RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

Please note: If you've been to the RA Sushi in downtown Chicago, then skip this meat market for the teen and twenty something set. Downtown Chicago location gives you class, fantastic service, and good food in a friendly, eclectic setting for all types of people. This location is strictly for the muscle beach crowd or the Barbie doll set whose combined IQs equal 120. When I came in on Thursday I was asked if I would be eating and drinking by the 12 year old hostess. Isn't that what a restaurant is for? Our twenty something year old waitress gave us no menus, silverware, or water. Wanted to know if we were sitting at the Sushi bar to order. The entire crowd was under 30, except for management, who could not seem to keep track of the field trip the kids were in. I had to ask for water, napkins, and a menu, and had to ask directly of the sushi chef to make me food. I had to complain twice to management to get cocktails, and their answer was they had a lot going on and to please be patient. It took 20 minutes to get a glass of water, and I had to tell the hostess to get the waitress FOUR times! Needless to say, if RA does not fall under due to this location, I do not know what will! Worst service ever, and the clincher? I left zero tip and the waitress followed me out the door to ask for it! Save your time and money! Go to Pizza Hut the night you decide to come here!

Posted 06/07/09

First time at this location, my wife and I were given a table as soon as we walked in. The waited about 15 minutes before anything happend and it looked like there was about 6 servers there and only 3 table were taken in the whole place. We asked for the tsunami drink/punch - which was great, except for the fact that there was a dead SPIDER in it!!!! Then we waited abouther 15-20 minutes before we received crab cakes as the appatizer. So pretty much it was a bad experience, good sushi, but the overall quality of service ruined the experience for us. One thing, when it came time for the check, the server was really quick. NEVER AGAIN!

Pros: Good/ok sushi

Cons: VERY BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Found dead spider in drink! NEVER AGAIN!!!

Posted 06/14/08

My husband and I go there a couple of times a month and have taken MANY friends there, they have all loved it. The sushi rolls are creative and VERY good. While not "traditional" sushi sometimes it is delicious and fun. The addition of pesto and jalepenos on some rolls is a nice surprise. The bar is fun and they usually have a game on....There is rarely a wait for a table, even on weekends. I do agree that the servers are quite young and flirty....but I assume that is one of RA's gimmicks, no? ;-) Great place and lots of fun!

Pros: sushi, bar

Posted 12/15/07

We have been to almost all of the RA locations, and this one has got to be the best! The atmosphere was upbeat and kicking; the sushi was the freshest I have had in the Chicagoland area in a very long time. Their unique rolls kept me entertained with an impressive bite every time. I have a soft spot for Sake and their own personal brand is excellent. I would recommend this to anyone who has a craving for sushi and fun.

Pros: Best Sushi

Posted 11/25/07

The food at RA is fine. The service however is bad. There are a bunch of teenagers running that place. Nothing against teenagers, but they don't customer service at all. The management has obviously decided to try and make RA a cool, young place to go. They hired a bunch of young, good looking kids to work there, who know nothing about service and have very little experience.

I'm sure they will change that eventually, as folks on the northshore won;t put up with bad service.

Cons: Service

Posted 07/10/07

The sushi is nothing special. All of the waitresses (I am a woman, so I am not encouraging anything) are 18-20 something who would rather flirt with the table of guys than notice you are ready to order. I admit the design of the restaurant is cool and maybe would be a great bar...especially if you're a young man.
The sushi wasn't anything special and the prices don't reflect that. I had a rainbow roll and the avocado was brown. I don't think the "sushi chefs" give a darn about the quality of their product.
I was surprised to see that I didn't need a reservation until I went there. There is nothing to entice real sushi lovers and even less to entice those who are afraid of raw fish to our side.

On the bright side, the saketini I had was great. So, drink up, but don't eat.

Pros: Drinks

Cons: sushi, a big con. Music too loud to be romantic...great if you don't want to talk to your date.

Posted 08/06/06

Visited Ra on a Sunday night at 8:30pm. It was not busy and we sat at the sushi bar. The sushi chefs were very knowledgable and offered us various dishes to try. Try the seared tuna nigri - it rocks!!! Also, the waitress was very quick in refilling drinks and tending to our needs. Sunday night offers discounted sushi and sake ($1!!).

The restaurant is in a very cute new development area and would be perfect to take a date here. Great for strolling along the shops.

Pros: great fish cuts, helpful sushi chefs

Cons: parking if busy, maki is too frufru

Posted 07/18/06