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A new izakaya softly opened on Thursday in Somerville's Davis Square (260 Elm St.), serving up soba, sushi, and yakitori. The 58-seat space, located in Davis Square Plaza, was previously a medical office. Its name refers to a ball made of fresh cedar branches that was traditionally hung outside of sake or beer breweries — as the branches dried up and the ball turned brown, it indicated that the beer or sake had aged enough to be sold.
The restaurant's extensive dinner menu includes hot and cold appetizers, from pork buns to takoyaki (octopus balls); soups and salads; tempura; 16 kinds of yakitori; a variety of hot and cold soba, some of which can be served vegan on request; and plenty of sushi. The soba noodles are made in-house. The abbreviated lunch menu is all about combos of sushi, soba, and other options.
A few early visitors have praised the "on point" tempura, "nice" staff, "rich" soba broth, and "very flavorful" sushi.
Sugidama is currently open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
