RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

Doesn't Recommend

Tea Lemons

Joined 3 years ago

Fatally bad sushi. We went here the other night to try it, seeing as how it was a new sushi place in a nice part of town. From the get go, my impression was that this place is really 'tweeny' and shouldnt be taken seriously as a restaurant; unless you like Miley Cyrus remixes blaring while you eat. At first I ordered the miso soup, which is where the dinner gets ugly. I was hungry so I ate it fast, but when I got to the end I felt something crunch in my mouth. When I spat out the crunchy nuisance, I realized that my soup had come with shards of glass in the bottom. Thats right, broken glass. The kind that slices your insides up. The manager was less than apologetic when we told her; she ran off into the kitchen. Then she came out and told us everything would be taken care of (which turns out she would comp our soup and nothing else). We ate our sushi and when the bill came, it wasnt obvious that the soup had been comped, so we asked for the manager (the service was extremely slow). She didnt come after we asked 3 waiters, so we were about to leave when she came over and sternly told us that the soup had been comped and accused us of trying to get more out of them. We were just surprised because when you go to a restaurant, spend a lot of money on wine and food, then ingest glass, you usually get at least a free dessert... and a smile. She then demanded our information when we asked for her name, and was very rude.

Oh yeah, and everyone who ate the sushi paid for it the next day, if you know what I mean.

Long story short: if you like sushi, edible food, or decent service, then stay away from this place

Doesn't Recommend

bigwhitedong

Joined 3 years ago

rancid fish. over priced bad fish. why are these gooks still in business. service was bad and i was treated like sh@t because i wasn't asian. seriously its 2010.

Recommends

Ispeakthetruth

Joined 3 years ago

AN AFTER WORK MUST!. I LOOVVVVE this place! My friends and I come here almost weekly to end a hard week of work (or in some cases begin our week.) GREAT happy hour! I never been during regular hours but happy hour has a great selection of food and drinks. It is always busy and seating is pretty easy to get compared to other places during happy hour. This is definatly a "hot spot" in houston if you like sushi and fusion food! Sunday Ra has a "reverse" happy hour from 8-11 and it is so much fun. The only "negative" thing I can say is their drinks aren't all that to me. Would love to see a frozen drink on the menu or some better tasting drinks. The drink with the most "bang for your buck" is the appletini or cosmo I guess. If Ra had better drinks the place would be PERFECT!

Doesn't Recommend

KitchenInc

Joined 3 years ago

You'll like it unless you've come for the sushi. If you are looking for great sushi, this is not the place for you. Likewise, if you're looking for good prices, stay away. Ra is much more of a bar that serves sushi than a sushi restaurant with a bar. And if you go with this in mind, your experience at RA will be perfectly enjoyable.

In a smashing location at the middle of Highland Village, Ra is one of those see and be seen places. Most people who come here come to enjoy the the cocktails and happen to snack on one of the rolls that they conveniently offer. The whole restaurant is exquisitely and elegantly decorated; when the windows are open during spring, it is truly hard to beat. If you're single, this is one of the places you to to remedy that situation, it will be full of beautiful people, well lubricated by a cocktail or two; it truly is a yuppie's paradise. You would almost expect it to be featured in a Bret Easton Ellis, and priced accordingly. Yet, the sushi is lackluster. Their menu has nothing that jumps out and blows your mind. They treat their food as things to put in your mouth while you wait for your next cocktail, which are actually pretty good.

If you come to RA expecting to sit down, relax, and have some good sushi, you will be sorely disappointed; but if you come with a few friend to see some eye candy and enjoy some cocktails, you'll love it.

Doesn't Recommend

fullergl

Joined 5 years ago

Ra Sushi in City Centre. this was a nice venue for the young and trendy and well attended, but not for the food. The sushi was sub-standard and really no better than what you can pick up at the supermarket. The presentation was lacking considering the prices and they were very skimpy on sauces and basics such as ginger and wasabi. Had to ask for more. The green tea tastes like dirty rain water and when asking to have it changed out, we got iced tea with about a teaspoon of ice. The waitress really gave the impression that she was bothered to have to wait on us. She only smiled when it was time to get the check. This was really a bad dining-out experience and I would not ever recomment Ra to friends. Too many other great sushi places in Houston and Katy to deal with that. Also, ended up with a bad upset stomach.

Recommends

HoustonTexReview

Joined 4 years ago

Viva Las Vegas Buffet...Practically. On a pretty weekend, RA opens up their windows on the second floor, so guests can enjoy the sunshine and music across the way playing at Central Market. However, the best time to go is for happy hour.

Happy hour is from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, Monday-Saturday. They have 1/2 off appetizers and sushi, $1 sakes, $2 Beers, $3 well drinks, $4 wines and specialty drinks, and $5 Kirin.

The best roll on the menu is the Viva Las Vegas roll--crunchy, creamy, spicy, with just a hint of sweetness. Only order two though, or you will feel like you have been through a Vegas buffet.

Doesn't Recommend

Amnesiantoinette

Joined 4 years ago

Great, if you enjoy dirt & grit in your mashed potatoes!. They need to get a better head chef back there. Their sous chefs don't know what they are doing. On two different occasions I had serious, SERIOUS, dirt and grit in the wasabi mashed potatoes. Disgusting. I shudder to think at what other carelessness the rest of the food is handled with.

Doesn't Recommend

jdgtorres

Joined 4 years ago

Awful service. 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.

Recommends

j cooper

Joined 4 years ago

Excellent food and service. 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 : )

Doesn't Recommend

AWDriver

Joined 4 years ago

Good for happy hour drinks, terrible for food & conversation. 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.