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🍜 Sugidama Soba & Izakaya: Somerville’s Soba Spot—Style Over Substance Famous for buckwheat noodles, with sea urchin soba as their claim to fame. But timing matters: summer sea urchin here tastes off (paint-like, somehow), while winter batches are decent. After a recent visit, it’s clear this spot leans more on variety than standout flavor. 🌟 The Decent Bites Scallop Hokkaiyaki: 🐚 A popular starter. Scallop meat, crab sticks, and mushrooms mixed with spicy mayo, baked in a shell. It’s creamy and savory at first, but the richness clings—by the last bite, it’s cloying. Sake Uni Taco: 🌮 Fancy name for a Japanese hand roll. Nori wrapped around salmon, sea urchin, and fish roe—classic, safe, and tasty. No surprises, but no complaints either. Hamachi Kama (Grilled Yellowtail Collar): 🐟 A past favorite. Not ordered this time, but worth noting—juicy, flavorful, and well-charred. If you go, add this to your list. ❌ The Misses Sansai Hot Soba: 🍲 A vegan soba bowl, ordered to test their core offering. Disappointing. The tofu puffs (soaked in broth) are good, but the noodles? Bland and underwhelming. Chinatown’s Somenya does a far better job with simple, satisfying soba. Tempura & Tamagoyaki: 🍤🥚 Both lack flavor. The tempura batter is greasy, not crisp; the tamagoyaki (sweet rolled egg) is dry and under-seasoned. Yakitori (Grilled Skewers): 🍢 Hard pass. Dry, overcooked, and barely seasoned. No smoky char, no juiciness—avoid at all costs. ✨ The Vibe Ambiance: 4/5. Clean, modern, and comfortable, with outdoor seating in summer. It’s a nice space for a casual meal. Food: 3/5. Too many misses to recommend wholeheartedly. The menu’s extensive, but few dishes leave an impression. Budget Score: 3/5. ~$50+ per person feels steep for the quality—you’re paying more for the setting than the food. Sugidama has potential, but it’s inconsistent. Stick to the hamachi kama or sea urchin (in winter), skip the rest. 📍 Sugidama Soba & Izakaya 234 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144 #BostonIzakaya #SobaNoodles #SomervilleEats