All food and all play
26 March 2014 4:15 AM IST
Food should always be an experience. And after when we finally got to Benihana (Epicuria, Nehru Place) after days of planning it, those guys took it the 'ninja' level (for the want of a better word).
We were seated at one end of their community tables (ones that can seat about eight; they also have private tables for four), sharing it with other two diners who sat on the other. With the hot plate open right in the middle of the table - the stage was set.
While the starters we ordered arrived at the table, our chef for the night - Jonathan took over the table. The main ingredient to an incredible time in Benihana is the 'dinner show'. We call it so because it is no less than a crazy magical act that ends with you tucking in some very, very good food.
All your main orders get cooked right in front of your eyes - on the table. Right from the vegetables to the rice (or noodles), the meat and the fish - Chef Jonathan whipped up a storm as we watched fascinated. With the crazy knife tricks to chopping all up at breathless speed and livening everything up with his non-stop conversation and jokes, our chef had us watching it all fascinated. Another great thing of being able to see your food get cooked in front of you is the fact that you can tell the chef exactly how you want it - and he will ask. So while my friend wanted her lamb medium rare, I wanted it well done - so there we had it, made as we wanted - on the table. Ask the chef to up the spice or keep it mild - your call, your food.
It is mad fun and there isn't a single dull moment in the restaurant as diners keep walking in, joining you at the table or celebrate anniversaries (the guys in Benihana will sing you an anniversary song in Japanese!). To make the best of it - go in a big group and take over an entire table, but then it is also good fun when you start talking to fellow diners about food and they start recommending things you should eat there. One of the diners at our table to us that he had just recovered from a bad reaction to prawns that landed him in the ICU, so while we encouraged us to binge on sea food (asking us to be careful all along), he played safe with the chicken and lamb.
Be rest assured that no matter what you pick from their extensive menu, it is going to be quite perfect. Benihana is a very old name in authentic Teppanyaki grill eatery and they stay true to their legacy. A meal for two comes to Rs 3500 (plus taxes) at the property - head over!
We were seated at one end of their community tables (ones that can seat about eight; they also have private tables for four), sharing it with other two diners who sat on the other. With the hot plate open right in the middle of the table - the stage was set.
While the starters we ordered arrived at the table, our chef for the night - Jonathan took over the table. The main ingredient to an incredible time in Benihana is the 'dinner show'. We call it so because it is no less than a crazy magical act that ends with you tucking in some very, very good food.
All your main orders get cooked right in front of your eyes - on the table. Right from the vegetables to the rice (or noodles), the meat and the fish - Chef Jonathan whipped up a storm as we watched fascinated. With the crazy knife tricks to chopping all up at breathless speed and livening everything up with his non-stop conversation and jokes, our chef had us watching it all fascinated. Another great thing of being able to see your food get cooked in front of you is the fact that you can tell the chef exactly how you want it - and he will ask. So while my friend wanted her lamb medium rare, I wanted it well done - so there we had it, made as we wanted - on the table. Ask the chef to up the spice or keep it mild - your call, your food.
It is mad fun and there isn't a single dull moment in the restaurant as diners keep walking in, joining you at the table or celebrate anniversaries (the guys in Benihana will sing you an anniversary song in Japanese!). To make the best of it - go in a big group and take over an entire table, but then it is also good fun when you start talking to fellow diners about food and they start recommending things you should eat there. One of the diners at our table to us that he had just recovered from a bad reaction to prawns that landed him in the ICU, so while we encouraged us to binge on sea food (asking us to be careful all along), he played safe with the chicken and lamb.
Be rest assured that no matter what you pick from their extensive menu, it is going to be quite perfect. Benihana is a very old name in authentic Teppanyaki grill eatery and they stay true to their legacy. A meal for two comes to Rs 3500 (plus taxes) at the property - head over!
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