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    Kuma Sushi Bar

    4.7 (58 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM

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    KUMA SUSHI BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Kuma Sushi Bar

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    Sushi
    Brad M.

    Geoffrey and the rest of the staff are nothing short of amazing and accommodating. Can't recommend them enough. We came in and sat at the bar and were blown away with the service and quality of food.

    Sassy Roll
    William L.

    Fantastic sushi and ramen. The Tonkatsu pork ramen was a warm bowl of deliciousness with a creamy broth. Perfect for a chilly night. The spicy tuna roll was the best one I've ever had. Normally that's a pretty average roll but this one had so much flavor and it was BIG. Wife got the sassy role and it was amazing too, topped with fresh tuna. This place is authentic, quaint, and really tasty. The specialty rolls are pricey but they are bigger than a lot of rolls I usually get.

    Tuna!
    Melissa B.

    Always spectacular! Exceptional service and the food is simply incredible. Top 5 sushi places I've ever been to anywhere

    Angela Y.

    First time here. We enjoyed the service and cleanliness so much, we give 4 stars. Decent enough sushi/rolls/ Crab Rangoon. We would recommend since that's hard to find in this part of NC. The fish was fresh, and the portion size big, but more rice than fish. Not authentically Japanese sushi rice either, too hard. Super overpriced (more than Philly area), but the presentations were beautiful.

    Thomas T.

    Sushi is very fresh and the quality is outstanding, Everybody is very knowledgeable and very friendly, I met the owner couple. They are very passionate about their sushi and Sake.

    Main menu and beverage menu
    S S.

    Made a last minute date for myself in this wonderful restaurant. I was greeted the moment I walked in and sat down immediately. The restaurant was very clean. I chose to sit at the sushi bar. The waiting staff were all so kind and attentive, spreading that southern charm and hospitality! I sampled the pineapple sake, absolutely delicious and totally recommend!! I ordered the Shoyu Ramen with Chicken Chashu and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The ramen was delicious and easy to devour!! I've never had ramen before so I have no other reference of experience but this was so satisfying! The sushi chef also provided a chili sauce for the ramen and it was a perfect balance of spice! My spicy tuna roll was so delicious and fresh! My roll was 8 large slices. I ate everything and walked out stuffed! I will definitely come back, with friends!

    Emerald roll
    Emily D.

    Cute little place, we sat at the bar. The server was amazing, and the food was bombbb.

    Kitaya Ai No Hime - bottle-fermented red sparking sake
    Jeff S.

    What a pleasant experience at this boutique restaurant. The customer service is the best I have ever seen at a restaurant in downtown New Bern. Geoffrey explained all about the saki selections to choose from and Miss Janya was truly a sushi artist. We enjoyed the Sakura Cherry Blossom sushi roll special which had the most delicious crab meat and a masterpiece of Emerald Roll. It was too beautiful to eat but we did! New Bern was first settled by Swiss from Bern Switzerland. Bern in English is Bear. So there are Bear statues all over New Bern. You know what the Japanese word Kuma translates to English? Bear.

    Blacken roll
    Rebecca S.

    Food is fresh and oh so delicious! The service is the best friendly and very helpful! Very comfortable setting very clean and fresh great atmosphere! Highly recommended it's our new go to place!

    Ikura, ok not bad
    Genna G.

    For New Bern, this is pretty ok. Not sure the price justifies the quality but the service is top notch and the ambiance is great so that really balances it out. Great sake list if you like sake. I only tried the sashimi and nigiri so I can't speak to ramen, appetizers or rolls. The fish was kinda fishy but not so fishy that you can't eat it. If you like pure sushi- uni, and yellowtail are great choices! The best uni I've ever had in eastern North Carolina and the best environment to have sushi and sake. Will definitely be back to try more- and will definitely say it's the best sushi in New Bern.

    Rising Sun Roll (daily special)
    Brett V.

    Ignore the other reviews saying the food wasn't worth the money. This is bar far the freshest sushi we've had since leaving the west coast and you're gonna pay for it. This isn't your every Friday night sushi. This is your "let's go to the best sushi around" spot. The ingredients are all fresh (you can taste the difference!), the portions are larger than other spots in town, the flavors and textures are all balanced and delicious, the sashimi was great, and the service was some of the best in this area. They were very pleasant, attentive, and knowledgeable about all of their products. From the maitre d', to the server, and busser everything felt seamless and friendly. The decor was elegant, minimalistic, and inviting. If you don't care about any of this go for the food!

    lisa j.

    Really fantastic experience, especially for us to walk in without a reservation because the restaurant we were headed to was closed... The service was attentive, the portions very generous for the quality and price. We absolutely have a new sushi spot in Eastern NC!

    Poke bowl (Salmon)

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    3 years ago

    The sushi was pretty good, but it was certainly overpriced. The staff was very friendly and accommodating.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Prices are a little high but the sushi is great and the service was quick and friendly.

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    3 years ago

    Service was amazing and sushi was fantastic!!! So excited that we have such a phenomenal sushi restaurant in our little town!!!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great overall! Service was excellent and Sushi was fresh and some of the best I've ever had. Will most definitely be back!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Amazing top chef-prepared food. Cozy. Great for special occasions. The staff is so kind responsive and prompt.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great service great food, a little pricy but worth it. Small place but excellent staff.

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    Page 2 of 2

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    Circa 81

    Circa 81

    4.5
    (339 reviews)
    29.6 mi
    $$

    We were greeted upon entering the restaurant and seated at a small table in the bar that was by the…read morewindows. The bartender was busy working and singing in between taking orders as she prepared drinks for customers. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and offered the specials before we placed our order. We love to sample the menu when we travel and the vast menu of tapas gave us the perfect opportunity to try just about everything. They had a smaller wine selection, but there was something for just about everyone. Our waiter was very attentive and offered suggestions on what to try if we were torn between several menu options. The Spanish lamb meatballs, truffle honey pork belly and rosemary beef were the tapas that stood out as the most flavorful and making us each want just one more bite. The Spanish meatballs were glazed with sriracha which caused me to pause before ordering. However, I'm so happy that we gave them a try. They had a bold flavor, but the whipped feta and cilantro were enough to balance the heat. The truffle honey pork belly was sliced differently. We have only had this cut into cubes at other restaurants in the past. The way that they slice the pork belly is so much better. The pork belly was served with cheese grits. We don't even like cheese grits, but could not get enough of these smoked Gouda grits. The rosemary beef with asparagus and mashed potatoes was perfect. The beef was tender, the asparagus cooked to perfection and who doesn't love mashed potatoes. We visit the crystal coast about twice a year and always try a couple of new places. We look forward to coming back to Circa 81 each time that we visit!

    Circa 81 is such a hidden gem. It doesn't feel overly fancy or stuffy, just really thoughtful food…read morein a relaxed, cool space. We ordered the Half Chef's Tour, which is their charcuterie, and it was honestly one of my favorite parts of the night. Great variety, really well balanced, and perfect for sharing. It set the tone for the whole meal. The scallop nightly special was perfectly cooked with that golden sear and super tender inside. The rosemary steak had so much flavor and was cooked exactly right. The Brussels were crispy and savory, and even the potstickers were a standout. Nothing felt like an afterthought. Service was perfect for the tapas setting too. Not rushed, we didn't feel over bothered, but not neglected either. Overall, it felt elevated but still comfortable. A great experience without feeling over the top. We'll definitely be back.

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    Circa 81
    Scallops
    Scallops
    House made pimento cheese with biscuit crackers. Unbelievable. One of my favs w a nice red wine

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    House made pimento cheese with biscuit crackers. Unbelievable. One of my favs w a nice red wine

    Kuma Sushi Bar - sushi - Updated July 2026

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