Raku

Pros: Great noodles, mostly inexpensive, but be careful with those small plates....
Cons: Can be crowded and noisy at times, we wish they were open later, no reservations

When celebrity chef Mark Miller (Red Sage, D.C., the Coyote Cafe, Santa Fe) opened Raku in 1997, the Asian diner concept was relatively unknown, at least in Washington, a city heretofore below the curve in dining trends. The place ...

Pros: great food, not overly expensive, atmosphere, service
Cons: no reservations, justifiably crowded

It was my girlfriend's birthday and I asked her where she wanted to go out to eat. She said Raku and I said Rawhat? She claimed it was incredible and that the crunchy spicy tuna roll was incredible. I had just gotten into eating sushi so I got pumped for ...

Pros: How would I know, they wouldn't seat me.
Cons: Arrogant, mean, rude, bad business sense, no respect for customers

It seems that after its review in the Washington Post, Raku, the Asian-fusion restaurant on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland, has gotten a little too big for their britches. My husband and I walked in for lunch on Saturday March 15, 2008 and simply ...