Benihana

My family visited the Dulles Benihana on Dec. 24, 2008 for my employer’s holiday luncheon. Our office manager had reserved the restaurant and placed detailed orders for all guests at least a month prior to the party. Unfortunately for my family and my coworker’s family who shared our table, the restaurant appeared to be short one chef, so our table was ignored for an hour and a half while we watched the rest of our company and their families get served and eat their meals at neighboring tables. We only got attention after we complained several times and asked for the manager, but the manager never spoke to us, and chose to hide in the back instead of coming out and apologizing for the delays. There were five kids at our table, and after sitting there for one hour and 45 minutes, we finally got some greasy lukewarm tempura (with no sauce). When we eventually got a chef at our table, he did not seem happy, and neither were we. The other tables had finished their full meals and desserts before we got served the first morsels. Our food, when it was finally put on the plates that had been sitting empty in front of us for over two hours (!!!) was bland. They only provided two types of sauce, which weren’t good. We will never go back.

I was pumped to hear Benihana had opened within walking distance from my home. But after eating there last week, I feel like Matsutake is MUCH better. It might just be the fact that fried rice costs $3 extra so I passed on that, where as you get a free choice at Matsutake. I’m strictly talking about the grill as I do not partake in the sushi.

This is one of those places you go expecting to spend more than your food is worth, but it’s fun if you have never been before. (I feel the same way about the Melting Pot..only go on very special and rare occasions)