Food: RA Sushi

Fancy place settings alone don't make for great dining, but sometimes superior ambiance can compensate for average food. That's the lesson I learned from RA Sushi, a chain of restaurants that stretches from California to Chicago and all the way to South Florida (brand is now owned by the Benihana folks).

From the beginning, you know you're in a trendy place. The lights are luminescent red globes, suspended from the ceiling. The bathroom sinks have bowls that are elevated above the counter (completely impractical, and only found in fancy restaurants). The plates are chic and pleasantly colored.

The food is decent for a big chain, though you must balance that with the high prices on the sushi and sashimi ($10 for 7 slices of tuna is pretty steep IMHO). The best value is the veggie tempura bento box (only served at lunch) - for less than $7, you get miso soup, two different kinds of salad, a small dumpling/egg roll combo, a scoop of rice, and about a dozen pieces of veggie tempura.

2/4 stars