YUZU BETHESDA HAPPY HOUR

New sushi restaurant Yuzu is offering some of the most interesting Happy Hour specials in downtown Bethesda in recent days.

Try Kirin on tap for $4.50 in the bar and lounge area. Or a chilled summer sake.

Cocktail specialties include green tea mojitos, ginger punch, cucumber fizz and sake martinis.

There are also plenty of appetizers, including organic edamame, salmon skin rolls and fried chicken.

Happy hour at Yuzu runs from 5:00-6:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Yuzu is located at 7345 Wisconsin Avenue.

YUZU SUSHI AND ROBATA BEGINS TRANSFORMATION OF FORMER DIVINO LOUNGE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Chef Yoshihisa Ota's crew is working hard to get his new sushi and robata restaurant, Yuzu, ready by its scheduled April opening.

Here's a photo gallery as renovation continues at 7345-B Wisconsin Avenue:

HANARO SUSHI ROLL OF THE MONTH

Tokyo meets New England via New Orleans in January's Roll of the Month at Hanaro Sushi in Bethesda.

Enjoy this roll featuring asparagus, Shiso leaf, eel, ginger, lobster salad, eel sauce, and Cayenne pepper tonight.

Hanaro is located at the corner of Norfolk and St. Elmo Avenues in Bethesda.

ENA JUKU SCHOOL MOVES INTO FORMER LES ENFANTS SPACE AT WESTWOOD CENTER II IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Yirasai Sushi, in the Westwood Center II shopping center on Ridgefield Road, is one of the area's best-kept Japanese dining secrets.

Now a second tenant is promising to bring a bit of Japanese culture to the Westbard area of Bethesda.

Education Network Association (ENA), operated by Gakkyusha USA Co., LTD, is opening a Japanese juku school in the space vacated by Les Enfants last year.

What is a Juku School? I know a fair amount about Japanese culture, but had never heard of this concept before yesterday.

It turns out that a juku is somewhat like an afterschool educational program for Japanese children. More than a tutoring session, and certainly not a detention or punishment.

Attendees of a juku not only review and build on material learned during the regular school day, but also study in preparation for rigorous entrance exams to exclusive private high schools and universities.

It is not uncommon for a Japanese student to attend juku school 2 to 3 times a week, for sessions lasting 1 and a half to 3 hours. According to ENA, the schools also administer practice tests just before students take the aforementioned entrance exams.

ENA will operate the school between 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday-Friday, and from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays.

This is a positive for nearby businesses in the Westbard area, as parents and students will likely patronize shops, the River Road McDonald's, Yirasai, gas stations, etc., while there.

MENUS FOR BETHESDA'S NEWEST SUSHI BAR - BERRY YOGURT ON NORFOLK AVENUE

Things have turned around in the 48 hours since my last update on the new sushi bar at Berry Yogurt.  In contrast to Tuesday, on Wednesday there were a good number of people dining inside and on the sidewalk patio.

I have the actual sushi menu here for you, and pricing beyond the initial 49 cents per piece rate I told you about on Wednesday.  It's a pretty short menu - California Roll, California Roll with fish roe, two kinds of Avocado Rolls, "Futo Maki" (futomaki is a thicker, larger sushi roll), and "Hoso Maki" (hosomaki=thinner roll).

Last evening, there were still more people there than usual, although you certainly can't tell that from the pictures here.  Wednesday, there were actually two sushi chefs in white outfits.  It seems that the addition of the sushi bar is actually boosting business for them, which is always good news.

I also have a picture here of the Japanese grocery store I was telling you about - Hinata on St. Elmo Avenue.  It's well worth a visit, even if you're not actually dining there.  All kinds of imported Japanese products - you never know what you might find.

Berry Yogurt,  7920 Norfolk Avenue.  301-654-5316.

PASSION FIN MENU - BETHESDA'S NEWEST SUSHI RESTAURANT!

PASSION FIN IS OPEN!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Passion Fin Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar is finally celebrating its Grand Opening!  Located in the Shops at Sumner Place on Sangamore Road, Passion Fin is - along with Boloco - the most anticipated Bethesda restaurant of 2012.  I have received so many inquiries about when Passion Fin would be opening, and I'm pleased to report the day is finally here.

The restaurant offers a solid Japanese/sushi menu, but true to its "Asian Bistro" subtitle, adds a decidedly Thai twist, and inspiration by way of India.

There are also the Chef's Signature selections, which provide adventurous entrees for those diners not adventurous enough for sushi.

I've always predicted Passion Fin would become a lunch destination for employees of the intelligence campus across the street, and nearby Sibley Hospital.  The restaurant has acknowledged that potential with a large selection of lunch specials.

Passion Fin's fabulous location provides both plenty of free surface parking (and also Ride On Bus access), and some stiff competition from French secret gem Praline, and popular China Pavilion.  Both competitors are steps away in the same shopping center.

Dishes that stand out on the menu include Roti Canai (Indian pancake), Lump Crab Asparagus Soup, Yum Chicken Salad, Lobster and Filet Mignon hibachi dinner (pricey at $26.95), Passion Chicken, and Fire Work Ice Cream.

And, of course, there's the sushi!

Some of the more unique rolls include the Funky Monkey Roll with Shrimp Tempura, spicy lobster salad, cucumber, mango and tempura banana(!!) wrapped with soybean paper and a blast of the chef's special sauce; and the Godzilla Roll, which is just a great name.

Here are exclusive photos of the much sought after menu!  Click to enlarge.

Appetizers

Soups and salads

Sushi bar appetizers

Sushi entrees

Seaweed maki/temaki

Rice maki/temaki

Special rolls!

More special rolls!

From the grill...

Rice and noodle dishes

The chef's signature creations

Desserts

Lunch specials

Lunch sushi platters and hibachi specials

Passion Fin offers take-out dining.  You can phone in your order at 301-229-2848.

So try out Bethesda's newest sushi restaurant, and its Thai-Indian-fusion variety in the Shops at Sumner Place, a great spot to escape the parking nightmare of downtown Bethesda for a change.

Passion Fin, 4611 Sangamore Road, Bethesda.  301-229-2848.

Hours: Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11:30 AM-2:45 PM

             Dinner Mon.-Thurs. 4:30-10:00 PM

             Fri. 4:30-11:00 PM, Sat. 12-11, Sun. 12-9:30 PM

PASSION FIN SIGN INSTALLED AND LIT

The grand opening of new sushi restaurant Passion Fin is near in Bethesda. Last night, the new external sign was lit.  The front door was propped open, but no one was going in or out when I passed by.

Passion Fin, located in The Shops at Sumner Place on Sangamore Road, currently has no internet presence (website, Facebook, etc.).  It would be an unorthodox approach to open without any marketing or announcement, to say the least.  Diners in the Bethesda area are not familiar with the owners' other restaurants outside of Baltimore.  So they will need to let us know what their concept and approach to sushi are at Passion Fin.  A "secret" opening would not really be a great idea under those circumstances.

Having said that, there is a lot of excitement in the neighborhood around Sumner Place about this opening.  From the appearance of things, it won't be too long now.

PASSION FIN UPDATE

PROGRESS AT BETHESDA'S

NEWEST SUSHI BAR

Just a quick note on Passion Fin - the new sushi reataurant opening this year at the Shops at Sumner Place, on Sangamore Road in Bethesda.

As you recall, Passion Fin had been scheduled to open early this year, but the renovations of the former clothing boutique stalled out during the winter.  Week after week, month after month, the same window coverings, dumpster out front and exposed ceiling remained static.

But when I passed by on Tuesday night, although the windows remain covered (normal for any restaurant before it opens), the dumpster is now gone.

There is now some kind of white molding, around angular arched openings near the front of the restaurant.  It's dark in there, and you can only see what is visible at the top of the front windows above the coverings.

So I don't know if that is part of the final design, or simply a stage in the renovation.

In any case, the opening is highly anticipated.  My guess is we're talking about a June opening, if I was a betting man.  But who knows?  Maybe they're getting close to done behind the coverings, and we'll hear something sooner.

Stay tuned!

PASSION FIN

UPDATE

Renovations Still a Long Way

From Completion

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

This is an update to an update. I was at the Shops at Sumner Place on Friday, and walked over to the future location of highly-anticipated Asian bistro and sushi bar Passion Fin.

The windows at the top across the storefront are uncovered, and I can confirm that - at least as far as the ceiling and interior walls go - there is a long way to go. Ventilation systems and hoses are completely exposed where a ceiling should be. One permit is now posted, for a WSSC inspection. Understandably, the conversion of an apparel boutique to a restaurant would require new plumbing installation for kitchen and restroom water systems. Right inside the front doors, there is an L-shaped makeshift wall.

Out front, the same dumpster is there, and it is not even clear there is anything in it. It has been in the same spot for about 4 months.

All told, and in light of the initial promise of an "early 2012" opening, the project has clearly encountered one or more delays.

When it finally opens, expect Passion Fin to compete more with Yirasai Sushi and similar Japanese restaurants in the Palisades area, more than with Raku and Sushi-ko on the Red Line.

Ironically, Passion Fin, Yirasai and Sushi-ko are all on the route of Ride On Bus 23. So, if you're a rider of the venerable 23, for you there will be a Sushi Showdown in 2012.

For now, sushi fans, patience is a virtue.

PASSION FIN

SWIMMING SLOWLY

TOWARDS

GRAND OPENING

Renovation Continues at Future

Bethesda Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Passion Fin, an Asian Bistro and sushi bar expected to open early this year at the Shops at Sumner Place in West Bethesda, seems to be swimming upstream at the moment.

There is tremendous interest in the new Japanese entry. But the announced opening target of "early 2012" does not sound realistic at this point. A generous definition of early would possibly extend through the end of March.

Even the firm that announced the deal to bring Passion Fin to Sumner Place does not know what the restaurant's opening day target is now, according to a representative.

So we have to examine the clues for now. The same dumpster is positioned exactly the way it was several months ago in front of the restaurant. Window coverings are still in place. On a recent evening, one covering appeared to have peeled off. Through the window, I could see what looked like exposed ventilation systems, including a large round pipe. There did not appear to be finished walls or ceilings in place yet. But it was dark, so I can't say for sure.

Finally, no telltale Montgomery County permits or inspection documents hang in the windows, which you would see if an establishment was just about to open.

As they say, good things come to those who wait. The space obviously needs extensive renovation and reconfiguration, as it was formerly a woman's clothing boutique.

Stay tuned for further updates on this intriguing new dining option in West Bethesda.