Raku - Its Japanese 2 Reviews

Great food, very efficient delivery service and pleasant staff! Fresh vegetables, great sauces. Inside is bustling, efficient and well managed. No mistakes at the table despite a large order. Brilliant!

good sushi not expensive, very fresh fish well handled and presented. great roll too. not too crowded.

Food was excellent and good value for money! Maybe a bit out of the way so was no problem to get a table on a Saturday without reservation.

Came with the family for an evening meal. Service was very good and friendly and quick. Food was served quickly and I must say these guys know how to do sushi and sashimi, unbelievably fresh and taste! Totally recommend coming here!

I gave this 5 stars because in the area of the Museum of Natural History, this is the best possible place one could go for dinner after seeing the museum. We've tried every restaurant in the area. Some are too fancy, some too noisy, some too expensive. But here at Raku, the food is absolutely delicious, the service is warm and friendly, the atmosphere is casual and quiet and you can bring the whole family. The price is right also. For example, a bento box is in the area of $20 and includes soup or salad, appetizer, full meal and dessert. They also serve wine by the bottle (red) or by the glass (white), warmed sake and beer. Everything we ate was delicious. We've returned about 5 times when in the area.

We steppend in "by accident". Raku It is Japanese II is a bit hidden but therefore a hidden gem. The Sushi and Sashime we ate was excellent. What a liked where the many varieties you could choose from. Finally something different than California Rolls and Nigiri with Salmon. Value for money and that just around the corner of the American Museum of Natural History. Friendly staff so the next time I will be in New York I will visit this restaurant again.

This restaurant is down a couple of steps into a cosy restaurant with some wooden seats and booths. The service is quick and polite, and they rely on a high turnover of tables -- without making you feel rushed. I tried some of the specials-- lobster "pizza" made with a crispy rice base; and crispy Brussel sprouts -- both dishes were delicious. My son ordered more traditional sushi and sashimi plate -- fresh and delicious. Three sushi chefs were working behind the counter, which surprised me for such a small place. Close to AMNH and coffee shops and cafes on Columbus Ave.

I came here whilst taking a break from work and had the 3 roll lunch special. Great price, tasty sushi, good service and a wonderful atmosphere with dark lighting that gives it a pleasant calm, just off the busy Columbus ave. I'll certainly come back here again.

I went for the first time in august 2016 following the good reviews on the internet. From the outside I was a little bit skeptical but as soon as I entered I discovered and very intimate and quiet space. We had sushi sashimi rolls and tempura. Everything was really fresh and tasty for a really good price. Moreover the staff was incredibly kind and also very patient with my kid!

Sashimis were really awful, one fish had a taste of disinfectant, the other was almost not defrost and spongy, water was coming out of it... Though we were not sick later on, we just thought food was to disgust from Japanese cuisine !!

Stopped by Sunday early evening and ordered numerous items from the menu. Not much in the way of decor, the portions were on the smaller side as well when it came to the nigiri and rolls. Felt the chefs behind the counter were commenting on my friends in their native tongue when we arrived. Don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon.

restaurants are expensive around Central park and the museum of Natural history, RAKU II is the perfect Place: reasonable prices and excellent offer. The personal is very kind and helpful. We had a selected of sushi sashimis while the kids had an excellent chicken Teriyaki. The portions are generous.

We stopped in for a quick lunch here and were very glad we did. The service was fast and friendly and the sushi was very tasty at a decent price. Perfect stop before walking over to the New York Historical Society.

My family took a lunch break from the Natural History museum and walked over to this place. According to the menus on Google, we thought they had more non-sushi dishes than they actually do, but we were able to find enough for the kids to eat. It was Memorial Day, so the lunch menu was not in effect, so the entree portions that we ordered were very large. I had "the Hobbit" roll, and it was very delicious. I'm not a big sushi eater, but I was surprised by the sweet sauce and the crunchy shrimp. The atmosphere was quiet and pleasant reprieve from the busy museum.

Japanese food is all about the freshness and presentation. On both counts, not the best in class. Ok restaurant for a quick bite, along the lines of food courts at the mall. Small restaurant, few tables. Watch out for the "drop off/step" at the entrance of the restaurant - not clearly marked and covered with a dark carpet.

On our way to Gari, we spotted this hidden restaurant and popped in and were impressed so we stayed!. The sushi & Sashimi are really fresh, the staff all appeared to be Japanese and the waiter discussed the menu and our likes with us before we ordered. The food was excellent. We went back two days later, different food still as good. Definately a good local non flash but high quality sushi place

The sushi rolls here were horrible! The fish is NOT fresh. I ended up getting a bad stomach ache from eating this garbage. Stay away and do not eat here unless you want to end up sitting on the toilet all night.

Came here on a Saturday around 5. It was already busy and it is small, but we got seated right away. The staff is super quick with taking orders and getting food out. We got the pork buns and spicy tuna crab pizza appetizer. It was great. All our rolls were delicious. For dessert we got the red bean ice cream and chocolate cake. Delicious.

We stay at the Marriott around the corner, this place has wonderful service and great food. BYOB because no license here, but there is a DR also steps away for a beer purchase!

Raku is not high-end sushi. It's a nice neighborhood spot (with the usual Americanized rolls) and a very low-key atmosphere. The fish is of good quality - this won't be the most amazing stuff you've ever tasted, but it has always been fresh and a good value. The Yellow Black Dragon roll is one of our favorites, and they have a good selection of rolls that stick closer to the basics as well as those more creative (and non-authentic) varieties. They also have a good selection of sake (Katana is a great choice), and, in general, this is a great spot to grab some low-key sushi without breaking your budget. If you're looking for a more authentic (and expensive!) experience, try Sushi of Gari (just a few blocks away).

Its a perfect place to have a good and cheap lunch in New York City.. The portions are really big, they do the special lunch meal, its really a deal.

Great sushi and tempura. Very good service and not too expensive. I recommend it 100%.

Just a few steps off Columbus Avenue finds you at Raku. A narrow but cozy space has tables and a bar at the sushi counter. The menu features traditional Japanese items, lots of sushi, and some interesting specials. Everything we ate was brought to the table promptly and prepared with high quality ingredients. Most items were excellent - some were amazing - do try the spicy tuna "sandwich" from the sushi menu. Service was attentive and helpful. Overall, this was a great stop for an early dinner.

Want an well established local Japanese restaurant where the food is beautifully presented fresh, the service is wonderfully accommodating and attentive, and the ambience is simple, humble and conducive to conversation? This is the spot. The Upper West Side is jampacked with restaurants --many of which have become a battleground should one want a delicious meal with the ability to relax and talk with friends or family. I return over and over to Raku ll, never to be disappointed.

Good food and good service! We were pleasantly surprised with this find at a good price! Well worth a visit.

This cute little downstairs restaurant is great for lunch or dinner. The sushi is excellent (my personal favorite is their "sakura roll," with shrimp tempura and spicy salmon in a marbled seaweed wrap), and always artfully and decoratively served. There is also a specials menu, usually written on the chalkboard next to the sushi bar. Tables are all booth-style, polished wood without tablecloths. Service is prompt and courteous. Prices for lunch are quite reasonable, although dinner is a bit more expensive. Located at the corner of Columbus and 76th st., directly around the corner from the American Museum of Natural History and within easy walking distance of Central Park. Lunch is served until around 2 pm.

Very good food! Friendly team! Fair prices! The hole team is Japanese, very friendly! The fish is fresh! The rolls are great!

Sadly, this restaurant demeans Japanese food with a failing New York City restaurant inspection report [just published] of "Grade Pending" with 27 violation points, including "Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas." I surely don't want mice droppings in my food. Do you??

This place is a heaven on earth for me. Me and two of my friends visited from Miami and we do love Japanese food. I recommend this place for all japanese food lovers who wants to try an authentic japanese food. I order the katsu with a side of miso and avocado salmon sushi and it was outstanding. The katsu was cook perfectly and the rolls were delicious. Will definitely come back here!

Fab little Japanese place for lunch after the Natural History Museum. Sushi was fresh and delicious. We also tried squid and tempura- all great.

Tired and hungry after seeing the natural history of the world, we found this restaurant and noticed it because the awning specified "It's Japanese." We yelped it and decided to go in. The four of us had a fabulous meal and I highly recommend it. We started with shashito and found only one very hot pepper. We split 4 rolls and we all liked the Shrek roll best.

Great place for a quick Japanese bite! Not too expensive as well! Plus the Museum of Nautral History is just aroubd the corner!

Great little and reasonably priced sushi place on Upper West side…. Extensive menu, friendly staff, quick service and fresh food. I have been here many times and I have never been disappointed. Mainly locals and not touristy…..

Unfortunately, they are not open for outdoor dining but did take out. As before, they quality was very good. From my experience, they are the best on the UWS except for one that is nearly twice as expensive.

Re: tipping, the waiter asked for 15% minimum! Management, please let us know whether there is a 15% minimum policy. If so, it should be stated down. If not, do reeducate your employee working on Saturday, Sep 10, 2017 at 3:30 pm. It might not have been obvious to the said employee, but tips should be based on the quality of your service. Acting like you don't want to be there, then still having the nerve to ask me to change the tip (from 10%) to "15%." Something is wrong here. Note: this is also misleading to the customers. What if customers actually believed your assertion?

This place has pretty decent sushi, and a lunch special that's unbeatable. The simple rolls are always good, and they'r every quick to prepare orders to go.

Got taken here by a local and was delighted with his selection. I'm not the world's biggest sushi fan, but this was the best I've personally had outside of Tokyo. Beware of massive lunchtime portions though! Order light and go back for more if still hungry.

Before I write a review I ask would I go back. “No” why? Nothing special. I’d prefer to try other sushi. Went here because of the reviews but everything was just a little better than average and I expected more. I think you get a good meal so if your in the neighborhood, give it a try. They will be better than average!

Generous portions and very fast service. I ate the best Gyoza here in my entire life, I would absolutely go back.

It's below street level and has a smell of mold. We didn't like the smell, but the food was good. The sushi was especially good, compared with others. My 8 year old liked the sushi a lot. The noodle soup was disappointing though. The menu doesn't really explain what each food really is. Be aware if you are not familiar with Japanese food.

Just tried this with friends. It was much better than the place I had regularly gone and prices are reasonable considering it's sushi and it's upper west side. The service was very friendly.

Raku 2 is the best Japanese restaurant in NYC Located 2 steps from Central Park near the Natural History Museum, we eat very good sushi with a fair price and fast service.

We went with our two toddlers and though the place doesn’t seem toddler friendly it was rather good. They did not look twice at the kids and they were accommodating. The food came super fast, which is a blessing with hungry kids. They were quick on picking up empty plates and moved us out fast, which was great because we were losing control of them by that point. The food was good, staff was friendly, menu was easy to navigate and the kids ate a massive amount of shumi.

I went there for lunch today and at night I decided to check my credit card transactions for unrelated reasons. My friend and I split the bill which ended up costing us $33.20 each. But for some reason I was additionally charged (a separate charge) $66.41! This has never happened to me before and I want to believe this was a mistake and not on purpose. Either way I will never go back because the trust is broken.

I like it so much, they have lot of variety and everything you order is excellent. The flavor, the portion and presentation make of all plate delicious. “You’re just ordering and the food has already arrived to your table”; incredibly fast. The service it’s for sure one of the best in all NY and it’s a perfect small restaurant for coming alone, with friends, in family, for business and/or with your couple. For all you taste here the price is unbelievable, really cheep considering how satisfied you finish. Recommended 100% to taste something RAKU!!

i somehow fell in love with Raku's Spicy Tuna Martini the first time i tasted it... what more can i say? freshness galore?

Mouse top. Very good food, fast service, excellent and friendly staff. Authentic Japanese atmosphere. I recommend

It is a fairly small and cosy Sushi restaurant with a sushi bar. It was full on the Saturday evening that we visited so we perched at the bar. I ordered the Raku special which was a nice mixture of Sushi. The miso was excellent. The maki was good. The venue is a little small and the restroom could do with a face lift. The service was good. I would happily return. It was a nice walking distance from the middle of Central Park.