Crudo

Japanese food in the Italian-centric North End? An oddity indeed, yet Crudo is hardly a hidden gem. The glam, two-story space is all about surprises, from the undersung sakes to the cheekily named maki rolls. Creative dishes include a diced tuna taco and the Cru-OH! Lasagna maki (baked California roll with cream cheese, scallops, mayo,and eel sauce), but there are plenty of classic pleasures, from the udon to the poke to the pork buns. Another surprise: the brunch menu, which somehow includes both lobster Benedict and lobster wonton, along with a full sushi list.