For hibachi or sushi, Mikata Japanese Steakhouse is a treasure in our midst

Mikata Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has been a staple of the Macon dining scene for decades and remains a wonderful choice for great teppanyaki and generous sushi.

It's the usual hibachi set-up: several teppanyaki tables, where you can sit with your large group or make friends with strangers; plus a sushi bar, where you can sit by yourself or with a friend. There are a few tables where you can get either or both without watching how it's made.

There may be more teppanyaki tables here than in any other local teppanyaki restaurant -- I counted 15 double-sided tables, so large groups could easily be accommodated here.

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You will be seated with others to fill out the table and orders are taken immediately. By the time you finish your miso soup and ginger-dressed salad, your chef will bring his little cart laden with butter, vegetables and the proteins to fulfill your orders.

Our chef was either new or bored, so we didn't get much of a show, but once you've seen one performance you've pretty much seen them all. The burst of fire at the beginning can be shocking for little ones, but if forewarned they will probably love it. We did see a flashy chef at a table nearby, so perhaps you can place chef requests if you make reservations.

Half of our group wanted only sushi, which took a while because it is handmade to order, but well worth the wait. Not only is Mikata's sushi beautifully presented, it is humongous. We unwittingly ordered several rolls for three people, based on the serving sizes of most other sushi restaurants, and vastly overestimated how much we could eat. Happily, they shared with the hibachi eaters in our group and nothing was wasted.

Some say that Mikata is a bit pricey, but for the quality and quantity of what they serve, it is well worth it.

Some tips for cutting costs would be to share one teppanyaki selection and perhaps add an extra serving of another protein such as lobster or steak. In our group, someone didn't care for soup or salad, so our sharers were able to have a complete meal for half the cost. Another tip is to ask your server for the largest sushi rolls and share those among your group. A pot of green tea comes with your teppanyaki order, so take advantage of that freebie, too.

Mikata can be what you want it to be -- a place for celebration with friends, a quiet table for two, or somewhere to just think and eat sushi. Not many places can be all of those things, and this one is a treasure in our midst.

Mikata Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

Address: 2972 Riverside Drive, Macon

Phone: 478-471-7573

Website: www.mikatasteakhouse.com

Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Saturday

Payment: Cash, credit

Smoking: No

Alcohol: Yes

Kids Menu: Yes

Noise Level: Low

Health Rating: 86

Price range: $8-$26

Rating: 3.5 stars

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 11:46 AM with the headline "For hibachi or sushi, Mikata Japanese Steakhouse is a treasure in our midst ."