Hibachi chicken and steak at Fuji’s Steakhouse

2209 N. Belt Highway, 676-0699

A quick cure for the winter doldrums and ho-hum meals is eating at Fuji’s Seafood and Steakhouse. You have your choice of sitting at a table for regular restaurant style dining or around one of the Hibachi cook tables, where one of

the chefs freshly slices and dices your meal in front of you, adding an entertainment element to the mix.

At a recent meal there, Chef Eric juggled a raw egg with a spatula, turned sliced onions into an erupting volcano and made a smiley face out of fire, all to a rhythmic clapping and pounding of his utensils. And for birthdays, they bring out the drums and sing happy birthday as they bring out your cake. (They used to take your photo, too, as you can see on the walls, but Polaroid no longer makes the instant film). For romantics and sushi lovers, they make a Fuji Love Boat for two with enough sushi to keep you happy the rest of the year. Or try the Osaka Dinner of filet mignon, lobster and scallops. And for dessert, go all out and order Death by Chocolate or Ice Cream Tempura (fried ice cream).

Although the restaurant is ideal for those special evenings out, do try it for lunch. Entrees are half the price of the dinner menu and you still can enjoy all the entertainment if you want. For $6.95 to $8.95, you can get soup, salad, fried rice, vegetables and one of the Hibachi lunches such as chicken and steak, scallops or shrimp. There also are lunch “boxes,” which are elaborate lacquered food trays with compartments of four different foods as well as a sushi bar. You can order carry out (call 15 minutes ahead), but eating in is fast. At the tables, you’ll get your meal in less than 10 minutes, and at the Hibachi table, it took us less than an hour from start to finish. However, if this is a business lunch, be forewarned. When the chef finishes cooking at the Hibachi table, he will throw you a piece of fish or chicken to catch in your mouth. If you miss, as with this reporter, it may end up down your shirt.

Fuji’s is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day except Sunday. For dinner, they are open 2 to 10 p.m. during the week and until 11 p.m. on weekends.