Next Sunday's review
I almost forgot to tell you about next Sunday's review, which will appear in the Arts & Life Today section. In honor of Chains Week, as this is turning out to be, I'll be reviewing the city's newest, Arizona-based RA Sushi in Harbor East. This is the rock-n-roll sushi bar and restaurant that specializes in whacko maki rolls like the one pictured (Viva Las Vegas).
If you can put aside for the moment that this is the loudest restaurant you've ever been in, and probably the reddest (not the most soothing combination) -- and if you're over 30 you probably won't be able to put the ambience aside for a moment; that's the point -- you may be wondering how the food is.
I'll tell you everything you need to know.
Comments
I don't mind the whacko rolls, but I have a feeling that this will be one of those places that becomes super trendy and will always have a 45 minute wait for a table. Shh, let's not talk about it!
Posted by: Kim Moore | February 24, 2008 2:38 PM
If it's that trendy then the poseuratti will flow there from Lemon Grass/Tsunami if that's where they were. They're like two blocks away. I wonder whether Harbor Easy isn't overbuilt with that sort of hot-today gone-tomorrow kind of place.
I could be wrong, but it didn't look like a place hipsters would be heading for. It had an unexpected college hangout vibe to it. It was a little less slick (a la P. F. Chang's) than I expected, more like a place 20-somethings who live or work in the area would stop in for dinner at. Of course, I wasn't there on the weekend.
Posted by: Ed H. | February 24, 2008 3:01 PM
I don't know about that Kim. I wasn't impressed AT ALL. I've had much better sushi and sashimi elsewhere and in more enjoyable surrounds. It's hard to get past the noise, and the half empty (half full) dining room leads me to think that the 45min wait is a pipe 'dream'.
Posted by: Aussiewonder | February 24, 2008 3:23 PM
I've had the opportunity to eat at Ra several times. During my last visit my friends and I concluded that the key to Ra's success will be their signature sushi. I would agree that I can get a better traditional sushi somewhere else, but only at Ra can I find the scallops kiwi combination, or roasted red peppers and artichockes.
Posted by: Gabe | February 24, 2008 5:00 PM
Stunt sushi. Sounds like a good business idea. Very American. So American it's almost Japanese. "Arizona-based sushi" says all you need to know. Isn't that like Vatican-based strippers? I'd like the oxymoron roll with extra irony, please. Giving out condoms? Not sure how I feel about that. Do you think they're promoting promiscuity with their giant clams, hand rolls, and otter pops? Repent already.
Posted by: Rev. Ed H. | February 25, 2008 4:37 AM
I went to RA two Fridays ago, around 10:30pm. The bar area was packed, but only three tables were used in the dining room. That, with the red and black deco and the forced sexiness of the female staff, gave the whole experience a rather sad, wanna-be feeling. And the sushi was just okay, I thought.
Maybe I'm just a late dinner-eater? It's hard to find many places in Baltimore that serve past 9:30 on weekdays and only a handful serve past 10:30 on weekends (RA being one of those).
I definitely need to do another post on late-dining options.
Posted by: mags | February 25, 2008 10:58 AM
Did your waitress at Ra sit down at your table with you twice like mine and my friend's did this past Saturday. I was also served raw chicken teryiaki, I won't be back. Baltimore has better in the way of Japanese restaurants, this place is a total tourist trap.
There wasn't room. :-)
Posted by: Hon | February 25, 2008 3:27 PM
I hear one of the reasons it's noisy is because the wait staff comes up behind you and shouts "RAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 25, 2008 6:01 PM
Is that true Sam Sessa? What does it mean RAaaaa?
Posted by: Pierre A. | February 25, 2008 6:27 PM