A Fun Evening of Food and Conversation: Benihana

By: Bob Gourley

It has been a long time since I visited Benihana. In fact I haven’t been since a sojourn to the Torrance, California location a few years ago.

My wife and I have always enjoyed the dining style where you sit with a group of friends and enjoy the show. The talented knife-wielding chefs make short work of veggies and meats. And the sliced-up onion smoke tower is always a highlight.

The Westgate Hotel location is huge. Beautifully decorated, it occupies two floors and there are two other restaurants located inside; including a place for sushi and another grill that we were originally going to visit but discovered it was closed for a private party.

We were glad we went to the big restaurant. They serve a lot of food that begins with a bountiful bowl of greens and a serving of onion soup. After that the Chef arrives with his knives and a sense of humor.

He also brings a tray with all of the ingredients needed for the night’s festival of food. Huge plates of meat and veggies look appetizing as they arrive. The first dish he makes is a mess of zucchini and fresh shrimp perfectly cooked.

There are a lot of options for meat. Hibachi Chicken is a great choice with the whole feast priced at $24.50. There is an option for white or fried rice made at the grill. Most of the diners at our table opted for the fried choice that is an additional $8.95. 

Beef options were surprising as the quality of the meat was excellent. One of the table neighbors ordered the Filet Mignon, and according to her it was an outstanding piece of meat. 

I chose the Hibachi Steak that is made with a generous portion of New York Strip. It was tender, juicy and cooked just right. Two accompanying dipping sauces were a great pairing for the meat.

As mentioned earlier, the chef is the star of the show. He not only entertained with the steam onion tower but also whipped out a train whistle that comically paired well with the controlled smoke.

​Even though the routine must get a little old, he wasn’t tired of it at all. He told us he does this about six or seven times a night.

Dessert, usually involving ice cream, is included in some of the meal options. There are strawberry, vanilla and chocolate treats available but green tea is also part of the fun. This version was light and just right for an already-full stomach.

There is a large variety of cocktails, beer and wine, including Sake which has become so popular these days. Dassai 50 Otter and Suigi Drunken Whale are two picks off of the list. Nine wines by the glass are featured including Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc and Beringer Moscato 3000.

Benihana is much more than a restaurant. It is a gathering place for folks to enjoy food and conversation at the friendly tables of 10. If you haven’t been there in a while check it out!

Benihana, Open for lunch and dinner. Westgate Hotel and Casino, 3000 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. (702) 820-3080. www.benihana.com.