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There's a great show that runs nightly in Austin.
It's full of comedy, sophistication, and interactivity. No, I'm not
talking about Esther's Follies, nor am I talking about Vinny and Sissy's
Wedding as performed by the Capitol Players. I refer of course to the
show at Benihanna Restaurant on Burnet near #183.
In the true style of legendary showman P.T. Barnum, proprieter Brad
Meltzer has crafted a restaurant where knife wielding performance artists/chefs
slice and dice their way through an abundance of fresh meats, seafoods,
and vegetables...all in front of an audience seated around a massive
grilling station.
The style of cooking is Japanese Tepanyaki, the art of the grill. And
the performance art that goes along with it, in my opinion, is fun and
highly complementary to a generally top notch dining experience.
Ok, so that may not be your cup of java. But if you like the energized
atmosphere, Benihanna has much to recommend.
I'm particularly fond of the Hibachi Shrimp and the Scallops. Grilled
along with a multitude of fresh vegetables and served with a mound of
fried rice that your grill chef kind of air lifts to your bowl, the
flavors here are fresh and authentic. No tricked up sauces or ersatz
gimmickry, just the real deal. There's something about the taste of
grilled shellfish that I just adore. And when you get to eat all this
savory fare AND watch the grillmaster flip a shrimp into his pocket,
it makes for one of my favorite combinations, food and fun!
The grilled Chateaubriand and Lobster is also a delight, but a bit pricy
at $39.95. So I opted for the Shrimp on one visit and the Scallops on
another. At $19.95 for the former and $21.95 for the latter, a lot more
affordable and for me, every bit as delicious.
And if Japanese grilling is not your forte, then belly up to Benihanna's
sushi bar. There's a Master sushi chef at Benihanna and this man knows
exactly how to slice raw fish to extract the ultimate in flavor and
texture from each bite.
I have tried the Toro or blue fin fatty tuna on several occasions and
it has been excellent. Likewise the hamachi or Yellowtail has been terrific
as has the Uni Bafuni or sea urchin. I'm afraid that the amidst the
attention paid to the tepanyaki grilling, the sushi at Benihanna may
sometimes be overlooked. That would be a serious mistake.
The restaurant has great house libations that really complement the
food. Ask your server for a recommendation.
And don't forget lunch at Benihanna either. They get you in and out
quickly and more economically.
Yes, Benihanna is a chain restaurant. It's one of the few chains, along
with Flemings and The Cheesecake Factory that I really enjoy. And the
Austin location is one of the crown jewels.
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