Baku

BAKU is my absolute go-to spot in the neighborhood for meeting friends for a drink and some sushi. While I've never really dined downstairs in the restaurant, the upstairs bar is such a vibe that we always end up there instead. The space is super cute, whether you're grabbing a spot at the bar or lounging in the seating area.On busier nights, especially if you're with a group of four or more, I'd recommend making a reservation--it can fill up quickly! Yes, it's on the pricier side, but I usually come here for the cocktails and the ambiance, and it never disappoints.If you're looking for a chic spot to enjoy great drinks, light bites, and an elevated atmosphere, BAKU is the place to be. Highly recommend!

Great sushi in an upscale, moody interior. They did let us know that the dishes would come out not necessarily together, and it was definitely the case as we waited a while for everyone's food to come out and most came out and different times. Our server was very helpful though. The tuna tasting was phenomenal and fresh.

Baku is the best Asian fusion restaurant in the south east. It has consistently amazing food and the service is outstanding. I highly recommend trying the chef specials which always deliver.

Ee drove to Charlotte specifically to have date night at this restaurant. And what we enjoyed most was the ambiance. It was a very inviting, romantic atmosphere, our waitress was attentive and kind, but it was so dark that we had to use the flashlights from our phones to read the menu. There was a female employee at the bar (upstairs, a few feet from our table) talking very loudly, complaining to another employee, and she went on and on- to the point that it ruined much of our dining experience. I actually mentioned it to our waitress, but I don't think she said anything because the complaining employee kept running her mouth. Anyways, the calamari came out first- and we immediately sent it back. It wasn't crispy, lacked seasoning, and I think it was previously frozen because the texture was off. We ordered 2 sushi rolls, unagi nigiri, hamachi sashimi, chicken (karaage) and a salad. The salad was REALLY good, but everything else fell a little short of our expectations. The rolls are definitely pricey here, one was $22 and the other was $27, for that price we expect the sushi rolls that are superior to any others. The presentation was beautiful, but the flavor was just okay.

I read the reviews and Baku did not disappoint. I had the Toro toast, salmon belly and the waygu and everything was delicious. I sat the bar upstairs and Nicole the bartender was very knowledgeable and offered amazing suggestions which I loved. The decor is beautiful and dark. My only recommendation would be for them to have little pop lights so that you could see the menu better. They are pricy but the food and service speaks for the price. They are a tapas style Japanese tea house...without the tea kinda vibe.

Visited Baku on Valentine's Day.The food was very good. It was flavorful and enjoyable. We loved the tapas menu. Alexis was the manager that evening and Giavanna was our waitress. They were both fantastic! Alexis ensured that we got a seat to dine-in and our host, though three months on the job, was knowledgeable about the menu and made great suggestions. They both were extremely pleasant.The atmosphere is amazing! The restaurant looks small from the outside but spacious inside and is trendy.

Let me just start out by saying, the quality of this sushi is impeccable!I'm relatively new to the Charlotte sushi scene but Baku delivered, honey! We had reservations pretty far in advance for date night and I'm glad we did. We started with the crispy rice appetizer topped with spicy hamachi and it was, I'm telling you, SO good. That was my first time trying something like that. The texture of the crispy rice under the delicate spicy fish finished with the crunch of the jalapeño, created the perfect bite.Moving on to the sushi - we ordered sushi for two and every single bite was better than the last. The tuna and different types of salmon just melted in our mouths, it was truly incredible. If sushi isn't your thing, don't worry because the menu is full of small plate/tapas as well. I would definitely go back to Baku.

We literally just found this spot because the wait at Cheesecake was 40 minutes...haha but it was such a fine! I loved the dim ambience and the Japanese decor inside. It was relaxing and calm. Our server was wonderful and really made sure we knew about the drinks and menu. Their food is tapas style and we ordered different items including their soft shell crab roll, brussell sprouts, shrimp roll and shrimp siomai. It was amazing! This was a great stumble to fall upon...haha. Thank goodness Cheesecake had a 40 minute wait...this was a much better choice!! Their sushi was fresh and one of the bests I've had in awhile!

The restaurant itself is very outdated and belongs in the early 2000s. The food was excellent though and everything tastes fresh. We got the spicy edamame and it was mushy and overcooked. I would skip this dish. Then we got the sushi/sashimi for two and it was delicious. I will absolutely be back when I'm in the mood for good sushi!

Disclaimer I'm not a fan of sushi or raw fish in general but on this particular Friday night I decided to expand my horizons. Baku exceeded my expectations. Our server, Nicole, was amazing! Not only did she offer great recommendations, especially when it came to the sauces which paired well together with raw fish. It made the taste more palatable. She's also very knowledgeable and educated us as we ventured through this sushi journey. I took pics of a few of the plates and I don't recall a single name lol. Expect the fried Brussel sprouts, we kept that one coming! After dinner we made our way upstairs to their lounge area for a night cap. It was quaint yet very sophisticated. Moral of the story, whether you're a sushi lover or just trying it for the first time, come to Baku. You won't be disappointed.