Baru — Restaurant in Cincinnati

Ordered from here to try for the first time. Unfortunately for a place that appears to be upscale, and charges accordingly, it was average at best. I reserve one stars for disturbing disasters so this gets 2.

Lobster toast was pieces of lobster compressed into a thin meat patty. This was incredibly over seasoned. While lobster is naturally salty, they appear to have added salt to the patty mix, used salted butter throughout and seasoned the patty with additional salt before cooking. It was unbearably salty. For a sandwich demanding a premium price, one would expect hefty pieces of lobster as opposed to a compressed tiny flat patty salted to disguise the cheap can of chunk lobster bits. Apart from the bread (although likely not baked in house), this was not fresh. I would remove this from the menu. For the price, this was an inedible disaster.

Hamachi Ponzu (Hamachi Jalapeño) was excellent. Exceeded expectations. Yellowtail was fresh and brittle as expected, full flavor and crisp accoutrements made for a refreshing dish. This was the highlight of the meal.

White Tiger Roll, Tuna Fire Crunch and Yellowtail Yuzu were decent. Solid flavors. However when paying a higher than premium price, one does not expect “crab” to be cheap pollock sticks. When asking for +$20 for a roll, you expect something more, and certainly expect premium ingredients. Rice was hard and pasty and rolls had an express mall sushi feel to them. Grab n go.

None of these dishes provided value at all. I was disappointed overall. A premium price for an average meal was disheartening. I was provided with Kikkoman Soy packets, and wasabi paste packets. For the price that was paid, restaurants generally provide a premium soy and do not use commercial wasabi paste. Ginger was once again a prepackaged purchased product. Again, feels like I ordered from a mall sushi place. I easily overpaid by $50 for the 5 dishes I ordered relative to the quality I received.

I would not recommend this place at all and would not return. There are much better for much cheaper. Having not physically been there i cannot speak to the ambience, service or the cocktails. This place lacks a genuine chef. It had an assembly line feel with no heart. Save your hard earned money for a place that cares about what comes out of...

My best friend, boyfriend, and I went to Baru’s grand opening and had so much fun!

We were seated toward the front of the restaurant so we were able to take in the full effect. The space is large and luxurious, with the bar in the center and tables surrounding, along with other seating, including an indoor fireplace toward the front as you walk in.

Our server, Christian, was friendly and knowledgeable. He introduced us to Baru, and let us know that the restaurant prides itself on freshness; they fly in shipments of fish everyday.

We split two small plates as appetizers: the edamame (from the regular menu) and the panko asparagus (from the special menu). Both were delicious!

With Christian’s recommendation, for his regular plate, my boyfriend had the chicken kotsu - he was very happy with it! My best friend had the gravlax roll (salmon, wasabi cream cheese, and cucumber), which he loved. For my regular plate, I had the Ishiyaki Wagyu Beef. This dish was similar to Korean BBQ in that you cook it yourself at the table on a stone plate. I also got a side of the tempura green tomatoes. My boyfriend and I split one of the special rolls: the brown butter roll. Everything was superb!

The chef, Robert Grace, was on the main floor for the grand opening. When he saw that our table was enjoying both the panko asparagus and the tempura green tomatoes, he came over and asked which one I preferred. Since they were both wonderful, I answered the tempura green tomatoes, only because that was what I was currently enjoying. He then shared that the tempura was gluten free. He also saw that I had ordered the Ishiyaki Wagyu Beef and mentioned that next week, he will be flying in a shipment of A5. I had never heard of A5. My best friend told me that A5 is premium wagyu beef. They massage the cows to get the perfect marbling. Christian, our server chimed in that sometimes, they even feed the cows sake (or red wine, if it’s Australian Wagyu).

We ended the evening with mochi for dessert. Our order came with three flavors: espresso, strawberry, and salted caramel. Perfect!

Overall, Baru was an excellent experience. There is something there for everyone, at any price range. I will be taking my family and friends there at every...

EDIT (2/4/25): 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!

Previous Review: I was excited to try Baru. However, my first impression is that it needs a considerable amount of fine tuning before it is considered either an "upscale sushi restaurant" or a "fine dining" experience. The Good: The host staff is awesome! From the moment we walked in the door, they gave high and welcoming energy. Also, the space is modern and bright and definitely has sexy potential. Lastly, my party enjoyed the edamame and brussel sprouts appetizers as well as the Daiquiri and Empress Negroni cocktails. The Bad: The huge bar overwhelms the dining space. For the layout of the space, they may consider reducing the bar space, moving it to the left wall, and increasing the dining space. The Ugly: I understand the high costs of food and restaurant operation. For the price point of one cocktail, fried rice, and a basic sushi roll, it is fair to expect a beautiful presentation, balanced flavors, and efficient service. Baru falls short in all of these categories. Our sushi came out with a roll on a plate. Not a flower, garnish, or anything. We had to ask for wasabi and ginger. The sushi also lacked freshness and flavor. I refrained from ordering raw fish based on other reviews, so fresh tasting cooked shrimp is easily attainable. I will say, I did feel like the amount of king crab in my fried rice was fair for the price. But overall, my experience was disappointing.

I understand it is a new restaurant so will encourage people to form their own opinion. I just suggest proceeding with caution right now as they do their...