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Life & Arts

Raise a glass at new Ra

Bottoms Up

Sarah Tressler

Well, Spring Break has officially come to an end, and all around the campus, students are revving up their well-rested brains for mid-term exams. When you start to feel the squeeze from cramming, you might want to release some pressure, -- Bottoms Up -- style.

Ra is Highland Village’s newest addition to its already well-visited shops and restaurants. Owned by Benihana and based out of Phoenix, this rock ’n’ roll sushi concept bar and restaurant has taken hold of Houston with a popularity that doesn’t show any signs of letting up.

Ra is a second-floor eatery that has attracted posh River Oaks patrons and uptown urban club aficionados who gather for grub and libations. Club owners and local bartenders take advantage of Industry Appreciation night on Sundays featuring a reverse happy hour -- it starts at 8 p.m. and ends at midnight. Specials include $1 hot sake, $3 wells and reduced prices on sushi, among other happy-hour bargains.

The bar is new-school mod Asian, with round, red glass lanterns randomly suspended from an exposed, warehouse-like black ceiling. Long bamboo branches jut vertically from a bar that separates the lounge from the restaurant.

The sushi is on par with what can be expected from a mid-range sushi restaurant, but the real draw here is the lounge. A massive window, looking onto Westheimer and spanning the breadth of the lounge area, dominates Ra. When the weather is nice, the entire window is opened, from wall to wall, lending a loft-like ambiance. Strategically placed patrons can catch a view of Williams Tower -- otherwise, the view is of Westheimer, Highland Village and well-dressed customers pulling up to the complimentary valet in their shiny, expensive cars.

Musically, the place tends to be on the mainstream alternative and hip-hop side, with DJs spinning Thursday through Saturday, although the scheduling specifics are still being hammered out.

If you’re in the mood for something festive, Ra offers Tsunami Punch, a huge drink of amaretto, vodka, sake, Southern Comfort and mixed fruit juices. What better way to tame mid-term tensions than with a fish bowl brimming with a fruity alcoholic punch? It’s big enough to share with a bud, but when times get tough, you might as well just order one for yourself. After all, you deserve it after all the hours you put in studying.

Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant3908 Westheimer Road(713) 621-5800Verdict: The upbeat vibe and the fresh air from that killer window make Ra a Houston hangout that’s bound to make a lasting impression.

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