"The list of our favorite sushi spots in the city is painfully short, but O-Ku in Germantown is at the very top. The rolls aren’t overly complicated, and most importantly, the fish here is sourced directly from famous markets in Tokyo and Hawai’i, i.e. it’s really top-notch stuff. When you’re working with stellar fish, you don’t need to add much. Some of O-Ku’s strongest menu items let the yellowtail, salmon, etc. do their thing with minimal ingredients. Just order anything off the namesake nigiri and classic rolls sections. That’s not to discount some of the flashier options, though—like the Playboy with angus beef and goat cheese mousse. You just don’t have to settle for something that camouflages the fish here, because the raw materials are quality. There’s also some robata dishes for those who lean more turf than surf, but even if you’re staunchly set on otoro, you shouldn’t pass up the candied sticky ribs or the five-spiced duck breast with a yuzo miso marmalade. photo credit: Christen Clemens photo credit: Christen Clemens photo credit: Christen Clemens photo credit: Christen Clemens The high-end izakaya vibe works for everything from a solo treat-yourself experience at the bar or a group date situation in a booth that might involve a boss and their partner. But we’ve also seen a few sake bombs go down at the bar between friends. Hell, maybe your boss is into sake bombs, too. Food Rundown photo credit: Christen Clemens Otoro This tender cut of bluefin is fresh and fatty in all the right ways. The O-Ku version adds caviar and chive which punches up the flavor with a salty texture. This should always be on your table. Playboy Roll This is one of O-Ku’s more popular rolls, and it’s definitely worth ordering. There’s crab mix, angus beef flank, herb aioli, avocado, chive, goat cheese mousse, asparagus, and truffle soy glaze. Yes, there’s a lot happening, but it all comes together nicely. Candied Sticky Ribs The candied sticky ribs from the robata menu deserve a spot on your table for two reasons. One, the ribs add a bit of heft to the meal. And two, the char siu glaze could make a trucker hat taste good. Let's Celebrate! This shot combines sake with peach jello to make something fun, but not overly sweet to drink—the bitterness of the Aperol cuts through it. It serves two to four people, and we highly recommend it as a way to break the ice on an awkward date." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
