Cuisine:

• Sushi bar
• Japanese

Ra Sushi Description:
This place is not authentic, so let's get that out of the way from the get-go. Even before entering, its blaring Guns N' Roses-type tunes, rather than sushi bar tranquility, envelops you. The long, bamboo-backed sushi bar is the centerpiece of the room, and a lounge that fills with a peppy happy hour crowd is to the right. Among starters, the pineapple-cheese wontons with sweet roasted pineapple dipping sauce are a standout. Regular maki rolls don't wow us, but the signature spicy lobster roll with cilantro, jalapeños, crunchy lettuce, buttery slivers of avocado and shards of cucumber nestled in soy paper is another story. A must at meal's end is the chocolate-stuffed, fried banana with Kahlúa-caramel sauce. Additional locations are in Lombard and on State Street in Chicago.