Raku

The food is excellent but the setting is small and depending on where you sit you will leave smelling like the kitchen. For this reason, I asked to be seated away from the kitchen at an open booth closer to the windows. However, I was told that because there was just two of us that we would have to wait until one of the other parties finished before we could be seated even though there were other booths open. Keep in mind this was within an hour of them closing for lunch. After...read full review

While staying in Bethesda for a work assignment, we tried this place. It was packed but thankfully we had made reservations even for dinner on a weekday. Service staff was pleasant and quick. We enjoyed every bite of the following: Steamed Shumai (3 pieces filled with kurobuta pork-shrimp-chicken filling with chunky chili oil and sake tahini sauce), Cornmeal Crusted Fried Calamari served with cilantro-cucumber sauce and horseradish cocktail sauce, Roasted Mushroom and Asparagus...read full review

I went to Raku in Bethesda Row for my friend's birthday dinner! However, I was a bit disappointed because I've visited the Cathedral Heights location and had an amazing experience but this place felt just okay -- it could just be the menu items I ordered though. For my drink, I ordered a strawberry elderflower mocktail but it tasted like alcohol and wasn't that yummy. I also got the nigiri sampler and the lobster sushi roll. The nigiri was fresh but ended up filling me up fast...read full review