So disappointed in Bethesda Benihana

[Anonymous]

My kid now young adult loves Benihana. It has been a yearly birthday request for years. Don’t judge.

Tonight’s dinner was such a disappointment. From only two servers to not having cloth napkins or chopsticks at the table, I was really disappointed in them for the price.

The food was good as I remembered but the other family at the table ordered scallops and they were the smallest I had ever seen. Seriously about the size of a nickel and maybe 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.

Gone are the days where they would devein, chop off the tail and slice the app shrimp in half. No more catching the tails in a bowl or thrown up to the hat. Heck gone were any Japanese chefs at this restaurant.

You can judge all you want but this was my kid’s request. For nearly 200 with no appetizers or booze, I expect so much more.

[Anonymous]

Sakura in Tysons still has the "show"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid now young adult loves Benihana. It has been a yearly birthday request for years. Don’t judge.

Tonight’s dinner was such a disappointment. From only two servers to not having cloth napkins or chopsticks at the table, I was really disappointed in them for the price.

The food was good as I remembered but the other family at the table ordered scallops and they were the smallest I had ever seen. Seriously about the size of a nickel and maybe 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.

Gone are the days where they would devein, chop off the tail and slice the app shrimp in half. No more catching the tails in a bowl or thrown up to the hat. Heck gone were any Japanese chefs at this restaurant.

You can judge all you want but this was my kid’s request. For nearly 200 with no appetizers or booze, I expect so much more.

Why so defensive about Benihana, OP? Nothing wrong with going there for your son’s bday! I would not even judge if he had chosen the drivethru for fast food! Sorry your experience tonight was disappointing- that is annoying. However, I am sure your son enjoyed his experience.

[Anonymous]

Did they give you a napkin and chopsticks when you requested them?

[Anonymous]

Yes, its gross there. GO to Sakura near Tysons Corner. Its terrific!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they give you a napkin and chopsticks when you requested them?

I had to get them myself. We barely saw our server.

[Anonymous]

There’s a Sakura in Germantown too.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is as it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing is as it was.

People have been saying this for a hundred years but it doesn’t make it any less true. I think what is different is that mediocrity reigns at nearly every price point, whereas it used to be “you got what you paid for.”

[Anonymous]

My DCs also like that venue for birthday dinners. (PPs suggesting a place at Tyson's, most families in MoCo are not driving all the way over there.) We were last there in the fall and had no complaints. OP, your child was likely happy with the experience despite your disappointment.

They have had no Japanese chefs for at least a decade. The chefs speak Spanish to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DCs also like that venue for birthday dinners. (PPs suggesting a place at Tyson's, most families in MoCo are not driving all the way over there.) We were last there in the fall and had no complaints. OP, your child was likely happy with the experience despite your disappointment.

They have had no Japanese chefs for at least a decade. The chefs speak Spanish to each other.

You are not willing to drive 30 min for a birthday dinner? How odd.

[Anonymous]

It's the market reality. We've been there a few times in the last 12 months. Never has the entire dining room been in use. Benihana is slowly fading away.

Side note: the founder's son is a world-famous DJ.

[Anonymous]

We were there a couple years ago and... they had no heat! So we all had to huddle around the cooking surface. It was oddly fun.

[Anonymous]

That is also my kids request. He just wants the show, not benihanas specifically. We were going to a Sakura (not Tyson’s) but the show was mediocre. I posted here last year asking for suggestions to get a good show and was advised benihanas in Bethesda, so we went there. I thought it was mediocre, too. The service was fine, though.

[Anonymous]

All of those matters would disappoint me, too, OP (although I agree with the others who say your son likely still had a great time). The loss of the “show” is the most disappointing - without that part it is basically a mongolian grill which is a lot cheaper.