Takemura Japanese Restaurant

Hidden Gem in Cambridge. Slightly off the beaten Track, but only by a block. You have to go down a set of stairs to get into the basement Restaurant, but it is in no way a negative experience. One of the most enjoyable restaurants we have been to in a while. A varied menu with everything you would expect from a sushi restaurant. Very reasonable prices, bordering on exceptional. Kid friendly, good for medium size groups as well.

At Takemura, the sushi and sake were passable, but disappointing. Takemura is tucked away in a basement, and the only entrance is in an unlit alley. It's impossible to find unless you're looking for it. It would be charming if more thought was put into the decor; as it is, it comes off as careless. I had the Nigiri Sushi Deluxe, which came with miso, and a sake. The sushi was underwhelming. The fish was sliced too thin on the nigiri, so it mostly just tasted like rice. The sushi rolls were fine, but they also weren't as flavorful as expected. It wasn't awful, but "not awful" isn't good enough for me to go back. I'd go to Cafe Sushi instead.

This is the worst Japanese restaurant I have ever been to. The rice was terrible.The pork Katsu was dried out and the sauce tasted like it came from a can. The waitress was lifeless. I had to go find her to ask for a beer. Then she gave ti to me without a glass. She might not have a pulse but nobody working there seems to care. The staff might want to take a field trip to Sushiman in Newton for lunch to understand what Japaneses food could taste like. And for less money.