Used to come here years ago, special occasions with the kids as the food was good, and the preparation fun to watch. Thought it would be a fun change up.

Has changed a lot! First thing that caught my eye were were big handwritten signs that say “18% gratuity will be applied for parties of 4 or more”. Hmm… since automatic gratuities are considered a service charge, not a tip, this always come off as a “slight-of-hand” way to subtlety charge more without just raising the prices on the menu. Most people assume this is an automatic tip…it is not…it is a service fee! Also, most decent restaurants might do this for large parties as it takes a lot more people to properly take care of a large party. 1st time I have ever seen this for parties of 4, and no, we didn’t get any better service. Big turn off.

Second thing that struck me as weird was the ambience. The interior is now a few hibachi style grills surrounded by normal restaurant tables. There were even patrons sitting at the hibachi grills not getting hibachi, just ordering off the menu. Also the dining room is also now a carry out delivery room, with a big cooler for drinks, and people walking back and forth with takeout bags that were being prepared and lined up in the same room where you are dining. Felt like being in somebody’s garage that they had converted to a cheap diner..which is also emphasized by the mismatched cheap diner silverware.

Ordered beer which we got, but no glasses. A bit tacky, until I reflected in the garage like ambience, so drinking straight out of bottles and cans fit right in. I did ask for a glass, they brought a beer mug…! Also no water offered, had to ask. My wife ordered a glass of wine, cheap quality, but high price…

The food I remember has changed quite a bit. What once was miso soup is now a clear broth soup with one slice of mushroom. Very flavorful, but more than likely, much cheaper to prepare. The fried rice is an extra, otherwise you get just a bowl of plain white rice. You also used to get fresh bean sprouts on the grill, now it is very greasy soba noodles. Fresh grilled vegetables are also part of the meal, but too much oil detracted from the flavor.

The chef and grill preparation were as they used to be, fun to watch and entertaining. Only thing was off was lots of oil was used in all the food preparation, and sauces were slathered on everything including the rice. Even the scallops were covered in a sauce. This again was odd, as fresh grilled scallops are great on their own, and you want that fresh grilled flavor. Not here, as they slather them in sauce. The hibachi steak was the only thing I enjoyed, and it was cooked perfectly.

Overall the food tasted generally as if it were fast food Chinese takeout, very greasy and tasted pretty much the same no matter what you were eating. It was greasy…I mean really, really greasy!

In the end (with the 18% automatic gratuity) it ran about $50 per person for the hibachi meal. Pricey, could have gone to a nicer restaurant with better atmosphere with better food for the same price.

Would I go there again…absolutely not!

Would I recommend…absolutely not! (If you want very greasy Chinese food, you can just go a few doors down and get it at a fraction of the price. If you do want true Japanese style hibachi experience, drive into the Dulles area and go to Benihanas. Might be a little pricier, but you will enjoy the experience and food much better.)