Taki is a classy yet laid-back Japanese steakhouse best known for sushi (Wednesday nights feature sushi and martini specials). It's great for a date night, but the loud atmosphere and bustling chefs may make for a more fun evening with a group of friends, as each table seats eight. Plus, it's more fun to yell, "sake, sake BOMB!" when there are more than two of you participating.
The service: We arrived early for our 8 p.m. reservation on a Friday night, and were seated after 8:30 p.m. The host didn't seem too concerned about our lengthy wait, but our server was efficient and friendly.
The atmosphere: Taki has upscale elements, with a large fountain in the lobby and servers in black. But the large dining area sounds like a cafeteria, so if you want intimate, opt for one of the smaller tables covered in white tablecloths and candles near the sushi bar.
The menu: There was a nice selection of both meat and seafood options, Japanese barbecue, classic noodle and rice choices, plus the extensive sushi menu. Most entrees come with a choice of soup, salad, fried rice and sauteed vegetables.
The food: We started with an order of gyoza - Japanese-style pork and vegetable dumplings pan-fried and steamed. They arrived piping hot, and although the dumplings were a little bland, the sauce served with them was extremely spicy. I love sushi, but the grilled options won me over. I tried the teppanyaki New York strip and scallops. I wanted the steak cooked to medium, but it arrived medium-well. My scallops were on the thin side, and I wasn't crazy about the barbecue-like sauce they were smothered in.
My starving boyfriend ordered the Chef's Special, a combo of steak, chicken and shrimp. Although his steak was also overcooked, the rest was delicious. The seafood sauce, a peachy-colored creamy sauce, was the star of the show. Even our steak tasted better dunked in it. Next visit, though, we'll stick with the sushi.
The wrapup: Sit on the quiet side if you're on a date. Otherwise, grab a few other couples and make a group date out of it.
