Last night Lisa and I joined my parents and my sister Anita for dinner at Arigato Japanese Steakhouse in Greensboro, to celebrate Anita’s birthday. This was the second time we’ve been to Arigato and whenever we’ve gone there, we’ve beheld quite a show. Chef Nawh (shown at left during one of the evening’s more spectacular moments) thrilled us not only with his outstanding cooking, but with his quick wit and displays of culinary acrobatics. The theatricality of the chefs is one of the things that I’ve come to look for most whenever I’m gauging a Japanese steakhouse, and at Arigato they do not disappoint. Indeed, I think that Arigato’s chefs are among the most colorful in the entire area. That alone is worth a visit.

And the food is outstanding, too! Last night I ordered chicken, with all three kinds of sauce – white, mustard and ginger – to sample ...