An artistic stone fountain holding multiple colorful fish ensures a welcoming entrance. Bamboo walls surround each table, creating a sense of privacy.

FuGaKyu is an elegant, well-kept and traditional Japanese restaurant conveniently located on Beacon Street, within walking distance from the high school. It is a large restaurant that can seat many people comfortably and is well-suited for the populous Coolidge Corner area.

Customers have the option to sit in regular seating, or at the bar, where various sushi platters pass by on a miniature conveyor belt, allowing customers to pick and choose their plates based on appearance as well as content.

We ate at a long table resting on a lowered platform and sat on legless chairs placed on the floor around it. The table was in an isolated room, and as required, we took off our shoes upon entry.

On the table, there lay chopsticks and pink napkins delicately folded in a fan-like shape.

The menu, made of firm paper and held together by decorative red string, contained a variety of sushi, soups, salads, deep fried appetizers and many other plates for both lunch and dinner.  There were common plates, like chicken fried rice, and unique ones, like fried sweet potato.

Prices varied greatly, but for the most part were expensive. This makes FuGaKyu more appealing to an older audience and less affordable for high school students.

Every plate was conscientiously made and arranged, making it very visually appealing. The food came on ceramic plates and bowls often square or rectangular in shape, unlike most restaurants in Brookline.

The combinations of flavors and textures created unique experiences. The fried rice was moist and soft, well-seasoned and perfectly mixed with soy sauce. The tender chicken was nicely cut into small, manageable pieces. Their chicken fried rice was a large dish priced at $20.

The sweet potato was bordered by a delicate crunch and filled with warm and flavorful potato, a small dish with approximately seven small slices priced at around $6.

The Miso soup was a small and flavorful option for a reasonable price: $3.

The staff was very caring, often returning to make sure all was well with the food and to refill water.  The waiters tried their best in all cases to cater to all the diners’ needs.

Overall, FuGaKyu is an ideal Japanese restaurant with a very impressive reproduction of Japanese  culture. The Sagamore rates it four and a half out of five stars solely because of its high prices. It is one of Brookline’s finest restaurants and gives its diners an insight into the beautiful Japanese culture.