RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

1) No reservations, first come, first served.
2) 2.5 Hours wait. ( This is the first time - and last - for me to wait for 2.5 hours to get at table )
3) Staff attitude: The teenager-like hostess attitude left too much to be desired:" There is nothing we can do for you. You can 'wait until a table is free, or if you can, try to get a table on your own. If you want to leave, just let us know so we can cross you out of the waiting list."
4) Manager Attitude: " We need a credit card to serve your table' (?). That is our policy, and if you don't like it you can leave. - This is also a first: - Good restaurants ( Mortons, Capital Grille, Truluck's, etc ) NEVER ask for a credit card PRIOR serving. They assume you are a good customer and make sure you feel welcome.

In conclusion: it takes effort and time to write a review. More often than not, I don't write them. This time, the service was so bad and inconsiderate, that taking the time to let you guys know what is going on, was needed.

I will not go back to that restaurant. Please think about it before you decide to go.

Cons: Mismanaged place, poor service, average food.

Posted 10/17/09

My husband and i have been going to Ra for about a couple of months now. The wait is long, but well worth it. Our first couple of experiences have been bad due to the service, almost wanting to ban Ra sushi, until this one waiter took care of us (Michael). He's really nice, never had to ask for anything as if he could read our minds. Never once ever had to wonder where my waiter was unlike most restaurants that we have been to. For those people who are having a hard time finding a sushi restaurant with fresh sushi and great service, go to RA. Make sure you ask for Michael though or else you might end up with a bad experience. Don't forget to take care of him as well : )

Pros: food and service

Cons: wait time

Posted 10/05/09

Very slow service, too over 30 minutes to get sushi. Had to ask where it was, at which point it suspiciously immediately appeared.

The next round was no faster. Took over 2 hours to be served two rounds, appetizers and nagiri...and not due to the leisurely pace of the eaters.

The displeasure felt was exasperated by the loud, bad music which made it difficult to talk, which is annoying if their service is so slow you're forced to sit there forever. Almost considered ditching and just leaving around enough money on the table.

Won't be back.

Pros: Cheap happy hour drinks

Cons: Slow service, small portions w/sushi, overpriced food, loud

Posted 10/04/09

What happened to Rickshaw?

I heard all the rage about this place only to show up to an inner city club and dump

Pros: nothing

Cons: crowded and not enough staff

Posted 07/26/09

The service at this place is rude, slow, and disorganized. Beware of giving your driver's license to the waiter: I took my boyfriend there on his birthday, we had TERRIBLE service, as the waiter kept forgetting things, and he took my boyfriend's license and lost it. The restaurant manager is rude and unwilling to compensate him in any way. Needless to say, we couldn't go out anywhere for drinks afterward, as he now has no license. Nice birthday! I want my money back, but of course I won't get it. I can get good sushi and good service at several other places, and that is what I will do, as well as the rest of my family and friends who used to frequent RA

Pros: NONE

Cons: See below

Posted 07/12/09

Loved to food and drinks, but the service was a little slow. We went there for my husbands birthday and it was great! Probably better to go during the week.

Posted 07/09/09

the food is great and so is the service only one con get there before happy hour you can wait 20 to 40 mins but worth the wait!!

Posted 07/05/09

My boyfriend and I went eat there and the food was very tasty, espcially the scallop roll thingy. But the waitress was really rude. I've worked in the service a good bit, so I know I'm not just being judgemental. She was rude and told us that we ordered too much food! She treated us like we were stupid the whole dinner and had a ugly attitude. My friend went about a month later and had just the same type

Of service

Pros: Example: best croissants in town

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 04/15/09

I eat here once, twice a week. I was really shocked at the reviews. Yes, the service can be slow.. but typically its not bad. And the price? I spend way less here than Japanerios and other place in Sugarland, Katy. The Happy Hour is fantastic for good deals. Their Zonie, Tsunami, and Tunacado is a must for me once a week. Everyone in Houston seems to create menus where its fried, stuffed with cream cheese and swimming in some mayo sauce with little creativity with rolls that puts the fish center stage. I actually like the taste of fish and this place definitely showcases it with quality that can't be beat.

Pros: Food, Music

Cons: service can sometimes be slow

Posted 04/15/09

My friends and I can't stand this place. It tries WAY too hard to be hip. RA cares about image more than good service & quality food.

I have been more than once but last time I waited at a table 15 minutes before anyone even brought water. The server disappeared & returned 10 minutes later to take our drink order. It only got worse from there- and the place was never crowded. No excuse for poor service.

The sushi is terrible and overpriced. If I want headache-inducing music and a cheesy crowd, I'll go to a club, not RA- at least there I might be able to get a drink.

Pros: NONE

Cons: service, crowd, food, parking

Posted 03/30/09

Ok, I'll admit. The decor is pretty creative and visually appealing. But an entire restaurant can't hinge solely on image. The first time I tried this place was in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday, so it's safe to assume that it was pretty slow. However, they still had the music thumping like it was a Friday night! I think that's absurd. We were seated quickly, of course. The waitress explained the menu to us, since we were first timers, and I liked the whole mark-down-what-you-want-on-a-list concept. I think they came up with it to avoid having to try and HEAR customers over the club music. The food took a little while, but it ended up being pretty tasty, and cost what I expected to pay for decent sushi. I have a weird observation that put me off a little, though. The waitresses work attire is too casual for how trendy and fabulous the restaurant looks. They were all wearing black wife-beaters and jeans. I didn't like it. I would expect sleek black button-ups at this kind of place, and DEFINITELY not jeans. And on another note, the second time I tried this place was a Thursday night. But when we walked in and saw a line down the stairs, we turned right back around and went to our tried-and-true sushi fall-back place: Tokyohana. Overall, I think RA focusses too much on being one of the cool kids and not enough on quality. But maybe everyone overlooks it because it's so hip to say "OHMIGOSH, going to RA! I'm so interesting!"

Pros: very cool decor

Cons: flighty wait-staff, stupidly loud music, parking, crowds at night and on weekends

Posted 03/07/09

My initial visit was a year ago and wanted to go back. Second visit was last night and will not go back again unless there are a few changes. Prior to placing our order, we were brought someone elses order - 3 different times! We placed our order and they brought us the wrong order twice. The music was so loud my husband and I were frustrated because we kept saying "what?", "say again", "I didn't hear you". we were sitting at a table for two and had to sit on the edge of our seats so our heads could be close enough to hear each other. Drinks way over priced for the quantity and the music was TOO loud. Guess that is why we kept getting the wrong food - the waitress could not even hear us! It seems as though they are confused - Night club or restaurant. They need to remove the music from the eating area!!!

Pros: good food, nice decor

Cons: overpriced drinks and music too loud to hear the person next to you.

Posted 03/06/09

Sometimes I have to come here if friends want to, but the service is terrible EVERY time. No matter how slow it is or what time of day, the service is always bad and really slow. Servers constantly forget to check back or even take orders. The food is expensive for how mediocre it is.

Pros: nice decor

Cons: terrible service

Posted 02/23/09

The atmosphere was great. Reasonable volume music playing. Reasonable lighting. The servers were poor advisors of the menu, which is often needed in a sushi restaurant.

Enjoyed the trip, may make it back, would recommend stopping somewhere to eat before your snacks at RA.

Pros: Great atmosphere

Cons: Just less than average service with only reasonable food.

Posted 01/20/09

Waited for 30-45 minutes, before canceling our order (they hadn't even begun making our food). Don't go here unless no other sushi restaurant is open.

Pros: Taste of food

Cons: Service, Price

Posted 01/01/09

Went for a friend's birthday party. Happy hour had a good menu and would recommend the Tootsy Maki and Viva Las Vegas roll. Service started out okay, but throughout the night it was horrible. Had to request for server to come and serve us repeatedly

Pros: nice area, club style feel

Cons: parking unless you valet

Posted 12/23/08

Okay so I've always heard great things about this place, so my boyfriend, me and some friends went there. Getting in was easy, the atmosphere was chill, fun, relaxed, and young, which was PERFECT. They had great music to go along with it!
Down to the bad part.. we actually had to FIND our waitress. We ordered the Goujia (i think thats how it is spelled), and a Sunami, then some of our friends ordered. Well 10 min later we still had not seen our ONE drink that we ordered, and our friends had theirs, waited another 5 min, and then went to find the waitress b/c she still had not even come to check on us. Found her, explained to her that I still had not gotten my drink, and she had gotten things confused, and brought us our drink (which was 13$ and hardly full of liquor, mostly ICE) then had to wait another 10 min for the server to give us our food.
The food was amazing, but the service was horrible.
On top of all of that, their credit card machine kept rejecting (denying) our card, which needless to say had money in it. So after that we ended up paying cash.
Go if you want to just chill, and hang out, and order your drinks at the bar, you will most likely get them quicker that way.

Pros: Great Food, Fun Hang Out Place

Cons: Service

Posted 10/05/08

The restaurant appears as if a good chunk of the money went into the decor and the sound system (which was ridiculously loud). The waitress was attentive and helpful although it would have been nice to have a flashlight as it was impossible to read the menu. I held my menu up to the small candle on the table hoping not to light the menu on fire. But dim light and ear-splitting music is not the only problem. The sushi rolls are bland and tasteless and fell apart as if improperly prepared. If you attempt to dip your sushi in the soy sauce you will lose what didn't fall apart when you first picked it up. I strolled over to the sushi preparation area and noted about 6 or 7 young american guys (not one appeared remotely japanese) hurriedly preparing mushy rolls. Nobody can prepare sushi well when they are in a hurry. For three people we ordered the lobster spring rolls (not bad) however the crazy monkey roll, the spicy tuna roll and the lobster shrimp roll were quite awful. Still hungry and disappointed we ordered teriyaki beef (way too salty) and a concoction of pineapple chicken (not too bad). Desperate to leave, my wife decided to ordered fried ice cream. We have had this numerous times before but this came straight out of the freezer sliced up like pieces of pound cake with some ghastly drizzle over it. It was not flash fried as in other japanese restaurants. One thing you are guaranteed is a headache to match the stomach ache you will get eating here.

Pros: I liked the music but it is loud enough for a dance club

Cons: forget about conversation, skip the food, grab a drink and sit outside

Posted 08/15/08

The entrance/stair way lights were very cool but that ended up being the best thing about this place. It was really busy so we sat at a table on the 'bar' side. Seems as though this place can't decide if it wants to be a night club or a restaurant. It was very loud and hard to talk across the table, men were just standing around as if it was a meat market, the atmosphere once inside nothing to speak of, the cosmo's were too sweet, and the sushi very average at best. There are too many better sushi places in town to waste your time (and money) at this one.

Posted 07/26/08

The food is great! I love the tootsi maki rolls are soooo GREAT! I love the happy hour and all the food and drink prices! Sundays are for sure the place to go!

Pros: amazing happy hour and good food

Cons: sometimes waitresses can be rude

Posted 07/18/08

I went to Ra with a group of 8 on a busy Wednesday night for a friend's birthday. We were seated promptly, and the ambiance and decor is fantastic! Service was lagging (I know they were busy), but it took 15 minutes to get a Miller Lite bottle and some saki. Our server just didn't seem to try very hard because I'm sure he knew he could grat us (AND BTW WE ARE NOT CANADIANS, it was a group of young professionals and our server coulda made alot more $$ would he tried). Anyway, the rolls were very tasty (I recommend the Viva Las Vegas Roll... even though it strangely tasted like mashed potatoes). Crispy Spicy Tuna roll was not what i expected, but still okay. The sushi here is by far not the best in Houston, but I would probably go back one day. Something else that was a little disturbing was that a girl ran to the bathroom to ralph, and didn't make it. She let it rip by the windows near the bathrooms, and the staff let that sH1T sit there on the ground grossing everyone out for 10 minutes before anyone cleaned it up. Freaking DISGUSTING!! But to cap it off, the birthday dessert was phenomenal! COMPLIMENTARY VALET TOO!!

Posted 07/02/08

A friend brought us here as they frequent this place...claiming good sushi/atomosphere.
We came here for a Sat. Lunch...
The place is nice...cool decor atomosphere.
Sushi is above avg. but not the best best.

But none of that matters...

I saw this with my own eyes...

A (M- - - - ) (rhymes with House) drops down from below the sushi bar onto a bar stool...then jumps down to the floor..and goes to the kitchen doorway...stays there and drinks water from a puddle near the door and the wall not far from a sink I suppose...

Then goes back up the bar stool...hops on top of the glass and walks around!!!

This was crazy! I was able to keep our table calm, I didn't want to cause a scene... but a few other tables saw this and got up instantly.

Luckily we just paid our bill and we left... it was disgusting.

Just thought you should know about this...

We will never return.

FYI: why won't this review let me say the word (M O U S E) and ( R U N S ) ???

Pros: atomosphere, decor

Cons: M O U S E loose in restaurant for starters.

Posted 06/09/08

I went to Ra Sushi on this past Sunday night. It has the first time my daughter and I had been and we both were very impressed by the ambience of the place. A male server smiled at us and said hello with a sincere look on his face. The hostess eveline sat us and was very polite and sat us near the sushi area. However, we did not get service right away. I was starting to get very frustrated because my daughter was very thirsty and were not even offered drinks! However, a server named lauren quickly came to our table and asked if we had been waiting long. She did not know where are server was, but assured us that we would be taken care of and she did just that. Our drinks were always filled, and our food was out quickly. We observed that she also was juggling several other tables the same way, and my daughter and I were very impressed. Our opinion was quickly changed and we had an overall pleasant experience. The hostesses greeted us on our way out warmly and invited us back. The only complaint I have is the parking situation, but its managable.

Posted 06/08/08

This place is a lot of fun. Its got great atmosphere, good music, excellent drink menu and awesome food. The drinks on the mnu are good and offer a variety. The food is good. I'm not a big fan of sushi but i did really enjoy some of the different rolls they offer. Parking isnt the best but they do offer complimentary valet. The bar area is hopping on Friday nights so get there early and get a good seat by the window.

Pros: Complimentary Valet

Cons: Parking

Posted 06/03/08

I go to RA Sushi all the time and always have fun. You kind of have to know what to order. The Shaggy Dog and the Park roll are both off- menu items that are both spicy and delicious. Chili ponzu yellowtail and the Tunacado are really good Sashimi plates. The Sesame Wings are surprisingly good and also on the happy hour menu.Get to know the bartenders and cocktail servers and they will make sure you are taken care of. As for rats.....like I said, I am there at least three times a week and have never seen anything like that. Maybe it came in with the ratviewer.

Pros: Great bar staff, good food.

Posted 05/04/08

this places reminds me of hooter s. the hostesses could stand to cover themselves a little more and every female server had bra straps showing from their tight tank tops. some of the staff had shirts with very provocative words which i found to be a little sexist.

about half of the stuff we ordered was ok but the other half was pretty bad. the service was ok but i expect better service for the price. the music was way too loud and we could barely hold a conversation.

the decor is nice and the sake was good but that was all. i guess the place is ok if you're looking for americanized-japanese food in a place that's a mixture between hooter s and numbers. but if you're looking for good sushi, go somewhere else.

Posted 04/24/08

The Houston Chronicle tested the mercury levels in 15 different sushi restaurants around Houston, one of them was RA. RA's sushi had more than double the FDA's guideline for mercury levels and had the highest levels tested of any restaurant in Houston - 2.5 parts per million. To be fair, the FDA's guideline is 1 part ber million, which is 10 times less than what is considered safe (i.e., 10 parts per million or more would be unsafe). So RA's sushi is presumably still safe at 2.5 parts per million but it makes you wonder whether they are using the safest supplier. All the restaurants on their survey were tested on 2 separate occasions so their results appear reliable. RA's second test was actually considerably higher for mercury, but both results were more than double the FDA guidelines.

Posted 03/30/08

I visited RA for the first time for an early evening date on a Friday. We arrived in time for Happy Hour and were seated promptly. The "well drinks" weren't the best, yet my apple martini and Tsunami drink that we shared were great. The pinapple wontons are AWESOME and $4 during happy hour. The ambience was very relaxed and eclectic and our server was very attentive. Though our waitress spilled soy sauce on my date's shirt, it wasn't anything major (the shirt could be relpaced...honest mistake) and th manager insisted that he comp our next meal up to $40 dollars. I've lived in Japan for a year eating almost nothing but sushi and felt that RA's cuisine was more than up to par. RA is a great date or happy hour spot. Just try it for yourself. Word to the wise...anyone that knows anything about sushi knows to send it back if you feel its not cold enough

Pros: Happy Hour, atmosphere

Posted 03/14/08

I have been to RA Sushi twice. The first time was amazing, the food was great and the service was nothing to complain about. My second time though, I got ill even though I ordered the exact same thing (I'm a creature of habit). Just a warning that the food quality is not consitant.

Pros: Awesome Happy Hour Specials

Cons: Food Quality not Consitant

Posted 02/27/08

OK- Here's the deal. Lots of people, lots of action, lots of energy and some sushi. Its ok sushi. Go if you want to see people, action, and feel energy. Skip it if you want great sushi.

Pros: Happy Hour

Cons: Too much confusion

Posted 01/10/08

I went to Ra on Sunday to meet two girlfriends, share some libations and eat a healthy lunch of ahi tuna and edimame. What I found was a cross between a carnival side-show and a Jerry Springer episode.I arrived before my guests, so I promptly took a seat at the bar and ordered a martini- nothing fancy, and shaken not stirred in case you were wondering. Standing (or leaning) against the bar were scantilly dressed, stripper look alikes practically on the verge of passing out. The men accompanying these women were clad in gold "bling", just as intoxicated at the women they accompanied and proceded to conversate with me in half-slurred language I could hardly understand. I tried to be polite, but their "women friends" weren't having any of it. So when I turned my chair to face the other way, I enjoyed the company of what seemed to be a recently released pedofile in his 50's who creeped me out more than the others I met upon arrival. He too attempted conversation by mouthing something incoherent across the bar. About this time, my drink showed up and low and behold a $10 martini! I've paid less in New York, but this was Ra! Oh please.....

As I desperately counted down the minutes before my friends arrived, I decided to take a gander around the place to check out the crowd that sat idly while their food was being prepared. This crowd was even more frightening than the barflys. Strippers in skirts with butt cheeks hanging out, more cleavage than Heff's house can offer, and that greasy, pompous type guy that you only see in the movies was the crowd that day.

When my friends arrived, they took one look at the crowd, atmosphere and drink prices and we split.

I decided NEVER to go back.

Pros: location

Cons: atmosphere, prices, food, customers

Posted 01/10/08

I do have to preface this by mentioning that my boyfriend and I went late in the night. In any case, we were first told that a we would have to wait twenty minutes for a table. (They weren't that busy.) This was not a big deal, because once in every blue moon we like to sit at the bar. In any case, I ordered a green tea, which smelled and tasted like shellfish when it came. I'm pretty flexible about eating and drinking pretty much anything, but this was just nasty. Our server told us that quite a few patrons have found this to be a problem as well. Maybe this is a hint to get better tea.

Our food was okay, if not a little bland, and the fish did not taste fresh. The mackerel tasted fishy, and I think they were trying to disguise this with lemon. Not nice. The tempura was really bland, and the dipping sauce was too salty.

The service also was not great, which doesn't normally bother me, but the amount that it took for our food to get here was pretty ridiculous. Our server was very nice about it, but we were getting a little impatient because of it. They were crowded, but there were what seemed like twenty servers per section. However, this restaurant does have a fun party atmosphere and a pretty cool bar. After dinner, we agreed that we wouldn't be going back, if only for the fact that the food is boring, and that we would rather spend a little more and get better food elsewhere. So go, but don't expect it to WOW you.

Posted 01/03/08

I don't understand some of these reviews, I go to Ra all the time. I used to go just for the cool atmosphere, service has improved, it used to be sub-par but so is every other crazy busy restaurant on a FRI night, especially when they are new. The sushi is good, although the fruity rolls that they have I don't like, but the scallop dynamite roll is tasty. If you want to take someone out to eat and have a blast, eat good food and have good service I would recommend here, no other place like it!

Posted 12/01/07

This is my first review of a Houston restaurant. I had to find an outlet to warn people about my experience. I ate at RA Friday at lunch with an old colleague. I had edamame and the Chili Ponzu Yellowtail. It has always been my favorite dish there. prior to about 1 year ago, I was a pretty regular customer.

Beginning Friday evening, and continuing now, 3 days later (I'm missing work) - My stomache has been in terrible pain. I am constantly in the restroom, have had chills, felt weak, etc...

I had completely forgot until Saturday, that the same dish, 1 year ago, had made me sick as well.

I will never eat there again. Someone had warned me that due to their large size, they were not able to maintain all of their food at the right conditions all of the time. I now believe that this is true..

Pros: great location

Cons: got food poi**ning

Posted 11/18/07

I dont understand the bad reviews for this place. I went with 5 of my buddies on saturday night around 10 pm. The place was packed with good looking people. The DJ was playing great music. Although the hostesses were acting like they were 10, the waitstaff and bussers seem very well trained. Our waitress Monica was not only beautiful but a sweeetheart. She greeted us as soon as we sat down, recommended only but the best in the menu. She also had a great memory because she never wrote anything down and didn't not forget our order. The bus boy always filled up our drinks. The food is amazing and even looked pretty cool. Everyone in the restaurant seemed like they were having a great time. Its a hip place to go to. I was very impressed. The Viva las vegas roll is amazing.

Pros: serive food music

Cons: the wait

Posted 11/18/07

My sister and I went to Ra last night to celebrate her birthday. We went during happy hour so we sat ourselves and were quickly greeted by a server. We ordered our appetizer and two rolls along with our drink orders since it was pretty busy. We got our drink orders right away but the food takes a really long time and the servers disappear quite a bit. We received our appetizer and then about 20 minutes later we received our first roll. A long time went by before our waitress came around to start to clear our plates and ask if we were going to stick around and have a few drinks. Drinks? Our second roll hadn't come. She forgot to put the order in, although she blamed the kitchen staff. We were considering paying our tab and leaving when the second roll came, and by then it was disappointing having waited all that time. The atmosphere is for the to-be-seen crowd. The restaurant itself is very well decorated. Overall, I would say the place is over-rated. There is better food and service elsewhere.

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Service

Posted 11/07/07

I have to tell you I have no idea how this place is reviewed 4 1/2 stars. I live a few blocks a way and LOVE sushi so I was so excited when I found out one would be going in so close. I gave Ra numerous shots. The atmosphere is hip and cool but the sushi is terrible. I have been 3 times and not ONCE not TWICE but THREE times I or someone I have been with has gotten ill later that night. I have heard from others that this place is not sanitary as well. Go for the drinks. Raw food is not something I play around with. There are far greater places in Houston to eat sushi. Try the Callies Crunch roll right up the road at Rickshaw or Uptown Sushi has the posh atmosphere and fabulous sushi.

Posted 10/22/07

I always give a place at least 2 chances before making up my mind. 0 for 2 this is like the A-ROD of sushi all hype no delivery. The place is very nice but aside from the bar and atmosphere this place really is overrated. Service, I could have sworn that it was self service. Fire everyone including the management rehire, retrain then reopen. The food itself was mediocre at best. Trying to be more than it really is and failing terribly at it. Do yourself a favor and try the 2 dozen places in Houston that are 10 times better.

Pros: nice bar

Cons: too many to list take your pick

Posted 10/05/07

we came here for a happy hour and so we had a chance to sample a few things....food is decent, certainly not the best ever.....but atmosphere is very lively and upbeat if you're looking for a night out on the town along with dinner....unfortunately we just happened to have a brainless waitress who messed up our order, forgot to bring refills on my friend's drink after she asked twice already.........she brought us the check and asked if we were ready to pay, before our main dishes came out! she apparently forgot we ordered more that just the appetizers!! atmosphere is unique, though food is just your standard.

Pros: happy hour, atmosphere

Cons: bad service

Posted 10/02/07

Even though most of the reviews on here are about the bad service, we went there anyway. Well, they were right. I honestly think it was the worst service I have ever received. Unfriendly, non-attentive and looked just miserable to be there. She just wanted to go home and I wish she would have. All she had to do was close us out and ask someone else to take over, no big deal. Heaven forbid we ordered another glass of wine and were thinking about dessert. She glared at us from the hostess stand, several of them at a time would turn around and stare. Also let me clarify that this was not late at night, we were not the last ones there. This was at 8 o'clock on a Wednesday night. She dropped our check, took off her apron and literally walked out the door behind us. I like the atmosphere, food is ok, but I'm not paying to be treated like an unwanted guest.

Pros: Good Music

Cons: Service, Service, Service!

Posted 09/09/07

We tried RA for the first time and were NOT impressed at all by what we had.
Food was awful. The sushi rice fell apart in your mouth and had no texture or taste whatsoever. They couldn't even get a simple seaweed salad right. Service was subpar and the entire experience was made worse by the stale smell of the place.

Cons: Bad food, poor service and stale smelling

Posted 09/03/07

I probably have never had a more non-fun time. Expecting to eat delicious sushi and celebrate a joyous occasion with freinds, i was quickly deterred. The service was below par, the managers not nice or helpful at all having made reservations too. The sashimi, hot cold at all when i ate it. Food was below par too.

Pros: ambiance

Cons: service, expensive, taste

Posted 08/28/07

Ra is very trendy and the sushi tasted very good but it made 5 out of 8 people in our party very ill (sick to our stomach including a fever). We called the management to inform them of the fact that their sushi had made us very sick and they did not care. For $40 a person we thought we could expect great quality sushi - apparently not.

Pros: trendy place

Cons: sushi made us very sick

Posted 08/23/07

RA Sushi is a great sushi place with a great atmosphere for a lively evening out. The sushi and rolls are great, with original rolls and very high quality food. We love the Viva Las Vegas rolls and the crunchy calamari rolls - both are to die for.

The atmosphere is very lively and this place caters to a young, hip crowd. They play the music very loudly, and the playlist can be kind of random. This isn't the place for a quiet dinner, or for a more conservative person that might be offended by loud rock or hip hop music.

RA is our favorite sushi place in Houston and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

Pros: Great food, original rolls, fun atmosphere

Cons: none unless you're looking for somewhere quiet

Posted 08/16/07

There's got to be better sushi places in Houston. I haven't found them yet, since we just moved here from Chicago. But we went to RA sushi over the weekend, and the food was mediocre at best. We tried the calamari tempura (average), the scallop dynamite appetizer (horrible), chicken katsu (similar to an Applebee's-type entree), and a caterpillar roll. The roll was mushy and did not taste fresh. The best part of the meal was the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with the chicken katsu. For dessert, we got the fried banana with chocolate ice cream, which was also very good. Overall, we were seriously unimpressed. It was a waste of time and money.

Posted 08/05/07

I have been to a decent number of sushi restaurants, and this is my favorite! The sushi is always fresh and tastes wonderful (I only eat the nigiri and sashimi, where you actually taste the fish and quality). There ponzu sauce is freakin' awesome (if you haven't tried ponzu with sushi, instead of the soy sauce, you are missing out!). We drive quite a while to get here, and it is always worth it. My only complaint is the $$$ price.

Pros: Fresh and high quality fish; fantastic ponzu sauce

Cons: Price, only one location

Posted 07/30/07

This restaurant is managed and owned by Koreans. I really do not understand why people say Ira shai mase, which means in japanese Welcome, if they are Koreans? Are they pretending to be Japanese? The sushi is absolutely disgusting, because it is not fresh, and the rice is overcooked and as such does not hold too well. First off, Learn how to cook rice, I believe you use too much water in the sushi making process. Second, please wear gloves when making the sushi. I see your sushi chefs making sushi with their hands. or at least wash them every now and then. I think this place in regards to atmosphere is nice, but the clientelle, is NUVO RICH!! The waiters are well trained, but they are definetly overworked. I can tell they have to rush. It is more managements fault to understaff. Going back to the food, RA is a sushi restaurant. If it is a sushi restaurant they should hire a Sushi Chef, not a bunch of people that took a short training course. The Miso Soup tastes instant, not made from scratch. Price is too high, but considering the location I have to say appropriate due to the high rent cost. This in my eyes is more of a Hip bar, for food I would go somwhere else if you want authentic Japanese food. I think the problem is that the management is Korean but they try to make it into Japanese. Cleanliness is great. Again for a Bar or hang out spot I would give you 5 stars. But since you are in the restaurant category I only look at taste and this is not Japanese food. Train your chefs better, study your Zairyo or Ingredients better. I think you are not understanding how to cook your rice. Use a Utchiva/fan to cool the rice as this gives more Koshi or hardness. Learn you stuff before claiming it to be Japanese Sushi. Or rename it to a Korean restaurant.

Pros: Bar, Atmosphere except for Nuvo Rich clients

Cons: Sushi is not authentic.

Posted 07/03/07