| rev:text
| - My first (and only) trip to Benihana's served as the reception to a friend's wedding. We had about 25+ people in our party, but they were expecting us, so it wasn't much of a wait. At first we all gathered in a very chill bar at the front entrance. Plenty of chairs and low lighting make it comfortable. We filled up three huge tables. The service took a while, but it was a busy Saturday night and given our huge group, I give it a pass. On to the food.
You might have heard from your friends, et al about the Benihana's gimmick. After you place an order, a chef comes out to your table and makes it all right in front of you on tabletop grills. Sure enough, that's what happens and the chef's also have a little standup act going to add to the showmanship. It actually made it very fun. Certainly beats sitting around for a half hour for your food. I had the Chicken Hibachi. The early courses include soup and salad (nothing special) and your choice of shrimp or veggies. I went for the shrimp, because I'd never had shrimp before. (I know, I know) To tell you the truth, it was kinda bland. The chicken on the other hand was incredible. Add a little bit of teriyaki and you'll be loving it.
The pricing is high, but not astronomical. I paid about 30 bucks for my meal, which is among the cheaper items. The specialty alcoholic drinks are overpriced for what you get, so maybe just stick with a coke or beer. The motif of the restaurant is like some Japanese village, with fountains and such all around. All in all, not a bad place to celebrate with friends, or to take a date.
|