Mommy, he flipped the shrimp in my...
Written: Oct 11 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: entertainment
Cons: uninteresting food
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| scmrak's Full Review: Benihana |
I'd never eaten at Benihana even though the chain's been around for about twenty years and I LOVE Japanese food. "Sure, why not," I thought, when one of the partners in my firm suggested the restaurant when we were on the road in Alaska not long ago.
I shoulda known... The guy's infamous for being the ultimate meat and potatoes kinda guy. I've never seen him eat any kind of -ese food before, so I really shoulda known.
Well, if you've never been to Benihana before, it's quite an experience: The next eight strangers in the door get seated together, and you all sit around this big grill table. A waitron of some kind takes appetizer and drink orders, then you basically choose what kind of stuff you want grilled right before your eyes. Yep, a troupe of roving grillmen circulates among the tables, so when it's your turn you get to watch your guy slicin' and dicin' and flingin' and flippin' in what can be a pretty spectacular show. They can do things with a spatula that I can't do with my hands! Our guy, unfortunately, wasn't as much a showman as was the chef at the next table.
But once you start eating, it's all downhill. Sure, you get seafood and/or beef and/or chicken and a few veggies seared right in front of your eyes, but, to tell the truth, I'd rather have good-tasting food than a good show with mediocre food. To me, neither atmosphere nor entertainment tastes all that special. Well, maybe if it were a dinner theater with a good show I'd expect the bad food and forgive 'em. What you get at Benihana is just seared seafood and/or beef and/or chicken and a few vegetables. I can get the same flavors off my barbecue at home, because there's nothing Japanese about the taste. You can't get any of my favorites, either. Hmmm, think I'll go out for a big bowl of udon right now.
OK, I'm back. So my advice? if you've got a choice, pass up the trip to Benihana for a real Japanese restaurant, where the sushi chefs are the showmen and the food tastes like it came from Tokyo instead of Topeka. If you're willing to settle for just the barest hint of Asian flavor but would like to be entertained, go ahead and check out Benihana. For me, now that I've seen the show, I don't need to go back.
Food:
The flavor isn't all that different from any other place that serves grilled foods.
Service:
The service was about average, especially considering the cost of our meals ($25-30 for an entree).
Special Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations:
Hey, don't get me wrong, it CAN BE a pretty great show.
Recommended:
No
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