Wednesday, October 15, 2003
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Wednesday, October 15, 2003 |
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Better than dinner and a movie It's Japanese Hibachi at E-KA By ELLIE WHITE-STEVENS You might drive through, be distracted by T.V.s behind your spouse’s head, crack your own peanuts or sip latte at a table in the corner. But there is nothing quite like Japanese Hibachi. This is not just dining, it’s entertainment. From flashing knives to blazing fires, cooking comedy to juicy steak, E-KA Japanese Steakhouse is more than a restaurant. A short drive from Fayette County, E-KA is located on Bullsboro, also known as Ga. Highway 34. From Fayetteville or Peachtree City, it’s a matter of taking Ga. Highway 54 toward Newnan until it becomes Hwy. 34. And it’s worth the drive. Mike Callahan, a firefighter in Brooks, and his wife Michele like to bring their three-year-old son Bradley to E-KA. “We love it,” said Michele. “Bradley eats well here. They’re always friendly.” Her favorite dish is the filet mignon, and she always starts with something from the sushi bar, usually California roll. The Callahans are regulars; they are in every two weeks or so. “We’ve never had any problem with any of our food here,” said Michele. “That’s why we keep coming back.” Mike is more likely to order the scallops. “The food is great. The chefs know how to cook the seafood,” he said. “You can’t get the scallops like this anywhere else.” He usually asks for his favorite chef, Leo Yi, the manager of E-KA and a hibachi chef for over 15 years. Leo Yi emphasizes the health aspects of the food over the entertainment. “You can see the food as it cooks. You know what kind of meat and what kind of vegetables we are using. Other restaurants may be using frozen beef. “We use fresh oil with every table,” he continued. “Other restaurants reuse oil to cook their food.” A far cry from the deep fat fryer, the sushi bar is the best health bet in town. “I think sushi is the best food for you in the world,” said owner Lee Bradshaw, Leo Yi’s sister. “It’s so healthy — lots of protein.” Bradshaw is quick to let customers know that not all sushi is raw fish — the shrimp, crap, eel and octopus are all cooked. Master Chef Peter Yi, who formerly was the number-one sushi chef in Manhattan, prepares all of the sushi at E-KA. His hands fly through delicate cuts of the freshest fish — some 20 choices. Leo Yi says that the criteria for a good sushi chef is that “the sushi tastes good, is prepared fast and looks good. All great sushi chefs have to be that way — all three, all the time.” E-KA, celebrating its third anniversary, is a family-run operation. The family name, Yi, is pronounce like a long “e.” Ka means house or family. So when Lee Bradshaw or Leo’s wife Yuna greets you at the door, they are inviting you into their home for dinner. And the hospitality follows. Every meal comes with soup and salad with a choice of two dressings made in house from Leo Yi’s recipe. All the sauces are homemade, too, with no preservatives. Leo says that Americans love their steak. “Our grill is quick and hot. Well done is still very tender and juicy. And we don’t use any MSG.” It’s possible that people come as much for the entertainment as the food. “The food is wonderful. The showmanship is great,” said Simone Lowin of SummerGrove. “The kids love it.” Lunch prices start at $4.95, with a Fried Rice and Chicken or Fried Rice and Steak special. Dinners start at $10.95 for Veggie Lovers and $12.95 for chicken. The high end of the menu is the Seafood Lovers meal at $25.95. Tips are automatically added to the check, although many customers choose to contribute additional gratuity for a particularly good show and service. Birthdays are big at E-KA. Any person who comes in to celebrate this year’s birthday, and gives a mailing address, is sent $10 gift certificates in the following years. That’s E-KA’s way. Many people will celebrate their anniversary at E-KA as well. E-KA has facilities for large and small parties, including a full bar, sushi bar, karaoke room, and three private rooms for hibachi. Lee Bradshaw said that they are currently booking for Christmas. For more information or to book a party at E-KA, call 770-251-0028
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