buku: Global Street Foodglobal experienceThe menu here is so interesting. The presentations of dishes are artful and the subtle blend of spices makes you ask "how did the chef do this?" The muscles in cream sauce are the absolute best we have eaten anywhere. This visit we had a tuna and tempura shrimp sushi roll with a vanilla reduction. The combination of flavors was amazing. The ginger in the soy sauce is subtle and very nice. The snapper was great, the peirogies are also a favorite. We finished our meal with the house made sorbet boat; a refreshing assortment of raspberry, cantalope, honeydew, strawberry and guava sorbets.
Raleigh is lucky to have this gem of a restaurant.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day SupriseA great find, eclectic food, great service and great value.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMore hit than missMy crew has a theory: No matter what you order here, you're going to have about a seventy-five percent hit rate. I'd stick to the under ten dollar plates; the premium items (sake-braised short ribs) were okay, but not really worth enough to justify the other price.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Experience!Buku is an awesome Restaurant! Menu is diverse and presentation of food is excellent. The wait staff is professional and our waiter Justin made some great recommendations. Definitely a restaurant not to be missed when eating downtown Raleigh.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat placeThis is a fabulous restaurant and never disappoints. Great food, great service.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ExperienceMy wife and I searched for a place for our anniversary and settled on Buku because it reflected our life together in various locations around the globe. We debated to just have a meal of small plates and in retrospect, we would probably have enjoyed that more. We really liked all of our food and the accompanying bottle of wine. If you are expecting an exact replication of your favorite foreign dish, this may not be your place. However, if you are willing to accept an version with an upscale twist, this place is great. We had a great night.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect!Food was outstanding along with the service. I will be honest, I was not really looking forward to going because it seemed like a girlly place. Honestly, the only reason why I made reservations was because my wife really wanted to go there and it was our anniversary...... sorry.
I was pleasantly surprised by BuKu's appeal to the "meat and potato" man. Not to mention there beer selection was awesome, try the one from Brazil! Highly recommended!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMSunday lunch at BukuI was disappointed to find that we could not order lunch from Buku's regular menu on Sunday at 1 p.m. The brunch was standard brunch fare that is offered everywhere. We were hoping for international food with Buku's normal level of quality.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing food choices - uniqueDefinitely a change of pace and for the better. I loved the global choices on the menu. The service was excellent and the staff was friendly and helpful. Food was fantastic.
It was a little noisy when we were there, but other than that, all was good.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary mealOverall we enjoyed celebrating our 5th anniversary here. We were welcomed with two complimentary glasses of champagne. The food as delicious: Thai scallops and French chicken breast. We also enjoyed the stuff avocado and dessert. Our only discomfort was seating. We both felt our booth seats were very uncomfortable and made it feel uptight. Great waiter (relaxed) and helped us to enjoy our time. Didn't rush us out either.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThe flavor just dancedI have never cried over how good food tasted before, but this place was incredible!
I originally chose this spot for a wine-tasting night. I figured we would grab food elsewhere afterwards. Needless to say, we never left! I booked a reservation for two (and good thing I did - there were some other celebrations going on) and we were seated right on time. Our wine tasting came with a complimentary meal of duck, potatoes, and some other vegetables. I can't even describe it - the flavor just danced on your tongue! After that, we had to try dessert. Again, simply amazing! Our waitress was awesome and even told us a bit about the area. The only downside I could say was possibly the portions. Get dessert elsewhere, but do not miss these meals!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExpand your palate hereThis trendy restaurant in the heart of downtown Raleigh is a excellent place to go for adults. The menu offers a wide variety of "street food" The servie is outstanding and the food presentation is a work of art. Everything from start to finish was excellent. I highly recommend.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA great dining experienceThis was our first visit to Bu.Ku and won't be our last! Everything about this restaurant exceeded our expectations and we are pretty picky. Since this was our first dinner we opted to try as many dishes and cuisines as possible by ordering appetizers and small plates. I opted for the Asian Pear Salad, Sing Ha Roll and Sake-Braised Short Ribs while my wife enjoyed the Empanadas Picantes and Thai BBQ Prawns. It was our waiters last night before returning to his hometown and he impressed us with his attention and friendly service. We can't wait to try the other dishes.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMNight out with the GirlsWas my second visit to Buku, once for Sunday Bruch and for dinner on May 1. Everything was outstanding. Vince was my waiter both visits and he is excellent, very attentive (but not to much) and very personable. Downtown location is good, easy to find. We sampled various items on the menu, the food, the timing and the presentation were perfect. Definitely try a few of the desserts!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMBe sure to try the espressoBe sure to try the espresso martini! Great variety at brunch and on the regular menu.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch is Fab!We really enjoy the brunch on Sundays. We love the seafood omelet and the Nutella bars - YUM!4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMLooking for a 'escape from reality'The staff alone would make this place a gem, combined with the location, valet parking, delicious food, beautiful atmosphere, and extensive food and beverage menu this place will forever be a favorite destination for date nights and special events.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFull and Satisfied!I loved the Sunday brunch was amazing! I enjoyed myself and had a fantastic dining experience. The server was super helpful and assured that my every need was met. I will return!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWorld food wins!Had a wonderful first experience at Buku. The world food was creative and well prepared. The staff was extremely attentive. I will definitely be back!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOur first experience withOur first experience with Buku was phenominal. I decided to have a group dinner with close friends and family to celebrate my girlfriend's b-day as well as marriage proposal. Everything went very well, service was excellent, food and beverages were great. the vibe was sexy chic and we had secured a reservation with open table which is an awesome service BTW. My friends and I like to dine out frequently and we will definitely make Buku one of our "staple" restaurants going forward.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWorldly FoodBuku is unique because of the wide variety of food served. I've never been disappointed when eating there. My wife judges restaurants by whether or not they serve sorbet and Buku has fresh homemade sorbet. Also, she is vegan and my wife found several vegan options, which made her happy.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOur favorite restaurant inOur favorite restaurant in Raleigh downtown and one of our favorite in the state. The food is always presented so well and tastes wonderful. The waiters and waitresses are always so friendly and knowledgeable. They have outstanding specials and wonderful atmosphere.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service and food is alwaysThe service and food is always outstanding at Buku. Everyone is very accomodating, from the outdoor hostess, to the indoor hostess, to the wait staff. A great place with great food and great atmosphere.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Sunday brunch, goodGreat Sunday brunch, good food, reasonably priced, especially for all you can eat.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved it. Very good, unusualWe loved it. Very good, unusual menu. Well done. Will definitely go again.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGo to BuKu often and alwaysGo to BuKu often and always have a great experience. Extensive and varied menu, esp appealing when you're in the mood for something different. Staff warm and accommodating.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our first time atThis was our first time at buku and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The food was fresh and served quickly, our waiter was great, very informative. It was my daughter's birthday and she received a complimentary bar shot and dessert to share. She enjoyed her birthday dinner.
We are coming again for brunch for my birthday next month.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe little tables are justThe little tables are just too close together. I know they want to fit as many customers as possible, but basically, we were eating with strangers at our table. And no one can get in or out without rubbing up on/ leaning way over adjacent tables. It's uncomfortable and awkward. I saw a man break a flameless candle because there was just no room, and he wasn't very large.
Additionally, I like to make reservations on open table. It's easy and confirmed in no time. But then Buku called me and left a voicemail saying I had to call them back to confirm my (supposedly already confirmed) reservation. I found that inconvenient.
The food & service were amazing as always, but I hope management will consider this additional informatio4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSix of us had a wonderfulSix of us had a wonderful brunch at Buku on Sunday. It is a buffet and the choices are endless. They had everything from fruit to waffles to multiple carving stations to ethnic treats. We also started with the strawberry agua fresca, which was amazing! $20/person is not cheap, but I thought it was worth it. Only complaint was our group of six was seated in a booth, which is not ideal for a buffet. Overall, very good experience and will definitely return!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWill Be Back to Buku!The food was much better than your average brunch buffet with a wide variety of options...including a carving station, fresh-made waffles and omelettes. Often at a buffet it is easy to be ignored from your server. Ours was above and beyond attentive. My aunt requested a Chai Latte, not on the menu, he didn't even hesitate. Later we found out he somehow created it from some combination of things he had in the back. She loved it and I loved his attitude and willingness to think outside the box in order to make us happy! So rare these days. The setting was very nice...great fountain between the bar and dining. Overall, it was a very good experience and I would be back!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious experience at Buku!This was my first time at Buku, though my date had been several times. We loved everything. I started with a Rojo Sangria which was delicious. I also had the Naan bread with yogurt sauce and she had the beet salad, all very good. We then tried the pierogis and they were scruptious. She got the Belgian steak and Pommes Fritas and I have the Korean Beef with kimshee and spinach and a side of Mexican Corn with avocado butter. MMMMMmmmm! It was all very delicious! We split the tiramisu dessert and loved it as well as the coffee (Larry's Beans). It was a delicous experience!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's okaythe food was okay, nothing stellar, but at least it wasn't ridiculously expensive. The drink list was creative and DELICIOUS! The best part of the night, though, was the awesome waitress. I wouldn't go back for the food, but I'd go back for the drinks and the service.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply FantasticHave been here 3 times over a year and a half, and each time has been fantastic. Great, really interesting food, very good service, great decor ... just a great place. Go here if you haven't already.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in Triangle Area so far!I loved all of the food we got, there were six in our party and we got two main dishes and lots of small ones and shred including sushi, and everything was excellent! For those who are picky eaters, there is no way they don't find something they love in Buku's menu. The drinks were awesome and the desert were to die for. We were all so glad we find this amazing restaurant.
The service in this restaurant is something else, you feel there are there just to serve you! Great service, great food, great sopt and location!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I love this place.My wife and I love this place. The food and service is always fantastic. However, I want to point out that if I make a reservation, I expect to be seated in a more desirable location. For this particular visit, we were first presented with a table that was right in the middle of the dining room when it was early and there was hardly anyone there yet. As I already stated, the reason I am making a reservation is to NOT have to ask to be moved to another table. So the hostess staff needs to be trained to understand this and not make it an inconvenience for people.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI have eaten at Buku severalI have eaten at Buku several times over the last few years. It has always been excellent. The only reason that I only gave it 4 stars this time, instead of 5, was that the service was less than attentive. We were there early (seated at 6:25) and it was 90% empty. Yet, it took nearly 10 minutes before our waitress even came by for the first time and even longer before we received water. During that time, two nearby tables received multiple visits from their waitresses, including the one who turned out to be ours! The service did get better but there were still a few times where, despite being only moderately busy, it seemed our waitress was gone quite a long time.
Don't get me wrong, she was not awful. I was just disappointed.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMStopped in Sunday afternoonStopped in Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm after the ballet, an hour earlier than our reservation. They took us in and made us comfortable. Wonderful place to sample some very interesting and tasty combinations of ingredients. Four small plates and a glass of wine apiece was enough for the two of us. A larger than normal list and variety of wines by the glass, with some excellent choices.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have only been there forWe have only been there for brunch, but it is fantastic!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFine service then a sour tasteJustin provided impeccable service to our party of six. The brunch buffet selection was as varied and as good, not least the nutella-peanut butter bars for the the group's sweet tooth, as can be found anywhere in town. I expect to return, in spite of the clanger which arrived with the bill: the restaurant's computer added state and local taxes to the meal's cost, b-e-f-o-r-e computing the waiter's well-deserved 20 % tip! I don't care how many other establishments might do it, and it's happily rare in my experience, such cheesy nickel and diming means patrons leave with a sour taste in the mouth.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMI would like to click moreI would like to click more special features above, but we went in early spring for brunch and it was really good. Great selection of foods and a fantastic omelet bar.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Brunch!Buku offers a really nice variety of breakfast, lunch, and brunch items. I really enjoy everything when I go there. I always take out of town guests to the brunch and they enjoy it as well.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMI highly recommend BuKu. TheI highly recommend BuKu. The food is amazing, you won't be disappointed!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA great find!!We had a wonderful experience at Buku. Our waiter Cory was wonderful and each dish we had was amazing. Great find!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI took a group of friendsI took a group of friends who had never been to the restaurant before and the wait staff was very informative about the food, menu and showed great patience.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot for Sunday brunch!I love a great Sunday brunch and this one was excellent. The selection was fabulous with the traditional brunch fare twisted with the international cuisine. The best was the breakfast burrito! It was my first time there and I want to go back to try a traditional lunch or dinner. In addition to the food our waitress was wonderful!3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMI will return!First time there. Great Sunday Brunch. Service was exceptional, and the food was terrific.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience, and we loveGreat experience, and we love Larrys coffee but $3.50 for coffee, this isnt NYC! coffee should be included with brunch3/17/2013 12:00:00 AM