front of house staff are constantly reaching over you to grab the sushi. That's why they lost stars from me. On the flip side, the food was great. I had some wonton soup that had the most amazing broth I've ever tasted. The sushi was delicious and fresh and reasonably priced. It's closer to me than my favorite sushi place and will do in a pinch.
(3)Nef P.
Visit Wednesday 8:30p The space is cute, but long and narrow; expect to bump elbows a few times with your neighbor if it is full. However, the wait was short for our party of two which may have just been a coincidence (I suggest going in a group of 4 or less though based on the sized of the space/table arrangement). We ordered the Tortillas Peking Duck as our appetizer, then Off-Key Marie Roll, Red Riding Hood Roll, Sleeping Beauty Roll, Rumpelstillskin Roll, and the Duck Young Cocunt Meat for our main course. The Tortillas Peking Duck was pleasant but the dipping sauce definitely held the dish together but overall not too bad. Most of the rolls we ordered had fruit in them or strayed away from typical dishes (after reviewing the menu I thought it would be fun to explore their specialty rolls). The appearance of the dishes wasn't as whimsical as the names and "stories" suggested but overall not bad, but not great. They seemed to have a few issues with mixing up orders at our table and the table next to ours (I believe they forgot to put in our Duck Young Coconut order) but it seemed like it was the end of the night and they simply made a few mistakes. I will definitely go back and order other dishes/rolls. I do recommend visiting if you haven't been though. Not a lot of places have creative rolls like this place does (or as wide a selection!). Also started to empty around 9p so if you don't mind a late dinner perhaps arriving by 8:30 wouldn't be a bad idea. I'll give them an extra star because of the creativity and thought they put behind their sushi rolls.
(4)Johnny Q.
came here for the first time. tried Spicy Pork Miso Ramen which was good but not spicy at all by my standards, even though it was the spiciest option on the menu. we also had a variety of maki rolls which were very good. the service was excellent. I would like to come back and try more things on the menu.
(3)Alison B.
We've been here several times and have enjoyed everything we've tried. The vegetarian section on the menu isn't huge, but there are actually tons of veggie choices including sushi, and many dishes can be ordered vegan. Standouts are veggie potstickers, chilled soba noodles, and Alice Coltrane roll. The tables are packed in tight and it's pretty loud, so perhaps not for everyone.
(4)Kim K.
Decent food, great sushi. Service is a little sporadic. Dining room is cozy and inviting. Prices are alright. I feel entirely neutral about this place - nothing amazing, nothing terrible. Not sure how quick I would be to return. Also, it took over 3 weeks for our dinner to be charged to our debit card. WTF. I'm taking off another star just for that.
(2)Terra L.
Very crowded which is typically a good sign in my opinion, a group of us dined here Friday night at about 7:30pm this place was packed! The menu was a bit overwhelming with lots of options however I found it refreshing that a place this quaint was so diverse in the food options. Lots of sushi options, seafood, along with other meets and veggie friendly. I ordered pad thai which was pretty good and the harlem roll! Pretty fresh and tasty too! I liked the trendy vibe...shoulder to shoulder with all types of people ...small but cute! Ill be back!
(4)Elektra A.
Ate here with a friend two weekends ago. Overall experience was satisfactory. I ordered the chirashi bowl, we shared the brussels sprouts, and my friend had the Nature Boy Roll and Alaskan Roll. While food was decent, I was disappointed with the service. Our server was very difficult to understand and not clear about order changes, etc. My friend is gf, which I know can be difficult to handle at a restaurant, but at one point when she ordered a different roll our server just never brought it. Turns out it couldn't be made gluten-free. That's fine, but he never communicated that to us so we never knew until much later into our meal. My Chirashi bowl was decent - a bit on the smaller size for the price. Fish was good but the slices were very big for sashimi. I'd eat here again if someone really wanted to, but this will not be my go-to sushi place. Too bad, it's got a great name.
(3)Miss M.
I have had better. Overpriced for the quality and quantity. -Flamboyant host was snotty -Seating is TOO crowded for comfort -Seaweed salad was okay, just tasted like slimy wet dog from time to time -Ordered small plate of creepy fried chicken which was supposed to come with a dipping sauce and never did...didn't finish it...didn't go well with soy sauce...didn't even think it was chicken....I don't think fried chicken is supposed to have spots... -Ordered 1 Alaskan --old spotted avocado; 1 Spicy Tuna; 1 Sweet Potato maki...all sloppy, not fresh, and made me nauseous that I begged my boyfriend to finish the rest instead of the courteous "no please, you have the last piece (but I wouldn't mind having it)". -Sticky Tables -Loud Now, I'm trying to be fair, it's central square and it's a busy small place...with nice decor I suppose. There were 2 Japanese style seating areas for larger parties...but I think that section could have been more closed off towards the back for more privacy like other Japanese restaurants do. -Nice waitress I've worked at many restaurants, crappy, fair, and upscale, and tried my best, and had my crap days, the food business it hard, but you always have to try and keep on your feet. I'm just keeping it real. When the bill came, was not worth it. The food was not up to par. Disappointed, not good. Do not be fooled by the nice sign outside
(1)Te R.
there are many reasons to love thelonius monkfish. most of the food here are thai-influenced but got extended further by the western taste without americanizing. chef ginger did a very good job creating true asian fusion. everything on the menu is very different from what you would expect from an asian restaurant. every dish we ordered was delicious and beautifully plated. we loved them so much we asked them to cater for our wedding. we kept getting compliments on the food from our guests. they also have sunday brunch with a live jazz band. and the line is not as crazy as your typical brunch places. highly recommended! dates, sunday brunch, after work dinner, or even wedding!
(5)Karen D.
Fun name, very fun menu! Some reliable standard dishes for comfort, and a lot of really interesting twists, like the Fig Jam Fried Rice (which was amazing). The menu can be a bit overwhelming, but I love the whimsy in it. Restaurant is small and a bit crowded, but service was reasonably good and prices were reasonable as well.
(4)Jon S.
Came here with a couple friends and we were seated at the elevated tables that required us to sit cross-legged on some cushions... It's practically summer time, I was wearing boat shoes (sans socks) and my feet wreaked... Good thing I wasn't on a date! Smells aside, wasn't thrilled about the seating situation. I prefer chairs, and I'm not sure why they don't just convert these tables to normal seating. Not only would it be more comfortable, but also probably more sanitary. My friend and I split Sushi Combo 3 and the Frog Prince roll. Initially, we were handed the take out menu which we were told was identical to the regular menu. Sure, the listing of ingredients are the same, but the clever anecdotes about the rolls were absent, so we asked for a real menu. My personal favorite: the Gaga roll = the same as the Madonna roll except we don't use old fish. The combo was good and included 3 rolls for $19. Not a bad deal. The fish tasted fresh, the rolls were standard sized. The Frog Prince roll was $15 alone, and, in my opinion wasn't worth it. Sure, they use some non-standard ingredients (like mango) to entice you, but the roll was small. No larger than one of three rolls I received for almost the same price. It's nice to read the cute stories in the menu re: the fairy tale rolls, but save yourself some money and skip them. Definitely not a bad place for sushi, can't comment on the other stuff, but they do have a pretty extensive menu.
(3)Amy K.
Definitely coming back, if in the area. Coconut Curry Fries - definitely ordering these again... the accompanying sauce was great! Vegetarian Spring Rolls - good, solid, but may try something else next time, especially given the extensive menu Scorpion Roll - eight pieces, great balance in flavors
(4)Ariel A.
I've been here a few times. The food is very tasty but pricey. The seating is terrible! If I am going to pay this much to eat, I want to be comfortable and not squished into a restaurant like a sardine. I do not recommend for a romantic date! It's too noisy and uncomfortable for romance.
(3)Jean Anne C.
I've been here multiple times and have never been disappointed. Good portions and prices, and the dishes are very flavorful. Especially like the Brussels sprouts side dish, and the soba noodles. Sushi boats are great for larger parties. I like their small touches like strawberry and cucumber infused in their water.
(5)Erica W.
Holy moly WOW. I was given a list of places to choose from for dinner and I figured why not give this place a try. With a 3.5 overall yelp rating, figured it couldnt be too bad. Okay a) 3.5 stars is bs. This place deserves 5 stars and then some. I never understood how people could have such high opinions of a sushi place - I mean sushi is sushi. And then I came here. Okay lets discuss what our party got: Spicy Duck Salad - The duck was cooked PERFECTLY! I mean truly amazing. And the flavors were out of this world. I will come back solely for this dish. Frankie & Johhny Roll - sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, avocado, wrapped in Nori with rice and bllack and white sesame. UNREAL. Truly the best vegetable sushi I've ever had. Crouching Tiger Roll - mouthwatering. Crab Rangoon - incredible. Chicken Panang - We asked for it super spicy and boy did they deliver!! Was incredibly spicy and incredibly good. Its been a few days and we are still talking about that meal. GO GO GO GO GO.
(5)Josh L.
Came here on a random date night. It's pretty easy to pass but I heard a lot of good things about the place which is why I sought it out. Upon entering we were quickly greeted and luckily another couple was leaving so we could get a seat. The waiter gave us a good amount of time to decide but due to the extensive menu we were still not ready. When we finally agreed we ordered the Red Riding Hood Roll, the monk fish maki (I think) and the rainbow roll. I'm not as much an avid eater of sushi as my girlfriend but I must say that they were all quite delicious. The different textures of the Red Riding Hood roll were an experience for your mouth. This was also the first time I have ever had strawberry with my sushi, so they are very creative with their dishes. Overall I had a great experience here and I would definitely go back. However, one thing I did not like was the close seating, I was literally rubbing elbows with the lady beside me but she left soon after :)
(4)Robo T.
Blown away. Every dish was spectacular. The prices are amazing - especially considering the location, ambiance and quality of the food!! The service was acceptable. The seating is a little snug for us plus size bitches but adequate. The food.... I dont even know where to begin.... the chicken satay is delicious, tender and expertly grilled. The spicy beef and grape salad....OMG... AMAZING. It is marinated beef (sa cha or some kind of shrimp paste?) with green grapes, grape tomatos, mixed greens and chili lime sauce. Its out of this world. The french fries with coconut milk-based curry sauce are delicious. The chicken graprow is top notch....flavorful, spicy and plenty or thai royal basil. The Pig's Tears is out of this world. Its like moo yang or tiger tears/crying tiger - in a delicious nam chim chaeo style sauce. If youre not familiar, its a thai chili / lime / fish sauce / ground roasted sticky rice concoction of orgasmic bliss. Forget the pig's tears, *I* was practically crying in euphoria. Highly recommended! I mean........er....... dont go here. Stay away. I dont want to ever have to wait for a seat!
(5)Alex L.
Well it's about time we reviewed this place. Being our favorite restaurant in ALL of Boston/Cambridge/that whole area, of course Thelonious is going to get five stars. I can't tell you how many times I've been here, at least 30 by now probably. All of their dishes have this subtle signature flavor to them that guarantees that anything you get will be great, so it is one of the places where I feel comfortable being adventurous trying different items on the menu. And 80% of the time I come here, I try something different, and it has almost always been great. The only bad experiences I've had were once with the drunken noodles (way too spicy and I ordered mild, and there were almost no noodles), and the ramen (it wasn't real ramen and the soup was sugary and just bad). They might have changed it since 2012 though, because I saw another party eating the ramen recently and it looked like real ramen this time. Not sure what else I can add, having a restaurant be my favorite is already a huge deal! This is my go to place whenever I have guests over, and it is always a success.
(5)Kate S.
Great sushi place. As someone who is a vegetarian but greatly enjoys sushi I have never had such fantastic options. Service was great as well!
(4)Christophe V.
Good sushi, nice atmosphere. Restaurant is small and crowded, but the staff are friendly and I like it better then Yoki across the street.
(4)Stefanie J.
Good, reliable choice for eating in or take-out. I'm from California, so I'm generally used to much better sushi, but this is one of the better places in the area. The menu has a lot of options (something for everyone) and the quality is pretty consistent. If you're eating in, the place has a good vibe. Try to reserve a table, though, because it's a pretty small place.
(4)Lily S.
Thanks to Jamme's attention and professional attitude, I finally made my way back to TM this past weekend. Sorry it took so long but I prefer my side of the river ;) I digress. 180 on the experience. Since I was running the show this time, I had the good sense to make reservations and we had no problem being sat immediately after checking in. I also noticed the new curtain over the door. Great addition as we were sitting by the entrance and it definitely helped w the draft! Highlight: red riding hood roll. Strawberries on it?! Say what?! Yummmm Sleeping beauty roll was the bomb too. Mango? Yes please! Very creative use of flavors and the soy paper instead of nori is a lovely touch! Frog prince roll--yum. Volcano -- always a crowd pleaser--warm and savory. Frankie and Johnny roll- great bang for your buck. Sweet and good for desert. The only one I don't have much to say for is the mad monk maki...but let's be clear, we emptied the plates. So it wasn't that bad. Obviously my partner had just done a poor job ordering last time. What a shame. Bonus points for Pomelo sav blanc.
(4)Veronica D.
My friends and I were on a mission to eat ramen. I had been searching for a location to fill my need for a warm filling soup, that would be both healthy and filling. This place hit the spot. We walked in (party of 4) and were promptly seated. The waitress was attentive and answered our questions as well as brought us out or water/drinks. Next up we ordered two orders of the lobster roll and a garden salad along with an eel roll. The sushi was delicious, fresh, and came out quickly. The portion was perfect. For our entrees we ordered 3 separate ramen noodle bowls. I got the wanton soup, my two other friends got the beef soup and the seafood soup. I can't recall the exact names. We were all IMPRESSED! The food was hot, flavorful, fresh, and just all around stellar. I can not say enough about it. This place is a gem. The 4th individual in our party ordered the duck which came with a side of sweet potato mash. He was raving about the duck, explained that it was perfectly cooked and had a crunch to the exterior. On the way out we explained to the waitstaff in front that we were so impressed and that it was our first time there. They were pleasant and answered our questions. What a great find and a must try. You won't be sorry.
(5)Marko C.
BAD! Really BAD! It was my last day in Boston and I needed to grab a quick lunch before heading to the airport. I thought I'd try the Thelonious Monkfish restaurant because I loved the catchy name and the restaurant actually looked pretty fun. Dissapointed. For appetizers, I had the Crispy Duck Springrolls. First, the spring rolls weren't spring rolls - they were deep fried egg rolls. The rolls were stuffed with pieces of duck that were tough, dry, and really really difficult to chew. I kept on thinking to myself that it was made of old food that they didn't sell the night before. It was served with a tamirind soy sauce that made it a bit easier to eat. Grade: D-. For my main meal, I had the Asian Yellow Curry Noodles. This dish was prepared with a yellow curry (Thai influenced) with coconut milk. The soup was actually very tasty, but I realized about 30 minutes into the meal why - M.S.G. It was like a Coconut curry soup. To make things worse, the dish was served with angel hair pasta and cooked bean sprouts, and topped with deep fried crispy wonton strips. At first, I thought I should take off all the fried wonton strips, but decided to mix it into the noodle bowl. Mistake. The wonton strips actually didn't get mush - they got leathery. The wontons trips were soggy and difficulty to eat. I ended up taking a few bites of my meal and leaving the rest to throw away. It was bad and I walked away hungry. Grade: D- My biggest problem with the food here is the levels of MSG. I actually had the MSG shakes for 1-2 hours after leaving this place. Bad quality food preparation, and the MSG shakes equal a 1 star review.
(1)Kacey B.
I came here with a friend for an afternoon lunch and will return again soon, especially for the live music. The food was delicious (she had noodles and I had sushi) and service was friendly and attentive, even when it got busy. Atmosphere was very comfortable and I enjoyed the decor.
(4)Xin Z.
Nice environment and table settings. Food is good but nothing impressive.
(3)Rachel C.
I'm so glad I finally got to check this place out! I had purchased a deck of City Dining Cards ( citydiningcards.com ) for my boyfriend for Christmas as a way of getting us to branch out and try new restaurants. Understanding that he wasn't a fan of seafood, I knew there were a few cards in the deck we probably weren't going to be using together. Thelonious Monkfish was one of those cards. But, I had some friends who are big fans of this place and are moving across the country soon, convince him that he would find something to eat and help me pig out on sushi! For $102, we had an order of cranberry crab rangoon, an order of avocado salad, the Rumpelstiltskin, the Frog Prince, two Alice Coltranes, a crazy maki, the cranberry chicken teriyaki (with the most amazing Chinese kale and truffle oil mashed sweet potatoes you can imagine), two Sierra Nevada's, and a carafe of warm sake. In other words, we FEASTED for less than $25 each after using the $10 off card. Service was alright, not too attentive, but not neglectful. Our glasses were always full of cucumber and melon water, which was delightful! My only wish was that they could time the dishes so that the sushi came out closer to when my boyfriend's chicken dish came out. But other than that everything was amazing! Maybe not the best sushi I've ever had, but pretty damn good! Especially the creative rolls! I will definitely be back, and maybe even skip the sushi in favor of that chicken dish! And THAT is saying a lot!
(4)Laura B.
Wild sushi offerings that mostly work, combined with level-headed pricing. Take note of the "Fairy Tale Sushi" section of the menu. A busy, noisy place with serene and attentive servers.
(4)Jacqueline J.
I have been here twice and I loved the food both times. Good drink selection and delicious sushi! It can crowded in the evening and the last time that I went, the host passed over us and gave our table to another group. We had to wait another 10 mins (after already waiting 45), but apart from that the service was good. I would reccomend trying to not go peak hours to avoid the wait, but if you can't help it, but your name in and go grab a drink at Brick and Mortar across the street!
(4)Luci N.
This place is delicious every single dish I tried so far is yummy my favorite is the grilled beef panang curry and their appetizers anything with spicy mayo is delicious! Must go!
(5)Andrew L.
The sushi is average, but the fried rice is very good with generous portions. Some of the most interesting fried rice preparations I've ever had. Cool seating but a little cramped.
(4)Jing T.
I've eaten here twice now and definitely wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other. The decor is nice looking for a first date but it is also budget friendly. Last but not least, the food is delicious. Monkfish Medley is one of my fav dishes.
(4)Joshua G.
I always want a martini when I step in here. I think its the chill 60s accidental hipster vibe. Every day has a hard bop soundtrack. I think they have a band with brunch (yes, Thai brunch!) and the wait staff is running around with cute matching outfits. If you see a tall blonde haired man bouncing around, he's Jamme, a co-owner. The restaurant is born from his love for Thai food and culture. He's absolutely charming and has a delightful sense of humor so ask him about his creative sushi rolls. Every one has a story. I lived in the area for 2 years and would come here or order delivery regularly. I'd get Panang Chicken with NO CARROTS! Seriously, who puts carrots or baby corns in Thai food? I hate that stuff! Anyhow. The Panang is my comfort food. I also recommend trying the bacon pad Thai and anything with duck and curry. The duck might be a bit fatty for preference but if you're like me, duck fat is beautiful so... YOLO! Full disclosure: I made the promo video for this restaurant. Check it out, above. Check out that sushi chef!
(5)M L.
Had high hopes for Thelonious after seeing pictures of all of the dishes on Yelp and walking past the restaurant several time. Honestly, I thought it was a let down. For an appetizer, we split the wok-charred bok choy with balsamic glaze and onion. There was nothing charred about the bok choy and it definitely wasn't glazed. What we had instead was several pieces of limp bok choy in a balsamic sauce. Major letdown #1. For my main, I went for the tom yum seafood noodle soup. The broth was great - really sweet and sour in flavor. However there was barely any seafood or vegetables even! I think I had two pieces of shrimp, one scallop, a super small and thin slice of fish cake, and a couple pieces of green. What I basically received was a bowl of noodles with lots of peanuts and fried wonton strips. Seriously?! For half the price, I could've gone to Pho Pasteur or anywhere in Chinatown and received a soup with more seafood and a price tag half as high. Letdown #2. The other two I was with ordered the spicy miso seafood soup and the crispy duck noodles. Miso seafood soup had nice flavor, and his bowl seemed to also be lacking on seafood, but at least had a spoon of corn. Duck noodles was mostly noodles with a few pieces of fried duck, but mostly just bone. You'd expect more. Overall, I don't think I'd come back here unless there was some sort of deal or someone else was paying the bill. Too many places in Central where you can do better.
(2)Maria R.
This place has good shushi, but I haven't really enjoyed the rest of the dishes. Also gets pretty overcrowded.
(3)Kevin G.
The atmosphere was casual, energetic and overall pretty good. The sushi, however, was on par with delivery/ seamless sushi. In other words, it was not awful, but was not particularly fresh or tasty. The rolls were fairly uninspired (or overinspired depending on your perspective). It almost feels like they are trying to compensate for the quality of the fish by making rolls that were as complicated as possible. I am usually skeptical of an asian fusion since they are typically a hodgepodge of mediocre asian cuisines. My experience here reinforced that notion.
(2)Shaina P.
Beer. wine. sake. Now.
(4)Christopher C.
Sushi here is delicious - great party boats and I wasn't disappointed when I tried some of their fairy tale roles. I was hesitant at first because one was called Red Riding Hood - it had spicy tuna and shrimp tempura topped with strawberries - but it was excellent. Only downside to this restaurant is that it's quite small and I wasn't too fond of the curtain hanging by the entrance door (just weird). Also, there's a cool place to sit and eat on comfortable cushions in the back of the restaurant. I'd say the food is adequately priced starting to get on the expensive side, but the food is great here. If you're looking for sushi in central square, this is your place.
(4)Jingni W.
Had the tom yum seafood fried rice for lunch! It was delicious, loaded with plenty of seafood. Will come back here again!
(4)Christina C.
Great food, lively atmosphere, just extremely busy and can feel rushed. I was lucky to get in here by 6 pm , otherwise my friend and I would have had to join the long line that's always outside this restaurant even on weekdays before Friday. We sat near the front and it felt crowded with all the 2-person tables beside us, but I guess the restaurant is maximizing its space utilization to get more people in. Only gripe about the seating was it was somewhat near the door and the cold air drafting in every time new people came in was bothersome. The fried rice dishes came highly recommended from friends who live in Central Square. All the fried rice items looked awesome (along with all the steaming dishes waiters were hurrying to tables around us) and I asked the waitress to help me choose between 3 (monkfish fried rice, chicken teriyaki fried rice, ancient fried rice) and the answer was immediate. Ancient fried rice for sure. Not sure what exactly makes it "ancient" - I had expected something like preserved egg or whatever to be an ingredient, but it was just duck and bacon. I didn't regret the choice. The food came pretty fast and the portion size was generous. Tasted great. My friend got some kind of 6 piece sushi. Nothing to rave about but she wasn't particularly hungry. The aforementioned friends in Central are always getting take-out from here so I think I'll be trying this restaurant more often in the future. The rest of the fried rice items and maybe some of the sushi. Discerning menu browsers might notice that the sushi rolls all have some wacky story behind them. Not sure if that makes them any better-tasting, but I appreciate the inventiveness. Caveats are just to make reservations and to try to sit away from the door!
(4)Rebekah P.
Nice place! Small cosy atmosphere and my friends and I were sitting in the traditional seat in the back where you take off your shows! Miso soup was alright, but I loved my sushi that I ordered- crazy roll and spicy tuna! My friends ordered many different dishes- soups, rices, noodle dishes and everyone really enjoyed their meals!
(4)Michelle L.
The new birthday location for my friends... Thelonius Monkfish serves great sake for sake/beer (in the many variants of imbibing the two liquids together). They have a 80-piece sushi/sashimi boat. It's perfect for a group! The service, while slow on the food order (we did order 160 pieces of sushi.. yes 2 sushi boats), was fantastic in terms of giving us anything and everything we needed. From refilling our drinks promptly to making sure we got candles for the birthday cake we brought in, they were very attentive to our group. The quality of the fish was fine, nothing special, but definitely better than a lot of what is available in the Cambridge/Boston world. Get the sashimi boat. Whatever size you like it.
(4)Celia Z.
5pm. I'm finally done with finals for the next two weeks. First thing I want to go after 3 hours of impossible statistics problems? Gobble up sushi. So we went to Thelonious Monkfish after I had heard through the grapevine how good it was; after endless debate, we ordered the Scorpion Roll (Grilled eel, avocado & tobiko, wrapped in shrimp) and The Snow Queen Roll (Shiitake, apple, cukes & asparagus wrapped in seaweed & rice, draped w/ young coconut meat, drizzled with pineapple mayo, garnished with coconut glakes). For creativity, the menu gets a 10 out of five. Out of all the sushi restaurants I have been to, I have not yet seen anything this creative, in name or in components. Overall thought: the maki was really good , and I would definitely come back...alas the four stars. And now on to criticisms: For the scorpion avocado eel ratio was so wrong not even partial credit is given. As a friend mentioned, the sweetness of the barbeque sauce just melts into the overwhelming avocado. In fact, I was eating sweetened avocado with a slight crunch of the tobiko with shrimp that was a little too tough on the teeth. And the fairy tale roll? A little too sweet. I was looking for a main meal here, not dessert sushi. But if there's a thing as dessert sushi, Thelonious Monkfish has got it down. Besides, the young coconut meat was fresh and simply lovely. The service is quick and friendly. Just the way I like it. Five stars there.
(4)Lucy B.
I went with a friend and we had to wait something like 45 minutes to get a table. My sushi was not very fresh and I actually stopped eating it half way through, which is very unusual for a sushi lover like me! The ambiance was nice and fun, but I was definitely disappointed by the quality of the sushi and would not come back.
(2)CK O.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is just great, and the food will not disappoint. I usually order some kind of curry, and though the price is a bit high, the plates are relatively large and I always come out satisfied. Apparently they also deliver!
(4)Steve F.
I have been to this places twice, and I must say it has some of the best quality seafood I have had in the Boston/Cambridge area. It is located right in Central Square, an easy walk from the T. The place looks new and modern and very clean. Let's start off with the drinks....pretty standard drink menu for an asian fusion place...some specialty cocktails, wine, and a wide array of sake and beer. I tend to be a creature of habit, so I always order the large house warm sake, with a side of sapporro :) No complaints about the drinks. The food is what really seperates this place apart fromt the other asian fushion places in the area. As I stated above, some of the best quality fish I've tasted yet. For my money, try the white tuna appetizer...it simply melts in your mouth! I'va also had the tuna roll...equally as delicious. The thai entree's here are my favorite. I usually stick with the spicy ground chicken thai basil...it is served over rice and is a HUMONGOUS portion...seriously, I can never, ever finish it. I have also had the King Crab fried rice...YUMMY! I only have two negatives about this place. First, the service is pretty slow...the last time I was here, it took us 15 minutes to even get a menu or to have someone take our drink orders...I find this pretty unacceptable. It is also somewhat loud and kind of cramped in this place, with waiters/waitresses walking by all the time. The slow service can be a little annoying, 75% of the restaurant experience is the taste of the food, and you can definitely not go wrong with the taste at Thelonious Monkfish.
(4)Annette A.
This is a great restaurant if you're a fan of Asian food but sick of the same ol' thing. Every item on the menu has some kind of interest twist to it, an interesting spice or creme, and interesting method of cooking... I had trouble deciding what to get. The meal itself was pretty large and quite satisfying. They give you a big portion.
(4)Jason M.
There are two things to note: 1. I am allergic to shellfish, so eating sushi is something of a terrifying task for me. 2. I watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi with the most extreme interest. The thought of an 80 year old Asian man making me sushi warms my heart. Thelonious Monkfish isn't quite up to Jiro's expectations (in fact, he'd hate it), but I really enjoyed it. You're getting some tasty Thai food with some good sushi with cool jazz in the background. The music sets the scene and keeps the joint from feeling too tense. Service is fast because it's always busy. In fact, you'll want reservations. I enjoyed my Cranberry-Teriyaki Chicken with a few pieces of Eric's Philly Roll (and avoiding his Scorpion Roll, which he says is great). Grab a glass of their Iced Ruby Elixir tea. Good stuff. More than anything, I appreciate it when the sushi chef is chugging Red Bull as he crafts tasty little bites of goodness on rice. Jiro would not approve of Red Bull, but I do.
(4)Todd P.
Food here was quite good, which makes the rest of this doubly annoying. Went here for dinner tonight and when the bill arrived, I noticed the prices of the dishes and drinks did not add up to the pre-tax subtotal. It was an overcharge of just 3 cents, but it still seemed very odd to me. After asking to speak to the manager - twice - I was told that "the computer" automatically "rounds up" so that the cents in the final, post-tax bill ended in a 5 or a 0. They've "asked the company" before and don't know how to change it. At that point, I didn't have any great options, so I paid our bill. Still, I wouldn't go back. Having a bill that doesn't add up - even if the difference is only a few pennies - seems particularly deceitful to me.
(1)J C.
I had the ancient fried rice. Overall the dish was pretty standard, but the duck stood out as being well-executed.
(3)Christopher S.
Very good sushi, nice space, good music. If you order one non-sushi item here then get the mushroom ginger soup - it was AMAZING.
(4)Fanya B.
Love this place, from their fun/creative menu options, to the fantastic jazz, to the cucumber fruit water - this place is great. A really lovely restaurant to not only eat some delicious sushi, but to unwind as well. The waiters are accommodating and attentive but not pushy. While some rolls are on a higher price point, you can get an affordable meal if you choose carefully. Also their tofu was perfectly prepared and the sauce it came with was finger-licking good. Fresh, delicious, and fun. An excellent addition to Central Sq.! Plus a place with a pun in its name always makes a little bit more happy.
(5)Amelia M.
The worst thing about Thelonius Monkfish is picking what you'll have to eat... because everything sounds extremely amazing. After being tormented for a long while, I settled on an old standard: tofu pad thai. It certainly didn't disappoint. Yum. Note: This place is a tight squeeze! We made a reservation for a Wednesday night, and I'm awfully glad we did. The place was packed and we were tucked in like sardines. The website makes it easy to book a table, and I'd suggest it.
(4)Qasim R.
Came here for dinner on a Thursday few days ago. Did not have a reservation, called 15 min before arriving & they confirmed & when reached the place our table was ready. I liked their Seiza style table (Japanese style of eating in which the people eating sit on the floor, they have low tables and cushions on the floor). They are perched higher from the floor and have 2 tables. Great place to reserve for party of 8+ Great service, Water/drinks were re-filled appropriately. Small but interesting tea menu. Pretty extensive menu. Did not try sushi yet but rest of items were above par. Ginger salmon was great. They made substitutions/additions in dishes without any issues. All ingredients were fresh & of great quality. Place has lively, classy sort of vibe. Will definitely try the sushi as well next time. Great place especially if you find yourself near Central Square.
(5)Lil O.
i'm surprised this doesn't have a higher rating. the sushi is of a really high delicious quality. they also have fun, inventive rolls that actually taste good. one of the few asian fusion places i've been to that really does a good job with everything that they make. it has a really fun atmosphere and decor. the only downside is that i've had waaay underestimates in how long we'd have had to wait for a table. i also hate complaining about waitstaff, but i've had some very clueless and inattentive waiters. this might be because they were backed up in the kitchen? not sure. one time 5 of us finished our meals by the time the sixth person got hers. they didn't offer to take it off the bill either. BUT, the food is worth it. i have not been deterred! i keep coming back
(4)Dom K.
Soft shell crab and pork buns definite highlights. Great sushi and warm house sake too. I really like the dynamite roll. Must go when you're in central square- we will definitely be back in the future when we want a fancier meal.
(5)Eric C.
Food is pretty good. Tried the Hello Kitty Maki and it was ok. Atmosphere is great but crowded and loud. They put too many tables and seats together.
(4)Shelly J.
I love this place! I seriously order take out weekly from here and i have enjoyed every single thing I have tried- the sushi, the curry, and the noodles. My favorite is definitely the grilled beef panang. You can't go wrong with this place!
(5)Sarah C.
Came here for a friend's birthday. Made a reservation for 7:30p but because the birthday girl was not present, my bf and i were not seated. I understand if the night was super busy but it was not. We were not seated till an hour late. I was overwhelmed when the waitress gave me the menu. Thai, Japanese and Korean entrees are available at Thelonious Monkfish. I almost got their special - ramen, but did not since most yelpers did not like it. We ended up with Indonesian Fried Rice - spicy goodness; arugula salad - nothing special, just like any ordinary salad at the salad bar; catepillar and salmon/tuna roll - they are alright; shumai - kind of rubbery; edamame - can go easy on the salt; and finally karaage - i love the sweet and sour sauce and the chicken were not heavily battered. At the end of the dinner, the waiters/waitresses surprised the birthday girl with fried ice cream - on the house! Obviously we have an arrangement with the manager.
(3)jun k.
Seriously? Have the folks here had sushi before? I ordered a scallop hand roll because basically, scallop is the fish that goes bad the quickest, so it's a great way to gauge a sushi restaurant. MY SCALLOP ROLL CAME COOKED. The scallop was cooked. Not to mention, I misunderstood the waiter and apparently 1 tiny maki is $8 here. My salmon salad was pretty good though. And I like their flavored water. But the menu was severely overpriced... and the "jazz" part consists of them playing jazz music over the speakers... Uh. yeah... Oh btw, my total for a small appetizer sushi salad + hand roll? $22 (inc tax/tip). I know it's totally unfashionable to talk about price, but seriously, save yourself the trouble and go fishing or something.
(1)Dorothy W.
I like Thelonious Monkfish despite the odd name. So far I have only had only had the sushi, but friends and family members have taken nose dives into pork, chicken and meat based dishes, all coming up quietly with a happy grin. Central Square needed a spot like this. And now that they serve beer, wine and sake, and offer outdoor seating, Thelonious is more attractive than ever. The space is modern and sleek, with a long bench reaching back to the rear of the restaurant on one side and the sushi bar on the other. Tables for two, placed way too close together for comfort, can be moved easily to accommodate groups of four or more. Each time I have been here for lunch there have been large groups of office workers eating together in addition to solo diners who often take up residence at the sushi bar. It looks like this space fits about 45 or 50 if all the seats are taken. And they usually are. It is very crowded in here. And the density of the people smashed into this place makes it uncomfortable at times. The staff at Thelonious Monkfish run around and try to ensure that you are happy. Service is usually polished and polite, if a bit detached. You will not be wondering how to flag anyone down here, as there are so many people ready to assist. The menu is enormous and somewhat confusing at first. But let's just say, if you want it they have it. From Fever Wings to Spinach Stuffed Tofu, there's something for everyone here with the exception of cheese pizza and hard core cocktails. Calamari, Coconut Curry Fries, Pad Thai, teriyaki and mashed potatoes are all available. Vegetarians and vegans will be satisfied with their sweet assortment of offerings. You won't just be getting a little green salad. There are spring rolls and all kinds of vegetarian sushi rolls for you, not to mention the hot dishes with tofu. If you eat fish, you'll be happy with the incredible array of sushi, sashimi and specialty rolls. I love the fruit flavored water that arrives almost as soon as you sit down and is always refilled. And I love using LevelUp. I do have to say that one time, we were rushed out of here and that was very unpleasant. We were a party of six, and our meal took a while to arrive. We ate it at the normal pace, but noticed an increasing amount of interest in our table from the staff. Evidently, other people were waiting for our table, and the staff was not happy with us for wanting to order dessert and coffee. In fact, we were not even given the option. Right after our plates were cleared, the bill was slapped down. Four people then stood right in front of us and stared, very agitated and eager to see us depart. Not good. Let's hope this was atypical, as it was very weird. I have never felt so pressured to leave a restaurant. We walked down the street for ice cream, glad to leave. But this should not have happened. Despite this one very disappointing experience, we have been relatively happy at Thelonious Monkfish. Welcome to the chaos of Central Square, Thelonious. You are the smooth sophisticate in the Central Square storm.
(3)lizzie b.
I agree that it's pricy. The kind of place where miso soup is an extra $2.95. Also have complaints that there aren't that many decaf tea offerings. In any event, I loved it!! It's a cool, almost trendy NY setting that's comfortable and clean. I started with the green spring rolls, which didn't have cilantro and came really cold, crisp, and fresh. The seaweed salad was flavorful and distinctive. I really LOVED the Frankie and Johnnie rolls. Sweet potato tempura, cream cheese, and avocado - vegetarian and delicious! Also had sweet kanpyo rolls, which are usually my favorite but they weren't that great this time. Overall, I'd definitely recommend and will be coming back regularly.
(5)Sarah G.
I wish your sushi was cheaper. Just a little cheaper? A little discount? Something? Because your sushi is definitely way better than your main dishes that involved cooked meat. Anna B. and I split your chicken pad thai, edemame the frog prince roll, and and order of Tamago (the sweet egg sushi) and it was definitely more than enough food for us--probably went a little overkill per usual ha The edemame tasted fresh but the basket wasn't the biggest in the world but they were steamed pretty much perfectly. The tomago was also pretty tasty and well made. And that frog prince roll ordered from their "fairly tale" section of the menu was pretty darn delicious too. I just wish it wasn't $15...True it was more pieces than the cheaper smaller rolls, but still without other food, this would not have filled me up and it made up half of our bill at the end too! And then we had the chicken pad thai. The noodles were pretty tasty, but the chicken was probably some of the most overcooked and dry chicken I've had at a restaurant in a while, so I say definitely stick with the raw stuff here, and if you are lucky enough, they even have one section of their restaurant where you can sit on the floor! next time, just sushi and I want that floor style seating. They did have some sushi boats on their menu that didn't really look that bad price wise....
(3)Andréa A.
First time here, great atmosphere, great service, great sushi. It was recommended to me and I would recommend to others. We were sat and greeted right away. Pleasant, friendly, attentive staff. We started with the cranberry crab rangoon which was amazing, but then again I'm a sucker for crab rangoon. I was really impressed with the selection and combination of ingredients on the sushi menu, they didn't have just the same old rolls. They have the traditional rolls as well as the special rolls, the musical rolls and the fairy tale sushi! The first time we tried the Crouching Tiger Roll, Spicy Yellowtail, and Frankie and Johnnie Roll. I don't usually do vegetarian rolls, but the Frankie and Johnnie roll was absolutely delicious, the perfect combo of sweet potato, cream cheese, and avocado. I have since been back for takeout, again not being able to pass up the Frankie and Johnnie Roll or the Cranberry Crab Rangoon. I also brought my family for my brother's birthday. I ventured away from the sushi this time and tried a Pork stir fry with vegetable medley. It was very good and the serving size was huge which I shared with everyone else. Definitely looking forward to the next time I come and can try something else new!
(4)Steve L.
Came here with a group of friends over this past summer on a recommendation from a grad student in the area. Quality sushi, tea and soup. The special rolls are very creatively designed, well put-together and taste wonderful (get the avocado turtle one and the red riding hood one!). Well-priced and very comfortable ambiance and layout. Try to sit by the window up front if you want to people-watch a little bit too.
(5)Simon C.
Had a bowl of seafood Tom yum noodle soup, found a fly at the bottom of the bowl (it surfaced after I stirred the bottom). The waiter did not apologize and just said 'ok' after we showed him the bowl. However, the owner did compensate me by not charging the noodle soup and gave me a gift card. In conclusion, I would not be posting the pic if the waiter's attitude was better.
(1)Marc L.
Ate here on a Saturday night with five family members (party of 6). Had a 7:30 PM reservation, stood out on the sidewalk for 1 HOUR !!! I asked whether we could stand at the bar and have a drink while waiting...but a) no bar (only a sushi bar) and b) they serve alcohol but Boston won't allow us to take our drinks out on the sidewalk. By the way, they have seating outside on the sidewalk which would be terrific on a warm evening...but you CAN'T ORDER ALCOHOL IF YOU SIT OUTSIDE. I didn't know this, and am glad we chose to sit inside! So we stood around. I went into the bar next door and had a beer, felt better. Finally we were seated. Hostess offered to provide free appetizers for our party, which we appreciated. As our party got seated, we saw that the restaurant ran out of chairs and I had to stand around another few minutes while they brought a chair in from somewhere. Once we were seated, it was an outstanding experience. The free appetizers were most welcome, and we ordered a bunch of other food, each dish more amazing than the previous one. This is one of the best sushi meals I have eaten--anywhere. The hostess apologized again and invited us to return, giving us a pre-printed card for a free something on our next visit. It seems obvious that they have 'burps' in service routinely, especially on a Friday-Saturday night, and hope that their truly outstanding food will keep people coming back. You know what? It worked for me. I would be back in a flash. Maybe not on a Saturday night.
(4)Emma H.
My boyfriend and I love this place and we order out from here all the time. The food is consistently delicious, and they deliver quickly 98% of the time. I do have to say that one time they took over 2 hours to deliver our food, and when I called to see what the problem was, they dismissed me and told me to keep waiting. I recommend the bacon pad thai, mad monk noodles, wok-charred brussel sprouts. I have liked everything I've tried from here!
(5)Holly J.
I've now had a lot of other dishes here, and everything has been super tasty! My only complaint about this place as that its very cramped. Normally I don't care about decor-type issues, but they do so much to cram in as many people as possible (which is justified given how busy it always is) that it can be a bit uncomfortable.
(4)Rebecca W.
Been here a couple of times. Tried the pad thai (okay) and several sushi rolls (cucumber, spicy tuna, "Frankie and Johnny", all decent). Also tried some of their tea drinks and enjoyed those (they have a great tea menu). The biggest problem here is the service. If the food were amazing, maybe I would deal with the poor service, but it's not worth it. Both times I have been here, my waiter disappeared for long periods between ordering, checking in for water refill, getting check, etc. The first time I went with my husband, who is a very patient man, and even he was commenting that the service was incredibly slow. What makes this even more irritating is both times I have been there seems to be a very sizeable staff for what is a pretty small restaurant. Won't be going back.
(2)Dor Z.
Asian waiters in suspenders and skinny jeans? Fairytale- and Lady Gaga-inspired specialty rolls? A logo in the shape of a fish trumpet because they believe their food is so good, it'll blow its own horn? SOLD, MAMA!! This place fits in perfectly with the hipsteresque vibe of Central Square. It's not very authentic and it's going to get claustrophobic at peak hours, but the eats are good. Be prepared to spend money for fun food and a fun time. TREAT YO'SELF!
(4)Mahina K.
Thelonious Monkfish, that is indeed its name and I love its name. They have little jazz jokes that aren't very funny, you laugh to be polite. The owners and workers are from Thailand but they serve extremely fresh sushi. They also had Japanese noodles and curry. It was pretty good, it wasn't as good as some real Japanese food that I've had recently. But I'm glad that there's a sushi place within walking distance. I had a california roll which was made okay, but it tasted fine. The maguro nigiri tasted and looked really fresh. Then I went back another time and I had the chicken katsu curry. It was good, a little sweet for katsu and curry but that's better than it being too salty. The udon was a little weird in the soup department according to my mom (who i was with) but for the most part I'm just glad to have a Japanese food place so close to my house.
(4)P. J.
First rate! My husband and I started with the tempura shrimp, which were nice and crunchy (not soggy), served with sriracha mayo dipping sauce. We then chose the mushroom ginger soup, which was spicy and delicious (it tasted good-for-you, too!). For entrees I got the ginger cod and he ordered the ginger salmon. Both fish were perfectly cooked, as was the accompanying jasmine rice. Service was prompt and friendly. Relaxing atmosphere. I'm not a big jazz fan, but the music they were playing this afternoon was mellow and melodic, not the atonal type of jazz that I dislike. Overall, it was an excellent dining experience! Try it!
(5)Jose K.
Awesome as always! Great noodles and sushi.
(5)H. A.
It's an OK place. You would be fine getting most noodle or rice dishes. Sushi not the freshest-- it'd be best to stick with vegetarian stuff. On the plus side, the menu has much variety.
(3)Sara M.
I am in love with this place and the only reason it lost a star is because they do not have a liquor license and the only beverage choices displayed are teas. Also, the water is laced with cucumber. The four of us started out with rolls: una-avo, spicy tuna, and the dynamite roll which was really tasty. Then I had the make your own curry with masaman and I asked for tofu and vegetables, which they were glad to do. It also came with rice, and was fantastic. My dining mates had the spicy duck salad, make your own stirfry with duck and snow peas, and the tillapia, and we all cleaned our plates. I am looking forward to going back to try new plates!!
(4)Hansel B.
This place has some really special sushi rolls... it's asian fusion, so don't expect anything really authentic. It also has some good thai dishes from what my friends said, but I only had the sushi. I recommend the little red riding hood sushi. It has small sliced strawberries, taste really good.
(4)Heather G.
Let me cut to the chase first-thing. The sushi here is great. Really great. Really really great, even. Everything is fresh, bright, and delicious. Sadly, and at the risk of sounding like an alcoholic, I can't fully enjoy a Saturday night dinner out with my man at a nice sushi restaurant without some sake. And this place did not (does not?) have its liquor license, so no sake for me. Great sushi can only get you so far, but it cannot carry the show if you're on a date and want a drink with your meal. We came in without a reservation early in the evening on a Saturday night and were seated at the bar right away, which was fortuitous because the rest of the room was full. The service, start to finish, was curt and hurried, and I felt as though the staff cared much less about my experience and much more about turning a table. The one dish we were very disappointed with was the octopus appetizer. For about $10, we were served one fat ring of octopus with a bit of garnish. Aside from the very small portion, the dish was rubbery and flavorless. I would never order this again. That said, the rolls are inventive/creative, a bit expensive, but very tasty. This place is just too expensive to go into my regular sushi rotation, but it's a nice change from getting takeout every once in awhile.
(3)Lauren H.
If you make a reservation here for a large party, triple confirm it, as even double confirming it is not enough. I had a reservation for 20 and when I called to confirm a few days out (and also change the number to 19), all was good. When my party arrived however, someone had changed it in the book to 12 ppl. Luckily they could accommodate us but they were incredibly rude about it even though it was their mistake. On top of this, they stuck all of us at a "traditional" Japanese table-on tatami mats, no chairs, nowhere to even dangle our legs. They claimed this area could seat 20-maybe 20 little kids! They refused to move us or let us take a second table to spread out and acted like we were inconveniencing them by being there at all. I didn't realize that when I made my reservation I also needed to request chairs. Hugely disappointed in the experience. The food's fine but not good enough to make up for everything else.
(1)Adam B.
Veggie dumplings, alright but small and left more to be desired. Pad see ew is likely not their specialty but since it's a favorite of mine I had to try it. It was alright, but again left more to be desired. Basically I should have stuck with the sushi here which is not spectacular, but I'd put down as a solid. Lady GaGa roll is probably still on their specials which I think is funny since no one seems to be talking about her lately. Stick with the sush and you'll be ok.
(3)Jia Z.
I know this is not great sushi, but it is very consistant and cheap, has other food for people who are not in the mood for sushi. Great for large parties and get togethers. I go here a lot with groups of friends.
(4)Jennifer H.
There was an inch-long bug in our pineapple juice, possibly still alive. I am particularly squicked out because I took a sip before seeing it :( They gave us one dish free in recompense ($12), but still! shudder. Other than that mishap: -- pineapple juice sort of watery, mostly composed of ice cubes -- ramen was good! needed a bit more salt, I thought, but I loved it anyway. -- Mandarin crispy duck was so good! I loved how sweet and crackly the skin was ... I thought the truffle-oil mashed sweet potatoes were a little too buttery, but I might be imagining.
(2)Jennifer W.
Just wish this place was closer to my apartment, so I could get takeout! Went there for the first time on a recent Friday. Place was crowded. I thought I had made a reservation online, but the only table available to us were the traditional Japananese types seats were you have to fold your legs. We weren't too happy about it but were really hungry...so we sat. Now the food, most of what we tried were really good Balsamic glazed bak choy: really terrible...there was nothing glazed about it. I could have made it better at home. Also had some sand in it. Super unacceptable for a restaurant Pork Ribs: AMAZING! so tender so juicy and a nice sweet flavor from the glaze Rolls (spicy salmon & spider roll): spicy salmon was standard, spider was very good and large pieces Chicken teriyaki fried rice: this sounded very interesting, it was good but not enough teriyaki flavor. All in all a nice meal, if I lived close by I would get take out often, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again
(3)nicholas w.
Great spot to physically eat there. Delivery is slow and recently added a $5 charge. Great for dates. Terrible for delivery unless you have an extra $8-10 bucks to drop on eating in your living room.
(3)Champika F.
Ok come on cambridge....how did this place get such rave reviews? I went there for the first time recently - I was craving thai food and it popped up in a search for 'thai'. When I got there I realized it's probably more of a sushi place - but they did have an extensive menu with thai dishes. I ordred the Tom Yum soup - it was about a half a cup of soup served in a giant dish - i'm not a stickler for presentation so I just raised an eyebrow and let it slide. The soup tasted like campbell's tomato soup out of a can, watered down and heavily spiced. I tried to force myself through it but had to eventually give up. The soup was followed by a flavorless pad thai - it tasted sugary and that's about it. I asked for some chilli sauce and the waiter brought me japanese seven spice *powder*... I will definitely not go back there for thai food - the combination of sushi and thai under one roof is questionable anyway. I would however go back and try some sort of sushi dish - second chances. Oh...and because it's always worth noting ...the service was very good.
(1)Jillu M.
We came in on Sat & were promptly back on Sun. My husband really loved his white tuna sashimi. I loved the Spider Roll. Plus even the avocado salad -- was so different & nice. The tofu in the pad thai was a little disappointing. I am come back to try all the rice plates -- soon.. Ah the Monkfish Medley sounds super. How come Boston Globe has not reviewed you?
(5)Meg K.
It's a bit pricey, but the sushi is excellent. It's always extremely fresh. They also have a lot of really creative-- and tasty-- special rolls. (I'd recommend the Sleeping Beauty or Lady Gaga.)
(5)Helen W.
I've eaten in and had delivery from TM. The food is good. Some of the more creative dishes are a bit hit/miss to my taste, but the standards are well done.
(4)Santi C.
I ate at this place four times. The food is a-okay, meaning you won't get food poisoning from it. However, I really do not understand the hype. The place is crowded but the food is really just okay. I ate in Japan, and in Thailand and this place is not even close in terms of deliciousness. I just do not understand why people like this place so much. The last time I ate at this place I sat at the bar, my napkin smell like mildew and the sushi chef placed tamago (Japanese cooked egg) on top of raw tuna meat (with no syringe wrap) in the see-through cooler box. It was disgusting, you don't mix raw food with cooked food. What if the person who orders that egg has an allergic reaction to the raw fish? I question the hygiene of this place. The chilled soba was so salty and was not cooked right. I will never go back to this place ever again. There are so many other places for Asian food for the same price. This is not a place to get good Asian food though. This is a place to get fake Asian food.
(1)Lisa H.
A little bit pricey (so more like a 3.5) and they aren't so good at dealing with crowds on busy nights. But the food is delicious. The beef noodle soup is PERFECTION. Sushi is overpriced for what it is, but it is reliable. The rice and noodle dishes we ordered were all great. For a special treat, get the thai iced tea!
(4)Eric S.
This is my go-to place in Central when I'm craving sushi or tofu. The sushi is always fresh and tasty, the people are nice, and the place is always packed.
(4)Eddie X.
I don't usually like Asian fusion restaurants - I figure why go somewhere and pay tons extra for less-legit food. But now I see the advantages. You get all sorts of Asian food choices all in one centralized place. And the environment here is pretty cool, I got Tom Yum Noodle - which was nice and spicy, cost $15 after tip. Pricier than I expected and there wasn't that much seafood in there (I really wanted some more calamari or even shrimp). I was able to finish it easily - didn't get tired of it as I sometimes do - but neither did I get that warm feeling inside after a really good noodle soup.
(3)Hannah K.
It had a cool vibe, but the seats and tables were terrible close to each other. The table next to us had to eat our butts along with their sushi were so close. The pad thai was good, but not exceptional. My two friends ordered the vegetable tempura udon and it was also good, but nothing amazing. Overall, a good restaurant but nothing to get too excited about.
(3)Anne L.
Wonderful experience here! The food was awesome, both noodles and sushi. Great atmosphere, great jazz playing while we dined. No liquor license yet, but the jasmine green tea was very nice. Prices are fair, will 100% be back!
(4)Alex H.
Ignore all the negative reviews, this place is wonderful! Close by, yummy and prompt and professional service! Love...
(5)Hannah M.
Nice decor, great location (if you are walking) smack dab in the middle of Central Square, cute name, innovative menu, and fruit infused water. So why not 5 stars? Well, I'd really rather give this place 3.5 stars.... Where do the deductions come in? The execution. I have always thought that restaurants who try to combine too many cuisines in one place end up not being great at any of them. So here goes - I was totally impressed with the menu, variety, and inventions. Bacon pad thai? In fact, bacon infused just about anything? Cute, not authentic, but cute. The menu boast 3 full pages of culinary adventure. Our table got a mishmash of stuff, but I only tried 1 or 2 dishes other than my own. First of all, I know it's lunch portions and probably more appropriately sized than most restaurants, but it just looked so small on this giant plate. Secondly, Pad See Ew, not the most creative Thai dish, and I should have realized that Thai is not the specialty, but it was just kind of blah. It was OK, just not anything jazzy about it and in a place like Thelonius Monkfish, one would expect jazz. I also tried a bite of the Monkfish Fried Rice, again kind of boring. And the Mushroom Soba which I did not care for. I think we'll go back, give it another try. But there are so many options in Cambridge of good food......
(3)S T.
I've been here two times for lunch, each time ordering a variety. Standouts: CURRY. Get the curry. It's delicious, and at lunch time, a great steal for about $7. I personally like the yellow w/chicken. You pick the sauce, and you pick your meat. COCONUT CURRY FRIES. Yummy! Crispy, light , and just seasoned right! The curry mayo it comes for is to die for. The only con is that it's $6 and you only get a very small portion. So, for two people you need to spend $12 on fries ,and for a group of 4, you need to spend $24 for fries. Service is prompt and courteous. They filled my water, probably 5 times! I thought I was going to drown. I'll be back for their curry.
(3)Dorothy C.
Tasted okay, but entire family was sick to our stomachs for the following two days, and this was the only place we'd eaten together. Yikes. Got the beef with egg noodles, beef udon soup, and two sushi rolls.... Sushi was yummy, but I wouldn't risk it again, personally.
(1)Matt S.
Came here for lunch, nice atmosphere. Split the muscles as an appetizer and got a pad Thai for my meal. Both myself and the person I split the muscles with got sick that night. Like really sick. Obviously will not be returning.
(1)Shannon M.
I hate to be the one to break this to you Yelpers, but: you're in Boston, and this is sushi. It's not a budget meal. This was phenomenal sushi. Granted, my dining buddy and I also came armed with the recommendations of some frequent-customer friends, and ordered The Frog Prince special roll and the Gaga Monster roll. The place was completely packed on a Wednesday night, and our rolls were out within 10 minutes. The Gaga Monster was creative, but not something I'd get again (not because it was bad! I just think there are other things on the menu that I would have liked better.). The Frog Prince roll, however, is my new favorite sushi roll anywhere. If you like tempura and avocado (and let's be real, who doesn't), you will love this roll. Get it. The service was unobtrusive and timely, we sat at these fun low-seat tables in the back of the restaurant (super awkward to get into, but an interesting experience-- definitely sit back there if you're with adventurous friends!), and the cucumber-infused water was unexpected and unannounced but quite good. The only downside is that my dining buddy and I were both hungry at the end of our meal, and were both out $18 to show for it (that's including tip). So four stars for you, Thelonious. I can't blame you for being delicious and expensive at the same time, but it still makes me sad when I walk away from a delicious meal with a hungry tummy.
(4)Sophie P.
After been here many many many times, I discover that their strongest is not at sushi ( a little overpriced for what you got) , but at curry rice. Robinhood roll is my favorite.
(3)Mike T.
Their table service might be one thing, but I ordered delivery tonight and it was a disaster. The food came more than an hour late (a good 90 minutes after the initial order was made), and was ice cold. The restaurant did not call me to warn that the food would be coming late, I had to call them. I guess my tonkatsu was good once, but it was slimy and congealed by the time it reached me. Won't be ordering again, won't be making a visit. Stay away from this joint!
(1)Jay M.
There's something to be said about restaurants trying to tackle multiple cuisines and that's that it doesn't always work. That being said, Thelonius Monkfish delivers....half of the time. I've been here enough times to have tried many options from the kitchen menu. No single item was executed well, just okay. The dishes seem inspired, but lacked delivery. It definitely looked better on paper. I've come to the conclusion that Thelonius Monkfish may be the best, if not the only, option for sushi in Central Square. This is the one thing that I think that they got right. For the most part, their sushi menu has yet to disappoint-- the menu is fresh, well constructed and creative. Fairy tale rolls are humorous to the bone, but packs serious flavor combinations and textures-- I'm a fan of the Frog Prince roll. Service is spotty as with most places especially during a service rush. Flavored water is subjective. I can care less, but if someone has an allergy to any of the fruits without knowing that the water is spiked...you're shit out of luck unless you warn your waiter ahead of time. Alas, form your own opinions.
(3)Jeannie B.
It was F.REEZing!! in there! I had a sweater with me, a little summer one, and ended up running next door to Goodwill to buy sweatshirts for me and my friend. Everything else was pretty awesome. We had 2 kinds of sushi (spider and robin hood) and both were really, really good. Keep in mind I generally don't like sushi, so a) I don't really know what I'm talking about, but b) if I'm complimenting the sushi, that means something. The salt and pepper calamari was the best part of the meal (and, at the risk of sounding like a super picky eater, which I'm not, I don't usually like calamari either). Glazed brussels sprouts were awesome. Pepper beef with eggplant was just good, not as exceptionally yummy as the other dishes. Fried ice cream was... well, how do you go wrong with a dish that is sweet *and* fried *and* frozen? We had all this, plus a good bottle of wine, for under $100. Not bad. It's a fun place, nice atmosphere, varied and entertaining menu. Plus, the servers are all wearing t-shirts and long shorts with little suspenders! It's adorable.
(4)Saba N.
I really liked this place! The atmosphere is nice, and for a sushi spot in the city it's actually a good size. It also feels clean. I loved how you can sit on the floor - what a fun date idea! (Unless you are wearing a skirt - boys, pay attention to these details!) The service was fantastic, and the food came out so quick. We had the avocado rolls, cranberry crab rangoons, and veggie tempura for appetizers... all of them were awesome. No complaints whatsoever. The sushi itself is pretty good, not the best I've had by any means, but I was very happy with it. I definitely recommend the White Tuna roll... soooo good. The lobster roll was probably my least favorite part of the meal, which is a shame because I love lobster. What I do appreciate is that there are so many more options on the menu than just sushi. So you can bring your non-sushi loving friends as well. My friend was very happy with her pad-thai, and I thought it was a good deal for the value. Right now, they don't serve booze so watch out! But I think that is changing in September. All in all, great spot, definitely would come back.
(4)Marjorie S.
Very well priced and varied menu, not just sushi. I had noodle nirvana which for $10 was filling and delicious
(5)Jenna H.
I have come here for lunch a couple times as I work in the neighborhood. I have only had the drunken noodles with chicken and have found it to be good - sometimes the chicken is a little dry, but still a decent dish for lunch. I love that the servers are both efficient and friendly during the lunch hour - not an easy find in central square. I will continue to come back and try some more off of the menu.
(3)Lauren S.
Right before my less-than-stellar dining experience at TM, I stood in Central deciding whether to partake in the trendy-looking sushi restaurant (TM) or the humble, off-street Thai place. I'd been inside TM once before to order miso soup to go and the staff were friendly and attentive, so I decided to give TM a shot. Should've gone with cheap, tasty Thai. TM is adorable on the inside-- wooden benches, sushi bar, matching waitstaff. But its food offerings are mediocre at best, and combined with the fact that its prices are probably a couple bucks more than they should be, it's not worth visiting. Should you know nothing about sushi and care only about appearances, however, you will love TM. A few good things, to be fair: wonderful waitstaff in matching plaid shirts and plentiful water refills (they put fruit in their water pitchers, though, so if you have fruit allergies, make sure you speak up before they give you any water). Also, the bathroom was clean. (Wow, doesn't that say a lot when you have to resort to describing the bathroom in order to say something positive?) But there were some definite problems with my experience: the amount of eel in my caterpillar roll was almost nonexistent-- about half the size of a dime in each piece. Go to any sushi place in Porter Square Exchange and you'll get huge chunks of fresh fish. There was also a strange piece of foreign material in my sushi-- maybe fish bone, maybe fishing wire-- that I was not too pleased about. Finally, no standard bowl of soy sauce to accompany the roll, which is odd for a sushi establishment., and the accompanying sauce had very little flavor. And I'm afraid it gets worse still-- TM doesn't have a license to serve alcohol yet, and they play jazz as the background music-- a tribute to their namesake, the jazz pianist Thelonius Monk. I can deal with that shit if the food is good, but after that lackluster experience, I wanted to smash every lucky cat in the room. In summary, if you want to plunk down some change for sushi that is adequate at best, go right ahead-- or, you can visit well-established places in Cambridge and Somerville that serve amazing food for well-deserved prices.
(2)Robert J.
Pretty good seafood (I had the monkfish medley). Actually, everyone in our large group was satisfied with what they had.
(3)Alyssa K.
A great place to go on a semi-casual lunch date. Everything was well prepared. The prices were reasonable. Their shrimp was fantastic. Sake prices were a little steep, but well worth it.
(4)Jeff M.
My Japanese wife, son, and I came here for ramen. Big mistake. Whatever it was, it was not ramen. Maybe ramen for the Chinese palate, I don't know. We didn't like it at all. I also ordered a spicy tuna maki and my son ordered a tiger's eye. Both were quite good. My wife ordered salt and pepper shrimp, and that was good too. Overall, an F on the ramen but a B+ on the sushi and shrimp ... 2 stars.
(2)Erica W.
I thought this would be a nice place for lunch with friends. Decor of the place is well done, we were seated promptly, and served in a timely manner. No complaints there. A few things I thought could have been improved: the menu was crazy overwhelming. So many options, ridiculous sushi rolls (fairy tales? I don't get it), and no clear indication of when lunch pricing ends, etc. Drinks seemed reasonably priced, and simple sushi and sashimi was on par for other places in the area. The special rolls were a little expensive, but like I said, there are tons of options. I ordered the "chefs choice" sashimi, since the freshness of the fish is much touted here. I was served salmon, tuna, something which may have been mackerel, and a fatty white fish I didn't recognize. I am a New England native, and no stranger to seafood, but I had never seen this before. When I asked the waitress what it was, she told me with a giggle that it was "white tuna". Sounds good! It was soft and buttery and delicious (though unlike any tuna I have ever tasted), and I ate my meal with pleasure. I had no doubts about the quality and freshness of the fish. My friends enjoyed their meals also. Why then, after a few hours, did I feel so ill? I have never had food poisoning before, and in fact have a stomach of steel, so I wondered, did I somehow not notice that the fish was bad? The culprit: the delicious "white tuna"!! It turns out that this fish isn't actually tuna, but a deep sea fish called escolar ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/… ), which is banned in Japan due to it's "ex-lax" like effects! Yikes. If a sushi place is going to serve this fish, a little warning is in order. As I said, it tastes great, but I have seen a few other reviews about people getting sick from eating here, so I think an "eat at your own risk" is apt for this establishment. Now I know why the waitress was laughing! Would have been a 4 star review if the prices were a little lower and if they didn't try to poison me!
(2)Marcus S.
Sushi, fruit infused water and quantity of rolls get the 4 stars. Any of the other dishes get 2 stars. Small, chill sushi bar with a cool jazzy vibe and great service. I don't know why staff agrees to wear those odd uniforms, but, hey, I guess it is not a fashion show. Stay away from the dishes, they are just ok. The real "star" is the sushi! They are well priced, good sized and delicious! The miso soup is also good here, usually start with that and split three or four rolls with the lady and we are both full.. maybe with a little room to squeeze in a scoop from Toscanini's right down the block!
(3)Jordan M.
I had the Tofu Pad Thai the other night for dinner. You could tell it was made to order with large pieces of tofu perfectly cooked. Overall, one of the better Pad Thai meals that I have had for awhile. The take out service was easy enough, especially since they use Level Up, though they did get my name wrong when I ordered over the phone. The place is somewhat concealed, because for some reason I kept missing the sign on the street. I hear the sushi selection is great and probably will be the item for next time.
(4)Joseph G.
THIS is as good as it gets for Asian fusion. Not only do they slice up cucumbers and little fruits/veggies for their cold ice water, but the atmosphere is relaxing and the music choice is perfect. The Vegetarian Panang Curry is literally the tastiest curry you have ever tasted, hands down. If you meat eaters can get past the fact that it has tofu in it instead of some kind of animal, you are in for a treat. On the other side of things, the Mandarin Crispy Duck is possibly one of the best things I have ever eaten. Fully recommended. Crispy skin, juicy meat, sweet n' saucy with delicious veggies and all paired with the the perfectly unexpected side of garlic mashed potatoes. Things to remember about the Monkfish so you're not disappointed and give this place a mediocre review when it deserves nothing less than five stars... cough... cough... other reviewers. 1.) No liquor license yet - this place is new, give 'em a break. I'm sure you can BYOB and have a wonderful alcohol-filled evening for yourselves. 2.) When they say spicy, they mean spicy! If your wimpy little American tastebuds can't handle the heat, don't take the plunge. Simple as that. Asian food is spicy. * = spicy, **=pretty damn spicy, ***=get ready to cry Enjoy
(5)George P.
I have had TWO bad experiences with Thelonious Monkfish, and I am NEVER inclined write a review about a restaurant..... but in this case, I felt inspired. First time, we got there not too long before closing, and they said we could sit at the bar and order, just as long as we put our order into the kitchen quickly. They watched us and waited for us to make every little move to get us out, putting pressure on us to the point of making my girlfriend uncomfortable. Difference in culture, perhaps? Or maybe learn a little more about the Customer Experience. Second time was last night, and for $40 we got two small rolls and 4 pieces of Gyoza via delivery.... we were still very hungry afterwards. Not to mention the somehow misheard 55 as 57 as our street address..... don't ask me how, leaving us with food 1 1/2 hours later than expected, and of course not as hot & fresh. Unless something changes drastically, that's the last time I go there. Go to Genki Ya (many times better) in Fresh Pond or Ebi Sushi (more authentic) in Union Square instead..... those are actually worth your time and money.
(1)Christina G.
I enjoyed this place. The menu is huge and pretty creative. I only tried some of the vegetarian dishes, fried tofu basil and mushroom soba. Both were really tasty. This is the first time I've had Jazz music as the backdrop to an Asian meal. It was refreshing and made for a nice laid back experience.
(4)Erin M.
Had a really lovely little date night here. Atmosphere was cozy and spot-on, menu was huge and eclectic and very entertaining, service was friendly and attentive. The cranberry crab rangoon had the perfect amount of tang and crunch, the Lady Gaga and Frog Prince rolls were fresh and fun (always love to try new takes on maki) and the Duck Noodles were a rich treat. We stuffed ourselves silly. We used a voucher from The Phoenix, and they didn't give us any grief about it (which I always appreciate). Next time I want to sit in the little nook where the diners took their shoes off and sat cross-legged on pillows.
(5)Valerie L.
After reading the menu I was excited! Ordered the lobster roll 13.95 and a shiitake ginger soup 5$... When I recieved the roll I was astounded how small it was 5 pieces? It was good but nothing more. And the soup? Don't even ask. There was literally 3 pieces of shiitake mushrooms on the bottom of the bowl with a ton of button mushroom chunks it was baffling.. False advertisement. The only reason I gave 3 was because they helped me out and put a few more pieces in there after I said I did not want the soup at all. Ether the waiter did not understand English or he had hearing deficits... Who knows- he also gave me 90cents change when i specifically held up 3 fingers..and said only 3 dollars back... weird. All I can say I was disappointed. Not a great value for this underwhelming meal.
(3)Megan C.
I'm usually hitting up delivery when I get a crab rangoon or cucumber/avocado maki craving, so in those situations Thelonious Monkfish is sliiightly more pricey than I've noticed some other places being, with equivalent quality on the most basic items. Good food, but not great value. Still my go-to. That being said, the restaurant experience probably justifies the slight uptick in price. The ambiance is great, and the jazz music really makes me feel much classier than I normally feel while devouring pad thai. Love the ideas behind the creative rolls, too, even though I usually stick with the standards. Plus it's really close to my house, it takes LevelUp (woo!), and the servers were really nice the one time we lingered too long and didn't realize it was closing. It does close kinda early by reasonable standards (but see also: every restaurant in this city). Otherwise I would have gone broke on 12:30AM cranberry crab rangoon orders by now. My one issue is that it's so close by and such a relaxing place to have a meal that I feel guilty for ordering delivery and eating in bed, but am too lazy to actually follow through on the process of walking there, sitting down, and being a real adult human. I end up being stuck between the two states until about 10:30 when I've lost my chance. This is sort of like a physics problem.
(4)Lady Fang Y.
I go here when I just need some asian fusion noms. I like that all the waiters wear matching red and blue plaid button downs. Cah-UTE! The Lady Gaga roll is cray cray. I've always been tempted to order a sushi boat, but lets be serious, I'd just sit in it. No bar makes this girl, a sad one.... :( Look.. look how sad I am. The service is a little slow and it is always busy. But I'm happy to have at least ONE sushi place in Central!
(3)Kit C.
Unfortunately, my online order (via foodler) was an hour late. I didn't get much help when I called inquiring about the order and the food wasn't up to par in comparison to eating at the restaurant itself. However, after posting a review, the owner was kind enough to contact me and have my money returned. I really appreciate that they reached out to me. I'll still keep them in mind for a Central Square stop.
(3)Philip H.
I'm giving this place a 3 and will withhold the 4 star until they improve. This place has great potential, unique concept, awesome location, and asian fusion, which is lacking in Central. Service could be a notch better and the seating is really tight along the left wall. They could remove a table or 2 to give diners a bit more breathing room. I'd like to see some flowers on the tables and maybe a candle. I've dined in twice so far and did takeout once. The traditional thai dishes, rice/noodles were their strong point. I got the mango soft shell crab for takeout (not recommended). It was soggy by the time I popped it out at home. The yellow curry I ordered today with duck and brown rice was decent. Other than a little too much sauce, I found the flavor to be excellent. It would have been nice to throw in a little bit of green bean or something. The duck was really fatty, but that's what I was in the mood for. Pineapples were nice, onions sauteed perfectly, sweet with a little crunch, but onion to non-onion balance ratio was a little high. Same with the sauce to rice ratio. I had enough of the yellow curry sauce to take home and have another meal or two! Love the jazz music and concept though. I hope to see this place get to 4-5 stars over the next year.
(3)Grains P.
I have to say the atmosphere here is quite nice. They've got dim lighting and jazzy music that makes me feel comfy and relaxed and even tatami floor seating. But the sushi... oh, I really wanted to like your sushi. The rainbow roll was pretty decent and well-priced at just below $11, but I have to say the chirashi was a disappointment. The sushi rice under the slices of sashimi in the chirashi was too dry, but maybe you can't expect too much for just $13? I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for good sushi, but maybe the dishes in the asian fusion menu are better? We had the potato fries with curry dip for an appetizer which were pretty good.
(3)Doris K.
Very modern decor, young tall waitstaff wearing skinny jeans, and creative tasting dishes. They have regular tables along with more traditional tables where you sit with your shoes off. We started with the calamari appetizer with garlic aioli. I think that the appetizer could have used more calamari pieces. I loved the fact that they had so many different kinds of fried rice! We had a bit of trouble trying to pick one and finally decided on a duck and bacon fried rice. Bacon in fried rice is genius! Why didn't I think of it?!? The salmon and yellowtail sashimi were very fresh. We also ordered the famous Lady Gaga roll which just like Lady Gaga I really didn't care for that much. Dessert was a generous serving of mango sticky rice - one of my favorites and made perfectly. I really wish that I would have discovered this Central Square gem earlier but I really glad that I got the chance to experience it before leaving.
(4)Mass A.
Fantastic experience. Rather than an exhaustive description of each entree let me say there are certain non-negotiable terms in order for me to have a truly great dining experience. 1. Warm, friendly greeting 2. Prompt reception from waiter/waitress 3. Immediate filling of water glasses 4. Attentive service throughout the meal 5. Fresh food. Fresh food. Fresh food. 6. Reasonable prices. 7. Pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. I am very pleased to say my visit to TM surpassed my expectations on every level. The jazz music, never overbearing, is soothing and a perfect compliment to the tasteful decor. Our waiter was extremely friendly with a smile from ear to ear and worked very hard to satisfy our party of 4. As far as the food....well let me just say my family doesn't often dine out for Asian cuisine, but thats bound to change. Three adjectives come to mind when describing our meal: creative, tasty & healthy. The fresh ingredients, gracious host, superior waitstaff and charming atmosphere convey the attitude : "We know you could have gone anywhere to dine and we're appreciative you chose us! Now let us show you your money is well spent." What a refreshing attitude indeed.
(5)Chelsey C.
This place was exceptional for a number of reasons. The staff was extremely attentive without being intrusive. The music perfectly selected for the atmosphere, not to mention that the food was fantastic. If you're looking for an extremely tasteful and intimate setting to meet a friend or a blind date, ahem, look no further.
(5)Keith S.
Eclectic foods for eclectic tastes. Where else can you go from Cranberry Crab Rangoon and Coconut Curry fries to Off Key Marie rolls, Gaga's monster roll and Mood Indigo Maki. They do have a sense of humor here that goes well with my mixed metaphors in taste. seriously, cranberry rangoon is better than you can imagine and the sushi is far better than the puns. All in all busy, tasty and service was a-ok.
(5)Rebecca S.
After coming here several times and always being very pleased with the food, our experience here tonight seals the five star deal for Thelonious Monkfish. After an exasperating hour and a half wait at another restaurant for food that never arrived, we retreated to Thelonious Monkfish, which happened to be across the street and, we knew, would serve us food that we liked. The main dinner rush was dwindling when we arrived at 9:25 p.m., and the owner greeted us. We exclaimed that we were starving and briefly told him about our horrible experience at the newly opened place across the street. His response was to give us a free appetizer, rush order. We chose the curry fries because they're vegetarian and sounded good. They were de-li-cious! The wait staff were attentive and on top of things. My friend and I split the special bacon pad thai (yummmmm!). Another friend got some excellent sushi, and our vegetarian friend got veggie drunken noodles. We were all tremendously satisfied and grateful. Thelonious Monkfish is the best!!
(5)Shendi X.
Yes, please! This place is gorgeous - fresh and modern, with sleek, geometric lines, and affordable prices, to boot! And with such an extensive menu, I intended to procure sushi, but went with a delicious noodle dish instead - mm! Will definitely revisit!
(4)Evan O.
Great gods of bebop, that was some amazing Asian fusion! As vegetarians, my wife and I sometimes have a hard time finding, shall we say, "inspired" (and safe) Asian fare. Not here. Veggie rolls with asparagus and green apple? A woody delight. Coconut curry fries? Why didn't I think of that?! And tofu done in the style of ton katsu? It's about freaking time! We LOVED Thelonious Monkfish (and its all-too-adorable name) and will definitely be back.
(5)Yue Z.
Service: 4 Food: 3 Ambiance: 4 Located in Central Square, Monkfish is a popular go-to place for locals. They are a Japanese Sushi place, but also serves a variety of Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese dishes. There is a wide selection of rolls and fresh sushi, as well as all types of noodles, curry, etc. I found the place a little overpriced. My sushi combo was $20 for not enough sushi. My friends orders some of the Chinese dishes, and I was not very impressed by the quality. It's nothing special. The service is decently fast, and the waiters are quite attentive. The food comes out quickly as well. It's a casual dining place, and quite crowded in terms of table set up. I had a hard time getting in and out of my spot at the table. They also have one large table in traditional Japanese style, which honestly I think is very uncomfortable to sit at since you have to sit traditional Japanese style, or awkwardly try to figure out how to position your legs.
(3)David P.
Monkfish has a variety of unique rolls that are pretty tasty; however, their actual sushi and sashimi isn't that great. The salmon and tuna didn't seem that fresh. Also, I tried the Ramen noodles and was completely disappointed. I was so excited at the thought of getting some awesome ramen and the description sounded perfect. However, the noodles were way overcooked and smooshy. The broth wasn't flavorful and I was just disappointed. The restaurant itself isn't that big, so the tables are super close to each other. Monkfish is not good if you want to have some privacy. All in all, if you like rolls that have a lot of mayo and eel sauce on it, then Monkfish has a wide variety. But if you want super fresh fish and some other options outside of rolls then you probably want to try some where else.
(3)Shawn L.
Sushi and crab rangoon were great! I was a little less impressed with the entrees, so I'll probably just be getting more sushi. I'll definitely come back.
(4)Nicole K.
Only been here a couple of times and there are large gaps in between each visit, but the food here is quite good! The service is nothing spectacular, but they do their job and it's probably because of how busy they are (each time I went it was bustling or packed) A bit too pricey for my likes, but then again I'm a poor college student, so I'm a bit too biased. Nice places for dates, casual hangouts, or friendly get-togethers!
(4)Julianna P.
Ahhh, Thelonious Monkfish. WIth a name that rolls off the tongue and cuisine that melts in your mouth, I will surely be back to this spot, and proclaiming it joyously. In preparation for my dinner I checked out their website, which is actually a Facebook fan page and unabashedly quirky and adorable. Their "likes" include other local hot spots (Cragie on Main, Flour Bakery) as well as an eclectic mix of cultural demigods (Lady Gaga, the Dalai Lama). They also frequently update their own status with cheesy little tidbits like: "The trouble with running a jazz-themed sushi bar is that our fish is so fresh it blows its own horn!" I seriously recommend checking it out before you go. Having passed the almighty Facebook test with flying colors, I had high hopes for the real-life Thelonious Monkfish, and they were one hottie who looked EVEN BETTER in person. Tucked in a snug little spot on the main Central Square strip, it's easy to breeze right by little T-Monk (which in fact I did myself before calling my friend and realizing I went a block too far). The inside is cozy and understated, with areas for traditional Japanese seating as well as regular tables. I made a reservation at the last moment which was a good call, as the joint was jumping already at 7PM on a Friday and didn't let up at all. The waitstaff are friendly and the service quick (consisting almost entirely of attractive Asian men in festive little plaid numbers). To start, my lady-date and I both had the tofu and mushroom miso soup, which sounded a little more exciting than it was (traditional miso with a few slivers of fungi), but was tasty nonetheless. My friend ordered the Crazy roll and a sweet potato tempura roll, which were hearty and filling without being too heavy. The winning item in our opinion was my spicy tuna salad. About ten large strips of perfectly seared ahi tuna came artfully placed over mixed greens, and garnished with the unexpected but lovely red onion and green grapes. The dressing was a light, slightly sweet lime marinade which you can make mild if you wish (I did this but later wished I had gone with the spicier original version). All in all, Thelonious Monkfish is a delightful edition to the Cambridge menagerie of affordable delicacies! I even "liked" him on Facebook.
(4)E F.
FAST delivery and great maki This is the first delivery Sushi that I have done more than once in my 10 years in East Camb, so this is exciting. (I actually gave up for a long time and just jumped in the car to go to Masa in Porter Exchange.) I love the Salmon lovers sashimi/maki combo and I've been trying out all of the fun specialty maki's. There are a few I haven't liked, but not so much that I didn't eat them anyway. Reasonably priced and I hear they have a weekend Jazz Sushi Brunch. I need to try that out!! TM is my new go to delivery sushi.
(4)Lusi F.
My friend and I tried the place as it just opened. She had sushi and I have a noodle dish. My noodle dish was REALLY spicy. The wait was a bit long I liked the seating in the back (like traditional Japanese, where you take off your shoes and sit on a cot) beware of their bathrooms, I still dont' know how to lock and unlock the thing!
(3)K F.
Just overpriced sushi place. I live in the same block but I would never go back. In regards to sushi quality, they are just OK -nothing better than more affordable places (FYI, I am Japanese).
(2)Nitya D.
Yay for sushi restaurants that are seriously vegetarian conscious and friendly (so frustrating having to repeatedly ask which dishes involve fishy sauces, etc.)! Went here for lunch recently with another herbivore and we shared the following: sri daya mata roll, william tell maki, avocado + cucumber maki, and asparagus maki. To be honest, we probably would have been fine with just 3 rolls as they were all very filling - not too shabby for some rolled up veggies and rice. I honestly loved the food, it was so light and refreshing; a perfect meal to avoid the afternoon/post-lunch nap craving. The water they serve is muddled with cucumber - this is an interesting touch, but I wasn't a fan as I prefer my H2O to be frills-free. The service was mostly fine, it was just a little slow for being lunch hour. Definitely going back!
(4)Sheila B.
Sushi is by far the best hands down in these parts. The restaurant is a gem in the bowels of central sq. I love the Sushi, Lady Gaga, Avocado and Eel, sea weed salad and even pad thai. ! I have been here three times, 2x for lunch and once for dinner. My only complain- service not so good. there are several Thai ? waiters and they are not the speediest and I feel like you have to ask multiple times. That however has not deterred me from going, this is something to improve upon and I am sure it will. I have high hopes for you thelonious. Only other complaint, hence the 3*s is no boos. The 2 out of 3 times I went there was for lunch so it did not bother me, but some nice wine or even sake with sushi would make the dining experience all that much better; perhaps even bumping up a star. Keep up the good work Mr. Monkfish !
(3)Mike R.
Decent. Huge menu (negative) and barely there service. Their fairy tale rolls seem like decent sushi at a decent price. I have a hard time imagining something that would make me want to go back. The atmosphere feels a little like PF Chang's back in high school, so maybe if you're going for a low-rent date vibe this is an option.
(3)Heather C.
Great food, horrrrrrrible service. Granted I went on the first day they opened but there is never any reason for a sushi lunch to take over an hour and a half :-/. The waiter came back to our table three different times and still managed to royally f$&@ up our meal by not putting the order in for three of our sushi rolls. While I understand we were a group of six which can slow things down, we were the second table seated in an otherwise empty restaurant and other tables got their food before us. Despite the completely horrific service, the food was spectacular. I had the Mack the Knife maki which had yellowfin, cucumber, delicious fried scallion, and a chili cream sauce. This is the most amazing sushi I've ever had! The second roll I had was the crazy roll which had shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, spicy, mayo, and tobiko. This was also fabulous. It was my first time having tobiko so it took a bit of getting used to for me but was still very tasty. The other folks at the table had the miso soup, rainbow rolls, drunken noodles, and beef krapow. Everyone agreed that they were really happy with the quality of the food but the poor service really took away from the meal experience overall. I'll ultimately give them the benefit of the doubt and go back in a few weeks once they've had a chance to settle in. Service can easily be fixed and this is the best sushi I've had in the Boston area so far. I'd say try it out but expect some poor service for the time being.
(3)Jill D.
My boyfriend and I decided to order delivery on NYE. For an appetizer we began with the crisp-fried calamari, which was excellent. I also really enjoyed my seaweed salad and my boyfriend enjoyed the steak tepanyaki. However, I took issue with the Chicken Kaprow. The description on GrubHub said it was extremely spicy - but there was absolutely no spice to it. I can handle spicy foods quite well so I thought maybe my taste buds were starting to give out, but my boyfriend said the same thing. I was really starting to think I had gotten the wrong order, but looking back at the description the dish had everything EXCEPT the spice. Maybe it was an off day? Has anyone had this experience with this dish?
(3)Eric S.
Great place for lunch. It gets very busy, so there may be a wait. the soup, fried rice, and sushi are all fantastic.
(4)Melissa T.
Ok. This place gets three stars for a few reasons: 1. Although it is the only sushi place in the Central Square vicinity (BIG plus), the sushi is kind of pricey, though still delicious. 2. I fluctuate on my thoughts on the atmosphere. It is fairly chic but I can't shake the feeling that it would be a much cozier place if it were more casual (the "chic-ness" feels a bit forced). 3. No beer.** **They got their beer license in the last couple of years. So I'm bumping this place from 3 to 4 stars :).
(4)David V.
Since my last visit to TM was right after opening, I thought I'd pop in and see what's come together over the last few months. One thing I hadn't realized the first time was the extensive non-sushi menu, full of cooked entrees and appetizers that leaned heavily on the seafood side of things. A couple of maki rolls were plump and delicious, and the nigiri sushi had the freshness and size to match the more celebrated local Japanese restaurants. All of this would've bumped them up at least one star from last time, since I debated between 3 and 4 for my first review. But I had the misfortune of having a waiter who seemingly did not know the menu at all. I had to repeat most items several times and finally point at it on the menu, and he forgot to put in the appetizer. It was only when I asked about it while he attempted to clear the dishes did it get entered in to the computer. I wasn't expecting a comp, but it's a nice gesture when server error disrupts a diner's experience. An apology would've been nice though. Last time I sat at the sushi bar and got prompt, friendly service. I think that's where I'll stay in the future.
(3)Anna F.
This is by far one of my favorite sushi joints in the Boston area. The fish is fresh, the rolls inventive and the service stellar. It wont break the bank either ($75 for sushi for two with sake). The only thing keeping it from being five star is atmosphere. It's very cramped and maneuvering around is awkward. Went for an anniversary dinner a week ago and it was freezing! Folks kept coming in and out and the drape was open allowing the cold air in to the dining are. Otherwise, brilliant!
(4)Madison B.
This place is ok as sushi places go. Cool thing is they have an enormous menu so you are sure to find something that will hit the spot here. Crappy thing is that they do not serve alcohol, which is a total kill on if I am going to sushi or not. I mean come one, no sake?
(3)Marie K.
Food was fine, but had some of the worst service of my life. I dined with two friends. After almost exactly two hours, the hostess asked us to leave because customers were waiting and they were trying to make room for them. On a Tuesday! We had spent $150 including drinks. We were almost finished with our meals anyway. We were just waiting for dirty plates to be cleared and to take the last sip of our drinks. We didn't plan to linger all night. It was kind of embarrassing. I was really annoyed. If they had waited five or 10 more minutes, I would have written a four-star review. Instead, I'm writing a one-star review. They gave us a coupon for a free soup the next time we're back, but we won't be back.
(1)Ariel F.
My fiancé and I come here at least once a month despite living out on the North Shore. We are both vegetarians and find that the options are pretty good, especially the veggie sushi choices! We've had nearly all of them, but our staple is the Idaho Roll (tempura sweet potato) - it is to die for. The Alice Coltrane and the Daya Mata rolls are also among our favorites. If you're looking for a really unique flavor, the Kanpyo Maki roll and the larger Snow Queen rolls are both one of a kind! The tea menu is excellent as well and the Saki is truly worth the price! While it's true that the tables are close together, we greatly appreciate the ample seating and short wait time (even at peak time), and have always found the service to be quick and gracious. Cambridge has some wonderful restaurants, but the combination of veggie options with atmosphere, price, and service definitely make this my favorite!!
(5)Alex R.
Decent food but worlds slowest delivery. Routinely takes well over an hour for the food to arrive, and I live less than 5 min away. Need to hire more drivers or provide more realistic estimates of delivery time.
(2)Jacqueline L.
This place is awesome, really good Sushi and super tasty Pad Thai. Also, they have a few cocktails on their menu now, which are very tasty!
(5)E M.
Local sushi spot: love that this place is consistently low-key, delicious, fast, and great service. The rolls are always perfectly done, super fresh fish, delicious vegetables. Mushroom Ginger soup is a great winter starter.
(5)Jungmin L.
Eerrr. It's nice to finally see a sushi place in Central. However, the food really is not that great. We had some salmon, several rolls. The salmon was just average, but man the rolls were square and schizophrenic; I didn't taste any fish or any ocean, all I could taste was some sort of sweet, mealy fuity-tasting thing and rice! (So much rice, too, a hunk of it fell off the bottom of the roll every time I picked a piece up) Definitely not worth it, since the prices aren't that cheap either. Why is this called sushi rolls if I can taste no fish?!?!?
(1)Ashley O.
This place is great!! I'm addicted to the chicken and shrimp pad thai! I haven't had an opportunity to try much else on the menu because I order that every time I order from TM (which is at least once a week). I've had a few of the sushi rolls which were also very tasty! The pricing is fair, the lunch portions are good, and the staff is polite and attentive. Great addition to central square.
(4)Sarah W.
I think it's only fair to update my review since my original was right after they opened, now I'd give it between 3.5-4 stars. It is one of our go-to places for take out pan asian near Central Square. If you are a vegetarian you will be happy with the selection of sushi. Service continues to be slow and they made a mistake on our order missing our special instructions, but the food is tasty and there is a good selection of options!
(4)Alana H.
I liked this place. I live that they put fruit in the water so it tastes flavored. My friend and I both got the crispy Pad Thai. I liked the crispy chicken and you can't go wrong on good pad thai. I would like to come back and try something, the table next to us had sushi that looked really good. Our service was great, everything came out quickly cooked very well. It was pretty busy in there and it was Tuesday night, but I liked knowing that other people were liking the food as much as I was. I will definitely come back here as it isn't too far from when I work.
(3)Riki G.
Been here several times. All of the specialty rolls (named after fairy tales) are delicious. Basically, everything I've had has been delicious. Except for the drinks. Because there aren't any. This place needs a liquor license. Also, very reasonably priced.
(4)Jeanette Y.
Appetizer: - Fried Calamari (fig-lime aioli): Great texture, couldn't really taste any fig in the aioli - Oshitashi: Very good, but not as shareable - comes in one big piece rather than split into several small ones Tea: - Jasmine Pearls: Delicious and full-bodied - Lack of liquor license/bar is definitely a miss Sushi: - Mack the Knife Maki (yellowtail, cucumber, scallions & chili sauce): Really tasty, the chili sauce adds a nice kick - C Jam Blues Roll (spicy tuna tempura, cucumber & spicy mayo): Good, but not out of the ordinary from your average spicy tuna roll. Couldn't taste the tempura
(3)Apolinaras S.
Two visits so far and I am still planning to come back. Not really interested in sushi, since they are reaaaaaaaaaaallllyyyyyy sssslllllloooooowwwww, especially if the joint is full. BUT, the Asian fusion dishes are absolutely fantastic. Service is good too and I am surprised how many people they can pack in that small of the place.
(5)Paul K.
Lunch review: ordered: Spicy Wings 4/5: damn good, had some manayise on em to make them a bit sticky but def in the lines of good asian wings. im a follower now. but a tad bit pricey. Coconut Curry Fries 4/5: had to order them as i could not imagine that taste in the same bite as a french frie. pretty tasty with the dipping sauce. Gaga Maki 4/5: i forget what was in it. but this thing was massive, 12 pieces for $14. somewhere cross between a rainbow and a maki. definetly a must order. This place is a quirky fusion sushi hut with pretty nice decor and ambience. I would vote this place as the most affordable sushi with decent quality. Specially over Douzo, dont know how that place got that award but this place far exceeds my expectations for 10 dollar maki. service was attentive and quick. despite the contrary sentiment during their first few weeks of opening. if theres any second thoughts? .....just do it. its worth it. if not your not squandaring $100+, its cheap and affordable that leaves a pleasent smile when walking out the door after the check.
(4)Kristin N.
Veggie sushi and fruit infused water! I've already picked out what I want to order for the next visit. They have a large and creative vegetarian sushi menu. The Nature Boy is a little bit spinachy but the William Tell is 100% awesome (can't go wrong with apples and rice). Not sure if they take reservations but if you have anything over 4 people, you better try to make one, the restaurant is tiny.
(4)Amanda C.
DO NOT ever order delivery from this restaurant. I waited an hour and a half for my food and they called me and said they couldn't fill my order because they were too busy after I had already been waiting a hour and a half. Will never eat there again.
(1)Al A.
Great location! Good prices. Okay sushi. Okay service. Unappreciated Quirks: weird washroom locks, very high wall bench (who's that tall?), cold dinning area, tasteless teas Reservations! This restaurant actually knows how reservations are suppose to work. They make them on Saturdays. They have reserved tables that actually physically exist (unlike all restaurants in the North End who say they have your party reserved but don't do anything so when you arrive they then ask your party to wait an hour for your "reserved" table). They hold the table instead of giving it away to that group of cute girls that walked in just before you. They seat you before your entire party arrives. I must be dreaming. Of course, this will all probably end then they realize they are popular enough to start acting like other Boston-area restaurants. Rant: OMFG, I hate popular Boston-area restaurants for not accepting reservations on busy nights (i.e. when one would most want a reservation), only seating complete parties (a.k.a. how to lose friends and make enemies in 30-minutes' time), and giving shitting service (hire more staff or at least train them). It makes going out to supper on Fridays/Saturdays stressful and sometimes impossible to schedule. Damn it, I have plans afterwards!
(4)