The menu at this spot goes heavy on shareable seafood plates like monkfish katsu, lobster miso soup, and soy sauce-seasoned scallops that are all great for pairing with a sake flight while sitting by the crackling fireplace. Think about the place like a casual izakaya meets a cocktail bar, which means you can walk in on any weeknight for a post-work bite with colleagues or go for an impromptu date night, and still make it home in time to do your full skincare routine. RESERVE A TABLE WITH

This self-described New England izakaya spot is where you want to eat in the fall and winter in Cambridge. There’s a cozy fireplace, and flavorful warm dishes like seared scallops and lobster roll pasta. The menu changes frequently, and the sake menu is deep and varied, so get a flight if you’re not sure what you like.

As sad as we are that chef Jason Bond’s darling Bondir recently closed in Cambridge, we can’t help but be excited by the sound of Judy’s Bay, which will move into the space this fall. After a few years of running Asian-inspired barbecue pop-ups around town, spouses Kim Vo and Lukas Dow have found a permanent home for their restaurant, which will apply Japanese izakaya-informed flavors and culinary approaches to New England seafood standards: baked stuffed lobster with panko, ginger, and scallion, nori-dusted clams, and scup in silken tofu are among the possibilities that Vow previously floated. The restaurant is named for his grandmother, who cofounded a decades-spanning restaurant, Wah May, in Fairhaven, Mass.

The one I’m most anticipating is Judy’s Bay, a “New England izakaya” taking stewardship of the cozy space that was long Bondir. It comes from Lukas Dow and Kim Vo, spouses and hosts of a series of Asian-inspired barbecue pop-ups running since 2018. Dow, who has worked at restaurants such as Cafe Sushi, L’Espalier, and Mei Mei, will take on chef duties; he is also a hip-hop artist and cofounder of the nonprofit Cambridge Hip-Hop Collective.

Judy's Bay is a lovely little fusion Japanese bistro that offers a delightful surprise for seafood enthusiasts like myself. As I perused the menu, my eyes immediately fixated on the signature lobster roe pasta. The combination of the exquisite lobster and the delicate flavors of the pasta provided an explosion of taste in every bite.

Judy’s Bay is a cozy izakaya, with “wall-facing” bar seats that highlight Japanese culture. Uni Tuna bowl is beautiful in appearance and the sea urchin is delicious. Besides, the Tuna is Nakaochi, which is slightly fishy, but it goes well with vinegar rice and wasabi.

Judy’s Bay is an izakaya — a restaurant serving “essentially Japanese tapas,” said Dang. She suggests hitting up the spot with friends to share plates, before finishing off the meal with the restaurant’s black sesame ice cream sundae.

This restaurant took over the tiny Bondir space and kept their fireplace — in fact, you can reserve the fireplace booth for extra cozy dining!. There’s also chicken on the menu if your date isn’t as into seafood.