Taking It Old School . . .

Well, today's lunch was just lovely on several levels.  For one, we walked quite a ways further than is typical some of it above ground.  The tunnels for this part of downtown don't smell like sewage and old ladies like the section we usually haunt.  So that was a nice change to get to lunch not feeling nauseous before we even ate anything.  Again I ate with FLB1 and FLB2 which is always a good time.  Today we ventured out to Benihana's of Tokyo.  Don't laugh, you know you still love it.  We had one where I grew up (that is now some local off-brand hibachi) and that was where my little bro always wanted to go for his family birthday dinner.  And in fact I had my 12th birthday party there.  Nothing like taking a gaggle of preteen girls out for some Japanese hibachi!  Ahh good memories.  No one loves the steak and shrimp combo with bean sprouts more than me.  We didn't eat at the hibachi table on this trip.   FLB1 hates people so we went for a regular table in the lounge that didn't require forced conversation with strangers and just ordered hibachi off the menu.

First, let me just say the joint was rockin'.  The lounge was packed when we showed up at noon.  We actually may have gotten the last table.  Service was slow which was ok with me b/c it allowed for ample time to soak it all in.  I've had hibachi in the last few years, but I think it's been a long time since I was in a legit Benihana. And look- Benihana is doing it's own signature cocktails now!

The MOMO Mojito!  Who wouldn't want to try that? If it hadn't been lunch time I know I certainly would have!  I love that they have a cocktail that can be alternately named after either a peach, anime characters or an episode of Phineas and Ferb.

OMG!  Ducky Momo hates people too!  I think we have just found a new nickname for FLB1.

Our order was one Lunch Boat (me) one spicy hibachi chicken and one hibachi steak.  All came with the little side salad with the ginger dressing.  I think I sucked it down in about 10 seconds.  This is one of my favorite salads.  All side salads should be this good.  Everything was fresh and crispy and the dressing is just the best thing in the world.  If I had a bottle I would probably just drink it straight.  Not an exaggeration.

The Lunch Boat also came with soup.  More lovely.  Piping hot, delish broth with fried onion, scallion and thinly sliced fresh mushrooms.  Next time I don't feel well I'll go get a gallon of this and take it home with me. The simplicity and flavor are magic.

Ok, so the boat finally shows up:

Check it out!  Some tuna sashimi, some sushi rolls, a little tempura shrimp and veggies, hibachi salmon and edamame.  The menu also said it came with "fresh fruit".  This was actually just a section of orange.  In my mind describing a bit of orange as "fresh fruit" is a little over the top even if technically correct.  Edamame was overcooked and a little mushy, also not salted.  But still not bad.  I just threw some salt on myself.  Tuna was excellent as was the partial roll.  The salmon was not a very big piece but then again with all the other food you get you don't really need it to be.  Dipped in the ginger sauce it was fantastic.  Tempura was light and fluffy and not too greasy.  The shrimp didn't have much flavor--easily fixed with soy sauce.  I got 2 shrimps, a zucchini, yellow pepper and an orange thing that may have been sweet potato but could also have been a mushy carrot.  I only ate one bite of that.  Also had a nice bowl of steamed rice.  Appropriate level of stickiness and good flavor.  All that for $10.  That is some good food value right there my friends.  The spicy chicken was a large portion as well.  The steak not as big but then it was steak so I think BH was being a tad stingy with  the portion.  Still a lot of food eventhough Ducky MoMo complained about it.   I left there, and am still, a quite happy camper.  FLB2 was also very pleased to be eating at Benihana so the idiot grin on his face throughout lunch was also rewarding in its own way.  To get Ducky MoMo to go, however, FLB2 had to sell his soul with regard to lunch next week.  Chungry will be back Monday so I was informed I would not be eating with them at all as my services as back up would no longer be required.


No cookies today.  Still full though 2 hours later so maybe I can make it out without feeding my sweets addiction?  I'd say there's a 50/50 chance.

Benihana's of Tokyo (and who knew there was one in Downtown Houston?  Does anyone other than me find that completely random?)  gets a 4 microwaves/stars and a recommended!!