When faced with a girls’ night out dinner there are many factors to consider in choosing a restaurant. It must be delicious, exciting and a little bit dangerous. The solution? Hibachi!

Osaka’s is located in a prime location on First Ave. in Cedar Rapids toward Marion. The interior is impressive with a long, gleaming bar, crisply set tables and a sushi station. Unfortunately, once you go behind the curtain to the hibachi tables it’s a little less polished. I understand they need quick access to the soda machines but do they have to be the first thing you walk past?

Maybe I’m being picky. Since doing this restaurant review thing I’ve been to so many fantastic places that I think my expectations are becoming a bit high. Or not. I really don’t think it’s so much to ask to not have to remind the waiter that I ordered sushi 30 minutes ago. It’s the little things that add up for me.

But, back to hibachi! The hibachi concept is a really fun one. You get to sit at a big group table with other patrons just looking to have a good time. A genial teppanyaki chef puts on a dazzling show of flying knives, spatulas and eggs. And depending on the group you’re with, there are sake bombs. Many sake bombs. Which begs the question: how many are too many for the chef? Sure, it’s great fun that this little master of stir fry is willing to party with you, but at what cost? For us, the cost was many dropped knives and an unfortunately mishandled egg that ended up flying into my hair. Oh well, it’s all in good fun.

The food was yummy and plentiful. With the hibachi dinner you get a light onion soup, fresh house salad, shrimp appetizer, vegetables, fried rice and a fried banana. And I ordered sushi on top of that. By the time our slightly tipsy chef was cleaning up I was slightly tipsy from eating so much.

The teppanyaki choices are pretty straightforward: chicken, beef or seafood. I ordered the shrimp. All of the protein choices are good options as they all are flavored with similar spices as they’re chopped and tossed about on the large open grill.

It was a fun night out. The ladies and I had a good time and enjoyed dinner and a show. And my hair was positively glowing with that healthy egg wash.

— ANDREA