our taste : RESTAURANT REVIEW
Otani Hibachi and Sushi Restaurant — Authentic Japanese , Made To Please
Whether you ’ re having a business luncheon with an influential client , want dinner and a show prepared by a steak-juggling chef , or your heart is set on a romantic evening in a cozy corner , you ’ ll find it at Otani ’ s .
BY THE GOURMET MORTICIAN
Life for the millennial generation can be stressful , busy , and let ’ s face it , crazy ! With young children at home , one partner finishing up her Master ’ s Degree , and both partners immersed in demanding , full-time careers , it ’ s often difficult to find time for mommy and daddy to have time to themselves , even on Valentine ’ s Day .
Since the evening would be spent wrangling children , this year my wife and I decided we would have a romantic lunch “ date ” on Valentine ’ s Day . Deciding where to go is always a challenge . We knew we wanted something special , and we both are huge fans of Japanese food . Those factors led us to Otani Hibachi & Sushi Restaurant near Weatherford College .
Upon entering the door , the first sight to catch your eye is the sushi bar and cooler , filled with fresh seafood . As soon as you enter , you are greeted by a friendly and attentive member of the staff and given your options for seating .
There are two dining areas at Otani ; the front of the restaurant has booths and tables for cozy dining , while the back of the restaurant is home to the customary hibachi tables . We chose to sit in a booth so that we could spend time together , since this was to be our “ date .”
Otani offers countless combinations of hibachi dishes , and boasts an impressive and unique sushi menu . In fact , the menu is so full of appealing dishes that it makes you feel as if the choice of what to order could be lifechanging . After much deliberation , my wife ordered the hibachi shrimp , I ordered the hibachi steak and shrimp ,
Photo by Zach Peterson and we got one Geisha roll for the table .
The first course included salad with homemade ginger dressing and a bowl of the signature onion soup . The soup was flavorful and the ginger dressing was the best I have ever eaten .
The main course was served with sautéed mixed vegetables , fried or steamed rice and two sauces on the side . It was presented in a way that was appealing to the eye , but the real test is always the taste . The steak was cooked to perfection , the shrimp were fresh , the vegetables were delicious , and the fried rice was amazing .
The Geisha roll was a sushi dish comprised of shrimp tempura , crab , and salmon , enhanced by Otani ’ s special sauce . Every ingredient was fresh and , paired together , created a unique and incredible sushi experience . We took with us a to-go order of Sake sushi , comprised of cooked rice with raw salmon on top of it .
It is easy to say that Otani is a new favorite for our family . Not only was the staff friendly and attentive throughout the entire meal , but the ambiance is very appealing for a romantic date or friendly lunch and dinner . As for the food , we knew that it was going to be good the first time we took a bite of our salad . It is safe to say that we will be back sooner rather than later .
Otani is located at 114 College Park Dr . in Weatherford . Their hours of operation are Monday through Thursday , 11 a . m . to 9:30 p . m .; Friday and Saturday , 11 a . m . to 10 p . m .; and Sunday 9 a . m . to 10 p . m . You can find them on Facebook or go to their website at http :// otanihibachi . com .
MARCH 2018 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
101