Japanese food

So? They belonged to the restaurant, Wicked Local Brookline reports.

Via Boston Restaurant Talk.

Rachel Blumenthal checks out Somerville's newest round-treat emporium: Union Square Donuts, where most donuts go for $3, but the maple-bacon specials will set you back $3.50 each:

I found them to be worth the splurge, but I wouldn't make a frequent habit out of it.

She also reports that Backbar is now making ramen, but that it only makes ten portions of the stuff a day.

Brad Kelly reports on the Yume Wo Katare ramen bar, which replaced Zing Pizza:

This place is a foreign country. They have two items: A massive bowl of noodles with pork and a massive bowl of noodles with more pork.

See it larger for part of the window flow chart that helps you determine whether you need pork ramen or should just come back another time:

When your ramen is ready, the chef will ask "NINNIKU IREMASUKA?" This means "Do you want garlic?" This is when you can ask for extra garlic or extra pork fat (ahura).

Copyright Brad Kelly. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Liz recounts a sorry lunch at Osushi in Copley Place:

This place is only surviving on Groupon deals and unaware conference attendees. Don’t go to Osushi (it's difficult to find in the mall, so maybe if you tried to go, you gave up and went somewhere else, anyway). There are plenty of less expensive sushi places in Boston that have fresh fish and good service.

Petit Robert Bistro, 1414 Commonwealth Ave., could soon make way for a Japanese eatery serving sushi, yakitori and ramen noodles.

Kentaro Suzuki went before the Boston Licensing Board yesterday for permission to buy the French restaurant's beer and wine license so that he can open Ittoku.

Lawyer Jared Chrislip said Suzuki will pay a total of $200,000 to Petit Robert Bistro's owners for the right to move from French to Japanese. He said about $70,000 of that would go specifically for the alcohol license.

The Brighton Allston Improvement Association, the mayor's office and city councilors Mark Ciommo, Steve Murphy and Felix Arroyo all supported the proposal. The board votes this morning on the license-transfer request.

Boston Restaurant Talk reports what's replacing the old Zing Pizza.

BosGuy reports Yakitori Zai could open next week on Shawmut Avenue, serving up yakitori - charcoal-grilled meat on sticks.

It's not the fresh fish that wins jglee over at Super Fusion Sushi in Cambridge - since most of it is obviously frozen - but the good value for the money, she reports:

I seriously believe Super Fusion Sushi wins the prize for the largest nigiris in Boston. The rice ball was about twice as a large as a normal rice ball, and likewise the fish on top was similarly huge (just look at that toro!). Because we had not expected each nigiri to be so big, we majorly over-ordered and had a really hard time finishing the dinner.

The owners of the Ginger Exchange in Inman Square go before the Boston Licensing Board on Wednesday for permission to buy the Savant Project's beer and wine license from the bank that now owns it and turn the 1625 Tremont St. location into a sushi joint that promises to "inject a not-so-subtle element of fun and interest in the pure enjoyment of good food."

Eric Gittleman reports from the Allston Civic Association meeting tonight that Harvard wants to lease space in the Brighton Mills mall to a sushi place called Maki Maki. He says they won't be seeking a liquor license, so we probably won't see a repeat of the Stone Hearth unpleasantness.

The Boston Licensing Board today approved plans by Snappy Sushi to move into larger quarters and buy the beer and wine license owned by Sorento's, an Italian restaurant burned out of Peterborough Street last year.

Snappy Sushi is moving from its current location at 144 Newbury St. to the former Tealuxe at 108 Newbury St. at Clarendon, where it will have 44 indoor seats and 32 seats in a seasonal patio.

The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay supported the liquor-license transfer.

A Japanese restaurant proposed for 529 Washington St. goes before the Boston Licensing Board on Oct. 20.

The license proposal for 350-square-foot Hoshi Japanese Restaurant calls for hours of 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

Stephen Laniel declares Sapporo in Porter Exchange the victor over Ken's at the Allston Super 88.

Joe Ranft reports the transformation of the Roadhouse into a place called Umami that promises "world cuisine with Asian influence" is nearly complete - it's scheduled to open June 1.

... It was one long black gloomy facade taking up the entire block. And now Umami is this cheerful olive green, combined with the dark brown of American Craft, making for a much more pleasant and varied set of storefronts along the block.

Plus it looks they are planning on outdoor seating, which you can't have too much of.

Wagamama at the Pru goes before the Boston Licensing Board Wednesday morning to seek permission to serve liqueurs. It already has a beer and wine license.

Finance Foodie loved O Ya. Carolyn Grantham loved it, too. Finance Foodie posts photos of succulent morsels. Grantham posts a video of the chefs in action.

Chowhound poster reports.

Via MenuPages Boston.

FoodieMommy reports she thoroughly enjoyed a birthday present: Dinner at O Ya, a Leather District sushi restaurant:

... Our waitress was not only nice, but she also helped to steer us in a great direction: the tasting menu. O Ya's menu is so unique, that having the chef make the choices (which you can limit by price, by type (sushi vs. cooked food)) means that you can sit by, relax and just enjoy. Best of all, the chef chose the progression of dishes-from cool to warm, savory to sweet ...

With plenty of photos for you food pornies.

Shabu Village in Brookline is now kaput-u.

Tammy reviews Oishii in the South End:

... EVERYTHING is delicious. EVERYTHING is exotic. EVERYTHING is mouth-watering. And, EVERYTHING is ridiculously expensive! ...

Dotster Larry Davidson explains why JP Seafood is worth the drive, "especially if you're tired of the six good restaurants in Dorchester."

Bugs, mice plague Fugakyu, Zaftig's.

Eeka eats a blimp.

Marc salivates at the thought of another burger at Zon's in Jamaica Plain, and says it's a shame that Grotto on Beacon Hill is so hidden.

Lynne is disappointed with the service at EVOO in Somerville, but says the New American food, when it finally comes, is good.

The Missus reports that the food at Pops Restaurant on Tremont Street in the South End is OK, but uninspired - it's like eating in any other South End restaurant:

... It's a great date place though. Similar to Tremont 647. ...

Dan Housman reports that Gari, a new Japanese "fusion" place on Harvard Street in Brookline, is decent enough, but it's really just another Japanese restaurant:

... I just wish they would do something crazy like put jalapeno peppers and plum sauce onto the sushi somewhere in the menu and highlight some wicked saki drinks. ...

Suzie writes the nachos at Sunset Bar and Grill in Allston are amazing.

Third Decade is on a quest for the perfect brunch. The Ashmont Grill in Dorchester is not one of his finalists.

Eat and Destroy says if you want delicious greasy food and cheap beer, Costello's in Jamaica Plain is for you.

Minty Choco Chip raves about Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain - although the waiters should maybe pay more attention to the diners than to the no doubt fascinating discussion with the guys in the kitchen.

Boston Chomps recommends Muqueca in Inman Square for Brazilian seafood stew:

... My favorite however, was the cod capixaba. It's made from salt cod, and stewed in coconut milk. The stew also includes plantains, olives, and boiled eggs. A strange combination but DELICIOUS. It tasted even better after adding the hot sauce served at every table. ...

Not up for Brazilian seafood? What about Brazilian meat meat meat. Bill Ives savors the Cafe Belo in Somerville, one of a whole chain of Brazilian meat joints.

Of course, local eaters are supping on more than just Brazilian fare: