A long-awaited set of Japanese-inspired sister restaurants offering sushi and cocktails is opening this week at Commonwealth Plaza Midwood.

Today, the doors open at Uchi. At the sleek but simple ground-floor restaurant you can expect omakase tastings, hot and cold bites, and seasonal daily specials. Just a staircase or elevator ride away, Uchibā will open upstairs from Uchi on Friday, April 3. There, you’ll find a more casual izakaya-style environment, where you can order small bites to pair with your drink while you step out on the patio for a peek at the uptown skyline in the distance and people watching down below.

Ahead of the openings, we got a tour of the spaces — two of them, actually — and a sample of the food. Here’s what we think you’ll want to know before you go.

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