BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

MENU SPOTLIGHT:

RAKU

Raku is an old dependable at Bethesda Row that manages to stay fresh. The sushi restaurant with a hint of "Asian fusion" aspirations, Raku is a nice spot for lunch or a first date. It also has fabulous outdoor dining space on Woodmont Avenue - if you can snag seats!

I can't help but start with Raku this week, because - to the best of my recollection - this is the first Restaurant Week menu Raku has made available outside of the restaurant. Kudos to Raku, as it is very helpful for Restaurant Week diners who have many choices, to be able to preview the menu. So here we go!

RAKU DINNER MENU $30

Course 1:

Grilled Shrimp Salad with Wasabi Yuzu Vin Blanc (a dressing combining Wasabi root flavor with mustard and the juice and rind of the Japanese Yuzu fruit - spicy, tart and delicious!), watercress, frisee (endive leaves) and radish

OR

Cream of Napa Soup with Snow Crab and White Truffle Oil (Napa is a type of cabbage)

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Course 2:

Nigiri Sushi (Tuna, Salmon, Hawaiian Amberjack, Shrimp, Eel) - Hawaiians call amberjack "kahala," Mexicans call it "Pez Fuerte" (strong fish)

OR

Salmon Fettucine with Lemon Butter sauce, Salmon Roe, Brown Beech Mushroom (a nutty, buttery mushroom) and Korean cabbage

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Course 3:

Beef Tenderloin with Shiitake Duxelles, ginger bordelaise, zucchini, yellow squash and Korean sweet potato (Shiitake Duxelles is more Paris than Tokyo; it's a sauce of mushrooms, onions, shallots, butter and herbs)

OR

Walnut-crusted Alaskan Halibut with warm, sundried tomato vinaigrette, fried baby potato, baby bok choy and miso tapenade (a soybean and barley/rice paste)

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As you may notice, there are plenty of options for those in your party who are not sushi fans.

So stop by Raku tonight, or one of the many other restaurants at Bethesda Row, as we enjoy Restaurant Week 2012 through April 22.