As a frequent patron to Japanese restaurants, be it Oga's, Oishi, or a 10-buck deal from the supermarket (yes, cravings must be subdued), I'm not a stranger to the term "omakase". Google the term for a full definition.
Observing the mechanics and organization demanded of the sushi chefs can only be experienced at the bar. Tonight I've reach a new level of appreciation for the sushi chef. The appreciation has plateaued at Oga?s and for the first time, I allowed myself the privilege of Omakase - I was given food and I ate. So many people, and I?m guilty of this, when dining in new or old restaurants revert to a familiar dish. The reasons can be numerous. I, however, believe a return to the "surprise" meal, the guttural experience of dining on the complete recommendation of a chef or waiter is the new form of dining. It's not new; it's a childhood familiarity when my mother would make something and we would have no choice but eat. But unlike my mother's dishes, my dinner at Oga's was truly beautiful - may she rest in peace. Omakase at Oga's - let me be honest by saying tonight was my first experience and I capped my budget at $75 a person - left me in heaven. A higher complement would be that Oga's left me and my friends reliving/discussing each dish all the way back home. How did they do that? We are curious to return not for the shrimp tempura or California rolls, but for Omakase! I can't even describe the dishes I had tonight, and unlike any meal at a South End restaurant, I don't think it could ever be recreated. If you examine the particulars of the seasonal-fish and the order they were served and complemented one another, the meal cannot be recreated. Organically the chef made gems and organically we ate! My final comment is: don't be stuck in monotony of eating familiar things. If you go to OGA's and order Omakase and give a budget, whether it be $40 or $150, then you'll be left with something new and wanting to run to your computer to tell the world
Pros: Omakase, quality, chatty/polite waitress
Cons: n/a distance from Boston (25 minutes)
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