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.

JAPAN MEETS MEXICO IN HANARO'S SUSHI ROLL OF THE MONTH

Hanaro's sushi roll of the month spans the Pacific in a fusion of Japanese and Mexican cuisine.

Tobiko is flying fish roe, by the way.

You'll be saying Domo arigato to me after trying this muy delicioso roll at Hanaro.

And DJ Alkimist will be (wo)manning the turntables at Hanaro tonight, starting at 9:30, because weekends start Thursday night in downtown Bethesda.

Hanaro, 7820 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda.  301-654-7851.

HANARO SUSHI ROLL OF THE MONTH: STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

Don't miss this unusual but ultra-fresh roll at Hanaro.  Perfect for welcoming summer in downtown Bethesda.

Hanaro, 7820 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda.  301-654-7851.

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!