"I have to pay to cook my own food? What kind of place is this?" I asked.
Well, I was in for a pleasant surprise. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, located at 34 Cooper Square, is a unique eatery that specializes in different cuts of beef, including Kobe steak cuts among other things. The interactive dining experience the restaurant affords is the choice to prepare your order yourself using the grill set right into the middle of the table. You choose your protein and your marinade, and when the server brings it out, s/he turns on your grill and explains how long each meat takes to cook on each side. When you opt to grill your own meal, you get the chance to connect with the full experience of your food and a hearty interaction with your dining companion(s).
One of the beauties of cooking is that it brings people together. Dining alone used to do it, but now, in the age of the smartphone and telecommuting, small talk during dinner or lunch is no longer guaranteed. What Gyu-Kaku does is take the focus at the table from texting, Facebook, and Snapchat back to the food. As a patron grilling up your own surf 'n' turf, you're drawn more into the moment and your company. I had a ton more fun than I'd anticipated before coming out, and a lot of it had to do with the interaction of taking turns cooking the meats with my friend and us talking and laughing with each other. But cooking the food was only half the fun—eating it was the other half.
The food was so good. Writing is what I do—words are my thing. But I had no words at the moment when I tasted my first bite of the Toro beef. Or was it the duck? Or was it the garlic shrimp? Or the beef tongue? (Yes, beef tongue!) I can't remember which one I was more enthused with because it was all so delicious, perfectly marinated in the recommended blends of seasonings, which awoke all my taste buds at once. The garlic fried rice is also a house favorite that complimented the meal very nicely. I was afraid that we had ordered too many proteins, but it ended up being the perfect meal for the two of us. We even had enough room left to comfortably fit in dessert. You cannot leave without trying the green tea crepes with vanilla ice cream—I couldn't get enough!
I was also pretty impressed with Gyu-Kaku's drink menu. I'm not a big drinker and really prefer fruity drinks that don't taste like downing a bottle of rubbing alcohol. I loved the variety (and the half-off happy hour prices!). Once I finally settled on a couple to order, I decided that my favorite selection was the sophisticated Lychee Bellini.
Last but never least, service at Gyu-Kaku was great. The hostesses were very sweet and accommodating. They encouraged us to sit at the bar and take advantage of the happy hour specials, since they aren't available once you're seated, and the bartender was really funny. When the crowd started to pick up, a hostess came back to us to advise us to grab a table before it got too busy and we'd have to wait. Nice.
So yes, I paid to cook my own food. And you know what? I would do it again. And again, and again. Delicious food, great service, tasty drinks, and a perfect interactive date for friends and lovers alike. Gyu-Kaku definitely has my vote for Japanese BBQ.
