I love Japanese Hibachi Steakhouses. We have visited many to try and find the best one out there. Surprisingly, Benihana, the most popular, and probably the most expensive, is our least favorite. We have had some mediocre experiences there.
Tonight we wanted to try something new and went to Osaka Steak House in Shelby, across from Lakeside Mall area. The reviews were good, so we set out to gather more fodder for the blog.
We arrived early for our reservations, and the hostess informed us we had a wait, so we made our way to the bar. The bar is in basically the “lobby” of the restaurant and it felt more like an airport bar or bus station than a restaurant bar. We made our way to the two open seats there. The bartender seemed a bit overwhelmed. One person working the bar on a busy Saturday night. He sure didn’t seem to fit in to the place with his flannel, casual lumberjack shirt and jeans. It seemed a bit unprofessional. The bartender was friendly, but took a very long time to take our drink orders. When we were finally waited on, I ordered a Lychee Tini. Vodka, lychee juices and muddled lychee. Now lychee fruit, for those who do not know is a fruit native to southeastern China. The fruit grows on evergreen trees and appears to be similar to a kiwi, looks like a large raspberry but has a rough outer covering that in inedible and white flesh with a floral smell and fragrant, sweet flavor. The texture is similar to a grape and and some say it has a citrus flavor with a hint of rose or other floral note. It is unlike anything I have ever had, which made the drink very interesting and enjoyable, but VERY sweet. I could not have drank more than one.
Omar ordered an Osaka Tini made with cold sake and plum wine. The drink was good and light although it had a punch with the sake and wine. It also was sweet, so we both switched to beer after.
We were sat with a group of strangers as you always are in these types of restaurants. Sometimes it is fun and you meet some nice people, other times, like tonight, you are sat with people that pretty much keep to themselves. We started with a “sushi appetizer” which was 3 pcs of chef’s choice sushi with 3 California rolls. A perfect combo as I will eat the California rolls while Omar can enjoy the chef’s choice. We asked the waitress to tell the chef to keep the California rolls as is, but to really spice up the sushi for Omar. It took a very long time for the appetizer to come out. Even after our soup and salad starting coming out. And what they served was 3 rather simple pieces of Nigiri sushi with a spicy aioli, but then super spiced the California rolls with the same spicy sauce. The California rolls then for me, became to spicy to eat. Rather a disappointment.
For dinner, I ordered the filet as I usually do, and Omar ordered the Calamari Steak. The meals come with soup (a simple miso broth with onion), salad, which is always just some bagged salad with a peanut ginger dressing, rice, or upgrade to fried rice (you must do this, for sure) and grilled veggies. This place however, instead of bean sprouts served noodles which were a nice touch. Rice and noodles may be a bit of a starch overload, but the noodles were tasty. Now the peanut/ginger dressing is what makes the salad in these types of restaurants. This dressing, though lacked the punch that other places have. The rice was ok, not as good as other places. I thought the veggies were lacking a bit. I would have liked to see more vegetables. They also cooked a LOT of mushrooms, intertwined in the vegetables, which took me a long time to pick out and what was left looked like a pile of onions. The Calamari for Omar, was good and tender, but the chef used too much lemon in the preparation, which was a bit off putting for Omar. My steak was cooked well, or should I say was medium rare as I like it, but cooked to the right temperature. I just thought the seasoning lacked other places we have been.
Our chef didn’t have the same theatrical skills as others near us. The performance was a bit underwhelming and lacked enthusiasm. For some reason too, this chef was super sexist. Whenever there was extra rice or noodles, he always gave to the men. Odd. Most places are “ladies first”. Also the couple next to us had a small toddler, and they shared their meal with her, so any “extras” went on the toddler plate, which was nice of the chef, but as we were paying for our meal, and the toddler was not, seems like any extras should have gone to the other guests. Especially since, as you know toddlers, they eat two bites and waste the rest. All that delicious rice and noodles scraped into the garbage instead of our bellies. Ok, so maybe that’s being petty.
All in all, we enjoyed our evening. If we had to grade tonight’s experience, it probably would be a B or B-. Good, not great. We would go back again, especially if there was a coupon involved, but really I would go to Ichiban’s right across the street. We received a much better meal there. Actually in order of my favorite Hibachi restaurants would have to be in this order:
1. Ichiban’s in Sterling Heights
2. Shogun, Sterling Heights. Van Dyke or Hall Road.
3. Miyako at Great Lakes Crossing
4. Osaka’s Shelby Township
5. Benihana’s Troy
Next to try is Kyoto’s in Royal Oak. They have some good reviews. If you know somewhere we have to try, please let us know!!