Sneak peek at BAKU menu

Here's a sneak preview of the BAKU menu (a sushi and robata place scheduled to open around month's end at 4515 Sharon Road near SouthPark; the v is for vegetarian):

Small bites and soups $4-12

steamed soy beans with sea salt /v

crispy calamari with ginger, garlic, green chile and lime

Kurobuta pork and sweet onion dumplings

wild mushroom and bean dumplings

white miso soup with spicy scallop and baby leek

porcini mushroom and smoked tofu miso soup

local quail with plum wine, and kinome

coal roasted shishito peppers with shaved bonito

Salads $6 - 12

Carolina vine tomato, roasted eggplant with ginger and rice vinegar

roasted beet with spicy grilled tofu and orange blossom honey

seasonal wild mushroom with herb garlic oil and sesame essence

BAKU salad of cabbage and leaf lettuce, candied pecans and umebosi dressing

Tempura $8-19

tiger prawns with sauce for dipping

dayboat grouper with pickled red onion and chile dashi

fresh rock shrimp with wasabi pea dust, lime and chile yuzu

assorted fresh vegetables with dipping trio

Maki Rolls $7 - 15

avocado with shishito mayo, wasabi, yuzu and shichimi

softshell crab with chile and tobiko sauce

yellowtail tuna with cucumber, serrano pepper and avocado

spicy pork and sweet egg omelet

shitake and enoki mushroom duo

Robata Skewers $6-15

Kurobota pork belly with mustard miso glaze and shiso slaw

sake-glazed chicken wings with lime and sancho salt flake

beef tenderloin and asparagus

chicken and baby leek yakitori

diver scallop with black plum vin cotto and yuzu mayo

chicken liver with shishito pepper

roasted oyster with garlic yuzu butter and dried shiso

Alaskan king crab with lemon miso butter

Sashimi/Nigiri & Small plates $12-18

seared tuna sashimi with daikon and ponzu dressing

prime beef tataki with porcini mushroom and essence of white truffle

cold-smoked salmon with maple, lemon and mint

Kumumoto oyster with pickled melon and cucumber mignonette

seared escolar with shiso pesto, yuzo, and white asparagus

chirashi with mango, avocado, macadamia nut and sweet chile soy

yellowtail sashimi with smoky pickled onion and truffle oil

Wagyu nigiri with quail egg, daikon and ginger lemon

bluefin toro nigiri, foie gras, ponzu and sturgeon caviar

sizzling kampachi with shichimi pepper, ginger and hot rice oil

Shared Platters and Pots $11-20

(Omakase)

chef's selection of nigiri, sashimi or robata skewers

wild mushroom kamamashi pot

Robata Meats $17-26

marinated lamb chops with Korean chile and garlic

tea-brined duck breast with honey lime and peach salad

babyback ribs with house spice blend and sweet chile glaze

Wagyu ribeye steak with fresh wasabi

Jidori chicken breast with chili yuzu and herb glaze

spicy filet of beef with black pepper sesame sauce

Robata Seafood $18-25

miso glazed black cod with onion cress salad

wild king salmon teriyaki

giant Madagascar prawn with sweet chile, garlic, and yuzu

charred halibut with gochujang chile and honey

Robata Vegetables $6-9

local sweet corn with shiso butter /v

crimini mushrooms with garlic soy /v

asparagus with wafu dressing and sesame seeds /v

plum eggplant with spicy lemon miso dressing /v

baby artichokes with white truffle wafu dressing /v

sweet potato with honey and cinnamon /v

coal roasted shishito peppers with shaved bonito