Baru

We were visiting Cincinnati for a football game and the night before my girlfriend and I wanted to try a local place. Also wanted somewhere within walking distance from our AirBnB. We found Baru was highly recommended on Google and yelp. We were greeted immediately and were given menus and drink specials. The staff was very knowledgeable of their menu and quite attentive to their patrons. Any questions we had the staff answered without hesitation. Our bartender, Marcus was super awesome and was very patient with our menu selections. The food was amazing and very fresh. We tried a items on the menu, since it was hard to decide. The manager, Jake came over to talk to us about our experience and then made a bunch of suggestions of where to try around the downtown area, of course he said to come back to Baru. Jake took his service to another level. I would highly recommend Baru for your sushi dinner or just for a couple drinks on your date night. When you stop by, ask to see Jake and be sure to mention the movie "That Thing You Do!" He is quite the fan!

Ask for Sammy every time. He was absolutely amazing & such a kind person. Food is always spectacular & atmosphere is perfect. Not too many people but just enough to where you can have your own space. We will be coming back so soon, thanks to Sammy!

I had a wonderful experience here. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Our server Mallory provided us great recommendations and was attentive. The ambiance was nice and the decor was modern. The food was yummy and they have vegan/vegetarian options. I would go back!

We’ve been wanting to try Baru for a while, and finally did…and so glad! Honestly, not sure why this place wasn’t packed on a Saturday night because everything was spot on, from drinks to food. The crispy rice spicy tuna was a total surprise, amazing texture, beautiful presentation, and just delicious. Every bite was this perfect combo of crispy and savory. The wagyu tataki was fantastic- tender, and flavorful, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy with just the right seasoning. Such a great compliment dish. We also had the King Dynamite roll, which was excellent, especially dipped in the wagyu sauce (highly recommend trying that combo). Our server, Jacob, was outstanding, not only a skilled mixologist but also great with food recommendations and fun to chat with. We were a little early, but Jacob mentioned the place turns into a club later around 11pm. Cool vibe, and I love that they take the InKind app too. Overall: delicious food, great service, fun atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back!

Sammy was amazing! It was our first time here there was not many people but the atmosphere was still a good vibe! Sammy knew the menu well and gave amazing recommendations. We will be back!

AVOID this place. Service is 1 star because I couldn't give it a zero, it was so atrocious. The hostess did a good job seating us quickly, but it took 20 minutes for wait staff to some over and greet us, and another 10 just to get some water. We ordered alcoholic drinks and it took a full hour to get one cocktail and one draft beer. We received our entire meal - appetizer, entree, and sushi - before we even had our drinks. For food we ordered the vegetable curry - which was good, but had mushrooms in it which were not listed on the menu. I don't like mushrooms so I had to pick them out. Good thing I wasn't allergic or that could have been a lawsuit. Also ordered a couple of sushi rolls. Traditionally they give you some soy sauce when you order sushi, but it took 15 minutes and 3 attempts to hound our waitress just for some basic soy sauce. Another couple was seated next to us and they were not greeted by wait staff nor given water for a good 30 minutes, so they left, and I don't blame them. The restaurant is pretty open concept, so I was surprised that the waitress didn't realize I could look straight through to see her standing at the bar doing nothing except chatting instead of bringing us more water, checking on our food, etc. She had no concept of multitasking and it was very frustrating. If you sit down and are unfortunate enough to get the girl with the slightly pink hair - leave immediately. For the price we paid, this restaurant was not worth it.

I ordered two orders of salmon sashimi, and two orders of ahi sashimi and an order of corn ribs to go. I only received two pieces of salmon Sashimi and two pieces of ahi when it says that it comes with two per order so it should’ve been four per fish total. The corn ribs were missing the sauce which was a total bummer so they just tasted like plain corn on the cob. Really disappointed that four little pieces of fish and some corn on the cob was $61! I expected the order to at least come correct.

We loved it here! We were seated in one of the two (I think) round booths right by the window! Fabulous! The sushi was delicious! The tempura shrimp appetizer was amazing! The sushi was fresh and delicious. We loved the half bottle of sake.

Jenna was the best! Very attentive and friendly. Was knowledgeable about the items on the menu. The food was top notch. I ordered the fallen angel which was a little bit spicy but worth it. The overall vibe of this place is very trendy!

AVOID this place. Service is 1 star because I couldn't give it a zero, it was so atrocious. The hostess did a good job seating us quickly, but it took 20 minutes for wait staff to some over and greet us, and another 10 just to get some water. We ordered alcoholic drinks and it took a full hour to get one cocktail and one draft beer. We received our entire meal - appetizer, entree, and sushi - before we even had our drinks. For food we ordered the vegetable curry - which was good, but had mushrooms in it which were not listed on the menu. I don't like mushrooms so I had to pick them out. Good thing I wasn't allergic or that could have been a lawsuit. Also ordered a couple of sushi rolls. Traditionally they give you some soy sauce when you order sushi, but it took 15 minutes and 3 attempts to hound our waitress just for some basic soy sauce. Another couple was seated next to us and they were not greeted by wait staff nor given water for a good 30 minutes, so they left, and I don't blame them. The restaurant is pretty open concept, so I was surprised that the waitress didn't realize I could look straight through to see her standing at the bar doing nothing except chatting instead of bringing us more water, checking on our food, etc. She had no concept of multitasking and it was very frustrating. If you sit down and are unfortunate enough to get the girl with the slightly pink hair - leave immediately. For the price we paid, this restaurant was not worth it.

Wow, I'm actually still sitting here while I'm writing this review. The service is atrocious. It should not take 2.5hours for sushi. Drinks dropped off at wrong table. This place would for sure not recommend. Now the food, shrimp tempura was average. Edamame was good, but how do you screw that up. Crispy rice was meh. Friend got the wagyu and scallops. Again, average. I got the rodeo drive roll. It was so salty. I know it had caviar on it but that wasn't it. Talked to a lady next to me and she said this place has gone down hill. People just handing waiting to be seated. Highly Don't recommend!!

Great service and several vegetarian options! We enjoyed the corn ribs, yasai sushi and vegetable curry (add tofu and extra curry sauce). The curry could use a bit of a punch of flavor but overall tasty! The tofu is crunchy on the outside soft on the inside. Wasn't too busy on a Thursday evening, pretty decor and overall great dinner spot

Stopped by for a girls night before a show at Taft and the experience met expectations but didn't blow me away. We ordered 4 items to share and the best was definitely the edamame which is a must try. I would recommend skipping the karaage chicken and tempura shrimp and loading up on sushi which seems to be what they do best

Food was fantastic! Drink was average. Service was okay, a little slow but overall good.

Was in town for a concert. My man and I were hungry so we stopped here. 1. they charged $20! apiece just to come tf in! 2.!the music was so loud, I couldn't hear myself think! 3. All they had was 3 types of fried rice and it was $25-35!! 4. After ordering, there was nowhere to sit!! we mentioned this to the person at the front, of course they don't care. Said they weren't changing their rules for us. We weren't really asking for special treatment, we truly just wanted to order our food and go, but since we were told we couldn't even come in w/o paying I figured we'd at least sit there to eat the food! Nah! So we end up canceling the food and leaving because...wtf?!? In summation, if I'm ever in this city again (which I hope to never be) I won't be stopping here!

Great Happy Hour deals, service, sushi, and sake. More people need to come here! They were nearly empty when I came in for Happy Hour on a Friday. Happy Hour had some apps and drinks about half off. I sat at the bar and had Rae as my server/bartender. Rae was phenomenal! Great suggestions for sushi and sake. Rae even had me try some of the mushroom shoyu, which was great with my nigiri. Drinks: Happy Hour Old Fashioned - made with Bulleit Bourbon. A classic. The Celebrity Sake - dangerous! Very smooth almost light like water. Has a soft smell. This was a great recommendation from Rae! Food: Crispy Brussels - Rae said "I don't usually like brussel sprouts but these I like." Sounds good to me. The sprouts did not disappoint. I loved the flavor. They were cooked through and crispy. Lots there too--definitely for sharing. I took most of this to go with me. Lobster and Yellowtail Maki - really loved this roll! The slices themselves are huge and not because of the rice amount. The lobster was cooked perfectly (coming from a Mainer). The Serrano pepper on top was a great bit of heat to each bite. The spicy mayo was great too. Quail egg nigiri - my plate had 2 pieces and they came with both salmon roe and flying fish roe. The pieces themselves were humongous, like I barely could eat it whole. The flavor was great: salty, mellow. It went really well with the mushroom shoyu Rae brought me to try. 3-piece mochi - for dessert I went with my fallback of mochi. It was not on the menu, but Rae said I could mix and match the 3 flavors they had: mango, green tea, and espresso. I went with the first two. The mochi was just OK. I should have just ended on the high of the dinner options! Next time: I'll try another Sake and more sushi. and bring some people!

The vibes here are on point. It definitely feels like a restaurant you would expect to see in New York City or other similarly sized cities. They have really cool moving lights over the bar which were pretty mesmerizing. Our server was excellent! We had a reservation and were promptly seated. The server went through the menu and gave us some recommendations! We ordered drinks, a few small plates, and the chef's choice sashimi. One of the small plates we ordered they realized they didn't have that tonight so they gave us a few complementary lobster shots! We got the corn ribs and tartar small plates. Both were incredibly delicious. The chef's plate sashimi has a great selection and is beautifully prepared. We got two sushi rolls as well which were well prepared and tasty. The price is on the higher side here but I think you get what you're paying for!

They had some very fresh sushi for Cincinnati I have to say, but the price was a little expensive for what you are getting. Drinks were very good and the presentation of everything was spot on. The vibe was awesome and the lights at the bar were very cool!

Half-off Sushi Rolls and Sake on Monday nights!? Count me in! My friend wanted to try Baru for the first time. Same as my first experience, the staff is ultra cool and hospitable and provide excellent service. Also, the scene is modern and beautiful. Really, Baru is a wonderful spot for either a date or girl's night. I updated my rating because my rolls and sake were delicious and I enjoyed the Monday night deal. Cheers!

As I explore downtown Cincy I am repeatedly delighted by what I find. Culinary and atmospheric razzle dazzle! Baru is fantastic for a girl's night, date night or even a solo love myself night! Excellent selections of seafood, sashimi, nigiri and rolls. The lobster shot - AMAZEBALLS and I wish I had ordered more than one of that buttery mouth treat. Christopher was my server and he was attentive and went above and beyond making sure my hot herbal blueberry tea was steeped to perfection. The lights above the bar make a fun distraction and made me wish I sat at the bar so I could imagine batting at them like some humanoid cat. Yes, I will be back.

This place has an awesome happy hour on Monday. Love half price sushi and love that they keep it quality. Fun interior with a party vibe and dancing lights.

Service was INCREDIBLY slow. The price of the food is off putting. Especially the sushi. I'm happy that we went during restaurant week so it didn't hurt as bad. Thoughts on what we ordered: Drinks - The Makers Smash drink was very good. The espresso martini came out with chocolate syrup coating the glass. Nowhere in the description was there a mention of chocolate. I asked for a new glass since I despise chocolate syrup. If you order an espresso martini, it will not look like my pictures. My husband ordered Sake with our drinks and it took an hour before it came. Appetizers - For starters we ordered the Brussels, which were delicious. So crispy and a little kick of heat. The salad was pretty plain but I enjoyed the crunchy texture of the toppings. It took 60+ minutes to get through this course. We sat with empty drinks for a long time. Sushi rolls - For sushi, we ordered the Ebi roll and the Truffle roll. The Ebi was a little too spicy for my liking (I'm a bit of a wuss with spicy), but the truffle is the best sushi roll that I've ever had. Entrees - I ordered the Chicken Katsu. The rice was sooo good and the chicken was nice and crunchy. The sauce is a little plain. I enjoyed it all around. My husband ordered the sashimi entree. He kept saying how great quality / tasting the salmon was. Dinner took nearly 2 hours and when I review what we ordered, it is strange. Mind you, we were there on a Tuesday evening and it was not busy.

Not a ton to add to this review. Food was still fresh and the sushi had great flavor. Love the half off maki Monday special, a great way to try several items. Service was friendly!

What a fun place! Sat at the counter (sushi making view), but would probably reserve the bar or table (mostly high tops) next time for a comfier seat. Needed a reservation for the Saturday dinner time we booked, but seemed a bit emptier for walk-ins as the night progressed. We were recommended the corn ribs, and they did not disappoint! What a fun way to do corn, and sauce was great. I went for a sake flight (love the milky sway-unfiltered sake), while my friend had a cocktail. The scallops were yummy in sauce (a bit over but those buckwheat noodles were so good), and we loved the hamachi (yellowtail and jalapeño go together so well!). Probably could have passed on the fried rice (crab was good but didn't feel worth the $10+ upcharge), and the tiramisu was mostly whipped cream (very mild matcha flavor). All in all a good time and fun menu.

What a unique experience. The vibe was elevated and sophisticated but also chill. Every server and worker was friendly. Our server knew the menu so well and gave great suggestions. Now let's talk about the food. What a combination of flavors. This menu has something for everyone. Even for me, someone new to sushi. I truly enjoyed the combination of soy with ginger and tomatoes in are beef tartine. Please come here no matter the day or time. Street parking only.

Oh. My. Word. My husband & I are heading home from Baru now from my birthday dinner & my, oh, my!! It was absolutely fantastic! There was a parking garage conveniently located across the street, with many surrounding options as well. We walked inside & were greeted by the hostess. The first thing that caught my eye was the lighting - the rustic-style bulbs were on fixtures that made them rise & fall. The restaurant had a very sleek modern vibe with pops of eccentric art, which is right up my alley. The music was lo-fi versions of different hits, which I also really enjoyed. The women's room had two very private stalls, more great decor, & was clean. Our waitress was pleasant & had several excellent suggestions, which we took. For drinks, my husband had a draft beer & I had...a couple of things I started with a Caramel Apple Sake-Tini (Grey Goose, green apple sake, caramel & crushed peanut rim - $14). it had the perfect balance of sweet/tart/salty. It was hard not to drink it all at once. For my dessert beverage I enjoyed an Espresso Valen-Tini (shot of espresso, Ketel One vodka, Lazzaroni maraschino liqueur, Irish cream, topped with a strawberry-infused whipped cream & a red sugar dusting - $12). This one I did practically chug. Strawberry, cherry, chocolate, espresso - what more do you need? Now let's talk about the food. We started with a small plate - Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna (spicy tuna tartare, smoked soy, seared rice, Serrano - $18). I have always wanted to try crispy rice & this did not disappoint! It was three good portions. You could taste the smokiness in the soy, it gave it a bit of a sweet flavor. The crispy rice had the perfect amount of crunch & the tuna tartare was so smooth. The Serrano gave it a nice little bite. My husband & I shared two of the house maki rolls. His choice was Rodeo Drive (lump crab, avocado, cucumber, caviar, truffle mayo - $28). It was so elegantly simple and tasted like the ocean in the best way possible. I ordered the Fallen Angel (spicy tuna, asparagus, torched escolar, tobiko, spicy mayo & unagi sauce - $20). This roll is definitely one of my top five rolls I've ever had. There were so many flavors & everything just melted in my mouth like butter. It's everything you want sushi to be. We ended our meal with dessert - Coffee & Donuts (coffee mousse, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar red velvet ricotta donuts - $10). My husband said he thinks it's his favorite dessert he's ever had. I also loved it. The mousse was smooth & creamy. The bitter with the sweet was a great ending to the meal. Before tip, our bill came out to just a little over $120. For a celebration dinner, we were perfectly happy with paying that for the quality of food that we received. I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

We came here for dinner service on a unassuming Monday with friends and family. We had a reservation and we're immediately seated. Order and the food came out in segments over a long span of 1 1/2 hours (slow) and other customers got their order before us even though we ordered first. The sushi can be pricey but we went on Monday and it was half off of their fresh and beautifully prepared maki rolls. It was great, but not exceptional that honor belongs to Ando in blue ash. The ambiance was amazing with moving ceiling lights, good ambiance music, and vibrant lighting and decor. If the service was was better this place would have been an easy 5/5. Id recommend this place as a sushi date night.

The restaurant is beautiful and located right next to Tokyo Kitty. The food was delicious and had a nice presentation. However, the prices were high for the portions and I did not taste a large difference in quality from those places that are a lot less expensive. It may be different depending on what is ordered, so I'm still saying it is worth trying out at least once. It was a nice night but understand it was not cheap. Oh the one thing I will say is worth whatever the price .... the corn ribs. They were so delicious and well seasoned.

We stopped in Baru after a matinee show at the Aronoff. We were just looking for a drink and an appetizer on this visit. We are looking forward to returning for a full meal. The place is gorgeous and the seating at the bar was really comfortable. However, getting in and out of your seat with people next to you is an exercise in flexibility. The service was lovely at the bar. We were seated right in front of the glass washing station, so everyone who stopped to wash a glass talked to us. We ordered the a beautiful Rose wine, the Hamachi Jalapeño, and the Spicy Tuna appetizer. Both dishes were very fresh and lovely. However, we thought the presentation could have been neatened up a bit (see pics). We look forward to having a full meal next time we return.

Full disclosure: I'm not a sushi fan. But I have lots of friends that are, so I love places with good sushi and plenty of other dishes on their menu. Baru fits the bill AND they have a happy hour, which I'm always a fan of. HH is from 4-6 with both food and drink specials. During happy hour, I tend to go for wine and their Nori Fries or Chicken Katsu. Other times I've also enjoyed their cocktails and Tempera Asparagus and Brussel Sprouts. They take reservations, but if you go around happy hour, they can probably seat you without one too. The atmosphere is clean, classy, and bold. After the sun sets, you'll even get a little show over the bar as the bottle lights move up and down. Even though I'm not personally a sushi fan, Baru is becoming one of my go-to spots.

The newest Japanese style restaurant in the heart of cincinnati. This place offers a unique layout within its doors, with a very spacious dining area and exotic lighting within (the lights literally move around the whole time) We started off noticing our reservation was somehow now booked, but we're still seated in a timely manner (there is a waiting area and a bar) Got espresso martini's and a straight up espresso shot for me! both were pretty good while we waited. We started with Crispy Rice which was AMAZING! the server comes and sprays it with soy spritz? not sure what it was suppose to do but the app was great. Jalapeño on the top set it off. Also got edamame which was actually reallly yummy with a unique flavor and a standard above regular edamame. For our main meal we got seasonal seared Scallops that were out of this world good! There's plenty to share and it comes with noodles! The wagyu stove was the shining star though, this was an experience that we didn't expect! We had a flaming stove and raw wagyu with salt seasonings and sauce to cook it to our taste! Super fun. The Chefs choice shashimi was pretty good as well all the fish was really fresh and hit the spot. 10/10 go here if you're looking for a new spot!

This place has some of the best sushi I have had in a very long time. First this place looks amazing inside. It has the best atmosphere. The staff is also so nice. We got some amazing appetizers. They have really got flavor down. I knew the moment I bit into my maki I was in for a treat. When the rice and fish are the same temp and just blend together I know I'm eating amazing sushi. Also the cocktails were great! I will be back for sure.

After seeing the interior of Baru on instagram, then checking out the menu, knew I had to try out one of Cincinnati's newest sushi spots. We went in with a party of four and our server Christian was prompt in greeting us, and getting us cocktails. He was super helpful the whole time with any questions we had and made sure our table stayed clean of dishes/glasses. Management also checked in multiple times to make sure everything was going well. Starters: The drink menu was really fun, with a lot of twists on classic drinks. I started with the wasabi margarita, which had the perfect amount of wasabi spice. For an app we decided on the crispy rice spicy tuna. Good flavor to it, but definitely glad we upgraded on the house wasabi ($5) because it elevated to flavor Meal: For my second drink, I ordered the cucumber mojito on special. It was so refreshing, especially for a hot summer eve. We ordered the King Crab Fried Rice and I recommend this to anyone who likes crab. They gave us solid portions of the crab meat, and the rice was amazing. Easily my favorite dish of the night. Desert: Ended the evening with an espresso martini which was quite sweet, so it was best for desert. Overall our meal was about $200 for two people (including tip),which I feel was a fair price for everything we ordered. Highly recommend checking it out for some of their unique sushi rolls and dishes!

Vibes: trendy, hip, spacious, "Insta-worthy" sushi joint; can bring a friend or two to sit at the bar or mixed booth seating Tasting notes: - Brussels sprouts: crispy, savory and tender; fairly addicting and shareable - Hamachi jalapeno: fresh slices of fish; generous amount of sauce; light appetizer for two - Trifecta: loved the variety of textures; decent rice to filling ratio; held up well to the chopstick - Chirashi don: thick cut slices of tuna, yellowtail, maybe swordfish? as well as tender snow crab, shrimp, and lightly seared beef; rice was well seasoned; not impressed with the salmon, seemed lox-like - Empress Negroni: pretty to look at, not as stiff as a traditional negroni Other thoughts: - Very cool that they offer fresh wasabi, which I have not experienced in US. - Above meal was satisfying for two hungry adults Impression: would come back for the vibe, a bottle of sake and rolls!

I was so excited to discover Baru. The atmosphere was so cool, and the food was delicious. The crab fried rice was highly recommended and did not disappoint. Our server was amazing and did a great job recommending dishes. Also, we loved the cocktail menu. Will definitely go back on our next visit to Cincinnati.

Food was very good. The Lobster shot was delicious. Drinks good. Ambience is cool; love the lighting. Bar service was good, if just a tad slow. In fairness, the bar is very large. Good experience; we'll be back!

Baru has big city elegance and vibe. It is an absolute must while in Cincinnati. The nigiri sushi is a limited selection, but after cautiously trying the Hamachi, we ordered an order of Sake and Unagi as well. All were excellent. In fact, they were so good I wondered why other reviews seemed underwhelmed at the quality of the food! The quality was extremely high. The Tokyo Wedge Salad is divine. I will never eat at Baru without starting with this salad. The dressing is perfect, the melange of ingredients is deft. For those who do not care for raw fish, the cooked specialties are also excellent. The salmon plate with ginger greens was very good, as was the scallop fried rice. Next time, I plan to try the New York Strip Steak. The bar is excellent. There is a huge selection of sake, whiskey, and other spirits. Chris, the bartender in charge, is a master of his craft. As a side note, the stemware and glassware are solid quality, which makes a huge different in the cocktail experience. Baru's ambiance is totally fun without being obnoxious. The lighting, seating, and glass box esthetic are all brilliant, making Baru a wise choice for any occasion. The acoustics are great, the sound system is top notch, but the music does not overwhelm. Very notable are the moving light sculptures throughout the room. This is an excellent choice for a date night, a group event, a business dinner, and also would be an enjoyable solo experience. Going back again Friday and will update!

We went in for Friday happy hour and were amazing! This place is delicious! I don't know why we didn't try it sooner! The bartender was fantastic and the sushi was absolutely the best in town. We had espresso martinis and dirty martinis. The bartender makes the best dirty martini in town for sure! Can't wait to go back!

Not quite sure it's worth the money - It was good but nothing special. Dead at 7:30, but picked up as we were finishing. Would recommend coming later in the night. Staff was aloof and talking to each other the whole time and it made me feel like I was bothering them to order another drink. Edamame was delicious. The lobster shot was very good but I feel like they're trying too hard to make it cool. Got the tuna tuna tuna and the rodeo drive. Fresh but fine. Laughable amount of caviar for the rodeo roll and the presentation was a little sad. But I finished my plate satisfied with the taste. Just not quite there for the price and what they're going for.

Ambiance had super cool lighting around the bar with tear drop glass blown ornaments that lowered and raised intermittently. Service and food were outstanding. Our server Mallory P. was engaging, always attentive and recommend several apps, sashimi & rolls that are now fav when we come back!

Very cool vibe. The service was top notch and the food/drink delicious! I can't wait to go back and try something else.

The ambiance was one of a kind. The bar lights were very cool. It is also super convenient to have the parking garage next door. The drinks were "ok". Nothing too special for the price. (Will remember that next time and just get a beer $7 vs 16 for a drink) The food was delicious, and the service was phenomenal! Would we be back? Absolutely!

Wow. Just, wow. Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. I took my wife for her birthday, in search of an elegant plate of sushi somewhere we could dress up. After eating, I'll say this is the best plate of sushi I've had in the tristate area, and i feel comfortable saying that. The place itself is nice, in the heart of downtown on race by sixth. It's nice enough that you could dress up, but modern enough that you don't necessarily have to. My wife ordered a couple cocktails. She started with a caramel apple sake-tini, which she really liked. She also had their special drink, which was an espresso valen-tini, which had espresso and maraschino cherry liqueur. I tasted the second one and then tasted it a couple more times, you know, for science. It was amazing. I will say it was an incredibly balanced drink, you could taste the coffee flavor from the shot of espresso, but it didn't overbear the Irish cream, and the sweetness of the cherry liqueur was perfect. And honestly, that's really how I felt about the entire meal: balanced. Every flavor was used to the perfect degree; nothing overpowered the rest. Even the strong flavors like the truffle oils and the Serrano and espresso were balanced so perfectly by the other flavor components in their dishes, it was really just a pleasure. Our appetizer was crispy rice spicy tuna and was a great start. The crispy seared layer of rice was the crunch you wanted, to give it that bite, with the tuna tar tar smooth and delicate and that little piece of Serrano gave it exactly the right amount of heat. When this was the opening, we knew we were off to a good start and were headed somewhere special. We ordered two sushi rolls, the first being my wife's choice: the Fallen Angel roll, spicy tuna with a torched piece of escolar on top that basically melted on your tongue with the consistency of foie grois. I felt like you could taste each flavor individually, one on top of the next. It was one of the best pieces of sushi I have ever had in my life. The second roll was my choice, the Rodeo Drive. It had a truffle mayo that lined the top and they had just the right amount of truffle oil that you got a kiss of that umami, earthy flavor. It had lump crab, and you could just taste how fresh it was. It just tasted, clean, so to speak. Again, one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had. We finished our meal with dessert, red velvet cake, cinnamon sugar donut balls and coffee mousse with fresh whipped cream. Goodness, it was so delicious. Again, so balanced. You could taste a note of every flavor. Our whole meal- one appetizer, two sushi rolls and dessert, two cocktails and a beer came out to just over $120, so honestly not too bad. Everything just tasted so clean, so fresh, and so balanced. Highly recommend.

I was traveling to cincinatti for work and this place was recommended to me. I went in with some friends and when I say this was one of the best upscale sushi restaurants I have been to. The decorations were beautiful and modern. There were lights at the bar that were always moving, it was very cool. The steak tartare was THE BEST i have ever had, ill go back every time I visit. The rainbow futomaki was also very delicious I had absolutely no complaints. Run dont walk!

I've been searching for an exceptional sushi place in Cincy since moving back from bigger cities. I've finally found the best. The dishes and drinks are creative very high quality. Service is inspired especially by bar tended Jacob.

Experience was great, we will be back! We shared the miso potatoes and crispy brussels before the rest of our meal came out. We shared a plate of nigiri (hamachi and escolar were my favorite bites of the night), 2 lobster hand rolls, and two house rolls. Bill including tip was $200. Our server was very kind and even ran our box out to us after we had forgotten it. No picture because it was late and pretty dark but was fine for a romantic dinner.

Great food and ambiance! Steak tartare was delicious, with the egg yolk and crispy seaweed as delectable additions and was the spotlight of dinner. The Rodeo Drive was okay, although nothing to write home about. Would come back again!

When you walk in you're welcomed with decor that gives off a modern, sophisticated vibe. This spot is really perfect for any occasion and the staff were so friendly and really helped elevate our experience. There was an extensive drink menu and some really unique sushi options. We started with two drinks off the seasonal menu: the Christmas espresso martini ($12) and the caramel apple sake-tini ($14). For an app we got the crispy rice spicy tuna ($18), which was served soaked in an addictive smoked soy sauce. We also decided to have a little old fashioned ($12) between that and our sushi. For sushi we got the Shabu roll ($21) which is shrimp, avocado, spicy baked crab, and asparagus. And the Truffle Crunch ($18) which is shrimp, tempura, cream cheese, truffle Mayo, and unagi sauce. We didn't have a single bite or drink we didn't absolutely love. And what made it even better was being there together.

Best sushi in Cincinnati. I adore the asparagus roll. The atmosphere is really cool and modern, and the food has never come out slow.

You will not like the food here if you have eaten good quality sushi. Bad quality fish, terrible service. The worst sushi I ever ate. Avoid it, you will thank me later.

Finally an elevated sushi/Japanese restaurant in Cincinnati! The restaurant boasts that it flies it's ingredients in (no Ohio river Fish :)) fresh every week and it sure seemed like it. The food was spectacular with the ingredients and quality of the fish topping the reasons to come back. The food had a lot of flavor but was not covered in sauce and toppings taking away from the freshness. The Chirachi, Nigiri and tuna rice dishes were favorites (truthfully the shishito peppers as well). Cocktail menu and drink list was not overwhelming and delivered the perfect accompaniment to our dishes. As far as the atmosphere goes the location is definitely going for an upscale lounge/restaurant experience so we're curious to see how they take that direction! Service was great (food came out almost too quick!) but it was their first Friday. Will definitely be coming back! Pictured below (and yes we had a feast for four): Jalapeño Hamachi, Crispy Tuna Rice, Shishito Peppers, Ahi Nigiri, Rolls: Tuna Tuna Tuna, Trifecta, Fallen Angel, Shabu, Chirachi Don

Food: 4.75/5 This is Japanese food done in an American way. The portions are large, and it's not super traditional. This is definitely a Cincy guilty pleasure. Drinks - I like dry sake, so I get the green one, the joto. My boyfriend got the qcc, which was a citrus vodka cocktail. Appetizer - We ordered the crispy rice spicy tuna, and it's never a disappointment. When they serve it, they spray some special soy. Sushi - Baru has super approachable rolls and brought my boyfriend from being a sushi hater to a sushi fan. We ordered 2x tuna tuna tuna (since we like it so much and we can't share), a fallen angel, prime nigiri, and quail egg nigiri. Service: 4.5/5 I highly recommend making a reservation because they can get busy. The servers are usually hustling and are attentive. Most recently, we sat at the bar and had excellent service. We were checked in on a lot, and refills were fast. Atmosphere: 5/5 The dining space here is incredible. It looks clean and modern. Most of the seating is bar seating; they have very limited actual tables. They have light fixtures that move up and down, which is the coolest part of the space. Hacks: 1. They have a deal on Mondays with half-off sushi rolls and sake. This makes it super affordable, but it can get quite busy. 2. You can order real wasabi for an additional cost; if you haven't had real wasabi, it is worth the try! It's more favorable but less spicy.

Spicy tuna, crispy rice, eat it once, eat it twice, it's so delicious, the smoked soy's nice, spicy tuna, crispy rice. This dish is good enough to prompt bursts of singing, but the rest of the menu is pretty great as well! The sushi rolls are done well, but I'm most impressed with the freshness of the nigiri. The ahi was very high quality and and the waygu was lightly seared for a perfect bite. I would recommend either. Make sure to order the fresh wasabi- it is a completely different flavor from American wasabi and a revelation in a good way. I also tried the crab fried rice and found it to be fully of crab and flavorful. I've been to Baru twice already and will definitely return again. Service was attentive on both visits and the atmosphere is electric- if a little distracting from its excess!

The portions were very small, and the sushi tasted like store-bought (heavy on the rice with very little meat). The server was super nice and knowledgeable, and the ambiance was great! I really liked the seating arrangement and the furniture. Overall, it's a nice place for drinks and appetizers but not ideal for a full dining experience.

Yellow tail yuzu: you'll love this if you're looking for something simple without any sauces. There's avocado, yellow tail, and Shiso leaf in the rolls. It comes with 8 pieces; would probably recommend one more dish if you're looking to be filled. Japanese highball: this tastes like your classic Japanese highball. If you don't like the taste of whiskey this probably isn't it for you because it's quite pronounced. It's not very sweet; only a little bit of simple syrup and tonic water is in here. Service was great; the majority of customers seems to be in their 20-30s. Ambiance was great, dimly light super trendy.

I got the Brussels sprouts and truffle roll. The Brussels sprouts were SO good. They were crispy and had a really yummy glaze! The truffle roll was prepared well, but I personally didn't love the way the truffle and sushi tasted together. Our service was great and the restaurant is cool on the inside!

New favorite sushi place. Ray the bartender, was an absolute delight! (All the staff were fantastic). Great recommendations. By far, the fallen angel sushi roll was my favorite roll ever in my life...(bold statement). We also had the tuna pike, crispy tuna and lobster toast. All were delicious but i probably should've ordered two fallen angels and replaced the lobster toast . The coffee and donuts dessert was also fantastic. Overall, would come here again.