Sushi for everyone
A go-to spot in Central
Grace Young
Thelonious Monkfish
524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Monday – Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.,
Friday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.,
Sunday 12 – 10 p.m.
There are two kinds of sushi places: restaurants for sushi fanatics, and places that can win over the reluctant souls who are still skeptical about raw fish. Thelonious Monkfish is the latter.
Conveniently located in the heart of Central Square, Thelonious strikes the right balance between sushi that is affordable and trustworthy in a friendly setting. If you are new to sushi, try one of the Fairy Tale rolls — my favorite is the Sleeping Beauty roll, which mixes white tuna with salmon and mango, and binds the flavors together with a pineapple-infused mayo. Thought sushi couldn’t be refreshing? Think again.
If you’re tempted to order the Udon or the Pad Thai, I advise you to rethink your life choices. If you’ve ventured all the way to Central for food, my firm belief is that you owe it to yourself to get real sushi. If the Fairy Tale rolls still intimidate you, try the salmon skin roll or the Una Ju Donburi — freshwater eel draped over seasoned rice, complete with a drizzle of sweet eel sauce. If you’re over 21, check out their nontrivial collection of sakes and mixed drinks.
A final pro tip: if you are a Foursquare user, you get a free appetizer every three times you check in here. My favorite appetizer is the soft shell crab tempura, served with a rich but never overwhelming ginger sauce, which I still order every single time.
Thelonious is ideal for romantic dates, friend dates, impressing your parents, and even birthdays with small-to-medium sized groups. If you have a large party or are coming at a busy time, I strongly recommend placing a reservation. If you forget to do so, though, you can just call them from your bed/dorm and ask them to deliver the sushi straight to you! Trust me, I speak from personal experience.