New Japanese steakhouse holds grand opening

  Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse, the first and only Japanese steakhouse in Zanesville, Ohio, celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 31. This is the closest Japanese steakhouse to the students of Muskingum University, just 20 minutes away.

  "Our focus is on Japanese and Chinese cuisine," said Genie, one of the waitresses at Ichiban.

  Ichiban is set up with four Hibachi tables, with two grills at each table that sit about nine people per grill and around sixteen per people table. There is also a section of intimate booths that seat two to four people each, a fully stocked bar and a sushi bar.

  The menu has multiple selections to choose from, including various appetizers, dinners and desserts, but the Hibachi style courses draw a good portion of the business in. This was the case for another customer who attended the restaurant.

  "I have always enjoyed the Hibachi style," said Linda Lutz. "I really enjoy the tricks the cook performs and watching him or her prepare my meat so I was thrilled when I found out they were opening a Japanese steakhouse in Zanesville."

  "I love how they can toss their utensils around and interact with the guests," said Christopher Lemon, one of the younger customers, when asked about his opinion of the Hibachi style.

  There are three Hibachi chefs who are all trained to do the Hibachi style with all of the tricks. They also have trained sushi chefs.

 "I thought the staff was very attentive for the most part, and they were very nice," said Lemon.  

  The quality of the food is also a big part of a satisfying dinner experience. Both customers had positive things to say about the food they were served.

  "The food was delicious. The steak, seafood and all the good sauces were great," said Lemon.

  "Everything tasted so good. My steak was cooked perfectly. The prices were a little on the high side, but the quality of the meal was worth the extra money," said Lutz.

  "I think other Japanese steakhouses honesty were cheaper and the portions were larger, but for the most part it was pretty much the same," said Lemon.

  When customers sit at the Hibachi tables, they can pick from a combination of steak, filet or strip, shrimp, scallops, and lobster tail, served over rice or noodles, with a mixture of vegetables and your choice of sauce. This meal includes a salad served with yum yum sauce and soup. This is the type of meal both  Lemon and Lutz ordered, and what they were comparing to the prices. Depending on the type of meat combination you choose this will cost anywhere from $20.95 to $28.95. This factor, along with the service and the way the restaurant was set up, were taken into consideration when Lemon and Lutz were asked about their overall experience at Ichiban.

  "I felt like it was welcoming and modern," said Lemon.

  "Overall I enjoyed my food. The prices could have been lower and it was pretty chilly inside but overall I really enjoyed the food and my experience," said Lutz.