By Shereen Siewert
As fairly new empty nesters, my husband and I have found ourselves dining out more frequently than ever before, and we’re always looking for something new to try. So when 715 Delivery asked us to write an unbiased review about Wasabi Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar in Weston, we were happy to accept the challenge.
That is, I was.
I confess, my non-sushi-eating husband was initially worried he wouldn’t find anything he liked on the menu.
He needn’t have worried, because while Wasabi is quickly becoming one of the area’s premiere sushi restaurants, there is true magic in the entire menu, especially the Teppanyaki experience.
What we also didn’t realize we were in for: a culinary tour de force that left us feeling entertained, happy, satisfied, and pleasantly surprised.
Teppanyaki is a unique culinary cooking art that has established itself as one of the favorites of Japanese cuisine. The food preparation and presentation takes place before your eyes on a heated steel grill, where diners gather to watch. We had heard of it before, but the experience was new for both of us, one we think could only be improved by sharing the meal with a group of friends.
Late on a weekday evening, we had our chef to ourselves, but on weekends, the restaurant is typically bustling. (Note: Be sure to make a reservation, even if you choose a night during the week to visit.)
Our meal began with a delicate seaweed mushroom soup, followed by a house salad that included juicy chunks of fruit, vegetables, and lettuce, finished with a scrumptious sesame soy dressing that is made on site.
Next, our chef prepared our appetizer, two perfectly prepared grilled shrimp, which we dipped in a delicious miso sauce, also a secret in-house recipe.
As we were finishing up the appetizers, the chef began preparing the next course, the fried rice. But perhaps it isn’t quite fair to call these hibachi masters just chefs. They are really culinary artists, mixing cooking with visual displays to put on a truly entertaining (and delicious) show.
Next, our chef began to prepare our main meals. My husband chose the scallops, partly because we know they can be difficult to prepare. Cooking them even a minute too long can result in a rubbery texture.
Thankfully, the chef got it just right: The scallops were, indeed, grilled to perfection, not an easy feat.
My medium rare Filet Mignon was next up. Lightly seasoned, the meat was cooked to just the right tenderness, melting in our mouths. This, too, exceeded our expectations. Combined with the fresh grilled vegetables that followed, the result was a meal fit for a king.
We finished our meals with a taste of hot sake and a shared bowl of ice cream, with plenty of leftovers to take home for the next day.
Overall, our experience was outstanding. The food was delicious, and the service couldn’t have been better. Talking it over later, my husband and I agreed that our only regret was not trying the spicy tuna Rangoon, a unique twist on the traditional crab Rangoon found at many Asian restaurants. But that’s just an excuse to come back again.
And next time, we’ll try the sushi, too.
Wasabi Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar, 3703 Schofield Ave., Weston is open daily, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are recommended for Teppanyaki service; call 715-359-2888.
Delivery is available through 715Delivery.
Editor’s Note: This unbiased review is sponsored by 715Delivery, which offers delivery from Wasabi and a variety of other Wausau-area restaurants.
