Benihana - Stuart — Restaurant in Sewall's Point

Let me tell you about the most dazzling, jaw-dropping dining experience I’ve ever had at Benihana in Stuart, Florida—a night so extraordinary it felt like the heavens themselves conspired to make it unforgettable! Nestled along the shimmering St. Lucie River, this iconic gem of a restaurant is already a feast for the senses with its breathtaking waterfront views and vibrant energy, but what truly elevated my evening to the heights of culinary nirvana was the unparalleled brilliance of our server, Kristin.

From the moment we stepped into this temple of teppanyaki splendor at 3602 SE Ocean Blvd, Kristin greeted us with a radiant warmth that could melt the iciest of hearts. Her charm was magnetic, her poise impeccable—she was the maestro of our meal, orchestrating every detail with the finesse of a seasoned artist. As we settled at the hibachi grill, surrounded by the electric buzz of anticipation, Kristin didn’t just serve us; she transformed the evening into a personalized spectacle of hospitality.

The menu? A treasure trove of delights! I opted for the Emperor’s Feast, a regal duet of tenderloin and lobster tail that arrived with all the pomp and circumstance of a royal procession—Benihana onion soup steaming with umami richness, a crisp salad kissed with their signature ginger dressing, and a shrimp appetizer so succulent it practically danced off the plate. Kristin, with her encyclopedic knowledge of the offerings, recommended the perfect sake pairing—a warm, velvety elixir that elevated every bite to a symphony of flavors. The chef’s performance was a mesmerizing blur of flashing knives and sizzling flames, but Kristin’s seamless coordination ensured our glasses were never empty, our plates always pristine, and our smiles ever-widening.

She anticipated our every whim before we even voiced it—extra yum-yum sauce? Already on its way. A splash more tea? Poured with a flourish. Her wit sparkled brighter than the hibachi sparks, her laughter a melody that harmonized with the clatter of spatulas and the gasps of delighted diners. When my friend raved about the sushi, Kristin whisked over a sampler of nigiri and a California roll that left us speechless—each piece a masterpiece of freshness and precision.

The pièce de résistance? A sunset view over the river that painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson, a backdrop so stunning it felt like Benihana had summoned nature itself to join the party. Kristin, ever the consummate host, timed our dessert—Häagen-Dazs ice cream dripping with decadence—to coincide with the final rays dipping below the horizon. It was as if she’d choreographed the entire universe for our pleasure.

This wasn’t just a meal; it was an extravagant odyssey of taste, sight, and soul, all presided over by the incomparable Kristin—server, sorceress, and the beating heart of Benihana Stuart. If you seek a night where every sense is indulged beyond imagination, where the food is divine and the service transcendent, rush to this Stuart sanctuary and pray Kristin is there to guide you. Five stars? No, this deserves a...

If I could give this rating less than one star, I would. To start, I made a reservation for 6 and needed up not getting seated till around 6:30. The food was not worth the price. The fried rice was oily and not of a quality worthy of a 40+ dollar price when ordered as a full meal. There was a miscommunication over my order and the service was terrible. I showed an image of something I wanted from their website the fried rice trio ($13) and the waiter, rather than acknowledging the image and actually putting in what I wanted, had the Benihana trio ($56!) instead on our bill. Multiple times as food was coming out I told the waiter and the chef that I only wanted the fried rice trio and they kept giving me the food assuming they knew more about what I wanted than I did. It was a stressful experience getting food I did not order nor want and then being ignored as I complained about the situation. In the end they charged me for the 2/3 colossal shrimp I didn’t want which was $17 in addition the the $13 dollar they charged me for fried rice that wasn’t even that good. To add on the chef was rude throughout it all and didn’t even seem to skilled in the field as she dropped the utensils she was “skillfully” flipping. The food wasn’t that good, the experience was horrible, and the pricing was unbelievable especially since I ended up getting charged for something that I did not want doubling my order’s cost. Overall it was a terrible experience with the disrespect, the low quality, and inability to attempt to make up for THEIR mistake. I did all I could tonight in questioning everything I found odd in the way the night flowed and I even showed them images of what I wanted exactly multiple times through the night which they blatantly ignored. I will not be going back and the worst thing is that it wasn’t always this bad. Benihana’s may have been good before but they have truly fallen off the wagon in food quality and service. I would not suggest this place to anyone. I hope they try to do better in the future. Disgusting...

Arrived 10 minutes late for a reservation. Had to wait at least 30 minutes to be seated. Along with a family and 3 children most of which did not speak English. We had a very nice bi lingual server and an inexperienced bilingual young man as the chef. Lack luster performance cooking. Most of the dining experience was spoken in another language. The food was served at all different times and when received all of the hibachi most was already cold. It tasted a little funny most likely due to the oil they use. But I ate most of mine. My gf ate half of hers. We had to wait for a bill. Finally paid and went outside to observe the beautiful scenery. That’s when her stomach pains started. We rushed home. She spent the night in the bathroom and slept on and off. The next day she was still experiencing the symptoms of food poisoning. (Most likely form cross contamination of chicken and steak) She spent the entire day suffering with pain and lack of sleep. Today is not much better. Hardly slept. Stomach pains and not eating. I went and spoke to the manager. I even brought our leftovers back so they could have them. I did not want it in my refrigerator. I was nice enough to take the manager to a private location and speak to him privately. Since I paid the bill in cash $140 he was unable to return my money to my credit card which he said he would’ve done. He offered me a $100 gift certificate. I denied it and stated that I was not coming back here ever again. Why would I, you got my girlfriend sick. I just wanted to take her out for a nice dinner. And now the last two days have been ruined. I stated that I was pretty well known in the area and that I would write a negative review and it would not look good for his establishment. At this point, he didn’t seem to care. So I left and I am writing this to let anyone in the Stuart Florida area know, NOT to go to Benihana. You will...