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Rawbar
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
346 Broadway StChico, CA 95928
(530) 897-0626
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Rawbar
Review Highlights
"Service is always quick, rolls are always delicious."
(in 3 reviews)
"...for the record, the service was great and the ambiance was..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Delicious sushi, the quality of fish is excellent."
(in 3 reviews)
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44 reviews in English
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Review from Nick S.
Chico, CA
12/29/2011
Price to portion of the place is definitely off...though I enjoyed myself there as did my date. The service was excellent and the oyster shooters were pretty good.
Food quality is good like most places that charge as much as them.
The stars are mainly for the service and the nice atmosphere. -
Review from Danielle W.
Rocklin, CA
9/9/2011
I am a sushi snob and this place is not making it easy for me to turn up my nose.
I had a hand roll with habanero infused masago which was just the icing on the cake! They had a rare type of salmon nigiri that was better then Toro and then they knocked my socks off with fried shishito hot peppers as an app! They also have an amazing wine menu and happy hour. Happy to go back. -
Review from L L.
Chico, CA
1/26/2012
Love Rawbar...food is always on point and very fresh. I am very picky when it comes to sushi and always love eating here.
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Review from Amanda C.
6/22/2011
I was very hesitant to come here because I am not a fan of sushi. I was really worried that Rawbar would not have food that I could tolerate or eat. One quick look at the menu and my fear was alleviated!
Rawbar has more than just sushi. They have Chinese and Japanese foods as well. Here's some of the items that I tried. They have a smoked black tea. Try it! It's really tasty. They also have a strawberry and fennel salad with a passion fruit dressing. That salad made me a fan of fennel.
Their tempura vegetables are delicious and their fried egg rolls with vegetables are so tasty! The sauces that come with these two dishes are a nice twist to the typical sweet and sour and soy sauces. There's a little spicy kick to them. Their calamari is cooked perfectly, too!
If you are a sushi lover, you will not be disappointed in any way. My boyfriend gobbled his sushi down in record time. You can really pick anything on the menu here and have it come out great!Listed in: Chico Hot Spots
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Review from Kris M.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/20/2011
I've been coming to Rawbar when I visit Oroville/Chico for many years! It is a fun restaurant with a wide variety of sushi and other Japanese dishes. You can sit at the sushi bar or at a table. You can see them preparing food at the sushi bar from almost any place in the restaurant as it's in the middle of the room. Fun!
I like to order a few dishes to share. During the most recent visit, we had:
Hacked Chicken Salad w/fried wonton strips & creamy wasabi dressing
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Mixed Vegetable Tempura
California Rolls
Steak Rice Bowl w/string beans
All of the food was creatively presented w/colorful garnishes (Carrot curls/colorful items/flowers, etc), very tasty and super fresh! I would order each of the items again!
It's very easy to order sushi & rolls as there is a paper & pencil on the tables where you select what you'd like and write the # of servings you desire. However, if you're concerned about running up a large check, limit the amount of rolls you order.
The drinks are very good and several concoctions are offered from cosmos to lemon drops and sake based drinks. They recently obtained a full liquor license and offer a full bar, in addition to several types of sake, wine and beers.
Service was friendly, albeit confused. About 3 different waiters serviced our table during the visit, which is fine, but seemed to cause confusion and timing issues in terms of when plates were served. They came out with 2 dishes that weren't ours and served shrimp tempura, not vegetable. When mentioned they were apologetic and immediately corrected the issue. There were long pauses between each dish and the rice bowl took so long to arrive, we thought they forgot about it and we were getting full. It was also to be served with a side salad (Which we didn't need afterall) that never arrived and no explanation for it either. Not sure what happened here?!
Of all the times I've been here, there was only one unfortunate visit a couple years ago where the building smelled of rotten fish and the food was not up to par. I'm glad they have since consistently served delicious and fresh food. I understand having an off day.
I love the rustic old exposed brick walls, high ceilings and creative decorations ranging from a large metal fish to Murano glass sea creatures. The music is upbeat!
They offer cooking classes such as Sushi 101, Asian Soups & Noodles, etc. Most were sold out according to the sign, so if you see one you're interested in, book in advance. Logo t-shirts, hats, etc are for sale as well.
Prices are fair for the quality of fish and dishes served. They aren't much if at all higher than other downtown establishments.
I will continue to come back to Rawbar when I'm in town!Listed in: The O
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Review from Ginger R.
Chico, CA
9/6/2011
Amazing!!! My favorite. Great wait staff...great food!
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Review from Savannah R.
Chico, CA
9/29/2011
I have eaten here twice. The first time was 4 years ago when I was pregnant and I hated it. I thought it was over-priced and mediocre. Perhaps that was different management, or maybe it was due to the fact I was a moody pregnant woman, because I ate there again a few weeks ago and was totally won over.
My husband and I were craving Japanese food, but were unsure of where to go. We were already in downtown and he was very curious about Rawbar, so reluctantly I agreed to give it another go. The combination of the modern art decor and the fact it is a trendy be-seen kind of restaurant irked me even as we took a seat at the bar. But, the service was great and embodied the Chico-esque laid back vibe. Despite my pre-judgement I started think "Hey, maybe this place isn't so pretentious after all..."
My husband and I had miso and a couple spicy California rolls and a firecracker roll, I believe. Excellent. Best I ever had, and big portions. Stuffed and in a sushi coma I realized my hate had turned to love. Over the course of the meal the decor had even won me over. It is still a little pricey for Chico, but it has the flavor and service to back it up. I will definitely be going back. -
Review from Tiana H.
Termo, CA
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went to rawbar before Lil Wayne concert in Yuba city. My fren never tried sushi before. But she fell in love with their Gilroy roll.I had their North County roll. It was delish. The place is a little smaller than I expected. Service was prompt if not a little rushed. Another fren had the chicken rice bowl and she loved it. I love the rolls. They taste fresh. Will visit again if Im in chico.
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Review from Christy M.
Sacramento, CA
11/15/2010
3.75 stars. Yes, I know I'm cheating on the star system.
I used to 5 star LOVE this place when I lived in Chico, or even when I returned to try to recruit some fresh talent. My latest visit made me wonder if things have changed.
The presentation of the rolls seemed a bit sloppy compared to how they used to be. I recall beautifully arranged plates of cleanly uniform sushi. My "angry philly" roll seemed pretty disheveled, and lacked the classic presentation that I had come to expect. This seemed to be consistent with the other rolls we had, as well. This may seem like an odd observation (and against the "bigger is better" argument), but I liked it when the rolls were smaller, more bite sized. I thought they tasted better that way.
Also, I wasn't super crazy about the shrimp/bacon appetizer we ordered.
Might benefit from some tasty sauce to complement it.
All of the service was very good - everyone was very friendly and helpful.
I hope to go back again someday soon, and be able to give this place the 5 stars that I thought it was. -
Review from Ava K.
Chico, CA
8/26/2011
Sushi wasn't the best, garlic noodles were greasy, mojitos were good but not enough alcohol for the price. BUT the service is awesome and everyone is so nice. I dropped a glass and everyone was so nice about it, and they got a good tip for that. I would only go back for Philly rolls and a quail egg.
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Review from Shannon M.
San Diego, CA
10/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Interesting rolls. Decent sushi, not as fresh as it could be. Staff was super friendly and accommodating.
I left feelings stuffed, so there's that. I usually order nigiri, but there were some interesting rolls so I threw them into the mix too. The raw scallop tasted frozen, and was so small. I was pretty disappointed with this. The unagi was two different sizes. Not the worst thing in the world, but I have an expectation on my sushi being symmetrical. Ebi was average.
The two special rolls I ordered because of the unique ingredients, one was tempura shrimp, with mango, jalapeno, and some cliantro. It was super tasty, but four average size pieces. I was expecting six. The other roll, I can't remember much about, but it had tempura plantains. It was mediocre. I thought it was a bit expensive in hindsight for the rolls, but the nigiri was priced average.
They do not take discover card, so I had to run out to the atm, then my atm pin wasn't working, so I had to use their phone (my battery died), to get my pin reset and then haul it over to the atm again to get cash. A bit of a hassle for me, but they were very cool about the whole thing. Even refilled my drink while I was at the atm. -
Review from Vic M.
Chico, CA
8/3/2011
If privacy isn't important to you and you are craving sushi, this restuarant is for you.
Good food, good service, ok pricing.
Their Happy Hour between 3 and 5pm has a nice selection of foods/drinks at low prices. -
Review from X Z.
Oakland, CA
10/27/2008
Well, offspring number 2 is heading off to college in a couple of years and he needs to start thinking about where to go. So he and I took a little road trip this weekend to have a look at UC Davis and Cal State Chico. He was a little reticent about Chico because he heard it was a party school. Which confuses me. When I was looking at schools, a "party school" reputation would have been a good thing. Kids these days. All serious and shit.*
Anyway, Saturday evening we were pleased to discover this cool little spot in downtown Chico, a place which isn't exactly known for its culinary attractions. We sat at the sushi bar, and the sashimi and rolls were excellent, considering that there was not a Japanese person in sight. No, this sushi was lovingly prepared by young, white, tattooed and pierced sushi chefs. Maybe our expectations were just low, but I was impressed.
They also have a nice asian fusion menu, and we ordered a side of delicious stir fried veggies with tofu for a mere $6. I also had a wasabi chicken salad which had a very nice bite to it. I would definitely come back here.
Sunday morning we got up around 8 or so to tour the campus, which was quite empty and eerily quiet. It's a small, but beautiful campus, with a lovely stream running right through the middle. Just as we are about to arrive at the footbridge over the stream heading towards the dorms, we hear the chattering and giggles of three young college girls behind us. Two of them were wearing no pants -- just a man's shirt and some skimpy underwear. We were both a little taken aback and tried not to stare, but it was an unusual sight.
As they approached, I inquired of them, "Excuse me, but my son is trying to decide whether or not to attend CSU Chico. Can you tell us, is it a common occurrence for women to walk through campus with no pants?"
The girls just giggled some more, while he feigned embarrassment. Now that he better understands just what might comprise a party school, I suspect he may be rethinking his views on the subject.
.
.
.
*(I'm kidding of course. I couldn't be happier that he's developed a sense of responsibility.) -
Review from Janae F.
Butte, CA
5/5/2011
Me and the kids eat here 3 times a month. Their happy hour is the best and they also have the best kids menu out of any restaurant in chico. $7.99 for ur choice of 3 items with a drink and dessert!! I love the shishito peppers and tetaki ahi. Always satisfied! Oh and the tempura string beans are delicouse! Not a big fan of the soups thos
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Review from Christian H.
Palo Alto, CA
9/6/2009
I've heard of the Raw Bar for quite some time and finally decided to go. I live in the Bay Area (South Bay) and go to a lot of sushi restaurants. Frequently. I'd say at this point I've been to somewhere around 20 different sushi restaurants of varying quality. That includes nearly every sushi restaurant in Chico.
People have told me for years to give the Raw Bar a shot, so I was excited to finally go. I probably won't be returning, though.
On the plus side, the place has a nice atmosphere and is right in downtown Chico. Their home-made miso soup was pretty tasty, and was probably the one thing priced appropriately that we ordered. They seemed to have a decent selection, and I had trouble deciding which of many rolls to choose.
However...
The sushi was way too overpriced, by far. I've been to some expensive sushi restaurants before, but when they charge a lot for sushi, you usually get a decent amount. Not here. It's easy to spend $9 or so on 4 rolls. If they were extra-thick, that'd be okay I suppose, but these were cut pretty thin.
I like to get sake along with my sushi, but the prices here were pretty bad. They had what was basically a shot glass of sake for $6. I figured it had to be larger for that price, but he indicated it was just a standard sake shot glass. The whole bottle would have cost me something like $18. This is for the same type of sake I'd buy in the Bay Area for about $10 a bottle. The other sake choices they had were even more expensive, by far, and I just couldn't justify paying for one.
While I didn't dislike any of the food they sent me, it was pretty average. Certainly nothing special. Maybe I simply ordered the wrong things, but it sort of felt par for the course. Didn't help that the food took a while to get there. We got our miso soup in about 15-20 minutes, and the sushi took a while longer. The place wasn't really that crowded, so I would have expected faster service.
All in all, we spent about $35 on about 16 pieces of sushi. That's over $2 a piece. We left still hungry, looking for more food elsewhere.
As a Chico native and a lover of sushi, I felt really disappointed. I'm sure there are great qualities that others enjoy, and that the atmosphere is likely part of it, but I just can't see myself wanting to go back there again when I can get more sushi for a better price without sacrificing quality and freshness in other restaurants in town. -
Review from Big D.
Chico, CA
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good stuff, great atmosphere, extremely attentive staff.
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Review from Natalie G.
San Francisco, CA
5/28/2009
Somewhere between beer bongs and jager shots, nestled between going to class and sleeping in, sits one of my favorite places to eat in Chico, a sushi joint called Rawbar! I can only think of two places that my friends and I would frequent to get good sushi and Rawbar was always our first choice. The staff is friendly and helpful (shout out to James!) and the food is really delicious.
My favorite dishes that keep my coming back for more:
- Homemade miso soup. I cant find this soup anywhere else and let me assure you, I have tried!
- Honey Glazed Walnut Prawns. The name says it all. Yum!
- The Gilroy - tuna, roasted garlic, avocado and miso
- The Lemon Himachi & Tiger Eye Slam
The atmosphere is more hip than most of the restaurants in the area. It is fun to sit at the sushi bar and watch the guys work their magic! It also draws large crowds on the weekends, so make reservations.Listed in: Faves in Chico (and no they…
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Review from Brent E.
Paradise, CA
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was awesome, but go easy on the Pomegranite-tini's oh so good but for $8.50???
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Review from Angie S.
Provo, UT
1/16/2008
When Rawbar first opened it's doors, I was really excited. I had been getting my sushi fix at Katsu's, which isn't horrible, but my palette had been refined by city living. When I saw the bar's urbanesque atmosphere, I was curious to see if little Chico had finally caught itself a big fish. See, that's why I don't do this professionally.
Moving on, I was sorely disappointed. I really wanted to like it. The service was great. I loved the vibe. But the sushi left much to be desired in the way of fish. I don't doubt that it is high quality fish, there just isn't enough of it! The rolls are ginormous, but it's all rice. It seems that the owners are trying to make a buck by making massive rolls constructed mostly of rice, with a bit of fish (for garnish?) and then charging big city prices because of the size of the rolls and the bar's image. Further, there are less rolls than I am accustomed to per order.
Compared to the many sushi bars I've visited over the years, which include NY, SF, and the bay area's finest, this place is subpar and highly overpriced for what it offers.
But for the record, the service was great and the ambiance was fun. For that I'll give it 2 stars. -
Review from Lisa P.
Minneapolis, MN
9/23/2009
Rawbar is a place I'd go back to if I were in Chico, just because I'd find it hard to believe there is better sushi in town. Let's be fair - is it expensive for what you get? Yep! Even the sushi chef admitted it was the most expensive sushi place in town. But... it was good.
I trusted the sushi chef and asked what wasn't on the menu that she'd recommend. I ordered one roll off the menu and two items she suggested. My roll was okay. The roll she suggested (the black widow) was interesting and tasty. And the walu - deeeelicious. It melted in my mouth and I kept thinking about it all the way through dinner.
My food came amazingly fast. Service was great. I agree that it was expensive - 2 slices of walu and 2 rolls (4 pieces each), a beer, and tip was $36. I walked out stuffed and happy, though! -
Review from Shawn R.
Chico, CA
5/10/2011
Great place to eat in Chico!
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Review from Stacko M.
2/23/2006
Best sushi ever! no really...
Great ambiance and service, best to sit at the bar though to watch the magic happen.
My favs: unagi, philly roll, seafood tempura (all the rolls are top notch!)
Everytime we come back to Chico, Rawbar is a must-see/eat! Deelish! -
Review from Zak S.
Chico, CA
9/9/2011
Best sushi a hundred miles in any direction
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Review from Nikole E.
Chico, CA
12/8/2010
The Rawbar is mine and my husband's favorite date night place. The ambiance is fun and vibrant and the food is always excellent. Delicious sushi, the quality of fish is excellent.
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Review from Sara H.
Bolinas, CA
10/3/2008
The food was pretty good, nothing too special or different. They seem to play it safe...which is fine.
The service was awesome (we went for lunch). I would recommend this place it someone asked me about sushi in Chico...but word on the street is maybe this is the only sushi joint in town? -
Review from Olin S.
Northern, CA
7/9/2010 4 Check-ins Here
5 stars because it is the best sushi place north of Sacramento. Always have had good sushi, good service, and fresh!
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Review from icarus x.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/23/2006
The ONLY place to eat raw fish in this town. Others try, but skimp on quality, freshness, etc. No other place comes even remotely close. They may save you money, but so does eating a McFish sandwich. Clean, professional, and a very knowledgeable sushi-chef staff. Best miso I've ever had. Try the "Shaka" tuna appetizer. Place is pricey for sure and I curse them for that or I'd eat there 5 days a week. Oh well, still very lucky to have them. Thank you Raw Bar.
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Review from Kat A.
San Diego, CA
2/1/2007
Pricey maybe, but if you're looking for good sushi and sashimi, the Raw Bar is where it's at. Tanaka-san, the chef, is awesome and really friendly, and the menu has some really good non-raw selections too.
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Review from Lena D.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2010
I know, trust me, I know. Good sushi in Chico? Well, yes. The ahi pokatini rivals anything I have ever had in SF or LA, and the lemon hamachi roll is the bomb. If you are ever in the town, this is the best it has to offfer.
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Review from Jimmy L.
San Francisco, CA
9/2/2008
Great, fresh fish and its in downtown chico! A must try is the Ribs....yes ribs...sounds like a weird dish in for sushi place, but they are killer. Also good idea to sit at the bar and make friends with chef infront of you. There are items not on the menu that they will whip up if you are feeling experimental and hungry. If you like the spice, make sure you get an oyster shooter. its like a fire ball of the sea.
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Review from Lynette F.
Chico, CA
7/19/2008
Oyster Shooters with a quail egg, a must before you walk the farmers market!!!! Chefs are friendly, as is staff but a bit pricey for small sized rolls but always delicious.
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Review from cortez l.
San Francisco, CA
11/24/2007
i don't mind paying more for food that coats my mouth and bowels with deliciousness. i like dining fine. but i think that the college crowd-clientele has overrun this place and sometimes, SOMETIMES, the TLC of the food isn't up to par because most college kids don't know what good food is, and they don't tip well, so morale slides in the kitchen.
with that said, this is the best sush in chico. shaka tuna: WORD. even after living in SF for years, i can't find tuna similar to that here (it's simple, i could make it myself easily; but it's just not the same). the wait staff is awesome. the manager is also great, very accommodating after a a way too long wait in tiny little chico. -
Review from Robert A.
Spokane, WA
8/21/2007
I really enjoyed the sushi at this place. Unlike "Trogdor", I enjoyed the Philafornia roll (along with a few other rolls that I can't remember the names of). The ambiance of the establishment makes it a nice place to take a date. Each roll was cut into four pieces and was priced at about $8 per roll. Between myself and my date, we ate three rolls. The three rolls and two drinks totaled about $28. I can't wait to return for another meal.
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Review from Chad A.
Santa Monica, CA
7/2/2007
This is the best sushi place north of Sack-ramento - there isn't anything that touches it in Chico - give it a try when you can.
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Review from Chris I.
Chico, CA
7/11/2008
Most definitley a big city import, The Raw bar is a taste of San Francisco in the middle of downtown Chico. They have a cool venue, right on the corner of the busy part of town. The staff is friendly but more than once we felt like somebody had forgotten us, so I wouldnt say they are the most attentive staff. Prepare to spend $$. I usually have to order about $20 before I feel like Ive had a meal. The rolls are always amazing. Love the spider rolls always perfect. If youre not looking to spend big try Katsu's for the next level down in quality.
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Review from Mary B.
Novato, CA
5/11/2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Raw Bar!! My Boyfriend and I go a lot and always greeted with a smile. Service is always quick, rolls are always delicious!! My favorites are the Gilroy, the Sacramento, and New Orleans. My boyfriend enjoys the nigiri and always tries their specials! We've had some great servers too, one is always Lindsey! She always has a smile and does an amazing job in pleasing us!!! Ryan the manager is always super friendly too!!! He just seems like the all around guy who helps out where it's needed in the restaurant! We always have an enjoyable time there! Thanks!!!
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Review from Jan S.
Aiea, HI
2/23/2009
Great location, good service and the food was fun and interesting. I loved everything that I got, but my boyfriend wasn't happy about 1 piece of tuna that tasted "fishy". He informed the waiter about this and we weren't charged for that roll. All and all, a great dining experience with professional and helpful servers.
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Review from Katee R.
Alameda, CA
7/8/2010
Oh hello!!! Thank you baby Jesus for being able to go to a restaurant that has AWESOME customer service! Me and Me's lovee sat at the sushi bar and received not only great customer service but delicious bites every single roll and pepper. I was warned that this is the priciest sushi spot in town. I did not find a single roll that wasn't worth every bit the price. And maybe because I'm from a big city I didn't find anything to be anywhere near expensive. We had a $50 bill which included 8 drinks and 5 rolls. Eat that S.F. The service was thee best service I have had in years. I suggest the peppers with sea salt and garlic to start and have the Philafornia for the texture alone. They also have Oyster night Tuesday's and Saturday's. And and and cooking classes where you eat and drink and learn for a flat fee. Friend them on Facebook, yes shameless plug for Facebook but worth the discounts and great info on this place. Thanks team at Raw Bar you have won me all over!!!!!!!!!
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Review from Brittany N.
Chico, CA
5/22/2008
A little pricey, but well worth it. Ambiance is wonderful, service is excellent, and the sushi is soooo fresh. If you're sick of small town Chico, dine here, have a couple bottles of sake and you'll fall in love again. I'd eat here before 5th Street Steakhouse. Seriously.
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Review from whitney c.
Chico, CA
5/7/2008
very expensive for a lot of veggie filler and little fish...im not saying its bad but if you want really good big pieces of fish of a fair price two words RICE BOWL...just saying and i really enjoy all sushi
