RA Sushi Bar Restaurant has recently updated the dinner, sushi and beverage menus. RA also revamped its popular Happy Hour and Flying Fish Lounge menus to include a greater selection of sushi, appetizers and tapas items.
“To keep the menus fresh and exciting, every year RA Sushi updates its selections to incorporate some of the newest culinary trends and ingredients,” said RA Sushi Executive Chef Tai Obata. “Our most popular dishes have remained on the menu, but we’ve added several new creations, some with a tropical flair.”
One of the first additions is the Otoko Salad: choice of grilled chicken or beef tossed in a spicy yuzu dressing with grilled red and green bell peppers, onions and asparagus; served over a bed of mixed greens in a rice wine vinaigrette, topped with watercress and fried ramen noodles (Chicken: $10/Beef: $12). We were lucky- we got to try it with both the grilled chicken and beef. The salad was fresh and the dressing had the just amount of spicy and tartness.
For entrée selections, it now features Lobster with Garlic Sugar Snap Peas: lobster sautéed with garlic, sugar snap peas and shiitake mushrooms, in an Asian seasoning; served with steamed rice ($17.50). The sugar snap peas still had a nice “snap” to them and the lobster was nicely cooked (not tough or chewy).
Four new sushi rolls have been added to the menu, a couple with a tropical influence…
The Pacific Roll is a spicy mix of albacore tuna, cilantro, jalapeño and cucumber, rolled and topped with fresh avocado and mango salsa; finished with red beet tempura bits and sautéed cashew nuts ($9.50). *I didn’t try this one
The “RA”ckin’ Roll includes kani kama crab and cream cheese rolled in rice and seaweed, lightly tempura battered and topped with guacamole and "RA"ckin' Shrimp; finished with a creamy ginger teriyaki sauce, red beet tempura bits and togarashi ($13). Watch out this because the slices of this roll are huge and messy- but that won’t keep my away!
The Vegetable Tempura Roll is lightly battered asparagus, sweet potato and Japanese eggplant rolled and topped with colorful crunchy tempura bits and drizzled with a sweet eel sauce ($7.50). As you bite into the slice of this roll you can taste the flavor of each vegetable.
The Tropical Roll: cucumber, mango and avocado rolled and topped with spinach tempura bits, and spicy shrimp mixed with masago and mango salsa ($8.50). The shrimp has a kick to it but the cucumber, mango and avocado balance it out.
Another new item is Shishito Peppers ($7), which is sautéed in an Asian seasoning. Watch the first bit is nice but the farther you go into that pepper the heat comes in. Taking the slice of lemon and squeezing it over the peppers make the flavors pop!
If you have a sweet tooth,you can satisfy it with a traditional Japanese treat, the Sweet Mochi Trio- a combination of mango, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream wrapped in sweet rice cake, garnished with sliced kiwi and strawberries ($7.50).
Now what sushi roll impressed my tatsebuds the most? The Vegetable Tempura Roll! You could actually taste the asparagus, sweet potato and Japanese eggplant in each mouth full.
I will admit that I was disappointed and was unable to sample the Pacific Roll (raw fish is a no-no for pregnant woman). I also didn’t try the masago and mango salsa that is served with the Tropical Roll because of the masago (a type of caviar).
However, since I couldn’t sample some of the yummy looking sushi I did get the chance to try the Mango Lobster Roll ($9.00) with lobster mix, avocado and cucumber rolled and topped with thinly sliced mango, then served with mango-tobiko and kiwi and wasabi sauces.
RA introduced nine creative new cocktails to the menu. A few of the new cocktails are the Elderflower Smash, Absolut Berri Acai, St. Germain, muddled blueberries, fresh lemon juice and soda ($8); the Ginger Blossom concoction of Hendrick’s Gin, St. Germain, muddled strawberries, pink grapefruit and lime juice, and a splash of ginger ale ($8); the Emperor’s Cucumberita is a combination of Patrón Silver and Patrón Citrónge shaken with fresh lime juice, yuzu sour, and fresh cucumber slices ($8); and the Red Lotus martini with Absolut Ruby Red Vodka, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, and pink grapefruit juice ($9).
RA is also now offering a Sake Flight ($8) so that guests can sample from the restaurants sake selection. The tasting flight features sweet, dry and sparkling sakes: Kizakura “Pure,” Sho Chiku Bai Nigori “Crème de Sake,” and Kizakura “Pure” Stars.
Don’t forget about RA Sushi’s Happy Hour, Monday through Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m., and a restaurant industry night called Flying Fish Lounge on Sunday from 8 p.m. to midnight. During these special times, a wide variety of sushi, appetizers, tapas, beer, wine and signature cocktails range from $2 to $7.
*Note that this tasting was a complementary media event to share new menu items, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
For more info: you can subscribe to email notices, email me at AIBR.Blog@gmail.com, find me on Facebook or follow me on twitter @BmoreRestaurant- check out the review map, review list, chef interviews and recipes and events calendar for local restaurant events
Comments
Check your title - I think you mean "FLAIR" and not "FLARE." You have it right in the quote from the chef.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!