Fish and Fruit

Haru is yet another one of the many sushi restaurants in Boston that I've been meaning to try, and finally had an excuse to go. Perhaps as equally exciting as the sushi itself was the fact that the weather was decent enough to dine al fresco, at one of Haru's outdoor tables overlooking fashionable Back Bay, with great pedestrian foot traffic for prime people-watching.

The sushi wasn't bad, either. Haru has all the expected staples of rolls and sashimi - yellowtail, eel, vegetable tempura, etc. Yet they also have some more upscale and innovative menu items, such as lobster mango cervice, crab cakes with pomegranate sauce, and a selection of tartares including salmon with citrus jalapeno sauce and red & white tuna with miso lemon sauce, which was truly gorgeous on the plate. Special rolls include the Kiss of Fire, with spicy tuna and jalapeno peppers, and the Strawberry Fin, yellowtail and mango topped with scallops and fresh strawberries - not exactly your everyday sushi. Haru sushi chefs experiment with the whimsical marriage of fish and fruit, taking east-west fusion cuisine to a new level.

The restaurant interior is elegant and chic, with a Japanese garden, modern minimalist Asian decor, and a private party room with a centerpiece lighting fixture that resembles a cascade of floating bubbles. Haru is a great setting for after-work cocktails, business meetings, or romantic dates alike - it's a definite must-try.