When I think of Japanese food, my mind and stomach immediately wander to local Japanese steakhouses, such as Nakato and Fuji. So when I heard about Manhattan Bistro Japanese Restaurant in Ozark, I was curious about how it would compete.
The Mood
When the restaurant first came across my radar, the name confused me. I didn't understand what "Manhattan" has to do with Japanese food.
When I walked into Manhattan Bistro Japanese Restaurant, though, it clicked.
The restaurant's interior is sleek, with muted tones, black furniture and wooden tables. The bar looks classy, with mirrored walls and a fish tank to add "swanky" to the mood.
The food
Manhattan specializes in sushi, but I've never had sushi and I'm just not ready to make that jump, so I was pleased to see the menu has many other choices, too. For those who are a bit more gutsy, Manhattan has an extensive sushi menu. It also has several bento lunch box options.
For starters, my dining companion and I chose the edamame, or soybeans. They came out to us still in the pod, which wasn't what I was expecting. It took me a few awkward bites to figure out that I was supposed to shell them myself.
Once I figured that out, I enjoyed the taste and was able to keep my hands busy while waiting for my meal.
I chose the Hibachi chicken lunch special, served with fried rice and hibachi vegetables, and I made an excellent choice. The chicken was sweet and spicy; the moist, tender chunks gave me a new appreciation for hibachi.
My dining companion couldn't resist the chicken fried rice, which was loaded with chicken. I loved it because it was so buttery -- I felt the buttery rice really complemented the moist chicken.
The service
Even though we visited the restaurant at the height of lunchtime, for the majority of the meal, we were the only diners there. Our server, though, stayed busy behind the counter and still took excellent care of us.
The bottom line
I can't believe a restaurant as good as this one isn't bursting at the seams at meal times. My dining companion and I raved the whole way home about our delicious lunches. Plus, because the lunch menu isn't pricey, I can now cure my Japanese food cravings without worrying about spending too much.
