For starters, we waited 30 minutes to get our drinks. I can understand being behind at the bar due to a rush, but to not even see our server during that time is ridiculous. After we finally ordered our food, the appetizer we requested came out well after we finished our entrees, with no apology from the server. When we told the server we would no longer want the appetizer, she scoffed and walked away before immediately bringing us the bill, rushing us out of the door. We weren't even there for an hour. This was a terrible experience and ruined our Valentine's Day date night. We will not be going back.
Sarah
We arrived on time for our reservation and were greeted fairly quickly by our server, but the drinks and food service was very slow. Our server was great but he clearly had too many tables and the staff seemed woefully under prepared for the amount of people. It took 30 minutes to get our appetizer, which was fine but then we waited an hour and a half for a dinner that never came. We left after two full hours without having dinner. The manager was clearly the worst and when he checked on us and we complained about the lack of food, he didn't apologize he just sent the poor server back to sort us out, even though it was not his fault. We won't be back.
Kenshin
Waiter was amazing with service, food was on the smaller side but still amazing!!! will be coming back soon 👍🏻
Lori Himmelsbach
This place was an amazing find! And on a Monday - no less! We just happened to hop inside to have a drink and found out it was Maki Monday! Yeah us!! 1/2 price Maki rolls, along with Happy Hour - what more could you want? The most amazing sushi of course! I always shy away from places that advertise 1/2 price sushi - thinking the fish might be old, but this place delivers. We have been twice and they were on point both times. I ordered a N/A drink with orange and it was delicious. Then I got a Mix Tape - with bourbon (even better). They don't water the drink down with tiny cubes and the drink was full of flavor. But what you really need to come for is the sushi -We ordered everything from the Hamachi (delicious Ponzu sauce) to the Rainbow Roll (our favorite) and everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful and fantastic. We like to sit at the bar and the service was beyond superb. Definitely check this place out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
S Bush
I went to Baru this past Friday to meet up with friends for a birthday dinner. The atmosphere was nice, the food choices were a variety and I chose the chicken fried rice (LOL) I played it safe. It was good, however, there was a mix up on when our food was delivered and I think I got the chicken fried rice that someone requested without garlic, which made my dish kind of bland. My friend who sat next to me said hers was nice and flavorful. Other than that, it was a nice time and I would come back to try other things. The chef or owner came out to ask how our experience and food was and also offered to take song requests, which the birthday girl graciously did! She was also given mochi ice cream and a candle to celebrate her birthday, which was a nice touch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
KD
Came to Baru to celebrate my partner’s birthday, and I’m so glad we did.
I highly suggest coming during Happy Hour. Their HH menu offers amazing food options at a great price, with generous portions. We ordered the karaage chicken, edamame, and the truffle crunch roll -each plate was phenomenal.
The karaage chicken is a must order! It was fried to the perfect crunch, coated in a salty lime dry seasoning, and the chicken itself was incredibly soft and warm. It came with a perfectly complementary sweet chili vinaigrette that tied everything together.
We also ordered off the Happy Hour menu and tried the Wagyu Tataki and the Baru Fried Rice with chicken. Both dishes were excellent. The Wagyu was unique - hats off to the chef - absolutely scrumptious.
I highly recommend this location. While the ambiance isn’t necessarily elevated, it does give off a cool, artsy Japanese restaurant vibe.
Our server, Vivian, was wonderful. She was sweet, attentive, and very thoughtful. She planned the pacing of our food without us even having to ask and executed our dinner nicely. We also had the pleasure of meeting Jake, who runs Baru, and he was fantastic. He checked in on us, chatted with us, and made sure we were well taken care of. To say the least - he’s very good at what he does.
Overall, this was a great experience from start to finish and a perfect way to celebrate a birthday. The food, service, and hospitality truly stood out, and you can tell the team genuinely cares about the guest experience. I would come back and recommend Baru to anyone looking for quality food, great Happy Hour options, and attentive service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
angela
Sushi was amazing, truffle roll was the star, but the corn ribs never disappoint. Cocktails were perfectly balanced. We also enjoyed their saki and prosecco offerings. Britany our server was excellent and the GM jacob came by several times to ensure our experience was spectacular. Would recommend.
Callie
Great food and service. We came on a night there was a party that reserved most of the dining room so had to sit at a high top. Our server was friendly and helpful. If she didn't know something she was happy to ask. Food was amazing, drinks were good. My boyfriend brought a little sushi card game for us to play during dinner and it was welcomed. The Brussels sprouts are amazing, curry veggies and rice was delicious. All of the sushi rolls are a hit, every-time I've been. Definitely recommend. There's a parking garage right above the building too making it very convenient for downtown parking options. Great choice before a show or game downtown! The food and vibes are awesome I hope they make it through the slower downtown seasons! Go give them your support!
Karenna Maaser
Came here after work to meet some friends and had a great time. We made a reservation, though I’m not sure it was totally necessary. The ambiance was lively and fun—perfect for a group hang.
Our server was incredibly friendly and attentive, and her recommendations were spot-on. The food was good overall and definitely feels like more of a spot for apps and drinks rather than a full sit-down meal.
We ordered a variety of dishes, including the hamachi, karaage chicken, edamame,corn ribs, a few sushi rolls, and the tofu fried rice (didn’t pictures of everything we ordered). Everything was tasty and felt like good-quality food.
I’d recommend this place if you’re looking for a fun spot to eat and catch up with friends. Bonus points if you can go during happy hour or on a Monday.
We had a great time at Baru. The sushi was solid, and the space is really cool. What really stood out, though, was the service. Our server was Vivian, and she was excellent at her job. She was very attentive, knew the menu very well, and made sure we had an excellent experience. We also got to meet the manager Jake, who also ensured we had a great time. I will definitely return!
The atmosphere was calm and enjoyable. Service was timely and professional. A good place for dining.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William
Great service. Left my phone and they keep it safe until I was able to get it. Great atmosphere and even better people
McKenzie
While the staff and atmosphere is really great at Baru, the price is out pacing the quality of food.
Peg
After the Bengals loss Sunday, a stop at Baru perked us right up. We both enjoyed the corn ribs. Frankly, they're one of my favorite menu items there. Then my husband enjoyed his lobster handheld and I went for the tofu fried sticky rice which was such a mighty portion we shared it and I still took home Monday's lunch. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the bartender's company. My husband even went outside to invite other post-game fans to pop in the nearly-empty restaurant. They deserved a good crowd. If you haven't been, try it!
Bethany
Had a rez at 5:30 and was seated immediately which was great but thats about where it ended... not even sure who our server was because they never came to greet us. The couple next to us was trying to flag someone down for quite awhile without any luck and we over heard them say they didn't even think they should tip the service had been so bad. We waited a bit longer and were probably there atleast 20 minutes before we just walked out since we hadn't been greeted or served.
For starters, we waited 30 minutes to get our drinks. I can understand being behind at the bar due to a rush, but to not even see our server during that time is ridiculous. After we finally ordered our food, the appetizer we requested came out well after we finished our entrees, with no apology from the server. When we told the server we would no longer want the appetizer, she scoffed and walked away before immediately bringing us the bill, rushing us out of the door. We weren't even there for an hour. This was a terrible experience and ruined our Valentine's Day date night. We will not be going back.
We arrived on time for our reservation and were greeted fairly quickly by our server, but the drinks and food service was very slow. Our server was great but he clearly had too many tables and the staff seemed woefully under prepared for the amount of people. It took 30 minutes to get our appetizer, which was fine but then we waited an hour and a half for a dinner that never came. We left after two full hours without having dinner. The manager was clearly the worst and when he checked on us and we complained about the lack of food, he didn't apologize he just sent the poor server back to sort us out, even though it was not his fault. We won't be back.
Waiter was amazing with service, food was on the smaller side but still amazing!!! will be coming back soon 👍🏻
This place was an amazing find! And on a Monday - no less! We just happened to hop inside to have a drink and found out it was Maki Monday! Yeah us!! 1/2 price Maki rolls, along with Happy Hour - what more could you want? The most amazing sushi of course! I always shy away from places that advertise 1/2 price sushi - thinking the fish might be old, but this place delivers. We have been twice and they were on point both times. I ordered a N/A drink with orange and it was delicious. Then I got a Mix Tape - with bourbon (even better). They don't water the drink down with tiny cubes and the drink was full of flavor. But what you really need to come for is the sushi -We ordered everything from the Hamachi (delicious Ponzu sauce) to the Rainbow Roll (our favorite) and everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful and fantastic. We like to sit at the bar and the service was beyond superb. Definitely check this place out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went to Baru this past Friday to meet up with friends for a birthday dinner. The atmosphere was nice, the food choices were a variety and I chose the chicken fried rice (LOL) I played it safe. It was good, however, there was a mix up on when our food was delivered and I think I got the chicken fried rice that someone requested without garlic, which made my dish kind of bland. My friend who sat next to me said hers was nice and flavorful. Other than that, it was a nice time and I would come back to try other things. The chef or owner came out to ask how our experience and food was and also offered to take song requests, which the birthday girl graciously did! She was also given mochi ice cream and a candle to celebrate her birthday, which was a nice touch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Came to Baru to celebrate my partner’s birthday, and I’m so glad we did.
I highly suggest coming during Happy Hour. Their HH menu offers amazing food options at a great price, with generous portions. We ordered the karaage chicken, edamame, and the truffle crunch roll -each plate was phenomenal.
The karaage chicken is a must order! It was fried to the perfect crunch, coated in a salty lime dry seasoning, and the chicken itself was incredibly soft and warm. It came with a perfectly complementary sweet chili vinaigrette that tied everything together.
We also ordered off the Happy Hour menu and tried the Wagyu Tataki and the Baru Fried Rice with chicken. Both dishes were excellent. The Wagyu was unique - hats off to the chef - absolutely scrumptious.
I highly recommend this location. While the ambiance isn’t necessarily elevated, it does give off a cool, artsy Japanese restaurant vibe.
Our server, Vivian, was wonderful. She was sweet, attentive, and very thoughtful. She planned the pacing of our food without us even having to ask and executed our dinner nicely.
We also had the pleasure of meeting Jake, who runs Baru, and he was fantastic. He checked in on us, chatted with us, and made sure we were well taken care of. To say the least - he’s very good at what he does.
Overall, this was a great experience from start to finish and a perfect way to celebrate a birthday. The food, service, and hospitality truly stood out, and you can tell the team genuinely cares about the guest experience. I would come back and recommend Baru to anyone looking for quality food, great Happy Hour options, and attentive service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sushi was amazing, truffle roll was the star, but the corn ribs never disappoint. Cocktails were perfectly balanced. We also enjoyed their saki and prosecco offerings. Britany our server was excellent and the GM jacob came by several times to ensure our experience was spectacular. Would recommend.
Great food and service. We came on a night there was a party that reserved most of the dining room so had to sit at a high top. Our server was friendly and helpful. If she didn't know something she was happy to ask. Food was amazing, drinks were good. My boyfriend brought a little sushi card game for us to play during dinner and it was welcomed. The Brussels sprouts are amazing, curry veggies and rice was delicious. All of the sushi rolls are a hit, every-time I've been. Definitely recommend. There's a parking garage right above the building too making it very convenient for downtown parking options. Great choice before a show or game downtown! The food and vibes are awesome I hope they make it through the slower downtown seasons! Go give them your support!
Came here after work to meet some friends and had a great time. We made a reservation, though I’m not sure it was totally necessary. The ambiance was lively and fun—perfect for a group hang.
Our server was incredibly friendly and attentive, and her recommendations were spot-on. The food was good overall and definitely feels like more of a spot for apps and drinks rather than a full sit-down meal.
We ordered a variety of dishes, including the hamachi, karaage chicken, edamame,corn ribs, a few sushi rolls, and the tofu fried rice (didn’t pictures of everything we ordered). Everything was tasty and felt like good-quality food.
I’d recommend this place if you’re looking for a fun spot to eat and catch up with friends. Bonus points if you can go during happy hour or on a Monday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Edamame, Yellowtail Roll, Hamachi Jalapeño
We had a great time at Baru. The sushi was solid, and the space is really cool. What really stood out, though, was the service. Our server was Vivian, and she was excellent at her job. She was very attentive, knew the menu very well, and made sure we had an excellent experience. We also got to meet the manager Jake, who also ensured we had a great time. I will definitely return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The atmosphere was calm and enjoyable. Service was timely and professional. A good place for dining.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service. Left my phone and they keep it safe until I was able to get it. Great atmosphere and even better people
While the staff and atmosphere is really great at Baru, the price is out pacing the quality of food.
After the Bengals loss Sunday, a stop at Baru perked us right up. We both enjoyed the corn ribs. Frankly, they're one of my favorite menu items there. Then my husband enjoyed his lobster handheld and I went for the tofu fried sticky rice which was such a mighty portion we shared it and I still took home Monday's lunch. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the bartender's company. My husband even went outside to invite other post-game fans to pop in the nearly-empty restaurant. They deserved a good crowd. If you haven't been, try it!
Had a rez at 5:30 and was seated immediately which was great but thats about where it ended... not even sure who our server was because they never came to greet us. The couple next to us was trying to flag someone down for quite awhile without any luck and we over heard them say they didn't even think they should tip the service had been so bad. We waited a bit longer and were probably there atleast 20 minutes before we just walked out since we hadn't been greeted or served.
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