Kyoto sizzling hibachi-style experience

Why: Kyoto Sushi Steakhouse recently opened on the corner of Southeast First Street and 164th Avenue. The restaurant brings another sushi option, as well as a traditional hibachi-style steakhouse experience to the Clark County dining scene. The menu encompasses a wide selection of sushi, sashimi and grill selections at lunch and dinner for the whole family.

What I tried: I settled on the hibachi steak, lobster and shrimp dinner, and my dining companion had the sukiyaki steak. We also tried the white tuna and octopus from the sushi selections, and we chose the Kyototini and the mangotini from the cocktail options, which were deliciously fruity.

Our dinner entrees came with a green salad and onion soup, which was served before the chef arrived, and fried rice and vegetables prepared on the grill and served alongside the meat choices.

The steak and lobster were cubed, grilled and seasoned all while being cooked on the grill. The shrimp was cooked whole, and the sukiyaki steak was a stir fry of steak strips and julienned vegetables. All were seasoned with the same ingredients, including the fried rice, which presented an overall flavor that was complementary to the grilled part of our dinner. Although I requested the steak medium, it ended up well-done. It was flavorful and tender in spite of this. The lobster was tasty, but I prefer lobster cooked in the shell and bare of seasoning.

The quality of the octopus and white tuna was good, so I believe it is safe to say that a visit to the sushi side of the restaurant would be worth it.

Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Seafood soup is available in regular and spicy. Cooked appetizers include tempura, fried calamari, fried scallops and beef or chicken negimaki. Appetizers from the sushi bar include a sushi sampler, a sashimi sampler, karashi octopus, conch, tuna or salmon, and tuna or salmon tataki. Among the salad selections is an avocado salad, a seaweed salad, a tuna or salmon avocado salad and a crabmeat salad. Sushi bar entrees are served with miso soup and salad. Kitchen entrees, which include teriyaki selections, are served on a hot skillet with onion, pepper, broccoli and teriyaki sauce and come with white rice, onion soup and salad. Tempura dinner entrees are comprised of tempura-fried vegetables or chicken, shrimp or lobster and also come with white rice, onion soup and salad. Rice dishes, katsu, Japanese noodle dishes and dinner bento boxes are on the menu, as well. Hibachi combinations, special dinner and grill entrees offer a variety of proteins cooked on the traditional grill. Lunch entrees, boxes, hibachi and sushi entrees are slightly pared-down versions of dinner options. Sushi, sashimi and roll selections are comparable to other higher-end sushi restaurants.

Other observations: The restaurant is attractive in style and comfortable for dining. Prices are in line with others of this type. Wait time was excessive on the evening of my visit. It took approximately 40 minutes for the chef to come to the grill after our group was seated. All total, it was a two-hour dinner experience, start to finish. The food quality is fresh and portions are reasonable. Take-out is available.

Cost: A la carte sushi and sashimi costs $3.80 to $7.95. Rolls range from $4 to $13.75. Lunch selections start at $8 and top out at $13.95. Soup and salads are $2.10 to $8.95. Appetizers cost 4.25 to $9.25. Sushi bar entrees are $18.95 to $80.95. Kitchen entrees and tempura dinner entrees are $10.50 to $27.95. Rice dishes, katsu, Japanese noodles and bento boxes start at $10.50 to $19.50. Hibachi selections cost $11.95 to $38.95, and additional items available with hibachi entrees range from $2 to $14.95. Desserts are $3.95 to $5.25.