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YouTubeI read about this new venture from the guys behind Fresh Street here; http://alteatscolumbus.com/2011/12/28/section-8-yakitorium/
Went on Friday night. Got there at 6:30 which turns out to be opening time. We had five in our group. The atmosphere is interesting to say the least. I like it but can only say it's "Neo-Japanese-white-neon-and-christmas-lights" to describe it to you. It's cozy enough. The bartender was an affable guy but the bar is a mess. Friday night we were told that all the beer lines were messed up, no draught beer. My martini was second rate-the traditional glass for straight up was a size smaller than optimum and the olives were likewise of the small unstuffed variety. The Rossi and The Top Steakhouse are my benchmarks for a good gin martini. Perhaps it was unfair to order a martini at a Japanese-Korean Yakitorium, but who the hell knows what a conventional alcoholic drink is at a Japanese-Korean Yakitorium? It's not hot sake, because our barender told us they have no hot sake, only cold. He did not recommend any sake, and instead advised a Korean cocktail made from Korean fruit vokdas, as best as I could tell. My wife tried one and she seemed happy with it. But we came for the yakitori. You order the yakitori separately from your drinks at the end of the bar where a vent hood is set up. Under the hood appears to be a small homemade hibachi type set-up with bricks and charcoal and two chefs were cooking the yakitori to order. The menu is set out on handwritten pieces of paper over the range hood. The yakitori items are genuine enough-gizzards, chicken skin, chicken heart, chicken thigh, and IIRC, some pork items. The skewers are all $2.50 to $4.00 but they are very small-enough meat to share with one other person to formulate a taste of what is going on. Unfortunately for me, as I was hosting this adventure and paying, telling the chef to give us an array of items for $50 resulted in the skewers delivered being gone in no time, and another $50 worth was likewise gone in no time among the five of us. No problem, they were obviously good or they would not have been gobbled. I can't gauge their quality as I have no reference. I found the marinade of each meat far eclipsed any inherent difference in the particular internal organ involved. Perhaps the most enjoyable item was not among the skewers, but the warm glass mugs of chicken ramen served up on a blustery winter night. I look forward to returning, but would prefer a stable of japanese/korean beer on tap and warm sake, or as a fall back-a better gin martini.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Dining
fRESHSTREET YAKITORI
[10 posts] [7 contributors]
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FSonicSmith
Columbus-downtown for work, East for the residence
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Posted 4 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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More info, here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/section-8-yakitorium-opening-in-the-brewery-district
Posted 4 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Stopped in last night with friends and had an amazing time. Special on the menu for the night was Lobster Tail and it was pretty amazing.
Paired with lychee cocktails from Double Happiness, and it make for a pretty solid night of food and drink. Huzzah! :D
Posted 3 months ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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Last time I was in we had a bit of a feast... pork cheek, tongue & belly; beef heart, tongue, & liver; chicken skin, the short ribs, the ramen... and probably some other stuff that I've forgotten in a blissful haze.
I totally love sitting at the bar - the beers aren't spendy, and they usually have some special on sake bombs that I get suckered into.
Kenny & Misako are always looking to push the envelope in the local food scene. I love those guys.
Posted 3 months ago # -
patient_zero
Falafel District
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Other than tasty eats, what else is there to enjoy at this Japanese carnival? I had a busy week last week, and now I'm looking for fun.
Maybe Jimmy Mak will emerge from Shadowbox dressed as a Ninja.
Posted 3 weeks ago #
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