Pronounced “raw,” RA Sushi is the newest contemporary hotspot to hit Midtown. Located on 11th Street and Peachtree in the base of the 1010 Midtown building, RA Sushi could not have picked a more happening destination. After only being open a few days, the restaurant was packed with 20-somethings throwing back beers, sipping martinis and chomping on creative sushi combinations. And don’t worry, this is not the same Raw featured in “Sex and the City”—the food here has much more flavor than that memorable vegan eatery seen on TV.
A little history: The lively atmosphere is no accident. RA creators and college buds Rich Howland, Scott Kilpatrick and Executive Chef Tai Obata have been perfecting and replicating the concept for 12 years. Since they opened the first location in Scottsdale, Ariz., in the late '90s, an additional 22 other restaurants have opened across the country. The restaurants have been such a success now that even Japanese chain and theme restaurant operator Benihana Inc. has a stake in RA.
The present: The first RA in Georgia, this location is also the largest with a whopping 7,800 square feet of space, including a private dining room, lounge area, two-section patio, sushi bar, two full drink bars and an upstairs space. The menu is Obata’s creation, and he knows his stuff. He began his craft at age 4 in his grandmother’s kitchen in Japan, went on to earn his culinary degree at age 18, and studied under world-renowned sushi chefs in Japan, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and L.A. As if those weren't enough life accomplishments, Obata is also a painter and ceramic-maker, which may be why RA has such intense geisha portraits on the walls and so attractive ceramic plates and soy sauce bowls on the tables. Note: the portraits are actually modeled after people that work in the restaurant.
The atmosphere: Like Geisha House and Dolce Enoteca, RA is just one of those restaurants where there’s always something to look at. The overall look is dark (and the lights often get even dimmer the later it gets). The restaurant’s signature red orbs hang from the ceiling and give off a sexy aura. Dark red chairs, napkins and patio umbrellas play off that pattern, and dark wood floors blend with the wood and stone walls. Depending on where you’re seated, if you look up to the high ceilings, you might see sake barrels hanging from above or a 20-foot pagoda leading up above the main bar.
Giant, garage door-size windows open up to the patio on not one, but two sides of the restaurant. Patio patrons can even access the bar that way. Outdoor seating includes a lounge-style option with cushioned wicker chairs and love seats, as well as the usual table and chairs. Hip music blares, and the whole package evokes a feeling of high-energy, edge and the exact “rock 'n roll sushi” concept the creators were going for.
The menu: This is one restaurant where the food lives up to the hype. RA’s prices are surprisingly reasonable (and even more affordable from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays, when select appetizers, sushi rolls and drinks are half-price). Highlights include the Crazy Monkey Roll, made with smoked salmon, mango and cream cheese, topped with avocado, red tempura bits and cashews, and drizzled with mango and eel sauce, and the Viva Las Vegas Roll—kani kami and cream cheese rolled in a rice and seaweed, lightly tempura-battered and topped with spicy tuna, crab mix and sliced lotus root, then finished with eel sauce and spinach tempura flakes. Another top pick is the Beef Tataki Roll, made with artichoke, asparagus, roasted red peppers and avocado, rolled and topped with seared flat iron steak and soy chili sauce and served with creamy wasabi sauce. The Apple Teriyaki Salmon is really good, too. Desserts include the memorable cinnamon tempura ice cream made with fried pound cake, raspberry sauce and cocoa.
The drinks: As RA is also a late-night drinking spot, a variety of beer, wine, sake and cocktails are available. The Blushing Geisha (cold lemonade with Skyy raspberry vodka, raspberry liqueur and a splash of lemon-lime soda) and the Tsunami Punch (60 ounces of cold sake, liqueurs and tropical juices served in a fish bowl) are some of the biggest hits.
The last word: Drink up, eat up, soak it all up: You can't go wrong when you're in the RA.
