Ra Sushi

September 26, 2009 at 11:43 am , by Serina Patrick

Ra Sushi Exterior
TunacadoEdamame and Nigori Sake

First of all, my feelings about eating inferior sushi are about the same as drinking an O’Douls (alcohol free) beer….why bother? Diners that like the sushi at Ra probably think Trader Joe’s wine is pretty good too. Sad.

MF Buckhead is truly the only sushi in Atlanta worth eating. Check out my interview with Chris Kinjo in Atlanta’s Finest Dining last year. After dining there, all other sushi pales in comparison. So, I was not too excited to go to Ra last night, but it was with my friend AD and a fun group of girls and I thought I would give it a try.

Having read Cliff Bostock’s review in Creative Loafing recently, I already had a preconceived notion that it would probably suck. Oh, and it’s a chain. Even less impressive.

Taking advantage of an evening without rain, our group of 8 sat on the large patio. We started with edamame and I ordered a cold nigori sake from their extensive list. So far, so good. But Ra is more about fun than food. The atmosphere is festive, the location is close to midtown’s clubs and bars, so the crowd was young and trendy. I saw a lot of familiar faces.

Some of the girls ordered salads, others tried rolls. There are plenty of creative, Americanized sushi-esque appetizers and entrees. AD ordered the Tunacado which we thought was a roll but was simply thin sliced sub-par tuna and avocado with a creamy ponzu dipping sauce. The website claims the fish is flown in fresh daily….really? Ironically, I did not order anything raw at Ra but rather opted for smoked salmon and unagi (eel) nigiri. Both passable. I also tried the pork potstickers. The frozen ones at Whole Foods are better.

Service was a little off but, again, passable. The girls seemed to enjoy their food. Perhaps they are not sushi snobs like me, and that’s OK. The menu is extensive and this was just one visit but chances are the next time I crave sushi I will be ordering the amazing melt-in-your-mouth kampachi and the kickass duck or seabass from the robata grill at MF Buckhead.

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  • A reader

    Here is an interesting tidbit: Seafood flown in fresh daily is actually a comment any restaurant in Atlanta can claim. Because our airport is such a huge international hub, fresh seafood does arrive daily to Atlanta. There are several companies here that then supply fresh seafood to many other, even coastal, cities through refrigerated delivery. For example, I was surprised to learn Atlanta supplies the bulk of seafood to Miami.

  • hotdishreview

    That is true. Most diners are surely unaware of this. Your point about coastal cities being supplied via Atlanta reminds me of the same backwards experience I recently had on the coast of Spain, both Barcelona and Mallorca, where most restaurants said their seafood was frozen! MF gets their fish directly from the the market in Tokyo, specifically sushi grade.

  • Irit Aviv

    I have to ask I see pattern here. Do you have problem? First, you go not so nice places and then your pictures are always blurry. Perhaps you should take picture when you first arrive and still hold camera straight, no? Unless you drink and drive and show up in places like this, then that other story.

  • Name Withheld

    I am pretty sure this is not the case. Why does every where Irit Aviv go troubles follow??

  • hotdishreview

    Yes, I do see a pattern here as well!

  • Irit Aviv

    I can see why I blame for this? What Can I do? Jealousy always surround me. It not my fault you the way you are and you do not tip waiters. Why don't you just tell true…MF Sushi pay you or give your free duck and sea bass to talk bad of others? There always the real reason.

  • Name Withheld

    Irit, you are insane.

  • Dish fan

    Real Reason? Could it be RA Sushi's is a chain with mediocure food? It reminds me too much of Ru San's with the loud disco ball atmosphere. Anyone know when Piola opens next door? They are a chain also, but have authentic European flair pizza and taste. I am curious to see how they will be greeted by Atlanta.

  • hotdishreview

    Yes, it's similar to Ru Sans….all hype, not horrific, but mediocure to be sure. Checking into Piola, looks like they offer 100 variations of pizza. Have you tried Antico Pizza Napoletana? Blissful Glutton drooled over it.

  • Name Withheld

    Irit, you are insane.

  • Dish fan

    Real Reason? Could it be RA Sushi's is a chain with mediocure food? It reminds me too much of Ru San's with the loud disco ball atmosphere. Anyone know when Piola opens next door? They are a chain also, but have authentic European flair pizza and taste. I am curious to see how they will be greeted by Atlanta.

  • hotdishreview

    Yes, it's similar to Ru Sans….all hype, not horrific, but mediocure to be sure. Checking into Piola, looks like they offer 100 variations of pizza. Have you tried Antico Pizza Napoletana? Blissful Glutton drooled over it.

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