Kayuga

After 2 years of living just a couple blocks away, I finally tried Kayuga, a Japanese restaurant in Allston. I had been there once before but had yet to try its sushi.

The restaurant isn't very exciting looking from the outside, and it's not very exciting on the inside. It has plain black tables with yellow lighting and lacks any sort of personality I expect from a sushi restaurant. Even the bar is dull and uninviting for people who are looking to have a drink.

Kayuga does have an extensive sushi and Japanese entree menu with options to please everyone. There is personalized maki, such as the BU Maki, MIT Maki, and the Red Sox Maki. It also has the standard Dragon Maki, Caterpillar Maki and Shrimp Tempura Maki. I had the Scorpion Maki, which was amazing. All of the sushi is fresh and delicious and holds shape. However, the sushi here is a bit overpriced. The average roll has 6 small pieces for at least $10 a roll. You have to order at least two rolls to be full and by that time you're heavily invested in your meal. I've had sushi of the same quality in many other restaurants which isn't nearly as expensive.

The restaurant also has a beer and wine menu. There is a cocktail menu but you may have to ask for it.

The waitstaff is nice but not very friendly and a little slow. The waiters don't make any effort to seem welcoming or hold conversation. You should order all of the food you want at the beginning because the waiters will take a while to serve you if you order twice. I went with three friends and one of the waitresses was nice enough to create separate bills for us, which I appreciated.

Overall, I didn't find Kayuga to leave a lasting impression in my mind. I may go there again because it's convenient in terms of distance, but it's not a restaurant I would recommend to anyone for their special night out.

Kayuga
1030 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
617-566-8888

Punjab Palace

I haven't posted in a while, I should definitely eat out more in Boston.....

But yesterday I went out for Indian food at Punjab Palace in Allston. The neighborhood can seem a little sketchy  at night but it's full of amazing ethnic restaurants everyone should try.

This place has delicious Indian food! I've been here a few times before and I keep going back because the food is great, average priced for an Indian restaurant, and it's only a 10 minute walk from where I live. It's a small place that always plays Indian movie songs on TV, which can sometimes be distracting if you're trying to have an intimate conversation but also really amusing for people who have never seen one before.

The menu has your typical Indian food: appetizers, vegetarian, chicken, lamb, goat and seafood entrées, naan, rice and dessert. There's also an extensive wine and beer list to go with your meal. I'd suggest having a glass of red wine such as Shiraz or Pinot Noir which pairs nicely with the spicy food. Entrées come on a spice scale of mild, medium or hot, which is great because no one has to limit their options due to the spiciness of the food. The mixed appetizer platter is great to share of you go with a group of people, it let's you try a little bit of everything. As for entrées, the chicken tikka masala is always a favorite. If you're looking to try something new, try the chilli chicken, a blend of Chinese and Indian cuisine best tried a little spicier than you're used to. For vegetarians, there is also the paneer chili, the same concept but instead of chicken they sure paneer. My favorite vegetarian option is malai kofta. I have never tried any other type of entrée because I don't really like lamb or goat meat but I have heard people ordering it so must be good.

The only problem with this restaurant is that the waitstaff is always a hit or miss. Sometimes they are really nice and come fill my water glass often but don't hover so I feel comfortable while eating my food. But yesterday, they kept walking by to see how much food was left in place. They even asked at one point if I was finished when I clearly wasn't. And no one offered me a dessert/coffee menu at the end. Needless to say, that affected the tip I left but I really wish they had been nicer because I do love their food.

Regardless, it is a definitely a place to try for its delicious food. And if you're worried you'll go there on a day when the waiters are being rude, you can always order take out!

Punjab Palace
109 Brighton Ave.
Allson, MA 02134
617-254-1500

Maluken Karaoke Sushi

I discovered Maluken last year while searching for a place to eat late at night. It's a small restaurant located in Kenmore Square and has karaoke every night.

Maluken has some of the freshest sushi I've ever had. The fish has great texture and the sushi keeps shape and doesn't fall apart in your hands. The menu has the expected items, such as California and Philadelphia rolls and Rainbow maki, and special rolls I've never seen before, such as the Red Sox maki which has yellowtail, avocado, scallion tobiko with tuna on top. One of my favorite rolls is the Crazy maki which has shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, cucumber and spicy mayo. The spicy mayo brings so much great flavor that soy sauce is unnecessary. For those of you who like eel, try the Caterpilla maki with eel, cucumber and avocado on top, actually shaped in the form of a caterpillar. For people hoping to be more adventurous with their meal, Maluken also has a Honey roll with sweet potato, banana and honey. This might actually be the perfect dessert to end your meal.

Maluken is also part of campusfood.com, an online food ordering service for university students. The service is quick and the food is reasonably priced, making Maluken a great restaurant to satisfy those late night cravings.

Maluken
645 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215