"Come to Mai for the Instagram bait, stay for the wagyu steak frites. At first glance, Mai seems crafted for social media. At the new novelty-chic Seaport restaurant, there are caviar-garnished chicken nuggets, decorative Labubus, and a smoke-bubble-topped cocktail. Even the "slimming mirror" owner Kevin Liu has ordered for the hallway to the bathroom will play into the Instagram-friendly vibe. But there's substance behind the style, as one bite of the (surprisingly affordable) wagyu steak frites confirms."
"French-inspired Japanese food-which Liu likens to how Panda Express serves American-inspired Chinese food-can't be found in Boston, he says, and "we wanted to be the first." On the menu, that looks like a duck confit and foie gras handroll, for instance, or shoestring fries cooked in wagyu fat, served with an irresistible truffle-infused ketchup. Liu's NoToro Hospitality Group is also behind Matsunori Handroll Bar near Fenway, which debuted in early 2023,"
Mai opens in Seaport as a novelty-chic French-Japanese restaurant pairing showy, Instagram-ready presentation with substantial cooking. The space features caviar-garnished chicken nuggets, decorative Labubus, a smoke-bubble cocktail, and a hallway "slimming mirror." The menu highlights French-inspired Japanese items such as a duck confit and foie gras handroll and shoestring fries cooked in wagyu fat with truffle-infused ketchup. Wagyu steak frites are an affordable standout. Owner Kevin Liu brings experience from Matsunori Handroll Bar, displays wagyu certificates with cow names and nose prints, and retains signature handrolls like the miso butter cod.
Read at Boston Magazine
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]