Come to Benihana and watch the knives fly around the chef’s head while he juggles the salt and pepper

THE charming Rocky Aoki expanded his father’s coffee shop and started a new style of dining. Chefs cook in front of the guests who sit around the Teppan table. So it is entertaining but most importantly the food is excellent.
Benihana of Tokyo opened in Swiss Cottage in 1986. Modern in décor and with an airy atmosphere it was then as it is now a fun place to go to.
My latest visit was to their restaurant near Piccadilly which has large paintings and windows making it cosy wherever you are sitting.
The Traditional Hibachi Dinner, in my opinion, is the best to have. It includes an onion soup a la Japanese and the Benihana salad with fresh ginger dressing which are brought to you from the kitchen. Meanwhile, the gas jets are turned on in preparation for the chef’s arrival.
Depending on which Dinner you order (from £17 to £23.75), your main meal will consist of any of the following.
Teriyaki Chicken, Filet Mignon, Chateaubriand, Hibachi Salmon, Hibachi Prawns, Tuna Filet Steak or Sea bass.
They are all accompanied, as starters, by Hibachi prawns, onions, a large mushroom, and an asparagus prepared at the table and served with a ginger sauce for the prawns and vegetables and a mustard sauce for the meat. Steamed rice is offered but it is worth paying an extra £3 to have the special fried rice.
Then the show starts. The chef trims the prawns, chops the onions and vegetables, stir fries them and serves them on the large plate in front of you. Whilst you start eating this he prepares your main meal, the special fried rice, mushrooms, bean sprouts and vegetables.
He juggles the salt and pepper shakers and even the knives find themselves flying through the air. Luckily for us the chefs train hard in the kitchen before they are allowed to perform for the public.
Our chef, Marcel, from France was very friendly and professional. He even took the trouble to give us a piece of steak to ensure that it was cooked to our liking. My sister and I enjoyed their rose wine by the glass. Excellent quality but at £7.25 each perhaps we should have asked for the wine list first. Our excellent lunch for two came to £87.19 which included a 12.5 per cent service charge and they had closed the credit card receipt.
Benihana seems to have shed their original name ‘of Tokyo’. When I visited Tokyo everyone there was quick to inform us that Benihana was an American invention – with 90 restaurants around the world – and three in London – it certainly has proven that their formula works. They offer a Membership Experience card that seems good value. The initial fee of £20 gives you a £25 Gift Voucher and future l5 per cent discount off the bill for up to four people.

BENIHANA
• 37 Sackville Street, Piccadilly, London W1. Call 020 7494 2525
• 100 Avenue Road, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 3HF Phone 020 7586 9508
• 77 King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4NX Phone 020 7376 7799
Open Mon-Sun.
Lunch 12.30 pm – 3 pm
Mon-Sat.
Dinner 5.30pm – 10.30pm.
Sundays 5pm – 10pm.