I normally don’t do restaurant reviews, probably because I dine at Mexican restaurants most of the time , and one review would start to sound like another. Tonight was a little different. My girl and I went to a Japanese restaurant called Gyu-Kaku. Past experiences with Japanese food made me hesitate, but it was her treat, her surprise for me, so I took the plunge.
Upon entering, the sushi rolls at the salad bar only fueled my hesitation. “Maybe I’ll just stick with the Tempura Shrimp” I thought to myself. As it turned out, there was no tempura on the menu, but there was a wide variety of marinated meats, and tofu (for you vegetarians), served raw. Allow me to elaborate.
Each table was equipped with a round, built-in grill in the middle of the table. You barbecue your own food. The meats are served in small chunks, which makes the cooking relatively quick. I started off with a salad and some miso soup. No spoon for the soup-you drank from the bowl. No fork for the salad either. I’m pretty fair with a pair of chopsticks though, so it was no problem. It was actually rather enjoyable to experience dining in an other-than-usual way.
Next, they brought the rice, and the plate of meats. I had the sampler I guess you would call it: shrimp, chicken, and beef, all marinated and giving each their own appealing flavor.
They didn’t bring everything at once, allowing us to enjoy one course before the other came. Cooking the food was actually enjoyable, obviously to our exact specifications. It also came with vegetables that grilled up nicely as well.
The decor was-I don’t know if it was stereotypical Japanese or not. Bench style seating with lots of slot wood booth dividers. Very nice. Nice people as well. By the time we left, my hesitation had turned to “I’ll be back”. I don’t how many of these places are around, but if you find one-check it out. If you’re a meat eater, it is high quality-succulent. I highly recommend this place. Where I am, a dinner for two will probably run you $50 or $60-maybe more if you want alcohol with your meal. Pretty close to a Mexican restaurant with a couple of margaritas.
All in all, a nice place. Guys, a nice place for a date.
