A new hibachi restaurant opened in Boca Raton. On Glades Rd, near Lyons road where Ichiban used to be (and if I recall, Rudy’s before that). I liked Ichiban (and I LOVED Rudy’s as a kid). Saito’s dissapoints however. The salad was overdressed with a thick goopy sauce that laid on top of lettuce and… nothing! Not a cucumber, carrot, olive. Just lettuce. The soup should be described as broth, as there was nothing in it besides 2 thin slices of mushroom.
The menu was standard hibachi and japanese fare. I ordered the steak and squid combo. It came to the grill with vegetables all pre-chopped and tossed together. Isn’t the point of this place the knife work done on the grill in front of you? There was no show. The chef just came out and cooked. He did make a big deal of pouring the salt and pepper. No jokes, wisecracks, knife work, not even a smile. And the dinner did not include hibachi rice, that was $3 extra. The chef said he was formerly of Benihana. Benihana at one time knew how to make a show of this cuisine. Sadly, there is nothing special and no reason to come back.
