Hotoke :: 41 Rte. 111, Smithtown

A tasty new Smithtown treat is Hotoke, a Japanese hibachi-style restaurant boasting the “Fusion Sushi” title you see so often these days. Hotoke is in the Uncle Guiseppes’ shopping center, just south of Main Street in Smithtown.

Jennifer ate:

Hibachi Lunch: Vegetable ($6.65)
with Buckwheat Noodles ($2.75)

We’ve been waiting for this place to open since we’ve been running low on interesting Smithtown eateries that we haven’t blogged about yet. And it was worth the wait! Interesting decor as you walk in, it’s dark but inviting and the restaurant is really set up with three distinct eating spaces that flow well into each other. The bar area is first, which, I imagine, is bustling at happy hour, but not so much at lunch. A more traditional dining room area is central, followed by hibachi-style seating in a somewhat closed off area of the dining room. (That’s the group-type seating where the chef cooks on a large, flat surface while doing fancy things with knives and sauces, and you sit with strangers. Doesn’t appeal to me, but has a large following by those who enjoy playing with their food (or having their food played with).)

The Vegetable Hibachi Lunch meal was outstanding! Of course, first came the mushroom soup and standard Asian salad with ginger dressing on iceberg lettuce, both were good. With the meal they brought out two tasty dipping sauces, one mustard (wasabi) and one ginger (reminiscent of the salad dressing). Both were very interesting and I couldn’t decide which way I preferred the already tasty veggies, alone or dipped in one of the sauces.

When you order the Hibachi Lunches you can also add on either hibachi fried rice or buckwheat noodles. Both were tasty, but the buckwheat noodles were outstanding! And far healthier than fried rice.

We finished off the meal with a dessert this time, the traditional deep-fried ice cream, which is always delicious! It is definitely big enough (and calorie-laden enough) for two to share.

The bottom line:
Vegetable Hibachi Lunch– Really, really good!
Buckwheat noodles – Try them!
Overall rating: Another superb addition to Smithtown’s collection of yummy Asian eateries. And it’s new so go check it out!

Chuck ate:

Hibachi Lunch: Chicken ($7.65)
with Hibachi rice ($2.75)
2 pcs. Smoked Salmon Sushi (a la carte) ($5.50)

Mmmmmm sushi. Seriously either you love it or you don’t. I (happily) love it and I get it every chance I can. My beloved smoked salmon came to me on an intriguing rectangular plate, tasty and sticky white rice and wasabi. It was good, real good and whetted my apetite for the coming Habachi lunch.

Unlike Jennifer I enjoy the Habachi Chef and the culinary antics that ensue. The performance aspect of the meal makes it more of an event than just “let’s eat!” and I like that. The lunch was exceptional, I found the ginger salad dressing tastier than other eateries we’ve blogged about and the Habachi chicken and rice were fantastic. As Jennifer stated, the sauces where excellent as well.

While I am by no means as enthusiastic about dessert as Jennifer is (particularly ice cream) – tempura ice cream is just plain awesome.

The ambience was great. I really liked the dark wood feel and the floorplan makes it perfect to host private parties. They also have a bar, so why don’t you saddle on up for happy hour and have yourself a Saki?

The bottom line:
Chicken Hibachi Lunch and Rice – Flavorful and light.
Smoked Salmon Sushi – Awesome.
Overall rating: Yeah, gotta agree with Jennifer. Hotoke is a great place and a fine addition to Smithtown’s excellent foodscape.

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