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 we were seated no one else ever came in to be seated at the four person booths that they told us we could not be seated at. For this reason if I come back I will just order to go.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Teresa G.
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 which is a mix of shitake and portobello mushrooms and asparagus drizzled with Yuzu vinaigrette and topped with shavings of parmesan cheese, Golden Dragon Roll which has eel, salmon, avocado, cucumber, crispy potato, and eel sauce, and Agedashi Tofu with delicate chunks of tofu in dashi broth with slices of kabocha, shitake, ginger and shishito peppers. Everything was delicious. This is a great place to sa nice dinner with good company.
Joyce Y.
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 so I wasn't able to finish it. My favorites were probably the raw spot prawn, ikura, and seared salmon. I wasn't a huge fan of the lobster sushi roll though bc it was surprisingly very flavorless. This was especially disappointing because I love lobster and shelled out a little extra to order this. I wouldn't mind coming back here again but would prefer going to its other locations!
Phiroz Bhagat
Terrible! I ordered a take-out bento box from their menu for$28 and confirmed the price with the very pleasant telephone who took my order. When I went to pick it up the charge was $50+. When queried the person in charge said that the website had not been updated and insisted that their higher price was correct. I left without my food, vowing not to patronize them again.
Wm. Franklin
Good mix of Asian food, with good service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Luc Hansen
I thought the sushi would be ok as this is kind of a fusion restaurant but honestly amazing sushi and everything else was superb as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
P V
Great food but need to address the flies/nats that are constantly flying around our food. Makes it feel unsanitary.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lawrence
The place was very crowded on a Friday night. Service was strained at this busy time. The food was hit and miss. The "Ocean Spring Rolls" lacked flavor and were not helped by a sauce which can only be generously described as unhelpful. "Crispy Szechuan Chicken" was crispy and the sauce was spicy enough for American tastes but the addition of cilantro ruined the dish-my neighbor sent it back as "horrible". Without the cilantro it would have been quite acceptable. The White Snake and Red Dragon rolls were very good. Desert was a take on La Belle Helen with a well done poached red bosc pear which I garnished with green tea ice cream instead of the proffered vanilla.
Never been to Raku so long. Whenever we stop by , our food is always quality and quantity. That is a reason why these restaurant has been open for over 30 years. ???
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 we were seated no one else ever came in to be seated at the four person booths that they told us we could not be seated at. For this reason if I come back I will just order to go.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
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 which is a mix of shitake and portobello mushrooms and asparagus drizzled with Yuzu vinaigrette and topped with shavings of parmesan cheese, Golden Dragon Roll which has eel, salmon, avocado, cucumber, crispy potato, and eel sauce, and Agedashi Tofu with delicate chunks of tofu in dashi broth with slices of kabocha, shitake, ginger and shishito peppers. Everything was delicious. This is a great place to sa nice dinner with good company.
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 so I wasn't able to finish it. My favorites were probably the raw spot prawn, ikura, and seared salmon. I wasn't a huge fan of the lobster sushi roll though bc it was surprisingly very flavorless. This was especially disappointing because I love lobster and shelled out a little extra to order this. I wouldn't mind coming back here again but would prefer going to its other locations!
Terrible! I ordered a take-out bento box from their menu for$28 and confirmed the price with the very pleasant telephone who took my order. When I went to pick it up the charge was $50+. When queried the person in charge said that the website had not been updated and insisted that their higher price was correct. I left without my food, vowing not to patronize them again.
Good mix of Asian food, with good service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I thought the sushi would be ok as this is kind of a fusion restaurant but honestly amazing sushi and everything else was superb as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food but need to address the flies/nats that are constantly flying around our food. Makes it feel unsanitary.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
The place was very crowded on a Friday night. Service was strained at this busy time. The food was hit and miss. The "Ocean Spring Rolls" lacked flavor and were not helped by a sauce which can only be generously described as unhelpful. "Crispy Szechuan Chicken" was crispy and the sauce was spicy enough for American tastes but the addition of cilantro ruined the dish-my neighbor sent it back as "horrible". Without the cilantro it would have been quite acceptable. The White Snake and Red Dragon rolls were very good. Desert was a take on La Belle Helen with a well done poached red bosc pear which I garnished with green tea ice cream instead of the proffered vanilla.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Great sushi for a good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Bomb sashimi and rolls!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Never been to Raku so long. Whenever we stop by , our food is always quality and quantity. That is a reason why these restaurant has been open for over 30 years. ???
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crunchy Shrimp, Seafood Deluxe Udon Noodles Soup
Geat food I've ordered sushi was very good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good Japanese food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Bento box was amazing! Service was fast and efficient for a quick lunch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Teriyaki Chicken Bento Box