From Time Out Abu Dhabi Eating Out 2010
If you’re up for a night at Benihana, you’d better be in a party mood. The internationally renowned teppanyaki brand has built a reputation to rival any of the world’s great spectacles, and people roll up wide-eyed, ever-keen to witness the wonders of a flying egg, or a carefully aimed king prawn. Sounds a bit gimmicky, you say? Leave your cynicism behind and have fun – that’s what it’s there for. Just make sure you book in advance. It’s not a big restaurant, and everyone loves a circus. The food, of course, is somewhat unremarkable, there to be flung around rather than consumed.
Exceptions can be found if you avoid the teppanyaki menu – the seafood gyoza is really something, and the sushi is top notch – but it’d be a waste of your reservation if you don’t see someone spinning something. You might even learn a thing or two from the magician/chef who attends your personal hotplate, bubbling with verbal nonsense as he creates a replica of Mt.Fuji from a pile of onions. In all, it’s a bit of welcome silliness, especially recommended if you have children in attendance who can appreciate the stage show without having to think about the rather costly final act.
