Recently, I had the opportunity to dine at Fuji Yama Hibachi Grill for a friend’s birthday dinner. Located at 1501 East Beltline Ave NE, it is a great choice for anyone going out for the night and provides an experience worth coming back again for.

Upon walking in, our hostess was slightly bored and didn’t seem to care very much about what she was doing, taking a lot of time to do normally speedy tasks. However, the waiters were well dressed, and even joked around every once in a while when they came over to take any empty plates away. Our chef was hilarious and loved to mess with some of his diners, joking with them and entertaining them with tricks on his grill and with his knives. He continued to light several things on fire and have the food blow up dramatically in front of us, drawing the applause of others around the table. Overall, the service earns 4 out of 5 stars in my book.

In terms of the food, this restaurant is unique because the chef makes the food right in front of you. There’s a grill in the middle of of the table where the chef cooks and fries different things brought over on his cart. Before the main course, diners are each given bowls of salad and soup, which were a great way to start the evening. I ordered the Hibachi Chicken, which is basically just fried rice, noodles and chicken grilled right before your eyes with a side of cooked vegetables. The food itself was amazing. The way it was prepared was incredibly impressive and it tasted fantastic. Looking onto other dishes of friends, theirs looked, and apparently tasted, delicious as well. Because of this, I’d give the food a 5 out of 5 stars.

At the end of the meal, I got up to use the bathroom. The walls were painted orange, giving it a more homey feel than bathrooms you might find in some other restaurants. It was clean and well kept, with the typical “Employees Must Wash Their Hands” sign hanging up by the mirrors. There weren’t any dripping sinks and the soap dispenser was full. This bathroom won a check of approval from me, and it gets 5 out of 5 stars.

Lastly came the bill. As a broke high school student, this isn’t a place I would make a habit out of eating at twice a week. However, the cost was reasonable for a few people out on the town and looking for a nice place to eat, and covered a very satisfactory amount of food. At the end of the night, the bill for one without dessert ended up being $15.90 without tip, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars for cost.

For the overall rating of the restaurant itself, I’d give Fuji Yama 4.5 out of 5 stars, highlighting the fantastic food and an overall exciting atmosphere. If you get the chance, stop in for a fun night filled with awesome food and a memorable experience.