For a Special Night in Boston: O Ya, South End

A discrete entrance reminiscent of a Japanese tea house leads to an intimate, dimly lit interior, lending to its air of exclusivity and charm. Advanced reservations are recommended.

If possible, I think everyone should get a seat by the sushi bar to admire the Japanese sushi chefs' artistry firsthand. Dishes are served almost kaiseki style; sushi is presented to you piece by piece.

O Ya does have a main drawback, and that is its pricing. Although the food is exquisitely presented, diners must come mentally prepared to spend at least 100USD each, mostly due to O Ya's menu of high quality sashimi, fresh seafood and caviar, and wagyu beef. Diners can certainly spend less than 100USD per head, but your hunger may not be satisfied.

All things considered, O Ya is worth a special trip. I admit Boston does have its star chefs such as Ken Oringer and Barbara Lynch, but it does lack restaurants that have that 'wow' factor.

O Ya is definitely its own entity, with an inventive take on traditional nigiri sushi and sashimi. The sushi chefs here combine a typical canvas of raw fish and rice with unexpected flavors and infusions.