You become part of one big family—and a big part of Vegas history—when you dine at Benihana at Westgate Las Vegas. The restaurant, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, encourages communal dining around hibachi tables that can accommodate anywhere from small families to huge reunions. And from the second you sit down to the time you depart, the experience is unlike any other, from the food and the way it’s prepared to the friends you make.
The centerpiece of the 38,000-square-foot Benihana Village (which, when you include Rikki Tiki Sushi and Silk Road Asian Bistro, make this one the largest in the world) is practically an entertainment venue, with skilled chefs whipping up your meal in front of you, serving up New York strip steak and mushrooms (by far the most popular item) to the Benihana Trio of filet mignon, chicken breast and colossal shrimp. The two weeks of intensive training shows in every chef here; they’re quick with jokes as they deftly grill and move items around, never missing a beat.
“There is nothing like the experience of Benihana at the Westgate Las Vegas,” said general manager Kit Quirante. “The consistency and quality of our food and service is why we have been so successful for over 50 years.”
Before enjoying your chef’s performance, make sure to enjoy something from the specialty cocktail menu. The Baby Blue Ocean, a lovely combination of Malibu rum, New Amsterdam pineapple vodka, sake, blue Curacao and tropical fruit juices, can be ordered as a “punch bowl” for two or more, or order something for yourself like the Rising Sun Lemon Drop, so delicious with Ketel One Citroen vodka, Cointreau, fresh lemon and PAMA pomegranate liqueur.
We also recommend sampling an appetizer, from a sushi sampler of tuna, salmon, snapper, yellowtail and shrimp nigiri to shrimp sauté served with homemade ginger sauce. If you really want to splurge, the specialties menu offers not only your choice of surf and/or turf, it also comes with flavorful onion soup, a tangy salad and fried rice. Seafood fans will want to order the Ocean Treasure, featuring lobster, scallops and shrimp.
Over its half-century of existence, this Benihana has been enjoyed by some of the biggest celebrities and sports figures in history, from Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga to Mike Tyson and Kobe Bryant. It’s also undergone many phases, from a 1992 remodel to the addition of a sushi bar in 2002. But the basic philosophy of the restaurant has never changed: Make every guest feel like family.
“It absolutely is one big family, and that’s why we have such longevity with our team members,” Quirante said. “When you enjoy where you work and who you work with, it naturally leads to long-term commitment. And that feeling of trust extends to those who dine with us. The trust, affection and loyalty amongst our team members does not go unnoticed, and is the reason why we have so many return guests.”
Westgate Las Vegas. 702.732.5755. westgateresorts.com
XXXXXX
