Toyko

Some of my most cherished memories aren’t the ones that were planned weeks or days or hours in advance. They are the impromptu decisions or surprises that make a night unforgettable. I thrive on these memories, and my surprise this last week led to the review of the restaurant Tokyo.
Walking into Tokyo, I was in awe of the authenticity of the restaurant. The hostess staff was dressed to the t, with the overall tone of the restaurant coming off as formal. My boyfriend of three years, Nick, came up to Eau Claire to surprise me just because he “wanted to”. I’d like to think that we are an adventurous couple and like to try new things, so we decided on this hibachi restaurant.
As soon as I walked into the dining area, the aroma of the steak overwhelmed my senses. My mouth started sizzling right then and there. Although this restaurant was recommended to me by a friend, I felt a bit out of place; the majority of the customers were well over there 30s. They all seemed to be enjoying their experience though, so I wasn’t worried. The waiters, staff, and cooks crafted a comfortable and inviting atmosphere with their smiles and comical demeanor.
Hibachi is iron-board cooking, so our meal was prepared right in front of our eyes. As our cook, Max, poured water onto the cook top, a fire roared literally a couple of feet in front of our faces. I’ve never been to a hibachi restaurant, so it was hard to get used to at first, but after a while I decided that I really enjoyed this technique. It was a way to get the customers to interact with the cook, to turn the formal atmosphere in to informal. The only downfall of the hibachi method was that the restaurant climbed to around 80 degrees. Before ordering, Max joked around and tried to get to know us better, which made for a relaxed ambiance. He even teased and asked if we were married!
Deciding to go all out, Nick and I both ordered dinner entrées, he teriyaki steak and I hibachi shrimp. They were both served with authentic chicken noodle soup, salad, and fried rice. Before we picked up our utensils to dive into the plethora of food that was making my mouth water, Max “washed” our hands with a warm damp towel. Can you say amazing service?
The first bite was an explosion of wonderfulness in my mouth; the combination of the spices and the choice of seafood complimented each other perfectly. This definitely beat Red Lobster any day. Since the dinner came with extras, I had trouble stomaching all of the food in front of me, even though I wanted to consume it all. The portion of the meal was a little on the large side, but who doesn’t love delicious leftovers to microwave the next afternoon for lunch?
Leaving the restaurant 60 dollars poorer was definitely not a bitter feeling. Usually even going to Applebee’s causes hesitance, for being a college student indicates having absolutely no money. Yet sharing an amazing night at an equally amazing restaurant seemed to trump the amount of money spent. Nothing can beat an impromptu “date night” with high-quality food and good company. Tokyo is a first-rate restaurant, easily the best of the best in Eau Claire!