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JP Seafood Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Korean Restaurants Seafood Japanese, Korean, Seafood [Edit]
730 Ctr StJamaica Plain, MA 02130
Neighbourhood: Jamaica Plain
(617) 983-5177
- Nearest Transit:
-
Centre St @ Burroughs St (192, 35, 39, 41, 48)
775 Centre St (192, 35, 39, 41, 48)
South St @ Centre St (192, 39, 41, 48)
- Hours:
Mon 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Tue-Sat 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 2:30 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
152 reviews for JP Seafood Cafe
Review Highlights
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"They had some interesting combinations of Sushi." In 107 reviews -
"Try the Godzilla roll." In 7 reviews -
"Well priced, fatty boom batty maki." In 33 reviews
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152 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew B.
Boston, MA
12/8/2011
C and I just went to the new bar area at JP Seafood and its great. The lighting is great, it has a small bar area and then one long table for people to sit at . You can be face to face or next to your friends and its going to be a great space for socializing and meeting new people. And oh yes there is the great food.
Check out my photo of the new bar.
http://on.fb.me/uWqKRW -
Review from Taylor P.
Boston, MA
5/26/2012
I go to this place all the time. Just recently, I went in and the young girl I haven't seen before was so rude. I ordered some sushi and decided not to eat it because she basically threw the plate on the table. she probably spit in it or something. I went back yesterday for takeout. I know I can't blame everyone for one idiot. Poor staffing is always what brings a good business down.
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Review from Vera K.
Boston, MA
5/16/2012
Great take out, ok table service.
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Review from Nick E.
Jamaica Plain, MA
4/25/2012
So, I know everyone local raves about this place, but to be honest, it's underwhelming at best. I mean, the sushi isn't bad, the noodles are decent, but the miso soup is NEVER hot. Never. I've been to JP seafood at least two dozen times, and I've never been served a hot bowl of miso. For a local sushi joint, it's not bad, and it's super convenient for take-out, but to hear the locals talk about this place you'd think it was the best sushi joint in New England, and it's just not. It's serviceable. The sushi generally pretty fresh. But it's not outstanding, the service is spotty, and again, the damn miso is NEVER hot. It's not hard, JP Seafood, to keep your soup hot.
I'll still go back, because of convenience, and lack of other real options, but this place could certainly be better. -
Review from Barb O.
Brookline, NH
4/7/2012
The food was ok, but I had a really bad service experience. This surprised me because other reviews I read said they were great. They spilled the soup, forgot to give utensils, sat us in the raised floor portion even though my elderly father can barely walk. All these forgivable, but they must have heard me complain because the waitress practically threw the check on the table and looked pissed. Not going back when there are plenty of other restaurants to try.
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Review from Jess M.
Boston, MA
4/17/2012
Pretty good sushi but the rolls are sort of small for the price. It seems to cater to the JP yuppie crowd, so I guess there's that. Good eel rolls.
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Review from Karla P.
ROSLINDALE, MA
5/6/2012
I love this place! The food is great, the staff is wonderful. The only thing I don't like is that it gets a bit too loud at night when is full, but what restaurant doesn't.
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Review from Chas K.
9/22/2011
Had a nice sashimi lunch here today for $9.95. At that price and for the freshness and portion of fish -- salmon, octopus, tuna, and whitefish -- JP Seafood is a good choice for a cheap, quick and safe sushi fix. The only downsides were the insipid miso which tasted watered down, and the kimchee which was defintely from a jar. Given that the owners are Korean, I expected some great restaurant made kimchee using grandma's recipe.
You won't find creative rolls here; just the standards. This isn't The Fish Market or FuGaKyu.
Let me know what you think of this review by clicking a button below. Thanks! -
Review from Merissa O.
Boston, MA
10/24/2011
Um. The up side-
I had never tried sushi but the presentation and knowledge of the staff make it hard to resist.
I started my sushi adventures with a Maki of California Rolls.
Fell in love and will continue to explore sushi because of this place.
Very fresh ingredients.
There were no flies. (great plus)
Sake was tasty, at the recommedation of waiter, complimented my fried calamari. (which was divine! Served with marinara, lemon, and another spicy sauce.)
I enjoyed myself.
I will return, if Im in the area.
Interested in tasting what else they have to offer.
Then, the entree- Chicken Stir Fry:
Veggies- absurdly fresh and crisp. :o)
Chicken- not so good of a texture.
(As a dish the flavoring was exceptional.)
************************************************** **********************
WHomp WHomp! The down side-
Waitstaff rushed us. I left my scarf.
Enough said. "P.S. I went back the following Sunday and they were closed at lunch time! Sketchy hours" -
Review from Brenda S.
Boston, MA
10/24/2011
JP Seafood Cafe is probably my favorite place to eat on Centre St. It is our go-to spot for sushi. We have never been let down and it is definitely the best sushi for the value in the area.
Try the Mango Tango roll - shrimp tempura, cucumber, mango, and cream cheese - I know it doesn't sound awesome but you won't be let down, we usually order two.
Sometimes the miso soup doesn't come out hot enough but that is such a minor thing compared to the quality of the sushi that I can let it slide.
The service at JP Seafood Cafe is great. The staff are all nice, friendly, and attentive, and I don't know if I have ever been to a restaurant that was so prompt and consistent about refilling water glasses (now when we eat elsewhere we always rate the water service compared to that of JP Seafood!) We even went to eat here on the day of Hurricane Irene - after calling ahead to see if they were open because there were widespread power outages. When we arrived, they informed us that they weren't seating anyone else (because of what was going on with the storm), but when we told them we had called they were more than happy to seat us and took good care of us even though service was slow.
Also, I just found out that they take reservations for groups of 4 or more, which is cool because the place isn't huge and seating is limited. They are currently in the process of expanding, though, and while I don't know what to expect of the addition, I'm sure the restaurant will be larger and more comfortable. -
Review from Anita C.
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We ordered the following rolls: Spicy tuna, Spicy salmon, Eel cucumber and avocado and sashimi.
The rolls were about what you would find at a local grocery store. I was not impressed and it was very pricey for the quality. The sashimi was better than their sushi, but still not top of the line. I was a bit disappointed. Their non-sushi, non-sashimi items that my family ordered looked much much better.
If you happen to come here, I would recommend ordering other items from their menu. Their bibimbop looked really good, but I didn't get to try it. All in all, I'd give it another shot but I didn't have a good experience with their sushi/sashimi. -
Review from nomo c.
Boston, MA
6/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The rolls are great for the price, I often go here for a quick fix for sushi.
The udons and korean soups/dishes are all authentic. I definitely recommend the bibimbap and the udon with panko fried shrimp.
Staff is always friendly and fast, never miss a beat.
If there's a wait, its always less than 20 minutes during dinner time.
Great local restaurant! -
Review from Spy S.
Boston, MA
9/20/2011
Scallion pancakes, as others have said, are pretty fantastic (I believe they have crabmeat in them).
Vegetarians beware - do not get the veggie maki combo. One of the rolls is "spinach maki." Bleh SO SO gross! It tasted like frozen spinach defrosted and swished with some sesame oil. Not a fan. When I told the waitress, she said she was sorry I didn't like it, but didn't offer to take it off the bill or substitute it. $14 for soggy spinach. No thanks. -
Review from Harry P.
Boston, MA
7/29/2011
I only had sushi, so that's all I can comment on.
Next time I go there, I am going to try and ask for no sesame seeds on my sushi. The sushi was pretty good, but the sesame added a smokey flavor that my wife and I didn't like. Very good service and super respectful waitstaff. -
Review from Kyra D.
Boston, MA
1/16/2012
Amazing sushi, great prices! Speedy take out! Convenient location.
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Review from Adam B.
Brookline, MA
2/26/2012
I got a lunch bento box of fried fish and some other apps. I really wanted to like this place it was nice inside and the people working there were nice. But my fish was super greasy. The sauce was just katsu sauce I figured it would have been something better eh. Maybe I will go back for the sushi, I doubt it.
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Review from Seth B.
Boston, MA
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best sushi in JP. To be fair, I don't think there's much else close by, but this place is quite good.
While the service is friendly I think they are under staffed. Had a wait a little longer for each part of the meal than you should but otherwise good. Even gave a good recommendation when we ordered something extra.
Sunshine roll is like it sounds; bright, crisp and delicious. The toro is in season and this is always a favorite of mine. Did not disappoint.
Worth checking out. -
Review from Cecilia L.
Cambridge, MA
Updated - 9/15/2010
The sushi rice is appallingly sweet.
The tempura is the worst I've ever had - heavy and dense instead of light like tempura should be.
The dashi broth tastes synthetic, not savory.
The tamago is obviously mass-produced, not made in house.
Like everything else, the chirashi is a woefully generic version. A bowl of chirashi should yield prettily arranged morsels of varied fish and garnishes or pickles. My chirashi was slices of only four kinds of fish creating a dull layer over that sickeningly sweet rice. No vegetables.
"Specials" were the exact same specials that were on the menu when we were here over a year ago.
I hate to give one-star reviews because I know there are hardworking people behind every business, but it upsets me to see restaurants serve food so obviously lacking quality and care and still please their customers.Listed in: Sushi in Boston
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/1/2009
When we first saw JP Seafood Cafe, the bf and I both assumed from the name that it was a fish and… Read more »
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Review from Angie C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Experience:
Depending on what time you go there could be a wait since the place is not that big. Although, I went on a Saturday night for dinner and was seated immediately.
Food:
The food was AMAZING! I love sushi and this place really hit the spot. If you like sashimi I highly recommend the Sashimi Donburi. If you're not a fan of seafood or sushi I recommend any of their Korean dishes like the beef bibimbop.
Overall:
This is definitely a place I will frequent -
Review from Bianca C.
Mission Hill, Boston, MA
10/22/2011
I have been here 4 times. It used be a much more positive experience but its gotten worse. The nigiri raw fish is continually chewy and flavorless. The Idaho maki was cold and super chewy this time. I went in alone and was placed in the back with my chair facing the bathroom. There were 4 other 2 seat tables but I'm guessing the singles should be away from everyone. Asked my waiter, who was awesome, if I could sit facing the window. Yay, I could people watch! Service is great and the atmosphere is awesome but the food is just mediocre. So called "sushi snobs" go here and give this place high marks. Considering I've eaten sushi in Japan and in places owned and run by Japanese, this isn't anything to rave about. Gonna try Super Fusion. If that sucks then I'm going back to Brookline for my sushi needs.
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Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
2/6/2011
This place has good food, good service, is fairly priced, and is rather unassuming (cf. Fugakyu).
We ordered edamame and gyoza to start; the edamame was a large portion and came out quickly, and the gyoza were better than many I've had elsewhere. My sushi was quite good -- rice neither too sticky nor too loose with fresh, plump pieces of fish. My friend's hotpot was also very tasty.
I look forward to going back. -
Review from Olga Y.
Boston, MA
1/30/2011
The food was not worth the wait. Good food -- plain but solid rolls, nice Korean dishes.... tiny portions of miso soup and kimchi. A little overpriced for dinner. Terrible service. Took 20-30 minutes to get miso soup seaweed salad & kimchi, which are obviously already pre-prepared and should be ready to go. Then another 40 minutes for regular maki (spicy avocado, sunshine, mackerel, etc) to come out. An hour is wayyy too long to wait for sushi rolls.
We wouldn't come back for dinner, but their lunch/brunch specials look like they are more reasonably priced. We may be tempted into those one day since we live close by. -
Review from Alex R.
Boston, MA
2/15/2009
Plenty of people have mentioned how good the sushi is and they're right, awesome, whatever, but here's the thing no one knows: their brunch is amazing. You know how everyone's always all wah, there's no good brunch places in JP? Centre St. Cafe has a line and Sorella's is a gimmick and Alchemist sucks and you end up at the Dogwood forgetting what you ate before you even eat it so here I am to save the day: JP mfin' Seafood, man.
They got sushi if you want it, and sushi is actually awesome to eat when you're hung over, and if you're not hung over you shouldn't be at brunch, but they also have normal brunch food like omelets and eggs benedict and their hollandaise is top-notch.
I shouldn't even be telling you this, cause I hate when people find out things that I used to be the only dude who knew. You know what? If I go there next week and there's a line, I'm going to go down the line and be like dude are you here because you read my review? and if you say yes, I get to cut you. I don't have a lot of morals but here's one: I do not stand in line for breakfast. -
Review from L-Train A.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/20/2007 ROTD 1/31/2007
I heart JP Seafood fuh reahl. I would go here constantly if not for the whole paying requirement. This place never lets you down. The staff is super nice and awesome, the sushi is fantastic, they have good wine by the glass and don't overprice it. I believe that all restaurants should have at least one wine offering that is $6.
When we first moved to JP, we didn't go here for a long time because the awning always reminded me of a pool supplies store or something, and it didn't look like an eatery to me, but then one day we peered in the window and we were like, "Holy shit. We have to go here." Which is another way of saying that the decor is great. It has lots of wood and they have done a great job making it feel cozy and intimate while also a bustling neighborhood spot. Going here always makes me feel good about living in JP. And the sushi is really great and not super expensive. And the chef special rolls are always awesome. -
Review from Christine D.
New Orleans, LA
8/22/2010
JP Seafood has the freshest sushi in the Boston area.
I have been here countless time with different friends and guests who love it. It is always busy but has an easy take-out window where you can grab your food to eat wherever you'd like. Not that eating there is too bad- the ambience is really nice and the seats are comfy. Wait staff has always been helpful and welcoming.
JP Seafood Cafe is only getting three stars because although they have some good appetizers (soup, dumplings...) I wish there were more vegetarian maki roll options. -
Review from Molly W.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/9/2007 1 Check-in Here
Here the deal with JP Seafood... when I first saw it, I was scared... it looks kind of sketchy - and I don't like to eat sketchy fish (::cough::Douzo!::cough::), and neither do You, I assume... But one day we decided to be adventurous and order some sushi - and let me tell you - THEIR SUSHI IS DELICIOUS!
Yes. YUM. Their other food is ehhhhhh....whatever - who cares. And it's kind of dumpy inside - but the sushi is Great and it's totally Affordable!!
You Must go on TUESDAYS or FRIDAYS (because that's when they get their deliveries in) and sit at the sushi bar. I'll admit, they don't have the most creative sushi, but all that matters to me, is that the fish is Fresh, and Good.
WHITE TUNA SUSHI, WHITE TUNA SUSHI, WHITE TUNA SUSHI
p.s. remember to tip your sushi chef. (BENNY! we love you!)
p.p.s I recently tried the terriyaki tofu, and the veggie stir fry and they were both YUMMY!!!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Nooney X.
Brooklyn, NY
1/14/2008
So I've mentally avoided JP Seafood for awhile, mainly because the straight-forward banality of the name calls to mind other obviously-titled JP establishments such as "MEATLAND" (which I have never been into yet remain perpetually fascinated by). A slightly snazzier, more appropriately themed name might have suggested that this is not a place where you get deep fried hush puppies or trout heads by the pound. Lesson learned.
And despite my wariness, I enjoyed my evening. It was a quiet, unassuming, and generally pleasant atmosphere. I appreciated that the tables were spaced far enough apart that you could have private conversations and weren't distracted by anyone else's wierd eating habits. My drink and entree orders was taken promptly and delivered properly--the service had a nice pace. My shrimp pad thai was very tasty, well worth its reasonable price, and my date enjoyed her sushi selections. I wasn't blown away or razzle-dazzled, but I left full and in a very good mood, so seriously--what else could I ask for?
Get a new name and trash the fish market blue awning, JP Seafood, and you might be lookin at a 5 star-review -
Review from Michael B.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/20/2011
I just like the atmosphere and the people. It's pretty relaxed and welcoming. The servers are always friendly, and obviously working hard. Occasionally things are forgotten, or food doesn't come out in a perfectly timed manner, but it's a restaurant, this stuff happens. As long as the staff is friendly and accommodating, I don't care about the normal service pitfalls everyone else seems to complain about. Not that this has happened a lot here, but most bad restaurant reviews seem to stem from one experience where their server forgot something, etc.
I'm no sushi expert, but I have eaten a lot of sushi it all tastes pretty good to me at JP Seafood. It's consistently good sushi, only once (out of many rolls I've eaten there) did I feel like one was a little sub-par. But again, that stuff happens anywhere and I'm not one to make a big stink about a fluke. It's usually pretty easy to get a seat even when busy. And picking up sushi is always a breeze. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it for dining or take-out, and the prices seem relative to most sushi places I've been. -
Review from JBird Z.
MA
1/7/2007
Once got a big bowl of vegetable japchae (Pan Fried Clear Potato Noodles) and wolfed it down so fast I felt that pleasurable sense of shame that comes from consuming something utterly delicious in a disgustingly voracious way. Got it the next time too actually. Controlled myself better but it was just as good.
Also, I appreciate well balanced spicyness, so when I order something "hot/spicy" I get pretty put off if something advertised as such actually has all the vigor of mayonaise . . .thankfuly JP Seafood does not mince words so 'heat' lovers...here's a heads up that they serve it up with the balance of heat and flavor you might be looking for but so rarely actually get!
I'm probably about a green belt in sushi but will say I have always enjoyed it here, but have yet to be wowed.
THE best miso soup I've had yet. -
Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
3/18/2008
This place is cute. I like it. It's rather small but we managed to squeeze 6 of us in the back.
Started out with the Edamame (of course) and we also got some fried pork dumplings which were very tasty.
They had some interesting combinations of Sushi. We shared the following:
Mango Tango Maki (Fresh Mango, Shrimp Tempura, Cream Cheese and Cucumber) - I could barely taste the mango, but the Shrimp Tempura was crispy and delicious
Shocking Maki (Spicy Tuna, Japanese Mayo, Scallion and Tempura Flakes) - Not as "shocking" as I thought it would be. But still good nonetheless
Futo Maki (Spinach, Avocado, Cucumber, Japanese Squash, Crabmeat, Burdock Root, Oshinko and Masago) - This one was interesting. It was kind of hard to eat because it was so big and round, but the flavors meshed nicely together.
Sake-Avo Maki (Salmon & Avocado) - I don't remember tasting much Avocado. I love avocado, so I was disappointed
The place has a really nice atmosphere and the service was nice. They gave us our space, which was nice, but they still showed that they cared. Not the greatest sushi (one of Paul's maki rolls were squishy....weird) but definitely a gem in JP.Listed in: Sushi. Sushi. Sushi.
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Review from Matthew A.
Salem, NH
11/14/2007
Some of the freshest sushi is found here. Very reasonable prices too.
I loved the spicy tuna roll and the tempura shrimp rolls.
I first learned to love sushi here. It a nice way for beginners to "get into it".
They have warm sake too!!
Gracious living in JP at it's best. -
Review from Stefanie T.
Belmont, CA
10/20/2011
So far this is the best sushi I have had in the Boston area. The fish is very fresh. The sushi is reasonably priced. They have a wide selection of other japanese dishes. The staff is friendly.
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Review from Bill K.
New York, NY
4/6/2006
This place never lets me down. Its most striking characteristic is a hideously ugly facade. This doesn't prevent people who know its rep from flocking. The sushi and Korean fare are alway on-point. The servers I've had were consistently cool, friendly and attentive.
Attractive wine-by-the-glass options. Clean, modern atmosphere, lots of light wood, some beautiful people sightings.
Like any place on Centre St., make sure you have a Master Plan for where you are going to deposit your car. Follow up with coffee or ice cream at JP Licks. -
Review from Andrew T.
Somerville, MA
4/2/2007
I *want* to like this place. I NEED to like it, since it is adjacent to my office, but I just can't get into it. I have tried to make it work, but I can't get excited about JP Seafood Cafe no matter how hard I try. The sushi is average, the atmosphere is blah, but the service is pretty decent. Like standard American seafood places, there are just too many sushi alternatives nearby to settle for mediocrity.
One word of advice though, do the lunch box special if you are looking for a filling lunch. Good value and a good spread. Stay away from the chef's special though, it was a let down the both times I went for it. -
Review from Angelina C.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011
Some of the best sushi around for a decent price. Their spicy scallop, dragon roll, tempura, seaweed salad and the Sox on haven't let me down yet. This place is always busy for a reason.
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Review from Chuck K.
Jamaica Plain, MA
7/18/2009
This is probably the best restaurant in JP. Now, to be sure, JP isn't foodie heaven and JP Seafood isn't going to get mistaken for L'Espalier.
But the atmosphere is unpretentious, the prices are fair, the menu is right-sized and the fish is fresh. There is half-decent chicken but, really, you should take a clue from the fact that "seafood" is IN THE NAME.
More conclusions about JPS: They care about presentation, seem to care about healthfulness, and do NOT give you ginormous-sized portions.
Are there things that could be better? Oh, I guess. They could have big comfy booths instead of utilitarian tables and chairs. They could have a snappy array of side dishes. And would it kill them to have a dessert menu?
Still, the bottom line is that this is a place that concentrates on what they are good at: making tasty and creative sushi and serving a solid line-up of cooked fish. -
Review from Ann F.
Vero Beach, FL
1/14/2009
JP Seafood is one of the best lunch spots in Boston. The restaurant is packed almost every day at lunch, but the service is fast and extremely friendly.
Most of the waitstaff have worked there for many years, so there is a very high level of professionalism and work ethic that seems to get passed on to new waitstaff as well.
The sushi is excellent, the obento boxes and other lunch specials delightful. Udon soups are tasty and hot, well flavored. My father is a big fan of the bimbimbop, which is a bit too eclectic for my taste. Food is always fresh, pleasantly presented, and full of flavor.
Even my father, who almost never dines out, is a big fan and a relatively frequent customer! In fact, I think it is the only restaurant that he's ever gone to more than a couple times in the past 25 years.
For those who have trouble finding parking on Centre Street, try the lot in back of Bank of America or the side streets; there's plenty of parking to be had.Listed in: JP Nostalgia
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Review from Celeste C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/14/2007
My favorite sushi place. I think it's actually the first place I ever went to eat sushi so it has a special place in my heart. I also love the Godzilla roll and had a momentary panic when I thought it was removed from the menu (it had moved from the specials to a permanent place on the menu).
I have gone to JP Seafood with many bad dates, my parents, my roommate, and my gentleman friend. The best. Really yummy. I like to try new things there every time I go: edamame, fried tofu, etc. and they never let me down.Listed in: My JP Haunts
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Review from katharine s.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/11/2007
Ohhhhh JP Seafood, why do you make it so EASY for me to only eat "sushi" with deep fried shit it it.... I've had nary a chunk of raw fish since I moved to Ye Olde Boston!
What I'm really talking about here is the Godzilla roll. I'm pretty sure the "magical spicy sauce" previously mentioned by Quinn E is made from some type of methamphetamine, or other highly addictive drug, like mayo. I was first introduced to the Godzilla roll the very first time I went to JP seafood, and "trying new things" has been out of the question ever since.
If you're into "real" sushi, my manfriend insists that it's quite edible. Plus, everyone who works there is super nice, you can get a beer, and I've only had to wait for a table ONCE. I'm glad this was the first place I ate in JP, and that it's good, cause if it wasn't I woulda been tempted to move away immediately. -
Review from Joe S.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/12/2006
The three or four meals I've had here have been inconsistent. One was a lunch where I ordered the bento box, which was decent but bland. Most recently I had the heated bibimbop dish, which was more satisfying, and some tempura that was quite good.
Planning to stop by sometime to try the scallion pancakes, which everybody seems to love.
