Japanese steakhouse sizzles

Robokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Lounge opened its doors to Greenburg in early February and has been making its mark on the city. Robokyo is located at the former Toll House Inn and was a stagecoach stop on the Lincoln Highway that dates back to the 1790s. The restaurant features smokeless hibachi bars as well as a comprehensive menu of sushi, rolls, appetizers and desserts.

Robokyo is the first Japanese Steakhouse to open in Greenburg. Others in the area are the Shogun in Monroeville and Sapporo in Robinson Township.

By Katie Manni,

Staff Writer

Robokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Lounge opened its doors to Greenburg in early February and has been making its mark on the city. Robokyo is located at the former Toll House Inn and was a stagecoach stop on the Lincoln Highway that dates back to the 1790s. The restaurant features smokeless hibachi bars as well as a comprehensive menu of sushi, rolls, appetizers and desserts.

Robokyo is the first Japanese Steakhouse to open in Greenburg. Others in the area are the Shogun in Monroeville and Sapporo in Robinson Township.

For anyone who has never experienced a hibachi bar, it is something I urge you to see. Rather than food being cooked in a kitchen, it is prepared at your table. The chef uses quick hand movements and tricks to entertain the patrons while the food cooks. The piece de résistance of any hibachi dinner is the sparks created when the chef lights the bar on fire, literally.

The menu includes filet mignon, New York strip steak, chicken, shrimp, scallops, swordfish, tuna, lobster, and vegetable blend. All dinners come with onion soup, tossed salad with ginger dressing, fried rice, mixed vegetables, and your choice of shrimp or mushrooms. The menu prices are higher than other restaurants in the area but the large portions and entertainment are worth the price.

I ordered the chicken entrée for $15.99 but prices can be as high as $27.99 and $49.99 for filet mignon and lobster entrees respectfully.

For anyone who plans on going, make reservations in advance. My friends and I went on a Friday around 5:00 p.m. and the place was booked solid until later in the evening. To our surprise we were seated within a half-hour at a table of six other patrons.

In addition to reservations, you may want to go as a large group of twelve so you will not have to sit with strangers who can sometimes dampen the mood as it was in our case. If you do go with a larger group, realize the layout and size of the table will make it hard to converse with one another.

For someone who is not a fan of strong oriental flavorings, have no fear. The food is mildly seasoned with soy sauce. The salad with ginger dressing has the most flavors and if you have never had ginger it will be a different experience. I personally do not like the taste of ginger but you should never let this stop you from trying new food.

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