Bites Nearby: Asian Bistro Japanese Steakhouse

Where locally can you get dinner, drinks, a sleight-of-hand act and a cooking demonstration all rolled into one?

Answer: the Asian Bistro Restaurant at East Brook Mall.

This Japanese steakhouse in Mansfield is one of the region’s few hibachi restaurants. It features the skills of chefs who cook to order before their guests -- amid clanging utensils and flashes of fire.

The food is good, too.

Opened in 2006, the Asian Bistro occupies a back corner of East Brook Mall, just across the hall from the Mansfield Movieplex movie theater. It is the first of two such restaurants owned by partners Michael Cheng, Ivan Cheng and Ivan’s wife, Helen. The group owns another bistro in Shelton and is in the process of establishing a third in Rocky Hill.

“They hope to have it open in August,” Mansfield manager Ken Cheung says.

The Asian Bistro’s menu qualifies as Asian fusion, Cheung says. There is everything from sushi and sashimi, to authentic dim sum noodles, to satay, to that old Chinese standby, General Tso’s chicken.

Of course the most entertaining part is the hibachi service, where chefs like Benny Feng take guests’ orders then prepare the meals at one of the restaurant’s four hibachi tables.

There are three such tables in the main dining area and a fourth in another dining room that can be used for large functions. Each horseshoe-shaped hibachi table has room for about 16 guests and two hibachi chefs.

If you’ve never been to a hibachi restaurant, expect to be a little awed at the chef’s skill at twirling his tools, balancing an egg on the end of his spatula, and cooking the entree and side dishes on a single hot stainless steel grill. Also, keep back from the occasional ball of fire.

Hibachi entrees range in price from $12 for a vegetarian plate all the way up to an elaborate combo of shrimp, scallops, and lobster tail for $32.95. There is also a $60 Bistro Special for Two that includes filet mignon, lobster tail, scallops and shrimp.

Lunch includes a set-price $8 menu with items such as duck, Pad Thai and prawns.

The Asian Bistro is decorated with modern, comfortable, rich-looking wooden furnishings of Asian design. The lighting in the dining room and bar is subdued and the music modern; while the sushi bar in the back corner is a sunny room made to simulate sitting under a tree.

The décor’s clean lines carry over to the sushi itself, which arrives in a number of elegant and elaborately garnished presentations. Five pieces of sushi go for $10.50. The same fare will get you nine pieces of sashimi.

Sushi chef Ronnie Wang said both salmon and tuna are popular items; and, according to Cheung, there are several popular signature rolls, including the Pink Panther, a spicy lobster salad, shrimp and banana tempura and a yuzu mango sauce. The Godzilla roll is tuna wrapped in seaweed topped with avocado and fish roe.

The Asian Bistro likes return customers, and has a special V.I.P. program for regulars. Frequent diners accumulate points for each visit where they spend $10 or more. Ten points earns a $20 discount on the next visit.

The Asian Bistro, 95 Storrs Rd., Mansfield, is open seven days. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 860-456-8316.