Teppanyaki on Norwegian Escape was one of the best Japanese steakhouses I have experienced, with…read moresome novel tricks displayed by the grill master and including the biggest shrimp I have been served to date on a teppanyaki grill. All aspects of the meal and courses served were very professionally handled, prepared, and presented, from ordering drinks to receiving dessert. The dining room itself is composed of 8 grills that each seat 12, so 96 diners can be served simultaneously, in set seatings. Grill masters wear colorful red hats which at first glance I mistook for Santa caps. Our grill master, like the one at an adjacent grill, was very amiable and animated, and seemed to truly enjoy his job.
We began with edamame and hot and thirst-quenching Miso Soup with dashi, tofu, and wakame, quickly followed by a Seaweed Salad with tasty Ginger Dressing. Then a huge portion of Garlic Fried Rice was prepared for 11 diners (only Diane opted for Steamed Rice, which accommodation was graciously granted). To the expressed amusement of all who saw it, my party observed a neighboring grill master attempt to flick an egg into his hat with a metal spatula but loft it too high, so it got stuck instead in the metal hooded vent directly overhead. This was like deja vu for me, because I observed the same result with a different grill master while cruising on the Norwegian Epic 6 years earlier--except with a grilled shrimp instead of an egg. Both grillers reacted to the misadventures good-naturedly,
After another unbroken egg was capably propelled by a metal spatula into the top of our grill master's hat, and another uncooked egg was repeatedly hit up into the air like a loose paddle ball until it was speared on the edge of the spatula to crack the egg and drip its contents onto the grill below, a plastic chicken with moving hot feet suddenly appeared on the grill while at least six more eggs were cracked near it.
Next, after the fried eggs were fully cooked, they were rolled together to take on the shape of an open-mouthed cobra that was poised to strike with the help of a fork deftly operated by the grill master. Then White Onion, squash, zucchini, and carrots were cooked and chopped on the grill just before proteins including raw Filet Mignon, Jumbo Shrimp, chicken breast, and large scallops were eased onto the hot grill for grilling.
The hunks of medium-rare Filet I ordered were buttery and delicious, as were the shrimp, veggies, and Garlic Fried Rice. Separately poured sauces for the meat and seafood enhanced the enjoyment of the meal, as did two extra portions of Garlic Fried Rice that I was given. Diane's request for Teriyaki Sauce was cheerfully granted, and I was also supplied with two cups of hot Green Tea.
Dessert was a choice of Green Tea Cake or Fresh Fruit Sashimi. I sampled the former, and found it to be a bit dry; but was greatly pleased with the latter, which included well-trimmed pieces of cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, and kiwi served with Coconut & Mango Dipping Sauces. Best of all, the per diner charge for the specialty dining meal just described was only $30.00 plus gratuity, a great deal by any measure!
