Address:
Ohana Steakhouse
2900 University Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266-1251
(515) 225-3325
www.ohanasteakhouse.com
The Dish:
Two New York Strip Meals
Two Diet Cokes
$49 (Tax and tip included)
Grade: 1 Fork, 1 Knife
Tress and I decided to go out for an evening to ourselves for once. After much deliberation on “Where do you want,” “I don’t care, you pick,” we settled on Ohana as it had been a long while since we had been there.
Ambiance: There is definitely a Japanese theme about the place as there are rock gardens near and dear each hibachi table that guests sit at. If you can hear it over the guests talking, laughter and general enjoyment there is a Japanese (or Orient) music playing. Because there is almost always a wait, even if you have a reservation, they have a bar right as you walk in by the sitting area. Oddly enough, without a reservation we got right in. A word of note here, the seating at each table is 7-10. So unless you don’t mind sitting with strangers, you might want to come in a larger group.
Menu/Price: For a “Steakhouse” I find it odd that the only two steaks offered are a 7 oz New York Strip and an 8 oz Filet. I thought that in order to be a true “Steakhouse” you need to offer all cuts and you need to be able to allow your customers to cook their own if they like. I think that little tidbit cost them the 1 Spoon from their 1 Fork, 1 Knife rating. That much aside, you can get a vegetarian meal or something a little more exotic as calamari or lobster. Pricing starts at $12.00 for the Vegetarian meal, and could go up to who knows what because the steaks and lobster are market price. A full exotic/mixed drink menu including the much talked about Volcano. At $10.50 it is easily the most expensive drink on the menu and is loaded with rum and set on fire.
Meal: Part of the experience is that your chef is table side and cooks your entire meal in front of you. Here is what you get (in order of appearance). A hot towel to wash your hands, a Japanese clear soup, a salad with Ginger or Italian Cream Dressing (similar to Ranch), a three piece shrimp appetizer, fresh sautéed vegetables (onions, mushrooms, zucchini), fried rice (steamed is available and is included, fried is $1.50 more but worth it), noodles, and your choice of meat cooked to your specification. Everything is a delight to eat as you get to watch it being made and pretty much eat it hot of the grill. Don’t worry about needing anything beyond a fork or chopsticks, your chef slices and dices everything into bite sized pieces.
Service: This is what people go for. The entertainment you chef gives you as he/she performs while preparing your meal. From everything to, catching items in their hat/pocket/fork to giving a dialogue of the food as it is being cooked. The chefs are backed up by wait staff that is making sure the drinks are full, dirty dishes are removed, and that the chef has everything they need. There is too much to describe to go into detail here, but even if you get just the vegetarian meal, it’s total worth the entertainment.
Overall: I really can’t complain about anything beside the “steakhouse” label and the higher prices which kept it from the full 1 Fork, 1 Knife, 1 Spoon rating I really do recommend it if you have the extra money lying around because it is far cheaper than going to dinner and a movie, and far more entertaining and memorable.