Basement Hideouts - Shiki

Coolidge Corner is definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods in Boston. While roaming around on Yelp, my friend and I found this little basement Japanese restaurant in that area and we decided to give it try. Wow, were we in for a surprise!

Shiki (5 stars)

The moment we stepped foot into the door, we were transported to a tranquil nirvana hidden from sight by the flight of stairs leading down to its entrance. The simple classy decor and attentive wait staff enhanced our whole experience and matched perfectly with the light elegance of the food. The food came in small plates similar to tapas style and perfect for sharing and sampling multiple dishes.

Squid stuffed with sweet rice and shiitake mushroom

The combination of shiitake and squid makes for a surprisingly tasty and fragrant combination that is perfectly balanced by the light sweetness in the sticky rice. The only complaint is that the squid had a slight rubbery texture to it from the way it was cooked.

Futo (large) roll with eel, egg, cucumber, black mushroom, snow crab, flyingfish roe, pickle, sesame

The sheer number of ingredients used in this roll makes it hard to balance the taste while trying (unsuccessfully) to eat it all in one bite. The result? I had no idea what I ate until I looked at the menu again. Tasty, but could be executed better.

Halibut Carpaccio with yuzu and olive sauce topped with shiso

Definitely my least favorite dish of the night. The sweetness of the fish was completely lost to the overpowering taste of olives. Presentation receives full points, taste receives zero.

Clams steamed in sake miso sauce

One of our favorite dishes of the night! The fresh sweetness of the clams was enhanced by the delicate sauce it was poached in. The taste of sake was not evident but it did its work in the background to enhance the sweetness of the clams. Delicious!

Broiled Yellowtail Kama (collar)

Delicious, beautiful, and simple. The best part of the fish was cooked perfectly in this dish, with a lightly salted crispy exterior that protects the white soft flesh underneath that, together, creates the perfect balance of taste and texture.

Sake tasting

We also tried a sake tasting. For $15 we were able to sample 4 different sake!

Detailed description of the four sakes

Expect an absolutely wonderful experience when you dine at Shiki. It offers much more than the typical sushi/sashimi and redefines what you can expect at a Japanese restaurant. The different elements of food, service, and ambiance all combined to create a wonderful meal. 5 stars!

- Fizzy