New Bethesda spot pairs sushi with Japanese cakes and soft serve

Dig in: Chef Raymond Yu spent the past 15 years at some of the area's most-loved sushi counters, including Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa, neighborhood favorite Raku and (RIP) Woodmont Grill.

• His menu borrows a little from each: seasonal fish and overflowing chirashi bowls alongside creative rolls like crispy coconut shrimp, plus cooked favorites including miso black cod and slow-simmered beef gyudon.

Coming soon: "Omakase-inspired" tasting menus priced between $58 and $98 per person aim to bring a special experience without the sticker shock.

For dessert: Pastry chef Amy Yu comes from a restaurant family — her cousin owns Han Palace, among others — but built her reputation making custom cakes from home.

• When the adjoining sweet shop opens later this year, she'll serve delicate Japanese-style cakes, including fluffy mille crêpe cakes, Hokkaido fresh milk soft serve in flavors like oolong and matcha, and rotating seasonal sweets.

🍦 In the meantime, restaurant diners get a free soft serve through August.

If you go: Sushi Masato and (coming soon) The One Cake. 4914 Hampden Lane, Bethesda. Open daily, 11:30am–9pm.