Bites Nearby: Shiro of Japan

A showcase of Japanese cooking since it opened on Old Country Road in 1972, one very popular aspect of Shiro of Japan are the hibachi tables where up to 12 diners sit on stools around a rectangular table and watch the hibachi chef put on a show, creating walls of fire and miniature volcanoes as he cooks the meats, seafood and vegetables to order.

Shiro offers several environments that are perfect for gatherings of assorted sizes in addition to the hibachi areas: a sushi room, the garden dining room, and, tucked away downstairs, four traditional tatami-matted, paper walled private rooms.

Shiro of Japan – the dishes, which might be described as Nuevo Japanese, are beautifully presented and well prepared under the supervision of head chef Nobu Ogura. The sushi and sashimi combinations are designed for the meat lover with a tender fillet of beefsteak sautéed with shiitake mushrooms ($16.50) and served with Shiro’s signature garlic rice.

The salads and fish dishes are served fresh each day. Mesclun and red and yellow pepper garden salad with ginger dressing is topped with fried crispy leek and shown to advantage in a square white bowl ($5.50). The ceviche seafood salad ($11.25) offers a combination of fish that included tuna, octopus, salmon and salmon roe, served with a plum dressing. Chilean sea bass, marinated in miso, is sautéed with vegetables and served with a yuzu () sauce ($16.50).

401 Old Country Road Carle Place, NY 11514, 516-997-4770
www.shiroofjapan.com
Hours: Lunch: Monday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Sunday no lunch); Dinner: Monday to Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday  4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Prices: salads range from $5.50 to $11.50, entrees and salad and sushi combinations are $16.50.