It’s 1 p.m. on a Thursday, and the dining room at Benihana in San Francisco is completely deserted. Nary a sizzle of an onion hitting a flattop grill can be heard throughout the windowless room in Japan Center.
When the host spots me looking like a deer in the headlights, I sheepishly tell her I’m here for the Power Lunch.
Yes, I’m here solo at the mecca for teenage birthday parties because of a deal that’s increasingly hard to find in SF these days: a meal under $16. The weekday $15.95 Power Lunch deal launched at Benihana restaurants across the country a year ago but recently extended its hours. “Power Lunch is served in only 45 minutes or it’s free!” read the bubbly email in my inbox. As a busy downtown office worker with a limited lunch budget, I was sold.
As I was seated by myself at an empty grill table set for eight, a clubby pop song played overhead. The room was a little drafty, so I huddled up to the hot grill. Perusing the menu, I discovered that the Power Lunch is a condensed version of the traditional five-course Benihana meal: your choice of soup or salad to start and your protein choice of chicken, shrimp or tofu, plus hibachi vegetables, fried rice and dipping sauces. For an additional $4, you can upgrade your protein to filet mignon or NY strip steak…